HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-03-05 Rebecca Melendez TestimonyFrom:Rebecca Melendez
To:LPCtestimony; WPCtestimony; cdp@hawaii.gov; Planning General Plan; Villegas, Rebecca; Kimball, Heather; Kagiwada, Jennifer; Onishi, Dennis; Kierkiewicz,Ashley; Kanealii-Kleinfelder, Matt; Galimba, Michelle M.; Inaba, Holeka; Hustace, JamesSubject:Please stand with YOUR community and vote UNFAVORABLE on the 2045 General Plan
Date:Wednesday, March 5, 2025 3:14:39 PM
Attachments:image.pngUnclear General Plan.doc
Aloha Council Members, Why are you continuing to favor this plan when the community is clearly opposing it? This petition Opposing the General Plan has almost 200 signatures and is growing https://www.change.org/p/we-oppose-hawai-i-planning-department-s-2045-general-plan-we-stand-for-a-new-director. This is almost the full size ofyour chambers. Please start standing with the community and vote UNFAVORABLE for this General Plan because YOU are supposedto support our voices. Continuing to vote in favor of this General Plan when 100% of the community at the meeting andI'm sure emailing you are OPPOSING this plan, is showing signs that you are being paid off and this is a seriousoffense. The average citizen cannot understand most of the plan because the County Planning Department has disrespected ourcommunity by writing a General Plan that is so vague and extremely unclear. I feel they did this so they would be ableto change meanings later. The plan does not fully explain their "Ordinances, Impact Fees, Ordinance Fees, Regulations, Master Plans"... All theydo is mention these, but they offer no explanation of what they mean. The community has a right to fully understandwhat all of these mean. Where are their full explanations, since they want to implement more fees and moreregulations? The County Planning Department has extreme changes in it’s General Plan? Has there ever been a plan with this many changes? Has there ever been a plan that has so much overreach in control/power? Can the council keep past General Plan's instead of this one? Because this plan is so extreme in changing Land UseTitles, putting in a lot more Regulations, Ordinances, a Smart Grid, and Broadband that the island doesn’t need, andcompletely changing the way we live on island. Does an Island really need wifi under the roads? This is what their Smart Grid would do. Does an Island really needBroadband?
35.i Develop best management practices for the development and maintenance of golf courses in collaboration withgovernment, private and nonprofit agencies, and other stakeholders.
Why does the county want to develop more golf courses when we need to stand up and help save our corals.
Golf courses use a lot of poisons to keep their lands weed-free, and these poisons runoff into the ocean, causing algae bloomsand other pollutions.
"Coral Bleaching is occurring more frequently in Hawai'i. Across the Hawaiian Archipelago, coral bleaching has increased infrequency and severity since 1996. The last major bleaching event in 2014-2015 had catastrophic Impacts state-wide… Thiswas the third major bleaching episode in Hawaiʻi over the last 6 years. The frequency of these events is unprecedented in thearchipelago. NOAA scientists and partners have determined that the key drivers of the bleaching were environmental factors(such as heat stress, depth, and surface light) and human impacts (sewage effluent and urban run-off). "
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/cautionary-tale-2019-coral-bleaching-event-hawaii#:~:text=Coral%20Bleaching%20Is%20Occurring%20more,had%20catastrophic%20impacts%20state%2Dwide
"Damage to the Hawaiian corals is "widespread," especially in areas, such as bays, where there is limited water flow andtemperatures heat up quickly, DeMartini said."
https://abcnews.go.com/US/hawaiis-coral-reefs-peril-researchers-restore-coral-ecosystems/story?id=101486998
‘Strong Correlation’ Between Overtourism and Coral Reef Degradation
Co-authored by Greg Asner, director of the ASU Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science in the Julie AnnWrigley Global Futures Laboratory, and leader of the largest coral reef monitoring program on the planet, the study in questionfound that there was a “strong correlation” between what has been dubbed “overtourism” and significant coral reefdegradation.
“I know these reefs extremely well, so I’m careful to not say correlation is causation,” explains Asner. “But there was a reallystrong correlation – even I was impressed.”
https://earth.org/coral-reef-degredation/
Department of Aquatic Resources DAR has a full report on West Hawai’i reefs, and they show that over 60% of the reefs arenow covered with Turf Algae. https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dar/files/2024/12/ar_hrs188-2025.pdf
DAR Reports that turf algae is the dominate coverage in West Hawai'i reefs.
What is Turf Algae? Look at the above link on page 78.
