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Public Testimony Received by LPC
From:Surprenant, April To:LPCtestimony; WPCtestimony Subject:General Plan Public Comments Date:Friday, October 25, 2024 2:36:05PM From: CarterCCollins < Date: Tue, Oct1, 2024at3:08PM Subject: Eleventh-hourrequest To: <april.surprenant@hawaiicounty.gov> Goodmorning, April. I'mlookingforwardtoseeingyouandyourcrewtodayhereinNorthKohala. Ihaveanimportant requestthatIhope youcanattendtoonceIamthere, orbeforeif possible. Mydeepapologyfortheeleventh-hourtardiness, which isbasedonmy impairment. Please consideraddingthesetwodefinitionstotheappropriate placeintheGeneral PlanforNorthKohala orotherislanddistricts GreenEnergyPark - Adesignated areaorfacility focusedontheproduction andpromotion ofrenewable energysources. Thiscaninclude solar, wind, geothermal, andbiomassenergytechnologies. Theparkoftenfeatures installations likesolarpanels, windturbines, andeducationalcenters that showcase sustainable energypractices. Thegoalistogenerate cleanenergy whilealsoraisingawareness aboutrenewabletechnologies andtheirbenefits. Sustainability Park - Aspacedesignedtopromote anddemonstrate sustainable livingpractices. Thistypeofparkmayincorporatevarious elements suchascommunitygardens, eco-friendly buildings, water conservation systems, andeducational programs onsustainability. Itaimsto createanenvironment wherevisitorscanlearn aboutandengage in sustainable practices, fosteringacommunity-oriented approach to environmental stewardship andresourcemanagement. IfIdon'thearbackbeforeIseeyou, I'llcheckinwithyouatthemeeting. Mahalo. Warm regards, Carter From:janice glennie To:LPCtestimony Cc:Planning Internet Mail; Surprenant, April; Villegas, Rebecca Subject:General plan comments Date:Friday, November 1, 2024 12:25:09 PM AlohaLeeward Planning commissioners, Mahalo fortaking ourtestimony today. Hopefully youandstaffwillunderstand moredeeply thefrustrations being expressed abouttheprocess thatcontinuestoleaveinterested members ofthepublicunwilling todevotemoretimetolearning aplatform that’sbeenbeyondglitchy, sometimes notopening depending onthedayand, inmycase, noneofmycomments included after I’dtypedthemin. In40years ofpolitical engagement inthiscounty, thislasttwohas beenthemostfrustrating asfarasfeelinguninclusive. Housekeeping: inordertowatchthevideo fromtoday, onemustsignupforgoogle ratherthan accessitthrough thecountywebsite whichwouldbemore Akamaiandnotrequiresigning up toyetanotheremail-generating website. Otherissues: Today’smeeting wascutshort despite itbeingmeanttocoversuchanimportant topic. Having toaskommissioners toindividually askstafftofurtherexplainthekonveio platform rather thandoitatthemeetingwasamissed opportunity thatcould’vegivencommissioners andthe generalpublicasharedexperience learning tounderstand itsuse. Thatkind ofactivitywould helpthepublicfeelmoreincluded inwhat’sbeenamystifying process. Sendingeveryone off ontheirowntomaketheirwaythrough theexisting weedshasn’tbeenandisn'thelpfulandis, again, oneofthemainreasons thisplan isreceiving suchunfavorable publicreaction. Italso takesstafftimetoanswer thesamequestions overandoverinavacuum oftwo (emailof phone) insteadofdoingitinagroup setting — which isexactly howthisallprocess should’ve beendonefrom2020 whenthisadministration tookthereigns. Please hearme: I’mnotaskingtostarttheprocess over. However, Iamasking, andhave continued toaskfromthebeginning ofthisprocess, fortheretobecharette-stylemeetings where thepublic, asagroup, couldengage todiscusstheplan, askquestions, andprovide freshideaswithplannerswithoutconstantoverlapandconfusion ofhaving todoiton-the-fly orinavacuum. Thepublicshould’vebeentaught andpracticed usingwhatever platform was going tobeusedtotakecomments interactively inalarge, public group setting (akacharette). Timeandagain Itriedtheplatform, contacted April aboutissues, couldn’tseemycomments onthemaps, etc., etc.. Those interactions mademefeelevenmoreseparateaswellasguilty fortakingupApril’s timewhich isalready toostretched. Nothavinganyguarantee thatthepubliccaninitiate andexpectsubstantive changestotheGP atcouncil levelisanother reason forpublic feelingsofdisenfranchisement. We’resittingon pinsandneedleswaitingtoseeifcouncilman Inaba’sbillpasses. Even ifitdoes, itmaynot insurethatthepublicwillbeheard. (Andby “beheard”, nooneexpects thateverything they wanttobeincluded intheplanwillbe; Butwedoexpectsomesubstantive changeswhere needed astherearelotsofchangesbeingmadebytheadministration.) AsItestified, justadding newzones totheGPandLUPAG isabigdeal. It’sanother perfect exampleofwhereaninteractive-typepublicmeeting was/isneeded — notwith3-minute, staid testimony requirements — sothatpeoplearebrought intothefoldandareonthesamepage withunderstanding andamodicum ofagreement. Asfaraseliminating mapping, weknowwhatsideofthedevelopment paradigmMrFukeand select privatelandowners herepresents embrace (more, moremore development andless, less regulations). Mapsareatoolforthepublic tosee, visualize, andlearnwhat’shappening with ourlands. They’renecessary forbetterclarity andlessfightingatpermitting levelabout what’smeant intheplan. Athispoint, youandtheadministration cankeepallornothingoftheplanasyouchoose though, asyouindicated, you’renotgoingtotossitout. Thesensethatthisprocess isasfar alongasitiswithoutthepublicfeelingatallcertainthattheirvoiceisbeingincorporated into theplan — wherecomments madedon’tevenshowupontheinteractive maps — is demoralizing andmakesthepublicfeelthatdisenfranchisement hasbeenpartofthe administration’sgoalfromDay1. Thisisexacerbated bythemayorcomingoutofthegate speakingnegatively abouttheimportance oftheCDPs. Speaking ofmayor’scomments...pleaseomit “nimbyism” fromtheplan. Thewordand concept isdivisiveandmisleading. Ascaptain oftheplanning ship, thatkindof characterization ofcomitymembers who’vetakenthetimetolearnandspeakupabout how theywanttoprotect communities andresources onlycreatesmore feelings ofpublic disenfranchisement and, infact, anger. Andspeaking ofbeingfreetosaywhatourpolitical leaders havesaidandwritten...it’sa breachoffreespeechfortestifiersnottobeabletopointoutwhereourleaders arebeing wrong-headedoreven corrupt. Alreadybeinglimited3minutestestimony whensomeonelike Chuck Flaherty orthemanspeaking about Hawaiian Homes concerns —peoplewithreamsof crucialinformation toshare — istoughenough, andwasn’talways county protocol. And sendingitaswritten testimony isn’tthesameashaving itheard inperson. Again, Ifeelthat lettingthepublic havetheirsayisawaytoshow inclusivity, tocreate betterrelationships and goodwillbetweengovernment andthePeople, andtogetthingsdoneinthefuturewithout constantfighting andill-will. Willpublictestimony betaken attheNovember 4thmeeting? Mahalo foryourvolunteerism andfortakingwhatcouldbealotoftimegetting thehangof theKonveioplatform. Idont’ feelIhave enoughhoursorweeks leftinmylifetospendthem trying todecipherglitchytechnology (Iactually spentweeks), butIsurehope commissioners do. Bestregards, JanicePalma-glennie Kailua-kona Cc: AprilSuprenaut, CouncilrepVillegas From:Planning General Plan To:LPCtestimony; WPCtestimony Cc:Planning General Plan Subject:FW: General Plan 2045 Date:Monday, November 4, 2024 3:28:42 PM From: chris hi Sent: Monday, November 4, 20242:46PM To: Planning General Plan <generalplan@hawaiicounty.gov> Subject: General Plan 2045 Belowisatranscript ofmyoraltestimonywithminortypochanges. Thankyouforyourconsideration, ChrisHirose Transcript ofmyoraltestimony: IthinkGeneralplan2045 ispartoftheUNagenda2030SustainableDevelopment Goals. There'saglobalrulingclassthatcreatesglobalproblemssotheycanpeddleglobal solutionsthatgivesthempowerandwealthwhilemaking usserfs. Thisrulingclassownsatleastapartofthecentral banksallaround theworld. ForexampletheFederalReserveisaprivatelyownedcentralbankoftheUS. TheFederalReserve'sownwebsitesaysitpaysdividendstoitsshareholders. Alsoits income isexemptfromtaxesexceptforrealestatetransactions. That'swhyonthetopofeverydollaritsays "FederalReserveNote." TheFederalReserve wascreatedin1913andwasusedtofundbothsidesofWorldWarI in1914. Thatsameyearin1913, theFederalIncometaxwascreated, topaythedebtofwar. Thesolution toglobalwar, isglobalgovernance, sotheLeague ofNations wasformed. WorldWarIIwasarepeatofWorldWarI, sotheUnitedNations wasformed. On9/11afalseflagwasdonetostarttheglobalwaronterror. That'swhyon9/11, 3 WorldTradeCenterbuildingsweredestroyedincontrolleddemolitions. UnlikeBuildings 1 & 2, Building 7fellinacontrolleddemolitionwithoutaplanehittingit. Event201doneinOctober2019istheBuilding 7ofCovid. Event 201showstheCovidpandemic waspre-plannedanddoneonpurpose. Itisstill online. ItwassponsoredbytheGates Foundation, theWorldEconomic ForumandJohn Hopkins. TheRockefellers areconnected totheGatesfamily andTheWorldEconomic Forum. JohnRockefeller SrstartedJohnHopkinsSchool. Fauci'sNIAIDfundedtheWuhanLabwheretheallegedcovidlableakoccurred. Fauci'sNIAIDalsofundedRalphBaricwhopatented CovidanditspredecessorSARS. BaricwroteapaperwiththeWuhan Lab "BatLady" ShiZhengli. Covid waslikeaWorldWar, becausemost countrieswentintomassivedebttotheir centralbanks. Theglobalwarmingsolution is15minutecitieswiththeChinamodelsurveillance and control. TheGlobalistsareusingweatherweaponstoachieve thiswithclearevidence in Alcapulco, Mexicowithunnatural hurricanes. Alcapulco wastargetedasasmartcity. Thepeople therearerebelliousandthere'snot evenpolice, onlymilitary. Lastyearhurricane Otiswentfromatropicalstormtoacat5hurricaneinlessthan24 hours. IthitAlcapulcowith165mphwinds. ThisYearhurricane JohnwentfromtropicalstormtoaCat3hurricanein18hours. Ithit AlcapulcothenitwentbackouttoseaandthenhitAlcapulcoagainasaCat1 "zombie" hurricane. Mitchell D. Roth Mayor County of Hawai ` i Tristie Licoan, Chair William Sanborn Ruth Smith Vacant Julia Alos Kevin McLaughlin Scott Nagata, Vice Chair Peter Hendricks Karen Anderson SOUTH KOHALA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE Aupuni Center • 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 • Hilo, Hawai'i 96720 808) 961-8288 • Fax (808) 961-8742 November 6, 2024 Leeward Planning Commission County of Hawaii 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 Hilo, Hawai`i 96720 Subject: South Kohala Community Development Plan Action Committee Testimony Regarding Final Recommended Draft General Plan 2045 Aloha Leeward Planning Commission: The South Kohala Community Development Plan Action Committee (AC) met on Monday, October 28, 2024, at Kuhio Hale in Waimea. Included on the agenda was a discussion regarding the Final Recommended Draft General Plan 2045. The AC voted unanimously to provide collective testimony to the Planning Commission, identified as Communication 2024-08 and 2019- 10, attached. Sincerely, riP Tris Licoa (Nov 6, 2024 14:42 HST) Tristie Licoan, Chair South Kohala Community Development Plan Action Committee JL V:APL\PL\planning\publicAwpwin60\CDP\CDP - South Kohala\ActionCommitteeAMeetings\2024\2024-10-28\SK GP Testimony to WPC.docx Attachment: Communication No. 2024-08 and Communication No. 2019-10 Communication No. 2024-08 The South Kohala Community Development Plan (CDP) Action Committee (AC) submits the following comments on the Draft General Plan 2045. The compiled comments correspond to the South Kohala CDP, Table 8.1 Implementation Matrix. The table is broken down into the four towns and villages of South Kohala (Waimea Town Plan, Waikoloa Village Plan, Kawaihae Community Plan, and Puako Community Plan). The AC encourages the implementation of the following SKCDP strategies as they align with the General Plan. Waimea Town Plan Prioritize preserving Ag Lands and Open Spaces based on viewplanes, cultural sites, and historical sites. Preserve hillsides and grading for these areas, and change zoning to protect these lands. The AC also supports the development of more affordable housing and pedestrian access for the Waimea Community. 1.1 Acquire conservation easements for critical Pu`u parcels 1.2 Require a Use permit for grading on Steep Land 2.1 Acquisition of Fee Interest or of Conservation Easements of Open Space Areas in East Waimea 2.2 Internal Transfer of Development Rights 3.1 Self-help housing 3.2 Non-profit housing corporation(s) 4.1 Walkways and Bikeways for Waimea Waikoloa Village Plan In addition to the following action items, the AC strongly recommends prioritizing the completion of the Daniel K. Inouye Highway between Mamalahoa Hwy and Queen K. Hwy, from mauka to makai. 1.1 Finance and construct a second access road to Queen Ka`ahumanu 2.1 Financc and construct a community ccntcr and community park i urcv Vi V111 s_.. 4 . Jv . • _ll JV11V V1 Kawaihae Community Plan 1.1 Complete the development of the Ouli Well Field and transmit the water from Ouli to the Kawaihae area in order to provide additional sources of potable water for the area o Revise 1.1 to focus on the area from Kawaihae to Kailapa Hawaiian Homes o Adding infrastructure for housing in Hawaiian homes o New action plan for an evacuation route for Kailapa subdivision Puako Community Plan 1.1 Establish a fuel break along Queen Ka`ahumanu Highway and the northeastern section of Puako Road 1.2 Upgrade existing emergency warning sirens to have a battery electrical power backup in case of power outages 1.3 Construct the Paniau Evacuation Route 2.1 Construct a sanitary sewer system for the Puako Beach Lots Communication 2019-10 Waikoloa Subcommittee Report to the South Kohala Community Development Plan Action Committee June 18, 2019 REPORTOVERVIEW At the April 2018 meeting of the South Kohala Community Development Action Committee SCKCP-AC), issues with traffic at the Waikoloa RoadfPaniolo Avenue Intersection were raised both in public testimony and as an AC agenda item. In the public testimony, David Tarnas updated the Action Committee with information from the March 13, 2018 South Kohala Traffic Safety Committee meeting. Hawai`i State DOT officials had announced that new weight Iimits were pending on the Waiaka Bridge. In response to the restriction, the Kawaihae trucking community reported they would have to drive through Waikoloa as a bypass route to and from the Harbor, significantly increasing traffic congestion in Waikoloa and slowing down traffic flow. Councilman Richards was present and had a new update that DOT would be modifying those limits, avoid immediate increases in truck traffic through Waikoloa. Although the imminent problem was averted, the AC's further discussion made it clear that the traffic flow in Waikoloa remained an issue that needed further investigation. AC members agreed to establish a Waikoloa Subcommittee. The Subcommittee was tasked to investigate and report back to the Action Committee on the reported issues with the intersection at Waikoloa Road and Paniolo Drive as well as the on-going concern with a single access road into and out of Waikoloa Village with ever-increasing traffic and especially in emergency situations. AC members Kevin McLaughlin, Julia Alos, and Ruth Smith volunteered to serve on the Waikoloa Subcommittee. These volunteers have been working regularly on this issue for over a year. The report is structured so that information on either issue is a free-standing document. Thus, information on population, growth, housing, and developments is found in both subsections so each document is comprehensive and can be read independently. Thank you for your interest in these issues and for your willingness to become informed. We welcome your help for the benefit of residents, visitors, and local commerce to remedy the infrastructure deficits affecting Waikoloa Village and South Kohala. Waikoloa Subcommittee :s Waikoloa Road-Paniolo Avenue Intersection Report South Kohala Community Development Plan (SKCDP) Action Committee Waikoloa Subcommittee Report: Paniolo Avenue-Waikoloa Road Intersection 111 259 500 feet iriwo 110 Avenue Waikoloa Road Pua Melia Street Waikoloa Road r N Waikoloa Road - Paniolo Avenue intersection as it is in 2019. Image from Apple Maps. Labels added. Preface: June 2019 Update As this report was being prepared by the Waikoloa Subcommittee, Council Member Tim Richards moved ahead with a CIP proposal at a special meeting of the County Council on June 5, 2019. The amendment was Communication 118.11 for Bill 31, the 2019-2020 budget bill, and specified, "... to add the Waikoloa Road/Paniolo Avenue/Pua Melia Street Intersection Improvement project in the amount of 4.5 million to the Department of Public Works." The amendment was passed unanimously by the Council and Bill 31 was "AMENDED TO DRAFT 4 AND PASSED 2ND AND FINAL READING." As of this report date (June 18), the County budget process is not yet complete and the final budget has not been approved by the Mayor, but the addition of this CIP is an important and meaningful step forward towards addressing issues with this intersection. June 18, 2019 Page 1 of17 Communication No. 2019-10 Waikoloa Subcommittee's Waikoloa Road-Paniolo Avenue Intersection Report The subcommittee recommends supporting the CIP with communications to the Department of Public Works, the Traffic and Engineering Divisions within the Department of Public Works, and the Mayor. If the SKCDP Action Committee can assist with public input or other activities with the scope of the Action Committee, the subcommittee recommends providing that assistance. 1. Executive Summary Based on community feedback and observations, the intersection of Waikoloa Road, Paniolo Avenue, and Pua Melia Street at Waikoloa Village in South Kohala has become increasingly dangerous and is in need of safety improvements. The intersection is also steadily becoming busier and certain routes, such as left turns from Paniolo Avenue onto Waikoloa Road during morning commute hours, appear to be below the acceptable level of service for this type of intersection. Furthermore, the Waikoloa Village area is growing quickly, including new affordable housing development and new shopping center development, and any problems with the intersection are likely to become worse in the near future. Options for developing improvements to the intersection have been considered in the past and developer obligations were added on some rezoning and subdivision approvals decades ago, but these have not resulted in producing the needed safety and capacity improvements. In fact, it appears that this path will not succeed, as there are no signs of progress from any of the developers, and it is time for the County to take action regarding the intersection. The South Kohala Community Development Plan (SKCDP) includes multiple Policies and Strategies relating to improving safety and circulation of the South Kohala and Waikoloa Village roadways, and also references the 2005 Hawaii County General Plan which specifically lists providing traffic signals to the Waikoloa Road-Paniolo Avenue intersection as one of the Courses of Action" for South Kohala. The intersection could be improved in various ways, but this subcommittee suggests having the intersection studied by traffic professionals to recommend the necessary and best improvements and then proceeding on those recommendations. The improvements could be funded by the County through a project initiated with the CIP process or through a project initiated at the Department of Public Works. In either case, the subcommittee recommends requesting the Traffic Division at DPW to perform a traffic count and analysis to begin the process. June 18, 2019 Page 2 of17 Communication No. 2019-10 Waikoloa Subcommittee's Waiko/va Road-Paniolo Avenue Intersection Report 2. Introduction The large majority of Waikoloa Village ("Village") is connected to the rest of Hawaii island by a single road, Paniolo Avenue. Paniolo Avenue intersects with Waikoloa Road about 6 miles mauka of the Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway and about 7 miles makai of the Mamalahoa Highway. Paniolo Avenue also continues across Waikoloa Road as Pua Melia Street. Commuters, students, tourists, and others travel in and out of the Village on Paniolo Avenue every day, passing through the intersection with commuters, tourists, trucks, military convoys, and other traffic traveling up and down Waikoloa Road. The Paniolo Avenue-Waikoloa Road intersection has become a busy intersection in the last 15 years. There are stop signs on Paniolo Avenue and Pua Melia Street, and left turn lanes on Waikoloa Road in both directions. There are crosswalks across all roads. However, there are no other traffic control devices installed at the intersection. For several years now, Village residents have raised concerns about vehicle and pedestrian safety at this intersection and various factors, such as increased trucking, have changed the composition of the traffic. Multiple landowners near the intersection were obligated by the County to making capacity and safety improvements to the intersection, but none of these improvements have started. The Waikoloa Subcommittee was asked to investigate and report back to the Action Committee on the reported issues with the intersection, the status of various plans and commitments to improve the intersection, and recommendations on next steps or other actions that can be taken to move forward improvements for the intersection. For brevity, the intersection will be referred to below as the Waikoloa-Paniolo intersection, or just "[the] intersection". 3. Population/Housing/Growth To understand the change in use of the intersection and the future trends, the subcommittee is providing the following analysis of Waikoloa Village population growth and various developments around the Waikoloa Village area. There has been steady growth in population, housing, and commerce in Waikoloa, as anticipated in the SKCDP Pages 89. [Appendix CDP 2.] 3.1. Population Growth in Waikoloa & South Kohala The 2020 US Census is less than one year away, so accurate data on Waikoloa Village's population is not available; however, prior Census data shows that the Village's population grew substantially over the past twenty years, and that the trend continues. July 2017 US Census estimates indicate an 8% increase in Hawaii County's population to 200,381, up from 185,079 in the official 2010 Census. Conservative estimates are that the Village has grown into a town of over 7,000 people. June 18, 2019 Page 3of17 Communication No. 2019-10 Waikoloa Subcommittee's Waikoloa Road-Paniolo Avenue Intersection Report Year Big Island Population Waikoloa Population of Waikoloa. Growth actual or estimated) 1990 Maui Co. 2,248 N/A 2000 148,677 4,806 113% 2010 185,079 6,362 32% 2020 estimated 200,381 7,000+ 8%-10% or more Source: July 2017 US Census estimates Information from the State Data Book (updated November 2018, Appendix D-1) provides data on the Resident Population growth by State and Counties (Appendix D-2, Populations by State Counties, raw numbers) shows that the Big Island's increases are consistently higher vs. the State as a whole and any other county. ANNUAL GROWTH RATE by STATE & COUNTIES Date STATE total City/Co. Hawaii Co. Kauai Co. Maui Co. Change 2010- 2016 Hawaii County Oahu 148,677 185,079 193,680 2005-2010 L1 0.8 2.0 1.3 1.6 2010-2017 0.7 0.5 1.1 1.0 1.0 Source: State Data Book 2018. Resident Population growth by State and Counties, Table1.07. Appendix D-3] Additional information from the State Data Book (2018) data breaks down the Resident Population of Hawaii County by District by decades from 1990-2010 and from to 2012- 2016. (See modified table below.) CHANGE RATE BY Hawau County DISTRICTS Source of information in WHITE columns: State Data Book 2018. on Percentage Change of Resident Populations by County: 2000-2017 (.Table 1.12) Columns in YELLOW were added for this analysis. [Appendix D-4] June 18, 2019 Page 4 of 17 1990 2000 2010 2012-16 Increase 1990- 2016 Change 2010- 2016 Hawaii County 120,317 148,677 185,079 193,680 61% 5% Puna 20,781 31,335 45,326 45,517 119% 0% South Hilo 44,639 47,386 50,927 52,487 18% 3% North Hilo 1,541 1,720 2,041 1,676 9% 18% Han akua 5,545 6,108 6,513 7,463 35% 15% North Kohala 4,291 6,038 6,322 6,441 50% 2% South Kohala 9,140 13,131 17,627 18,751 105% 6% North Kona 22,284 28,543 37,875 41,662 87% 10% South Kona 7,658 8,589 9,997 11,277 47% 13% Kau 4,438 5,827 8,451 8,406 89% 1% Source of information in WHITE columns: State Data Book 2018. on Percentage Change of Resident Populations by County: 2000-2017 (.Table 1.12) Columns in YELLOW were added for this analysis. [Appendix D-4] June 18, 2019 Page 4 of 17 Communication No. 2019-10 Waikoloa Subcommittee's Waikoloa Road-Paniolo Avenue Intersection Report Between 1990-2016, every Hawaii County District grew, especially Puna and South Kohala; however, between 2010-2016, some Districts leveled off (i.e, Puna), others Districts declined (N. Hilo, Kau), and the remaining Districts continued to grow, especially in Kona and Hamakua. South Kohala also grew by 6% during that period. Population" in a locale that is popular world-wide with tourists must include the impact of those visitors on matters related to infrastructure. Valuable data on de facto population comes from The 2017 State ofHawaii DATA BOOK, A Statistical Abstract, updated in November 2018. De facto population is defined as the number of persons physically present in an area, of military status or usual place of residence. It includes visitor present but excludes residents temporarily absent, both calculated on an Avenuedaily census. Table 1.04 -Resident and De Facto Population, by Residence Status: 2000 to 2017 [Appendix 0-5]. The significant take -away from this data is that in every year, the de facto population exceeds the resident population. The Waikoloa Plaza developer Meridian Pacific presents related data in their prospectus regarding visitors/tourists, as follows: There are 1,191,470 tourists that visit the west side of Hawaii (Kohala Coast) each year. Average stay in Kohala/Kona resorts is 7 days. By dividing the number of tourists by the Average stay, the outcome should be the number of static tourists that are in the KonalKohala Coast per week on Avenuerage: 22,912 people/week. Number of tourists on an Average/week at 100% occupancy: o Mauna Lani or North: 7,102 o Waikoloa Village or South: 8,248 Conclusion: Population growth has occurred as predicted and continues in Waikoloa. All indications are that growth will continue and exceed that of other parts of the State and Hawaii Island. 3.2. Housing growth and developments in Waikoloa The number of Waikoloa housing units also increased, as did population density per square mile. Year Density/Sq. Mile Density/House Housing Units 2000 251 107 2057 2010 356 170 3042 Source, U S. Census June 18, 2019 Page 5 of17 Communication No. 2019-10 Waikoloa Subcommittee's Waikoloa RoadPaniolo,venue Intersection Report A Iist of housing develotpments includes: SUBDIVISION NAME UNITS Kaiaulu '0 Waikoloa (affordable) 63 Kamakoa Nui (HI Co. Workforce Housing) 1,200 Kilohana Kei Phase 1 127 Kilohana Kei Phase II 50 Pua Malia (affordable, formerly Waikoloa Highlands land) 60 Sunset Ridge (Makai) 120 Sunset Ridge (Makai Vistas) 31 Waikoloa Mauka (Waikoloa Road/Mamalahoa Hwy.) 96 Wehilani (Castle & Cooke) 756 Subtotal of Active Housing Projects 2,503 Aina Lea See notes *A & *B 2,406 Waikoloa Heights See note *A 2,400 Waikoloa Mauka (RA -1) See note *A 398 Subtotal of Planned Build -out (from CDP) 5,204 TOTAL of Planned Build -out See note *1 7,707 Note*1 This correlates with but is LARGER than SKCDP projections of 4 /7160] Note A. These TMK parcels have received the necessary entitlements to develop, but have not progressed. Note B. These TMK parcels are designated by the County LUPAG for Urban Expansion, but have not progressed. 3.3. Commercial developments in Waikoloa BioEnergy Hawaii LLC, a Kailua-Kona-based developer of waste -treatment and alternative - energy systems, plans to start construction on its $50 million resource -recovery and energy - conversion facility on the Big Island. BioEnergy Hawaii plans to lease about 15 acres of land on a portion of the property now known as the Waikoloa West Hawaii Concrete Quarry and operate an integrated resource -recovery facility to divert municipal solid waste from the West Hawaii Sanitary Landfill and elsewhere. It will be processing about 200 tons of incoming municipal solid waste per day, which is collected by local waste haulers, along with a variety of other waste materials. The facility could June 18, 2019 Page 6 q[17 Communication No. 2019-10 Waikoloa Subcommittees Waikoloa Road-Paniolo Avenue Intersection Report expand to allow for a capacity of 400 tons per day of waste. Of this volume, about 70 percent would be suitable for energy -conversion operations and the remaining 30 percent would consist of waste material that would be disposed at West Hawaii Sanitary Landfill, which registers at more than 500 tons per day. In March, 2017, Hawaii County Planning Department gAvenue its stamp of approval to the developer. Conclusion: This project is likely to increase the amount of traffic on Waikoloa Road, and it will likely decrease the speed of traffic flowing through Waikoloa from the Mamalahoa Highway to near the Queen Ka'ahumana Highway. WAIKOLOA PLAZA is being developed by Meridian Pacific, Ltd. in Waikoloa located in the southwest corner of the main Village intersection. Its promotional materials state that "Waikoloa Plaza will have a distinctive blend of tenants to provide [residents and] visitors needed daily services, speciality shopping, entertainment and eateries in the continuously growing Waikoloa Village community." Access by motor vehicles to the Plaza will include two major entrances, one on Waikoloa Road and another on Pua Melia, about 1,000 feet makai of the post office. A thiRoad entrance would be across from the lower entrance to Waikoloa Highlands Shopping Center on Waikoloa Road. The 130,000 -square -foot $40 million shopping center will encompass 19 square acres, with 35 retail stores filling spaces ranging from 800 to 35,000 square feet. Eighty-five percent of Waikoloa Plaza has been leased with tenants including Aloha Petroleum, Ace Hardware, Foodland, Fitness Forever, Family Health and Wellness, CrossFit AllStar, and dining outlets such as Balimo's Pizza, Chef TK, L&L Hawaiian BBQ, Strato's New York June 18, 2019 Page 7 q117 Communication No, 2019-10 Waikoloa Subcommittee's Waikoloa Road-Paniolo Avenue Intersection Report Pizzeria, SushHi and Bodhi Tree Juicery. The developer is also in talks with Nail Salon, Island Holistic Healing, Verizon, Longs Drugs, Maui Taco's, Dunkin' Donuts, Denny's, The UPS Store and McDonald's, among others. Highlands Shopping Center. The RED circle on the map above is at the intersection of Waikoloa Road and Paniolo Avenuenue. The VPO (Vehicle Per Day) is 16,600, accoRoading to the Plaza's Prospectus. A proposed 150 -room hotel is another unique aspect that Meridian Pacific Owner Gary Pinkston hopes to add to the shopping center. The decision for a hotel was also based on the seat count into the Big Island being up from 600,000 five years ago to 1.3 million in 2018. At the same time, the Hilton and others have taken 700 guestrooms out of service for condos. April 30, 2019, Meridian Pacific broke ground at the site. This site, zoned for commercial development has been a long-awaited improvement to the area, and is welcomed by most. This heightens the infrastructure needs in Waikoloa. Community members express concerns that the shopping center will exacerbate traffic issues on the only road and at the major intersection. This shopping center is what we were Iooking for in our county, and with economic development will come prosperity for the community," District 9 Councilman Tim RichaRoads said. RichaRoads is working to address the congestion at the intersection with a traffic signal or a round -about, depending on the findings of experts in the field. Conclusion: This project will certainly increase the amount of traffic on Waikoloa Road and congestion at the intersection at Paniolo Drive. It heightens the urgency to address safety issues at the intersection via a traffic light or a round -about, and provide another access road to the Village. June 18, 2019 Page 8 of17 Communication No. 2019-10 Waikoloa Subcommittee's Waikvlon Road-Paniolo Avenue Intersection? Report 3.4. State development in Waikoloa: PUBLIC LIBRARY for WAIK©LDA REGION. The 2018 legislature authorized the purchase of land in Waikoloa to build a public library. On April 25, 2019 Governor David Ige released $1.9 million in Capital Improvement Project funds to buy a 1.750 -acre parcel for the new Waikoloa Public Library. The library is to be Iocated on one of the parcels in the future Waikoloa Plaza shopping center, near the intersection of Waikoloa Road and Paniolo Avenuenue. (See above.) The library site would be just past the existing Post Office building on Pua Melia Street. Once the parcel is purchased by the state, the Department of Land and Natural Resources is required to prepare an Environmental Assessment for the project and the public will have the opportunity to submit comments. After that, the project will start its design phase during which the community can provide their advice about what should be included in the facility. Friends of the Library of Waikoloa Region (FLW R) has worked diligently for over a decade to procure a Public Library for the Waikoloa Region residents and visitors. They are hopeful that the library will be completed and accessible in 2022. Site Pian "w"ra"''A'°'"°"` _ ` i 46 I in a ASMhh.e4siRip R EMI! u IWl..rIF IMI.A.F.IAlsePMN M M.m..mai. 9..111, -,H:Eam, sPATe,(El-n /A rib - rercwewritwoff " n.Mu. r..lo747 i / .. CliMNI If1,.w; N.rP.w+u.r{1,n + , / 4? Plwwww101+1 a. f % W QQ . 1 W—Of soft teedmA1 IP *as ibelmi omit Lv s ..(1).11 Oi+T.IGGFF C rAr, ft.a amp NM}M 1'14.1'1.21 F..nFE••.11214, 9FOOE 1dnewtP.' kA Purr lbiad = El 11 WM 961-]I /Oa. nom... l, fl lit ream FrIffzi2 Library a MER MAN PACIFIC. 3.5. State development in Waikoloa: Waikoloa School (K-8), Building J Waikoloa Elementary School opened in September of 1994 with 325 students (K-5). The Elementary school's population grew to @560. In 2007, the BoaRoad of Education authorized the expansion of the school to incorporate Middle School students. With that, Waikoloa School's student population has grown to @825 students and @130 staff members. Building J is a two-story 10 classroom building and is the final phase of the original school plan's build -out. It is currently under construction in 2019. 4. Traffic, Pedestrians, and Bicycles in the Intersection June 18, 2019 Page 9 of 17 Communication No. 2019-10 Waikoloa Subcommittee's Waikoloa Road-Paniolo Avenue Intersection Repo The subcommittee investigated traffic, pedestrian, and bicycle usage of the intersection, as well as industry best practices for evaluating and addressing safety and capacity concerns with intersection. Waikoloa Road The image above shows the Waikoloa Road - Paniolo Avenue intersection with traffic markings visible as it is in 2019. The image is from Apple Maps and includes vehicles lined up in the left - turn lane on Waikoloa Road, turning onto Paniolo Avenue, and a truck in the process ofmaking a left turn. Labels have been added. 4.1. Traffic Review Vehicular traffic at the Waikoloa-Paniolo intersection has the following traffic patterns, as indicated by past traffic surveys and observation (Highlands 2005, various traffic counts, casual observations). The peak times are morning and afternoon, as is typical. In the morning, traffic leaves Waikoloa Village via Paniolo Avenue and turns right or left onto Waikoloa Road, e.g. for commuting to work or school in Waimea, Kona, Hilo, or down to the resorts, or tourists heading out for activities for the day. There is also traffic up and down Waikoloa Road passing through the intersection but not turning, e.g. trucking, commuters from Waimea or Hilo down to the resort areas, tourists coming up from the resort areas heading to other parts of the island. In the afternoon, the flow is reversed as people return home. The through -traffic on Waikoloa Road also continues. June 18, 2019 Page 10of17 Communication No. 2019-10 Waikoloa Subcommittee's Waikoloa Road-Pcmiolo Avenue Intersection Report During the day, there is a moderate flow of trucks and other traffic traveling up and down Waikoloa Road and a lesser flow of traffic in and out of Waikoloa Village. There is an increase in traffic in and out of Waikoloa Village around lunchtime. The traffic onto Pua Melia Street is significantly less than onto Paniolo Avenue, primarily driven by the U.S. Post Office located on Pua Melia Street. Pedestrians using the intersection are primarily residents from Waikoloa Village walking to and from the Post Office, but also include people exercising along Waikoloa Road and Pua Melia Street. Cyclists are often observed riding up and down Waikoloa Road. These patterns are likely to change significantly in the future, especially vehicular and pedestrian use of Pua Melia Street, due to the new shopping center and affordable housing that are being developed there. Vehicle traffic through the Waikoloa-Paniolo intersection is also going to change due to increased trucking activity, such as for trucking waste from the windward side of the island to the Ieeward landfill, but will Iikely be reduced if the DKI extension is constructed from the Mamalahoa Highway down to the Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway. 4.2. Intersection Safety The primary risks at the Waikoloa-Paniolo intersection are vehicular accidents, particularly involving traffic turning into or out of Paniolo Avenue and Pua Melia Street, and vehicles hitting pedestrians crossing Waikoloa Road. These risks are likely exacerbated due to the lack of any traffic control at the intersection and the frequency of people misunderstanding the traffic rules at the intersection, especially non-residents, which results in unexpected behavior, such as stopping as if there were stop signs on Waikoloa Road. 4.3. Intersection Traffic Load and Capacity Various U.S. state departments of transportation and highway design experts have developed guidelines for how to determine if an intersection needs to have signalization or other traffic controls added. This takes out the subjectivity that is common when soliciting feedback on whether an intersection needs traffic controls, e.g. due to safety concerns or long traffic delays at peak travel times. In many states, the state department of transportation will conduct intersection traffic surveys when appropriate requests are made by individuals or organizations. These surveys will include traffic flow counts, pedestrian and bicycle counts, analysis of at least three years of accident or traffic violation data, sight lines and distances at the intersection, and other case-by-case data. The data is assembled into a traffic analysis report which compares the intersection data vs industry -standard metrics, to advise if traffic controls, such as traffic signals or stop signs, are justified. One of the more common metrics that is evaluated is the "Level of Service" of the intersection, defined in the Highway Capacity Manual, which evaluates the number of seconds a vehicle is delayed when traveling through or turning at the intersection. A study of this nature was conducted for the Waikoloa-Paniolo intersection back in 2005 as part of an EIS for a nearby subdivision, the Waikoloa Highlands. This report includes projections for future traffic at the intersection, but it makes some assumptions about future developments at the time, such as the Auwaiakeakua Gulch in Waikoloa ViIIage having a bridge and road to June 18, 2019 Page 11 of 17 Communication No. 2019-10 Waikoloa Subcommittee's Waikolon Road-Paniolo Avenue Intersection Report Waikoloa Road built by 2010, which has not happened as of 2019. Nevertheless, the report recommended adding a traffic signal to the intersection based on the 2005 analysis and 2010 projections, primarily to address "Level of Service" issues with left turns from Paniolo Avenue onto Waikoloa Road. (WHTIA, p. 25) Traffic on Paniolo Avenue and Waikoloa Road were counted in separate activities in 2016 and 2018, although the data was collected in different Iocations and not incorporated into a formal traffic analysis report. Traffic at the intersection has also been estimated currently at 16,600 vehicles per day by the Waikoloa Plaza development team, Meridian Pacific (per leasing brochure, 2018). 4.4. Near-term Pedestrian Usage Increases Pedestrian and bicycle usage is very likely to increase in the future, within the next two years, due to the construction of a Large shopping center on the south side of Waikoloa Road. This will drive pedestrian and bicycle traffic from Waikoloa Village (on the north side of Waikoloa Road) across the intersection to and from the shopping center. There is also an affordable housing development planned on Pua Melia Street that will have around 60 units which will also increase pedestrian traffic at the Waikoloa-Paniolo intersection, as people from that development walk across the intersection to the existing shopping center on the northwest corner of Waikoloa Road and Paniolo Road, and possibly children walking or cycling to school at Waikoloa Elementary & Middle School. 4.5. Near-term Traffic Increases Waikoloa Road is currently used as the main thoroughfare between the Mamalahoa Highway and the Queek Ka'ahumanu Highway. This results in many trucks traveling through the Waikoloa- Paniolo intersection. Military convoys also use this route and occasionally slow down traffic, but this is not typically a daily occurrence. Industrial use and construction projects along Waikoloa Road, such as the West Hawaii Concrete quarry, the BioEnergy Hawaii plant, West Hawaii Concrete's planned asphalt plant, AES Distributed Energy's planned solar power plant, the planned trucking of waste from East Hawaii to the West Hawaii Sanitary Landfill in Puuanahulu, and others, add (or will soon add) to the daily heavy vehicle traffic. 4.6. Intersection Recommendation After reviewing the available data, it seems to the members of the subcommittee preparing this report that the Waikoloa-Paniolo intersection needs to have traffic controls added, such as a traffic signal or a roundabout. However, it is difficult to draw a firm conclusion without having professionals review current traffic data for the intersection. Fortunately, intersection traffic control is an extrememly well -studied area with established standards and procedures for determining how to address intersection traffic and safety. This would typically consist of a traffic study (or traffic count) performed by the Hawaii County Traffic Division for the Waikoloa-Paniolo intersection. June 18, 2019 Page 12 of 17 Communication No. 2019-10 Waikoloa Subcommittee's Waikoloa Road-Paniolo Avenue Intersection Report The subcommittee therefore recommends requesting that the Traffic Division perform a traffic count at the intersection and then evaluate the results using their tools and expertise to determine what improvements, if any, are warranted at this time. The subcommittee also recommends requesting that the traffic count be repeated every three years to identify further improvements or changes necessary in the future as the Waikoloa Village area continues to grow. In support of this recommendation, it is worth noting that the County of Hawaii has also recognized the need for improvements to the intersection by adding obligations for developers to improve the intersection if they proceed with developments on three lots near the intersection, however, as explained in Section 7 below, this has not resulted in any improvements and does not appear to be a viable plan for improvements to the intersection in the timeframe they will be needed. 5. Community Input/Feedback The members of the subcommittee live in Waikoloa Village and regularly speak with other residents of the Village. It is hard to produce statistics from these discussions, but it is notable that in every discussion about the Waikoloa-Paniolo intersection, residents always agree that the intersection is dangerous and needs improvement. Village residents have varying opinions about what kind of improvement should be made, generally preferring either a traffic signal or a roundabout, but none of the subcommittee members have experienced a Village resident arguing. that safety improvements are not needed. One informal survey was conducted on the website "Nextdoor" on their Waikoloa Village community page. This survey received 76 replies from about 25 Waikoloa Village residents. There were various opinions about how to improve the safety of the intersection, ranging from more informative signage and adding stop signs to traffic signals and roundabouts, but everyone agreed that the intersection needs safety improvements. Safety of the intersection is also a frequent topic raised at Waikoloa Village Association (WVA) meetings. The WVA membership consists of over 3000 homes in Waikoloa Village, which the subcommittee estimates to include at least 2/3 of the Village population. The WVA is asked regularly, many times each year, if the WVA can improve the safety of the intersection. The WVA has provided feedback to the County in the past regarding safety improvements being needed at the intersection. 6. CDP support for Intersection Improvements In the South Kohala Community Development Plan (SKCDP), a Second Access Road for ingress and egress for Waikoloa was the top priority, along with overall infrastructure improvements. In 2008 when the SKCDP was submitted, the Waikoloa-Paniolo intersection itself was not a "hot topic". Since then, the population of Waikoloa Village has grown from 4,800 to 7,000 people, a 46% increase. June 18, 2019 Page 13of17 Communication No. 2019-10 Waikoloa Subcommittee's Waikoion Road-Paniolo Avenue Intersection Report Below are the relevant sections of the SKCDP that relate to the intersection. General Policy 2 of the SKCDP relates to transportation, with sub -policy 23 specifically being "Build safe roads." Kawaihae Road and Waikoloa Road are identified as being considered dangerous, with the example of not having truck runaway ramps. In the Waikoloa Policies and Strategies in the SKCDP, Policy 3 addresses Transportation & Circulation (Appendix CDP -5) Strategy 3.5 recommends the Development of a Master Circulation Plan for Waikoloa Village. (Appendix CDP -8) Had a Master Circulation Plan been developed, it would undoubtably have addressed the Intersection issues with traffic congestion. Strategy 3.6 recommends implementing traffic safety improvements along Waikoloa Road. (Appendix CDP --8) Improvements to the Waikoloa Road Paniolo Avenue intersection are not specifically mentioned, but this Strategy was intended to address any safety issues related to travel on Waikoloa Road. The SKCDP also established a Monitoring Plan for South Kohala: The Monitoring Plan is a way to track and assess the progress of Policies. Appendix CDP -10) The specific Monitoring Plan for Waikoloa regarding infrastructure is 9.3.3 Provide Transportation and Circulation Improvements in a Timely Manner" by looking at County and State CIP allocations for infrastructure and the number of public/private partnerships formed to provide for roadways. (Appendix CDP -11) No Master Circulation Plan has been developed The SKCDP also referenced the 2005 Hawaii County General Plan and County Codes: SKCDP Appendix D is from the County's General Plan (2005) "Courses of Action" for the District of South Kohala. (Appendix CDP -12). Under the Transportation: Roadways section, item "j" is: (Appendix CDP -13): Provide traffic signals at the Waikoloa Road-Paniolo Drive intersection. In SKCDP Appendix. E, Referenced County Codes were listed. Concurrency Requirements: This section creates standards for road and water supply in change of zoning actions. Definitions are provided, including: Acceptable levels of service Approved development Critical road area Immediate vicinity of a project Level of Service (LOS) Local mitigation Area mitigation Appendix CDP -14) 7. Developer Obligations June 18, 2019 Page 14 of I7 Communication No. 2019-10 Waikoloa Subcommittee's Walkoloa Road-Paniolo Avenue Intersection Report The County recognized decades ago that the Waikoloa-Paniolo intersection would need safety and capacity improvements. To support this, the County and the LUC added requirements to three tots near the intersection when the respective owners of those lots, Waikoloa Highlands, Waikoloa Mauka, and Hawaiian Riverbend, applied for rezoning or subdivision, as early as 1990 in Ordinance 1990-160, requiring signalization of the intersection, based on a Traffic Impact Analysis Report (TIAR) from 1989). Unfortunately, none of the owners have engaged in any substantial development of those properties and their various requirements to build intersection improvements remain unfulfilled. In fact, one of the owners, Waikoloa Highlands, has recently had their rezoning revoked due to inactivity. The owners of the other lots do not show any signs of engaging in development of their respective properties, resulting in the intersection being unimproved for far Ionger than the County envisioned when the requirements were added. For example, Ordinance 1995-051 amended the earlier 1990-160 to require the signalization of the intersection by June 30, 1996. This deadline was among many missed by the respective developers. In 2005, the County passed Ordinance 2005-157 which amended the requirement further to specify a roundabout, and the developer did contract with an engineering firm to create plans for this improvement, which was noted in a 2016 annual report from Waikoloa Highlands as construction plans for the roundabout at the Waikoloa Road/Paniolo Avenue intersection have been completed." However, the plans were apparently not paid for by the developer and were never approved or acted upon. As Waikoloa Highlands was the only developer that had even taken any steps, and they are the developer that has lost their rezoning due to inactivity, it appears that the reliance on developers to make the needed safety and capacity improvements to the intersection has failed, and the improvements are now overdue. It is time for the County to create a new plan that does not rely on developers, or to find a way to get contributions from developers regardless of their development progress so that the community involved is not harmed simply because developers decided not to develop their properties. S. Improvement/solution Options As part of researching the Waikoloa Road - Paniolo Avenue intersection, the subcommittee received some feedback from the community and reviewed some documentation that suggested adding a traffic signal or a roundabout to the intersection as a solution to the apparent safety and capacity problems. The subcommittee spent some time to evaluate if one or the other solution, or even a different solution, would be better for the intersection. Ultimately, however, it is the responsibility of professionals in traffic design to determine the correct type(s) of improvement(s) for the intersection, so the subcommittee is providing this very brief synopsis for information only. Research into the topic of traffic signals vs. roundabouts revealed that roundabouts are generally considered safer than traffic signals, as any accidents that occur in a roundabout are typically at a lower speed than at a traffic signal (or unsignalized intersection), resulting in fewer and less June 18, 2019 Page 15ofl7 Communication No. 2019-10 Walkoloa Subcommittee's Waikoloa Road-Paniolo Avenue Intersection Report severe injuries to any people involved. Roundabouts sometimes result in fewer total accidents of all types, but occasionally result in a slight increase in total accidents, though with fewer and less serious personal injuries. The main drawback of roundabouts is that it is more difficult for pedestrians with vision disabilities to cross the road at a roundabout. Other options, such as adding stop signs on Waikoloa Road or adding a pedestrian crossing signal, could be considered, but the subcommittee advises again that the determination of what improvernents should be made should be the responsibility of professionals in the field. 9. Funding/Development Options There are various funding options for making the needed Waikoloa-Paniolo intersection improvements. The main options are, in no particular order: 1. County CIP process 2. Department of Public Works, Traffic Division 3. Developer obligations related to rezoning, subdivision, or building plan approvals The option with the least cost to the County is the developer obligation option, but this has not worked in this case. The property owners that were given a requirement to make improvements have not developed their properties, and do not appear that they will do so any time soon, so this option cannot be pursued unless a new developer enters the picture. See section 7 above for more details on the current (unsuccessful) developer obligations. The option that appears to have the shortest path to development is to work with the Department of Public Works (DPW), specifically starting with the Traffic Division. The Traffic Division could perform a traffic count at the intersection and then evaluate the data collected using their expertise and tools. This would result in specific recommendations for improvements that would address the issues revealed by the Traffic Division's evaluation. The recommendations would then be passed to the Engineering Division at DPW for further analysis and planning. The Engineering Division would be able to create a specific plan and request funding via CIP or via a direct request to the County Council to appropriate funds for the needed improvements. The improvement project could then proceed as planned by the Engineering Division. The County CIP process is well-known and follows an annual review and approval process as part of the County budget. This method of proposing a Waikoloa-Paniolo intersection improvement project is suggested ifthe DPW is unable to move forward on the project directly, or if an opportunity arises to submit a CIP with support from Council Members in the current budget approval cycle. 10. Conclusion/Recommendations June 18, 2019 Page 16ofl7 Communication No. 2019-10 Walkoloa Subcommillee's Waikoloa Road-Panrolo Avenue Intersection Report After considering all ofthe information in this report and numerous source materials (see References), the members of the Waikoloa Subcommittee believe the Waikoloa-Paniolo intersection needs to have traffic controls added, such as a traffic signal or a roundabout. Reiterating the recommendation from Section 4, the subcommittee recommends requesting that the Traffic Division perform a traffic count at the intersection and then evaluate the results using their tools and expertise to determine what improvements, if any, are warranted for the intersection at this time. The subcommittee also recommends requesting that the traffic count be repeated every three years to identify further improvements or changes necessary in the future as the Waikoloa Village area continues to grow. After the Traffic Division completes the traffic count and analysis, and based on the recommendations the Traffic Division produces, the subcommittee recommends following up with the Engineering Division, the Department of Public Works, and the County Council to support the intersection improvements. If needed, the subcommittee also then recommends submitting a CIP for the intersection improvements. 11. References Apple Maps copyright information: https:llgspe21-ssl.ls.apple.com/html/attribution-136.html Other sources, citations, and references to be updated in additional document. June 18, 2019 Page 17 of l7 JAMES Y. AGENA !³³®±-¤¸ !³ , Œ James Y. Agena, LLLCœŠaHawaiilimitedliabilitylaw company Š œœ November 15, 2024 Countyof Hawaii Leeward Planning Commission Windward Planning Commission101 Pauahi Street, Ste. 3 Hilo, HI 96720Via email to: LPCtestimony@hawaiicounty.gov; WPCtestimony@hawaiicounty. gov; andU.S. Mail Re: Hawaii County General Plan Comprehensive Review/ Notice of Proposed Changein Parcel DesignationndTMK: 7-3-009:063, Kaloko, North Kona, HawaiiDearSiror Madam: My office representsKaloko Residential ParkRPL, ownerof property describedas TMK 7-3- regardingthe subject matterset forthin your Notice dated October 10, 2024. KRPL respectfully objectstothe proposed redesignation ofParcel63fromthe existing LUPAGof Urban (expansion) tothe proposed GPLU of Conservation. Attachedfor referenceisamap depicting Parcel63and surrounding properties, andthe County informationasto Parcel63in general. Please consider the following: The Designation WasAn Error. Upon receiptofthe Notice, KRPL (by Greg Ogin) was placedin contactby Zendo Kern, Director, with April J. Surprenant, AICP, ofthe officeof Long Range Planning & Boardof Appeals, Hawaii County Planning Department. Itis our understanding from contact withthat office thatthe designation was madein error. Possibly a GISor mapping mistakethatisinthe processof being corrected. KRPLisNota Partyto aThe Notice statesthatthe reasonfor the prior noticeofa Lanihau master plan, nor anythingthat would requirethe sudden designation ofits property. KRPLowns Parcel 63, andits47 acresof previously designated Urban- expansion thatitis comprised of, notany other County ofHawaii November 15, 2024 Page2 Ifthis designation involves Lanihau Properties LLCandsome manner ofplan it proposes, thenitisclearthat itdoes not own, norhaveaninterest inParcel 63. Norisitknown whatexactly arethereasons fortheneed toconvert Parcel 63, toConservation zoning. Itisunfairandimpossible torebut thedesignation without knowing thespecificand authorized reasons forit. 1 The adjacent property tothesouth ofParcel 63, isowned byLanihau Properties LLC anddesignated asTMK No. 7-4-008:081. Seeattached map. Inthe event thisinvolves adevelopment per amaster planproposed byLanihau Properties, foritsown benefit, which includes theredesignation ofParcel 63, whichLanihau Properties obviously does notown, itisobviously suspect and unjust. TheLanihau Properties planneedstodesignate its ownproperty for Conservation purposes tofulfill whatever intentitmight have. TheDesignation Would Deprive KRPLof itsIntended Use. KRPL intends todevelop Parcel 63, along withother ofitsproperties inthevicinity, tocreate acompact, mixed-use, master-planned community offering awide range ofhousing typesandaffordability, anda variety ofbusinesses andemployment opportunities. Thisincludes providing housing for the working families ofHawai'inearby areasofworkforce demand, resultantly improving overall quality oflifethrough the reduction ofcommuting and facilitation ofeveryday function.2 To achieve thisgoal KRPL would seek alanduse reclassification and zoning changes topermit these uses. Adesignation ofParcel 63toConservation would effectively prevent KRPL from proceeding with theintended development. Further, the designation wouldpreclude KRPL from 1 Conservation being: (1) protecting watersheds andwater sources; (2) preserving scenic andhistoric areas; (3) providing park lands, wilderness, andbeach reserves; (4) conserving indigenous orendemic plants, forestry, fish, andwildlife; (5) preventing floods andsoilerosion; (6) retaining openspace areasto enhance thepresent orpotential value ofabutting orsurrounding communities; (7) using areasofvalue forrecreational purpose, other related activities, andother permitted usesnotdetrimental toamulti-use conservation concept. 