HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-11-20 John McGeeFrom:Jon McGeeTo:LPCtestimony; WPCtestimonySubject:Revise Hawaii General Plan TestimonyDate:Wednesday, November 20, 2024 9:08:37 PM
Here are some concerns: 1. The word "Stakeholder," defined in the plan, is written 86 times and literally means anyone in theentire world can have input on this plan.Please recommend Stakeholder change to the following: "Local Communities”. Local Communitiesare local Big Island farmers, homeowners, renters, organizations, businesses, and individuals wholive 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 and managementare crucial for the success and sustainability of any initiative, as it helps ensure that diverseperspectives and interests are considered. 2. The OSCER Department in the plan will null and void all public input and leave decisions tounelected 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 drastically lowertheir property value and opens the door to rezone the area. This is not pono. It breaks the AlohaSpirit 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 MorningAmerica and the Founder of the Weather Channel has gone on CNN and other media outletsstating, "There is no climate danger". He explain the reason for this narrative is the investors, inrenewable 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 privateland management practices that protect and enhance natural resource values and, whenappropriate, 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 too becauseit's not the locals? "Pursue the acquisition of lands" does this say they are going to pursing takingpeople's private property? Again with "protection of natural resources". This plan should be focusedon 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 BigIsland! 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. Youcan see it in the pdf below:PartOne: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fc0c_0a1d5be8f1d140069415f7b691725786.pdfPart Two: https://86fc0cbd-8207-4076-85fa-5a62e4e933b4.usrfiles.com/ugd/86fc0c_ecc498ba192d4a7689ebf31c3681c2ec.pdfHere is a longer revised version of the plan from locals: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fc0c_b34739e4c99c461685de4c0207bf286e.pdfThe way this plan is written is very far from what will support our island. JC McGee
Meetings to give your oral testimony: Community Meetings South Kona: September 17, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. - Rodney Yano Memorial Hall 82-6145 Māmalahoa Hwy, Captain Cook, HI96704 Kaʻū: September 19, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. - Kaʻū District Gym Multi-Purpose Room 96-1219 Kamani St, Pāhala, HI 96777 South Kohala: September 23, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. - Kūhio Hale 64-756 Māmalahoa Hwy, Waimea, HI 96743 North Kohala: October 1, 2024 at 4:30 p.m. - Old Judiciary Building 54-3900 Akoni Pule Hwy, Kapaʻau, HI 96755 Puna: October 3, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. - Pāhoa Community Center 15-3022 Kauhale St, Pāhoa, HI 96778 Hāmākua: October 9, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. - Kulaʻimano Community Center 28-2892 Alia St, Pepeʻekeo, HI 96783 Public CommentsSeptember 26, 2024: Public comments for this phase are due, following the guidelines set out by the current 2005 GeneralPlan, which indicates the public will have 21 days after the last workshop to share their comments with the Planning Director.[2005 GP 16.1(5)] Once this period ends, the Final Recommended Draft in its current form and all public comments will bepackaged and submitted to the Windward and Leeward Planning Commissions.November 2024: Planning Commission Public Hearings. Specific dates will be added once available. Upon the submission ofthe Final Recommeded Draft to the Windward and Leeward Planning Commissions, each commission will have 150 days toreview and provide their recommendations to the County Council. [2005 GP 16.1(8)]April 2025: County Council Public Hearings. Specific dates will be added once available.