"Algal turfs characteristically trap ambient sediments and smother corals and other competitors
for space by gradual encroachment."
image.png
https://www.livingoceansfoundation.org/algae-on-the-reef-faces-functions-of-seaweed/
“For many people, algae on the reef is synonymous with environmental decline. Often the presence of algae is associatedwith terms such as “harmful algal bloom” and “eutrophication,” which imply the negative effects of too much algae in anenvironment. It’s true that under some conditions algae can grow uncontrolled and become a problem for reef-building corals,as they compete for both space and sunlight on the reef. One thing that can lead to an overgrowth of algae is an excess ofnutrients in the water, either naturally from upwelling of nearby nutrient-rich waters, or from anthropogenic sources, such asagricultural runoff from land. These nutrients act as fertilizers for plants on the reef, allowing them to grow very quickly.”
37.3 Prioritize new housing including the missing middle in or near mixed-use developments, urban growth areas withinfrastructure, and near existing and proposed transit centers.
There are year’s worth of developments that have been approved that haven’t started construction yet. Please read this petitionand see all the News Articles that prove that Island resources need to start becoming the focus rather than continuing to keep
approving more and more developments. https://www.change.org/p/help-big-island-resources-and-infrastructure-stay-safe-for-all-who-live-here-and-visit
37.c Assess and amend the land use and building regulations and explore fiscal opportunities to support universal designprinciples and ADA accessibility for more physically accessible housing.
They need to wait for all the many homes they have already approved for future development to see how the island’sresources handles all of them because as of today the resources and infrastructure are seriously overtaxed.
News Articles Proving What is Happening to Big Island Resources:
“Hawai'i State News Update: Hawaiian Electric initiates rolling outages throughout Big Island February 13, 2024 · 5:23PM HST* Updated February 14, 2024 · 4:21 PM
The emergency outages are being initiated in various areas around the entire island to prevent loss of power to an evengreater number of customers. The timing and extent of the outages will depend on the amount of demand on the systemand the availability of generators.” https://bigislandnow.com/2024/02/13/hawaii-island-customers-asked-to-reduce-electricity-use/
“LOCAL NEWS
HECO issues rolling power outages around Big Island by: Emily Cervantes Posted: Feb 13, 2024 / 05:11 PM HSTUpdated: Feb 13, 2024 / 09:12 PM HST Hawaiian Electric initiated rolling outages for Big Island after several largegenerators became unavailable and reduced output Tuesday night.”https://www.khon2.com/local-news/heco-releases-conservation-alert-for-big-island/
"Here's how power outages can have repercussions for Hawaiʻi's water supply Hawaiʻi Public Radio | By SavannahHarriman-PotePublished February 13, 2024 at 10:59 AM HST
Water departments on Oʻahu and Hawaiʻi Island have advised customers to conserve water ahead of possible storm-related power outages this month.
But what does the power grid have to do with the water supply?
It is impossible to separate Hawaiʻi's power system from its water system, said Kawika Uyehara, deputy director ofHawaiʻi County's Department of Water Supply." https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/local-news/2024-02-13/residents-on-hawaii-island-and-oahu-are-asked-to-conserve-water-amid-power-outages
U.S. Hawaii is "on the verge of a greater catastrophe," locals say, as water crisis continuesBy Li Cohen
Updated on: April 11, 2024 / 8:23 AM EDT / CBS News
In Hawaii, one of the most important sayings is ola i ka wai, "water is life" — a phrase that not only sums up what itmeans to exist on an island, but what it means to live, period. But now, one of the largest of the island chain's landmasses is facing a triple threat to its sole freshwater source, and if it isn't addressed soon, one community member says,"we're in deep trouble." https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hawaii-water-crisis-climate-change/
This is a map of Power Outages on the Big Island. This map wouldn't have been created if Power Outages were not aserious issue on island. https://www.hawaiianelectric.com/safety-and-outages/power-outages/hawaii-island-outage-map
“Hawaiian Electric is reporting that several large generators on the Big Island are experiencing a range of issues andmay lead to the need for rolling outages if supply does not meet demand."