2TheKRPL intended useoftheproperty addresses thegoals oftheKeahole toKailua Development Plan, prepared bytheCounty ofHawaii Planning Department, andadopted byresolution bytheHawaii County Council inApril 1991. TheDevelopment Planisintended toserveasanimplementing toolforthe County General Plan andbeaflexible guideforthefuture growth anddevelopment ofthearea. TheKeahole toKailua Development Planencompasses anareaofapproximately 17,000acresinthe North Kona District extending fromtheKauahupuaa tothenorth, Mamalahoa Highway totheeast, Palani Road andKailua Village tothesouth, andtheshoreline tothewest. Theoverall goalestablished fortheDevelopment Planisasfollows: approximately 8,000 ormoreresidential units, inafunctional, attractive, andfinancially viable manner. County ofHawaii November 15, 2024 Page3 realizing theeconomic benefit ofthepotential oftheproperty, andhave the effect ofa governmental taking ofproperty without just compensation. KRPL haspaidasubstantial amount ofrealproperty taxesinthepast totaling approximately $250,000.00based upon an Agricultural classification, and anexpectation that itwould bepermitted tousetheproperty for atleastthatpurpose. Attached isthewebpage from theCounty realproperty taxoffice describing the assessed market landvalueof $3,339,400.00and property taxespaid. KRPL Has Protested inthePasttoaConservation Designation. TheDraft2040County ofHawaii General Plan hadproposed thatKRPL property, including Parcel 63, bedesignated as Conservation orLow Density Urban. KRPL submitted anobjection inNovember 2019, based uponmanyofthesame reasons made inthisletter. The2019objection intheformofaletter fromitsattorneys tothePlanning Department isattached hereto, and incorporated hereinby reference. KRPLrenews thearguments madein2019, inconnection with thecurrently proposed designation. KRPL reserves theright tosupplement thisletterwith further documentation and/or testimony. Should youhave any questions, please contact theundersigned. Very TrulyYours, James Y. Agena Attachments C: Kaloko Residential Park LLC County ofHawaii Planning Department 74-5044Ane Keohoklole Highway, Building E, 2ndFloor, Kailua- From: Amy Harlib To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv Subject: Revise Hawaii General Plan Testimony Here Date:Sunday,November 17,2024 9:31:48 PM To Big Island Testimony, I fully support the below statements from Stand Together Hawaii. 1. The word "Stakeholder," defined in the plan, is written 86 times and literally means anyone in the entire world can have input on this 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 and management are crucial for the success and sustainability of any initiative, as it helps ensure that diverse 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 use will be changed from resident to recreation due to the General Plan 2045. This will drastically lower 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 be further 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. hapS7//clintel.orgLn-content/unloads/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 move forward without that? Hilo is 22% of the island. 6. 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 of Papaikou, has created an Ag Villages plan. Ag Village to add to the General Plan: Papaikou Ag Village Objectives:Papaikou Site Plan: Papaikou Development: A Hawaiian born Kanaka revised the Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship that is in the plan. You can see it in the pdf below: Here is a longer revised version of the plan from locals: The way this plan is written is very far from what will support our island. Sincerely, Amy Harlib Citizen, USA From: Elizabeth Dunn To: LPCtestimonv Subject: Comments on the draft General Plan Date:Sunday,November 17,2024 5:43:23 PM Attachments: Island Wide Comments on Draft GP.pdf Hello Leeward Planning Commission: I am unable to attend the Planning Commission on Thursday, and am providing my comments to you via email. Mahalo for your time. Elizabeth Dunn Questions to the Leeward Planning Commission November 21, 2024 Aloha Leeward Planning Commission: I know how hard it is to revise a General Plan and work through the many public meetings, and assemble the hundreds, if not thousands, of comments submitted by the public. It's not an easy task. Your staff has done a terrific job, and prepared a document that will be the vision document for development for the next two decades. My comments below, and what I submitted in greater detail two months ago are meant to enhance the document. In that spirit, I submit my concerns below. I read the comments on the draft General Plan (GP) and found the comment below on process quite interesting. I'd appreciate having Staff elaborate on the answer provided. I find it difficult to believe that the County Council is not able to make substantive changes to the draft GP prior to adoption. If that's the case, I'd suggest that as part of the public hearing process, the Winward and Leeward Planning Commissions assemble the comments of concern that are heard repeatedly, and transmit these to the Council as a separate document as part of the discussion of the draft GP process. I have never heard of a process where the County Council does not have the authority to revise the draft GP at the Council level. Perhaps the Council directs certain sections to be revised, and these sections are brought back through the Planning Commission process. The balance of the draft GP is put on hold until the language that needs to be revised is by the public through the publicly noticed Planning Commission review process and incorporated into the draft GP . Please clarify the issue raised by the H5m5kua CDP Action Committee, question on Page 95 about Process Q: Will the County Council and Planning Commissions be allowed to make amendments to the plan? A: Chapter 16.1 of the 2005 General Plan outlines the process for the comprehensive review of the general plan. The Planning Commissions will review the plan and make recommendations related to amendments. The County Council ultimately adopts the general plan, but there have been recent questions discussed at Council as to their ability to make substantive changes prior to adoption. The general plan is intended to be a living document that can be amended. By way of example, the 2005 General Plan was amended in 2006 and 2007 to address and amend some elements that were not addressed when adopted in 2005. This process referred to as interim amendments is outlined in Chapter 16.2 of the 2005 General Plan. I provided significant comments, and will not go through them here. However, there are a few concepts I would like Staff to discuss to make the issue clearer. 1.Integrated Resource Plans: Cross-island transmission lines? Is this discussed elsewhere in the draft GP? This is a huge issue, even if the Planning Department, and the County of Hawai'i can only give guidance to HELCO or the state Public Utility Commission on this issue. These transmission lines are an eyesore, there's been a huge body of information about the health risk potential of the electromagnetic fields (EMFs) emitted by these power lines, and where this kind of facility is places. 2.Glossary. Please explain why there are so many levels of plans: Community Development Plan, Functional Plans; General Plan; Integrated Resource Plans; Master Plan; Special Area Plans; Urban Development Plans; and Village Plan. Do all of these types of Plans currently exist, or are required? Are some of them good ideas to create in the future by the County of Hawai'i or Agencies it works with? A graphic to show how these plans work together and why all of these types of Plans are needed will help to explain why so many types of plans are discussed and how they are intended to work together. I know there is Figure 3 in Chapter 1, but this doesn't elaborate on my issue of whys many plans exist, and are needed. It's unnecessarily complicated. A City of approximately 200,000 on the mainland wouldn't have so many regulatory hurdles with various plans - why does this County? 3.1.6 Grounded Vision and Goals I appreciate the General Plan Vision State, as well as the Sustainable Development and Resilient Communities Goals, but this language and the intent behind it is overly ambitious. There is no sustainable development now that is being built. Perhaps the newest development in Waikoloa, and Waikoloa Village, but not in any other development proposal I've seen. If this is going to be a building principle and goal, each and every developer, including those projects that have been approved years ago, and are on the books as "active projects", need to update their plans, and approaches, and incorporate the "one water" principle. If these projects don't then this General Plan will not have achieved its goal. There is so much language in this draft General Plan that speaks to "incorporating indigenous and contemporary knowledge and placed based practices to direct and manage growth for the health and safety of our communities". However, there is no clear discussion on HOW the indigenous communities will be brought into the Planning process. Please expand on how and what that process looks like. 4.Chapter 2 - Collaborative Bicultural Stewardship 2.1 Introduction. I feel I'm going to say the same thing over and over and over again. I appreciate the language about bringing all people into the Planning process, but from what I've seen since I've lived here, that sure hasn't happened. Certainly, there's collection of comments and concerns from the public, but no real listing and hearing of the comments - by staff, the Leeward Planning Commission and several members of the County Council. So when I read the language in the second paragraph which states that, "the policies presented in this section seek to foster partnerships that are based on multi respect, trust, and shared values", I don't believe it. I can't believe it. Why? Because I haven't experienced it personally or seen it in the various public meetings I've attended. I don't know how this County, and Planning Department believe it's going to get over the lack of distrust in the Planning process, and those in the management of the Department, and even the current Mayor, when the decision making process feels rigged and corrupt. Why invite people to participate when the developers are already meeting with the Planning Department and are overheard that the project is a "done deal"? Where is the mutual respect and trust? The Planning Department doesn't conduct its own neutral environmental review (which the developer must pay for); instead, it uses the developer prepared environmental documentation, and agrees with it completely. There is no peer review of this information. There is little to no analysis of a development proposal, and all the staff reports recommend approval. Even with such a controversial project like the one proposed above Black Sands Beach. What are the shared values? This is only place where I can make my concerns known about the Planning Department, how its operates, and the culture within this organization, that may have any consequence. When I continue to read language about bringing people into the decision making process, I'm appalled, and it does't happen now. Why would I (or anyone else) believe it will happen in the future? 5.Chapter 4 - Sustainable Development and Resilient Communities Market Conditions - Sixth Bullet. I find this statement to be an excuse. This happens in Planning. Development applications are submitted, reviewed, processed, and most often, approved. This timeline doesn't always, and rarely meets the market for getting the product - housing commercial space, etc. - online at a time that meets developers expectations. What I find to be very confusing here on this island is that projects are approved, and not built. They stay on the books for a long time, and may or may not ever get built. Why go through the time, money, effort, and public engagement process to secure a land approval entitlement, and not build. The fault lies with the developer, not the Planning staff or the County. Please reconsider revising this statement, as I believe this statement puts blame on the wrong party. It's a risk to develop land. If the developer can't deliver, then that's not the right developer for the project or the neighborhood. I'd like to see some language in this section of the draft General Plan that prohibits or penalizes "land or entitlement" banking. That's a huge issue for this island, and it's not mentioned anywhere in this document. I know the County Council has passed or intends to pass several Ordinances to understand how many previously approved projects are still on the books and have not been built. That's an issue since the land is held by an entity that has secured a Planning approval, the Planning approval doesn't have real teeth regarding any expiration, and the land can't be built on. Let's be honest with this situation, and call for changes to the Planning process with Conditions of Approval that have real deadlines, Project Approvals that have real deadlines, and Developers that are paper jockeys and don't intend to develop. They hold the land hostage, and the community suffers. 6.Page 89, Resort. Please consider stronger language for 13.44, 13.46 and use "shall' instead of "should". 13.45 would be stronger if "Prohibit" were used instead of "do not allow". 13.48 - What is a clear community benefit? It should be more than money... If it's money, there should be a program that's created on how this money is used to benefit the community, and the community should be able to direct how this money is used. 13.50 would be stronger if encourage was replaced with "require". (There are other comments I made about using "shall" instead or "should" in this draft GP for the same reason and I won't include all of those statements here.) 7.Page 126, Drinking Water Please consider creating legislation that requires a water study for residential, commercial or industrial developments of a certain size (over 50 residential units, 50,000 sf. for example). This should ensure that water availability is not in question for these developments. Additionally, for projects that are on the books, but have not been built, and any money that has been paid for water credits, this money, and the credits revert to the Department of Water Supply after 5 years if no building permit has been issued. There has to be some way to incentivize development to occur (if that's the intent) and to discourage land banking/holding by entities that type up land without developing it for needed housing. (I realize this would be for the County Council to consider as it's legislation.) 8.Objective 37 38c. I have a real problem with this. It feels like a huge break for unpermitted work. How does the County know when this work occurred? How far back is the County willing to go with building codes to use? I'd really question if this is the route the County wants to take on this. It's unfair to people who get permits, and to use older building codes doesn't make the housing stock better or safer. Please reconsider this option, or create better language for this. Mahalo for your time. Elizabeth Dunn From: Adele Henkel To: LPCtestimonv;WPCtestimonv Subject: Revise Hawaii General Plan Testimony Date:Monday, November 18,2024 4:37:34 PM Dear Fellow Hawaiians/Community Stakeholders, Here are some concerns: 1. The word"Stakeholder," defined in the plan,is written 86 times and literally means anyone in the entire world can have input on this plan. Please recommend Stakeholder be changed 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 and management are crucial for the success and sustainability of any initiative,as it helps ensure that diverse 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 to many homeowners telling them their land use will be changed from resident to recreation due to the General Plan 2045.This will drastically lower 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 be further researched. There are over 1900 credentialed scientists that say there is no climate danger. Here is the pdf showing the scientists 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. But,there are extensive terra forming weather modification operations(aka geoengineering,SRM,etc.)being conducted by the U.S.military and their contractors. 5. Hilo does not have a Community Development Plan. How can a Big Island General Plan move forward without that?Hilo is 22%of the island. 6. 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 of Papaikou,has created an Ag Villages plan. All in all,this plan being floated around the U.S,looks like a U.N.one-world-order agenda plan. Are you trying to surrender Hawaii to those globalist elites? Thank you for taking this to your Hawaiian hearts. AH Kailua Kona From: David DeCleene To: LPCtestimonv Subject: General Plan 11/21/24 hearing Date: Monday,November 18,2024 11:37:19 AM LEEWARD PLANNING COMMISSION BARBARA DEFRANCO,Chair RE:County of Hawaii General Plan 2045,Final Recommended Draft dated July 2024 Commissioners: I request that the Final Recommended Draft of the General Plan(GP)2045 be rejected as presently constituted by the Planning Commission for two reasons,both deriving from a failure to provide for true public input. 1)LACK OF A HILO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN(CDP) CDPs were established for Kona,Puna,N Kohala,S Kohala,in 2008;for Kau 2017;for Hamakua 2018(35).What happened to Hilo? CDPs are referenced in the GP on 16 pages,establishing their primacy in constructing our GP.The clearly stated purposes are: as a vehicle for the people's vision,as foundational documents of the GP,and as the way to foster priorities of the community through a conversation.Three samples from the GP: CDPs are synthesized to form a singular vision statement for Hawaii Island"(35). The goals of the GP were formulated by incorporating concepts and value statements from the 2005 GP and the various CDPs.These foundational documents..."(35). The purpose of a CDP is threefold...#3 Provide a process for citizens to engage in civic dialogue and contribute to the identification of community priorities(217). The absolutely crucial nature of each district's CDP renders incomprehensible the lack of one for Hilo.Below are two hosted meetings with the Planning Department and the community where twice the question was asked as to why Hilo has no CDP. At the Arc of Hilo,the Planning Dept member said they were"...so close into this process we didn't feel we needed to start another whole process of doing a CDP for Hilo..."We Hilo residents might ask: What gives employees ofthe county the power to determine that the 40,000 people ofHilo can have their voices dispensed with?Because the inconvenience foreseen of commencing a CDP for the largest city in the county seems like it would dash their plans for an early 2025 wrap-up?Or because of the inconvenience of 40,000 voices perhaps in disagreement with points in the already-drafted GP? At the Puna presentation,that same Planning Dept member said: "We are meeting with the council members of Hilo in the next couple of weeks and we're going to talk about the next steps for initiating a Hilo CDP."Why would we set in stone a GP now, when a Hilo CDP may be initiated,and could take a couple of years to finalize?Is there a timeframe that dictates a completion date which overrides the voice of Hilo residents?Surely the document which combines the purpose and authority to establish the policy document for the long-range comprehensive development of the island of Hawaii(28)is only complete when the largest city in its purview is represented in the same way that the other areas,and towns,and cities are represented. Hilo Workshop at Arc of Hilo 8/29/24 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTxYmRTxUjA 1:14:45(begin referenced part) Puna Workshop 10/3/24 https://mail.google.corn/mail/u/0/#search/palioa/F MfcgzQXJkSJVPzhchSBNDQJGVmVJrxB? compose=CllgCKCDkpKzHgrbBxDggJtuwKbjgmcwTTLhaXuxjbZTTkvXwJzCcVXcrWFcvxXbdSsOGDKOwiq&projector—1 1:36:00(begin referenced part) 2)LACK OF LOCAL DISCUSSIONAND ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS/CONCEPTS THAT UNDERGIRD THE GP IN FUNDAMENTAL WAYS Much of the GP sits on the substrate of a theory for which there is no scientific consensus:man-made climate change, formerly called global warming.There have never been townhall meetings and discussions on Hawaii Island to determine what the residents think of this theory.Yet a GP has been written that accepts this theory as scientific fact.In the interest of developing a GP that truly echoes the voice of the people of Hawaii Island,isn't the democratic path one that either: 1) neutralizes any theory in the interest of leaving it an open question for the purpose of reaching a common purpose,or 2)has fully discussed this and other theories through a series of open forums for the purpose of deciding a course of action based upon majority opinion.Chapters 3&4 are largely devoted to this theory,but riddled throughout the GP are the terms that derive from current literature on this subject. GPs across the country are set on a similar path.The genesis of this"green movement"as it relates to planning and development is the introduction of Agenda 21 at the Earth Summit in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro.It was through this document that governments around the world,including at our state and county levels,have adopted the tenets of climate change as defined in this landmark document.But wide acclimation and enthusiastic implementation do not necessarily equate with scientific truth. Because the stakes are so high-our natural environment,our lands,our buildings,our roads,our industries,as well as our relationship to government and the liberties we hold fast-the decision by Hawaii County employees and elected officials to adhere to a single theory without knowing the will of the majority is unwise,and unDemocratic. While the Hilo CDP is being assembled,can we not have this discussion about scientific theories? David&Susan DeCleene Hilo From: Dawn Singleton To:LPCtestimonv Subject: Revise Hawaii Plan testimony Date: Monday,November 18,2024 10:24:21 AM Here are some concerns: 1.The word"Stakeholder,"defined in the plan,is used 86 times,meaning anyone worldwide can have input on this 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 that will be personally affected by projects,decisions,or activities in the general plan. Effective local community engagement and management are crucial for the success and sustainability of any initiative, as it helps ensure that diverse 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 use will be changed from resident to recreation due to the General Plan 2045. This will drastically lower 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 be further 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.hW2s:Hclintel.org/wl2-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 move forward without that?Hilo is 22%of the island. 6.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 of Papaikou,has created an Ag Villages plan. Ag Village to add to the General Plan: Papaikou Ag Village Objectives: Papaikou Site Plan: Papaikou Development: A Hawaiian born Kanaka revised the Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship that is in the plan.You can see it in the pdf below: Here is a longer revised version of the plan from locals: The way this plan is written is very far from what will support our island. Dawn Singleton R a a a a TI=k you Dawn Sindeton Dawn Eshelman Singleton, PhD, DHS, CTP, DNM Board Certified' Quantum Biofeedback Specialist&Author FEEL BETTER THE NATURAL WAY" www.civantumhealthhawaii.com From: lfriendofvours To: LPCtestimonv;WPCtestimonv Cc: alicia@oalmvallevfarm.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 on this 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 and management are crucial for the success and sustainability of any initiative, as it helps ensure that diverse 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 use will be changed from resident to recreation due to the General Plan 2045. This will drastically lower 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 be further 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 move forward 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 too because it's not the locals? "Pursue the acquisition of lands" does this say they are going to pursing taking people's private property?Again with "protection of natural resources". This plan should 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 of Papaikou, 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 2cbl cc6d604f4cdd971 ad40831 c745bc.pdf Papaikou Site Plan: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/ files/ugd/86fcOc 5e4cdb02efeb46a5ae949a3579aff00d.pdf Papaikou Development: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/ files/ugd/86fc0c c2af52c8b3c645bla6868a724eee8304.pdf A Hawaiian born Kanaka revised the Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship that is in the plan. You can see it in the pdf below: Part One: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/ files/ugd/86fc0c Oa1d5be8f1d140069415f7b691725786.pdf Part Two: https://86fcOcbd-8207-4076-85fa- 5a62e4e933b4.usrfiles.com/ugd/86fcOc ecc498bal92d4a7689ebf31c3681c2ec.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 From: Jancis Salerno To: LPCtestimonv Subject: Revise Hawaii General Plan Testimony Here Date:Wednesday,November 20,2024 9:32:00 PM Here are some concerns: 1. The word "Stakeholder," defined in the plan, is written 86 times and literally means anyone in the entire world can have input on this 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 and management are crucial for the success and sustainability of any initiative, as it helps ensure that diverse 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 use will be changed from resident to recreation due to the General Plan 2045. This will drastically lower 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 be further 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-241023.12df 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 move forward 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 oflands for the protection ofnatural resources." 'Incentives" mean more taxes. "Protection" means more rules. Who's "values" is this plan referring too because it's not the locals? "Pursue the acquisition of lands" does this say they are going to pursing taking people's private property? Again with "protection of natural resources". This plan should 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 of Papaikou, has created an Ag Villages plan. Ag Village to add to the General Plan: Papaikou Ag Village Objectives: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_2cblcc6d604f4cdd971ad4083lc745b Papaikou Site Plan: hops://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_5e4cdb02efeb46a5ae949a3579 aff00d.pdf Papaikou Development: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_c2af52c8b3c645b la6868a724eee830 4.pdf A Hawaiian born Kanaka revised the Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship that is in the plan. You can see it in the pdf below: Part One: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_Oald5be8fldl40069415f7b691 725786.pdf Part Two: https://86fcOcbd-8207-4076-85fa- 5a62e4e933b4.usrfiles.com/ugd/86fcOc_ecc498bal 92d4a7689ebf31 c3681 c2ec.pdf Here is a longer revised version of the plan from locals: hs://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_b34739e4c99c461685de4c0207bf28 6e.pdf The way this plan is written is very far from what will support our island. Mahalo, Jan Salerno Kona From: iohn kochiss To: LPCtestimonv Subject: General Plan Date:Wednesday, November 20,2024 9:10:33 PM I am writing as a concerned citizen and property owner on Hawaii Island. This plan design appears to take the choice of future development on this island away from the residents, and give it to these nameless;Stakeholders" I am also concerned by what appears to be a tidal wave of red tape and bureaucracy headed our way. Steve Shropshire has drawn up an excellent plan for a better way forward. And there is nothing being done to protect us from invasive species, plant and insect. Our island has been allowed to be over run with almost zero protection from incoming pests, but try and sell your produce off the island, and you will hit a wall. If you are trying to destroy the quality of life and sustainability of life on this aina, this plan will go a long ways towards accomplishing that goal. Absolutely tone deaf to our needs, so it must be drafted by some rich guys who want to take over. Please go back to the drawing boards before you run off the remaining Kanakas and the rest of the citizenry. Sincerely, John Kochiss Ftwn: 74u.MLCS To: v;WP[Tesi subject: Rehu H-1 General Plan TesOmony Date: Wolneulay,November 2D,-4-7:57PM Here are some concerns: 1.The word"Stakeholder,"defined in the plan,is written 86 times and literally means anyone in the entire world can have input on this 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 thatwill be personally affected by projects, decisions,oractivities in the general plan.Effective local community engagement and management are crucial for the success and sustainability of any initiative,as it helps ensure that diverse 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 use will be changed from resident to recreation due to the General Plan 2045.This will drastically lower 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 be further 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.httos://clintel_or" 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 move forward without that?Hilo is 22%ofthe island. 6.1.13 under"Increase the biodiversity and resilience of native habitats"reads,"Incentivize private land management practices that protect andenhance natural resource values and,when appropriate,pursue the acquisition oflands for the protection of natural resources.""I ncentives" mean more taxes."Protection"means more rules.Who's"values"is this plan referring too because it's not the locals?"Pursue the acquisition of lands"does this say they are going to pursing taking people's private property?Again with"protection of natural resources".This plan should 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 of Papaikou,has created an Ag Villages plan. Ag Village to add to the General Plan: Papaikou Ag Village Objectives: httos://www.standtocietherhawaii.com/files/ugd/86fc0c 2cblcc6d604f4cdd971ad4083lc745bc.gdf Papaikou Site Plan: Mtos://www.standtocietherhawaii.com/files/ugd/86fc0c 5e4cdb02efeb46a5ae949a3579aff00d.gdf Papaikou Development: httos://www_standtogetherhawaii com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_c2af52c8b3c645bla6868a724eee8304.odf A Hawaiian born Kanaka revised the Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship that is in the plan.You can see it in the pdf below: Part One:https://www_standtogetherhawaii com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_Oa1d5be8f1d140069415f7b691725786_odf Part Two:httos://86fcOcbd-8207-4076-85fa- 5a62e4e933b4.usrtles.com/ugd/86fc0c ecc498bal92d4a7689ebf3lc368lc2ec.gdf Here is a longer revised version ofthe plan from locals: httos://www_standtogetherhawaii com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_b34739e4c99c461685de4cO2O7bf286e_odf The waythis plan is written is very far from whatwill 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 Mamalahoa Hwy,Captain Cook,HI 96704 Ka'u:September 19,2024 at 5:00 p.m.-Ka'u District Gym Multi-Purpose Room 96-1219 Kamani St,Pahala,HI 96777 South Kohala:September 23,2024 at 5:00 p.m.-Kuhio Hale 64-756 Mamalahoa Hwy,Waimea,HI 96743 North Kohala:October 1,2024 at 4:30 p.m.-Old Judiciary Building 54-3900 Akoni Pule Hwy,Kapa'au,HI 96755 Puna:October 3,2024 at5:00 p.m.-Pahoa Community Center 15-3022 Kauhale St,Pahoa,HI 96778 Hamakua:October 9,2024 at 5:00 p.m.-Kula'imano Community Center 28-2892 Alia St,Pepe'ekeo,HI 96783 Public Comments September 26,2024:Public comments for this phase are due,following the guidelines set out by the current 2005 General Plan,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 be packaged 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 of the Final Recommeded Draft to the Windward and Leeward Planning Commissions,each commission will have 150 days to review 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. From: Ken Honma To: LPCtestimonv Subject: Guidance for Hawaii County"s General Plan 2045 Date:Wednesday, November 20,2024 9:37:44 PM To: Hawaii County Leeward Planning Commission Date: November 20, 2024 Subject: Testimony On Hawaii General Plan 2045 Planning commission members, as a kupuna of Hawaii County, I wish to offer my thoughts to you on the Hawaii County General Plan 2045. Thanks for giving the people this opportunity. It is obvious that a lot of time and effort has gone into producing this very large document that will have many and great consequences for the present and future people who live in the County of Hawaii. Therefore it is very important for the writers to be clear about who is creating this plan, and what legal grounds they have to put it forth. In this document, some of the powers that the the document includes, read like the commission intends to give itself dictatorial levels of power. The guidance of people of Hawaii county must be the starting and ending point of all discussions regarding anything in the proposed general plan. Are the restrictions, taxes, accommodations, takings, enforcements, penalties, international associations, and complying with international values, in conformance with the U.S. Constitution? I leave it to you to discuss why this is so important. The people of Hawaii county consider it monumentaly important. At this time, the people of Hawaii county do not trust the county government, and having an open and public discussion about constitutional conformance will help to alleviate questions and concerns about this. Although it's a given, it is illegal for any laws to be passed that are not in conformance with the USA constitution. After all, your committee is legal only because of our constitutional republic process. We want it to be explicitly clear in this proposed plan, that you, the planning commission, know its place in the hierarchy of our republic. To remind all the writers and readers of this plan of the fundamental reasons for the existence of this commission, please include the following in the introduction of this planning document: We the People of the County of Hawaii, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this General Plan for people of the County of Hawaii. In case you have forgotten, it is We the people of the county of Hawaii, who daily live, work, play, and die here, who are the authors of this document, and who are also its beneficiaries. Sincerely, Ken Honma Ken h.7553C_amail.com, 8089677553, P.O.BOx 451 Kurtistown, Hi. 96760 From: Kupuna Moopuna To: LPCtestimonv Subject: Leeward Planning Commission-Nov 21,2024 General Plan Testimony-STRONG OPPOSITION Date:Wednesday,November 20,2024 6:39:49 AM Attachments: PO-24-032 DHHL Comments HI County 2045 General Plan(part 1)-sianed.pdf PO-24-032 DHHL Comments HI County 2045 General Plan(i)art 2)-sianed.pdf PO-24-032 DHHL Comments HI County 2045 General Plan(part 3)-signed(1).pdf Kupuna for the Wopuna committed to the well-being of Hawaii for the nextgenerations to come kupuna4moopunaPgmail.com DATE: Thursday,November 21, 2024 TIME: 9.30 a.m. LOCATION: West Hawaii Civic Center, Council Chambers, Kailua-Kona, HI SUBJECT: County of Hawaii General Plan 2045, Final Recommended Draft - STRONG OPPOSITION Aloha to the Hawaii County Leeward Planning Commission, We, Kupuna for the Mo`opuna, a hui of Hawaiian Homes Commission Act (HHCA) kupuna beneficiary farmers from Pana`ewa, Hawaii, testify in STRONG OPPOSITION to the County of Hawaii General Plan 2045 (GP), Final Recommended Draft and ask that the Leeward Planning Commission NOT RECOMMEND APPROVAL of the proposed amendments, in part. We ask the Leeward Planning Commission to require the following changes to the GP 2045 Draft consistent with the purpose of the General Plan pursuant to Section 3-15 of the Hawaii County Charter to "... promote the general welfare, health, and prosperity of its people." 1.The General Plan 2045 Draft must include a South Hilo Community Development Plan. The General Plan 2045 Draft fails to include all seven of Hawaii County's Community Development Plans (CDP). The GP 2045 Draft includes only six CDPs, all but one CDP, intentionally leaving out the South Hilo CDP. This reeks of discriminatory gobbledegook from the county's planning department, who, when responding to public questions of why no Hilo CDP in the GP, sidestep the CDP issue and conveniently cite the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) documents yet refuse to include the same DHHL documents in the actual General Plan 2045 Draft: County of Hawaii Final Draft General Plan 2045 Public Comments Pg. 44 of 569 https://records.hawaiicounty. oovv/weblinl</Browse.aspx?dbid=l&startid=139815 Land Use Q:Why was a Hilo CDP not done, when Hilo has the most population? A: Given the process of adopting the General Plan, it may be considered that Hilo would better benefit from an urban development plan rather than a regional plan, although this is still to be determined. The latest Hilo CDP is dated 1975. Further, the greater Hilo area has several other planning documents and tools that other towns and regions do not have and that help to guide development in and around Hilo. These include but are not limited to: the City of Hilo Zone Map (HCC 25-8- 33), Downtown Hilo Multimodal Master Plan, Banyan Drive Redevelopment Authority Plan, EnVision Downtown Hilo, Hilo Bayfront Trails Master Plan, DHHL Master Plans for each of its areas (like Panaewa and Keaukaha), University of Hawaii in Hilo Master Plan, State Airport Master Plan, etc. These "other planning documents" are "urban developments plans" that do not include the voices of the residential communities of South Hilo. The citizens of South Hilo are NOT represented in the GP 2045, of particular concern to the South Hilo homestead communities of Keaukaha and Pana`ewa- already suffering from disproportionate environmental injustices - targeted for aggressive development in the GP 2045 Draft. We have been demanding an updated Hilo CDP 1975 / South Hilo CDP for years and insist that the GP 2045 include the Hilo CDP 1975 to ensure this outdated CDP is part of the GP 2045 Phase 1 2024-2029 actions for "updating our Community Development Plans and other relevant plans." (GP 2045 Draft pg. 221) 2.The General Plan 2045 Draft must include Department of Hawaiian Home Land/ Commission Chair Kali Watson's comments and documents. These comments and documents were submitted to the County Planning Department's Chairman Zendo Kern in February 2024. We brought these same concerns, comments, and documents to the attention of several county administrations, county planning departments, and sitting county councilwoman D3 over the course of many years while the GP 2040 - now 2045 - was being amended. At every level, our voices were dismissed. Now, with this same flagrant dismissiveness towards our Hawaiian Homes Commission Act authority, the county refused to include comments and documents in the GP 2045 Draft that promote the well-being of HHCA beneficiaries. Here are two examples of the HHCA Chair's comments / documents (Attachments 1-3) that the county refused to include: The MOU between the County and DHHL was created almost a quarter century ago and while DHHL knows that current County Planning Department staff are aware of the MOU and the unique status of the Hawaiian Homes Commission's land use authority over DHHL lands, DHHL wants to further ensure that future County staff future elected officials, and future members of the public continue to have an institutional memory of the relationship between DHHL and the County. Incorporating a reference to this document in the 2045 County General Plan Update will better guarantee that this institutional memory is perpetuated in future generations. The 2002 MOU is enclosed for your convenience and reference. Likewise, DHHL requests that its 2022 DHHL General Plan Update be referenced and / or included in the 2045 County General Plan Update either as an appendices or other appropriate section of the County General Plan [emphasis added]. The 2022 DHHL General Plan Update identifies land use designations that the HHC may apply to Hawaiian Home Lands. The DHHL General Plan should be a reference to the County. While the county verbally acknowledges the HHCA's authority over DHHL lands, the county refused to commit this to writing in the GP 2045 Draft, which will be to the detriment of HHCA beneficiaries forced to expend time, energy, and resources to ensure and protect the well-being of the people and the `aina. A recent example of this is the continued attempt by the County and State to build a connector road from Puna to Hilo via Railroad Avenue, right through the heart of our Pana`ewa community, even though the Pana`ewa Regional Plan and the DHHL General Plan 2022 confirm that no such connector road(s) shall be built. This continued aggression forced homesteaders to take action in civil protest. While the government backed off—for now - the General Plan 2045 Draft still includes collector/connector roads from Puna to Hilo via Railroad Avenue that must be removed, Again, we ask that the Leeward Planning Commission require the above changes to the GP 2045 Draf so this overarching long-range planning policy document for land use for several decades truly be consistent with the well-being of the next generations to come. Mahalo, Kupuna for the Mo`opuna Pana`ewa, Hawaii Attachments (3): 1) DHHL Comments on the County of Hawaii 2045 General Plan - February 28, 2024 (4 pages) 2) Memorandum of Agreement Between the County of Hawaii and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands - December 27, 2002 (5 pages) 3) DHHL Comments on Draft County of Hawaii General Plan Update - October 31, 2019 & August 30, 2017 (1 1pages) PS£ O F y9h^0 1959 9JOSHGREEN,ALD. KALI W.ITSON GOVERNOR yr` !. CH1IRL4V.HHC STATE OF HA\'AII Ka Le Ho`okele Ke ja'mmokaAloku`mna`o d Hm`i SYLVLA J.LL KE G .. IiAJIE L.DLY'1JJ LT.GOVERNOR 4=az DEPUTYTO THE CHAIRMAN STATEOFHA\VAII KaHope Lw Ho`okele KaHope&a`dmo kaMoku`dna oH-`i STATE OF HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS Ka `Oihana Aina Ho`opulapula Hawai`i P.O.BOX 1879 HONOLLTC.FLAWAll 96805 Ref: PO-24-032 February 28, 2024 The Honorable Zendo Kern, Director County of Hawaii Planning Department Aupuni Center, 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 Hilo, HI 96720 Aloha Director Kern: RE: DHHL Comments on the County of Hawaii 2045 General Plan Mahalo for the opportunity to provide comments on the County of Hawaii's General Plan Update. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) offers the following comments: 1. Recognition and coordination of the Hawaiian Homes Commission (HHC) land use authority with the County's land use authority is memorialized in the 2002 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between DHHL and the County. DHHL requests that the County includes this document as either as an appendices to the County General Plan or in separate section of the plan, where appropriate, to ensure that there is a reference for current and future County staff, elected officials, and members of the public about the relationship between DHHL and the County. The MOU between the County and DHHL was created almost a quarter century ago and while DHHL knows that current County Planning Department staff are aware of the MOU and the unique status of the Hawaiian Homes Commission's land use authority over DHHL lands, DHHL wants to further ensure that future County staff future elected officials, and future members of the public continue to have an institutional memory of the relationship between DHHL and the County. Incorporating a reference to this document in the 2045 County General Plan Update will better guarantee that this institutional memory is perpetuated in future generations. The 2002 MOU is enclosed for your convenience and reference. Director Kern February 28, 2024 Page 2 2. Likewise, DHHL requests that its 2022 DHHL General Plan Update be referenced and / or included in the 2045 County General Plan Update either as an appendices or other appropriate section of the County General Plan. The 2022 DHHL General Plan Update identifies land use designations that the HHC may apply to Hawaiian Home Lands. The DHHL General Plan should be a reference to the County. A copy can be found here: https://dhhl.hawaii.gov/po/general-plan/ 3. The 2045 County General Plan Update should have specific policies that articulate that DHHL Plans (DHHL General Plan, DHHL Hawaii Island Plan, DHHL Regional Plans) will be the authority on land use that will guide County policy regarding land uses and projects surrounding DHHL lands. DHHL beneficiaries have expressed strong concern with County policies or actions that may encourage land uses that are detrimental to homestead communities. For example, the recently introduced County Council Bill 107 related to an alternate route study for the proposed Puna Bypass Road did not appear to consider DHHL testimony and the testimonies of its beneficiaries to exclude routes from the study that traverse over lands under the jurisdiction of DHHL. Furthermore, there continues to be harmful uses near DHHL homestead lands, particularly in Hilo, that pose a health and safety issue to our Hilo homestead communities. The County General Plan should emphasize that the County should adopt policies to phase these uses out over time. DHHL does note and appreciates that the County Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide (LUPAG) recommends agriculture-related designations for lands bordering the Panaewa homestead community to the east. DHHL would like the County to strongly consider non-industrial uses in its LUPAG for lands that border DHHL's King's Landing Tract. Those lands are currently being considered for future homesteading and DHHL is currently going through a planning process to settle these lands. 4. DHHL strongly encourages the County to begin its process to develop a County Community Development Plan (CDP) for the South Hilo District. The South Hilo District includes these DHHL homestead communities: Keaukaha, Panaewa, Kaumana, Piihonua, King's Landing, and the future Honomu Homestead community. Director Kern February 28, 2024 Page 3 Per the draft 2045 County General Plan Update (page 204), CDPs "translate broad General Plan statements to specific actions, as they apply to specific geographical areas. They serve to provide a forum for community input to reflect the character of each community." Further this section of the County General Plan states the purpose of a CDP is threefold: Translate the General Plan's broad statements and community development guidelines to actions specific to the planning area to address regional issues and opportunities. Improve and advance communities and community resilience through the acknowledgement and development of community capacity. Provide a process for citizens to engage in civic dialogue and contribute to the identification of community priorities. Beneficiaries have expressed to DHHL that the absence of a South Hilo CDP marginalizes these homestead communities from having a say in land use decisions and government services that impact these homestead communities. Further, without a South Hilo CDP, beneficiaries would like to know how the County intends to incorporate the voices of these homestead communities into County plans, programs, and services for their district. The County 2045 General Plan should address this disparity for the South Hilo district in the implementation section of the General Plan. 5. The County should not be articulating proposed roads through Hawaiian Home Lands in its General Plan without first consulting with DHHL and its beneficiaries. There are several proposed roadway routes depicted on the County's online webmaps on its Konveio website. While DHHL understands that data depicted on these maps are "draft," DHHL would like to emphasize that final County General Plan recommendations should not depict proposed new roadways through DHHL land without first consulting with DHHL and its beneficiaries. 6. DHHL appreciates County planners taking the time to meet with DHHL planners over the years as part of the County General Plan update. It appears that most of the LUPAG designations of DHHL lands depicted on the Konveio site are consistent with DHHL land use designations in DHHL's Hawaii Island Plan. We would like to note that DHHL will be updating its Hawaii Island plan 2024 thru 2025 and will be consulting with its beneficiaries over that time through the update process. Director Kern February 28, 2024 Page 4 Should there be any substantive changes to DHHL's land use designations, DHHL will communicate these changes to the County. 7. DHHL is attaching previous DHHL comments on the County General Plan Update that DHHL previously submitted to the County over the years for your reference and consideration. Mahalo again for providing an opportunity to review and comment on the County of Hawaii 2045 General Plan Update. Sincerely, Kali Watson, Chairman Hawaiian Homes Commission cc: Michael Kaleikini, East Hawaii Commissioner (via email) Makai Freitas, West Hawaii Commissioner (via email) Enclosures: 2002 MOU between County of Hawaii and DHHL Prior DHHL comments on County of Hawaii General Plan Update t t Memorandum of Agreement Between the County of Hawaii and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands 1 1.Pu rnose 1 The purpose of this Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) is to clarify the respective roles, responsibilities, and obligations of the County of Hawaii (County) and the Department of 1 Hawaiian Home Lands(DHHL) relating to land use planning, infrastructure maintenance, enforcement of laws, and collection of taxes and other fees on Hawaiian home lands. II. Guiding Principles The following general principles have guided the development of this MOA: A. The Hawaiian Homes Commission is responsible for determining land use on Hawaiian home lands. The County may not use its land use and zoning powers to prevent the Hawaiian Homes Commission from controlling the use of Hawaiian home lands. B. The County and DHHL share common goals in planning for the use of Hawaiian home lands: both support the orderly development of those lands for the benefit of native Hawaiians and both are committed to the integration of planning by DHHL and Hawaii County. C. The County should manage and maintain all infrastructure built to County standards D. The County is authorized to enforce criminal laws and applicable County ordinances and regulations on Hawaiian home lands. E. Hawaiian homestead lessees are residents of the County of Hawaii and should be treated in a manner consistent with all other residents of the County. F.Hawaiian homestead lessees should pay all taxes and fees required by law. G. The County and DHHL acknowledge that there are areas where agreement will not be reached, and agree to continue to work together toward a mutually acceptable resolution of such issues. III. Relating to Planning and Land Use A. DHHL will implement its Planning System which includes plans with DHHL land use designations such as the Hawaii Island Plan, various Development and Subdivision Plans, and Homestead Community Plans. In the formulation, updating, and amendment of these plans, DHHL will consult with the relevant County departments, and shall give due consideration and weight to their c cCOH/DHHL Memorandum of Agreement Page 2 C comments, and to the Hawaii County General Plan, and other officially adopted plans such as Community Development Plans. All land uses on DHHL property C will be placed according to the applicable DHHL plans. B. The County will consult with DHHL over the appropriate designations of DHHL property in the Hawaii County General Plan LUPAG maps, and shall give due weight and consideration to the comments of DHHL, and to officially adopted DHHL plans. C. Based on its plans and DHHL land use designations, DHHL will determine the appropriate County zoning districts that shall apply to the property in question.C DHHL will communicate these zoning districts to the County. t: D. All normal land use controls will be applied by Hawaii County to DHHL property It C according to the zoning district selected by DHHL. Except as specifically provided in the Agreement, DHHL will follow all normal land use procedures,it regulations,and standards applicable to the Zoning district. It E. All land use permit applications on Hawaiian home lands must be accompanied i by written consent from DHHL before the County can begin processing those fill applications. W F. The standards of the various zoning districts selected will apply to DHHL 0. property. DHHL and its lessees will go through normal County administrative oll variance procedures if they seek exemptions from standards- G. For uses allowed in the various zoning districts that require special permits or use permits, DHHL and its lessees will go through the applicable County permit procedures. At some time in the future, DHHL may implement its own use permit procedure for Hawaiian home lands. If DHHL granWuse permits, it will be responsible for enforcing violations of those permits. The County will be notified when DHHL has formulated its use permit system. H. The County will advise DHHL of all violations by its lessees. The County will C enforce land use'codes and regulations on Hawaiian home lands in the same manner as with other landowners. DHHL will cooperate with the County in enforcing the terms of its leases requiring conformity to applicable laws and regulations, if requested by the County. Ongoing violations and failure to comply will be referred to DHHL after the County has exhausted all remedies short of r, pursuing legal action to address the violation. DHHL may institute lease enforcement proceedings in advance of, or in lieu of, County enforcement actions. C C r 1 1 1 COH/DHHL Memorandum of Agreement 1 Page 3 1 1 IV. Relatine to Public Facilities and Infrastructure Servine Hawaiian Home Lands A. In the development of future projects, DHHL will construct public facilities in 1 accordance with County standards. Where departures from County standards are desired, DHHL will pursue exemptions and other administrative variances from the appropriate County department, in accordance with procedures established for all property owners. Should DHHL choose not to construct infrastructure in accordance with County standards, the County may view such improvements as private facilities for repair and maintenance purposes. B. The County will accept operation, repair, and maintenance of all future DHHL infrastructure constructed according to County standards. i C. Existing infrastructure shall be subject to County inspection prior to being accepted by the County for operation,repair, and maintenance. The County may require DHHL to repair any damage such as leaks, holes, sags, or deterioration affecting the operation of the existing infrastructure, identified as a result of the inspection. D. In the case of existing infrastructure that is not constructed to County standards, the County and DHHL will work to establish minimum standards for residential, agricultural, and pastoral subdivisions. Existing projects will be evaluated based on these new standards. The County may require DHHL to upgrade the infrastructure to the minimum standard prior to being accepted by the County for operations, repair,and maintenance. E. The County will maintain infrastructure according to its own standards, resources and schedules. Any decisions as to upgrades or rehabilitation will be at the County's discretion. F.Should DHHL elect to convert its land to a more intensive land use, DHHL will be responsible for upgrading the onfite infrastructure to accommodate the new use, and will consult with the County regarding the need to upgrade offsite infrastructure. DHHL and the County shall negotiate the extent to which DHHL will be responsible for any such offsite improvements requested by the County. DHHL shall be responsible for project-related offsite improvements to the extent that these would be required of other developers with similar projects. If offsite improvements benefit other property, DHHL and the County shall cooperate so that DHHL bears only its fair share of these improvement costs. G. The County will treat DHHL lessees in the same manner as other property owners with respect to conformity with laws, ordinances, and regulations. The County will advise DHHL of violations, and will refer cases of ongoing violation to DHHL after the County has exhausted all remedies short of pursuing legal action 9 COH/DHHL Memorandum of Agreement Page 4 to address the violation. DHHL reserves the right to institute lease enforcement proceedings in advance of, or in lieu of, County enforcement actions. V. Rel2tine to the Enforcement of Criminal Violations on Hawaiian Home Lands A. The County is authorized to and will enforce violations of criminal law on Hawaiian home lands. B. County law enforcement agencies and DHHL will work to establish procedures regarding sharing information and providing testimony relating to arrests made on Hawaiian home lands needed for contested case hearings and other administrative and/or judicial proceedings. VI. Relating to Real Property Taxes r A. Homestead lessees on Hawaiian home lands are responsible for the payment of real property taxes in accordance with the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920, as amended, and applicable County ordinances. B. The County agrees to waive the penalty and interest on all delinquent real property taxes owed by Hawaiian homestead lessees as of December 31, 2001. Such waiver will apply to payments made by February 20, 2002, or to payments advanced by DHHL pursuant to paragraph C. C. For those homestead lessees with real property tax balances, excluding penalty OWandinterest, of more than S500, if payment is not made by February 20, 2002, DHHL will advance full payment of all real property taxes, excluding penalty and interest, to bring those bills current, within 60 days of receipt of an updated real ro property tax listing. This date may be extended by mutual agreement of the parties. D. It is understood that the County's waiver of interest and penalty charges on delinquent real property taxes owed by homestead lessees as of December 31, 2001, and DHHL's advance of full payment of real property taxes, excluding interest and penalty, in accordance with paragraph C, is a one-tithe only offer. E. In order to alleviate or reduce further delinquencies, the County will notify DHHL on an annual basis of any delinquent property owners. F. The parties will continue to meet on an annual basis to evaluate the extent of delinquencies by Hawaiian homestead lessees on the Island of Hawaii and take i action, if necessary, to keep delinquencies from recurring. i i r t 1 WH/UHHL Memorandum of Agreement Page S G. The County and DHHL shall work to establish a customer trust fund by July 1, 2004 to collect real property tax payments as part of the mortgage/loan payments in order to make smaller,regular payments. i VII. Areas for Further Collaboration The parties agree to work further on the following issues: A. The creation of new County zoning districts for farming and pastoral activities. B. The development of infrastructure standards for rural land uses such as agricultural and pastoral activities. C. The establishment of procedures for sharing evidence, information, and testimony involving criminal violations on Hawaiian home lands. D. The implementation of actions to prevent and/or address future real property tax delinquencies by Hawaiian homestead lessees. VIII. Termination To achieve the objectives of this MOA, either party may, by mutual agreement in writing, further clarify or waive any term or condition of this agreement, provided such action does not violate any statutes, ordinances, or binding rules or regulations. DHHL and the County reserve the right to terminate this MOA upon one hundred eighty (180) days notice in writing to the other party. In agreement thereof, the parties have entered into this Memorandum of Agreement on this 27th day of December , 2002. COUNTY OF HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF HAWARAN HOME LANDS B By 1 Harry yor R and oon,Chairman H waii mes Commission APPROVED AS TO FORM: By>drv—. Corporation Counsel D uty Attorney General 1 SiDAVIDYIGE R ILLIAM J.AILA,JR. GOVERNOR j V CH.41R4fCSTATEEO -1AWAi3 1 H ttA 4ti HOMESO i\17SS:0\ YE JOSH GREEN TYLER I GONIES T GO\TR\OR DEPL'TY TO THE CHAIR-MAN STATE OF HAt1 Ail STATE OF HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS P_0,BOX 18?9 HONOLULU,HA11'.4II 96805 October 31, 2019 The Honorable Michael Yee, Director County of Hawaii Planning Department 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 Hilo, HI 96720 Aloha Mr. Yee: Subject: DHHL Comments on Draft County of Hawaii General Plan Update DHHL stands by its comments submitted on August 30, 2017 to the County regarding the County's General Plan Update (Enclosed). We encourage the County to incorporate these comments into its final General Plan Update. Also, after reviewing the County's Draft Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide (LUPAG) maps, DHHL is generally supportive of the LUPAG as it applies to DHHL's lands as the LUPAG maps are generally consistent with DHHL's Hawaii Island Plan Land Use Designations. Additionally, DHHL would like to mahalo the County Planning Department for accommodating the request of our Panaewa Agriculture Homestead Lessees to hold a County General Plan outreach meeting in their community. Comments below are reflective of some of the main points that were expressed by DHHL beneficiaries at this October 22, 2019 County Planning Department meeting. DHHL is supportive of traffic calming measures on the streets that service Panaewa agriculture homestead lessees. As noted in our previous comments, speeding and traffic safety is a major issue for some of our Panaewa agriculture homestead lessees. DHHL is supportive of more complete street concepts, such as bike paths, along the main thoroughfares in the Panaewa Agriculture Homestead Community. Beneficiaries attending the October 22, 2019 expressed that amenities such as bike paths would positively impact their community. The Honorable Michael Yee October 31, 2019 Page 2 Panaewa Agriculture Homestead Lessees have expressed that they are not supportive of the proposed spaceport complex located near their community on neighboring land owner property as the proposed use could have potential negative impacts on their community. In general, across the island, DHHL encourages the County to utilize its land use authorities on neighboring property owners' lands to ensure that there is no harm caused to our homestead communities from neighboring uses and that neighboring uses are compatible with healthy native Hawaiian communities. DHHL is open to working with the County to implement the ideas that were expressed at the October 22, 2019 County General Plan meeting. We look forward to working with the County to collaboratively create healthy native Hawaiian homestead communities across the island. Should you have any questions, please contact Andrew H. Choy, DHHL Acting Planning Program Manager, at andrew.h.choy@hawaii.gov or 808-620-9481. Mahalo nui, William J. A a Jr., Chairman Hawaiian Homes Commission ENCLOSURE DAVID V.1(;F N IK5 9 ky . y I(N311.M. 11 IRNIANt:A-PANIi;uvl:KNulc t cunntnlANSIAllN11ANN'AI-i 1% sjt nex':wnNnann<sCflMmlySIU,4 4 J I I A`(111 WHAAAIM.I.AILA,JR. 11 C A 11A VAIi I)i-i'I`fY Ii)I I II:CHAIRMANtilAll STATE OF RAWAI'l DEPARTMENT OIL HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS 4't BOX 1879 110NUI.i'ia'.IIAWAIT 96805 August 30, 2017 The Honorable Michael Yee, Director County of Hawaii Planning Department 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 Hilo, HI 96740 Aloha Mr. Yee: Subject: Df114L Comments Regarding County of Hawaii General Plan Update The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) has been made aware of the County of Hawai`i's (COH) General Plan Update process and has participated in two workshops that the County conducted on August 24 and 26 of 2016 (see enclosure). DHHL has approximately 118,000 acres on Hawaii Island. There are approximately 2,500 homestead lessees that reside in Hawaii County and 14,500 waitlist applicants on DHHL's Hawaii Island homestead waitlist. The General Plan should take into consideration the needs of these unique populations. During the August 2016 workshops, DHHL informed the County of DHHL's long-range development plans that are documented in its 2002 Hawaii Island Plan and 2009 Hawaii Island Update for West Hawaii. As a follow-up to those August 2016 County General Plan workshops, DHHL would like to remind the County of DHHL's existing plans on Hawaii Island via this letter. DHHL currently utilizes a planning system that consists of 3-tiers. Tier 1 includes the DHHL General Plan which consists of statewide goals and policies. Tier-2 plans include subject-matter specific program plans as well as Island Plans specific to each island on which DHHL has land holdings. Tier-3 plans include regional plans and special area plans that pertain to specific regions and locations within each island. The comments that follow are based upon the plans in the DHHL Planning System that have been adopted by the Hawaiian Homes Commission and that pertain specifically to Hawai`i Island. These plans can also be found on the DHHL website at: httr)://d 17 hl.li awaii.,ov/r)o/ The Honorable Michael Yee August 30, 2017 Page 2 2002 DHHL Haw aN Island Plan and 2009 Island Plan Update for Nest HawaN Island Plans articulate DHHL's land use designations (LUD) for its lands on each island and are analogous to the COH's General Plan Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide (LUPAG) designations. Island Plans also articulate DHHL's priority areas for future homestead development. Please incorporate DHHL's Hawaii Island Island Plan Land Use Designations into the COH's General Plan LUPAG. Future County services and infrastructure should be directed to locations where DHHL has identified in its Hawaii Island Plan for current and future land uses that include: residential homestead, agricultural homestead, pastoral homestead, commercial, industrial, and community-use. A breakdown of acreage of DHHL lands on Hawai`i Island by DHHL LUD is presented below. Land Use Designation Acres Percent of Total Acres Residential Homestead 4,421 3.7 Subsistence Agriculture Homestead 2,486 2.0 Supplemental Agriculture Homestead 4,132 3.4 Pastoral Homestead 40,514 34.2 Community Use 1,105 0.9 General Agriculture 37,236 31.4 Commercial 913 0.7 Industrial 36 0.003 Conservation 18,485 15.6 Special District 8,423 7.1 TOTAL 118,489 100 Additionally, DHHL would like to advocate that the County General Plan LUPAG direct future development that is not compatible with the purposes of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act to be located well away from DHHL lands. For the County Planning Department's convenience hard copies of the 2002 DHHL Hawai`i Island Plan and 2009 DHHL Hawai`i Island Plan Update for West Hawai`i have been enclosed with this letter. DHHL's GIS shapefile depicting DHHL's Hawai`i Island Plan LUD is also enclosed with this letter on CD. The Honorable Michael Yee August 30, 2017 Page 3 DHHL regional flans on Hawaii Island DHHL has eight regional plans on the island of Hawaii. DHHL regional plans identify issues and opportunities raised by beneficiaries in each region and related priority projects. Hawai`i Island Regional Plans can be found here: httz7a/dhhl.hawz ii.