HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-12-11 Kaʻū CDP Minutes Final
KAʻŪ COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 1 ACTION COMMITTEE 2
COUNTY OF HAWAIʻI 3
DRAFT MINUTES 4 December 11, 2024 5
CALL TO ORDER 6
Chair Masters called the Kaʻū Community Development Plan (CDP) Action Committee (AC) 7
meeting to order at 5:16 p.m. A quorum was established with five members in attendance. This 8
meeting was held in person at the Kaʻū District Gym Multi-Purpose Room and online via the Zoom 9 platform. 10
The full YouTube video of this meeting can be found here: 11 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joXq74TTuHw 12
ROLL CALL 13
Members Present (in person): Jason Masters (Chair), Kaʻohinani Mokuhaliʻi, Babette Morrow 14
Members Present (via Zoom): Leinaʻala Enos and Catherine Williams 15
Members Absent: Pernell Hanoa, Jesse Ke, and Kaweni Ibarra 16
From the County (in person): Maryam Palma, Janice Hata, and Kawelo Kalili 17
There were approximately thirty members of the public in attendance (1) in person and (30) via 18
Zoom. 19
APPROVAL OF MINUTES [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 3:00] 20
Committee member Mokuhaliʻi motioned to minutes as drafted from the November 20, 2024, 21 seconded by committee member Morrow. The motion passed unanimously. 22
PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS: 23
Mary Gershon provided testimony in person. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 8:21] 24
Lanakila Willard provided testimony via Zoom [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 11:10] 25
Name unknown provided testimony via Zoom [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 15:12] 26
Name unknown provided testimony via Zoom [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 19:40] 27
Poʻokela provided testimony via Zoom [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 24:58] 28
Hiwahiwa Kaheaku provided testimony via [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 30:28] 29
Nohea Kaʻawa provided testimony via Zoom [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 15:12] 30
Name unknown provided testimony via Zoom [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 34:50] 31
James Akau provided testimony via Zoom [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 43:52] 32
Wade Budgie provided testimony via Zoom [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 44:25] 33
Megan Mulley provided testimony via Zoom [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 45:45] 34
KAʻŪ CDP ACTION COMMITTEE
Minutes of December 11, 2024 2
Ellen LaPenna provided testimony via Zoom [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 46:38] 35
Donna Pabre provided testimony via Zoom [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 49:51] 36
John Cross provided testimony via Zoom [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 52:08] 37
BUSINESS 38
1. Letter to Agencies Regarding Nāʻālehu Hill Subdivision – Phase 1 (PL-SUB-2024-000279) – 39 Discussion and potential action on providing comment to relevant agencies regarding the pending 40
consolidation and re-subdivision application (TMK: (3) 9-5-008:001). [SEE YOUTUBE 41 TIMESTAMP 54:26] 42
This item was called to order at 6:10 p.m. 43
Committee member Mokuhaliʻi moved to discuss the policies of the Kaʻū CDP regarding the 44 request for subdivision and whether to provide comment. Committee member Morrow seconded 45 the motion. 46
Committee member Morrow presented Communication No. 2024-16, a memorandum regarding 47 the Nāʻālehu Hill Subdivision. The memo analyzed the policies and objectives of the Kaʻū CDP 48
and emphasized the advisory role of the Action Committee. Member Morrow clarified that 49 subdivision and consolidation decisions are administrative actions approved by the Planning 50 Director without public hearings, requiring input from specific departments. The memo 51 highlighted key policies from the CDP, emphasizing the preservation of agricultural lands, open 52 spaces, and viewscapes while promoting sustainable and compact development in designated 53
areas. Concerns were raised about preexisting lots smaller than the A-20 zoning minimum and the 54 need for applicants to demonstrate economic viability of smaller parcels. Member Morrow 55 recommended further reviews by relevant agencies, the preservation of archaeological and 56 historical sites, and adherence to CDP policies to support sustainable land use and maintain 57 agricultural integrity. The AC noted that the memo was a draft and subject to revisions based on 58
committee discussions. 59
The AC discussed Communication No. 2024-18, a memorandum from Acting Planning Director 60 Jeffrey Darrow providing information on the proposed subdivision. 61
The committee discussed recommendations for subdividing agricultural lands, stressing the need 62 to adhere to CDP policies and applicable county codes. They emphasized preserving agricultural 63
integrity by maintaining a minimum lot size and suggested requiring parcels to be at least five 64 acres to align with farm subdivision standards. The discussion also acknowledged challenges such 65 as staff shortages and the absence of key personnel, which limited opportunities for direct dialogue. 66 The AC underscored the importance for public engagement with planning officials to address 67 community concerns. They expressed general support for committee member Morrow’s memo, 68
recommending minor amendments such as including code references to strengthen the justification 69 for the proposed lot size requirements and ensuring alignment with the objectives of sustainable 70 land use and agricultural preservation. 71
The committee discussed community concerns related to land titles, water management, and 72 infrastructure, emphasizing the need to address questions about the legitimacy of land ownership 73
and the historical consolidation of parcels. They underscored the challenges posed by deteriorating 74 roads and drainage systems, advocating for adherence to soil and water conservation guidelines to 75
KAʻŪ CDP ACTION COMMITTEE
Minutes of December 11, 2024 3
mitigate flooding and protect natural water flow. During the meeting, the AC reviewed and 76 approved revisions to a memo for the Planning Department, incorporating a statement on 77
community concerns about land titles, relevant economic code sections, and recommendations for 78
improved infrastructure management. To ensure transparency. they agreed to attach meeting 79 minutes and a YouTube link to the submission. Final revisions will be completed and circulated 80 for review before the memo is submitted. 81
After finalizing the wording and incorporating the agreed-upon additions, the AC voted to approve 82
and forward the drafted letter to the Planning Director. The motion passed unanimously. 83
PROPOSED BUSINESS FOR NEXT MEETING [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:57:00] 84
There were no proposed business items for the next meeting. 85
ANNOUNCEMENTS [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 2:00:00] 86
• The Planning Department is currently seeking applicants for the Kaʻū CDP Action 87
Committee and is requesting assistance to get the word out to interested community 88
members. The application can be found on the Mayor’s office website at: 89
https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/our-county/boards-and-commissions/boards-and-90
commissions-application 91
• Chair Masters read Communication No. 2024-17, the tentative meeting schedule for 92
2025. 93
ADJOURNMENT 94
Chair Masters adjourned this meeting at 7:18 p.m. 95
These minutes and all related documents are available in the Planning Department’s Kaʻū 96 Community Development Plan Action Committee folder via the County of Hawaiʻi Public 97 Documents Repository. These documents may also be requested from the Planning Department 98 by calling (808) 961-8288 or emailing cdp@hawaiicounty.gov. 99