https://www.reddit.com/r/BigIsland/comments/1bnuar3/hawaiian_electric_is_reporting_that_several_large/?rdt=52660
"NewsHawaiian Electric asking Big Island customers to conserve power due to down generators
March 25, 2024 · 11:49 AM HST
Other News Articles:
https://www.kitv.com/news/local/rolling-power-outages-possible-on-big-island/article_1811581e-cae6-11ee-bec6-bf9467cc02f6.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawIqwUNleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHQKMTNPT8EedBYRidyQEoPWlese5n4dRl-6FeuHh1nYCoQ8kqtESAhgXjw_aem_9WNsZM4cllevOmbCMPZGNg
https://www.bigislandvideonews.com/2024/10/17/water-supply-issues-statement-on-red-flag-warning-power-shutoffs/
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hawaii-water-crisis-climate-change/
https://hawaiibest.us/2023/09/11/big-island-now-poll-no-27-whats-the-best-way-to-extend-the-life-of-the-big-islands-only-remaining-landfill/
https://www.civilbeat.org/2024/04/acute-problems-plaguing-big-islands-wastewater-treatment-systems-prompt-epa-crackdown/
38.1 Enable data-driven research to support and maintain a housing inventory program that monitors existing housing.
What are they going to monitor, and why? Are they taking our privacy away?
39.8 Encourage the development of workforce housing within or near urban growth areas and employment centers and requirelarge new developments that create a demand for housing to provide affordable workforce housing.
There are years worth of housing developments that haven't started construction yet, and Hawaii Planning want to "Prioritize"even more housing developments when they need to "Prioritize" the islands resources and infrastructure because they are beingovertaxed today. Please read this petition that has almost 600 signatures: https://www.change.org/p/help-big-island-resources-and-infrastructure-stay-safe-for-all-who-live-here-and-visit
Where is the map that shows all the already approved developments that haven't even started yet so we can see how they arecreating the Big Island? I've asked Senator Kanuha to send me the link to this map because why is Hawaii Planning wantingmore developments when the island's resources are overtaxed today.
35.r Develop and implement a cemeteries master plan for the siting of future cemeteries.
What is their “cemetery master plan”?
36.b Develop a medical center TOD master plan and rezone it as a Regional Center TOD.
What is the "TOD master plan” and how will they “rezone” it?
19.a Continue to adopt the County Street design manual as the County’s complete street design program/policy.
What is the “County Street design manual”? I don’t see this information in the General Plan.
20.e Adopt a Complete Streets ordinance.
What is a "Complete Streets ordinance"? Another regulation? 25.7 Maintain an Asset Management Program aimed at utilizing maintenance plans to prolong the life of our utilities as well asreduce whole-life costs.
What is their “Asset Management Program”?
25.a Develop and adopt an Impact Fees Ordinance to aide in the expansion of public utilities.
What is an "Impact Fees Ordinance"? More regulations? 26.5 Ensure the highest quality of water is reserved for the most valuable end-use.
What do they consider “the most valuable end-use” for water? The resorts or the community?
26.6 Encourage the design of large development projects (200+ units) in the North Kohala, South Kohala, North Kona, SouthKona, and Kaʻū Districts to be as water neutral as reasonably possible through water conservation, recharge, and reusemeasures to reduce the water footprint.
How can 200+ units be water-neutral?
Why is the county encouraging big developments when the island has resource issues with developments that arealready here? Are they NOT paying attention to island resources? Please read this petition:
https://www.change.org/p/help-big-island-resources-and-infrastructure-stay-safe-for-all-who-live-here-and-visit
26.7 Promote best practices in sustainable water collection and use for private water systems.
What does this mean, “for private water systems”?
27.i Streamline the sewer connection loan program.
What is this loan program? Is the island going into more debt because of it?
26.e Maintain the water master plan to consider water yield, present and future demand, alternative sources of water,guidelines, and policies for the issuing of water commitments.
What is their “water master plan”? What would be their water guidelines and policies for issuing water?
31.c Develop and adopt an Impact Fees Ordinance to aide in the expansion of County services and facilities.
What is an “Impact Fees Ordinance”? Another regulation?
13.e Amend Zoning Code to:i. Establish a TOD overlay zone project district with a minimum size of 15 acres.ii. Create a TND overlay zone for existing zoned lands within identified residential and commercial zoning districts.iii. Allow for residential uses in ML and MCX zoning districts.iv. Support innovative uses of alternative energy, agriculture, aquaculture, and others, in MCX zoning district
What exactly does “Establish a TOD overlay zone project district with a minimum size of 15 acres” mean?
What does a "TND overlay zone" look like?
What does ML and MCX stand for? These are not in their glossary, and I can't find them in the GP or online.
