HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-11-20 Alicia WillsFrom:1friendofyours
To:LPCtestimony; WPCtestimony
Cc:alicia@palmvalleyfarm.com
Subject:Revise Hawaii General Plan Testimony
Date:Wednesday, November 20, 2024 6:01:42 PM
After several meetings with the community members we would like to see changes made to the
proposed General Plan.
Here are some concerns: 1. The plan defines " Stakeholder " 86 times, which means anyone in the world can have input onthis plan.
Please recommend Stakeholder change to the following: "Local Communities”. Local
Communities are local Big Island farmers, homeowners, renters, organizations, businesses, and
individuals who live on Big Island or have property on Big Island that will be personally affected by
projects, decisions, or activities in the general plan. Effective local community engagement andmanagement are crucial for the success and sustainability of any initiative, as it helps ensure thatdiverse perspectives and interests are considered.
2. The OSCER Department in the plan will null and void all public input and leave decisions to
unelected officials. This is NOT okay! This department should not be created. This is on page
188, 40.8.
3. The Planning Department has sent out letters too many homeowners telling them their land usewill be changed from resident to recreation due to the General Plan 2045. This will drasticallylower their property value and opens the door to rezone the area. This is not pono. It breaks the
Aloha Spirit law § 5-7.5. To reduce someone's property value is not okay. This must be made
pono again.
4. There is a huge section on climate change and things that will be affected. This needs to befurther researched. There are over 1900 credentialed scientist that say there is no climate danger.Here is the pdf showing the scientist and what country they are from. https://clintel.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/WCD-241023.pdf John Coleman, the first weather man for Good
Morning America and the Founder of the Weather Channel has gone on CNN and other media
outlets stating, "There is no climate danger". He explain the reason for this narrative is the
investors, in renewable energy, want to make these changes. 5. Hilo does not have a Community Development Plan. How can a Big Island General Plan moveforward without that? Hilo is 22% of the island.
6. 1.13 under "Increase the biodiversity and resilience of native habitats" reads, "Incentivize
private land management practices that protect and enhance natural resource values and, when
appropriate, pursue the acquisition of lands for the protection of natural resources." "Incentives"mean more taxes. "Protection" means more rules. Who's "values" is this plan referring toobecause it's not the locals? "Pursue the acquisition of lands" does this say they are going topursing taking people's private property? Again with "protection of natural resources". This planshould be focused on people growing more food and it is doing the exact opposite!
7. This plan wants to turn land into "conservation". The exact opposite is what is needed for Big
Island! We need to turn land into Ag Villages and grow more food! Steve Shropshire, a resident ofPapaikou, has created an Ag Villages plan. Ag Village to add to the General Plan:
Papaikou Ag Village Objectives:
https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fc0c_2cb1cc6d604f4cdd971ad40831c745bc.pdf
Papaikou SitePlan: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fc0c_5e4cdb02efeb46a5ae949a3579aff00d.pdf Papaikou Development: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fc0c_c2af52c8b3c645b1a6868a724eee8304.pdf
A Hawaiian born Kanaka revised the Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship that is in the plan. You cansee it in the pdf below:PartOne: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fc0c_0a1d5be8f1d140069415f7b691725786.pdf
Part Two: https://86fc0cbd-8207-4076-85fa-
5a62e4e933b4.usrfiles.com/ugd/86fc0c_ecc498ba192d4a7689ebf31c3681c2ec.pdf
Here is a longer revised version of the plan from locals: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fc0c_b34739e4c99c461685de4c0207bf286e.pdf
The way this plan is written is very far from what will support our island. It is also a Constitutional right
for us to travel. Limiting the amount of miles driven should not be considered in the General Plan.
Mahalo,
Alicia Wills
Palm Valley Farm LLC
Land Owner