*ov/o/rc ic nal-Mans/i waii-rct,Yic nal- 1«ns/ The following discussion below is a brief summary of each DHHL Regional Plan on Hawaii Island in alphabetic order. The summary below identifies issues, opportunities, and priority projects in which collaboration with the County of Hawaii is crucial to the project's implementation. Ka`u regional flan A priority need of DHHL and its beneficiaries in Ka`u is potable water service to existing and future planned homestead lots. The County General Plan should direct additional water resources to DHHL lands in Ka`u. Initial conversations with DWS staff and DHHL have not led to any conclusive solution to addressing DHHL's water needs in Ka`u. Additionally, as DHHL moves to implement its South Point Resources Management Plan, DHHL will need to partner more with County Police to enforce against illegal and unpermitted activities on DHHL lands in South Point. Kaumana-Pi`ihonua regional flan In this region, the DHHL Hawaii Island Plan anticipates the future development of approximately of 115 residential homesteads and 235 subsistence agriculture homesteads in Lower Pi`ihonua. The County General Plan LUPAG should reflect these future plans. Two of the priority projects identified by beneficiaries in this regional plan include the development of a community center at a to-be-determined location and the establishment of a community pasture on DHHL lands in Lower Pi`ihonua. Both of these priority projects may require County permits, services, and/or infrastructure to be successfully implemented. Kawaihae regional Plan The County of Hawai`i General Plan should reflect current and future water demands in the Kawaihae region by directing additional water development to the area. Per the regional plan, DHHL currently has two residential communities in the region totaling 221 homes. Added water service is identified as a priority need in the Kawaihae Regional Plan for current as well as future residential homesteading. There are 2,000 acres designated for future homestead development. That development is on hold until future water infrastructure is developed. It is also important to mention that the County of Hawai`i's South Kohala Community Development Plan (CDP) specifically recommends that the County provide additional water service to the The Honorable Michael Yee August 30, 2017 Page 4 Kawaihae area including DHHL's Kailapa homestead area. This County CDP recommendation should also be reflected in the County General Plan. Kealakehe - La`i `Opua Regional Plan In the DHHL Hawaii Island Plan West Hawaii Update, DHHL anticipates up to approximately 2,900 additional residential homesteads in the Villages of La`i `Opua. In Kalaoa, DHHL anticipates 130 acres of future residential development and 385 acres of future commercial development. La`i `Opua 2020 also anticipates the development of various community facilities on 25 acres and a mix of commercial and light industrial uses on another 25 acres. DHHL's and La`i `Opua 2020's plans should also be reflected in the General Plan Update. North Kona Water Source Development was identified as a priority project in this Regional Plan. As such, the County General Plan should recommend additional County resources for water infrastructure storage and development in the North Kona district. DHHL, La`i `Opua 2020, and the County DWS, are currently examining potential source development options in North Kona. Keaukaha Regional Plan There were several issues identified in the Keaukaha Regional Plan in which collaboration with the County is important. These issues include continuing to work with COH Civil Defense on emergency evacuation preparedness and working with the County to mitigate health risks posed by the proximity of the County wastewater treatment plant. The County General Plan should clearly articulate that intensification of existing industrial uses should not be allowed in this region and when possible, industrial uses should be relocated away from the Keaukaha community. The General Plan LUGAP should be amended to include open space buffers between industrial uses and Keaukaha residential lots. Maku`u Regional Plan One of the issues raised in the Maku`u Regional Plan by DBBL beneficiaries was that the Maku`u homestead community was not recognized in the County's Puna Community Development Plan. Maku`u lessees would like the County to integrate their community with County Planning documents. The General Plan Update provides another opportunity for the county to recognize and integrate the Maku`u homestead community in the County's plans. One of the priority projects identified in the Maku`u Regional Plan is the Maku`u Farmers' Association Community Center. The implementation of this project will require County permitting. Pana`ewa Regional Plan During the development of the 2016 Pana`ewa Regional Plan Update, beneficiaries strongly advocated that Railroad Avenue not be used as a mid-level connector road. Figure 15 in The Honorable Michael Yee August 30, 2017 Page 5 the 2016 Panaewa Regional Plan Update recommends an alternative route to connect the mid- level to the more appropriate state highway. This figure is enclosed with this letter for your reference. DHHL would like the County to delete any reference regarding utilization of Rail Road Avenue as a mid-level connector road from its General Plan. Pana`ewa farm lot lessees who reside at the Puna end of Railroad Avenue have experienced issues such as illegal racing, drug activity, and vandalism of private property. Several solutions that are identified in the regional plan and that would require County collaboration to resolve these issues include stepped-up police patrols of the area, installation of an access gate to limit non-residents from entering the area, and/or, installation of speed-control devices such as speed-humps along Railroad Avenue. Additionally industrial type land uses should not be located in close proximity to existing Pana`ewa homestead lots as they would cause detrimental affects to homestead lessees and their families. The General Plan LUPAG should be amended to prevent this type of land use from occurring near Pana`ewa homestead areas. Waimea Nui regional Plan In this region, the DHHL Hawaii Island Plan anticipates the future development of approximately 400 residential homesteads on 214 acres in its Lalamilo residential homestead subdivision and an additional 550 residential homesteads, 160 subsistence agriculture homesteads, and 50 pastoral homesteads in the Honokaia tract. This should be reflected in the County General Plan LUPAG. Regional Plan priority projects that will require collaboration with the County to implement include the 161-acre Waimea Nui Regional Community Development Initiative and the priority project that calls for a re-examination of County building codes to look at options on how the code could be modified to allow for more affordable home development. Additional County Outreach with DHHL Beneficiaries DHHL comments on the County General Plan Update included in this correspondence may not be completely reflective of all beneficiary comments and concerns that should be incorporated into the County's General Plan update. As such, DHHL strongly encourages the Planning Department to consult directly with Hawaii Island DHHL beneficiaries during the County's General Plan update. Direct County consultation with DHHL homestead communities and waitlist beneficiaries will provide these sometimes underrepresented populations an opportunity to provide feedback to the County General Plan and ultimately allow DHHL beneficiaries an opportunity to help guide the goals and policies of the County over the next decade and beyond. DHHL recommends that the County hold a minimum of at least two special outreach meetings (one in West Hawaii and one in East Hawaii) for DHHL beneficiaries. The Honorable Michael Yee August 30, 2017 Page 6 DHHL would be happy to collaborate and provide assistance to the County to schedule these meetings with DHHL beneficiaries. By actively including DHHL and its beneficiaries in the COH's General Plan update process, DHHL hopes to better coordinate and collaborate with the COH in providing a better future quality of life for its current and future Hawaii Island Homestead communities. Should you or your staff have any questions regarding existing DHHL, plans on Hawaii Island, please contact Andrew H. Choy at andrew.h.choy@Hawai`i.gov . Me ke aloha, Jobie M. K. Masagatani, Chairman Hawaiian Homes Commission Enclosures: July 21, 2016 County of Hawaii Letter DHHL 2002 Hawaii Island Plan DHHL 2009 Hawaii Island Plan Update for West Hawaii DHHL GIS shapefile of Hawaii Island Plan Land Use Designations (CD) DHHL 2016 Pana`ewa Regional Plan Update Figure 15 C: Commissioner David Ka`apu (via email) Commissioner Wallace Ishibashi (via email) DHHL West Hawaii District Office(via email) DHHL East Hawai`i District Office(via email) Kailapa Community Association (via email) Ka`u Hawaiian Home Lands Association (via email) Kaumana Community Association (via email) Kawaihae Pua Ka`Ilima Community Association (via email) Keaukaha Community Association (via email) Keaukaha-Pana`ewa Farmers' Association (via email) Maku`u Farmers' Association (via email) Pana`ewa Hawaiian Home Lands Association (via email) Pi`ihonua Hawaiian Homestead Community Association (via email) Villages of La`i `Opua Association (via email) Waimea Hawaiian Homesteaders' Association (via email) William P. Kenoi a Ta%oD"DuaneKanuha Mavnr Director A! t# Joaquin Gamiao-Kunkel Deputy Director West Hawaii Office East Hawaii Office 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy County 101 Pauahi Street,Suite 3 Kailua-Kona,Hawaii 96740 i Hilo,Hawaii 96720 Phone(808)323-4770 Phone(808)961-8288 Fax(808)327-3563 PLANNING DEPARTMENT Fax(808)961-8742 July 21, 2016 AN INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE Aloha, As you may know, the General Plan is the County's policy for long-range comprehensive physical development within Hawaii County. Consequently, a Comprehensive Review of the General Plan was initiated last year and is on track to have recommendations available in 2017. As part of the comprehensive review process, one of the principal tools being used is "scenario planning" utilizing geographic information 'system (GIS) computer models. This allows us to analyze, map, and compare existing conditions and trends through the 2040 planning horizon, including alternative scenarios. Because the models are built on a robust geodatabase,we are able to consider the trade-offs among alternatives across a wide range of measures related to conservation, hazards, infrastructure, settlement patterns, and costs. It's like SimCity on steroids, and nearly as much fun. We need your help to assess these alternative scenarios and their trade-offs and to guide decision- making about our County's future. In addition to the public input forums outlined below, you are personally invited to 'Technical Workshops that will help inform the future land use and infrastructure policies in the County of Hawaii General Plan. Please RSVP by Friday, August 5, 2016 to attend either the Hilo session or the Kona session. Technical Workshops: These technical workshops are by invitation only and are geared toward people like you, who have a working knowledge of planning and/or infrastructure, including members of CDP Action Committees, the Planning Commissions, and County Council as well as agency representatives and planners. We are carefully designing the workshops to avoid any real,potential, or perceived violations of the Sunshine Law. Participants will be able to make adjustments to "trend" development patterns and see the impacts on conservation, hazard risk, infrastructure and development, household, and government costs. Two workshops are being offered: Wednesday,August 24,8:30am-12:30pm,Aupuni Center Conference Room,Kilo or Friday, August 26, 8:30am-12:30pm, West Hawaii Civic Center-Community Meeting Hale,Kona Please sign up for the workshop in the geographic area where you have the greatest interest or expertise. The workshop in Hilo will be geared toward eastern Ka`u (Wai`ohinu and trnw.cohalannin deot.com Hawai't County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer p"rnmnirfahat aiicountti.yov points east), Puna, Hilo, and the Hamakua coast. The workshop in Kona will be geared toward West Hawaii, including Kohala, Kona, and west Ka`u (Ocean View & Discovery Harbour areas). Participation in one of the Technical Workshops will be more productive if you are first able to attended one of the Public Input Forums as noted below. If you represent an agency, we encourage you and your most senior managers and staff to attend. We are happy to provide suggestions about which staff would have the most to contribute and benefit. Seating is limited for the Technical Workshops and we need to pre-plan small group exercises, so please RSV-P no later than Friday, August 5, 2016, indicating who is attending which session. Your response can be provided to Jackie Araujo at Jaclyn.Araujo(rr!h.i„raiicoti»ty.gov or(808)961-8132. In addition to the workshops outlined above, there are other opportunities for your participation in the comprehensive review process: Public Input Forums: These sessions are open to the public and serve as an excellent introduction to scenario planning and the scenarios we have been analyzing. The purpose is to get community feedback on alternative scenarios for future patterns of growth and development. Two identical public forums will be held, so plan to attend the one most convenient for you: Tuesday, August 23,at 6:00pm,County Council Chambers,Kilo Thursday,August 25,at 6:00pm,County Council Chambers,Kona You may also participate remotely from the following locations: Waimea Community Center on August 23 &25 Pahoa Neighborhood Facility on August 23 &25 Na`alehu Community Center on August 23 &25 Kona Council Chambers on August 23 Hilo Council Chambers on August 25 Professional Meetings: The periods between 2:OOpm and 4:OOpm on August 24 in Hilo and August 26 in Kona are reserved for informal meetings with staff and consultants regarding specific areas or questions. These meetings are an opportunity to use the scenario planning models to explore ideas in greater detail or depth than may otherwise be possible during the other sessions. All of the above sessions mark the beginning of comprehensive consideration of the General Plan. Afterwards, we will continue to refine the models and related recommendations, with additional guidance from you and the general public. For more information about the General Plan and the Comprehensive Review, please visit our website at: yvw'vv.cohplanningdept.comiaen era Iplan. MahaIo,and we look forward to seeing you soon. f iv'W i Amauulu Rd nk naole st e All Pli ani j r W1 r' p 00 Zy 3 • 7l'=`r", ., r ¢ 4 ,o: s Z3' , . ..^^l lSt m t Eaihal St )t Y. 00 M4 t %CST d A Delete connection to Railroad Ave Rinakahee St a d oofz ass) r a c!_a 4 E ova, r k 41 r U I1 r ka- LMNP DATE:8/17/2016 Planning Area Res identlal_Homestead_Lots FIGURE 15 Proposed GP RoadsAmendment .._, __. <0.5acre Existing and Proposed Roads Proposed GP Collector Roads Su-pp_lemental Ag Lots in Relation to Lot Density State Highways 1.000000-3.000000 County Roads 3.000001-5.000000 Panaevva Other unimproved roads 5.000001-10.000000 gional Plan 10.000001-12.500000 wnn 1 0 0.5 1 V", Y Miles I Disclaimer.This graphic has been prepared forgeneral planning purposes onlyand should not be used for boundary Interpretations or otherspatial analysis. From: Michelle Melendez To: LPCtestimonv;WPCtestimonv Subject: Testimony for General Plan(Piz do not let it go through the way it is!) Date: Wednesday,November 20,2024 3:31:44 PM Aloha Commissioners, This may be the first time you're able to look at the Big Island General Plan 2045 and it is DEEPLY concerning something like this is being considered. Here are some concerns: 1. The word "Stakeholder," defined in the plan, is written 86 times and literally means anyone in the entire world can have input on this 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 and management are crucial for the success and sustainability of any initiative, as it helps ensure that diverse 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 use will be changed from resident to recreation due to the General Plan 2045. This will drastically lower 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 be further 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. hUs://clintel.org/wl2- content/uploads/2024/10/WCD-241023.12df 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 move forward without that?Hilo is 22%of the island. 6. 1.13 under "Increase the biodiversity and resilience of native habitats"reads, Uncentivize private land management practices that protect and enhance natural resource values and, when appropriate,pursue the acquisition of lands for the protection ofnatural resources." 'Incentives" mean more taxes. Protection" means more rules. Who's "values" is this plan referring too because it's not the locals? Pursue the acquisition of lands" does this say they are going to pursing taking people's private property?Again with "protection of natural resources". This plan should 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 of Papaikou, has created an Ag Villages plan. Ag Village to add to the General Plan: Papaikou Ag Village Objectives: hops://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_2cb l cc6d604f4cdd971 ad40831 c745bc.42df Papaikou Site Plan: hops://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_5e4cdb02efeb46a5ae949a3579affOOd.pdf Papaikou Development: hUs://www.standtogetherhawall.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_c2af52c8b3c645b I a6868a724eee8304.pdf A Hawaiian born Kanaka revised the Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship that is in the plan. You can see it in the pdf below: Part One: hUs://www.standtogetherhawall.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_Oald5be8fldl4OO69415f7b691725786.pdf Part Two: https://86fc0cbd-8207-4076-85fa- 5a62e4e933b4.usrfiles.com/ugd/86fc0c_ecc498bal92d4a7689ebf3 lc3681 c2ec.pdf Here is a longer revised version ofthe plan from locals: hUs://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/ files/ugd/86fc0c b34739e4c99c461685de4cO207bf286e.pdf The way this plan is written is very far from what will support our island. Please do not let it go through the way it currently is written. Mahalo, Michelle Mclendez- Fitness and Wellness Expert Since 1996 Author Of The Best Selling and 4x Award Winning Book, End Dieting Hell:How to find peace in your body and release the weight Order your copy of End Dieting Hell Click Here Great Maui Land Grab"NOW Available here From: Noah Walin To: LPCtestimonv Subject: General Plan Update Special Meeting Testimony Date:Wednesday, November 20,2024 11:16:56 AM Attachments: Testimony GP Amendment Reouest 241120.odf Aloha Leeward Planning Commission, Please see the attached testimony letter regarding the update to the County of Hawaii General Plan 2045. a6a o, ry VOU6 VU(in I PACIFIC RIM LAND, INC. Project Coordinator 1300 N. Holopono Street,Suite 201 P.O. Box 220, Kihei, Maui, Hawaii 96753 Office:808-270-5943 1 Direct:808-419-4610 E-mail: NoahWCcFJpacificrimland.com PACIFIC RIM LAND INC. D 1 9 a a November 19, 2024 Mr. Zendo Kern, Director Planning Department COUNTY OF HAWAII 101 Pauahi Street Hilo, HI 96720 Subject:General Plan Update Request Waikoloa, South Kohala, Hawaii, TMK: 6-8-001: 066 Dear Mr. Kern and Members of the Leeward Planning Commission, I am writing to request the County's consideration of designating TMK: 6-8-001:066 as Heavy Industrial (HI) in the County of Hawaii General Plan Update 2045. In April 2019, a letter was submitted on behalf of the landowners (WQJ2008 Investment, LLC and Ukumehame Quarry Limited Partner, "Owners"), requesting that the property identified by TMK: 6-8-001:066 would be re- designated on the General Plan Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide ("LUPAG") map from Urban Expansion to Industrial. A copy of the letter is attached as Exhibit A. This letter is to reconfirm the desire that the property should be designated HI on the LUPAG map in the County of Hawaii General Plan Update 2045, see Figure 1. The subject property,consisting of 245+acres, is situated on the south or Kona side of Waikoloa Road, midway between Waikoloa Village and the Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway in Waikoloa, South Kohala, Hawai'i. Currently, the site has a quarry, asphalt batch plant with related activities and a base yard. These uses operate with special permits described below, see Exhibit B and C. The reasons justifying this request are: a. From a land use perspective, the entire 245+ acre property has already been committed to industrial activities for an extended period of time. On January 19, 1993, the State Land Use Commission ("LUC") approved Special Permit SPP 833) request to operate a quarry and related activities on approximately 219.99 acres of land. On February 26, 2016, the LUC extended the life of the permit as well as allowed other industrial uses to December 31, 2043. 1300 N. Holopono Street, Suite 201 •P.O. Box 220•Kihei, HI 96753*808-874-5263 Relatedly, on October 6, 2008, the County Planning Commission approved Goodfellow Brothers Inc.'s request for a"base yard to provide equipment and motor vehicle maintenance and repair services and related uses" on the 14.77 acre area immediately adjacent to the 219+acre quarry site. The Special Permit(SPP 08-00064) was subsequently extended by the Leeward Planning Commission on August 16, 2018, to run coterminous with the life of SPP 833, which is December 31, 2043, see Exhibit D. Given the site's current industrial use and its entitled life (year 2043), having this site designated HI would be most appropriate. The site is currently designated Urban Expansion. According to the General Plan, Urban Expansion allows land use consideration for a "a mix of high density, medium density, low density, industrial-commercial mix andlor natural designations in areas where new growth may be desirable, but where the specific settlement pattern and infrastructure have not been determined" While Heavy Industrial designation allows "uses including but not limited to landfills, quarries, chemical plants, heavy equipment base yards, towing yards, and other uses with the potential to create public nuisance conditions (e.g., noise, environmental impacts)." As noted earlier, the subject site is already entitled for certain type of industrial uses until the year 2043, which is nineteen (19) years from now. Thus, these land use entitlements have, de facto, established an Industrial land use pattern for this area b. Having the III designation would make it more feasible to secure a State Land Use Urban boundary amendment and County Industrial zoning. Such designations would then allow additional industrial uses which could support the community - such as warehousing, self storage facility and the like - not covered by the specific use limitation of a Special Permit. This would obviate the need to seek new or amended Special Permits for uses not expressly covered by the existing Special Permits. c. Finally, the site does not have any developmental constraints and is reasonably serviced with supportive infrastructure. Based on studies conducted for the existing Special Permits, the site does not have any archaeological, topographical, or drainage issues. Likewise, it has adequate infrastructure, particularly access to potable water, and all other infrastructure requirements can be reasonably addressed. The transition to LUPAG HI designation would not represent a significant change to the nature of the area but rather formalize and legalize existing uses. We also believe this proposal aligns with the County's broader goals of supporting responsible development and sustainable land use planning. Again, we respectfully request your favorable consideration of our request. Should you have any questions or wish further information on this matter, please feel free to contact Noah Walin via email at noahw@pacificrimland.com or 808-270-5943. Sincerely, WQJ2008 INVESTMENT, LLC By Pacific Rim Land, Inc. Its Manager By Ly Le4aniPulmano Vice President, Pacific Rim Land, Inc. Ukumehame Quarry Company Limited Partnership By Pacific Rim Land, Inc. Its Manager By LVp Leilal Pulmano Vice President, Pacific Rim Land, Inc. Exhibit A SidneyFuke, Planning Consultant 100 Pauahi Street,Suite 212•Hilo,Hawaii 96720 Planning•Variance•Zoning Telephone:(808)969-1522 Cell:(808)989-0640 Subdivision•Land Use Permits E-mail:sidfuke@hawaiiantel.net Environmental Reports April 8, 2019 Mr. Michael Yee,Director Planning Department COUNTY OF HAWAII 101 Pauahi Street Hilo, HI 96720 Dear Mr. Yee: Subject:General Plan Update Request-WQJ2008 Investment, LLC and Ukumehame Quarry Limited Partner Waikoloa, South Kohala,Hawaii. TMK: 6-8-001: 066 Beginning February 6, 2015, the Department officially commenced its mandatory 10-year comprehensive update of the County General Plan. At that time,your website noted that the public had an opportunity to provide initial comments on this by June 6, 2015. The Department would then review these comments and internal and/or consulted studies from June 6 to April 2017. Preliminary recommendations would then be formulated by the Department which would then serve as a basis for public workshops. Subsequently, an official draft of the Plan would then be forwarded to the Leeward and Windward Planning Commissions for public hearings; revisions would then be made before final recommendatory action is taken by the Commissions. The County Council,based on the recommended draft of the Plan would then conduct its review and take appropriate action between August 2017 to January 2018. During the course of this process,there will understandably be ample opportunity for further public input. It is our understanding that the proposed schedule noted above has been pushed back due, in large measure,to other demands placed on the Department. Accordingly and inasmuch as the Department is still in the throes of preparing the first document that would be used as a basis for public workshops, on behalf of the landowners (WQJ2008 Investment, LLC and Ukumehame Quarry Limited Partner(hereinafter referred to collectively as"Applicant")where the major tenant is Goodfellow Brothers, LLC, we respectfully request your favorable consideration in having the subject property, identified by TMK: 6-8-001: 006,re-designated on the General Plan Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide ("LUPAG")map from Extensive Agriculture/Urban ExpansiontolndustriaL A copy of the letter of authorization from the landowner is attached. The subject property, consisting of 245+acres, is situated on the south or"Kona" side of Waikoloa road, midway between Waikoloa Village and the Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway in Waikoloa, South Kohala,Hawaii. Currently,the site has a quarry with related activities and a base yard. (Figures 1 and 2) Mr. Michael Yee, Director April 8, 2019 Page 2 The reasons for this request are: a. From a land use perspective, the entire 245+acre property has already been committed to industrial activities for an extended period of time. On January 19, 1993,the State Land Use Commission ("LUC") approved Special Permit(SPP 833)request to operate a quarry and related activities on approximately 219.99 acres of land. On February 26, 2016,the LUC extended the life of the permit as well as allowed other activities or uses to essentially December 31, 2043. Relatedly, on October 6, 2006, the County Planning Commission approved Goodfellow Brothers LLC's Special Permit request(SPP 08-00064) for a"base yard to provide equipment and motor vehicle maintenance and repair services and related uses"on the 14.77 acre area immediately adjacent to the 219+ acre quarry site. The Special Permit was subsequently extended by the Leeward Planning Commission on August 16, 2018,to run essentially coterminous to the life of SPP 833, which would be December 31, 2043. The areas covered by SPP 833 (219.99 acres) and SPP 08-00064 (14.77 acres) were originally part of a 3,049 acre parcel identified by TMK: 6-8-01: 005. In a letter, dated November 18, 2008,the Planning Director granted final subdivision approval of the 3,049 acre parcel into three (3) parcels. The 219.99 acre quarry and the 14.77 acre base yard were now situated on one of those lots, consisting of 245.794 acres and identified by TMK: 6-8-001: 066. The other two (2) lots were identified by TMK: 6- 8-01: 067 (934.660 acres) and the "parent" lot, TMK: 6-8-01: 05 (1,871.540 acres). The applicant's request covers only the 245+acre area identified by TMK: 6-8-001: 066. Given the site's current industrial use and its entitled life (year 2043), having this site designated Industrial would be most appropriate. Further, as part of the mandatory 10-year General Plan review/update process (which possibly could be in the year 2030), this designation (if approved) and the designations of all properties within the County will again be re-evaluated. The Industrial designation could be retained or, if a more suitable land use designation is deemed appropriate, changed. b. Although the site is designated Extensive Agriculture, it also has an Urban Expansion overlay. According to the General Plan, Urban Expansion allows land use Mr. Michael Yee, Director April 8, 2019 Page 3 consideration for a "a mix ofhigh density, medium density, low density, industrial, industrial-commercial and/or open designations in areas where new settlements may be desirable, but where the specific settlement pattern and mix of uses have not been determined. " Thus, conceivably all uses, with the exception of resort, could be considered within an Urban Expansion area. As noted earlier, the subject site is already entitled for certain type of industrial uses until the year 2043, which is nearly twenty-five (25)years from now. Thus,these land use entitlements have, de facto, established a land use pattern for this area. Given that, future land uses adjacent or proximate to this area can be more appropriately planned. For example, it would be less likely that a residential subdivision would be planned adjacent to an area designated Industrial on the LUPAG map. c. Having the Industrial designation would make it more feasible for a portion or the entire site to secure a State Land Use Urban boundary amendment and subsequent County Industrial zoning. Such designations would then allow a plethora of industrial uses which could support the community - such as warehousing, self storage facility and the like - not covered by the specific use limitation of a Special Permit. This would obviate the need to seek new or amended Special Permits for uses not expressly covered by the Special Permits. d. Finally, the site does not have any developmental constraints and is reasonably serviced with supportive infrastructure. For example, based on studies conducted for the existing Special Permits, the site does not have any archaeological, topographical, or drainage issues. Likewise, it has adequate infrastructure, particularly access to potable water, and all other infrastructure requirements can be reasonably addressed. Again, we respectfully request your favorable consideration of the Applicant's request. Should you have any questions or wish further information on this matter, please feel free to contact me. Thank you very much! Sincerely, V J SIDNEY M. FUKE Planning Consultant Enclosures Copy—Goodfellow Brothers, LLC w/enclosure via email TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: Please be informed that as Applicant and Landowner(s), we hereby consent and have no objections to SIDNEY FUKE, PLANNING CONSULTANT submitting our request to have a property, identified by TMK: 6-8-001: 066, designated INDUSTRIAL on the General Plan Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide Map in conjunction with the General Plan Update Program. APPLICANT LANDOWNERS: WQJ2008 INVESTMENT, LLC, a Washington limited liability company By: Columbia Valley Investments, Inc., a Washington corporation Its Manager By: Ryan Churchill, Its Vice President UKUMEHAME QUARRY COMPANY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a Hawaii limited partnership By: Ukumehame Quarry Management, Inc., a Hawaii corporation, Its General Partner By: Ryan Churchill, Its Vice President Date: 11 it I e o O° l I i io• _I C m E n 0 e 04ti\ 0 3 110 CO W 81 3 eJ j E yY 51 Subiect Site r• c 0 I i• N 4 aaw w•eua Figure 1 r e w G u 00 00' CE a u Q z G c 3.o. z w z o 0o XoAW 0 C LA. ry W UL Lo c \\\NJ Ll LO L\ O Op0 o to Z7) tih coro a uO rn 1 o c QC II CO M I Q w zr> Q Nc a m eo LL! m o h WffJ CD W to Lf1 co Q $ co zQ J aoa. 06 w R:::r uj T- QL to Figure 2 Hawaii County Informational GIS Web Application Legend 04 INNER; ffl/ A 141MON 1XIMS'. P,ggNST.'a",4 IM,I'v 104NOIF4r.,MMO,1,10MIEF&I S. Ib! ONIV, an"arg" III"*.NMI"WORM W, WSM, maw-ma000vow" SMv v I W'*';,W VOvMEN*.Ease W V WENOVEMBER!;WWWWWWWWWS 169 Q, :,.v M, tMEW RON tee®®. 4®` Ian®®®®®®®®®®®® 03) Exhibit B Eo HgsLPle95go'•.q s M BEFORE THE LAND USE COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF HAWAI`I In the Matter of the Application of Docket No. SP92-381 0 WAIKOLOA DEVELOPMENT FINDINGS OF FACT, CONCLUSIONS COMPANY OF LAW, AND DECISION AND ORDER APPROVING THE For the Establishment of a Quarry RECOMMENDATION OF THE Operation and Allied Uses on COUNTY OF HAWAI`I LEEWARD Within the State Land Use Agricultural ) PLANNING COMMISSION TO Approximately 220 Acres of Land Situated ) AMEND THE STATE SPECIAL District at Wailcoloa, South Kohala, Hawaii) USE PERMIT AND CERTIFICATE Tax Map Key No.: 6-8-01: portion of 5 ) OF SERVICE nlca approximately 219.990 acres at Waikoloa, South Kohala, Island of Hawaii ) Tax Map Key No.: (3) 6-8-001: 066 FINDINGS OF FACT CONCLUSIONS OF LAW AND DECISION AND ORDER APPROVING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAI`I LEEWARD PLANNING COMMISSION TO AMEND THE STATE SPECIAL USE PERMIT AND CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE This is to certify that this is a true and correct copy ofthe document on file in the office of the State Land Use Commission,Honolulu,Hawaii. February 26, 2016 by Daniel E. Orodenker, Executive Officer t E•'D HgIYP:• 95g y'...N BEFORE THE LAND USE COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF HAWAI`I In the Matter of the Application of Docket No. SP92-3 81 WAIKOLOA DEVELOPMENT FINDINGS OF FACT, CONCLUSIONS COMPANY OF LAW, AND DECISION AND ORDER APPROVING THE For the Establishment of a Quarry RECOMMENDATION OF THE Operation and Allied Uses on COUNTY OF HAWAI`I LEEWARD Within the State Land Use Agricultural ) PLANNING COMMISSION TO Approximately 220 Acres of Land Situated ) AMEND THE STATE SPECIAL District at Waikoloa, South Kohala, Hawaii) USE PERMIT Tax Map Key No.: 6-8-01: portion of 5 ) nka approximately 219.990 acres at Waikoloa, South Kohala, Island of Hawaii ) Tax Map Key No.: (3) 6-8-001: 066 1 FINDINGS OF FACT CONCLUSIONS OF LAW AND DECISION AND ORDER APPROVING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAI`I LEEWARD PLANNING COMMISSION TO AMEND THE STATE SPECIAL USE PERMIT The State of Hawaii Land Use Commission ("LUC"), having examined the complete record of the County of Hawaii Leeward Planning Commission ("Planning Commission") proceedings on amending the State Special Use Permit("SUP")Application("Application") filed by West Hawaii Concrete ("Applicant"), pursuant to section 205-6, Hawai`i Revised Statutes HRS"), and sections 15-15-95 and 15-15-96, Hawai`i Administrative Rules ("HAR"), and Rule 6 of Planning Commission Rules of Practice and Procedure to: (1) to amend existing Condition 2 SP92-381 Waikoloa Development Company Decision And Order on Motion to Amend No. 12 to extend the life of Special Permit ("SP 833")t so that the quarrying and other activities can continue to 2043 or longer(i.e., for as long as the Owner allows Applicant to continue quarry operations, which could extend to 2063); (2) include greenwaste composting as an expressly permitted use under the Special Permit; and(3) allow for the processing and recycling of Portland cement concrete and asphalt concrete pavement on the Special Permit site (also referred to as Project") on approximately 219.990 acres of land situated at Waikoloa, South Kohala, County and Island of Hawaii, Tax Map Key No. (3) 6-8-001: 066 (formerly TMK No. (3) 6-8-001: 005), and upon consideration of the matters discussed therein,argument of counsel and public comments at its meeting on February 9, 2016, hereby makes the following findings of fact, conclusions of law, and decision and order: FINDINGS OF FACT PROCEDURAL MATTERS 1. On September 15, 2015, WHC, LTD., a Hawaii corporation doing business as West Hawaii Concrete ("Applicant") filed a request with the Hawaii County Planning Department (the "Planning Department")to amend the special permit issued in the above- entitled docket pursuant to section 205-6,HRS, and sections 15-15-95 and 15-15-96, HAR, and Rule 6 to: (1)to amend existing Condition No. 12 to extend the life of Special Permit No. 833 (the "SP 833") so that the quarrying and other activities can continue to 2043 or longer(i.e., for as long as the Owner allows Applicant to continue quarry operations, which could extend to 2063); (2) include greenwaste compositing as an expressly permitted use under the Special Permit; and (3) allow for the processing and r SP 833 is a county designation for tracking the State Special Permit they review. Once it is forwarded with a recommendation to the State Land Use Commission it is given an official State Special Permit docket number;in this case SP92-381. 3 SP92-381 Waikoloa Development Company Decision And Order on Motion to Amend recycling of Portland cement concrete and asphalt concrete pavement on the Special Permit site on approximately 219.990 acres of land situate at Waikoloa, South Kohala, County and Island of Hawaii, Tax Map Key No. (3) 6-8-001: 066 (formerly TMK No. 3) 6-8-001: 005) (the "Application"). 2. Applicant has operated a quarry at the 219.990 acre site ("Petition Area") since 1995 under a license agreement with the landowner,which is now WQJ2008 Investment, LLC, a Washington limited liability company(as to an undivided 85.714%interest), and Ukumehame Quarry Company Limited Partnership, a Hawai'i limited partnership (as to an undivided 14.286% interest), as tenants in common ("Owner"). 3. The County of Hawaii Planning Commission authorized SP 833 at its hearing on September 22, 1992, and the State of Hawai'i Land Use Commission("LUC") issued its Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Decision and Order in LUC Docket No. SP92- 381 authorizing SP 833 on January 19, 1993 ("LUC D&O"). 4. SP 833 allows the Petition Area to be used for blasting, drilling,rock crushing and screening, concrete ready-mix batching,pre-casting, asphaltic concrete products manufacturing equipment and materials storage and repair, and other necessary uses and activities related to providing a source of rock aggregate and concrete and asphalt products. 5. Included with the current Application were 24 exhibits, as follows: (1)Map &Metes and Bounds Submitted to Planning Department, dated 10/2/92 and Planning Department Acceptance, dated 10/22/92; (2) Subdivision Map, Sub No. 07-000696; (3) Fee Owner's Authorization; (3A) Licensee's Authorization; (4)Annual Monitoring Report; (5) 1996 4 SP92-381 Waikoloa Development Company Decision And Order on Motion to Amend Final Plan Approval; (6) Site Plan of Current Quarry Area and Proposed Quarry, Recycling, and Greenwaste Composting Area and Activities; (7) 2011 DOH Solid Waste Mgt Application and Permit; (8) State Land Use District Map; (9) County Zoning Map; 10) Flood Zone Map; (11) Dr. Robert Rechtman 1999 Letter re Monitoring; (12) 2015 Archaeological Assessment; (12A) SHPD Letter dated August 12, 2015; (13) Waikoloa Quarry Ka Pa'akai Discussion; (14) Land Study Bureau Map; (15) ALISH Map; (16) General Botanical Survey, July 2015; (17) Blackburn's Sphinx Moth Surveys; (18) Hydrologic Assessment; (19) Photos of Quarry; (20) LUPAG Map; (21) South Kohala Community Development Plan Map; and(22) Special Management Area Map. 6. By letter dated September 24, 2015, the Planning Department notified Applicant that it had accepted the Application f6r filing. 7. The Planning Department circulated the Application for agency comment. 8. By letter dated October 5, 2015, Applicant notified surrounding property owners and lessees of the filing of the Application, and provided information regarding how such owners and lessees could request a contested case proceeding in this matter. 9. By letter dated October 12, 2015,Applicant filed with the Planning Department an Affidavit of Sign Posting and Affidavit of Mailing, attesting to the posting of a sign at the Petition Area notifying the public of the pending application, and notifying the public of the mailing. 5 SP92-381 Waikoloa Development Company Decision And Order on Motion to Amend 10. By letter dated November 24, 2015,the Planning Department notified Applicant that the matter was set for hearing before the Leeward Planning Commission on Thursday, December 17, 2015. 11. Applicant responded to all agency comment letters. 12. By notice dated December 1, 2015,Applicant notified surrounding property owners and lessees of the Planning Commission hearing. Included in that mailing was a copy ofthe Planning Commission's agenda, and a copy of the form "Petition for Standing in Contested Case Hearing." 13. No petitions for intervention or requests for contested case hearings were submitted in response to the Application. 14. On December 17, 2015, at the West Hawaii Civic Center, after presentation by Planning Department staff, the Planning Commission considered the Application. 15. The Permit was first amended on February 26, 1999, which amendment included an amendment to Condition No. 12 to extend the life of the permit until December 31, 2018. 16. Applicant requested that Condition No. 12 be amended to allow operations at the quarry to continue until 2043 or longer, i.e., for as long as the Owner allows Applicant to continue quarry operations, which could extend to 2063. 17. The Planning Director's Recommendation is that Condition No. 12 be amended to read: The life ofthis permit shall be for a period co-terminus with the existing license agreement with the owner of the property, until December 31, [2418] 2043; the 6 SP92-381 Waikoloa Development Company Decision And Order on Motion to Amend date of completion of the proposed quarrying; or its abandonment, whichever comes first. 18. The Planning Commission's approval of the Application recommended that the Permit be extended until 2043, at which time the Applicant will be required to submit another time extension request to continue operations. 19. The Planning Corarnission noted that the proposed request to allow the recycling of Portland cement concrete and asphalt concrete pavement, and greenwaste composting activities would be consistent and complementary with the "related uses" that are currently approved under Special Permit No. 833, which includes blasting, drilling, rock crushing and screening, concrete ready-mix batching,pre-casting, asphaltic concrete products manufacturing, equipment storage and materials storage and repair, and other necessary uses and activities related to providing a source of rock aggregate and concrete and asphaltic products. 20. The Planning Commission noted that the allowance of these additional uses will reduce the amount of materials being dumped into the local landfill and will allow those materials to be reused and recycled. 21. The Planning Department also noted Applicant has successfully operated a quarry at the Petition Area for twenty(20) years. 22. The Planning Commission further concluded that approving the proposed amendments to the Permit(a)would not be contrary (i)to the General Plan or the Zoning Code, (ii)the original reasons for granting the Permit, (iii)the objectives sought to be accomplished by 7 SP92-381 Waikoloa Development Company Decision And Order on Motion to Amend the State Land Use Law, Chapter 205, HRS, and its regulations, (b) are unusual and reasonable uses of land situated within the State Land Use Agricultural District, (c)will not adversely affect the surrounding properties nor unreasonably burden public agencies or infrastructure, (d) did not arise as a result ofunusual conditions,trends, or needs since the district boundaries and regulations were established, (e) will not substantially alter or change the essential character of the land and the present use, (f) are consistent with Chapter 205A, HRS, and the Special Management Area guidelines contained in Rule No. 9 of the Planning Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedures, and (g) will not have a significant adverse impact to traditional and customary Hawaiian rights and practices. 23. The Planning Commission also recommended approval ofthe proposed amendments to the Permit on the ground that the land upon which the proposed uses are sought is unsuited for the uses permitted within the district. The soils for the petition area are classified as "E" or "Very Poor" by the Land Study Bureau's Overall Master Productivity Rating and are unclassified by the Department of Agriculture's ALISH Map. 24. The Planning Department ultimately recommended that the proposed amendments be granted subject to the following revised changes (Material to be deleted is bracketed and strieke-n and material to be added is underscored): a. The Applicant, successors or assigns shall be responsible for complying with all stated conditions of approval. b. Final Plan Approval for the quarry operation shall be secured from the Planning Department on or before January 19, 1997. To assure adequate plan approval review and in accordance with Chapter 25-244 (Zoning Code),plans for the 8 SP92-381 Waikoloa Development Company Decision And Order on Motion to Amend quarry operation shall be submitted a minimum of forty-five days prior to the date by which plan approval must be secured. Plans shall identify structures and parking associated with the proposed quarry operations. c. The quarry operations and related activities shall commence on or before December 10, 2003. A letter informing of commencement of operations shall be submitted to the Planning Department. d. A metes and bounds description and map shall be submitted with plans for plan approval review. The area described shall contain less than 220 acres and the operation confined within the described area. e. [Aeees-s once theWaikoloaRoud ftom the project site, ineludingt adequate sigh4 distanee, shall meet with the approval of the DepaFtmen4 of Pub! Wofks prior-to final plan approval. Should additional intefseetion improvemefils such . eh.,mel;z.,+;9nbe required by the Department ooof Publie Works ,1,,,ing the 11FV VF the permit, J4LV1 11J1VYVm „+s shall be provided ; , timely ,,mer-by+ho 1;,ant at no st t the County fHawaii-.] At the written request ofthe Department of Public Works (DPW), after the fifth anniversary of the issuance of the extended permit,the Applicant shall prepare a Traffic Impact Analysis Report TIAR), at no cost to the County of Hawai'i, for submission to the DPW. The applicant shall coordinate with the DPW on implementing the Applicant's pro-rata share of appropriate traffic mitigation measures, if any, should it be determined through the TIAR that improvements to the Waikoloa/Quarry road intersection 9 SP92-381 Waikoloa Development Company Decision And Order on Motion to Amend are needed due to the Applicant's activity at the quarry. Access to Waikoloa Road shall comply with Chapter 22 of Hawaii County Code. f. The following procedures shall be instituted for archaeological site mitigation: i. Possible burial sites identified in the Archaeological Inventory Survey PHRI ms 1041-122091) shall be approved by the Hawaii Island Burial Council prior to receipt of Final Plan Approval. ii. The preservation area, including a 50-foot buffer zone, shall be staked/flagged prior to receipt of Final Plan Approval. A confirming letter from the archaeologist shall be submitted. iii. Construction workers and quarry operational personnel shall be informed of the significance of the staked preservation area. Construction plans shall also note the area. iv. An archaeologist shall be on site to monitor initial land preparation activities that occur in the vicinity of the preservation area. g. Should any unidentified sites or remains such as artifacts, shell, bone, or charcoal deposits, human burials, rock or coral alignments, paving or walls be uncovered during land preparation activities, work in the area shall immediately cease and the Planning Department shall be notified. No work within the affected area shall resume until clearance from the Planning Department is received. 10 SP92-381 Waikoloa Development Company Decision And Order on Motion to Amend h. If required by the Department of Land and Natural Resources, a survey of the area identified as 'Suitable Habitat for the Ophioglossum Fern' in the 'Botanical Assessment' conducted by Winona Char (see Exhibit 1) shall be performed prior to any land alterations of the affected area. The survey and any mitigation measures shall be reviewed and approved by the Planning Department, in consultation with the Department of Land and Natural Resources. i. The quarrying activity shall be limited to the hours of 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily; provided active noise generating activity(i.e., blasting, crushing) shall commence no earlier than 7:30 a.m. j. The applicant shall submit an Erosion Control and Site Restoration Plan for review and approval by the Planning Director, in consultation with the Department of Public Works, one year prior to the expiration date of the permit or prior to the termination ofthe operations,whichever occurs first. k. Upon termination of the operations or abandonment of any portion of the affected site,the land shall be graded to blend with the surrounding area and rehabilitated as approved in the Erosion Control and Site Restoration Plan. The affected site shall be left in a non-hazardous condition. Appropriate documentation which demonstrates compliance with this condition shall be submitted to the Planning Department and the Department of Public Works for review and approval within ninety (90) days from the date of termination or abandonment. 