This General Plan is NOT CLEAR AND NEEDS TO BE OPPOSED, IF NOT ONLY FOR THE REASON THAT IT ISNOT CLEAR.
14.1 Support the State Land Use reclassification to Rural in alignment with the General Plan Rural designation.
14.b Amend the zoning districts currently listed as Family Agricultural District (FA) and the Residential and AgriculturalDistricts (RA) to be consistent with the Rural designation and to allow for home occupations that do not negatively impactrural character
Would this mean the county would have the right not to approve homes on "Rural Designated" lands if they feel it can“negatively impact rural character”? Are they over-reaching their control?
19.6 Use traffic demand management to aid in reducing traffic congestion by targeting an increase of active transportationmode share to 10 percent (bicycling, walking, micro-mobility)
What do they mean by "Use traffic demand management to aid in reducing traffic congestion"? Will they somehowlimit cars?
What is the General Plan Rural Designation?
14.2 Support reclassification/rezoning of appropriate General Plan Rural designated areas where an intermediate land use and awell-defined buffer between Urban and Productive Agricultural areas are consistent with the surrounding uses and ruralcharacter.
What is the "reclassification/rezoning of appropriate General Plan Rural designated..."?
30.3 Collaborate with utility companies to incentivize the underground siting of electrical and telecommunications facilitieswithin public rights-of-way What does underground sitting mean (they spelled sitting wrong)? They do not make this clear because they do not want us toknow they want to lay down wifi cable below our streets causing more traffic in our 2 lane roads. At least this is what I think itmeans from my research of a "Smart Grid" and "Broadband".
30.5 Siting of new communications facilities shall comply with performance standards and site colocation as stated in theCode.
The above sentences are confusing because it looks like the county doesn’t want us to understand that to create“telecommunications facilities fully,” they must put Cable underground; hence, they use the wording “ undergroundsiting.” So, we don’t fully understand the consequences of laying cable under our streets.
They seem to want to confuse us, because “sitting” sounds better than causing serious traffic to dig up all the roads to lay downthis kind of cable all over the Big Island, which will cost billions.
30.b Develop standards for the siting and construction of wireless telecommunication facilities.
This site explains what the General Plan doesn't explain about "siting and construction" https://primex.com/fiber-optic-internet-going-underground/
"The widespread adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) and smart home technology has internet service providers (ISPs) andintegrators on the hunt for the most effective methods of broadband delivery for many scenarios.
"The cable will be closer to the surface and more vulnerable to damage. In this case, a more expensive cable that can withstandcontact will be required. Cables buried in clay will also need to be of higher quality because the clay can hold stones and pushthem against the cable. In clay, the trench will also need to be much deeper.
In developed areas, the existing infrastructure can be problematic. Digging through concrete sidewalks and roads is costly anddisruptive."
The traffic on Big Island has been increasing every month, and they want to dig up our two lane roads to "sit" their "broadbandinfrastructure'? THEY ARE NOT ADDRESS INFRASTRACTURE ISSUES ON ISLAND.
30.9 Alleviate barriers and assist broadband projects with navigating through the regulatory permitting process.
They haven't show any research for the health risks of a smart grid and broadband because wifi will be on all the timeon our streets. We need to see the research for the health risks of this.
What is their "regulatory permitting process"? They don't explain this.
27.15 Prioritize the use of gray water in areas connected to County water and not connected to County wastewater.
Why doesn’t the county start looking for new inventions to help the island instead of traditional sources when the island’spopulation is steadily growing and needs new ideas to help? They could start considering using inventions like these:
https://ecofriend.com/innovative-products-designed-capture-reuse-gray-water.html
https://newsroom.ucla.edu/stories/gray-water-clean-up-yoram-cohen-271642
https://www.greenprophet.com/2015/04/10-inventions-to-save-earths-water/
35.f Update the County of Hawaiʻi Recreation Plan to reflect newly identified recreational priorities.
The county has sent out letters changing private Land Use Titles to recreational land. Does this mean they will belooking for more lands to change their Land Use Titles into recreational lands, thereby taking their property away bynot allowing them to pass it down to family or sell it?
Why is it legal for the county to take private lands away from people to give their lands to recreation? It's NOTRIGHT!
I heard these people would still have to pay the property tax on their land, which the county wants to turn intorecreational land, is this going to happen?
Please stand with all these reasons why this 2045 General Plan needs to be UNFAVORABLE. PLEASE STAND WITHYOUR COMMUNITY. Sincerely,Rebecca Melendez