1. The life of this permit shall be for a period co-terminus with the existing license agreement with the owner of the property, or until December 31, [2 1-9] 2043; the 11 SP92-381 Waikoloa Development Company Decision And Order on Motion to Amend date of completion of the proposed quarrying; or its abandomnent, whichever comes first. in. An adequate supply of water shall be made available for dust control and for fire prevention and pre-suppression. n. Comply with all other laws, rules, regulations and requirements, including those of the Department of Health, Hawaii Electric Light Company, and the Department of Public Works. o. An annual monitoring report shall be submitted to the Planning Director and Land Use Commission prior to the anniversary date of the approval of this permit. The report shall include, but not be limited to, the amount of material quarried, a detailed listing of public complaints or problems and their disposition. Should a conflict arise, which cannot be mitigated or mediated,the quarry operations shall cease upon appropriate findings by the Planning Commission that the introduced use will have an adverse impact on surrounding properties. The report shall also include Applicant's progress in complying with the conditions imposed. p. An extension of time for the performance of conditions within the permit,with the exception of Condition No. 12,may be granted by the Planning Director upon the following circumstances: a)the non-performance is the result of conditions that could not have been foreseen or are beyond the control of the applicant, successors or assigns, and that are not the result of their fault or negligence; b) granting of the time extension would not be contrary to the general plan or zoning code; c) granting of the time extension would not be contrary to the original 12 SP92-381 Wailcoloa Development Company Decision And Order on Motion to Amend i r reasons for the granting of the permit, and d)the time extension granted shall be for a period not to exceed the period originally granted for performance (i.e., a condition to be performed within one year may be extended for up to one additional year). Further, should any of the conditions not be met or substantially complied with in a timely fashion, the Director shall initiate procedures to revolve the permit. 25. No public testimony was received by the Planning Commission. After due deliberation, at its meeting on December 17, 2015, the Planning Commission recommended approval of the Application to the LUC by a vote of 5 in favor and 2 excused. 26. On January 11, 2016,the LUC received a copy ofthe Planning Commission's decision and the record ofthe Planning Commission's proceedings on the Application. 27. On January 26, 2016, Applicant submitted to the LUC the $1,000.00 filing fee by check payable to the State of Hawaii. 28. On February 1, 2016,the LUC mailed a notice and meeting agenda to all parties and the Statewide, Oahu and Hawaii mailing lists. 29. On February 8, 2016,Applicant filed its Proposed Findings ofFact, Conclusions ofLaw, and Decision and Order ("Proposed Order"). 30. On February 9, 2016,the LUC met in Kona, island of Hawaii,to consider the Petition. Jennifer A. Lim, Esq. and Jason Macey appeared on behalf of the Applicant; Daryn Arai and Danny B. Patel, Esq., Deputy Corporation Counsel, appeared on behalf of the County; and, Deputy Attorney General Bryan Yee, Esq., appeared on behalf of OP. The 13 SP92-381 Waikoloa Development Company Decision And Order on Motion to Amend f Commission heard public testimony from Mr. Yee on behalf of OP. At the meeting the Applicant provided a description of the Project relative to Section 15-15-95(c), HAR. Following the presentation by the Applicant, the LUC raised questions about the operation of the Project and its impacts. The County provided a brief overview of its decision recommending approval of the Application and the conditions it imposed. 31. Thereafter, a motion was made and seconded to approve the Application and the County's recommendation, and as agreed to by the Applicant. 32. On February17 2016 the LUC mailed out thet agenda and nonce of hearing for the February 24, 2016, LUC meeting to all parties, and the Statewide, Hawaii and Maui mailing lists. 33. On February 24, 2016, the LUC conducted a meeting to adopt the form of the Order on this docket at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center in Kahului, Maui. Entering appearances were Mel Macey for the Applicant; and Deputy Attorney General Bryan Yee, Esq., for OP. The County of Hawaii indicated that it would not be in attendance. The Commission provided an opportunity for public testimony. There was no public testimony. RULINGS ON PROPOSED FINDINGS OF FACT Any conclusions of law herein improperly designated as a finding of fact should be deemed or construed as a conclusion of law; and finding of fact herein improperly designated as a conclusion of law should be deemed or construed as a finding of fact. 14 SP92-381 Waikoloa Development Company Decision And Order on Motion to Amend CONCLUSIONS OF LAW 1. The LUC has jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to section 205-6, HRS,and section 5-15- 95 et seq. HAR. 2. Based upon the record of the proceedings before the Planning Commission, and pursuant to section 205-6, HRS and section 15-15-95 et seq., HAR, the LUC finds that the recommendation of the Planning Commission to approve a State Special Permit for the Petition Area, consisting of approximately 219.990 acres of land situated at Waikoloa, South Kohala, County and Island of Hawaii, Tax Map Key No. (3) 6-8-001: 066 (formerly TMK No. (3) 6-8-001: 005), generally meets the guidelines for determining an "unusual and reasonable use" and"would promote the effectiveness and objectives" of chapter 205,HRS, within the State Land Use Agricultural District. 3. The Project constitutes an unusual and reasonable use within the agricultural district other than those for which the district is classified, and complies with section 205-6(a), HRS. 4. The Project constitutes an exceptional situation where the proposed use would not change the essential character of the district nor be inconsistent therewith. 5. The Project constitutes a use that would promote the effectiveness and objectives of chapter 205, HRS, and complies with section 205-6(c), HRS. 6. The Petition Area is not designated as Important Agricultural Land under Part III of chapter 205,HRS,and therefore the Project does not conflict with any part ofchapter 205,HRS, and complies with section 205-6(c), HRS. 15 SP92-381 Waikoloa Development Company Decision And Order on Motion to Amend 7. Article XI, section 1, of the Hawaii State Constitution requires the State to conserve and protect Hawai`'s natural beauty and all natural resources, including land, water, air, minerals, and energy sources, and to promote the development and utilization of these resources in a manner consistent with their conservation and in furtherance of the self- sufficiency of the State. 8. The LUC has considered Article XI, section 1, of the Hawaii State Constitution and finds that the Project is in compliance and non-violative therewith. 9. Article XI, Section 3, of the Hawaii State Constitution requires the State to conserve and protect agricultural lands, promote diversified agriculture, increase agricultural self- sufficiency, and assure the availability of agriculturally suitable lands. W. The LUC has considered Article XI, Section 3, of the Hawaii State Constitution and finds that the Project is in compliance and non-violative therewith. 11. Article XII, Section 7, of the Hawaii State Constitution requires the LUC to protect Native Hawaiian traditional and customary rights. The State reaffirms and shall protect all rights, customarily and traditionally exercised for subsistence, cultural, and religious purposes and possessed by ahupua`a tenants who are descendants of Native Hawaiians who inhabited the Hawaiian Islands prior to 1778, subject to the right of the State to regulate such rights. 12. The LUC has considered Article XII, Section 7, of the Hawaii State Constitution and finds that the Project is in compliance and non-violative therewith. 13. The State and its agencies are obligated to protect the reasonable exercise of customarily and traditionally exercised Native Hawaiian rights to the extent feasible.Public Access Shoreline Hcnvai`i 1,, Hcmwi`i County Planning Commission, 79 Hawai`i 425, 903, P.2d 1246, certiorari denied, 517 U.S. 1163, 116 S.Ct. 1559, 134 L.Ed.2d 660 (1996). The LUC has 16 SP92-381 Waikoloa Development Company Decision And Order on Motion to Amend considered such responsibilities and obligations and finds the Project to be consistent and non-violative therewith. 14. The LUC is empowered to preserve and protect customary and traditional rights of Native Hawaiians, Ka Pa`akai O Ka`Aina v. Land Use Commission, 94 Hawai`i 31, 7 P.3d 1068 2000). The LUC has considered such responsibilities and obligations and finds the Project to be consistent and non-violative therewith. 17 SP92-381 Waikoloa Development Company Decision And Order on Motion to Amend DECISION AND ORDER Having duly considered the complete record in this matter and the oral arguments presented by the Applicant in this proceeding,together with public testimony from the Planning Department and OP, and a motion having been duly made and seconded at a meeting conducted on February 9, 2016, in Kona, Hawaii, to approve the recommendation of the Planning Commission, and the motion having received the affirmative votes required by section 15-15-13, HAR, and there being good cause for the motion, the LUC hereby APPROVES the recommendation of the Planning Commission approving amendments to the State Special Permit for the Project site as proposed by the Planning Commission, and as agreed to by the Applicant, consisting of approximately 219.990 acres of land situated at Waikoloa, South Kohala, County and Island of Hawaii, Tax Map Key No. (3) 6-8-001: 066 (formerly TMK No. (3) 6-8-001: 005), subject to the following conditions: 1. The Applicant, successors or assigns shall be responsible for complying with all stated conditions of approval. 2. Final Plan Approval for the quarry operation shall be secured from the Planning Department on or before January 19, 1997. To assure adequate time for plan approval review and in accordance with Chapter 25-244 (Zoning Code),plans for the quarry operation shall be submitted a minimum of forty-five days prior to the date by which plan approval must be secured. Plans shall identify structures and parking associated with the proposed quarry operations. SP92-381 Waikoloa Development Company Decision And Order on Motion to Amend the Special Permit 3. The quarry operations and related activities shall commence on or before December 10, 2003. A letter informing of commencement of operations shall be submitted to the Planning Department. 4. A metes and bounds description and map shall be submitted with plans for plan approval review. The area described shall contain less than 220 acres and the operation confined within the described area. 5. At the written request of the Department of Public Works ("DPW"), after the fifth anniversary of the issuance of the extended permit,the applicant shall prepare a Traffic Impact Analysis Report ("TIAR"), at no cost to the County of Hawai'i, for submission to the DPW. The applicant shall coordinate with the DPW on implementing the applicant's pro-rata share of appropriate traffic mitigation measures, if any, should it be determined through the TIAR that improvements to the Waikoloa/Quarry road intersection are needed due to the applicant's activity at the quarry. Access to Waikoloa Road shall comply with Chapter 22 of Hawaii County Code. 6. The following procedures shall be instituted for archaeological site mitigation: a. Possible burial sites identified in the Archaeological Inventory Survey (PHRI ms 1041-122091) shall be approved by the Hawaii Island Burial Council prior to receipt of Final Plan Approval. b. The preservation area, including a 50-foot buffer zone, shall be staked/flagged prior to receipt of Final Plan Approval. A confirming letter from the archaeologist shall be submitted. 2 SP92-381 Waikoloa Development Company Decision And Order on Motion to Amend c. Construction workers and quarry operational personnel shall be informed of the significance of the staked preservation area. Construction plans shall also note the area. d. An archaeologist shall be on site to monitor initial land preparation activities that occur in the vicinity of the preservation area. 7. Should any unidentified sites or remains such as artifacts, shell, bone, or charcoal deposits,human burials,rock or coral alignments, paving or walls be uncovered during land preparation activities, work in the area shall immediately cease and the Planning Department notified. No work within the affected area shall resume until clearance from the Planning Department is received. 8. If required by the Department of Land and Natural Resources, a survey of the area identified as 'Suitable Habitat for the Ophioglossum Fern' in the 'Botanical Assessment' conducted by Winona Char (see Exhibit 1) shall be performed prior to any land alterations of the affected area. The survey and any mitigation measures shall be reviewed and approved by the Planning Department, in consultation with the Department of Land and Natural Resources. 9. The quarrying activity shall be limited to the hours of 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily; provided active noise generating activity (i.e.,blasting, crushing) shall commence no earlier than 7:30 a.m. 10. The applicant shall submit an Erosion Control and Site Restoration Plan for review and approval by the Planning Director, in consultation with DPW, one year prior to the 3 SP92-381 Waikoloa Development Company Decision And Order on Motion to Amend 1 expiration date of the permit or prior to the termination of the operations, whichever occurs first. 11. Upon termination of the operations or abandonment of any portion of the affected site, the land shall be graded to blend with the surrounding area and rehabilitated as approved in the Erosion Control and Site Restoration Plan. The affected site shall be left in a non- hazardous condition. Appropriate documentation which demonstrates compliance with this condition shall be submitted to the Planning Department and the DPW for review and approval within ninety (90) days from the date oftermination or abandonment. 12. The life ofthis permit shall be for a period co-terminus with the existing license agreement with the owner of the property, or until December 31, 2043;the date of completion of the proposed quarrying; or its abandonment, whichever comes first. 13. An adequate supply of water shall be made available for dust control and for fire prevention and pre-suppression. 14. Applicant shall comply with all other laws,rules, regulations and requirements, including those of the Department of Health, Hawai'i Electric Light Company, and the DPW. 15. An annual monitoring report shall be submitted to the Planning Director and Land Use Commission prior to the anniversary date of the approval of this permit. The report shall include,but not be limited to,the amount of material quarried, a detailed listing of public complaints or problems and their disposition. Should a conflict arise, which cannot be mitigated or mediated,the quarry operations shall cease upon appropriate findings by the Planning Commission that the introduced use will have an adverse impact on surrounding 4 SP92-381 Waikoloa Development Company Decision And Order on Motion to Amend properties. The report shall also include Applicant's progress in complying with the conditions imposed. 16. An extension oftime for the performance of conditions within the permit, with the exception of Condition No. 12, may be granted by the Planning Director upon the following circumstances: a)the non-performance is the result of conditions that could not have been foreseen or are beyond the control of the applicant, successors or assigns, and that are not the result of their fault or negligence; b) granting of the time extension would not be contrary to the general plan or zoning code; c) granting of the time extension would not be contrary to the original reasons for the granting of the permit, and d)the time extension granted shall be for a period not to exceed the period originally granted for performance (i.e., a condition to be performed within one year may be extended for up to one additional year). Further, should any of the conditions not be met or substantially complied with in a timely fashion, the Director shall initiate procedures to revoke the permit. 5 SP92-381 Waikoloa Development Company Decision And Order on Motion to Amend ADOPTION OF ORDER This ORDER shall take effect upon the date this ORDER is certified by this Commission. Done at Honolulu, Hawaii,this 26th, day of February, 2016,per motion on February 9, 2016 in Kona, Hawai'i. LAND USE COMMISSION STATE OF HAWAI`I APPROVED AS TO FORM Deputy Attorney General By EDMUND ACZON Chairperson and Commissioner Filed and effective on: 2/26/16 Cediftetl by: DANIEL E. ORODENKER Executive Officer 6 SP92-381 Waikoloa Development Company Decision And Order on Motion to Amend pc qW r BEFORE THE LAND USE COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF HAWAI`I In the Matter of the Application of Docket No. SP92-381 WAIKOLOA DEVELOPMENT FINDINGS OF FACT, CONCLUSIONS COMPANY OF LAW, AND DECISION AND ORDER APPROVING THE For the Establishment of a Quarry RECOMMENDATION OF THE Operation and Allied Uses on COUNTY OF HAWAI`I LEEWARD Within the State Land Use Agricultural ) PLANNING COMMISSION TO Approximately 220 Acres of Land Situated ) AMEND THE STATE SPECIAL District at Waikoloa, South Kohala, Hawaii) USE PERMIT Tax Map Key No.: 6-8-01: portion of 5 ) AND nka approximately 219.990 acres at CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE Waikoloa, South Kohala, Island of Hawaii ) Tax Map Key No.: (3) 6-8-001: 066 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that a copy of the foregoing document was duly served upon the following by depositing the same in the AS INDICATED BELOW on February 26th , 2016: LEO R. ASUNCION, JR., AICP,Acting Director (HAND DELIVERY) Office of Planning, State of Hawaii 235 South Beretania Street 6t1i Floor, Leiopapa A Kamehameha Bldg. Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 BRYAN C. YEE, ESQ. HAND DELIVERY) Deputy Attorney General Department of the Attorney General 425 Queen Street Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Attorney for the Office of Planning SP92-381 Waikoloa Development Company Decision And Order on Motion to Amend the Special Permit t DUANE KANUHA, Planning Director REGULAR MAIL) DARYN ARAI, Planning Program Manager County ofHawaii Planning Department 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 Hilo, Hawaii 96720 MOLLY A. STEBBINS, ESQ. REGULAR MAIL) DANNY PATEL, ESQ. Office of the Corporation Counsel Hilo Lagoon Centre 101 Aupuni Street, Unit 325 Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Attorney for Hawaii County Planning Department JENNIFER A. LIM,ESQ. CERTIFIED MAIL,RETURN PUANANIONAONA P. THOENE, ESQ.RECEIPT REQUESTED ASB Tower, Suite 2100 1001 Bishop Street Honolulu,Hawaii 96813 Attorneys for Applicant— WHC, Ltd., dba West Hawaii Concrete DATED: Honolulu, Hawaii February 26, 2016. DA ORODENKER Executive Officer 2 SP92-381 Waikoloa Development Company Decision And Order on Motion to Amend Exhibit C 4 County ®f Heawai'l PLANNING COMMISSION Aupuni Center • 101 Pauahi Street,Suite 3 • Hilo,Hawaii 96720 Phone(808)961-8288 • Fax(808)961-8742 October 6, 2008 Ms.Ann M.Cobb Kalai Consulting P.O. Box 383597 Waikoloa,HI 96738 Dear Ms. Cobb: Special Permit Application(SPP 08-000064) Applicant: Goodfellow Brothers, Inc. Request: Construction Baseyard Tax Map Key: 6-8-1:portion 5 The Planning Commission at its duly held public hearing on September 19,2008,voted to approve the above-referenced application to allow the establishment of a baseyard to provide equipment and motor vehicle maintenance and repair services and related uses on 14.77 acres of land situated within the State Land Use Agricultural District. The property is located adjacent to the existing Waikoloa Quarry and south of Waikoloa Road,half way between Waikoloa Village and Queen Kaahumanu Highway,Waikoloa,South Kohala,Hawaii. Approval of this request is based on the following: The applicant is requesting a Special Permit to establish a baseyard to provide equipment and motor vehicle maintenance and repair services for the vehicles and equipment used at the adjacent Waikoloa Quarry and other areas throughout West Hawaii. The baseyard operation would include parts storage and maintenance buildings, general storage and maintenance areas, staging areas (which may include a temporary office trailer), ground-mounted solar panels to provide electricity to the site, a truck scale, and various ancillary uses typically associated with a baseyard. There will be five full time employees. Hours of operation will be from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.,Monday through Friday. Work may also occur on Saturdays and Sundays. SCANNED UC I U 'i Hawai'i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and B • 6 • Ms. Ann M. Cobb Page 2 The grounds for approving a Special Permit are based on Planning Commission Rule 6-6. It states that the Planning Commission shall not approve a Special Permit unless it is found that the proposed use(a) is an unusual and reasonable use of land situated within the Agricultural or Rural District,whichever the case may be; and (b)the proposed use would promote the effectiveness and objectives of Chapter 205,Hawaii Revised Statutes, as amended. The proposed use is an unusual and reasonable use of land situated within the State Land Use Agricultural District. The intent of the State Land Use Law for the Agricultural district is to preserve or keep lands of high agricultural potential in agricultural use. In recognizing that lands within the agricultural districts might not be best suited for agricultural activities and yet classified as such, and in recognition that certain types of uses might not be strictly agricultural in nature,yet reasonable in such districts,the legislature has provided for the Special Permit process to allow certain unusual and reasonable uses within the Agricultural District. The proposed use is considered unusual since it is not agricultural in nature, but it is a reasonable use as the site is not suited for productive agricultural use and the baseyard would serve the existing quarry by providing maintenance and repair services for the quarries equipment and vehicles. The granting of this request would promote the effectiveness and objectives of Chapter 205,Hawaii Revised Statutes,as amended. The subject property is not located in an area designated as important agricultural lands and has poor quality soil that is not suited for agricultural use. Thus,this request is not contrary to the objectives of HRS, Chapter 205,which seeks to protect lands that have a high potential ofbeing agriculturally productive from inappropriate development. In addition to the above listed criteria,the Planning Commission shall also consider the criteria listed under Section 6-3(b)(5)(A)through(G). A) Such use shall not be contrary to the objectives sought to be accomplished by the Land Use Law and Regulations. The State Land Use Law and Regulations are intended to preserve,protect and encourage the development of lands in the state for those uses to which they are best suited in the interest of the public health and welfare of the people of the State of Hawaii. The proposed baseyard will not adversely affect the preservation and agricultural use of the County's prime agricultural lands because the property is not considered important agricultural land and has poor quality soils. In addition,usually industrial uses such as a baseyard would be better suited in an industrially zones area. In this case,the closest major industrially zoned area is over eight miles away, at Kawaihae Harbor. However,the baseyard will serve an existing industrial use (Waikoloa Quarry)on the property and will reduce the amount of truck traffic on area roadways by consolidating the applicants operations next to the source of their raw Ms. Ann M. Cobb Page 3 materials that are used for construction. Therefore,the proposed use is not contrary to the objectives sought to be accomplished by the State Land Use Law and Regulations. B) The desired use would not adversely affect surrounding properties. The permit site is located on a 3,049 acre parcel that primarily consists of barren lava fields. The closest residentially zoned area is about three quarters of a mile to the north of the permit•siie. Currently the closest developed area is a utility baseyard located about two miles to the northeast. In addition,the site is not visible from any surrounding developed areas.Due to the remote location of the proposed use,it is not anticipated that the project will adversely impact surrounding properties. C) Such use shall not unreasonably burden public agencies to provide roads and streets, sewers,water,drainage, school improvements, and police and fire protection. Access to the site is from the quarry access road,which is a privately owned and maintained paved road within a 100-foot right-of-way. A permit was issued in 1996 by the County Department of Public Works for constriction of the quarry access road intersection with Waikoloa Road. The applicant has entered into an agreement with the quarry operator to provide private water to the permit site. Wastewater will be disposed of into an individual wastewater system meeting the requirements of the Department of Health. All other public services and utilities are available to the project site. Based on the above, the requested use will not burden public agencies to provide additional services and the applicant has inet this criterion. D) Unusual conditions,trends,and needs have arisen since district boundaries and regulations were established. The project site and surrounding areas are designated for agricultural uses by both State and County land use laws. However,through the issuance of a Special Permit,various"non-agricultural"services and uses may and have been established. As the use of Waikoloa Quarry has increased,so has the need for maintenance and repair work on the equipment used at the quarry. The establishment of a baseyard would allow the applicant to consolidate its services next to the adjacent quarry, which is its primary area of operation. E) The land upon which the proposed use is sought is unsuited for the uses permitted within.the district. Soils on the property are classified as"E"or"Very Poor" for agricultural productivity by the Land Study Bureau and are unclassified by the Agricultural Lands of Importance to the State of Hawaii (ALISH)Map. Additionally, the U.S.D.A. Soil Survey Report identifies the soil type as Aa Lava(rLV),which is rough broken lava with almost no soil or vegetative cover. Based on the poor soil conditions of the land upon which the proposed use is sought,the applicant has met this criterion. F) The use will not substantially alter or change the essential character of the land and the present use. The essential character of the surrounding area is barren lava Ms.Ann M.Cobb Page 4 fields. The permit site is located adjacent to an existing quarry within an undeveloped 3,049-acre parcel and is located over 1,000 feet from the nearest property boundary. Therefore,the proposed use will not alter or change the character of the land. G) The request will not be contrary to the General Plan and official Community Development Plan and other documents such as Design Plans. The Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide(LUPAG)Map component of the General Plan is a represenranon or uxe Qucu[LlcnL S gums d,Iu puiiciw w guiuv uio cuuiu naLea growEn anu development of the County. It reflects a graphic depiction of the physical relationship among the various land uses. The LUPAG Map establishes the basic urban and non- urban form for areas within the County. The project site is located in an area identified as Urban Expansion in the General Plan,which allows for industrial designations of land where new settlements may be desirable,but where the specific settlement pattern and mix of uses have not yet been determined.. The proposed use is consistent with the General Plan LUPAG Map,and supports the following goals and policies of the Land Use and Economic elements of the General Plan: Land Use Element:Industrial Industrial activities may be located close to raw materials or key resources. Industrial development shall be located in areas adequately served by transportation,utilities, and other essential infrastructure. Economic Element Strive for diversification of the economy by strengthening existing industries and attracting new endeavors. The proposed request will strengthen the operation of the existing quarry by providing maintenance and repair services for the quarry vehicles and equipment in close proximity to the quarry. The site is appropriate for the proposed industrial use because the County will not be burdened to provide essential infrastructure to the site.Access to the site is via an existing private road,water is available through an agreement between the applicant and the quarry operator, and electricity will be generated through the use of solar energy. Based upon this information,the applicants request is consistent with the goals and objectives of the General Plan. The request is consistent with the objectives and policies as provided by Chapter 205A,HRS,and Special Management Area guidelines contained in Rule No. 9 of the Planning Commission Rules of Practice and Procedure. The property is located over three miles from the nearest shoreline and therefore will not likely be affected by coastal hazards and beach erosion or negatively affect coastal ecosystems,marine resources, Ms.Ann M. Cobb Page 5 public access to the shoreline, and shoreline recreational resources. Professional surveys conducted ofthe site determined that the proposed baseyard will have no affect on historic,floral or faunal resources. The applicant has stated that there is no public access to the mountains that traverses the property and no view planes or scenic resources that will be impacted by the project. Thus,the proposed request is consistent with the objectives of HRS, Chapter 205A. The request will not have a significant adverse impact to traditional and customary Hawaiian Rights. In view of the Hawaii State Supreme Court's"PASH"and Ka Pa'akai OKa Aina"decisions, the issue relative to native Hawaiian gathering and fishing rights must be addressed in terms of the cultural,historical,and natural resources and the associated traditional and customary practices ofthe site: Investigation of valued resources: An archaeological assessment survey dated May 2008,by Paul H. Rosendahl,Ph.D., Inc.,was submitted with the application. Additionally,a botanical assessment and re-survey report dated May 1992 was prepared by Char&Associates. The valuable cultural,historical,and natural resources found in the permit area: The botanical assessments did not identify any floral or faunal resources that are customarily gathered by Native Hawaiians. The archaeological assessment survey found no archaeological resources within the project area. Additionally, a comment letter from the DLNR-SHPD dated July 29,2008 concurred with the survey findings. According to the applicant,there is no evidence of any traditional and customary Native Hawaiians rights being practiced on the site,nor existence of any known valued cultural,historical or native resources on the site. Possible adverse effect or impairment of valued resources: Previous fauna surveys identified the native Short-eared Owl or Pueo;however the Pueo is a relatively common bird on the island and will not likely be affected by the proposed baseyard. The property does not abut the shoreline;therefore Hawaiian fishing rights is not an issue. Feasible actions to protect native Hawaiian rights: Conditions of approval will be included to require the applicants to notify the DLNR-SHPD should any unidentified sites or remains be encountered,and proceed only upon an archaeological clearance from the DLNR-SHPD. To the extent to which traditional and customary Native Hawaiian rights are exercised, the proposed action will not affect traditional Hawaiian rights and no action is necessary to protect these rights. Based on.the above,the approval of the request to establish a baseyard would support the objectives sought to be accomplished by the Land Use Law and Regulations. Approval of this request is subject to the following conditions: Ms.Aim M. Cobb Page 6 1. The applicant(s),its successors or assigns shall be responsible for complying with all of the stated conditions of approval. 2. The applicant shall submit metes and bounds description of the 14.77-acre permit area by a registered surveyor prior to the receipt of Final PIan Approval. The baseyard operations will be limited to this permitted area. 3. 1111b 111G VI L110 IJGLLLLIL 1V1 LL1G ua6ryaLU La1.111LY OLLQLl GAJ111G Vll 1.v rv,:vc:3., which is when Special Permit No. 833 for the operation of the adjacent Waikoloa Quarry will expire. An amendment to this condition will be required in order for the baseyard use to continue beyond that date. 4. The applicant shall secure Final Plan Approval for the proposed use from the Planning Director in accordance with Chapter 25-2-70, Chapter 25 (Zoning Code),Hawaii County Code. 5. The hours of operation shall be limited to 6,30 a.m.to 5:30 p.m.,seven days a week. 6. All exterior signs shall conform to Section 3-12 of the Sign Code,Chapter 3 of the Hawaii County Code,relating to signs in the Agricultural district. 7. All development-generated runoff shall be disposed ofon site and shall not be directed toward any adjacent properties. 8. The method of sewage disposal shall meet the standards and requirements of the State Department of Health. 9. A Solid Waste Management Plan shall be submitted to the Department of Environmental Management for review and approval prior to Final Plan Approval. 10. Should any remains of historic sites,such as rock walls,terraces,platforms, marine shell concentrations or human burials be encountered,work in the immediate area shall cease and the Department ofLand and Natural Resources- State Historic Preservation Division(DLNR-HPD)shall be immediately notified. Subsequent work shall proceed upon an archaeological clearance from DLNR- HPD when it finds that sufficient mitigative measures have been taken. 11. The baseyard operations shall be conducted in substantial conformance with representations made in the application and to the Planning Commission. y t r i Ms.Ann M. Cobb Page 7 12. Upon compliance with applicable conditions of approval and upon completion of construction for any portion of the development,the applicant shall submit a status report, in writing,to the Planning Director. 13. The applicant shall comply with all applicable County,State and Federal laws, rules,regulations and requirements. 14. An initial extension of time for the performance of conditions may be granted by the Planning Director upon the following circumstances: A. Non-performance is the result of conditions that could not have been foreseen or are beyond the control of the applicants, successors, or assigns and that are not the result of their fault or negligence. B. Granting of the time extension would not be contrary to the General Plan or Zoning Code. C. Granting of the time extension would not be contrary to the original reasons for the granting of the permit. D. The time extension granted shall be for a period not to exceed the period originally granted for performance(i.e.,a condition to be performed within one year may be extended for up to one additional year). Should any of these conditions not be met or substantially complied with in a timely manner,the Planning Director may initiate procedures to revoke this permit. This approval does not,however, sanction the specific plans submitted with the application as they may be subject to change given specific code and regulatory requirements of the affected agencies. Ms.Ann M. Cobb Page 8 Should you have any questions,please contact Norman Hayashi ofthe Planning Department at 961-8288. Sincerely, v Rodney W:..:.::zt-_ Cha:,..,.... Planning Commission Lgoodfellowbrothers0I PC cc: Department of Public Works Department of Water Supply County Real Property Tax Division Planning Department-Kona State Land Use Commission Department of Land&Natural Resources-HPD DOT-Highways,Honolulu Exhibit D Harry Kim Keith F. Unger,Chair Mayor Oliver"Sonny"Shimaoka,Vice Chair Nancy Carr Smith Scott Church rE'os'N Perry Kealoha Michael Vitousek County of Hawaii Faith"Faye"Yates LEEWARD PLANNING COMMISSION Aupuni Center • 101 Pauahi Street,Suite 3 • Hilo,Hawaii 96720 Phone(808)961-8288 • Fax(808)961-8742 SEP -7 2013 Mr. Sidney M. Fuke Planning Consultant 100 Pauahi Street, Suite 212 Hilo, HI 96720 Dear Mr. Fuke: SUBJECT: Special Permit No. SPP 08-000064 Applicant: Goodfellow Brothers, Inc. Request: Amendment to Condition No. 3 (Life of Permit) and Addition of Concrete/Asphalt Batching Plant Use Tax Map Key' 6-8-001:por. 066 The Leeward Planning Commission, at its duly held public hearing on August 16, 2018, voted to approve the above-referenced request to amend Special Permit No. 08-000064 to amend Condition No. 3 (Life of Permit) and allow the use and operation of a concrete/asphalt batching plant on a 5-acre portion within the previously approved 14.77-acre special permit area on the243.794-acre property within the State Land Use Agricultural District The project site is located adjacent to the existing Waikoloa quarry and south of Waikoloa Road, halfway between Waikoloa Village and Queen Ka`ahumanu Highway, Waikoloa, South Kohala, Hawaii. Approval of this amendment is subject to the following conditions: 1.The applicant(s), its successors or assigns shall be responsible for complying with all of the stated conditions of approval. 2.The baseyard and concrete/asphalt batching plant operations will be limited to this 14.77-acres permitted area, described by metes and bounds description prepared by R. M. Towill on May 23, 2018. 3.The life of this permit for the baseyard facility and the proposed concrete/asphalt hatching plant operation shall be for a period coterminous with the life of State Special Permit Docket No. SP92-381, as may be amended from time to time, but in any case no sooner than December 31, 2028. Hawai`i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer Mr. Sidney M. Fuke Planning Consultant Page 2 4.Completion of pennitted construction of the proposed concrete/asphalt batching plant and related improvements shall be within five (5) years from the effective date of this permit. Prior to construction, the applicants shall secure Final Plan Approval from the Planning Director in accordance with the requirements ofthe Zoning Code. A Plan Approval may require a drainage plan. Plans shall identify all existing and proposed structures, signage, fire protection measures, driveway access and parking stalls, outdoor lighting(if any, lighting must be shielded with light directed downwards), landscaping buffer and other improvements associated with the proposed development. Best Management Practices (BMPs) shall be implemented. 5.The hours of operation for the baseyard operation and the proposed concrete/asphalt batching plant shall be limited to 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., seven days a week. 6.All exterior signs shall conform to Chapter 3 Signs of the Hawaii County Code, relating to signs in the Agricultural district. 7.All development-generated runoff shall be disposed of on site and shall not be directed toward any adjacent properties. 8.The wastewater system, noise from construction activities and operation, method of fugitive dust control, and contributing factors to air pollution for the batching plant and related uses shall meet the standards and requirements of the State Department of Health. 9.A Solid Waste Management Plan shall be submitted to the Department of Environmental Management for review and approval prior to Final Plan Approval. 10. In the unlikely event that any surface or subsurface historic properties and/or resources, such as lava tube openings, concentrations of artifacts, structural remains or human skeletal remains are found during construction activities, the applicant shall cease work in the immediate vicinity of the find, protect the find from additional disturbance and immediately contact the State Historic Preservation Division (DLNR-SHPD) at (808) 933-7651 for further guidance. Mr. Sidney M. Fuke Planning Consultant Page 3 The applicant shall also notify the Planning Department immediately after contacting the DLNR-SHPD. Subsequent work shall proceed upon an archaeological clearance from DLNR-SHPD when it finds that sufficient mitigation measures have been taken. 11. The baseyard operation and the proposed concrete/asphalt batching plant establishment shall be conducted in a manner that is substantially representative of plans and details contained within the amendment Application for Special Pen-nit and the representations made before the Leeward Planning Commission. 12. Upon compliance with applicable conditions of approval and upon completion of construction for any portion of the development, the applicant shall submit a status report, in writing, to the Planning Director. 13. The applicant shall comply with all applicable County, State and Federal laws, rules, regulations and requirements, including any impacts to state waters and fire code. 14. To avoid impacts to Hawaiian hawks, do not clear any brush or trees during the March through September breeding season. If unable to avoid clearing vegetation during these months, conduct surveys for nests prior to any clearing activity and contact the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service for survey methodology and further recommendations to avoid impacting Hawaiian hawk nests. 15. To avoid impacts to Hawaiian hoary bats, woody plants greater than 15 feet tall should not be removed or trimmed from June 1 to September 15. 16. To avoid impacts to existing listed threatened or endangered plant species, please consult with a qualified botanist to detennine any existing unknown plant species. If the qualified botanist determines the find to be a listed plant species, please have a qualified botanist conduct surveys for listed plant species within the project area. 17. The subject property is identified as a Fonnerly Used Defense Site (FUDS) by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who will manage the investigation, clean-up and long-tern monitoring on lands formerly used as an artillery firing range. For more information, please contact the Honolulu District Public Affairs, US Army Mr. Sidney M. Fuke Planning Consultant Page 4 Corps of Engineers 808-835-4004/4002, httj2://www.poh.usace.anny.mil/Missions/Environmental/FUDS.aspx or www.poh.usace.anny.mil. 18. An initial extension of time for the perfonnance of conditions may be granted by the Planning Director upon the following circumstances: A. Non-performance is the result of conditions that could not have been foreseen or are beyond the control of the applicants, successors, or assigns and that are not the result of their fault or negligence. B. Granting of the time extension would not be contrary to the General Plan or Zoning Code. C. Granting of the time extension would not be contrary to the original reasons for the granting ofthe pen-nit. D. The time extension granted shall be for a period not to exceed the period originally granted for perfonnance (i.e., a condition to be perfonned within one year may be extended for up to one additional year). Should any of these conditions not be met or substantially complied with in a timely manner, the Planning Director may initiate procedures to revoke this permit. Note: Ramseyer version available upon request.] This approval does not, however, sanction the specific plans submitted with the application as they may be subject to change given specific code and regulatory requirements of the affected agencies Approval of this pen-nit is based on the reasons given in the attached Findings Report. Should you have any questions, please contact Shancy Watanabe of the Planning Department at 961-8144. Sincerely, Z6e Keith F. Unger, Chainnan Leeward Planning Commission Mr. Sidney M. Fuke Planning Consultant Page 5 LGoodfel lowbrothersAmendSPP08-0641pc Enclosure: PC Findings Report cc w/enclosures:Goodfellow Brothers, Inc. Department of Public Works Department of Water Supply County Real Property Tax Division - Hilo Department of Land & Natural Resources - HPD State Land Use Commission DOT-Highways, Honolulu GIS Section Planning Department - Kona COUNTY OF HAWAI`I PLANNING COMMISSION FINDINGS GOODFELLOW BROTHERS, INC. AMENDMENT TO SPECIAL PERMIT NO. 08-000064 Based on the following considerations, an amendment to Special Pen-nit No. 08-000064 to amend Condition No. 3 (Life of the Pen-nit) and add the use and operation of a concrete/asphalt batching plant is approved. GOODFELLOW BROTHERS, INC. has submitted a request to amend Condition No. 3 (Life of the Pen-nit) of Special Permit No. 08-000064 and add the use and operation of a concrete/asphalt batching plant on a 5-acre portion within the previously approved 14.77-acre Special Pen-nit area on the 243.794-acre property within the State Land Use Agricultural District. In 2008, Special Pen-nit No. 08-000064 granted the establishment of a baseyard to provide equipment and motor vehicle maintenance, repair services and related uses within the 14.77-acre portion of the property. The subject property is located adjacent to the existing Waikoloa Quarry and south of Waikoloa Road, halfway between Waikoloa Village and Queen Ka`ahumanu Highway, Waikoloa, South Kohala, Hawaii, TMK: (3) 6-8-001: portion of 066. In 2008, Special Pen-nit No. 08-000064 granted the establishment of a baseyard to provide equipment and motor vehicle maintenance, repair services and related uses on the 14.77-acres of land in support of existing quarry operations with the same 243.794-acres property. The applicant is requesting to amend the existing language of Condition No. 3 of Special Pen-nit No. 08-000064 to instead read: The life of this pen-nit shall be for a period coterminous with the life of SP 92-391, as may be amended from time to time, but in any case no sooner than December 31, 2028." Currently, the language for Condition No. 3 of Special Pen-nit No. 08-000064 states, The life of the permit for the baseyard facility shall expire on December 31, 2018, which is when Special Pen-nit No. 833 for the operation of the adjacent Waikoloa Quarry will expire. An amendment to this condition will be required in order for the baseyard to continue beyond that date." On February 26, 2016, the Land Use Commission (LUC) granted West Hawaii Concrete an extension to the life of their issued State Special Permit Docket No. SP92-381 for the quarry and allowed related activities or uses. Condition No. 12 of the amended State Special Pen-nit Docket No. SP92-381 for the adjacent quarry reads, "The life of this permit shall be for a period co-terminus with the existing license agreement with the owner of the property, or until December 31, 2043; the date of completion of the proposed quarrying; or its abandonment, whichever comes first." As there is a geographical and functional relationship between the operations of the baseyard and quarry, operating on the same property, the applicant is requesting a time extension of its baseyard to run coterminous with the life of the quarry permit or, at the very least, an additional ten (10) years or December 31, 2028. The quarry and the baseyard operations are run by separate businesses. As their operating timetables and objectives may not coincide, the applicant is requesting flexibility in the condition language regarding the life of the pen-nit. Should the quarrying operation terminate or cease, the applicant could still continue to provide the baseyard operation services to other users. In addition, the applicant is requesting for the establishment of an asphalt and/or concrete batching plant operation within the existing 14.77-acres baseyard area covered by Special Pen-nit No. 08-000064. According to the applicant, the location of the proposed asphalt and/or concrete batching plant operation would be between the staging area/field office to the north and the equipment storage/lay down area to the south. The plant will consist of a separate control van (office), an approximately 30-foot tall mix surge silo, hot-mix conveyor belt, dust collector, drum mixer, automatic weighing system, cold feed conveyor belt, asphalt pump, asphalt storage tank and cold feed bins. The concept is to use quarried materials from the adjoining site to create asphalt or concrete or both as a mix for roads and other infrastructure. The quarry, baseyard and the concrete and/or asphalt batching plant uses are supportive of infrastructure improvements, such as the Daniel K. Inouye Highway (known as Saddle Road) extension proposed immediately south of the subject site. A benefit of this location is that the quarried materials and the proposed asphalt/concrete batching plant could easily service the construction of the new Saddle Road extension, without negatively affecting the existing Waikoloa Road or other roadways when the time comes. The proposed hours of operation will be similar to the quarry hours, limited to 6:30 am to 5:30 pm, seven days a week. There will be three (3) employees. Upon securing all required permits, the applicant hopes to start construction within six (6) months of the amendment to this Special Pen-nit. Planning Commission Rule 6-7 provides the criteria for approving a Special Pennit, while Rule 6-9 provides the criteria for granting an amendment of pen-nit or conditions for Special Pen-nits. Rule 6-7 states that the Planning Commission shall not approve a Special Pen-nit unless it is found that the proposed use (a) is an unusual and reasonable use of land situated within the Agricultural District, and (b) the proposed use would promote the effectiveness and objectives of Chapter 205, Hawaii Revised Statutes, as amended. The granting of the proposed request would be consistent with the objectives sought to be accomplished by the Land Use Law and Regulations, and is an unusual and reasonable use of land situated within the State Land Use Agricultural District. In recognizing that lands within the Agricultural district may not be best suited for agricultural activities and yet classified as such, and in recognition that certain types of uses might not be strictly agricultural in nature, yet reasonable in such districts, the legislature has provided for the Special Pen-nit process to allow certain unusual and reasonable uses within the Agricultural district. The proposed amended use is considered unusual since it is not agricultural in nature, but it is a reasonable use as the site is not suited for productive agricultural use. Further, the existing baseyard continues to serve the existing quarry by providing maintenance and repair services for the quarries equipment and vehicles. The proposed operation of a concrete/asphalt batching plant would complement the existing quarry and baseyard uses. Therefore, the proposed request is considered an unusual and reasonable use of the agricultural land. The granting of this request will promote the effectiveness and objectives of Chapter 205, Hawaii Revised Statutes, as amended. The State Land Use Law and Regulations are intended to preserve, protect and encourage the development of lands in the state for those uses to which they are best suited in the interest of the public health and welfare of the people of the State of Hawaii. The property is situated on land characterized as lava flows, `A`a (rLV). This is rough, broken lava that has practically no soil covering and is bare of vegetation. In areas of high rainfall, it contributes substantially to the underground water supply and is used for watershed. Soils within the project site are classified as "E" or "Very Poor" for agricultural productivity and as unclassified by the Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Lands of Importance to the State of Hawaii (ALISH). Two (2) tributaries from the non-perennial Hopeaia Stream traverse the subject property in three (3) separate areas and flows down in the northwest direction away from the existing 14.77-acre Special Permit No. 08-000064 area, which is over 600 feet away to the west from the nearest tributary. Any project and its potential impacts to State waters must meet State and Federal rules and regulations. Conditions of approval will require the applicant to comply with regulations regarding impacts to state waters. According to the applicant, the anticipated uses would occur during the weekdays, when ambient noise from traffic and other sources already permeate the area. There are compatible uses occurring adjacent to the quarry. The applicant would need to meet the requirements of the State Department of Health (DOH) for noise impacts. Conditions of approval will require the applicant to comply with health regulations for noise impacts. Emissions from vehicular and natural sources, such as the volcanic haze from the Kilauea Volcano, affects the air quality in the subject area. According to the State DOH, the applicant would need to meet the requirements of the DOH Air Pollution Rules, Chapter 60.1, Title 11, State of Hawaii for the proposed quarry operations. Conditions of approval will require the applicant to comply with health regulations for air impacts. The proposed use will not displace any existing agricultural activity and does not consist of prime agricultural lands. Thus, the proposed request will not adversely affect the preservation and agricultural use of the County's prime agricultural lands, and is not contrary to the objectives sought to be accomplished by the State Land Use Law and Regulations. In addition to the above listed criteria, the Planning Commission shall also consider the criteria listed under Section 6-3(b)(5)(A) through (G). In considering the criteria, the Planning Director recommends the following: A) Such use shall not be contrary to the objectives sought to be accomplished by the Land Use Law and Regulations. Based on the previous discussion listed above, the proposed request is considered an unusual and reasonable use of agricultural land that will not adversely affect the preservation and agricultural use of the County's agricultural lands. B) The desired use would not adversely affect surrounding properties. The existing improvements consists of the two (2) Special Permits issued for the subject 243.794-acre property. Special Pen-nit No. 08-000064 consists of the 14.77-acre area for this amendment request. Special Pen-nit No. 833 consists of an approximately 219.990-acre portion of the subject property for a quarry operation with related improvements. The subject property is in the Fonnerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS) Boundary of the former Waikoloa Maneuver Area. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will manage any investigations, clean-up and long-term monitoring on lands formerly used as an artillery firing range. For more information, please contact the Honolulu District Public Affairs, US Army Corps of Engineers 808-835-4004/4002, http://www.poh.usace.anny.mil/Missions/Environmental/FUDS asl2x or www.poh.usace.anny.mil. The subject property is in the drier climate of Waikoloa on the existing lava fields, at an elevation of about 700 feet that slopes very gently in the makai ocean) direction. Electric, telephone and cable overhead lines are along the southern property boundary. In 2016, the landowner received a final inspection for a rock wall entry monument with signage installed on the subject property. To the south is an undeveloped agriculturally-zoned property. Undeveloped lands to the east are zoned Open. To the north of Waikoloa Road, lands are mixed zonings (A-5a, RA-la and Open) with an existing and unfinished residential project under review. To the west, a pennitted heliport and a permitted wastewater treatment plant are within two miles of the subject property. According to the applicant, access from the fully-improved Waikoloa Road, which provides sufficient off-site parking and reasonably good visibility to and from the site from Waikoloa Road. The batching plant anticipates no more than a maximum of fifteen (15) trips on a real busy day, beginning at 7:30 am and ending at 3:30 pm, averaging about two (2) movements per hour. As such, the applicant sees no need for additional road improvements. As of this writing, the Planning Department received concerns from one constituent, Mark Gordon. The applicant provided a written response to the constituents concern. Based on the above discussions, the proposed uses are not anticipated to have a substantial adverse impact on the surrounding properties. However, any possible impacts can be minimized through conditions of approval. C) Such use shall not unreasonably burden public agencies to provide roads and streets, sewers, water, drainage, school improvements, and police and fire protection. The proposed request will not burden public agencies to provide additional services. Access to the property is from Waikoloa Road, a two-lane paved County roadway, onto a private quarry access roadway, which has a 24-foot paved width and paved shoulders within a 100-foot right-of-way. Telephone, internet and cable services are available to the site. An existing solar system with supporting backup generator provides electricity to the baseyard. The applicant will obtain necessary permits to expand the existing solar system, as the need arises. Police and Fire services are available in Waikoloa, located about three (3) miles away from the subject property. The Fire Department requires compliance with the Fire code and regulations. There is an existing water agreement between the applicant and the quarry operator to obtain water from an existing private water line located along the quarry access road. As the project will not require extensive use of the water system, the applicant anticipates nominal usage for potable and some dust control measures. In their June 13, 2018 memo, the Department of Water Supply (DWS) stated that the subject parcel is not within the Department's service limits. The nearest adequate point of connection is from an existing 16-inch waterline within North Kaniku Drive, approximately three (3) miles from the parcel. Further, the water system in the area is privately owned and operated. Therefore, the DWS have no objection to the applicant's request as the subject parcel is not within their existing service limits. In their June 5, 2018 memo, the State Department of Health (DOH) indicated that the applicant would need to meet the permit requirements of the DOH Air Pollution Rules, Chapter 60.1, Title 11, State of Hawaii for the proposed quarry operations, and encourages the applicant to contact their Clean Air Branch to discuss those requirements. The DOH recommends that the applicant review all of the Standard Comments on their website: http://hawaii.gov/health/environmental/env-planning/landuse/landuse html and adhere to comments specifically applicable to the proposed project. The same website also features a Healthy Community Design Smart Growth Checklist (Checklist) by Built Environment Working Group (BEWG) of the DOH, and encourages the applicant to apply the healthy built environment principles. In a June 5, 2018 letter, the State DOH stated that the facilities are no longer considered "temporary". The DOH requires a wastewater system that meets their regulations. In a June 22, 2018 letter, the applicant responded that the DOH approved a septic system for the office building. Should the DOH require an upgrade of the septic system, then the applicants will update the existing system in conjunction with the "As-Built" building pen-nit process for the existing structure. The applicant submitted a Solid Waste Management Plan to the Department of Environmental Management for their review and approval. According to the applicant, the proposed uses will not unreasonably burden public agencies to provide roads and streets, sewers, water, drainage, school improvements, and police and fire protection. In a June 4, 2018 memo, the Department of Public Works (DPW) stated that the subject property is located in Zone "X" according to the Flood Insurance Rate Map FIRM) by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). All development generated runoff shall be disposed of on-site and shall not be directed toward any adjacent properties. All earthwork and grading shall conform to Chapter 10, Erosion and Sediment Control, of the Hawaii County Code. In a June 22, 2018 letter, the applicant responded that all grading and/or excavation activity will meet the requirements of Chapter 10, Erosion and Sediment Control. The subject property is in the lava-flow hazard zone three (3), which the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) designates as areas less hazardous than zone 2 because of greater distance from recently active vents and/or because of topography. One to five percent of zone 3 has been covered since 1800, and 15 to 75 percent has been covered within the past 750 years. Based on the above, the proposed request will not burden public agencies to provide additional services. D) Unusual conditions, trends, and needs have arisen since district boundaries and regulations were established. In the 1960's and 1970's, the State's agricultural district boundaries and regulations were established and subsequently amended.pursuant to the Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) Chapter 205. The State Land Use Commission was created in 1961, and interim regulations and temporary district boundaries became effective in 1962. Subsequently, the regulations and Land Use District Boundaries became effective in August of 1964. The subject property and surrounding areas are designated for agricultural uses by both State and County land use laws. The proposed request to amend an existing condition and establish the unusual and reasonable use and operation of a concrete/asphalt batching plant on a 5-acre portion within the previously approved Special Permit area on the subject property is in line with the intent for allowing the issuance of a Special Pen-nit. E) The land upon which the proposed use is sought is unsuited for the uses permitted within the district. The property is situated on land characterized as lava flows, ` d (rLV), classified as "E" or "Very Poor" for agricultural productivity by the Land Study Bureau's Overall Master Productivity Rating and is unclassified by the Department of Agriculture's ALISH Map. Although the soil is suited for uses permitted within the Agricultural district, the applicants were not actively pursuing any agricultural activities in the location of the proposed request. Thus, the proposed uses will not displace any active or potential agricultural activity on the property. F) The proposed use will not substantially alter or change the essential character of the land and the present use. According to the applicant, all of the needed improvements with the requested uses already exist on the site. Thus, the approval of this amendment request should not result in the substantial alteration or change in the essential character of the land and the present use. The applicant has no plans to makefurtherimprovementstothesite. Aside from creating a flat surface, the proposed concrete/asphalt hatching plant will not require significant structure improvements. The property itself has been committed to quarrying and baseyard activities, both considered industrial-type uses. The approval of a batch plant on the same property will be a complimentary one that will not detract from, nor conflict with, the current industrial character already established for this property. Therefore, the proposed request will not substantially alter or change the essential character of the land or its present use. G) The request will not be contrary to the General Plan and official Community Development Plan and other documents such as Design Plans. The Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide (LUPAG) Map component of the General Plan is a representation of the document's goals and policies to guide the coordinated growth anddevelopmentoftheCounty. It reflects a graphic depiction of the physical relationship among the various .land uses. The LUPAG Map establishes the basic urban and non-urban form for areas within the County, and designates the subject property as Urban Expansion. This allows for a mix of high density, medium density, low density,industrial, industrial-commercial and/or open designations in areas where new settlements may be desirable, but where the specific settlement pattern and mix of uses have not yet been determined. The approval of the request would support the goals and policies of the Land Use and Economic elements of the General Plan. Land Use Element Encourage the development and maintenance of communities meeting the needs of its residents in balance with the physical and social environment. Establish controls to insure orderly development and minimize speculation of commercially zoned lands. Land Use Element -Industrial Industrial activities may be located close to raw materials or key resources. Industrial development shall be located in areas adequately served by transportation, utilities, and other essential infrastructure. Economic Element Strive for diversification of the economy by strengthening existing industries and attracting new endeavors. The South Kohala Community Development Plan, adopted as Ordinance No. 08 159 by the Hawaii County Council, identifies the subject property for urban expansion use. The proposed amendment is not contrary to the objectives sought to be accomplished by Chapter 205A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, relating to coastal zone management program. Under the Coastal Zone Management Program, the County regulates the Special Management Area. Located over three (3) miles from the nearest shoreline, the subject property is outside of the SMA and tsunami evacuation zone. According to the applicant, the proposed amendment will not negatively impact any view planes or scenic resources for existing ocean views from Waikoloa Road. Likewise, the proposed amendment will not negatively impact the existing views of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa from Waikoloa Road. The Hawaii County General Plan does not list the subject property as a distinctive and identifiable landmark. According to the applicant, there are no known public access to the mountains or the shoreline that traverses through the property. Therefore, the proposed uses will not adversely impact any recreational resources, including access to and along the shoreline, scenic and open space nor visual resources, coastal ecosystems, and marine and coastal resources. Due to the elevation and distance from the ocean, the applicant does not anticipate any coastal hazards or beach erosion to affect the subject property. No fonnal floral or faunal study or archaeological study was submitted with this application. The Office of Environmental Quality Control website posted a March 30, 2017 Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Saddle Road Extension that included the subject property. For that project, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife USFWS) commented that the following listed species have been observed in the vicinity: endangered Hawaiian goose (Branta sandvicensis; nene), endangered Blackburn's sphinx moth (Manduca blackburni; BSM), endangered Hawaiian hoary bat Lasiurzts cinereus semotus), threatened Hawaiian hawk (buteo solitarius), and listed plant species. To avoid and minimize impacts to these species, the USFWS provided their recommendations. The USFWS also cautioned that the project is located on the dry leeward side of West Hawaii, where wildland fires may affect endangered species and critical habitat. Measures for wildland fire prevention and suppression should be included in project planning. Conditions of approval will require the applicant to address minimizing impacts to endangered species and measures for wildland fire prevention and suppression. On April 15, 2008, PHRI conducted an Archaeological Assessment Survey for the proposed baseyard site. The report concluded that no archaeological sites were encountered during the survey and recommended that a "no effect" detennination be made by the Department of Land, and Natural Resources-State Historic Preservation Division (DLNR-SHPD). On July 29, 2008, DLNR-SHPD concurred with the survey findings and detennined that no historical properties would be affected by the proposed construction baseyard. Based upon archaeological and cultural surveys performed over the last 30 years in and around the area, there is no evidence of traditional and customary Native Hawaiian rights being practiced on the property. The State Historic Preservation Division's (SHPD) List of Designated Historic Places state or national registries does not include the subject property. Conditions of approval will require that language in the unlikely event of discovering historic properties during construction activities meets current practices. The Planning Director recommended deleting a portion of the language in Condition No. 2, as the applicant provided the 14.77-acre metes and bounds description prepared by a registered land surveyor. The applicant requested that the language for Condition No. 3 instead read as originally submitted in their application. The applicant reasoned that their original language would allow flexibility in the life of the permit to be a minimum of ten (10) years independent of the life of the pen-nit for the adjacent quarry on the subject property, instead of being exclusively coterminous. As presented before the Planning Commission, this meant that if for any reason, should the quarry operation cease, then the applicant would also have to cease their operation, which was not the intent of the applicant. The Planning Commission considered this and approved the language change for Condition No. 3 to read as originally submitted by the applicant. The applicant also requested clarifying the language in Condition No. 8 by removing the word quarry, as this request is not for the quarry but for the batching plant and related uses. The Planning Commission considered this and approved the condition language correction. The Planning Commission also considered and approved a correction in the language for Condition No. 14 relating to avoiding impacts to Hawaiian hawks. According to the applicant, there are no known public access to the mountains or the shoreline that traverses through the property. Therefore, the proposed uses are not contrary to the objectives of Chapter 205A, Hawaii Revised Statutes. The applicants will be required to comply with all agency requirements and stated conditions of approval. Lastly, this recommendation is made with the understanding that the applicant remains responsible for complying with all other applicable County, State and Federal governmental requirements in connection with the approved use, prior to its commencement and during its operation upon the subject property. Additional governmental requirements may include the issuance of building pennits, the installation of approved wastewater disposal systems, compliance with the Fire Code, installation of improvements required by the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), compliance with State Health Department environmental/sanitation/health-related regulations, drainage plan, among many others. Compliance with all applicable governmental requirements is a condition of this approval, and failure to comply with such requirements will be considered a violation that may result in enforcement action by the Planning Department, Planning Commission and/or the affected agencies. Based on the above findings, the request to amend Condition No. 3 (Life of the Permit) of Special Pen-nit No. 08-000064 would not be contrary to the objectives sought to be accomplished by the State Land Use Law Rules and Regulations or the original reasons for approving this permit. From: Penny G To: LPCtestimonv;WPCtestimonv Subject: Revise Hawaii General Plan Testimony Here Date: Wednesday,November 20,2024 5:46:55 PM Here are some concerns: 1. The word "Stakeholder," defined in the plan,is written 86 times and literally means anyone in the entire world can have input on this 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 and management are crucial for the success and sustainability of any initiative, as it helps ensure that diverse 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 use will be changed from resident to recreation due to the General Plan 2045. This will drastically lower 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 be further 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. htti2s:Hclintel.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/WCD-241023.12df 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 move forward 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 ofnatural resources." Incentives" mean more taxes. "Protection" means more rules. Who's "values" is this plan referring too because it's not the locals? "Pursue the acquisition of lands" does this say they are going to pursing taking people's private property? Again with "protection of natural resources". This plan should 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 of Papaikou,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_2cblcc6d604f4cdd971ad4083lc745bc.pdf Papaikou Site Plan: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_5e4cdb02efeb46a5ae949a3579aff00d.pdf Papaikou Development: htti2s://www.standtogetherhawall.com/ file s/ugd/8 6fc0c c2af-52c8b3 c645 b 1 a6868a724eee8304.pdf A Hawaiian born Kanaka revised the Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship that is in the plan. You can see it in the pdf below: Part One: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fc0c_Oald5be8fld140069415f7b691725786.pdf Part Two: https://86fcOcbd-8207-4076-85fa- 5a62e4e933b4.usrfiles.com/ugd/86fcOc_ecc498bal92d4a7689ebf31c3681c2ec.pdf Here is a longer revised version of the plan from locals: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fc0c b34739e4c99c461685de4c0207bf286e.12df The way this plan is written is very far from what will support our island. On behalf of: "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. Penny M Grutzmacher From: Adriana Duerr To: LPCtestimonv Subject: Object to General Plan 45 Date:Thursday, November 21,2024 9:56:01 AM Aloha Leeward Planning Commission, I am very disturbed by the proposal of the OSCER Dept. as overseeing entity on page 188, 40.8. The OSCER Department as described in the plan will null and void all public input and leave decisions to unelected officials. The Plan has re-designated our own family home of 40 years from low density urban to natural and recreational negating the rights and consent of private property ownership. This drastically lowers our future property value and opens the door to unsolicited rezoning. This is not pono. I am outraged that the District of Hilo has never been represented in the CDP process. We too are entitled to to our voice and input into our future. I advise more time and review before this plan is adopted. Mahalo for considering my reservations, Adriana E Duerr 99 Honolii Pali Hilo, HI 96720 Sent from my iPhone Betsyduerr@gmail.com From: donna orabow To: LPCtestimonv Subject: Revision of General Plan 2045 Date:Thursday, November 21,2024 8:48:05 AM Please omit the creation of a"OSCER Department." This is on page 188, 40.8. This proposed OSCER clause in the Hawaii General Plan 2045 will not allow the voice of the people. The clause overrides any community input and will void people's concerns,leaving all decisions to unelected officials. Please remove the undemocratic OSCER clause from the plan. Thank you for consideration on this matter. Regards, Donna Grabow Hilo From: Joanna Weber To: LPCtestimonv;WPCtestimonv Subject: Revise Hawaii General Plan Testimony Here Date:Thursday, November 21,2024 6:53:17 PM Topic: Revise Hawaii General Plan Testimony Here ALOHA Some of my concerns are as follows: An extensive part of the plan is dedicated to "Climate Change". However, why do most experts state there is NO climate danger? Over 1900 credentialed scientists have signed a World Declaration literally stating, "There is No Climate Danger". Review it here https:,//clinte1.org/wp-content/u loadoads/2024/10/WCD-241023.Qdf The declaration states: "To believe the outcome of a climate model is to believe what the model makers have put in. This is precisely the problem of today's climate discussion to which climate models are central. Climate science has degenerated into a discussion based on beliefs, not on sound self-critical science. Should not we free ourselves from the naive belief in immature climate models?" John Coleman, Good Morning America's first weather man and the founder of the Weather channel states, "There is No Global Warming". Find it here .https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K56fms2VZTc.. 50 Years as Meteorologist with the US Airforce and Climatologist Professor David Dilley, says the earth is cooling not warming. He explains the Milankovitch Cycles here: https://youtu.be/sa-_tlITPnM?si=0- ubPSELxpFnAVH5 On the Boston Globe's YouTube channel, on May 14, 2010, MIT Professor of Meteorology Richard Lindzen shared, "If one asks, "Is the temperature increasing or decreasing?" it's always doing one or the other. I have no concern about that. By asking people to worry about whether it's going up or down, you're immediately establishing dishonesty. The Earth is always changing. Climate change is nothing you have to prove. It always is happening. It always has happened. So, to make that into something alarming seems a little bit weird to me." Find his interview here https:,//www.youtube.com/watch?v= wvVe hpTIHU Profession Lindzen also stated, "At any given place, traditionally, sea level is measured by what are called tide gauges: a stick in the water, basically. Two things that change are what a tide gauge shows: the land moving up and down and the sea moving up and down. In most places, it's the land that has the biggest effect, and so you don't have a good measure of sea level rise." On August 21, 2020, NASA published an article titled "NASA-led Study Reveals the Causes of Sea Level Rise Since 1900." Find the article here: https://climate.nasa.gov/news/3012/nasa-led-study-reveals-the- causes-of-sea-level-rise-since-1900/ It reads: Sea levels have risen on average 1.6 millimeters (0.063 inches) per year between 1900 and 2018." That means the sea level has risen a little over 7.4 inches in the last 118 years! Does that show the world is in danger of being engulfed by water? No. It shows that it will be a very, very, very long time before humans are in danger. Does that mean documentaries like "An Inconvenient Truth" are telling lies? An article was published in the Seattle Times on October 12, 2007, titled British judge ruled the Oscar-winning film on global warming, "An Inconvenient Truth," contains "nine errors."" (Find the article here): https://www.seattletimes.co m/nation-world/truth-is-go re-film-has- 9-errors-british-judge-rules/ Here is the list of inaccuracies found in Court taken from the "Friends Of Science" website. The inaccuracies in the documentary include (Find the article here): https //friendsofscience.org/assets/documents/FOS%20Essay/British_Hig h Court Ruling on An Inconvenient Truth.html): 1. The film claims that melting snows on Mount Kilimanjaro evidence global warming. The Government's expert was forced to concede that this is not correct. 2. The film suggests that evidence from ice cores proves that rising CO2 levels cause temperature increases over 650,000 years. The Court found that the film was misleading: over that period, the rises in CO2 lagged behind the temperature rises by 800-2,000 years. 3. The film uses emotive images of Hurricane Katrina and suggests that this has been caused by global warming. The Government's expert had to accept that it was "not possible" to attribute one-off events to global warming. 4. The film shows the drying up of Lake Chad and claims that this was caused by global warming. The Government's expert had to accept that this was not the case. 5. The film claims that a study showed that polar bears had drowned due to disappearing arctic ice. It turned out that Mr. Gore had misread the study: in fact, four polar bears drowned, and this was because of a particularly violent storm. 6. The film threatens that global warming could stop the Gulf Stream, throwing Europe into an ice age. The Claimant's evidence was that this was a scientific impossibility. 7. The film blames global warming for species losses, including coral reef bleaching. The Government could not find any evidence to support this claim. 8. The film suggests that sea levels could rise by 7 meters, causing the displacement of millions of people. In fact, the evidence is that sea levels are expected to rise by about 40 centimeters over the next 100 years and there is no such threat of massive migration. 9. The film claims that rising sea levels has caused the evacuation of certain Pacific islands to New Zealand. The Government was unable to substantiate this, and the Court observed that this appears to be a false claim. Also, the Court's interim ruling included the following: 1. The film suggests that the Greenland ice covering could melt, causing sea levels to rise dangerously. The evidence is that Greenland will not melt for a millennia. 2. The film suggests that the Antarctic ice covering is melting; the evidence was that it is, in fact, increasing. High Court Judge Michael Burton stated: Former Vice President Al Gore, the documentary's moderator, makes nine statements in the film that are not supported by the current mainstream scientific consensus. For instance, Gore's script implies that Greenland or West Antarctica might melt soon, creating a sea-level rise of up to 20 feet that would cause devastation from San Francisco to the Netherlands to Bangladesh." The judge called this "distinctly alarmist" and said the consensus view is that if Greenland melted, it would release this amount of water "but only after, and over, a millennia." The word "Stakeholder," defined in the plan, is written 86 times and literally means anyone in the entire world can have input on this plan. Please recommend the word "Stakeholder" to be changed 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 and management are crucial for the success and sustainability of any initiative, as it helps ensure that diverse perspectives and interests are considered. 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. The Planning Department has sent out letters to many homeowners telling them their land use will be changed from resident to recreation due to the General Plan 2045. This will drastically lower their property value and opens the door to re-zone 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. There is a huge section on climate change and things that will be affected. This needs to be further researched. There are over 1900 credentialed scientist who say there is no climate danger. Here is the pdf showing the scientists and which country they are from. https://clintel.org/wp-content/u Ipoads/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 energ)r, want to make these changes. Hilo does not have a Community Development Plan. How can a Big Island General Plan move forward without that? Hilo is 22% of the island. 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 too because it's not the locals? "Pursue the acquisition of lands" does this say they are going to pursing taking people's private property? Again with "protection of natural resources". This plan should be focused on people growing more food and it is doing the exact opposite! 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 of Papaikou, 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_2cbicc6d604f4c dd971ad40831c745bc.pdf Papaikou Site Plan: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/ files/ugd/86fc0c_5e4cdb02 efeb46a5ae949a3579aff00d.pdf Papaikou Development: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/ files/ugd/86fc0c_c2af52c8b3c645 bla6868a724eee8304. ddff A Hawaiian born Kanaka revised the Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship that is in the plan. You can see it in the pdf below: Pa rt One: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/ files/ugd/86fc0c_0a1d5be8f 1d 140069415f7b691725786.pdf Part Two: https://86fcOcbd-8207-4076-85fa- 5a62e4e933b4.usrfiles.com/ugd/86fc0c_ecc498ba192d4a7689ebf31c3681 c2ec.pdf Here is a longer revised version of the plan from locals: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/ files/ugd/86fc0c_b34739e4c99c46 1685de4c0207bf286e.pdf The way this plan is written is very far from what will support our island. ALOHA, JOANNA WEBER From: kate kennedv To: LPCtestimonv;WPCtestimonv Subject: General Plan 2045 Date:Thursday, November 21,2024 4:05:59 PM Aloha Commissioners and members of the council, This email is in reference to many concerns contained in the proposed general plan put forward for 2045. 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 and management are crucial for the success and sustainability of any initiative, as it helps ensure that diverse 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 to homeowners telling them their land use will be changed from resident to recreation due to the General Plan 2045. This will drastically lower their property value and opens the door to rezone the area. This is not pono. It breaks the Aloha Spirit law§ 5-7.5. This must be made pono again. 4. There is a huge section on climate change and things that will be affected. This needs to be further researched. There are over 1900 credentialed scientist that say there is no climate danger. Erroneous information has been put forward over past decades regarding various climate concerns that were later revised or curtailed upon further investigation. Here is the pdf showing the scientist and what country they are from. https://clinte1.ora/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/WCD- 241023.pdf 5. Hilo does not have a Community Development Plan. How can a Big Island General Plan move forward without that? Hilo comprises 22% of the island population. 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 too because it's not the locals? "Pursue the acquisition of lands" -this type of phrasing is replete throughout the document and is ambiguous at best but more often confusing and misleading to the constituent reader. 7. This plan wants to turn land into "conservation". The exact opposite is what is needed for Big Island! Regarding alternatives, Steve Shropshire, a resident of Papaikou, has created an Ag Villages plan. This is just one example of alternatives that could be utilized rather than the guides put forward in the proposal Papaikou Ag Village Objectives: https://www.standtoaetherhawaii.com/ files/ugd/86fc0c 2cblcc6d604f4cdd971ad4083lc745bc.pdf Papaikou Site Plan: https://www.standtoaetherhawaii.com/files/ugd/86fc0c 5e4cdb02efeb46a5ae949a3579aff00d.pdf Papaikou Development: https://www.standtoaetherhawaii.com/files/ugd/86fc0c c2af52c8b3c645bla6868a724eee8304.pdf Mahalo for your time and investment toward a healthy and vibrant future for all residents of the Big Island Sincerely, Kate Kennedy Pahoa From: Akuakea To: LPCtestimonv;WPCtestimonv Subject: Kevin Hill testimony Date:Thursday, November 21,2024 11:05:36 PM I'm writing to address a major concern about certain assumptions that are stated and that much of the plan is based on but are problematic at best, but worse are perhaps outright false and misleading. My issues today are the presumption that we mean the same thing when we discuss sustainability" and that we agree about"climate change" and its inherent presumptions especially that co2 is a poluntant, that man is the largest cause of this climate change (by breathing and burning of fossil fuels etc). Several points on this: 1. When Al Gore popularized that we were going to be extinct by the year 2000 he used the term "global warming". Now we talk about"climate change"! To make a crisis out of climate change"is circular logic and deceptive at its core. If it gets warmer it's a crisis. If it gets colder it's a crisis and the presumption carry's that it's man's fault by exhaling co2. Simply existing and breathing is problematic and justifies open conversation about efforts to reduce the population! We used to think that it was immoral to plot ways to reduce population because of the sacredness of life now it's normal every day conversation. 2. Many of the thousands of intelligent people who have debunked these presumptions point out that to blame humans for the changes in climate ignores major factors that have massive influence on weather and climate -two of which are solar activity (proximity and intensity of the sun and its changing position and intensity over time) and the irrefutable fact of man's manipulation of weather. Please educate yourselves if this challenge is new to you as this general plan assumes that these arguements are settled and closed in favor of a deceptive and destructive worldview. Here are a couple of sites that are loaded with irrefutable proof of man's preoccupation not only with modifying the weather but weaponizing it using technologies that are being pushed strongly in our own neighborhoods right now. A. Weatherm odi fictionhistory.com. Well written summaries of the history of weather modification since 1946 and tremendous resources to patents, DOD publications,public hearings before congress in 2015 that addresses Chem trails and creation of high altitude clouds etc. B. Geoengineeringwatch.org. Site loaded with information on the topic, soil samples water samples, air samples that show the aluminum, barium and strontium aerosolized metals affecting the air we breathe, the water we drink and the soil in which we raise our crops and feed our animals. Well done site with enormous amounts of data assembled by a retired engineer. C. Library.NOAA.gov -this site shows those who REPORT their weather modification activities... the most impactive ones that we see in the news are NOT voluntarily listed! A few minutes here will show how common and readily available information is of man's manipulation of weather. It's not all evil... but some of it absolutely is and you see it on the news every month. The world meteorological organization reports at least 50 countries are regularly using weather modification technologies. Russia and China and the US have all made public statements of their ability to use weather weapons in warfare. The technologies involve sending the atmosphere with aerosolized chemicals that then can be influence by land based frequencies to create, amplify and steer weather- hurricane, tornados, earthquakes that create tsunamis, cyclones, manipulation of the jet stream, blocking of the sun. Spend some time on these sites and you will likely conclude that in this conversation the same parties offering a solution consisting of more restrictions on land use, travel, greater taxation to fund the solutions etc are the same parties creating the problem. Problem, reaction, solution and the peoples' liberty and prosperity pay the price of a"more government" solution. As to technology being aggressively disseminated in our neighborhoods today... can anyone think of a technology that we all use that functions by the projection of frequencies through the air in order for our communications to function? Coincidence that some of the best and oldest research on 2.4 ghz (the frequencies our cell phones and Wi-Fi function on are Russian studies in the 1940s about frequency weapons? Look it up. France doesn't allow cell towers in residential areas - we put them in our schools And church parking lots. You may find that there is a disturbing, undeniable connection between 5g (and other frequencies) and harm to biology as well as being effective in affecting weather. I wholeheartedly reject what I believe are inaccurate and deceptive agendas based on half truths that are lumped into this idea of sustainability. I'm interested in a general plan that: 1. Honors our constitution 2. Recognizes the sovereignty of the individual and the sacredness of land stewardship. The people are the rulers, land belongs to people not corporations and governments pretending to be for the people but are really about controlling resources to control people not empower them. 3. Acknowledges that people take care of people and solve problems, not Beurocrats, lawyers and politicians. Innovation and liberty are sacred concepts that are inherent in the people. 4. Recognizes that we are all trustees of what the Creator has loaned us and that we all are accountable for what we leave future generations. Mahalo for your attention and for doing your own studies on the sites I've listed and others. I believe just an hour on either of the two sites I mentioned will convince that much of what's being heralded as evidence of"climate change" is indeed, but it's "man-made" - not because we breathe or burn fossil fuels but because a few are using technology as often happens to manipulate, control and harm. These few hope that we will react emotionally to half truths and buy into a solution that leaves we the people poorer and even less free. As WEF leader Klaus Schwab likes to say "you will own nothing, and you will be happy". I pray that our Island m, our county leads the way in liberty, in pursuit of truth, in faithfulness to our Constitution and Bill of Rights and is indeed a land"perpetuated in righteousness" From: Maile Luuwai To: LPCtestimonv Cc: Nako"o Subject: LPC Nov 21 Testimony-County of Hawaii General Plan 2045 Date:Thursday,November 21,2024 12:07:48 PM Attachments: Leeward Plannina Commission Nov 21 Testimony-Luuwai.odf Aloha— Please add my late testimony to the documents for the referenced meeting. Mahalo, Maile Lu'uwai November 21, 2024 County of Hawai'i Leeward Planning Commission 101 Pauahi Street Hilo, Hawaii, 96720 RE: TESTIMONY FOR NOV. 21 SPECIAL MEETING-County of Hawai'i General Plan 2045 Aloha Chair DeFranco and Commission Members, My name is Maile Lu'uwai. I am the President of the Keaukaha Pana'ewa Farmers Association. Our association represents Hawaiian homestead agricultural lessees in an area comprised of 1,615 acres in the heart of Pana'ewa, Hilo. Railroad Avenue cuts through the middle of our community. I provided public comments on the County of Hawai'i General Plan 2045 as did many community members. Kali Watson,the Chair of the Hawaiian Homes Commission also provided comments on the General Plan in a letter dated February 28, 2024 that was sent to Planning Director Zendo Kern. I am asking the Commission to make four recommendations regarding the General Plan that were included in Chair Watson's letter to Director Kern: 1. Include the 2002 Memorandum of Understanding between DHHL and the County in the General Plan as appendices or in a separate section of the plan. 2. Include the 2022 DHHL General Plan Update in the General Plan as an appendices or in a separate section of the plan. 3. Include in the General Plan specific policies that articulate that DHHL Plans are the authority on land use to guide land uses and projects on Hawaiian Home Lands and adjacent to Hawaiian Home Lands 4. Remove all proposed roadways through Hawaiian Homes Lands from the General Plan. The County has no authority to propose roadways over Hawaiian Home lands. I also specifically ask that the proposed roadway that runs from Pahoa to Railroad Avenue through Pana'ewa be removed. Our community and the Chair Watson has provided testimony to the County Council against a connector road from Paha to Railroad Avenue. Hawaiian Home Lands owns the land under Railroad Avenue in Pana'ewa. Your inclusion of the foregoing in your recommendations are appreciated. Mahalo, Maile Lu'uwai President Keaukaha Pana'ewa Farmers Association PO Box 6844 Hilo, HI 96720 From: Michelle Melendez To: WPCtestimonv;LPCtestimonv Subject: Testimony on General Plan Climate Change Date: Thursday,November 21,2024 5:12:47 PM Aloha Leeward Commission, Mahalo so much for listening to us today.I know you are all volunteers and I really appreciate your time. A huge part of the plan is dedicated to"Climate Change".However,I've researched and found many climate experts disagree with this narrative. This is VERY dangerous because this section will add more rules,and regulations and take away freedom.In the name of climate change it will restructure the Big Island way of life and give more power to the government. Here is what you need to know: Over 1900 credentialed scientists have signed a World Declaration literally stating,"There is No Climate Danger".Review it here https://clintel.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/WCD-241023.pdf The declaration states: "To believe the outcome of a climate model is to believe what the model makers have put in. This is precisely the problem of today's climate discussion to which climate models are central. Climate science has degenerated into a discussion based on beliefs,not on sound self-critical science.Should not we free ourselves from the naive belief in immature climate models?" John Coleman,Good Morning America's first weatherman and the founder of the Weather channel stated, "There is No Global Warming".Find his talk here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K56fms2VZTc 50 Years as Meteorologist with the US Airforce and Climatologist Professor David Dilley,says the earth is cooling not warming. He explains the earth was closer to the sun 800 years ago.He shares the Milankovitch Cycles here:https://youtLi.be/sa- t1ITPnM? si=0-ubPSELxpFnAVH5 On the Boston Globe's YouTube channel,on May 14,2010,MIT Professor ofMeteorology Richard Lindzen shared,"If one asks, Is the temperature increasing or decreasing?"it's always doing one or the other.I have no concern about that.By asking people to worry about whether it's going up or down,you're immediately establishing dishonesty.The Earth is always changing.Climate change is nothing you have to prove.It always is happening.It always has happened.So,to make that into something alarming seems a little bit weird to me."Find his interview here https://www.youtube.com/watch?3=pwvVel2hTIl-U Profession Lindzen also stated,"At any given place,traditionally,sea level is measured by what are called tide gauges:a stick in the water,basically.Two things that change are what a tide gauge shows:the land moving up and down and the sea moving up and down.In most places,it's the land that has the biggest effect,and so you don't have a good measure of sea level rise." On August 21,2020,NASA published an article titled"NASA-led Study Reveals the Causes of Sea Level Rise Since 1900."Find the article here:https://climate.nasa.gov/news/3012/nasa-led-study-reveals-the-causes-of-sea-level-rise-since-1900/ It reads: Sea levels have risen on average 1.6 millimeters(0.063 inches)per year between 1900 and 2018." That means the sea level has risen a little over 7.4 inches in the last 118 years!Does that show the world is in danger of being engulfed by water?No. It shows that it will be a very,very,very long time before humans are in danger.Does that mean documentaries like"An Inconvenient Truth"are telling lies? An article was published in the Seattle Times on October 12,2007,titled"British judge ruled the Oscar-winning film on global warming,"An Inconvenient Truth,"contains"nine errors."" Here is the list of inaccuracies found in Court taken from the"Friends Of Science"website(Find the article here:https://friendsofscience.org/assets/dOCuments/FOS%20Lssay/British High Court Ruling on An Inconvenient Truth.html):. The inaccuracies in the documentary include: 1.The film claims that melting snows on Mount Kilimanjaro evidence global warming.The Government's expert was forced to concede that this is not correct. 2.The film suggests that evidence from ice cores proves that rising CO2 levels cause temperature increases over 650,000 years. The Court found that the film was misleading:over that period,the rises in CO2 lagged behind the temperature rises by 800-2,000 years. 3.The film uses emotive images of Hurricane Katrina and suggests that this has been caused by global warming.The Government's expert had to accept that it was"not possible"to attribute one-off events to global warming 4.The film shows the drying up of Lake Chad and claims that this was caused by global warming.The Government's expert had to accept that this was not the case. 5.The film claims that a study showed that polar bears had drowned due to disappearing arctic ice.It turned out that Mr.Gore had misread the study:in fact,four polar bears drowned,and this was because of a particularly violent storm. 6.The film threatens that global warming could stop the Gulf Stream,throwing Europe into an ice age.The Claimant's evidence was that this was a scientific impossibility. 7.The film blames global warming for species losses,including coral reef bleaching.The Government could not find any evidence to support this claim. 8.The film suggests that sea levels could rise by 7 meters,causing the displacement of millions of people.In fact,the evidence is that sea levels are expected to rise by about 40 centimeters over the next 100 years and there is no such threat of massive migration. 9.The film claims that rising sea levels has caused the evacuation of certain Pacific islands to New Zealand.The Government was unable to substantiate this,and the Court observed that this appears to be a false claim. Also,the Court's interim ruling included the following: 1.The film suggests that the Greenland ice covering could melt,causing sea levels to rise dangerously.The evidence is that Greenland will not melt for a millennia. 2.The film suggests that the Antarctic ice covering is melting;the evidence was that it is,in fact,increasing. High Court Judge Michael Burton stated: Former Vice President Al Gore,the documentary's moderator,makes nine statements in the film that are not supported by the current mainstream scientific consensus.For instance,Gore's script implies that Greenland or West Antarctica might melt soon, creating a sea-level rise of up to 20 feet that would cause devastation from San Francisco to the Netherlands to Bangladesh." The judge called this"distinctly alarmist"and said the consensus view is that if Greenland melted,it would release this amount of water"but only after,and over,a millennia." You may be asking, "Why is this in the general plan and why is the climate change narrative in the media throughout the world if it isn't true?" Because those who've invested in renewable energy will profit greatly and have more power over people ifwe adopt their narrative.They also own most of the news.I'm not a climate denier.I'm not a conspiracy theorist.I'm someone who researches until I discover the truth. The truth is,ifyou put this plan through as it is,you will destroy freedom and prosperity on Big Island for future generations. You have the power to help bring light to this plan.I trust in God and I trust in you. Mahalo, Michelle Melendez-Freedom Activist Fitness and Wellness Expert Since 1996 Author Of The Best Selling and 4x Award Winning Book, End Dieting Hell:How to find peace in your body and release the weight Order your copy of End Dieting Hell Click Here GreatMaui Land Grab"NOW Available here From: otano1<12Cslomail.com on behalf of Moku Loa Hawaii Island Sierra Club To: LPCtestimonv Date:Thursday,November 21,2024 9:30:31 AM Attachments: GP2040.Aua. 2019 draft.Public Access thru Cultural&Historic Preservation.odf Scenario Plannina -Trend Scenario Land Use Allocation Technical Report-Placeways(2016).odf Technical Methodoloav for General Plan Land Use(2020-24).8-23-24.odf Aloha Madame Chair and members of the Commission, Mahalo nui loa for your volunteer service to our community on one of the most important, consequential boards and commission in our county. Kala mai for not providing this testimony earlier. HIG asks that the Commission determine the manner in which it will conduct its review and communicate that to the general public so that testimony can be prepared prior to future meetings. For instance, will it be by section? The Commissioners have not doubt gone online to review the draft GP2045, then we all now have had a shared experience of attempting to compare it to the current General Plan. For a year now,public testimony has consistently stated that it is an impossible task to compare draft GP2045 to the current GP. because GP2045 is a gut-and-replacement of the current GP. Also,placing the GP2045 online in two different software platforms has disenfranchised a large number of the general public who have made sincere efforts to make informed comments, but are technologically-challenged. As a general statement, the draft GP2045 does not contain sufficient imperative and directive language to provide reasonable assurance that it will be implemented. For instance, the Section 3-15 of the county Charter states, in part, "The general plan shall contain a statement of development objectives, standards and principles with respect to the most desirable use of land within the county..." This is because Standards are the "legs" upon which the plan stand. Standards are essential to the implementation of any plan's objectives,policies, and actions. There are additional documents that are relevant to the draft General Plan that were not provided to the Commission in its board packet. . Documents attached to this e-mail: Draft General Plan 2040,pages 102-125 Trend Scenario and Land Use Allocation Technical Report Technical Methodology for General Plan Land Use (2020-2024) Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project, Scenic Resource Protection Programs and Strategies(attached in follow-up e-mail testimony) The most important of the documents not provided to the Commission is the draft General Plan 2040 that was released in August 2019 by then-Planning Director Michael Yee. One reason GP2040 is so important is because it shows the extent to which public access and cultural, historic, and scenic resource preservation policies and actions contained within GP2040 were removed and not included in GP2045. For instance, the Sustainability Objective on page 108 states, Native Hawaiian language, values, and practices are integrated into all County processes." This objective has been cleansed from the draft GP now before the Commission. Another document is a report titled"Hawai'i County Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project, Scenic Resource Protection Programs and Strategies"prepared for the Planning Department in August 2016. The Policies and Actions in GP2040 included the programs and strategies recommended by this report. However, GP2045 removed these policies and actions and now GP2045 only contains a reference to the report. Another report not in the Commission's initial board packet is the Trend Scenario and Land Use Allocation Technical Report,published in April 2016. This report contains important information, such as how many dwellings can be built with existing zoning, subdivision approvals, and building permits. Another critical report not included in the Commission's initial board packet is the Technical Methodology for General Plan Land Use (2020-2024). This report was not released until August 2024. It should have been released a year earlier because it contains information that the public has been requesting since last September 2023, such as explanations of how the GP2045 land use maps were developed. In June 2024, HIG submitted a Request for Government Records asking the Planning Department to provide a lists of specific changes between the current GP LUPAG map and the draft GP2045 land use, together with the reasons for each change and those who were consulted in developing the reasons for each changes. For instance, why has the entire Hokuli'a project been moved from Agriculture to Rural when there is an outstanding petition to the state Land Use Commission to amend the state land use Agriculture district to Rural and Conservation? This explanation is especially important given that the change proposed in GP2045 would enable construction of homes on Pu'u Ohau, the entirety of which the Hawai'i Island Burial Council designated as a royal mausoleum. Given the massive protests in the early 2000s against this proposal by kanaka maoli, why is the Planning Director proposing to reopen this wound? Presently, the Request is on appeal with the state Office of Information Practices because the Planning Department has refused to provide the reasons for the specific changes between maps and those who were consulted in making those decisions. Mahalo for this opportunity to testify and provide additional information to assist in this most important task any Planning Commission can undertake, the comprehensive review of the General Plan. Moku Loa (Hawaii Island) Group, Sierra Club We work hard to advance Sierra Club's mission to explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth, to practice and promote the responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources; to educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment; and to use all lawful means to carry out these objectives. PROMOTING ACTIVE LIVING THROUGH RECREATION, TRAILS, & PUBLIC ACCESS Public Access & Trails SUSTAINABILITY OBJECTIVE Number of public access sites created through acquisition or easement or enhanced with assistance from CZM funding or staff. POLICY 404. The County of Hawai'i shall establish: public access to and along the shoreline to significant historic sites, public transit along the top of cliff, streams and other natural water courses, mauka trails, facilities, and access to sites for gathering, hunting, and other recreational purposes and in accordance with Hawai'i County Code Chapter 34. Rationale: Based on existing County Code 34, General Plan Policy 12.3 (I, m), Ka'u CDP Policy 81, and Hamakua CDP Policy 48] 405. Subdividers of six or more lots, parcels, units, or interests shall be required to dedicate land for public access for pedestrian travel from a public highway or street to the land below the high-water mark on any coastal shoreline or to areas in the mountains where there are existing facilities for hiking, hunting, fruit-picking, ti leaf sliding, and other recreational purposes, and where there are existing mountain trails. Rationale: Based on existing HRS 46-6.5 and HCC 34-4(c)).] 406. Prior to disposing of, leasing, or transferring public lands, including public roads or trails, public access potentials shall be assessed, documented and protected if public access use is in the public's interest. Rationale: Based on existing HRS Section 46-1.5, Hamakua CDP Policy 50, and General Plan 12.3 (n).] 407. Ensure that publicly owned historic trails and roads are properly identified, and consultation occurs to protect the public's interests. Rationale: Based on the Highways Act of 1892, Hamakua CDP Policy 50, and the General Plan 12.3 (n).] 408. Alignment of coastal trails shall consider flexibility for realignment for sea level rise and other dynamic shoreline changes. [Climate Change] Rationale: Based on current status of some impacted coastal areas and research relating 102 Section 4: Community Placemaking to projected sea level rise impacts on coastal assets. See also California Coastal Commission Sea Level Rise Policy Guidance.] 409. Determine the location and ownership of historic trails and roads as early as possible in the land use application process. Rationale: Based on identified challenges with ownership of historic trails and roads and the subsequent legal implications. See also General Plan Policy 13.2.3 (q)] 410. Where a subdivision is traversed by a natural water course, drainage way, channel, or stream, the Planning Director should require a pedestrian, equestrian, and/or bicycle path when the opportunity exists to connect to existing or future drainage or trail corridors. 411. Trails may also be used as emergency access routes, where appropriate. 412. Support the development of a Rails to Trails type program to facilitate the conversion of old railway segments to a public trail network. 413. Seek private-public partnerships to manage and maintain public access to the shoreline, public trails, hunting areas, scenic places and vistas, and significant historic sites, buildings, and objects of public interest. [Public Access] 414. Explore options and collaborate with community groups to increase access to former sugar cane roads to be used as non-motorized trails where feasible and appropriate. ACTION 4.49 Amend code to require bicycle and walking path easements be developed in urban areas to increase walkability and multimodal transportation options. [Code] 4.50 Work with the State and adjacent landowners in establishing old railroad right-of- ways as pedestrian and bicycle trails. 4.51 Identify by GPS coordinates all existing historic trail alignments that (a) have been recommended for preservation by SHPD, (b) appear on historic maps and/or are known by oral tradition, and incorporate these into the County GIS database. 4.52 Actively implement the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail Memorandum of Understanding. 4.53 Appropriate,finance, allot, and encumber Capital Improvement Projects in support of trail development as part of a regional trail system. 4.54 Add public access requirements as listed in Hawai'i County Code Chapter 34 Public Access to apply to Chapter 23 Subdivision Code, SMA review, zoning code, special permits, etc. [Code] Section 4: Community Placemaking 103 4.55 Develop and implement a public-private program to establish and manage specific access points and trails. SUSTAINABILITY OBJECTIVE Develop and maintain a public access program that integrates recreation, subsistence, and cultural access priorities. POLICY 415. Integrate Public Access into County department priorities in the following ways: a) Incorporate public access and development into a program overseen by the Planning Department as per Chapter 34. b) Integrate PONC property management and maintenance into the Parks and Recreation code in Chapter 2: Article 11 and Chapter 15: Parks and Recreation. c) Develop adequate staff to carry out the provisions of Chapter 2 Article 42, relating to the PONC maintenance fund (as per: Section 2-214.2 (b). Pursuant to section 10-16(c) of the Charter, the maintenance fund shall be administered and managed by the department of parks and recreation. Adequate staff to carry out the provisions of this article and section 10-16 of the Charter shall be provided in the department of parks and recreation. Rationale: Based on identified gaps in addressing or applying public access regulations and procedures consistently between the various County Departments. The County lacks capacity to fulfill its existing public access objectives without increasing staff capacity, maintenance capacity, and without having clearer directives between the various departments to implement a cohesive public access program.] 416. Integrate County public access priorities in all aspects of land use decisions and permit reviews. 417. Consistently integrate public access development and maintenance into Parks and Recreation department priorities. 418. Support facility development for access management at access points and along trail corridors. ACTION 4.56 Establish a County of Hawai'i Public Access and Trail Program with sufficient staff and resources. Staff will be required to consult/consider recommendations of this program in all permit reviews. Elements of this program may include: 104 Section 4: Community Placemaking aRs<ill a) A comprehensive access inventory; b) A public access rating system to help with prioritization; c) Comprehensive reviews of projects (on public or private lands) that will affect public accesses and trails; d) Inventory of ancient trails, cart roads, and old government roads in coordination with appropriate State agencies. e) Public outreach and coordination element. f) Identify agencies/groups to develop, administer, and maintain public accesses, including developing County capacity for this purpose; g) Identify funding sources to purchase and manage public access easement to priority areas; h) When public access goals will involve several landowners, acquire the public access incrementally as opportunities arise to do so; i) Public accesses that cross private land will be acquired and held until appropriate management of the accesses is in place; j) Collaborate with State and Federal agencies on public accesses that require multi-agency involvement; k) Develop a standardized template to promote consistency and comprehensiveness in the public access plans required by landowners; 1) Partner with community organizations capable of assisting with public access management; m) Work with State agencies (particularly with DOFAW) to coordinate, survey, develop, and manage public trails and roads leading to forest reserves; n) In co-sponsorship with the State when possible, acquire land for public access to historic sites and objects and to the shoreline where safe transit does not already exist; o) Reinstitute a Public Access Wayfinding program managed by the Planning Department to assist interested community groups in maintaining appropriate signage at public access points; p) Provide cultural and safety information at trailheads; q) Provide for substantive community input to the County Planning Department and the County Council in order to finalize and accept priority access. Include community input in program policy. r) Whenever the County assumes the responsibility for posting and maintaining signage and maintaining public accesses and other public infrastructure, a specific County agency will be identified and assigned the aforementioned responsibilities. [Code, Public Access] Section 4: Community Placemaking 105 i_a 4.57 Amend the subdivision code to better address public access issues in the following ways: a) Revise/Develop enforcement protocols for public access violations, including fines for noncompliance and mechanisms to remove private obstructions from public accesses; b) Review Hawai'i County Code Chapter 34 requirements for public access standards, including design that fits into surrounding community, environment, and conditions. Establish parameters for requiring appropriate right-of-way, parking, and comfort stations for various types of public accesses/trails and incorporate these into Chapter 34; c) Amend Hawai'i County Code Chapter 34 to develop a clear methodology to modify public access routes in order to adapt to sea level rise, landslides and erosion, and other impacts related to environmental impacts and climate change; d) Amend Hawai'i County Code Chapter 34, Rule 21, Chapter 23, and Chapter25 CA 1.1.1 to ensure access and trail rights-of-way during subdivision. [Code] 4.58 Complete an inventory and database of significant natural resource areas with recreational and trail connectivity value. 4.59 Adopt an on-going program of identification, designation, and acquisition of areas with existing or potential recreational resources, such as land with sandy beaches and other prime areas for shoreline recreation in cooperation with appropriate governmental agencies. 4.60 Develop procedural rules and templates for public access agreements and Grant of Easement (GOE) to facilitate consistency and to provide mechanisms for tracking, follow-through, and geographic information system (GIS) identification in County of Hawai'i systems, etc. 4.61 Develop procedural guidelines for renegotiating access agreements. 4.62 Renegotiate public accesses that were developed prior to Chapter 34 to be consistent with Chapter 34. 4.63 Evaluate and initiate Charter & code amendments related to Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resource Preservation (PONC). These may include: a) Clearly distinguish categories of PONC property, such as active or passive use, conservation, restoration, natural buffer areas, access uses, etc. (for 106 Section 4: Community PlacemakingS111 instance, lands acquired to provide access versus lands acquired to preserve from development that may not be appropriate for public access). b) Amend Charter Section 10-5 c & f to allow PONC funds to be used for the planning, design, development of new buildings, facilities, (including comfort stations) or infrastructure such as roads, paths, bridges, culverts, ramps, or drainage features if such improvements are necessary to meet the objectives of public safety and to meet the purposes outlined in Hawai'i County Code 2-214.1. [Code] c) Interpret or amend Charter Section 10-15 (c) 3 and County Code Section 2- 214.1 c) 3 referring to natural resource buffer zones to include buffer zones for natural hazard areas, such as properties facing sea level rise, lava inundation, steep slopes, or identified priority viewsheds. [Code] d) Include assessments of tax revenue implications for lands nominated for PONC consideration. e) Amend Charter section 10-15 (c) and County Code Section 2-214.1 (c) to be consistent with each other. For example, the County Code allows PONC funds to be used for "significant habitat or ecosystems" but the Charter does not include those terms. [Code] 4.64 Amend Chapter 15 to include PONC and trail development as part of the Parks and Recreation Department's priorities to be consistent with Chapter 34 in partnership with the Planning Department.[Code] 4.65 Conduct a performance review of the PONC Maintenance Fund and Stewardship Grant program to identify and implement ways to improve PONC management system. 4.66 Amend Hawai'i County Code Section 2-218 Prioritized list of qualifying lands worthy of preservation to establish a means to evaluate the socio-environmental equity of the lands nominated by district. Such as: a) When there are multiple lands under consideration at any one time, priority shall be given to coastal lands and lands where matching funding is available to leverage the County contribution; b) Consideration should be given to lands within districts under-represented by PONC preservation program. [Code] Section 4: Community Placemaking 107 AGENCY ACTION 4.67 Coordinate with State agencies to improve access and access/trail management resources (including policies, conditions, identification, cataloguing, enforcement, maintenance, etc.). 4.68 Consider establishing a working group with surrounding land owners and the user- community to educate users and manage ATV use to ensure that non-pedestrian allowances are not permitted within sections of modern trails that overlap, are congruent, or correspond to ancient or historic trails and its associated features. 4.69 Coordinate with hunting associations and other land stewards, to establish clear hunting policies and disseminate education regarding these policies. 4.70 To facilitate greater public access to and along the shoreline and elsewhere, amend Hawai'i Revised Statutes 520, Hawai'i's Recreational Use Statute (RUS), to make it less ambiguous and to discourage frivolous lawsuits. PRESERVING OUR CULTURAL & HISTORIC LEGACIES Na tive Ha waiian Values & Practices SUSTAINABILITY OBJECTIVE Native Hawaiian language, values and practices are integrated into all County processes. POLICY 419. Ensure Native Hawaiian access rights are clearly expressed in County code, policies, and procedures. Rationale: Based on identified gaps in County code and an over-reliance on State statutes to address Native Hawaiian rights. See HRS Section 1-1, 7-1 and Article 12 Section 7 of the Constitution of the State of Hawai'i.] 420. Protect all rights, customarily and traditionally exercised for subsistence, cultural, and religious purposes and possessed by ahupua'a tenants who are descendants of Native Hawaiians who inhabited the Hawaiian Islands prior to 1778, subject to the right of the State to regulate such rights. [Public Access, Natural Resources, Health] Rationale: Based on identified gaps in County code and an over-reliance on State statutes to address Native Hawaiian rights. See HRS Section 1-1, 7-1 and Article 12 Section 7 of the Constitution of the State of Hawai'i.] 108 Section 4: Community Placemaking aRS<ii 421. Prioritize and maintain an education and awareness program for County employees regarding Native Hawaiian culture, values, and resource management. Rationale: Based on identified gaps in County capacity to sensitively address Native Hawaiian issues.] 422. County shall staff include qualified personnel versed in Hawaiian language, Hawaiian history, and historic preservation to provide dedicated expertise in support of the objectives, polices, and actions stated in this plan. Rationale: Based on identified gaps in County capacity to sensitively address native Hawaiian issues.] 423. Ensure access for cultural practitioners in areas that may not be appropriate for public access (e.g. Burial sites, specific heiau). Rationale: Based on examples of sensitive areas that may need special treatment based on cultural protocol.] 424. Support festivals and events that promote Native Hawaiian history and culture. 425. Support the development a multi-sector public education program regarding historic sites that target the hospitality industry, real estate agents, site developers, consultants, schools, youth groups, civic organizations, etc. ACTION 4.71 Codify protections of Native Hawaiian customs and gathering rights related to access and cultural preservation. 4.72 Identify and inventory important Native Hawaiian cultural and historic places, traditional cultural properties, traditions, and practices, through the use of architectural, archaeological, ethnographic surveys, and oral histories. [Mapping] 4.73 Develop an inventory of Native Hawaiian cultural resources and practices with potential to be impacted by sea level rise. Work with Native Hawaiian communities to determine steps they want to take regarding climate impacts. [Climate Change] 4.74 Amend the County building code to add standards for structures utilizing traditional Hawaiian building design and construction methods. There may be certain limitations placed on the occupancy or use of these structures, such as for cultural purposes, accessory uses and/or occasional gatherings only. [Code] Section 4: Community Placemaking 109 i_a PRESERVING OUR CULTURAL & HISTORIC LEGACIES Multi-Cultural Heritage SUSTAINABILITY OBJECTIVE At least one yearly cultural event is supported by the County in each district. POLICY 426. Support festivals and events that promote the island's multi-cultural heritage. 427. Represent Hawai'i as a place that embraces not only its own multi-cultural heritage, but all world cultures in inclusive and celebratory ways. 428. Promote educational and celebratory opportunities for cultural exchanges with other world cultures. 429. Promote opportunities for 'sister city' and other types of place-based cultural enrichment opportunities with international communities. ACTION 4.75 Establish and maintain a County Program (including grants)to support festivals and events that promote history and culture. PRESERVING OUR CULTURAL & HISTORIC LEGACIES Historic Preservation SUSTAINABILITY OBJECTIVE Achieve 100% preservation of sites identified for preservation by State Historic Preservation Division. POLICY 430. Historic Preservation shall represent the full range and diversity of the multi-cultural heritage of Hawai'i Island. Rationale: Based on General Plan Goals 6.2, and Policies 6.3 (a-o).] 110 Section 4: Community Placemaking aRs<ill 431. The County shall maintain an inventory of significant cultural and historic sites and districts compatible with that of the State Historic Preservation Division. The inventory shall identify the location of sites on the Hawai'i and National Register, the State Inventory of Historic Places, and may also include sites of community significance identified as being: a) Important in the life or activities of a major historic person; b) Associated with a major group or organization in the history of the island or community; c) Associated with a major historic event (cultural, economic, military, social, or political), d) Associated with a past or continuing institution that has contributed substantially to the life of the community; e) Unique example of a particular style or period; f) One of the few of its age remaining; g) Original materials and/or workmanship that can be valued in themselves, h) Sites with a preponderance of original materials in context and complexes rather than single isolated sites unless they are of great significance; and i) Sites of traditional and cultural significance. Rationale: General Plan 6.3 (a-o).] 432. Preservation plans shall be completed for all subdivisions with cultural or historical properties (sites, buildings, objects, landscapes) identified for preservation prior to approval of the final plat map or any site work. Rationale: Based on identified issues where development commences prior to County permit approvals,thereby possibly damaging historic sites or areas. See also General Plan 6.3 (a-o).] 433. The County shall develop a comprehensive management plan for historic and cultural resources that are on County owned properties or on properties managed by the County. Rationale: General Plan 6.3 (a-o).] 434. Require completion of preservation plans for all significant sites identified for preservation. Rationale: Based on identified issues where development commences prior to County permit approvals,thereby possibly damaging historic sites or areas. See also General Plan 6.3 (a-o).] 435. Require completion of mitigation plans for identified sites, or resources that have been identified as historic but will not be preserved. Rationale: Based on identified issues where development commences prior to Section 4: Community Placemaking 111 completion of mitigation plans, thereby possibly damaging historic sites or areas. See also General Plan 6.3 (a-o).] 436. Require stewardship and/or protection of sites, buildings, objects, and landscapes of significant cultural and historical importance to the County. Rationale: Based on General Plan 6.3 (b).] 437. Partner with DLNR-SHPD to outline how each agency will cooperate to ensure historic and cultural protections,verify that approved Preservation Plans are being implemented, and promote appropriate restoration of historic sites and cultural landscapes. Rationale: Based on identified needs for further collaboration between State and County agencies and on General Plan 6.3 (a).] 438. Through the Hawai'i County Cultural Resources Commission, the County shall engage in consultation with Section 106, National Historic Preservation Act, and shall use this opportunity to engage the community, especially those with generational and traditional environmental knowledge, in the consultation process. Rationale: Based on Section 106 National Historic Preservation Act and the HCC Chapter 2 Article 44.] 439. Subdivisions subject to cultural or historic surveys shall have all sites approved for preservation, including any required buffers or access easements, identified on the plat maps of the subdivision prior to granting of final subdivision approval. The metes and bounds descriptions of the preservation easements and all applicable covenants and restriction pertaining to the preservation easements, shall be added to applicable deeds prior to the transfer of subdivided properties. [code/mapping] Rationale: Based on consultation with Administrative Permit Division of Planning Department and identified gaps in comprehensive recordkeeping in subdivision files. See also General Plan 6.3 (g).] 440. Outstanding natural or cultural features, such as scenic resources, water courses, fine groves of trees, heiau, and historical sites and structures, shall be identified and preserved during subdivision. Rationale: Based on preserving public trust, and Hawai'i County Code Section 23-26, and General Plan Goals of 6.2, 6.3 (g).] [Mapping] 441. The County shall use and promote the use of interpretive signage and/or other appropriate methods to recognize landscapes, sites, buildings, and objects of significant historical and cultural importance. 112 Section 4: Community PlacemakingS111 442. Partner with Community Development Plan Action Committees and the Cultural Resource Commission to develop design guidelines for designated communities containing significant historic buildings, sites, or landscapes. 443. Partner with DLNR's State Historic Preservation Division to increase, maintain, and regularly update the State inventory of Historic Places database with significant historical and culturally important sites, buildings, objectives, and landscapes on Hawai'i Island. 444. Seek private-public partnerships to maintain and steward the preservation of sites, buildings, objects, and landscapes of significant cultural and historical importance. 445. For new County community facilities, incorporate and consider cultural design elements appropriate for the region. 446. Establish Historic Districts, Heritage Landscapes, Corridors, Areas, and Centers as land use designations for purposes of preserving, conserving, or restoring historic properties for the benefit of communities' sense of place and appropriate adaptive reuse for future generations. ACTION 4.76 Identify and map valued cultural and historic places, structures, traditions, and practices, and HawaiTs multi-cultural heritage through the use of architectural, archaeological, ethnographic surveys, and oral histories. [Mapping] 4.77 Compile and maintain a list of cultural/historic experts by island districts who may be consulted, as needed. 4.78 Complete community-level historic surveys. 4.79 Amend the subdivision code, Section 23-69 to include a requirement that the final plat map reflect information from the preservation plan, including any required buffers or access easements. [Code] 4.80 Down-zone identified State and County-owned parcels that have special cultural and/or scenic value. 4.81 Amend the zoning code to include criteria for requiring cultural preservation plans prior to development. [Code] 4.82 Adopt rules that establish when ethnographic Surveys or Cultural Impact Assessments will be required and what standards should be followed. 4.83 Develop County-wide Cultural Resource Commission processes for reviewing permit applications that relate to identified cultural or historic resources. Section 4: Community Placemaking 113 4.84 Develop protocols for receiving community input during capital project siting and design. Consult with and solicit input from community members with generational knowledge to minimize the impact of proposed changes to the use of land on cultural practices, cultural sites, and culturally significant areas, including burials. 4.85 Adopt design guidelines for designated communities containing significant historic buildings, sites, or landscapes. 4.86 Prepare Cultural Landscape Reports, prioritizing Historic Districts to articulate preservation goals, objectives, and policies that provide the basis for making sound decisions about management, treatment, and use of historic and cultural resources. [Report] 4.87 Promote the real-property tax incentives for preservation of historic properties. PROTECTING SCENIC RESOURCES SUSTAINABILITY OBJECTIVE Increase participation in scenic preservation programs (Heritage Corridors, Scenic Byways, Scenic Corridors and Exceptional Trees) POLICY 447. Hawai'i County shall use the following place types as guidelines for designating sites and viewsheds that shall be protected: a) Distinctive and identifiable landforms distinguished as landmarks and/or cultural landscapes, e.g. Mauna Kea, Waipi'o Valley. b) Coastline areas of striking contrast, e.g. Laupahoehoe Point c) Vistas of distinctive features d) Natural or native vegetation attractive to a particular area. e) Landscapes that are harmoniously developed, enhanced by man while maintaining their natural appearance, e.g. Pu'ukohola, 'Akaka Falls. f) Lands with a general slope of 20 percent or more that provide open space amenities or possess unusual scenic qualities. Rationale: Based on the Standards from General Plan 7.4 (a-e) and 8.4 (c).] 448. Visual impact assessments shall include photo simulations or balloon tests with views from various vantage points to show visual impact of a proposed project. Rationale: Creating visual modeling through photo simulations or balloon tests are 114 Section 4: Community Placemaking aRS<ii common strategies used in visual impact assessments in other municipalities. These visual impact assessment tools would help achieve General Plan 7.2 Goals and policies 7.3 (b, e, h, i).] 449. Prioritize maintaining the views at scenic overlooks with a frequently maintained vegetation management program which includes eradication of invasive species. Coordinate this work with regular roadway vegetation management maintenance program. Rationale: Based on identified challenges with vegetative management of existing scenic overlook and the prevalence of the views being obstructed by invasive species or other vegetation. See also Hamakua CDP 38, Kokua Action 9, and General Plan 7.2 (b), 7.3 (a, b, c, f).] 450. Maintain a continuing program to identify and inventory exceptional trees, forest areas, or groves/stands of trees. Rationale: Based on Standards from General Plan 7.3 (g) and policies 7.4 (a-e) 8.3 (j, k, m.] 451. Maintain the Exceptional Tree Program for the recognition and protection of trees with significant or unique historical, ecological, cultural and/or aesthetic significance. Rationale: Based on General Plan policy 7.3 (g).] 452. No variance shall be granted unless appropriate conditions are imposed to minimize adverse impacts on public views to, from, and along the shoreline. Rationale: Based on Hamakua CDP Policy 17, General Plan goals 7.2 (a-c), and policies 7.3 (b), 8.3 (c, d). See also HRS 205A. 453. Do not allow incompatible development in areas of natural beauty that have been identified through the Scenic Resources Protection Program. Rationale: Based on an identified need to identify natural beauty areas through a scenic resource protection program and restrict development appropriately to ensure scenic resources are not lost to development. Based also on General Plan policies 7.3 (h, i).] Mapping] 454. Applications for Special Permits and environmental assessment reports for proposed changes of zone on property that may impact open space, viewsheds, and areas of natural beauty shall include visual impact assessments and propose conditions to mitigate scenic impacts. Rationale: Based on identified needs to protect scenic resources, open space and natural beauty in the special permit process. Also based on Hamakua CDP policy 33 and Ka'u CDP policy 57.] Section 4: Community Placemaking 115 i_a 455. Hawai'i County shall seek to minimize, any development which would substantially interfere with or detract from the line of site toward the sea from the State highway nearest the coast. Rationale: Based on Hamakua CDP Policy 35, Ka'u CDP Policy 54, General Plan policy 7.2 b) and 7.3 (f).] 456. Ensure that new developments are compatible with their visual environment by designing and locating such developments to minimize the alteration of natural landforms and existing public views to and along the shoreline. Rationale: Based on an identified need to ensure that development is managed appropriately to protect natural landforms and viewplanes. Based also on General Plan policies 7.3 (h, i).] [Land Use] 457. Preserve roadway corridors that have historic, scenic, or unique physical attributes that enhance the character and scenic resources of communities. 458. Support the development and promotion of Heritage Corridors and Scenic Byways where appropriate. 459. Support the designation of scenic byways through the State Scenic Byway Program. 460. In reviewing Special Permit applications, rezoning, and other land use changes in the Agricultural District, appropriate conditions should be determined to preserve existing viewsheds to and along the coastline. [Land Use] ACTION 4.88 Develop and establish viewshed regulations to preserve and protect from obstruction scenic resources, vistas, viewsheds, open space, prominent landscapes, and areas of natural beauty identified in the General Plan. 4.89 Develop and maintain a program to identify, inventory, preserve, acquire, and develop (where appropriate) viewing sites on the island. [Transportation] 4.90 Collaborate with the State to modify zoning on publicly-owned parcels that have been identified as having special cultural and/or scenic value. [Land Use] 4.91 Identify valued scenic resources in the Coastal Zone Management area. [Land Use, Mapping] 4.92 Identify and develop scenic lookouts along highways to ensure important views coastal, mountain, and waterfall) are preserved from development, create various opportunities to view these scenic resources, and develop a vegetation maintenance program. 116 Section 4: Community Placemaking aRS 111 4.93 Establish a Scenic Resources Protection Program to identify, inventory, and protect areas of significant beauty. The program would include: a) Rate viewsheds and roadway corridors documented in the Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project (June, 2016) b) Develop scenic resource and viewshed corridor maps c) Develop administrative rules to implement Hawai'i County Code section 25- 6-60 d) Develop Scenic Corridor Management Plan(s) for specific corridors identified. Scenic Corridor Management Plan(s) should include permit conditions, such as design guidelines, landscaping, screening, or structural setbacks from major thoroughfares and highways, to mitigate any visual impacts from development. e) Prepare Urban Design and Scenic Resource Protection Guidelines f) Staff and Planning Commission Training; g) Set Guidelines for Development Compatibility Standards. [Program] 4.94 Develop, maintain, and implement design standards to protect important viewsheds and ensure structural setbacks from major thoroughfares and highways. 4.95 Develop Scenic Corridor Management Plans. 4.96 Adopt administrative rules to implement Hawai'i County Code for Scenic Corridors. 4.97 Perform a feasibility study on developing a scenic route from Waipi'o Valley Lookout extending mauka to connect Mud Lane at the entrance of Waimea and a scenic park with a viewing area of Hi'ilawe Falls. 4.98 Coordinate with the State to upgrade the viewing site from the rim of Pololu Valley. AGENCY ACTION 4.99 Encourage the State to develop and maintain scenic lookouts along highways where appropriate to ensure ocean, mountain, pastoral, and waterfall views are preserved from development, and coordinate a regular roadway vegetation maintenance program. 4.100 Consider adding/improving viewing locations and interpretive signage near the scenic bridges for safe parking and views of the areas' waterfalls and coastline and along Saddle Road (Route 200) for views of the summit. Section 4: Community Placemaking 117 i_a place County of Hawaii General Plan Comprehensive Review Trend Scenario and Land Use Allocation Technical Report Date: April 18, 2016 Authors: Amy DeBay, Ian Varley, Doug Walker Introduction Task S2 (Land Use Allocation)sets up a framework for estimating future development patterns amounts and location) based on a set of rules. Task E (Trend Scenario) uses an initial, calibrated run of the allocation model to estimate future development patterns based on historical trends. These tasks go hand-in-hand and are combined in this technical report. Allocation Concepts and Approach Future development patterns(amounts and location)are estimated using an algorithm-driven process called allocation. Allocation models the interplay between market demand for development in certain locations("desirability")and amount of development allowed according to current regulations or by future land use patterns suggested by alternate scenarios("capacity"). Given a pre-determined amount of growth expected in the given time frame (here, new growth between 2015 and 2040),the allocation process estimates where each incremental unit of new development will go,following the basic presumption that the most desirable areas will be developed first, capacity allowing. Thus highly desirable areas are assigned growth first, and then slightly less desirable areas get developed next, etc., until all the estimated growth amount has been accommodated. Numerous refinements to the basic principle are used to produce the final estimates. For example, parcels aren't always filled all the way to capacity, a certain amount of controlled"randomness"is often applied to the growth pattern, etc. For mixed use areas, both residential and non-residential growth can be assigned. In this study, a CommunityViz tool called Allocatorg is used. The methods combined with the algorithms in Allocator 5 provide a well-reasoned analysis that will be helpful for this and myriad other planning studies, but it is recognized that the results have limitations in terms of modelling precision and confidence. The CommunityViz allocation method is sometimes described as"light-weight"to medium-weight,"differentiating it from the"heavy-weight"algorithms such as UrbanSim or PECAS that are considerably more sophisticated but are more difficult and expensive to implement. In contrast, the Allocator 5 method is easier to use and lends itself well to"what-if"type scenario planning. At the highest level,the allocation algorithm takes 3 inputs—growth amount, capacity, and desirability—and generates i output—a pattern of future development. Our methods for each of these are described next. Growth Amount As a 201.5 baseline for housing unit data, Placeways used data from the County's Real Property Tax RPT)office to identify the number of housing units and non-residential square feet. The procedure began with a database file from RPT that, unfortunately, lacked metadata, so the fields were interpreted manually. For each TMK, buildings were converted to housing units where appropriate Trend Scenario and Land Use Allocation Technical Report 1 Vce buildings and dwelling units were tracked separately). Single family homes and `ohana units were readily identified in the RPT data. Multifamily housing required some additional steps. In cases where there were multiple records per TMK (as with condos),the records required consolidation to identify the total number of dwelling units per TMK. Separate analyses were performed for single family, multifamily, and commercial properties. In RPT data, housing units that are treated as commercial property(e.g., apartments and timeshares)were counted as residential only when the RPT data showed them as such. Once this basic processing was complete, Placeways used the RPT online tool, Google Street View, digital air photos and other tools to verify the number of existing units with the goal of establishing an accurate baseline and using the RPT database to its maximum extent. For the trend scenario, growth projections are provided by SMS, a Hawaii-based research and consulting company(see their report"General Plan Comprehensive Review Trends and Forecast Analysis Final Report(2015)"). These projections are broken out by 13 geographic areas called"forecast analysis zones"or FAZs(see Figure 1)and by use type(residential dwelling units and non-residential square feet). In order to add additional land use information to the allocation,the SMS forecasts were further broken down into four categories: single family dwelling units, multifamily dwelling units, commercial square feet, and industrial square feet. The ratio of single family to multifamily was found using the mean of the ratio from three dates in the recent past(2000, 2010, 2015)for which the ratio was known. This ratio was then applied to the combined residential allocation amounts to produce the single family/multifamily splits seen in Tables 1, 3, and 6. Similarly, growth amounts for non-residential development were developed as a single forecast and had to be split into amounts for commercial and industrial uses. The 2013 ACS Employment by Occupation Type data were used to identify the ratio of industrial employment to commercial employment and to produce the splits seen in Tables 2, 3, and 7. While this method assumes no change in the ratio of single family to multifamily units and commercial to industrial space, it reflects the recent development patterns in the Trend Scenario and can easily be adjusted for use in alternate scenarios. Trend Scenario and Land Use Allocation Technical Report 2 place Figure i.Map of Forecast Analysis Zone(FAZ)Areas(source:SMS) FAZ NAME HPP-Orchidland Hilo Honoka-Paauilo Ka'u Knwaihae-Punko-Waikoloa-Waikoloa Resorts Keaau-Kurtistown Lower Puna North Hilo-Hamakua Coast Villages North Kohala North Kona South Kona Villages upper Puna Waimea ni v In contrast to the RPT-based method for establishing a baseline,the housing forecast data produced by SMS rely on US Census and Hawaii DBEDT as sources. The methods used to collect Census and DBEDT data are quite different from RPT, resulting in differing 2015 baseline quantities. In addition, SMS did not suggest a 2015 baseline, instead using decadal increments for forecasting. In order to establish an SMS 2015 baseline, Placeways used the average of SMS's 2oio and the first forecast year Of 2020. This results in a 2015 baseline difference of 11,558 housing units(RPT 2015:75,1001 SMS/Census: 86,658). The reasons that the RPT and Census derived baseline amounts are different are due to the sources'two distinct methods, and no attempt was made to reconcile them. To calculate the amount of new residential growth, Placeways used a method to find the relative amount of net new amount of growth per FAZ. This method finds the percent change, per SMS, between 2015 and 204o and applies that to the RPT 2015 baseline. This forecast results in fewer net new units(35,750)than the SMS forecast(40,16o new units), but its rates of change match SMS. The SMS non-residential forecasts were already reconciled with the RPT data, and their forecast was calibrated to closely match the 2015 RPT baseline square footage. Therefore, in the case of non- residential growth,there was no need to rectify the forecast numbers as was the case with residential growth. Non-residential square feet were rounded and translated from square feet to 1,00o square feet Trend Scenario and Land Use Allocation Technical Report 3 place for the purposes of allocation. This ensured that allocation amounts are in whole increments and not in very small portions of square feet. Table i. Residential Forecast by FAZ Ili[Single Multi- Total Single Multi- Single Multi- Total Family family Family family Family family 14,713 1,138 15,851 2,953 833 17,666 1,971 19,636 2,822 12 2,834 721 71 3,543 83 3,626 2,399 14 2,413 871 56 3,270 70 3,340 3,212 98 3,310 1,420 158 4,632 256 4,887 North - 2,499 17 2,516 785 59 3,284 76 3,360 2,610 3,390 6,000 1,337 1,337 3,947 4,727 8,675 Waik. .- Resorts 11,181 5,989 17,170 4,418 2,708 15,599 8,697 24,295 South - Villages 3,437 73 3,510 1,129 125 4,566 198 4,765 3,397 76 3,473 2,135 112 5,532 188 5,720 Kurtistown 1,640 10 1,650 834 35 2,474 45 2,518 4,884 0 4,884 3,373 104 8,257 104 8,361 6,654 0 6,654 7,431 152 14,085 152 14,237 LowerPuna 4,835 0 4,835 2,515 78 7,350 78 7,428 64,283 10,817 75,100 29,922 5,828 94,205 16,645 110,850 Trend Scenario and Land Use Allocation Technical Report 4 place Table 2. Non-Residential Forecast by FAZ(in i,000 square feet) m m i L N i f0 i f6 Gl i N si Gl i E N E cN E 3 m E 3 3 m V I- 0 0 U 0 9,187 3,762 12,949 3,979 346 13,166 4,108 17,274 North347 30 377 98 8 445 38 483 Coast Villages 438 38 476 130 7 568 45 613 1,303 75 1,379 421 37 1,724 112 11837 North290 255 545 181 12 471 267 738 6 5,406 63 5,470 1,608 85 7,014 148 7,163 Waikoloa-Waikoloa Resorts 6,512 5,135 11,648 3,400 296 9,912 5,431 15,344 South868 16 884 235 18 1,103 34 1,137 303 0 303 110 11 413 11 424 Kea'au-Kurtistown 760 902 1,662 454 51 1,214 953 2,167 201 2 203 54 3 255 5 260 HPP-Orchidiand 120 0 120 57 4 177 4 181 413 0 413 114 14 527 14 541 26,150 10,279 36,428 10,841 89211 36,991 11,171 48,161 Capacity Capacity values used in this report are based primarily on the results of Task Si, covered in a separate report. The focus is on net capacity,which is gross(or total)capacity minus existing development. Numeric capacity is assigned to every parcel on the island for residential dwelling units, and a separate numeric capacity for non-residential square feet. The majority of visitor units, existing and projected, are within 3 of the 13 FAZ areas. More information on visitor units and how they are addressed can be found in the Indicator Modeling technical report(Task G). During the initial calibration of the allocation model, it was decided to place caps on the capacity of individual parcels that limited the amount of development that could occur on any single parcel. Caps for both residential and non-residential development were identified by looking at the County's subdivision records and the 2004-203.5 building permit data. This information revealed what the recent historical maximums were for each kind of development: 600 units for residential development and 3o6,000 square feet for non-residential development. (The historical maximums and their place in the model are also discussed below in the section on additional calibration factors.) The final numbers below represent capped net capacity. Later in the project,these capacity values may be adjusted to model different potential planning and policy decisions. Trend Scenario and Land Use Allocation Technical Report 5 place Table 3. Net Capacity(Capped)by FAZ Residential 1111 Multifamily e 22,299 1,183 7,037,091 6,766,170 8,721 1,173,273 894,155 50 9,691 39 579,692 133,073 6,807 827 1,242,247 577,334 9,950 231 1,660,320 1,499,805 15,237 1,944,304 310,342 3,815 North Kona 21,855 5,376 9,831,956 12,956,188 21,445 190 539,714 0 25,088 1971 768,304 620,075 5,518 1 75 1,481,939 1 4,484,680 25,390 1 31 1 135,975 1 0 9,996 1 0 0 1 0 25,928 151 656,727 74,451 207,925 13,939 27,051,542 28,316,273 Desirability Desirability is a complex topic and represented a large proportion of the effort for this task. The desirability of a given parcel for a given use (residential or commercial) is represented by a score from o(least desirable)to ioo(most desirable). A parcel that is not eligible for a given use is assigned a desirability score of-i. On a map, the pattern of desirability scores is sometimes called a "desirability surface"because one can picture a lumpy blanket covering the island with high points in areas of high desirability and low points in areas of low desirability. Desirability was calculated all at once for the entire island. Given more time and resources, it would be possible to perform separate calculations for subareas such as east/west or individual FAZs. However, the additional effort would make little difference because growth amounts are constrained to meet FAZ-specific totals and thus growth is allocated based on relative desirability scores within a FAZ, not between FAZs. Trend Scenario and Land Use Allocation Technical Report 6 Vce The detailed procedure for creating the initial desirability surface, used to create the Trend Scenario, follows: 1. Spatial and non-spatial factors affecting location desirability were hypothesized. These factors, such as proximity to infrastructure or coastline, likely affected development desirability in the past and could be quantified for all parcels on the island given available information. While a complete list of factors tested is included at the end of this report, all hypothesized factors could fit into the following categories: Distance to infrastructure, geographical features,town and commercial centers Parcel shape/size Terrain/climate characteristics Neighbor(io ft)and neighborhood (i000 ft) context:the number of nearby parcels and development proximity(the number of nearby parcels that are built) Current land use and build status Geographic location (District, FAZ, etc.) Property and building valuation. Using CommunityViz,these factors were calculated for each parcel on the island and exported to a table for use in SPSS statistical analysis software. 2. Statistical regression analysis in SPSS was used to calculate how well each factor correlates with new development in a given time frame. Three timeframes were initially considered: All development since the beginning of RPT(County of Hawaii Real Property Tax Office) recordkeeping (188os) All development since 1995 All development between 1975 and 1995. However, because the goal of this statistical regression was to capture the principal factors influencing urban growth in the recent past, a cutoff date of 1995 was established. This year was selected to encompass a full cycle of real estate development and to capture the"highs and lows"in development activity. Development during this period followed this approximate pattern: Trough: 1996 Peak: 2005-2006 Trough: 2009-2011 Recent uptick: 2015. The SMS CoH 2016 General Plan Final Report(Figure 1, Resident Population) illustrates this pattern. The statistical analysis models the relationship between dependent variables—Commercial Square Feet(COM_SQFT)and Number of Residential Buildings(NumberOf Residences)—and the hypothesized list of independent variables(see Appendix 1,Table 12. Factors Tested for Historical Growth Trends). As a result, a step-wise Multiple Linear Regression model was chosen to create coefficients associated with each of the variables in order to represent the independent contributions of each independent variable to the prediction of the dependent variable after controlling for all other independent variables. Trend Scenario and Land Use Allocation Technical Report 7 Vce The initial analysis included an overall view of development, an earlier era of development 1-975-95), and post-1995 recent development patterns for both of the dependent variables(see Appendix 1: Comparing Post 1995 Regression Factors with the 1975-1995 Regression Factors for a discussion of these results). The results show the top io variables—that is,the top io of the hypothesized desirability factors—that influence each of the analyses, along with the absolute value of each of the standardized coefficients. The coefficient values allow ranking the variables from most to least influential. Detailed analysis information is included at the end of this report. The standardized regression coefficients with the io highest absolute beta values for the post- 3.995 period were converted into CommunityViz weighting factors normalized to the scale o— so,where o is no correlation and io is the highest correlation of any factor(though less than 1). Candidate factors with lower beta coefficients, below the top ten,were ignored for the desirability score. A cutoff of io factors was chosen for a few reasons. One was to keep the most significant factors in the mix. The top io account for the majority of the causal influence of all factors tested. Additionally, there was a benefit to limiting the number of movable parts for testing. Even with io, it is challenging to understand the interplay of all inputs and the individual effect on the overall score. The goal here is to incorporate both sophistication and manageable interactive parts, and io is a reasonable number for that. Some factors are negatively correlated, and some factors are inversely correlated. For instance, distance values that correlate to growth are often inverse: nearer, smaller distance values are more desirable and further, larger distance values are less desirable. In the table below, negative and inverse correlations are indicated by a negative beta value score. Understanding this, many factors below make intuitive sense. The slope factor for example suggests that as land gets steeper(slope increases),the likelihood of development decreases. Some results are not always intuitive, however. Statistically,for example, it is found that parcels that are closerto old lava flows are more desirable for non-residential development than those far away(i.e. Distance 2Lava FlOw179O). Some positively correlated cases also benefit from some explanation. For example,the strongest factor for residential development is Dlstance2VOIcanOHazard. This is a positively correlated factor meaning that as distance increases away from volcano hazards,the likelihood of development also increases. Trend Scenario and Land Use Allocation Technical Report 8 placeWary Table 4.Residential Factors(Top io)for Growth Desirability Model(Post 1995 Development) Beta Absolute Normalized Description Value Beta Value Value Weighting) Distance2VolcanoHazard Distance to high volcano risk area,0.0808 0.0808 10 defined as areas classified as category 1 or 2 on the risk layer Distance to older lava flow, 0.0575 0.0575 7.1 deposited between the year 1250 and the present Mean slope of the parcel in percent -0.0494 0.0494 6.1 rise ntersections1mi Density Road intersection density:the 0.0439 0.0439 5.4 number of intersections on major roads within%mi of the parcel divided by area of the parcel Rainfall Annual average rainfall, in inches 0.0429 0.0429 5.3 Distance2CenterAdjusted Network distance to commercial 0.0411 0.0411 5.1 center. Commercial center is defined by RPT land use commercial." This adjusted value uses straight line distance for those features not picked up by the patchy network. RESpost1995ProximitySum1OOOft Total number of dwelling units on -0.0394 0.0394 4.9 parcels within 1000 ft of a parcel built after 1995 RESpostl995ProximitySumlOftTotal number of dwelling units on -0.0321 0.0321 4 parcels within 10 ft of a parcel built after 1995 Parcel Perimeter2DivArea Lot shape: perimeter squared 0.0305 0.0305 3.8 divided by area Distance2Coastline Distance to the island's coastline 0.0301 -0.0301 3.73 Trend Scenario and Land Use Allocation Technical Report 9 place Table 5.Non-Residential Factors(Top io)for Growth Desirability Model(Post 1995 Development) Beta Absol ute Normalized Factor Description Value Beta Value Value Distance2LavaFlow1790 Distance to recent lava flow, 0.3410 0.3410 10 deposited since 1790 IntersectionslmiDensity Road intersection density:the 0.2560 0.2560 7.5 number of intersections on major roads within%mi of the parcel divided by area of the parcel Distance2Airports Distance to nearest major airport 0.2246 0.2246 6.6 Proximity1000ftParceIDensity The number of parcels within 1000ft 0.1723 0.1723 5 divided by the area of the parcel Distance2ExistingMFl Distance to nearest multifamily 0.1380 0.1380 4 residential development Distance2SewerService Distance to nearest wastewater 0.1207 0.1207 3.6 service line Distance2WaterService Distance to nearest potable water 0.1089 0.1089 3.2 service line ProximitylOftParcelDensity The number of parcels within 10 ft -0.1006 0.1006 3 divided by the area of the parcel Parcel Perimeter2DivArea Lot shape: perimeter squared 0.0935 0.0935 2.7 divided by area Distance2VolcanoHazard Distance to high volcano risk area,0.0885 0.0885 2.6 defined as areas classified as category 1 or 2 on the risk layer 3. The CommunityViz Suitability Wizard was then used to create a suitability analysis using the parcels' normalized factor values(such as distance to roads)as inputs. Since these values were pre-calculated for the statistical analysis, Suitability Wizard was pointed directly at the numeric values, improving processing performance. The wizard default is set to 5(on a scale of o to so) for each factor weighting. After the suitability analysis is run with defaults,the weighting assumption defaults are set for each factor according to the values calculated in the previous step to calibrate the score to historical trends. 4. The suitability(desirability)score for each parcel is displayed using the parcels layer symbolized by the suitability scores. The factor weightings are adjustable, so each factor that contributes to the overall score can be given a level of priority appropriate to the goals of the scenario. Trend Scenario and Land Use Allocation Technical Report 10 Vce Trend Scenario Allocation The allocation of forecasted development in the"Trend Scenario"is based on the desirability surface representing historic development trends. Later in the project, it will be possible to develop alternate desirability surfaces for scenario planning in which planners test planning strategies that could encourage growth to evolve in particular ways. Allocation is performed using Allocator 5 with the inputs above. Again, allocation distributes predetermined growth amounts for each FAZ to parcels within that FAZ, developing the most desirable parcels first and proceeding until all growth has been accommodated. No parcel receives more development than it has capacity for, and many parcels receive little or no development even though they have capacity available. For the initial run, used to develop the Trend Scenario, randomness is set at i out of io. Results for each FAZ are as follows: Table 6.Allocated Residential Growth by FAZ Residential Remaining Residential Remaining FAZ Name Single Family Single Family Multifamily Multifamily Dwelling Units Capacity Dwelling Units Capacity Hilo 2,952 19,347 833 350 North Hilo-Hamakua Coast Villages 721 8,000 50 0 Honoka'a-Pa'au ilo 871 8,820 39 0 Waimea 1,419 5,388 158 669 North Kohala 785 9,165 59 172 Kawaihae-Puako-Waikoloa-1,338 13,899 1,338 2,477 Waikoloa Resorts North Kona 4,418 17,437 2,708 2,668 South Kona Villages 1,130 20,315 126 64 Ka'u 2,135 22,953 112 1,859 Kea'au-Kurtistown 833 4,685 35 40 Upper Puna 3,373 22,017 31 0 HPP-Orchidland 7,431 2,565 0 0 Lower Puna 2,515 23,413 78 73 Total 29,921 178,004 5,567 8,372 Trend Scenario and Land Use Allocation Technical Report 11 placea9 Table 7.Allocated Non-Residential Growth by FAZ in i,000 square feet Remaining RemainingCommercialIndustrial FAZ Name Allocated Commercial Allocated Industrial Capacity Capacity Hilo 3,979 3,039 346 6,424 North Hilo-Hamakua Coast Villages 98 1,074 8 887 Honoka'a-Pa'auilo 130 450 7 125 Waimea 421 814 37 541 North Kohala 181 1,479 12 1,487 Kawaihae-Puak6-Waikoloa-1,608 336 85 224 Waikoloa Resorts North Kona 3,400 6,411 296 12,656 South Kona Villages 235 303 0 0 Ka'u 110 655 11 609 Kea'au-Kurtistown 454 1,023 51 4,434 Upper Puna 54 80 0 0 HPP-Orchidland 0 0 0 0 Lower Puna 114 542 14 60 Total 10,784 16,206 867 27,447 Trend Calibration Factors In order to better replicate the patterns of the previous 20 years, additional calibration factors were developed to supplement the factors used in the statistical analysis. The objective of the Trend Scenario is to reflect a continuation of recent patterns, and these factors help reflect the recent development characteristics. While the statistical analysis provides an impartial and"data-driven" perspective on the patterns of recent development, its results cannot provide a complete picture because of a number of limitations: Data limitations. Data were not available on all factors and across all historic time scales. In particular,the model lacked in-depth real estate market data, including market conditions and consumer preferences for both residential and non-residential development. In addition, historic building data were not available in appropriate forms. Geographic biases that resulted from using parcel data as the unit of analysis. For example, large parcels tended to score very well in the statistical analysis. These features tend to show advantages that small parcels do not:they have more capacity, they have more neighboring parcels, and they can be closer to more desirable locations simply because of their size. A grid- based analysis would reduce these issues, but it would introduce many other issues(e.g., mismatch between the grids and the available parcel data) in their place. Difficulty reflecting all patterns and preferences for all the island at a local scale (e.g.,what drives growth in North Kona is somewhat different from what drives growth in Lower Puna). It was outside the scope of this project to run individual analyses for smaller areas(e.g., FAZs). Trend Scenario and Land Use Allocation Technical Report 12 Vce No forecast model is perfect, and it is expected that any algorithmic results will require some degree of adjustment to match observed results. Because of these limitations on factors derived solely from statistical analysis, additional calibration factors based on expert human knowledge were included in the analysis as well. The combination resulted in a hybrid system that carefully combines both statistical modeling and expertjudgement. Each calibration factor works in a different way to help fine-tune the model by what is believed as common knowledge by County of Hawaii planners and by comparing values observed in the recent development data to the results of the draft versions of the Trend Scenario allocation. Some of these factors(Redevelopment Friction, Residential Subdivision Friction and Non-residential Size Friction) help steer growth towards areas that have received consistent development pressure in the previous 20 years. The Pipeline Projects Factor prioritizes parcels that currently have development proposals pending. While these factors help calibrate the Trend Scenario to reflect recent patterns, it is difficult—and not necessarily desirable—to exactly replicate rates and patterns of the recent past with what occurs in the Trend Scenario's modeled future. The future is unknown and many external factors and unforeseeable conditions will affect how growth actually occurs. The goal of the Trend Scenario is to provide a plausible and useful reference for comparing alternative scenarios to help inform policy and the contents of the General Plan; it is not intended as a detailed forecast. Recent Lava Factor While a significant amount of development in the County of Hawaii occurs on geologically recent lava flow(often on lava less than a few hundred years old), lava that has been deposited very recently is a significant obstacle to development. Lava flows that are more recent than iggo were identified, and desirability of parcels that overlapped post-sggo lava flows was reduced. Pipeline Projects Factor This factor adds a bonus to the desirability of parcels that are currently under development or that County planning staff assume are likely to develop in the near future. The pipeline projects are divided into two groups. Group one consists of two projects, Kamakana Villages and Kealakehe Homesteads, which are very likely to develop or are in the process of development. The second group includes five projects that are less advanced in the planning process but have greater than average chances of developing. The project pipeline projects are mostly located in North Kona and primarily entail residential development. Table 8 identifies the pipeline projects and the number of units allocated to them. Trend Scenario and Land Use Allocation Technical Report 13 Vce Table 8.Pipeline projects Project Name Approximate Location Allocated Residential Units Kamakana Villages Ane Keohokalole Highway, North of 600 Kailua Kona Kealakehe Homesteads North of Kailua-Kona, Corner of 184Keanalehu & Manawalea UH Palamanui UH West Hawaii campus,just east of airport 300 Pualani South of Kailua-Kona along Queen 2.78 Ka'ahumanu highway Keahuolu Queen Lili`uokalani Various parcels, north of Kailua-Kona 48Trustdowntown Redevelopment Friction The uncalibrated allocation model orients development towards areas of greater desirability and available capacity. Many parcels already have existing residential or non-residential structures on them but according to the capacity analysis have some additional capacity(these parcels are considered underbuilt"for purposes of the model). The Redevelopment Friction factor considers redevelopment in the sense of any new development on a parcel that has an existing residential or non-residential structure (according to RPT). The uncalibrated model does not distinguish the nature of this new development:whether it is a physical addition to a structure, a new structure on an undeveloped portion of the parcel, or the wholesale redevelopment of an existing structure. Redevelopment areas can sometimes be more difficult and costly to develop but they may be highly desirable because of their location or other amenities. The 2004-203.5 building permit data reveal that 34%of residential development occurred on parcels that already had a residential or non-residential structure. This figure is lower for commercial development,where 2.5%of growth occurred on parcels with existing structures. The Redevelopment Friction factor applies a penalty to the desirability score for both residential and non-residential development to parcels that already have some development. Residential Subdivision Friction An analysis of residential growth since 3.995 revealed that over 75%of new dwelling units were built on parcels that were subdivided to sizes of less than 5 acres. Subdivisions yielding parcels larger than 25 acres were not as common and did not contain large amounts of residential development in the recent past. The County's subdivision data revealed that in the last fifteen years,the largest subdivision to be approved was 590 parcels. During initial runs of the allocation model, it was observed that the tool tended to select larger parcels over smaller parcels, a pattern that was not consistent with the recent development patterns. The County's subdivisions layer depicts all of the island's major subdivisions and using this data as a guide, subdivided parcels were flagged and received higher desirability scores than Trend Scenario and Land Use Allocation Technical Report 14 place non-subdivided parcels. This factor actually consists of two factors, one factor that penalizes large parcels by size and another that caps residential development at 600 units, similar to the historic maximum. Non-residential Footprint Friction Similar to residential subdivision friction, recent non-residential development had certain characteristics related to building footprint size (i.e.,the square footage of the non-residential development)that were not well captured by the regression analysis. Early runs of the model revealed some extremely large non-residential developments that seemed uncharacteristic with the recent development patterns. According to RPT records,the largest commercial development since 1995 was 3o6,000 square feet and the median size 6,510 square feet. For the Trend Scenario, non-residential capacity was capped at 300,000 and desirability was boosted for smaller capacity parcels. Comparing Recent Development Trends and the Trend Scenario After calibration,the Trend Scenario matches recent development patterns fairly well, as shown in the table below. Table 9.Comparing recent development with the trend scenario Recent Development*2004-Trend Scenario 2015 Residential Redevelopment i1%of recent growth occurred 4%of growth occurs on built on built parcels parcels Commercial Redevelopment 15%of recent growth occurred 16%of growth occurs on built on built parcels parcels Residential Subdivision 75%of recent growth occurred 73%of recent growth occurs in Development in existing subdivisions; median existing subdivisions; median parcel size is 0.7 acres parcel size is o.9 acres Non-residential Footprint Median development size was Median development size is Friction 6,510 square feet 5,000 square feet Recent redevelopment is based on RPT and building permit data; subdivision and parcel size factors use RPT data. Trend Scenario and Land Use Allocation Technical Report 15 Vce Appendix i. Comparing Post 1995 Regression Factors with the 1975-1995 Regression Factors The regression analysis conducted for all development and development post-1995 was also run for development that occurred between 3.975 and 1.995. Development in this era appeared to manifest some similar patterns(Distance to Volcano Hazards, Lava Flow, and Intersection Density)as the post 3.995 development. Distance to centralized services such as water and sewer systems was more strongly correlated in the 1.975-95 development, perhaps reflecting the closer proximity of development in that era to those services. In a more extreme case,the correlation for Distance2Airport reverses: it is negative for 1975-95 development and positive for post 3.995 development. In other words, as distance to airports diminishes the likelihood of development increases in the 3.975-95 era. The opposite is true for development in the post 3.995 era. Valuation factors(building, land values)were poorly correlated in the 2.975-95 era for residential development. Valuation factors were more strongly correlated with non-residential square footage. However,the valuation factors used reflect present-day conditions. In general, care should be taken when comparing the results of the 3.975-95 era beta values with the post 3.995 beta values because this analysis relies on data that represents conditions as they are now, not as conditions were during the 3.975-95 phase of the island's development. Some factors rely on data that has remained relatively consistent through time; for example the location of the island's coastline, slope, rainfall patterns, etc. are very similar now to how they were 40 years ago. Other factors have changed considerably since the 3.975-95 development occurred (distance to commercial development, development proximity, land and building valuations, etc.). The 3.975-95 development patterns would be better compared to the Post 3.995 development by factoring in the conditions as they existed in that 3.975-95 era, not conditions as they exist in the present day. Unfortunately that level of analysis was not feasible within the scope of the current project. Below are two tables comparing the 3.975-95 and the post 3.995 beta values for residential and nonresidential development. Table io.Comparing post i995 and 3.975-95 non-residential beta values Factor ComPost956eta Com75-95113eta Difference Distance2 Lava Flow1790 341 006 0.3474 IntersectionslmiDensity 256 100 0.1564 Distance2Airports 225 145 0.3700 Proximity1000ftParcelDensity 172 042 0.2140 Distance2ExistingMF1 138 126 0.0120 Distance2SewerService 121 161 0.2813 Distance2WaterService 109 013 0.0958 ProximitylOftParcel Density 101 019 0.1196 ParcelPerimeter2DivArea 093 077 0.1703 Distance2VolcanoHazard 088 090 0.0016 Trend Scenario and Land Use Allocation Technical Report 16 Vce Table ii.Comparing post 3.995 and 3.975-95 residential beta values ResPost95Beta ResPost75-95Beta Difference Factor Distance2VolcanoHazard 081 079 0.0017 Distance2 Lava FIow1250 057 173 0.1151 Slope 049 049 0.0000 ValueBuilding 049 010 0.0389 IntersectionslmiDensity 044 078 0.0338 Rainfall 043 007 0.0359 Distance24CenterAdjusted 041 028 0.0132 RESpost1995ProximitySum1000ft* 039 N/A 0.0419 RESpost1995ProximitySum10ft** 032 N/A 0.0273 ParcelPerimeter2DivArea 031 037 0.0067 The 3.975-95 results used the factor, RESpost7595Proximity5uml000ft instead of the post 3.995 proximity sums,yielding the beta value of 0.002. The 3.975-95 results used the factor, RESpost7595Proximity5umsoft instead of the post 3.995 proximity sums,yielding the beta value of-0.005. Table 3.2.Factors Tested for Historical Growth Trends Factor Name Description Unit Source Acres Size of the parcel in acres acres Distance2Airports Distance to nearest major airport feet County GIS Distance2Belt10 Distance to the island's belt road feet County GIS Distance2Coastline Distance to coastline feet County GIS Network distance to commercial center. Commercial center is defined Distance24CenterAdj by RPT land use "commercial,"this adjusted value used straight line distance for those features not picked up by the patchy network.feet RPT and county GIS Distance to nearest electric utilityDistance2ElectricService pole feet County GIS Distance2ExistingMF1 Distance to nearest multifamily residential development feet RPT and county GIS Distance2ExistingSF1 Distance to nearest single family residential development feet RPT and county GIS Distance2Hospitals Distance to hospitals feet County GIS Distance2 Lava A owl 250 Distance to older lava flow, USGS Hawai'i deposited since 1250 feet Geologic Map Distance2 Lava Aow1790 Distance to recent lava flow,USGS Hawai'i deposited since 1790 feet Geologic Map Distance2Majorl0 Distance to nearest major,arterial- type road feet County GIS Trend Scenario and Land Use Allocation Technical Report 17 Vce Factor Name Description Unit Source Distance2Schools Distance to nearest public school feet County GIS Distance to nearest wastewater Distance2SewerService service line feet County GIS Distance to nearest major town, Distance2Towns towns defined by county provided towns" layer feet County GIS Distance to high volcano risk area, Distance2VolcanoHazard defined as areas classified as USGS,via county category 1 or 2 on the risk layer feet GIS Distance to nearest potable waterDistance2WaterService service line feet County GIS Slope Mean slope of the parcel in percent rise percent rise USGS DEM ValueLand Land value in dollars per the County's RPT records dollars RPT Rainfall University of Annual average rainfall, in inches inches Hawai'i District Planning district County GIS FAZ Forecast analysis zone SMS Uses 1 or makai (outside the belt) MaukaMakaiNum and 2 for mauka (inside the belt) Placeways COM YRBLT YN If built 1, if not 0. RPT RES YRBLT YN If built 1, if not 0. RPT iscom If commercial, 1; if not,0 RPT isSF If single family residential, 1; if not,0 RPT isMF If multifamily residential, 1; if not, 0 RPT Total commercial square feet on parcels within 10ft of any parcel with COMAIIYearsProximitySumlOft commercial square footage RPT Total commercial square feet on parcels within 1000ft of any parcel COMAIIYearsProximitySum1000ft with commercial square footage RPT Total commercial square feet on parcels within 1000ft of any parcel COMpost1995PS1000ft with a structure built after 1995 RPT Total commercial square feet on parcels within 10ft of any parcel with COMpost1995PS10ft a structure built after 1995 RPT Total number of dwelling units on parcels within 10ft of any parcel with RESAIIYearsProximitySumlOft a residential structure RPT Total number of dwelling units on parcels within 1000ft of any parcel RESAIIYearsProximitySum1000ft with residential structure RPT Total number of dwelling units on parcels within 10 ft of any parcel DUpost1995PS10ft with a structure built after 1995 RPT DUpost1995PS1000ft Total number of dwelling units on RPT Trend Scenario and Land Use Allocation Technical Report 18 place Factor Name Description Unit Source parcels within 1000 ft of any parcel with a structure built after 1995 Lot shape: perimeter squared square Parcel Perimeter2DivArea divided by area feet/feet County GIS Road intersection density:the number of intersections on major roads within %mi of the parcel intersection Intersectionsl/2miDensity divided by area of the parcel per acre County GIS ProximitylOftParcel Density The number of parcels within 10ft Parcels per divided by the area of the parcel acre County GIS Proximity1000ftParcelDensity The number of parcels within 1000ft Parcels per divided by the area of the parcel acre County GIS Trend Scenario and Land Use Allocation Technical Report 19 Vce Appendix 2. Detailed Statistical Methods Commercial All Data The first multiple linear regression was calculated to predict COM_SQFT for all possible parcels based on ParcelPerimeter2DWrea, IntersectionszmiDensity, Slope, Rainfall, Distance2Majorlo, Distance2WaterService, Distance2SewerService, Dis tance2 Schools, Distance2Coastline, Distance2VolcanoHazard, Distance2Airports, Distance2LavaFlow125o, Distance2LavaFlowz79o, Distance2Towns, Distance2ElectricService, Distance2Hospitals, Distance24CenterAdjusted, Distance2ExistingSF1, Distance2ExistingMF1, Distance2Beltzo, COMA((YearsProximitySumzoft, COMA((YearsProximitySumz000ft, ValueLand, ProximityzoftParcelDensity, Proximityz000ftParcelDensity with n=132,842. A significant regression equation was found (F(28,132814) =161.888, p <o.001)with an Rz of 0.033. After the analysis the 12 coefficients that influence Commercial square feet are listed below. Table 3.3.Twelve most influential variables for commercial square feet,all years Variables Beta Value Coefficient COMAIIYearsProximitySumlOft 125 COMAIIYearsProximitySum1000ft .056 Distance2VolcanoHazard 054 IntersectionslmiDensity 051 Distance2Hospitals 037 Distance2 Lava Flow1790 032 Distance2ExistingSF1 025 Distance2ElectricService 023 Distance2ExistingMF1 020 Slope 019 Distance2SewerService 018 Distance2 Lava Flow1250 018 Commercial Post 1ggS The first multiple linear regression was calculated to predict COM_SQFT commercial buildings built on or after 1995 based on ParcelPerimeter2DWrea, IntersectionszmiDensity, Slope, Rainfall, Distance2Majorzo, Distance2WaterService, Distance2SewerService, Distance2Schools, Distance2Coastline, Distance2VolcanoHazard, Distance2Airports, Distance2LavaFlow1250, Distance2LavaFlowz79o, Distance2Towns, Distance2ElectricService, Distance2Hospitals, Distance24CenterAdjusted, Distance2ExistingSF1, Distance2ExistingMF1, Distance2Beltzo, COMpostz99SProximitySumz000ft, COMpostz995ProximitySumzoft, ValueLand, ProximityzoftParcelDensity, Proximityz000ftParce(Densitywith n=451. A significant regression equation was found (F(27,424) = 2.259, p <o.00i)with an Rz of 0.126. After the analysis the 12 coefficients that influence Commercial square feet after 1995 are listed below. Trend Scenario and Land Use Allocation Technical Report 20 Vce Table 3.4.Twelve most influential variables for commercial square feet,post 1995 Variables Absolute Value Coefficient Distance2 Lava Flow1790 341 IntersectionslmiDensity 256 Distance2Airports 225 Proximity1000ftParcelDensity .172 Distance2ExistingMF1 138 Distance2SewerService 121 Distance2WaterService 109 ProximitylOftParcel Density -.101 ParcelPerimeter2DivArea 093 Distance2VolcanoHazard 088 ValueLand 082 Distance2Towns 067 Commercial Post 1g7S-gS The first multiple linear regression was calculated to predict COM_SQFT commercial buildings built on or after 3.975 and before 2.995 based on ParcelPerimeter2DivArea, IntersectionslmiDensity, Slope, Rainfall, Distance2Majorso, Distance2WaterService, Distance2SewerService, Dis tance2 Schools, Distance2Coastline, Distance2VolcanoHazard, Distance2Airports, Distance2LavaFlow1250, Distance2LavaFlowl7go, Distance2Towns, Distance2ElectricService, Distance2Hospitals, Distance24CenterAdjusted, Distance2ExistingSF1, Distance2ExistingMF1, Distance2Beltzo, COMpostz99SProximitySumz000ft, COMpostz995ProximitySumzoft, ValueLand, ProximityzoftParcelDensity, Proximityz000ftParce(Densitywith n= 687. A significant regression equation was found (F(27,66o) =3.634, p <o.00i)with an Rz of 0.129. After the analysis the 12 coefficients that influence Commercial square feet between 3.975-95 are listed below. Table i5.Twelve most influential variables for Commercial Square Feet>1975 and<1995 Variables Beta Value Coefficient Distance2SewerService 161 Distance2Airports 145 ValueLand 144 Distance2ExistingMF1 126 Distance2ExistingSF1 126 Distance2Schools 109 IntersectionslmiDensity -.100 Distance2VolcanoHazard .090 ParcelPerimeter2DivArea .077 Distance24CenterAdjusted -.072 Distance2Coastline 070 Distance2Belt10 059 Trend Scenario and Land Use Allocation Technical Report 21 Vce Residential All Data The first multiple linear regression was calculated to predict NumberOfResidences for residential buildings built after 1995 based on ParcelPerimeter2DWrea, IntersectionszmiDensity, Slope, Rainfall, Distance2Majorzo, Distance2WaterService, Distance2SewerService, Distance2Schools, Distance2Coastline, Distance2VolcanoHazard, Distance2Airports, Distance2LavaFlow1250, Distance2LavaFlowz79o, Distance2Towns, Distance2ElectricService, Distance2Hospitals, Distance24CenterAdjusted, Distance2ExistingSF1, Distance2ExistingMF1, Distance2Beltzo, RESA//YearsProximity5umzoft, RESA//YearsProximity5umz000ft, ValueLand, ProximityzoftParcelDensity, Proximityz000ftParcelDensitywith n=132,842. A significant regression equation was found F(27,132,815) =73.875, p <o.00i)with an Rzof 0.015. After the analysis the 12 coefficients that influence Number of Residences the most are listed in the following table. Table i6.Twelve most influential variables for residential,all years Variables Beta Value Coefficient Distance2 Lava Flow1250 062 Distance2VolcanoHazard 060 Distance2ExistingMF1 050 Distance2SewerService 048 IntersectionslmiDensity 043 Distance2WaterService 035 Distance2Coastline 028 Distance2Airports 028 Rainfall 025 Distance2Towns 024 RESAIIYearsProximitySum1000ft .022 Slope 021 Residential Post 1ggS The first multiple linear regression was calculated to predict NumberOfResidences for residential buildings built on or after1995 based on ParcelPerimeter2DWrea, IntersectionszmiDensity, Slope, Rainfall, Distance2Majorzo, Distance2WaterService, Distance2SewerService, Dis tance2 Schools, Distance2Coastline, Distance2VolcanoHazard, Distance2Airports, Distance2LavaFlow1250, Distance2LavaFlowz79o, Distance2Towns, Distance2ElectricService, Distance2Hospitals, Distance24CenterAdjusted, Distance2ExistingSF1, Distance2ExistingMF1, Distance2Beltzo, DUpostz99SProximity5umzoft, DUpostz99SProximity5umz000ft, ValueLand, ProximityzoftParcelDensity, Proximityz000ftParcelDensitywith n=18,8i9. A significant regression equation was found (F(27,18,792) =11.549, p <o.00i)with an Rz of o.o16. After the analysis the 12 coefficients that influence Number of Residences built after 1995 the most are found in the table below. Trend Scenario and Land Use Allocation Technical Report 22 Vce Table 3.7.Twelve most influential variables for residential,post 1995 Variables Beta Value Coefficient Distance2VolcanoHazard 081 Distance2 Lava Flow1250 057 Slope 049 IntersectionslmiDensity 044 Rainfall 043 Distance24CenterAdjusted 041 RESpost1995ProximitySum1000ft -.039 RESpost1995ProximitySumlOft -.032 ParcelPerimeter2DivArea 031 Distance2Coastline 030 Distance2Schools 029 Distance2Hospitals 0.23 Residential 1975-95 The first multiple linear regression was calculated to predict NumberOfResidences for residential buildings built on or after 1975 and before 1995 based on ParcelPerimeter2DivArea, IntersectionszmiDensity, Slope, Rainfall, Distance2Majorso, Distance2WaterService, Distance2SewerService, Distance2Schools, Distance2Coastline, Distance2VolcanoHazard, Distance2Airports, Distance2LavaFlow125o, Distance2LavaFlowl7go, Distance2Towns, Distance2ElectricService, Distance2Hospitals, Distance24CenterAdjusted, Distance2ExistingSF1, Distance2ExistingMF1, Distance2Beltzo, DUpostz995ProximitySumzoft, DUpostz99SProximitySumz000ft, ValueLand, ProximityzoftParcelDensity, Proximityz000ftParcelDensity with n=23,822. A significant regression equation was found (F(27,23,795) =17-956, p <o.00i)with an Rz Of 0.020. After the analysis the 12 coefficients that influence Number of Residences built between 1975-95 the most are found in the table below. Table i8.Twelve most influential variables for Residential>1975 and<1995 Variables Absolute Value Coefficient Distance2 Lava Flow1250 173 Distance2ExistingMF1 137 Distance2Airports 123 Distance2SewerService 106 Distance2VolcanoHazard 079 IntersectionslmiDensity 078 Distance2Schools 073 Distance2WaterService 073 ProximitylOftParcel Density 064 Proximity1000ftParcelDensity 059 Distance2 Lava Flow1790 051 Slope 049 Trend Scenario and Land Use Allocation Technical Report 23 Technical Methodology for General Plan Land Use (2020-2024) County of Hawai'i General Plan Prepared by: Amy DeBay Focused Planning Solutions LLC August 8, 2024 Introduction Beginning in 2015,the County of Hawai'i Planning Department has been working to update to the General Plan document adopted in 2005.This update has included reviewing and revising the General Plan Land Use map which guides the intended future use of land within the County.This document is intended to provide details on the methodology used to determine appropriate future uses for existing urban, rural, agricultural, and open space areas of the County. General Plan Land Use The General Plan is a policy document with a future horizon of 20 years. To help guide growth and development,the General Plan includes a map of intended future use of land throughout Hawai'i County. In the adopted 2005 General Plan,this map is referred to as the Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide (LUPAG). As the County works to adopt the updated plan,the map of proposed future use is being referred to as the General Plan Land Use (GPLU) map to better tie to the General Plan document. GPLU is not the same as the zoning code, also refered to as Chapter 25 of the Hawai'i County Code.The intent of the GPLU is to guide decisions about potential uses of land in a comprehensive way to meet the needs of a growing population in the coming decades. Decisions about zoning and development should be informed by the GPLU and be consistent with the intended uses designated in the GPLU. 2019 Proposed Land Use Map and Revisions Development of the GPLU for the update began with work in 2015. At that time,the County did extensive analysis to identify existing development, examined the future capacity for development in the County, explored a number of projected growth scenarios, and compared potential outcomes of different growth patterns.This analysis was shared with the public in a series of workshops in 2016 and 2017 to explore community choices of how growth occurs and how County services support different growth scenarios. The outcomes of that work shaped the policy guidance for establishing a future land use plan designed to encourage growth in urban centers where services are existing or planned. In 2019, a version of the land use map'was shared with the public for review and comment.This document provides details on the methodology used to review public comments and revise the 2019 map resulting in the current proposed GPLU map as part of the General Plan 2045 under public review from September 18, 2023 through April 1, 2024. Future Land Use System Technical Report, Ian Varley,City Explained, Inc., March 10,2020. Focused Planning Solutions LLC Page 1 of 18 Beginning in the summer 2020, the County and Focused Planning Solutions LLC reviewed the comments to the 2019 proposed future land use map and recommended several revisions to the map at that time. Additionally, new sources of data were explored to help guide proposed revisions. From the review, several considerations were identified to be explored and addressed. Consideration:The 2019 future land use designations removed Urban Expansion as a designation. Within Urban Growth Boundaries (UGB), LUPAG Urban Expansion areas were defaulted to urban uses, predominantly Low Density Urban. An unintended consequence of this method was some large shifts to urban uses in areas of the County with no planned development in the plan horizon and no existing or planned infrastructure to support such development. Action: Review all LUPAG Urban Expansion designated areas to determine the criteria for proposed change in future land use. Properties designated as a specific change due to CDP guidance or other area plans were accepted as intended. Properties that were assigned the default urban uses were reviewed for consistency with State Land Use, CDP use, zoning, proposed conservation areas, or other potential plans. In CDPs with future centers identified, urban uses were assigned based on proximity to centers. The criteria used for determining appropriate land use designations: Assigned future land use is from an existing plan document. Earlier versions of LUPAG show a specific land use, not Urban Expansion. Comments from public review propose land uses and County concurs with consistency. Area is within a TOD or Center from CDPs. Property is under public ownership with intended future use Privately owned property has a known area plan Where no plan is identified, use existing data for agriculture use, SLUD, access to infrastructure, and/or zoning district to determine appropriate designations. Following these steps, a determination was made for UE parcels. Consideration:The 2019 future land use map introduced the Natural Areas designation as a broad category of open space with no intended agricultural use. LUPAG designations of Open and Extensive Agriculture were considered as appropriate candidates to transition to Natural Areas. About 25%of LUPAG is currently classified as Extensive Agriculture. In the 2019 plan,45%of that land area changed to the Pastoral land use designation based on 2015 UH-Hilo agriculture study of pasture lands and 47%of LUPAG Extensive Agriculture was re-designated to Natural Areas. In current LUPAG, only about 1.4%of the County is designated Open. About 36%of that land area was re-designated to Natural Areas. Some of these resulting Natural Areas were identified during the review as not consistent with existing or intended property use. Action: Areas of the LUPAG map currently designated Extensive Agriculture that were proposed to transition to Natural Areas in the 2019 proposed land use plan were reviewed for their existing and planned uses.The following additional data sources were explored to better understand existing and intended future use: Focused Planning Solutions LLC Page 2 of 18 Carbon Assessment of Hawai'i landcover and habitat analysis (John Jacobi, 2015) Historic Lava Flows (HVO, All available years) 2015 UH-Hilo Agricultural Baseline crops and pasture data (SDAV, 2015) Federal and State Owned Lands from Hawai'i County assessor data Landcover data was used to define more intentional boundaries for natural areas.The following criteria shaped decisions around the Natural Areas designation: State owned lands—retained Natural Bare Lands in landcover and historic lava flows—Classified as Natural Wetlands in landcover and Cemetery in County Parks—Classified as Natural Native dominant use in landcover—Classified as Natural Agriculture dominant use—Classified as Agriculture (includes developed, alien forests) Pastoral dominant use—Classified as Pastoral Consideration: 2019 future land use was under review at the same time the 2018 Kilauea Lower East Rift Zone (2018 LERZ) eruption recovery process was underway.At that time,the area impacted by the eruption was assigned a land use designation of Pending so as not to conflict with concurrent planning processes. Action:The Pending designations in the 2018 LERZ impact area were reviewed to assign appropriate future uses that would not conflict with the recovery efforts and would appropriately convey the demonstrated risk of the location.The County land area also increased in this area by approximately 766 acres due to the lava flowing into Kapoho Bay and reshaping the coastline in that area. The lava flows were assigned Natural. Island areas surrounded by lava or Upuka were assigned agricultural use designations to match agricultural studies for productive crop use and or pastoral uses.The Kapoho residential area was also under lava flow.The former urban uses in this area were assigned natural to match these condtions. Consideration: Parks were not always showing as recreation or conservation. Action: Data layers for County, State, and Federal Parks were cross-referenced with the proposed land use designations. Park areas not designated as recreation or conservation use were adjusted to match park boundaries. Parks in SLU conservation are noted as GPLU conservation, active parks with active use areas are noted as recreation, and public lands not in active use are noted as natural or conservation, such as PONC properties. Consideration: Industrial land uses in LUPAG and the 2019 proposed future land use plan were often inconsistent or showed conflicting boundaries with zoning and other plans. Action: All industrial areas designated in LUPAG,the 2019 proposed land use plan, zoning, CDPs, and other area plans were identified and reviewed to compare boundaries for consistency. Focused Planning Solutions LLC Page 3 of 18 2021 & 2024 Proposed Land Use Map and Revisions The revisions from the 2019 process were shared in an interactive mapping platform using Esri ArcGIS Online Story Maps. Story Maps provided a universally accessible location to see the proposed land use alongside many other relevant data sets for infrastructure, conservation, hazards,facilities, agriculture, native habitat, and transportation. The Story Map provided an effective way to review proposed changes and digitize comments directly in the mapping application.The County also began using the interactive document platform, Konveio,to review draft General Plan document products and gather community input. In 2022, a series of working sessions were conducted to review the comments and the proposed changes. At this time,the name of the map was chosen to be the General Plan Land Use (GPLU) map to clarify the connection to the guiding document and purpose of the map. Some revisions to the designations were also made.The final proposed General Plan land uses are shown below in Table 1. Table 1: General Plan Land Use Designations General Plan Designation Changes from 2019 Proposed Plan Urban Land Use High-Density Urban Medium-Density Urban Low-Density Urban Urban Expansion Added back—after discussion, it was decided to revisit this LUPAG designation Light Industrial Heavy Industrial University Resort Rural Land Use Rural Agricultural Land Use Productive Agriculture Extensive Agriculture Name Change—in the 2019 plan this was referred to as Pastoral Use Natural Name Change—in the 2019 plan this was referred to as Natural Areas Open Space Land Use Recreation Conservation Focused Planning Solutions LLC Page 4 of 18 The 2022 working sessions were conducted to review land use designations categorically. Using a live working session format, questions were explored about map designations in real time, identifying areas to flag for review. Comments from the previous online review platform were also reviewed to determine appropriate responses and actions. In sessions exploring urban designations, uses near centers and development plans were considered. Inclusion of the Urban Expansion designation as a proposed land use provided an opportunity to revisit appropriate locations for that use: Review areas of LUPAG within Urban Expansion. Look at undeveloped existing land use Exclude areas that are already at capacity, map those at the capacity Exclude state owned conservation, critical habitat, county parks. Within TODs, use the appropriate high or medium urban designations. The next sessions explored rural and agriculture uses for consistency with State Land Use, zoning, and the 2020 UH-Hilo Agriculture data. Conservation and Natural areas were reviewed for consistency with State Land Use, native habitat landcover data, and area plans for conservation. These review sessions highlighted areas for potential changes to better align with intended criteria. After incorporating recommendations to the GPLU map in the spring-summer 2023, an interactive mapping platform was designed to provide a single location for public users to review the proposed map and add comments.The mapping platform links to the Konveio General Plan document review platform directly, allowing users to derive document searches from the map and to query the map based on questions in the document.The public review process concluded on April 1, 2024. Over 200 comments were provided on the GPLU maps. From the public review process, a few considerations were identified and reviewed. Consideration: Some areas assigned Urban Expansion land use are currently developed as urban. Action: Review existing development in Urban Epansion to identify areas that are built or at capacity and assign consistent urban designations. Consideration:The Kona CDP identified areas at high elevation for consideration of protection to help with water protection, landslide risk, and native habitat. Action: Review lands in the County above 2,500 feet elevation for possible Natural designation. Property in public ownership identified for Natural designation. Consideration: Lands identified by the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission (PONC) should be designated as conservation lands. Action: Map the PONC lands and reclassify to Conservation Land Use. Consideration:The coastal buffer for the island was initially proposed to have Recreation as the universal designation. Many coastal areas are in SLUD Conservation areas. Focused Planning Solutions LLC Page 5 of 18 Action: Review coastline for SLUD classification. Convert SLUD Conservation and Agriculture to GPLU Conservation. Confirm SLUD Urban as GPLU Recreation. Results Appendix B provides the graphic analysis of changes in land use from adopted LUPAG through the proposed GPLU.The land use comparisons demonstrate the County policy goals to increase Conservation and Natural uses, retain Productive Agriculture, reduce or more specifically define urban footprints, and provide more areas for Rural. Focused Planning Solutions LLC Page 6 of 18 Appendix A — List of Additional Data and Sources HVo, U. (All available years). Past and Present Lava Flows for Hawaii Island. John Jacobi, U. P. (2015, 0101). Carbon Assessment of Hawaii Habitat Status. Retrieved from https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/592dee75e4bO92b266efeb6e SDAV. (2015). 2015 Hawaii Statewide Agricultural Land Use Baseline layer. Focused Planning Solutions LLC Page 7 of 18 Appendix B: General Plan Land Use Changes by District Focused Planning Solutions LLC 7 Page 8 of 18 Hawaii County approximately 2,578,828 acres) 2019 Proposed 2024 Proposed 2005 LUPAG Land Use Land Use 100% Important Agricultural Productive Agriculture, Productive Agriculture, 90% Land,(381,120acres) 372,238acres) 345,290acres) Extensive Agriculture, 80% Pastorai,(298,512 acres) 247,627 acres) Extensive Agriculture, 70% (641,299acres) Natural Area,(328,831 acres) Natural,(384,893 acres) 60% Open,(36,250 acres)Recreation,(17,873acres) Recreation,(4,631acres) 50% 40% Conservation, Conservation, 1,377,101 acres) Conservation, 30% 1,414,091acres) 1,451,783 acres) 20% 10% Other,(breakdown below) Other,(breakdown below)- Other,(breakdown below) 0% Hawaii County Breakdown of Other Land Use Types 2019 Proposed 2024 Proposed 2005 LUPAG Land Use Land Use 143,033 acres) 146,802 acres) 144,604 acres) 160,000 High Density Urban,1,307 140,000 High Density Urban,1,413 Medium Density Urban,6,759 Pending,18,387 1 Medium Density Urban,12,392 High Density Urban,1,129 120,000 Medium Density Urban,5,485 Low Density Urban,28,905 Low Density Urban, 37,928 100,000 Low Density Urban,36,15% Urban Expansion,10,568 Light Industrial,3,918 Light Industrial,3,496 Heavy Industrial,5,51980,000 Urban Expansion, Heavy Industrial,4,777 30,789 University,138 University,1,212 Resort, , 7 Resort,7,156 Industrial,10,902 60,000 University Use,1,126 Resort,177 Resort Node,5,641 40,000 Rural,69,678 Rural,73,521 Rural,47,532 20,000 0 Orchards,872 Hamakua approximately 404,337 acres) 2019 Proposed 2024 Proposed 2005 LUPAG Land Use Land Use 100% Important Agricultural Productive Agriculture,Productive Agriculture, 90% Land,(78,226acres) 73,910acres)79,034 acres) 80% Extensive Agriculture, Extensive Agriculture, 56,543 acres) 7090 83,021acres)Pastoral,(77,900acres) Natural Area,(4,930acres) Natural,(31,735acres 60% Open,(1,272 acres) Recreation,(74 acres) Recreation,(7,671 acres) 50% 40% Conservation, 30%239,054 acres) Conservation,Conservation, 228,512 acres) 240,361 acres) 20% 10% OOgr,(breakdown below} Other,(breakdown below) Other,(breakdown below) Hamakua Breakdown of Other Land Use Types 2019 Proposed 2024 Proposed 2005 LUPAG Land Use Land Use 2,763 acres)1,602 acres) 1,715 acres) Medium Density Urban,25 2,500 2,000 Medium Density Urban,199 1,500 Medium Density Urban,195 Low Density Urber. 2,292 1,000 Low Density Urban,1,124— Low Density Urban,1,123 500 Heavy Industrial,15 Heavy Industrial,15 Light Industrial,27 Light I ndustrial,28 I ndustrial,132 Rural,241 Rural,350 0 Rural,47 North Hilo approximately 167,230 acres) 2019 Proposed 2024 Proposed 2005 LUPAG Land Use Land Use 100% Important Agricultural... Productive Agriculture,... Productive... 90% Pastoral,(1,389acres)Extensive Agriculture, 789 acres) 80% Extensive Agriculture, 31,068 acres) Natural Area,(30,302 acres) Natural,(27,783 acres 70% Open,(447 acres)Recreation,(324 acres)Recreation,(52 acres) 60% 50% 40% Conservation, 113,260 acres} Conservation,Conservation, 30% 120,052acres) 116,767acres) 20% 10% OOgr,(breakdown below) Other,(breakdown below) iffi6i Other,(breakdown below) North Hilo Breakdown of Other Land Use Types 2019 Proposed 2024 Proposed 2005 LUPAG Land Use Land Use 853 acres) 659 acres) 681 acres) 900 Medium Density Urban,800 71 700 Me L n' 600 Medium Density Urban,40 500 Low Density Urban, 619 400 Low Density Urban,500 Low Density Urban,546 300 200 Urban Expansion, Urban Expansion,62 '{ f Light Ir'r_tr', 0 Light Industrial,11 100 Industrial,29 Heavy Industrial,18 HeavyIr L to 0 2y Rural,71 Rural,91 Rural,68 0 South Hilo approximately 255,518 acres) 2019 Proposed 2024 Proposed 2005 LUPAG Land Use Land Use 100% Important Agricultura I Productive Agriculture,Productive Agriculture, Land,(37,020acres) 37,491acres)36,981acres) 90% Extensive Agriculture, Extensive Agriculture, Pastoral,(579 acres) 1,293 acres) 80%26,785acres) Natural Area,(25,580acres) Natural,(18,114acres) Open,(1,811 acres)Recreation, (1,612 acre Recreation,(1,273 acres) 70% 60% 50% Conservation, Conservation, 169,585 acres) Conservation, 176,570 acres)4090 167,924 acres) 30% 20% 10% Other,(breakdown below) Other,(breakdown below) Other,(breakdown below) 0% South Hilo Breakdown of Other Land Use Types 2019 Proposed 2024 Proposed 2005 LUPAG Land Use Land Use 20,292 acres) 19,936 acres) 21,289 acres) High Density Urban,946 - 20,000 High Density Urban,849 High Density Urban,831 Medium Density Urban,1,461 Medium Density Urban,1,-72 Medium Density Urban,1,3 15,000 Low Density Urban,8,51-L Low Density Urban,6,175 Low Density Urbar Urban Expansion,64 ____________ 10,000 Light Industrial,2,093 V Light lndustrial,1,779 Heavy Industrial,2,039 Urban Expansion ----------`University,665 Heavy I ndustrial,2,399 126 Resort,55 University,679 5,000 Industrial,4,189 Resort,60 University Use,665 Rural,6,174 Resort,77 Rural,5,386 Resort Node,6 Rural,1,704 0 Puna approximately 321,604 acres) 2019 Proposed 2024 Proposed 2005 LUPAG Land Use Land Use 100% Important Agricultura I Productive Agriculture, Productive Agriculture, 90% Land,(47,645 acres)48,473acres) 50,600acres) Pastoral,(4,241 acres)— 809'o Extensive Agriculture, 24,628 acres) Extensive Agriculture, 70%89,314 acres) Natural Area,(78,890 acres) Natural,(66,354acres 60% Recreation,(1,093 acres) Open,(3,170acres) Recreation, (141acres) 50% 40% Conservation, Conservation, 137,620 acres) 134,341 acres)Conservation, 30% 140,863 acres) 20% 10% Other,(breakdown below) Other,(breakdown below)J Other,(breakdown below) 0% Puna Breakdown of Other Land Use Types 2019 Proposed 2024 Proposed 2005 LUPAG Land Use Land Use 43,854 acres) 53,607 acres) 39,017 acres) 60000 Medium Density Urban,610 Low Den5lty Urban,1,32 i 500W Light Irdustrial,120 Heavy IrduStrial,502 Medium Der.lty Urban,1,275 40000 Low Density Urbar, Medium Density Urban,1,348 7,392 Low Density Urban,3,157 Urban Expansion, Rural,32,662 Urban Expansion,1,669 5,345 Light Industrial,69 30000 Industrial,668 Heavy Industrial,649 20000 Rural,29,174 Rural,32,126 10000 Pending,18,387 0 Ka`u approximately 661,461 acres) 2019 Proposed 2024 Proposed 2005 LUPAG Land Use Land Use 100% Productive Agriculture.Important Agricultural Productive Agriculture, Land,(47,308acres)35,877acres) 55,953acres) 90% Pastoral,(49,319acres) Extensive Agriculture, Extensive Agriculture, 43,615 acres) 80% (144,869acres) Natural Area,(65,969acres) Natural,(44,500acres Recreation,(1,969acres)Recreation, (426acres) 70% Open,(4,758 acres) 60% 50% Conservation, Conservation,Conservation, 40% 449,166 acres) 485,515 acres) 494,368 acres) 30% 20% 10% 06f pr,(breakdown below) Other,(breakdown below) Other,(breakdown below)— 0 Ka`u Breakdown of Other Land Use Types 2019 Proposed 2024 Proposed 2005 LUPAG Land Use Land Use 15,360 acres) 23,103 acres) 22,599 acres) Medium Density Urban,395 Medium Density Urban,407 Lo v DerSi Urban,1,160LowDensityUrban,1,106 Restyort,-'1Resort,28 Urbar ExparSior,0 Light Industrial,92 Light Industrial,9220,000 Heavy Industrial,0 Heavy IrdustrlaI,0 Medium Density... 15'Ct ow Density Urban,1,156 Urban Expansion,597 Industrial,74- Resort,29 10,000 Rural,21,482 Rural,20,899 Rural,13,08 5,000 0 South Kona approximately 146,964 acres) 2019 Proposed 2024 Proposed 2005 LUPAG Land Use Land Use 100% Productive Agriculture, 90%Important Agricultural Productive Agriculture, 19,202 acres) Land,(31,924acres)32,414acres) Extensive Agriculture, 80% 16,056 acres) 70% Pastoral,(40,451acres) 60%Extensive Agriculture, 66,960acres) Natural,(61,559acres 50% 40% Natural Area,(25,731acres) 30% Ope n, 2,746 acres)Recreation, (803 acres) Recreation, (159 acres) 20% Conservation, Conservation, 43,341 acres) Conservation,47,022 acres)45,625 acres) 10% Or,(breakdown below) Other,(breakdown below) Other,(breakdown below) South Kona Breakdown of Other Land Use Types 2019 Proposed 2024 Proposed 2005 LUPAG Land Use Land Use 1,994 acres)1,601 acres) 2,966 acres) 3,5"] 3,000 Medium Density Urban,271 2,500 Low Density Urban,32, Resort,0 2,000 1,500 Medium Ders'ty Medium Density Urban,295 Urban,25-' Low Density Urban,298 Rural,2,373 1,000 Resort,25 Low Density Urban, 500 1,076 Rural,983 Resort,2 0 Rural,116 North Kona approximately 365,585 acres) 2019 Proposed 2024 Proposed 2005 LUPAG Land Use Land Use 100% Productive Agriculture, Productive Agriculture,Important Agricultural g Land,(25,169acres)24,978acres) 15,301acres) 90% Extensive Agriculture, Pastoral,(52,138acres)14,477acres) 80% Extensive Agriculture, 106,207acres) Natural,(103,380acre 70% Natural Area,(55,098acres) Open,(5,838acres) Recreation,(3,223acres) Recreation,(1,280acres) 60% 50% 40% Conservation, 199,725 acres) Conservation,Conservation, 203,613 acres) 205,663 acres) 30% 20% 10% Other,(breakdown below) Other,(breakdown below) Other,(breakdown below)— 0% North Kona Breakdown of Other Land Use Types 2019 Proposed 2024 Proposed 2005 LUPAG Land Use Land Use 28,646 acres) 26,755 acres) 25,485 acres) 30,000 High Density Urban,459 Medium Density Urban,1,155 High Density Urban,298 25,000 Medium Density Urban,1,387 High Density Urban,468 Low Density Urbar, 6,428 Medium Density Urban,6,218 20,000 1 0 Low Density Urban,16,51"Low Density Urban,5,89315,000 Urban Expansion, 12,140 Urban Expansion,753 Light Industrial,6S7 10,000 Heavy lndustrial,2,135 L Light Industrial,483 University,533- Heavy Industrial,1,950— Resort,3,571 5,000 Industrial,3,890- University,722 University Use,461 Resort,3,209 Resort Node,2,423 Rural,5,229 0 Rural,1,001 Rural,2,188 South Kohala approximately 176,135 acres) 2019 Proposed 2024 Proposed 2005 LUPAG Land Use Land Use 100% 90% Productive Agriculture, Important Agricultural Productive Agriculture, 32,754 acres) Land,(51,251acres)5 1,456 acres) 80% 70% 60% Extensive Agriculture, 75,219 acres) Extensive Agriculture, Pastoral,(55,086acres) 50%71,213 acres) 40% 30%Open, (14,076acres) Natural Area,(38,007acres) Natural,(28,331acres Conservation, Recreation,(779 acres) 20% (13,950 acres) Recreation,(426 acres)Conservation, Conservation,15,520acres) 10% 15,796 acres) Other,(breakdown below) Other,(breakdown below) Other,(breakdown below) 0% South Kohala Breakdown of Other Land Use Types 2019 Proposed 2024 Proposed 2005 LUPAG Land Use Land Use 25,645 acres) 15,811 acres) 23,533 acres) 30,000 2 jWqjm Density Urban,1,2a1 Low Density Urbar, Medium Density Urban,2,206 20,000 5,10E Low Density Urban,5,38& 15,000 Medium Density Urban,1,060 Urban Expansior, 12,261 Low Density Urban,6,078 Urban Expansion,8,083 10,000 Light Industrial,670 Heavy I ndustrial,204 Light Industrial,1,261 Industrial,1,869 Resort,2,902 Heavy Industrial,2aa 5,000 Resort Node,3,212 Resort,3,484 Rural,4,897 Rural,1,917 Rural,0 2,867 0 North Kohala approximately 79,993 acres) 2019 Proposed 2024 Proposed 2005 LUPAG Land Use Land Use 100% 90% 80% Important Agricultural Productive Agriculture,Productive Agriculture, 70%Land,(40,974acres) 40,834acres)39,434acres) 60% 5 0% o00000000000m Extensive Agriculture, 40% Extensive Agriculture, Pastoral,(17,409acres) 15,009acres) 21,863acres) Natural,(3,137acres) 30% Open, *2,131 acres) Natural Area,(4,323 acres) Recreation,(446 acres) 20% Conservation, Recreation,(752 acres) Conservation, 11,401 acres) Conservation,14,649acres) 10% 12,713 acres)0 Other,(breakdown below) Other,(breakdown below) - Other,(breakdown below)J 0% North Kohala Breakdown of Other Land Use Types 2019 Proposed 2024 Proposed 2005 LUPAG Land Use Land Use 3,625 acres)4,267 acres) 7,319 acres) 8,000 7,000 Medium Density Urban,242 6,000 Low Density Urban,2,802 5,000 Urban Exparsion,0 Light 1rd ustrial,3 4,000 Hee.,y Industrlal,45 Medium Density Urban,138 J Resort,0 Medium Density Urban,197 3,000 Low Density Urban,3,075— 2000 Low DensityUrbar, Rural,4,223 2 6EL Light I ndustrial,0 1,000 heavy Industrial,48UrbanExpansion,258 Resort,46 Industrial,51 VIIXIIIXI&, Rural,960Resort,'7 0 Rural,418 From: ptanok12(bomail.com on behalf of Moku Loa Hawaii Island Sierra Club To: LPCtestimonv Subject: Attached Scenic Resources Program report Date:Thursday, November 21,2024 9:34:36 AM Attachments: 080116 Scenic Resource Protection Proorams and Strateoies FINAL.pdf Moku Loa (Hawaii Island) Group, Sierra Club We work hard to advance Sierra Club's mission to explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth, to practice and promote the responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources; to educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment; and to use all lawful means to carry out these objectives. Hawaii County Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project Scenic Resource Protection Programs and Strategies Prepared for: The Department of Planning Long-range Planning Division 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 Hilo,Hawaii 96720 Prepared by: Planning Consultants Hawaii, LLC 2331 W. Main Street Wailuku,Hawaii 96793 808/269-6220 msummers@planningconsultantshawaii.com PLANNING CONSULTANTS HAWAII,LLC ORN9 N&Rli'[(INAI PLANNI?'c4 August 1, 2016 Hawaii County Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project PROJECT PURPOSE 1 COUNTY ENABLING LEGISLATION 2 PROGRAMMATIC NEEDS 3 OVERVIEW OF STUDY 4 VIEW PLANE PROTECTION PROGRAMS 5 STATE OF HAWAII,COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT ACT OF 1978,HRS CHAPTER 205A 5 IMPLEMENTATION 6 MAUI COUNTY's EXPERIENCE 7 SMA PERMITTING 7 PROGRAM SUCCESS 8 RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE THE PROCESS 9 APPLICABILITY TO HAWAII COUNTY 10 COUNTY OF NAPA,CALIFORNIA 11 IMPLEMENTATION 12 PROGRAM ELEMENTS 13 APPLICABILITY TO HAWAII COUNTY 14 STOWE,VERMONT 15 IMPLEMENTATION 15 PROGRAM ELEMENTS 16 APPLICABILITY TO HAWAII COUNTY 17 STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, MAINE 18 IMPLEMENTATION 19 PROGRAM ELEMENTS 20 APPLICABILITY TO HAWAII COUNTY 21 VISUAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT TECHNIQUES 21 CANYON OAKS STORY POLES 22 WAIKAPU COUNTRY TOWN,COMPUTER GENERATED PHOTOMONTAGE 23 THE SILL,LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT 25 VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN,VISUAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT 25 RECOMMENDATIONS 28 Scenic Resource Protection Programs and Strategies Page 1 11 Hawaii County Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project APPENDICIES: APPENDIX A Napa County Viewshed Protection Program APPENDIX B Stowe Vermont, Ridgelines/Hillsides Overlay District APPENDIX C State Department of Environmental Protection, Maine Chapter 315, "Assessing and Mitigating Impact to Existing Scenic and Aesthetic Uses APPENDIX D Canyon Oaks Story Poles APPENDIX E Waikapu Country Town Visual Impact Assessment APPENDIX F The Sill, Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment APPENDIX G Village Specific Plan,Visual Impact Assessment Scenic Resource Protection Programs and Strategies Page I iii Hawaii County Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project Project Purpose The County of Hawai'i Planning Department initiated a comprehensive review of the General Plan in February 2015. As required by HRS §226-58 and Hawai'i County Charter §3-15, the Plan must include, among other things, objectives, policies, and implementation actions for land use, natural resources conservation, and the preservation of scenic beauty, open space, and other scenic resources. The County of Hawai'i contracted Planning Consultants Hawai'i to conduct an inventory of the County's scenic resources along its State Highways and select County roadways. The "Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project' accomplished the following objectives: 1 . Identified and inventoried Hawaii County's scenic, viewshed, and open space resources using digital photography and Geographic Positioning Systems (GPS); 2. Mapped the scenic resources using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and for use with geodesign-based scenario modeling (i.e., CommunityViz); and 3. Described and prioritized the scenic resources using prescribed standards and practices. The purpose of this element of the study is to document methods that can be developed and implemented to protect the County's scenic resources for future generations. The study will bring forth scenic resource protection programs and methods that are in use elsewhere. The objective is to conduct research on view plane protection strategies that different local, state, and federal government units have adopted that might serve as a model to assist County planners and policy makers in the development of a scenic resources protection program tailored to the unique needs of Hawaii County. Scenic Resource Protection Programs and Strategies Page I I Hawaii County Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project fiery ; p F }:, y" w.S rl . i ' • r t 4 YSS 4 u. Unique visual landscapes found in Hawaii County. County Enabling Legislation Hawaii County Code §25-6-60 establishes that the Hawaii County Council may designate scenic roadway corridors. The ordinance further states that the County must prepare a Scenic Corridor Management Plan to "preserve, maintain, protect, or enhance the intrinsic character of the corridor." The Management Plan would necessarily include design standards and conditions to implement the purpose of the Plan. The ordinance states that in the establishment of scenic roadway corridors the following criteria must be met: 1) Is consistent with the intent and purpose of the Zoning Code and the County General Plan. 2) Will not result in a substantial adverse impact upon the surrounding area, community and/or region. 3) Will enhance Hawaii County's significant natural, visual, recreation, historic and/or cultural qualities. 4) Will protect and enhance the attractiveness of Hawaii County to make it a better place to live, work, visit, and/or play. 5) Will improve Hawaii County's economic vitality by enhancing and protecting our unique natural, scenic, historic, cultural, and/or recreational resources. Scenic Resource Protection Programs and Strategies Page 12 Hawaii County Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project 6) Is located on a major or minor arterial highway, or collector road. 7) Significantly possesses at least one of the following intrinsic qualities: scenic, natural, historic, cultural, archaeological, recreational, or demonstrates local, private, and public support and participation. Moreover, the ordinance establishes a clear process for the establishment of scenic resource corridors. These steps include: 1) The Planning Director or Council introduces a resolution to initiate the establishment of a scenic corridor. 2) Notice is served to all owners and lessees of property within 300 feet of the proposed corridor. 3) Within 24 months of the adoption of the resolution, the Planning Director or a corridor advocacy group identified in the resolution completes a corridor management plan and enabling ordinance. A scenic corridor management plan is a written document that assesses the intrinsic qualities of the corridor and specifies actions, procedures, controls, and administrative as well as community strategies that will be pursued to maintain those qualities. 4) Within 120 days, the Planning Commission reviews the proposed plan and ordinance, holds a public hearing, and makes a recommendation to Council. 5) The Council may adopt the plan by ordinance, with or without conditions. Programmatic Needs While the County has a strong policy foundation upon which to develop a scenic resources protection program, such a program has not yet been developed. Programmatic gaps that currently exist include: Establishing scenic roadway corridors pursuant to the requirements of Hawaii County Code §25-6-60; Preparing the Scenic Corridor Management Plan; Developing application requirements; Developing permit conditions, such as design guidelines, landscaping, screening, or structural setbacks from major thoroughfares and highways, to mitigate any visual impacts from development. i See Pages 1 through 3 of the Hawaii County Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project Final Methods Report. Scenic Resource Protection Programs and Strategies Page 13 Hawaii County Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project ELL y nti x . Historic Kailua Kona Town. Overview of Study Recognizing the positive economic and quality of life benefits derived from scenic resources, many jurisdictions throughout the United States have implemented programs to protect these resources for present and future generations. Scenic resource protection programs typically arise from strong public policy directives to mitigate development impacts to scenic views. Planning Consultants Hawai'i has examined view plane protection programs across local, state and federal government jurisdictions in the United States, England and Australia to identify current best practice for protecting scenic resources. A common thread across the programs surveyed is that regulatory controls are preceded by clear policy directives that mandate the protection of scenic resources from development impacts. The County of Hawaii's General Plan has very clear policy directives to 1) protect its scenic resources from development impacts, 2) identify the scenic resources that are to be protected, and 3) establish regulations to protect these resources. The primary purpose of the "Hawaii County Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project" was to inventory, document, and rate scenic views along the County's State and County roadways. The information derived provides the basis for the development of regulatory Scenic Resource Protection Programs and Strategies Page 14 Hawaii County Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project A Hawaii County's pastoral and agricultural landscapes are an important scenic resource. interventions to protect these resources. The inventory and mapping study also provides extensive location specific data including written observations, digital photography and GIS mapping that will greatly assist with the development of mitigation strategies tailored to the uniqueness of the landscapes that are to be protected. This study documents scenic resource protection programs and strategies employed in other jurisdictions that may inform the development of programs appropriate to Hawaii County. The study concludes by providing specific recommendations for actions needed to establish a scenic resources protection program in Hawaii County. View Plane Protection Programs State of Hawaii, Coastal Zone Management Act of 1978, HRS Chapter 205A The Hawaii Coastal Zone Management Act of 1978, HRS 205A, mandates that the Counties implement the ten (10) objectives of the coastal zone management program. Among these objectives, HRS 205A-2 (b) (5) addresses scenic and open space resources by requiring each County to: Protect, preserve, and, where desirable, restore or improve the quality of coastal scenic and open space resources". Scenic Resource Protection Programs and Strategies Page 15 Hawaii County Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project HRS 205A further provides a number of policies to achieve each objective of the law. HRS 205A-2 (c) (3) lists four policies to achieve scenic and open space resource objectives. These include: A. Identify valued scenic resources in the coastal zone management area; B. Ensure that new developments are compatible with their visual environment by designing and locating such developments to minimize the alteration of natural landforms and existing public views to and along the shoreline; C. Preserve, maintain, and, where desirable, improve and restore shoreline open space and scenic resources; and D. Encourage those developments that are not coastal dependent to locate in inland areas. The law further states that the County "shall seek to minimize where reasonable any development which would substantially interfere with or detract from the line of sight toward the sea from the state highway nearest the coast, or from the existing public views to and along the shoreline." Implementation Any "development" proposed within a Special Management Area (SMA) must obtain a Special Management Area Minor or Major permit. In issuing the permit, the County must determine that the project is consistent with HRS 205A-2 (c) (3). Thus, it is the County's responsibility to review development within the SMA, and prior to issuing an SMA permit, ensure that the development is consistent with the above-referenced SMA scenic resource objectives and policies. If the development is found not compatible, then it is the County's responsibility to require changes to the project's design and/or location to ensure consistency. mama si- gY6srz • luew ttVA Hawaii County's diverse coastal views are protected by SMA objectives and policies. Scenic Resource Protection Programs and Strategies Page 16 Hawaii County Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project Maui County's Experience HRS Chapter 205A requires that the SMA boundary be located at least 100 yards inland from the shoreline. However, Maui County's Special Management Area typically extends inland to the nearest State Highway paralleling the coastline, which in coastal communities like Kihei, extends nearly a mile inland. In some areas, Maui County's Special Management Area extends inland of the State highway, such as in Kahului, where the boundary extends approximately 3,000 feet inland to the intersection of Wakea Avenue and West Kamehameha Avenue. Because a preponderance of Maui's urban lands are located along the shoreline and inland of the State Highways, much of its urban development has been subject to SMA permitting requirements, which requires an analysis of consistency with HRS 205A-2 (c) (3). SMA Permitting Maui County SMA Minor permits are approved administratively by the Planning Department. Maui County SMA Major Permits are processed by the Planning Department, but ultimately approved, approved with conditions, or denied by the Maui Planning Commission. The Planning Department prepares the staff and recommendation reports and transmits these to the Maui Planning Commission for decision making at a noticed public hearing. Prior to finalizing its staff and recommendation reports, the Planning Department will require that the project be presented to the County's Urban Design and Review Board UDRB) for comment. The UDRB is a nine member board appointed by the Mayor that has specialized professional expertise in urban design. The UDRB will review the project's site plan, architecture and civil engineering. It is not uncommon for the UDRB to raise concerns pertaining to scenic resource impacts. Thus, the SMA permitting process provides the Planning Department, UDRB and the Maui Planning Commission the opportunity to address development impacts to scenic resources within the coastal zone. Scenic Resource Protection Programs and Strategies Page 17 Hawaii County Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project Program Success It is Planning Consultants Hawaii's professional opinion that SMA policies have had just limited success in protecting scenic resources within Maui County's coastal zone. There are several reasons for the modest performance, including: 1 . Existing Community Plan and Zoning Designations. The bulk of Maui's developed shoreline and coastal lands were community planned and zoned in the early 1970's with little consideration for how such significant development could impact scenic resources. The County's early community plans neither documented the scenic resources warranting special protections nor provided sufficient guidance to help mitigate development impacts. As such, during a period of prolonged and rapid urbanization of the County's coastal lands, SMA permitting was the principal safeguard to address scenic resource impacts, but it was just modestly successful at protecting these resources. 2. Lack of Scenic Resources Protection Process, Procedures and Standards. Although developments within the SMA are reviewed for consistency with SMA scenic resource objectives and policies, there are no criteria for determining when an impact has occurred, if the impact is acceptable or not acceptable, and what measures should be taken to mitigate scenic resource impacts. The current SMA process relies upon the discretion of the County's staff planner, who most likely has not received formal training nor been provided with sufficient guidance for how best to mitigate scenic resource impacts within the SMA. 96 Now- r- Considerable urban development exists within Hilo and Kona's SMA boundaries. Scenic Resource Protection Programs and Strategies Page 8 Hawaii County Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project Likewise, the UDRB and Maui Planning Commission have also not received sufficient training on scenic resource impact management and mitigation. 3. Maui Coastal Scenic Resources Study (August 1990). Recognizing these shortcomings in the SMA permitting process, the County of Maui's Planning Department commissioned the above-referenced study in 1990 to address the following gaps: Inventory and describe scenic resources within the developed and developing areas of the SMA; Propose measures, if necessary, to improve the quality of these resources; Develop a scenic resources design manual; and Establish a training program for Planning Department staff. The study recommended that the design manual be used by the UDRB as well for reviewing coastal developments; and the study recommended the establishment of an in-house evaluation committee to "specialize in the review of coastal projects." Unfortunately, the study's recommendations were never implemented by the Department. The study continues to serve as a resource for both SMA Permit Applicants and Planning Department staff to help determine if a development is within an area of the SMA that may contain visual resources. However, the design manual is rarely used to determine appropriate mitigation and the training and evaluation programs were never institutionalized. Recommendations to Improve the Process Maui County's reliance upon SMA permitting to protect coastal scenic resources could be significantly improved through enhanced training of Planning Department staff, the UDRB and the Maui Planning Commission. Practices should be put into place to produce more consistent documentation of scenic resource impacts and to identify appropriate mitigation strategies and standards for determining if the development is consistent with the SMA's scenic resources objectives and policies. Maui County could amend its SMA Rules (§12-202) to ensure more effective scenic resource protection through HRS 205A. Such amendments could include the addition of: 1) a design manual to be used for the mitigation of scenic resource impacts; 2) application content requirements for projects that produce scenic resource impacts; 3) criteria for Scenic Resource Protection Programs and Strategies Page 19 Hawaii County Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project documenting and evaluating scenic resource impacts; and 4) standards for determining levels of acceptable impact. Maui County could also better protect its scenic resources through on-going training of Planning Department staff, UDRB and the Planning Commission in scenic resource impact evaluation and mitigation. Applicability to Hawaii County Much of Maui's urban development has been subject to SMA Permitting, which requires consistency with the SMA objectives and policies. However, the lack of a defined process with supporting procedures, criteria and standards together with training has resulted in only modest protection of the island's coastal scenic resources. Any scenic resources protection program implemented by Hawaii County should ensure that such program weaknesses are not apparent. It is important to note that while some of Hawaii County's urban lands are located within the SMA, a larger portion are not. In addition, because of its vast and rural nature, many exceptional and important views in Hawaii County are mountain (mauka) or agricultural views. Therefore, developments in these areas are not subject to SMA permitting requirements. For example, the inventory and mapping study identified many important and exceptional views in urban areas, such as the Hilo and Waimea views below that are not located in the SMA. Hawaii County may want to consider amending its SMA boundary to include some of the coastal exceptional and important views, provided that log 4 Hilo and Waimea urban views. Scenic Resource Protection Programs and Strategies Page 10 Hawaii County Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project other criteria for amending the boundaries are met as well. In addition, Hawaii County may want to consider other protective overlays used in other jurisdictions to ensure its mauka and agricultural views are protected. County of Napa, California Napa County has adopted a Viewshed Protection Program to protect the quality of its scenic resources. The program implements the goals and polices of the Napa County general plan including its land use, open space, conservation, circulation and scenic highway elements. The program is codified as Chapter 18.106, "Viewshed Protection Program" of the County's zoning ordinance (See: Appendix A, "Napa County Viewshed Protection Program"). Section 18.1206.010 states that the program is intended to accomplish the following: A. Provide hillside development standards to minimize the impact of man- made structures and grading on views of existing Iandforms, unique geologic features, existing landscape features and open space as seen from designated public roads within the county; B. Protect and preserve views of major and minor ridgelines from designated public roads; C. Create a development review process that maximizes administrative, staff level approval of projects which meet administrative standards, while also providing a vehicle for review by the zoning administrator or planning commission of those projects that do not meet the administrative standards; D. Minimize cut and fill, earthmoving, grading operations and other such man-made effects on the natural terrain to ensure that finished slopes are compatible with existing land character; and E. Promote architecture and designs that are compatible with hillside terrain and minimize visual impacts. Scenic Resource Protection Programs and Strategies Page 111 Hawaii County Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project Views towards the horizon along the South Kona coast. Implementation The Viewshed Protection Program is implemented through the County's zoning ordinance. The ordinance applies to building, erosion control and grading permits located on a slope of fifteen percent or more or on minor or major ridgelines as defined by the ordinance. The Director of the Conservation, Development and Planning Department, or the Director's designee, is responsible for determining if the project meets the administrative criteria and substantially conforms to the Design Manual. If the project does not meet the criteria, the Director may transmit the application to the Napa Valley Conservation Commission and the Commission must grant an exception pursuant to Section 18.106.070. In order for the Commission to grant an exception, the Scenic Resource Protection Programs and Strategies Page 112 Hawaii County Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project Commission must find that conformance would produce greater visual impacts and greater impacts to existing landforms. Moreover, the Commission must find that measures have been taken to mitigate the project's visual impacts. Program Elements Major program elements include: Standardized application and approval process. The process is codified in the County's zoning ordinance, which clearly describes how visual impacts are evaluated, potential mitigative measures and how applications are processed. Viewshed Protection Program Application Packet. Among the program's application content requirements are: 1) Proposed site plan, 2) Topographic map/preliminary grading plan, 3) Building/structure elevations, 4) Landscaping and/or vegetation retention plan, 5) Exterior lighting plan, and 6) Visual impact analysis. The Visual Impact Analysis may include one or more of the following: Story poles (the temporary placement of a mock wooden skeleton in the general shape of the building, then draping plastic orange snow fencing around the roofline to portray the visual prominence and bulk of the proposed structure); Computer simulation; Photomontage; Picture or visual as viewed from designated public road at point(s) where the structure(s) is/are visible; Appropriately scaled model; and Additional views or materials as required by staff from other vantage points. Design Manual. The Design Manual is defined in the Napa County Viewshed Protection Program ordinance as follows: Design Manual" shall mean the manual entitled Viewshed Protection Manual" on file with the Napa County conservation, development and planning Scenic Resource Protection Programs and Strategies Page 113 Hawaii County Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project ti fire i'. mh 41 r E.^y' Fly r;t r t Hawaii County's historic bridges are important scenic resources for the structures themselves as well as for the scenic integrity of the landscapes seen from the bridges. department. The Design Manual shall contain graphic examples of major and minor ridgelines, projects which do and do not meet the criteria contained in this chapter, and landscape plan provisions. Applicability to Hawaii County The Napa County Viewshed Protection Program may serve as a helpful model for Hawaii County as it develops a program to address its scenic resource protection objectives. The program embodies a standardized application and approval process, Scenic Resource Protection Programs and Strategies Page 114 Hawaii County Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project clear application content requirements and a design manual unique to Napa's program objectives. Stowe, Vermont The Town of Stowe, Vermont adopted the Ridgelines/Hillsides Overlay District (RHOD) to protect its scenic and ecological resources. The overlay district is implemented through the Town of Stowe Zoning and Subdivision Regulations. Overlay districts are zoning regulations that are typically applied to geographic areas that have unique geographical, environmental or socio-economic conditions that warrant special regulations. These regulations are attached to the existing zoning ordinance and are in addition to and not in lieu of those regulations (See: Appendix B, Stowe, Vermont Ridgelines/Hillsides Overlay District"). The purpose of the Stowe overlay district is described as follows: The purpose of the Ridgelines/Hillsides Overlay District (RHOD) is to protect the scenic and ecological resources associated with lands characterized by high elevations, steep slopes and visual sensitivity in a manner that allows for carefully designed, low- impact development. Implementation The RHOD is applicable to any development proposed on lands within the Overlay District. Development within the RHOD must submit a hillside development plan that is reviewed by the Development Review Board (DRB). The DRB determines if the project is classified as "minor" or "significant". There are established criteria that the DRB follows to make this determination. Minor projects may proceed with their development permits. Significant projects are subject to review by the DRB, in accordance with the RHOD process and standards codified by ordinance. The process includes the submittal of an application package, scheduling of a public hearing, review by the DRB and either approval, approval with conditions or disapproval of the site development plan within 45 days of the public hearing. Scenic Resource Protection Programs and Strategies Page 115 Hawaii County Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project Program Elements Major program elements include: Standardized review and approval process. The RHOD process is codified in the Town's overlay district ordinance, which clearly describes which projects are considered to have "minor" impacts and which are considered to have "significant impacts"; projects having significant impacts are subject to DRB review. The ordinance also contains standards and guidelines for determining potential impacts to vantage points and for guiding development in a manner that minimizes its impact upon scenic resources. Application Submission/Content Requirements. Among the program's application submission/content requirements are materials that may include: 1) Site development plan, 2) Grading plan, 3) Lighting plan, 4) Visibility studies, 5) Stormwater management/erosion control plan, 6) architectural plans and renderings, 7) Access plan, and 8) Slope analysis. Visibility studies may include viewshed analysis, line of site sections, site photography and other means to assess the visual impact of the proposed application. On site measures such as plywood and pole mock-ups, and survey tape layout of site elements may also be required in the event the site is deemed to be sensitive by the DRB. Standards and Guidelines. The RHOD ordinance contains Standards and Guidelines that the Applicant, Staff and the DRB rely upon to mitigate scenic resource impacts. The ordinance defines the following terms as follows: Adverse" indicates a negative impact on an identified resource. "Undue Adverse" indicates that the proposed development violates one or more of the Standards set forth in this ordinance and that the impacts cannot be mitigated. Standards are statements that express the development and design intentions of this overlay district. All development within this district must comply with these standards. The Standards reflect Scenic Resource Protection Programs and Strategies Page 16 Hawaii County Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project ry y_ Hawaii County's scenic resources are dramatically influenced by geology, climate and topography. the visual and environmental concerns of the community in terms of the Town's hillsides and ridgelines. Guidelines are instructive in nature. They suggest a variety of means by which the applicant might comply with the standards. The options for compliance are not limited to the guidelines listed, but the applicant can use the list to aid in the design process. Illustrations graphically portray the prescriptions and concepts conveyed in both the Standards and Guidelines. The program's deployment of standards and guidelines supported by illustrations that are used in conjunction with a standardized approval and review process creates the basis for a powerful scenic resources preservation program. Applicability to Hawaii County The Town of Stowe's overlay district may serve as a helpful model for Hawaii County as it develops a program to accomplish its scenic resource protection objectives. The overlay ordinance embodies a standardized application and approval process; clear application content requirements; and scenic resource standards, guidelines and illustrations that may serve as a helpful model for the development of a program to protect Hawaii County's scenic resources. Scenic Resource Protection Programs and Strategies Page 117 Hawaii County Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project I A. r Kailua Kona seaside view. State Department of Environmental Protection, Maine The Department of Environmental Protection enacted Chapter 315, "Assessing and Mitigating Impacts to Existing Scenic and Aesthetic Uses", to implement the State's Natural Resources Protection Act (NRPA). The NRPA requires that applicants proposing activities occurring in, on, over, or adjacent to protected natural resources demonstrate that these activities will not unreasonably interfere with existing scenic and aesthetic resources (See: Appendix C, State Department of Environmental Protection, Maine Chapter 315, "Assessing and Mitigating Impacts to Existing Scenic and Aesthetic Uses"). The purpose of the Chapter states: This rule specifies State regulatory concerns, defines visual impacts, establishes a procedure for evaluating visual impacts Scenic Resource Protection Programs and Strategies Page I IS Hawaii County Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project generated from proposed activities, establishes when a visual assessment may be necessary, explains the components of a visual assessment when required, and describes avoidance, mitigation, and offset measures that may eliminate or reduce unreasonable adverse impacts to existing scenic and aesthetic uses. Implementation Chapter 35 applies to "the alteration of a coastal wetland, great pond, freshwater wetland, fragile mountain area, river, stream, or brook, as defined in the M.S.R.A § 480- 8 of the Natural Resources Protection Act, that requires an individual permit or is eligible for Tier 3 review." The Chapter requires that the Department determine the following when an activity is proposed: Presence of a scenic resource listed in Section 10 of the NRPA; Significance of the scenic resource; Character of the surrounding environment; Expectations of the current viewer; Extent and intransience of the activity; Project purpose; and Context of the proposed activity. The Department is instructed that "unreasonable adverse visual impacts are those that are expected to unreasonably interfere with the general public's visual enjoyment and appreciation of a scenic resource, or those that otherwise unreasonably impair the character or quality of such a place." The Department's visual impact assessment is based on the following: Landscape compatibility. The project's impact on the color, form, line and texture of the environment by whether it differs significantly from its existing surroundings; Scale contrast. The project's size and scope given its location within the viewshed of a scenic resource; and Scenic Resource Protection Programs and Strategies Page 119 Hawaii County Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project Spatial dominance. The degree to which an activity dominates the landscape composition or dominates landform, water, or sky backdrop as viewed from a scenic resource. The rule states that "an application may be denied if the activity will have an unreasonable impact on the visual quality of a protected natural resources as viewed from a scenic resource even if the activity has no practical alternative and the applicant has minimized the proposed alteration and its impacts through mitigation." Program Elements Major program elements include: Application Submission/Content Requirements. The Applicant must describe the location of the activity and provide an inventory of scenic resources within the viewshed. This is accomplished by having the Applicant complete the MDEP Visual Evaluation Field Survey Checklist. Visual Impact Assessments. If deemed necessary by the Department, the Applicant may be required to have a qualified design professional prepare a visual impact assessment to document the impact of the project. The assessment must illustrate the proposed changes to the environment and the effectiveness of mitigation measures. The assessment must include a narrative of the project, discussion of the significance of the impacts, level of use and viewer expectations, and mitigation measures incorporated into the design. The rule notes that line-of-sight profiles are one acceptable means for documenting impacts. It is also noted that photo simulations and computer generated graphics may be required for more sensitive landscapes. Mitigation. In reviewing an Application, the Department is to consider if the project is compatible with its surroundings, and if mitigation has been incorporated to reduce the project's scenic resource impacts. Design strategies promulgated in the rules include: Planning and siting. Locate structures in a way on the site to limit the structure's adverse impacts within the viewshed. Design. Applicants should utilize screening, buffers, earthen berms, camouflage, low profile, downsizing, non-standard Scenic Resource Protection Programs and Strategies Page 120 Hawaii County Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project materials, lighting, and alternative technologies to minimize impacts. Offsets. If scenic resource impacts are unavoidable, applicants may propose "offset" improvements within the viewshed that would enhance the scenic resource in other ways. An offset may be developing a scenic overlook to provide greater access to the scenic resource. Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for Evaluating Impacts. The Department's Bureau of Land and Water enacted standards to assist staff in evaluating scenic and aesthetic use impacts. The guidelines require that staff be trained in the use of a visual impact assessment (VIA) form Appendix C) and Visual Impact Assessment Matrix (VIM) (Appendix C). The VIA form assesses the project's compatibility with various elements of the landscape using descriptive indicators and a ratings scoring. The VIM form determines the significance of the visual impact and appropriate mitigation in response to the severity of the impact. Applicability to Hawaii County Maine's Department of Environmental Management has adopted rules to implement State policy to protect the scenic quality found in its rivers, streams, mountains and other environmental resources. The rules establish an application process, submission requirements, appropriate mitigation strategies and guidelines and standards for evaluating scenic resource impacts. The Department's rules may serve as a helpful model for Hawaii County as it develops a program to address the County's scenic resource protection objectives. F a Hawaii County is blessed with rural landscapes of a diversity of colors and textures. Scenic Resource Protection Programs and Strategies Page 21 Hawaii County Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project Visual Impact Assessment Techniques As documented in this report, visual impact assessment should be preceded by documenting the scenic resources to be protected. Thereafter, criteria and/or guidelines should be developed to help the assessor evaluate how, and to what extent, a scenic resource is being degraded by a proposed action. Once a standardized process is in place, visual impact assessment methods should be deployed to document project induced impacts. The visual impact assessment techniques most commonly used to document scenic resource impacts include: 1 . Line-of-sight analysis. A graphic line between two points on a surface that shows where along the line the view is being obstructed. This analysis can be performed using ARC GIS. 2. Story poles. The temporary placement of a mock structure or poles at the height and massing of a structure to simulate the impact of the structure on scenic resources. 3. Computer simulation. The use of computers to simulate pre- and post-project conditions by creating a computerized model of the height, scale and architectural character of a structure together with the existing natural and built environment surrounding it. 4. Photomontage. Creating a composite photograph by incorporating elements from two or more photographs into a new image. Image editing software is often used and the process is commonly referred to as "photoshopping". These techniques are elaborated upon through their application in the following visual impact assessment case studies: Canyon Oaks Story Poles The City of Calabasas, California, requires projects to conduct a story pole analysis if they are located within its "Scenic Corridor Overlay Zone", or if they are requesting height variances. The purpose of installing story poles is to assess the visual impact of the project (See: Appendix D, Canyon Oaks Story Poles). Scenic Resource Protection Programs and Strategies Page 122 Hawaii County Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project IN Mauka views from AN Drive in Kailua Kona document how building height and separation can be used to preserve view corridors towards Hualalai. The case study described in Appendix D documents an application that was made to the City's Planning Commission to install story poles, in accordance with a proposed story pole plan. The Applicant was seeking an approval from the Planning Commission to proceed with the story pole plan. The story pole analysis was intended to document the scenic resource impacts of a development comprising 67 single-family residences, two duplexes and a four-story hotel. Approximately 80% of the 77-acre site was to remain in open space. The Application to the Planning Commission comprised the following: Development summary; Project site plan superimposed onto an aerial photograph; Documentation of views from the abutting roadways; Architectural Sections of the project; Story pole plans; and Story pole plan with computer simulation of post development condition. (See: Appendix D, pages 14 through 19). Waikapu Country Town, Computer Generated Photomontage A Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was filed with the State Land Use Commission to assess the impacts associated with the development of a 1 ,433 unit mixed-use development in Waikapu, Maui. The Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS), Scenic Resource Protection Programs and Strategies Page 123 Hawaii County Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project Chapter 343, trigger for the DEIS was an amendment to the County's General Plan. The project also requires a change in the State Land Use District from Agricultural to Urban and Rural. The project site is within the County's directed growth boundary and is consistent with the County's directed growth plan. The Maui Island Plan (MIP) identifies the Honoapiilani highway fronting the project as a scenic corridor" with "high" resource value. The MIP has policies that stipulate the protection of scenic resources including views of the West Maui Mountains, Haleakala, agricultural lands and the Pacific Ocean. In reviewing the Environmental Impact Statement Preparation Notice (EISPN), the Planning Department's staff planner requested that the impacts to views along the Honoapiilani Highway be assessed in the DEIS. In response to the Planning Department's request, the Applicant prepared a series of computer generated photomontages to document the visual impacts of the development on the landscape (See: Appendix E, Waikapu Country Town Visual Impact Assessment). As described in the DEIS, the Applicant incorporated several mitigation measures into the design to help reduce the project's visual impacts, including: Increasing the depth of the setbacks along the highway; Limiting the scale and height of buildings along the highway; Increasing the separation between buildings; Aligning internal roadways in a manner to create scenic corridors, where possible; and Incorporating canopy shade trees and other landscape planting treatments LL a h e r n Low roof profiles preserve expansive views of Hawaii County's coastline. Scenic Resource Protection Programs and Strategies Page 24 Hawaii County Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project within the right-of-way to create a sense of place. The computer generated photomontages will help to inform the public of the impacts that the project will have upon scenic resources. They will also help decision makers determine if the impacts are acceptable or unacceptable, and if additional mitigation measures are warranted. The Sill, Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment A Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) was prepared to assess the visual impacts of constructing a Landscape Discovery Center, 86-bed hostel, parking, and infrastructure within the 400 square mile Northumberland National Park, England. The study was conducted in accordance with the "Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment'- Third Edition: 2013, edited by the Landscape Institute and the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment. The LIVA is noteworthy for its discussion of the study's methodology and overview of the significance criteria (Chapter 3), description of baseline resource conditions Chapter 4), and summarization of impacts (Chapter 5). Photomontage was used to demonstrate the project's visual impacts from a variety of locations (See: Appendix F). The tables on pages 31 through 34 are especially helpful in documenting the project's visual impacts. Similar tables could be used alongside photomontage and/or computer simulation to document development impacts to Hawaii County's scenic resources. s Increasing shoreline setbacks and minimum lot sizes could help to better protect shoreline views along the South Kona coast. Scenic Resource Protection Programs and Strategies Page 125 Hawaii County Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project Village Specific Plan, Visual Impact Assessment The City of Del Mar, California, Planning and Community Development Department, commissioned a study that was completed in July 2012 to assess the visual impacts of the City's "Del Mar Village Specific Plan". The Visual Impact Assessment thoroughly documents the existing visual resources within the study area and assesses the visual response of the different viewer groups. The study then conducts an assessment of the Plan's visual impacts, proposes mitigation options and assesses the impacts following mitigation (See: Appendix G, Village Specific Plan, Visual Impact Assessment). The Del Mar study utilizes several of the visual impact assessment techniques identified in this report, including: GIS based line-of-site/viewshed analysis, photomontage and computer simulation. GIS based line-of-site/viewshed analysis using a digital elevation model (DEM) was effectively deployed to assess the Plan's overall impact by documenting the following: The scope of existing and future ocean viewsheds from residences located to the east (mauka) of the planning area. The visibility of existing and future buildings from residences located east mauka) of the planning area based on existing and planned conditions. The degree of visual impact upon residences located east (mauka) of the planning area. The presence and types of view corridors through the planning area from residences located to the east (mauka) (See: Appendix G, pages 23 to 33). Computer simulations documenting pre- and post-project conditions were are also used extensively in the Del Mar Study. The study documents existing views from locations where the Plan is proposing changes to building massing and height. Using computer software, such as SketchUp, scale models depicting future building conditions were inserted into existing condition photographs. e T Utility clutter is a significant threat to Hawaii County's scenic resources. Scenic Resource Protection Programs and Strategies Page 26 Hawaii County Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project The analyst is then able to assess the significance of the project's impact. Using computer simulation, the scenic resources analyst is able to assess the following: Existing visual quality / character-, Proposed project features-, Change to visual quality / character-, Viewer response-, Resultant visual impact. See Simulation "D1" on pages 52 through 53, Simulation "E1" on pages 56 through 57 and Simulations "F1" through "F4" on pages 58 through 62 of Appendix G. 4. r q+ VIP tr 4 i y TT• Building setback, scale and topography minimize scenic resource impacts above while exacerbating impacts below. Scenic Resource Protection Programs and Strategies Page 127 Hawaii County Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project Dust fencing offers suggestions of potential impacts to open space and Hualalai views just east of Waimea along Highway 19, Kawaihae Road. Recommendations The purpose of this study was to research view plane protection programs and strategies that different local, state, and federal government units have adopted. These programs and strategies may serve as models that Hawaii County could use to help respond to the programmatic gaps that have been identified within the County's existing planning and regulatory documents. The County has a solid foundation of existing State and County policy directives to establish view plane regulations to preserve and protect its scenic resources. As documented in this report, there is also sufficient enabling policy to develop a scenic Scenic Resource Protection Programs and Strategies Page 128 Hawaii County Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project resource protection program. Any program developed should include the following key elements that are already supported by County policy: Identification of scenic view planes, areas of natural beauty, and other visual resources by mapping them (HRS 205A-2(c)(3)(A)); Establishment of application requirements for all land use and construction reviews to assess potential impacts on view planes and other natural and scenic beauty resources, likely including line-of-sight analysis (GP 7.3 (e), (h), i)); and Development of permit conditions, such as design guidelines, landscaping, screening, or structural setbacks from major thoroughfares and highways, to mitigate any visual impacts from development (GP 7.3(f)). The following summarizes this study's recommendations: 1 . Identification of scenic view planes, areas of natural beauty, and other visual resources. 1 .A Conduct additional community outreach to support recommendations 1 .13 and 1 .C. 1 .13 Rate the viewsheds and roadway corridors documented in the Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project (June, 2016); and 1 .0 Develop scenic resource and viewshed corridor maps. 2. Develop administrative rules to implement Hawaii County Code §25-6-60. These rules will provide a consistent framework and process for the implementation of HCC §25-6-60. The rules should include: 1 . Purpose and intent language; 2. Criteria used to determine significant impacts when reviewing development projects; 3. An application review and approval process for the review of development projects; and 4. Application content requirements. Models documented in this report include: Napa, California; Stowe Vermont; and State Department of Environmental Protection, Maine. Scenic Resource Protection Programs and Strategies Page 129 Hawaii County Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project In addition, The Sill, Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Report (Appendix F), provides criteria that may be applicable for assessing visual impacts. The visual impact assessment techniques documented in this report, including: computer simulations, photomontages and constructing story poles, should be required of Applicants when it is expected that their project will produce adverse scenic resource impacts. 3. Develop Scenic Corridor Management Plan(s) for specific corridors identified through steps 1 .13 and 1 .C. Prepare and process the Management Plan(s) in accordance with Hawaii County Code §25-6-60. 3.A Scenic Corridor Management Plan(s) should include permit conditions, such as design guidelines, landscaping, screening, or structural setbacks from major thoroughfares and highways, to mitigate any visual impacts from development. 3.B Prepare Urban Design and Scenic Resource Protection Guidelines. Design guidelines are needed to help both Applicant's and staff identify best practice mitigation for minimizing scenic resource impacts. Design guidelines should address the following: Building density, scale, setbacks, height, separation, placement/orientation, colors, and materials; Landscape planting; and Topography The guidelines should demonstrate the application of mitigation to projects of the type to be expected within the unique landscape character districts found within the County. 4. Staff and Planning Commission Training. Institutionalize a scenic resources management and protection training program. As described in this report, all development within Maui County's SMA is subject to a determination of consistency with the SMA's scenic resource objectives and policies. Unfortunately, there is very little guidance provided to help distinguish between acceptable and unacceptable impacts, when a visual impact Scenic Resource Protection Programs and Strategies Page 130 Hawaii County Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project assessment should be conducted, and the types of mitigation that are most appropriate to specific conditions. Any program adopted in Hawaii County should include a training element to help ensure that impacts are addressed consistently and in a manner consistent with the purpose and intent of the County's scenic resource protection policies. r Hawaii County's scenic resources enhance the quality of life for its residents while attracting visitors from around the world. Scenic Resource Protection Programs and Strategies Page 131 APPENDIX A NAPA COUNTY VIEWSHED PROTECTION PROGRAM COUNTY OF NAPA CONSERVATION, DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT VIEWSHED PROTECTION PROGRAM APPLICATION PACKET 1. Applicant's Checklist 2. Viewshed Protection Program Application 3. Indemnification Agreement 4. Application Completeness Requirements and Checklist 5. Adjoining Property Owner's List Requirements 6. Excerpts from Viewshed Protection Program Ordinance 7. Viewshed Protection Manual 8. Slope Determination Methodology NOTE: 4-CA PLEASE INCLUDE THREE COPIES OF ALL REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED. I:\ORIGDOCS\APPFORMS\1On Line VIEWSHED.doc Page 1 09/27/06 page Mentianally left blank far duplicating purposes..J I:\ORIGDOCS\APPFORMS\1On Line VIEWSHED.doc Page 2 07/29/2010 NAPA COUNTY CONSERVATION, DEVELOPMENT& PLANNING DEPARTMENT 1195 Third Street, Suite 210, Napa, California, 94559 • (707)253-4416 APPLICANT'S CHECKLIST VIEWSHED PROTECTION PROGRAM 1. Completed and Signed Application and Indemnification Form* A signed Indemnification Form will only be required if a public hearing is conducted (i.e. if this is an item before the Zoning Administrator or Commission). 2. Vicinity Map 3. Proposed Site Plan 4. Topographic Map/Preliminary Grading Plan 5. Building/Structural Elevations 6. Landscaping and/or Vegetation Retention Plan 7. Exterior Lighting Plan 8. Visual Impact Analysis a. Title Insurance Company Certified List of Adjoining Property Owners within 300 feet 9. Application Fee of $ to be determined at time of Pre Application meeting) (Napa County Policy Manual, Part 3 § 80.050). Checks made payable to the County of Napa. Note: 1) Items numbered 2-4 above may be combined and submitted on the same drawing. 2) A detailed list of all the required submittal items is provided herein under APPLICATION COMPLETENESS REQUIREMENTS AND CHECKLIST". 3) Many of the items required for review under the Viewshed Ordinance are the same items that would be normally be required for an Erosion Control Plan (ECP) Review. If you are concurrently applying for an ECP Review, provide us with a copy of the appropriate items. Please, do not duplicate your efforts. I:\ORIGOOMAPPFORMS\10n Line VIEWSHED.doc Page 3 07/29/2010 page intentionally leftblank for duplicating purposes..J I:\ORIGDOCS\APPFORMS\1On Line VIEWSHED.doc Page 4 07/29/201. NAPA COUNTY CONSERVATION, DEVELOPMENT& PLANNING DEPARTMENT 1195 Third Street, Suite 210, Napa, California, 94559 • (707)2534416 APPLICATION FORM VIEWSHED PROTECTION PROGRAM FOR OFFICE USE ONLY SUBMITTAL DATE: FILE#: APN#: USGS QUAD: TOWNSHIP/RANGE: REQUEST: PROJECT TYPE: Structure_ Driveway Road_ Reservoir_ Mass Grading Other OTHER PERMITS APPLIED/PENDING/REQUIRED: ECP_ Grading Permit _ Use Permit _ Variance_ SDSDS_ Groundwater Permit:_ REVIEW AGENCIES: CDPD: X_ County Consultant:_ Name/Contact: FINAL APPROVAL: CDPD: X Date:Conditions: Yes No TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Please We or print legibly) Applicant's Name: Telephone#: ( Fax#: E-Mail: Mailing Address: No. Street City State zip Status of Applicant's Interest in Property: Property Owner's Name: Telephone#: ( Fax#: E-Mail: Mailing Address: No. Street City State Zip Site Address/Location: No.Street City State zip Assessor's Parcel#: Parcel Size: acres Development Area Size: acres Slope Range of Development Area: %to % NOTE: Contour map/survey is required for all development areas with an estimated slope of 15% or greater and for all road/driveway projects, Contour map must include all areas within 100'of the cut and fill edges. Percent slope shall be calculated and presented as whole numbers. Please see attached Slope Determination Methodology) 4 1 hereby certify that all the information contained in this application, including but not limited to, this application form, the supplemental information sheets, site plan, plot plan, cross sections/elevations, is complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge. I hereby authorize such investigations including access to County Assessor's Records as are deemed necessary by the County Planning Division for evaluation of this application and preparation of reports related thereto, including the right of access to the property involved. Signature ofApplicant Date Signature ofProperty Owner Date Print Name Print Name TO BE COMPLETED BYCONSERVATION,DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT Total Fee: $ Receipt. No. Received by: Date: I:ORIGDOCS\APPFORMS\1On Line VIEWSHED.doc Page 5 07/29/2010 page intentionally leftb/ank farduplicating purposes..J I:\ORIGDOCS\APPFORMS\1On Line VIEWSHED.doc Page 6 07/29/2010 INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT Pursuant to Chapter 1.30 of the Napa County Code, as part of the application for a discretionary land use project approval for the project identified below, Applicant agrees to defend, indemnify, release and hold harmless Napa County, its agents, officers, attorneys, employees, departments, boards and commissions (hereafter collectively "County") from any claim, action or proceeding (hereafter collectively "proceeding") brought against County, the purpose of which is to attack, set aside, void or annul the discretionary project approval of the County, or an action relating to this project required by any such proceeding to be taken to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act by County, or both. This indemnification shall include, but not be limited to damages awarded against the County, if any, and cost of suit, attorneys' fees, and other liabilities and expenses incurred in connection with such proceeding that relate to this discretionary approval or an action related to this project taken to comply with CEQA whether incurred by the Applicant, the County, and/or the parties initiating or bringing such proceeding. Applicant further agrees to indemnify the County for all of County's costs, attorneys' fees, and damages, which the County incurs in enforcing this indemnification agreement. Applicant further agrees, as a condition of project approval, to defend, indemnify and hold harmless the County for all costs incurred in additional investigation of or study of, or for supplementing, redrafting, revising, or amending any document (such as an EIR, negative declaration, specific plan, or general plan amendment) if made necessary by said proceeding and if the Applicant desires to pursue securing approvals which are conditioned on the approval of such documents. In the event any such proceeding is brought, County shall promptly notify the Applicant of the proceeding, and County shall cooperate fully in the defense. If County fails to promptly notify the Applicant of the proceeding, or if County fails to cooperate fully in the defense, the Applicant shall not thereafter be responsible to defend, indemnify, or hold harmless the County. The County shall retain the right to participate in the defense of the proceeding if it bears its own attorneys' fees and costs, and defends the action in good faith. The Applicant shall not be required to pay or perform any settlement unless the settlement is approved by the Applicant. Applicant Property Owner (if other than Applicant) Date Project Identification I:\ORIGDOCS\APPFORMS\1On Line VIEWSHED.doc Page 7 07/29/2010 page intentionally left blank for duplicatingpurposes,.J 1AORIGDOOSIAPPFORMS\lOn Line VIEWSHED.doc Page 8 07/29/2010 NAPA COUNTY CONSERVATION, DEVELOPMENT& PLANNING DEPARTMENT 1195 Third Street, Suite 210, Napa, California, 94559 • (707)253-4416 APPLICATION COMPLETENESS REQUIREMENTS AND CHECKLIST VIEWSHED PROTECTION PROGRAM 1. Completed and Signed Application and Indemnification Form*. A signed Indemnification Form will only be required if a public hearing is conducted i.e. if this is an item before the Zoning Administrator or Commission). 2. Vicinity Map. A. A 7" by 5 '/z" portion of a 7.5-minute (1"=2000') United States Geological Survey (USGS) topography map. B. Map shall show improvements in their relationship to abutting properties/structures and major and minor ridgelines. 3. Proposed Site Plan. A proposed site plan shall be prepared to locate only the proposed site improvements and areas to be disturbed (i.e. building site, graded area). Scale of the plan shall be appropriate to the area disturbed either through grading, construction or clearing of vegetation. The area surrounding the building pad/site shall be scaled at 1" = 20' or finer and roads or driveways at 1"=100' or finer. A scaled Site Plan shall include: A. Location of all existing structure(s)to be removed or remain on site; note on plan whether to remain or to be removed. B. Location of all existing vegetation six inches in diameter or greater, measured in diameter at breast height (DBH), including variety, height and canopy width. C. Location of all proposed impervious surfaces (i.e. driveways, motor courts, patios). D. Location of all wastewater disposal systems on site. E. Proposed setbacks from property lines(s) and other structures. F. Location of all spoils/stock pile area for all excavated and/or imported soils. G. Total floor area shown, including all floors, of all structures, regardless of use. 4. Topographic Map/Preliminary Grading Plan. Map shall note the following: A. Existing and proposed contours of the building site before and after all construction is completed, drawn at 2' or 5' intervals at a scale of 1"=20' or better; driveways or access roads must show 5' intervals at a scale of 1"=100' or better. B. Map shall include the following section(s) at minimum: i.Disturbed areas, including proposed/existing roads; ii.Building(s) height(s), measured according to the most recently County adopted California Building Code; iii. Roadways/Driveways, shown at intervals as required in County Slope Determination Methodology, Conservation Regulations Exhibit A(Resolution 91-61), shorter intervals may be required in areas of changing topography; iv. Retaining walls or man-made embankments and berms, illustrating location and height scale of/4' = 1'). C. Preliminary drainage plans for the site, showing the pattern and direction of flow, as well as any on site natural or man-made drainage/waterways. D. Highest point of the proposed structure(s) measured vertically to top of nearest ridgeline. 1AORIGDOCS\APPFORMS110n Une VIEWSHED.doc Page 9 07/29/2010 5. Building/Structure Elevations. A. Elevations shall scaled and include type of building material, color treatment and sample color- chip, roofing material and color. B. Include information on window reflectivity and extent of window coverage. C. "Building Height(s)," as defined in the most recent County adopted edition of the California Building Code, must also be shown on the elevations (See item#3 C. Determining Building Height in the Viewshed Protection Manual for measurement details). 6. Landscaping and/or Vegetation Retention Plan. Newly planted vegetation for the purpose of visual screening, must be of sufficient size to adequately screen the proposed structure(s) in two (2)to five(5)years. A complete plan shall include the following: A. Identify and locate all the existing vegetation to remain as visual screening for the proposed structure(s), indicate variety, height and canopy width. B. Identify initial planting sizes and varieties of all materials to be installed. C. Illustrate the size and canopy width of planted materials, as they would appear 10 years after installation. D. Distinguish the natural and/or installed landscaping to be included in the visual impact analysis. E. Installed landscaping must be compatible with existing vegetation and landscape. F. Establish a comprehensive landscape maintenance program, including a protection and pruning program for existing and planted trees. 7. Exterior Lighting Plan. Identifying the location, type of fixture, focus/purpose, as well as the use of any timers or motion sensor devises 8. Visual Impact Analysis. One or more of the following may be required to determine the visual impact of the structure(s)and its associated improvements and their conformance with the Viewshed Protection Program. A. Story poles (the temporary placement of a mock wooden skeleton in the general shape of the building, then draping plastic orange snow fencing around the roofline to portray the visual prominence and bulk of the proposed structure). B. Computer simulation. C. Photomontage. D. Picture or visual as viewed from designated public road at point(s)where the structure(s) is/are visible. E. Appropriately scaled model. F. Additional views or materials as required by staff from other vantage points. 9. Title Insurance Company Certified List of Adjoining Property Owners within 300 feet Identifying all property owners within 300' of the subject parcel, specifying name, address and parcel number; included on two sets of mailing labels with accompanying Assessor's Pages used to compile the above property owner list. Please see "ADJOINING PROPERTY OWNER LIST REQUIREMENTS" for details on preparing the requested list. 10. Application Fee of$ to be determined at Pre-App meeting) plus an InitialEnvironmentalReviewFee(if applicable)of$ to be determined at Pre-App meeting) Napa County Policy Manual, Part 3§ 80.050). Checks made payable to the County of Napa I:A0RIGD0CS\APPF0RMS110n Line VIEWSHED.doc Fage 10 C7'/ 04/ 0ii,' NAPA COUNTY CONSERVATION, DEVELOPMENT& PLANNING DEPARTMENT 1195 Third Street, Suite 210, Napa, California, 94559• (707)253-4416 ADJOINING PROPERTY OWNER LIST REQUIREMENTS VIEWSHED PROTECTION PROGRAM All applications shall include a list of the current owners of all the properties whose outer perimeters are within 300 feet of the property boundary of the project site. The list shall include the property owner's names, their addresses and the assessor's parcel numbers of the property owned. Preparation, verification and submission of this list of property owners is the responsibility of the applicant. Lists of the property owners appearing on County tax rolls in the form required are available from all local title insurance companies. A title insurance company must certify each such list, ensuring that it reflects the most recent County tax roll information. INSTRUCTIONS TO TITLE COMPANY Please prepare the property owners' list as follows: 1. Type the property owners' names, parcel numbers and mailing addresses on an 8'/z" by 11" sheet of Avery#5160 Laser Labels so that this information can be readily used in mailing by the Conservation, Development and Planning Department. 2. Submit a full page copy of the assessors' parcel book page(s) and a copy of the latest equalized assessment roll used to compile the property owners' list. Please indicate the location of all parcels listed, by check mark or colored parcel number circled on the pages. If you should have any questions, please contact the Conservation, Development and Planning Department at 707/253-4417. IAORIGDOMAPPFORMWOn Line VIEWSHED.doc Page 11 07/29/2010 page 1went/onally left blank for duplicating parpases,.J I:\ORIGDOCSWPPFORMS\10n Line VIEWSHED,doc Page 12 07/29/2010 r MINIM317,M.I Rsl U Rel i Met • Chapter 18.106-VIEWSHED PROTECTION PROGRAM Sections: 18.106.010-Purpose. 18.106.020-Definitions. 18.106.030-General provisions. 18.106.040-Pro'ects subject to administrative review. 18.106.050-Processing of projects subject to review and approval by the zoning administrator or the commission. 18.106.060-Required public and private notification. 18.106.070-Exceptions. 18.106.080-Variances not prohibited. 18.106.090-Denials and potential takings. 18.106.010-Purpose. The purpose and intent of these regulations is to protect the public health,safety,and community welfare and to otherwise protect the scenic quality of the county both for visitors to the county as well as for its residents by ensuring that future improvements are compatible with existing land forms, particularly county ridgelines and that views of the county's many unique geologic features and the existing landscape fabric of the county's hillside areas are protected and preserved.These regulations are consistent with the goals and policies of the Napa County general plan,particularly as specified in the land use,open space and conservation,circulation and the scenic highways elements. Furthermore, it is intended that these regulations accomplish the following: A. Provide hillside development standards to minimize the impact of man-made structures and grading on views of existing landforms,unique geologic features, existing landscape features and open space as seen from designated public roads within the county; B. Protect and preserve views of major and minor ridgelines from designated public roads; C. Create a development review process that maximizes administrative,staff level approval of projects which meet administrative standards,while also providing a vehicle for review by the zoning administrator or planning commission of those projects that do not meet the administrative standards; D. Minimize cut and fill, earthmoving,grading operations and other such man-made effects on the natural terrain to ensure that finished slopes are compatible with existing land character;and E. Promote architecture and designs that are compatible with hillside terrain and minimize visual impacts. Ord. 1278§ 1 (part), 2006:Ord. 1189§3(part),2001) 18.106.020-Definitions. Unless otherwise specified,the terms indicated below shall have the following meaning: Accessory structures"shall mean structures that are subordinate and supplementary to the predominate use of the parcel, be it agricultural, residential,or a combination thereof. Agricultural structure"shall mean a structure supportive and/or ancillary to an authorized on-site agricultural use as defined by Section 18.08.040 of the code. Benches"or"shelves"shall mean flat areas which could be used as a building site which are otherwise surrounded by slopes of fifteen percent or greater. Building height"shall be as defined in the currently adopted edition of the California Building Code used by the county. Code"means the Napa County Code. I:\ORIGDOCS\APPFORMS\1 On Line VIEWSHED.doc Page 13 07/29/2010 Commission"shall mean the Napa County conservation,development and planning commission. Defensible space"shall be interpreted pursuant to the requirements of Chapter 3 of Part 2 of Division 4 of the Public Resources Code(commencing with Section 4290). Department"shall mean the Napa County conservation, development and planning department. Design Manual'shall mean the manual entitled "Viewshed Protection Manual'on file with the Napa County conservation,development and planning department.The Design Manual shall contain graphic examples of major and minor ridgelines, projects which do and do not meet the criteria contained in this chapter, and landscape plan provisions. Designated public roads"shall mean scenic highways as identified in Figures 75 and 76 of the scenic highways element of the Napa County general plan,and such other county roads as may be designated by resolution of the board of supervisors. Director"shall mean the director of the conservation,development and planning department and/or his designee. Floor area"shall be defined to be the area encompassed by the outside surface of the structure foundation. Grading"shall be as defined in Section 18.108.030 of the code. Grading includes earthmoving activity as defined in Section 18.108.030 of the code. Major ridgeline"shall mean a ridgeline,which is prominently visible from a substantial land area within the county. Major ridgelines are characterized by the lack of a topographical backdrop where the sky is visible beyond the ridge. Minor ridgeline"shall mean a ridgeline which is not prominently visible to a large area of the county. Minor ridgelines are typically lower in height,when compared to the surrounding terrain and may be visible only to a limited area,or have a backdrop of a nearby higher topographical feature. Predominant portion"shall mean the principal or main part of the structure including architectural features likely to be silhouetted against the sky. Ridgeline"shall mean a visually prominent, relatively narrow strip or crest of land,which includes the highest points of elevation within a watershed,that separates one drainage basin from another. Slope"shall be determined in the same manner as defined in Section 18.108.030 of the code. Structures"shall mean that which is built or constructed,an edifice or building of any kind, or any piece of work artificially built up or comprised of parts joined together in some definite manner.Structure includes, but is not limited to, primary and accessory buildings,single-family residences and improvements,additions, reconstruction and remodeling to said structures. Substantial views"shall mean views of a structure wherein fifty-one percent or more of the area facing the designated road(s)can be seen. Ord. 1278§1 (part), 2006:Ord. 1232§1, 2003:Ord. 1189§3(part), 2001) 18.106.030 -General provisions. A. Applicability—New and Expanded Structures. No building permit,erosion control plan for structural development,grading or other administrative permit shall be issued by any county staff,agency or department for any new structure or improvement to an existing structure if the structure is located on a slope of fifteen percent or more as defined in Section 18.106.020 or if the structure is located on any minor or major ridgeline as defined in Section 18.106.020 except as specifically provided for herein.The ordinance codified in this section shall apply to all new structures located on slopes of fifteen percent or more or located on a minor or major ridgeline. In the event of a conflict among the regulations in this chapter and those elsewhere in this code,the regulations in this chapter shall prevail.The provisions of this chapter shall also apply to projects undertaken by public agencies and special districts except for the maintenance of existing county public roads within existing rights-of-way. I:\ORIGDOCS\APPFORMS\1On Line VIEWSHED.doc Page 14 07/2912010 B. Applicability—Grading or Earthmoving Activities. No permit or administrative or discretionary approval shall be issued to authorize any grading or earthmoving activity, including grading or earthmoving necessary to create or improve an existing or new driveway, road or other access,or benches or shelves, if such earthmoving or grading would occur on slopes of fifteen percent or more until the applicant has complied with the applicable provisions of this chapter.Agricultural roads within planted areas subject to erosion control plans under Chapter 18.108 of the code shall not be subject to this requirement. C. Relationship to the Review of Tentative Parcel Maps, Final Maps,and Subdivision Maps.All future building sites identified on either a tentative parcel map,final map,or subdivision map shall be reviewed and conditions of approval established to ensure conformity with the purpose and intent of this chapter. D. Relationship to Previously Approved Use Permits and Small Lot Subdivisions.All structures described in a use permit approved prior to the effective date of Ordinance Number 1189 shall not be subject to the requirements of this chapter. Parcels in small lot subdivisions(defined as groups of at least five parcels of less than two acres each for the purposes of this section)established prior to the effective date of Ordinance Number 1268 shall not be subject to the requirements of this chapter. E. Relationship to Previously Accepted or Approved Building Permits.All residential structures or accessory structures for which a building permit was approved prior to the effective date of Ordinance Number 1189,or for which a building permit application had been accepted and deemed complete for departmental review by the county prior to December 1,2001,shall not be subject to the requirements of this chapter.Such structures and the accompanying permits may be modified prior to the final occupancy inspection if the predominant portion of the proposed modifications to the structure is screened from view from a designated public road by natural vegetation, landscaping, architectural design,and colortone that is in accordance with the Design Manual and provisions of this chapter. F. Relationship to Use Permit Applications.Applications requiring the issuance of a use permit or use permit modification,as required by the code,will be reviewed for their adherence to the requirements of this chapter during the application process for the issuance of the use permit or use permit modification. G. Relationship to Conservation Regulations.The structures or activities referred to in Section 18.108.050, except subsections(A)and(B), shall be exempt from the requirements of this chapter and will be cleared for further processing. H. Determination of Adverse Effects on Ridgelines.The director shall determine whether the proposed location of a structure could adversely affect a minor or major ridgeline for the purpose of administering this chapter based upon elevation of the proposed structure,the height of its roof line and the location of the structure in relationship to surrounding topography. I. Application Form and Fee.Applications for new,expanded or remodeled structures subject to this chapter shall be submitted to the department on a form provided by the department accompanied by a fee determined by a resolution adopted by the board of supervisors. Ord. 1278§1 (part),2006:Ord. 1268§8, 2005: Ord. 1232§2, 2003:Ord. 1189§3(part), 2001) 18.106.040-Projects subject to administrative review. A. General Provisions. Permit applications which meet the criteria in subsection(A)or(E)of Section 18.106.030, and/or grading or earthmoving activities meeting the criteria in subsection(B)of Section 18.106.030,shall be submitted to the department for review by the director. If the application, either as submitted, or upon the inclusion of specified measures, meets the criteria specified in subsection (B)or(C)of this section,the director shall certify that the project complies with the applicable provisions of this chapter and the project will then be cleared for continuing processing pursuant to Title 15 of the code.The director may require the submittal of additional information including,but not limited to, a photo or computer simulation of the project and associated improvements, prior to determining that the project meets the criteria contained in this chapter. B. Visibility Determination. If the director determines that the project cannot be viewed from any designated public road, because of its relationship to surrounding topography or existing vegetation,then the project will be cleared for further processing pursuant to the code. If the determination was made based on existing vegetation coverage,then the property owner, prior to the issuance of a building permit,shall be required to execute and record in the county recorder's office a use restriction, in a form approved by county counsel, requiring the existing covering vegetation to be maintained, or replaced with equivalent vegetation, by the owner or the owner's successors, so as to prevent the project from being viewed from any designated public road. C. Administrative Criteria.A project shall be certified and cleared for further processing, if the director determines that a project meets all of the following conditions: I:\ORIGDOCS\APPFORMS\1On Line VIEWSHED.doc Page 15 07/29/2010 1. The highest point of the proposed structure is located more than twenty-five vertical feet below a major or minor ridgeline; 2. The project as designed and sited meets all of the following standards and substantially conforms to the Design Manual: a. The maximum floor area, including all floors,of the main residence or agricultural structure is four thousand square feet or less and the maximum floor area, including all floors,for accessory structures are a combined total of two thousand five hundred square feet or less, b. The height of the structure is twenty-four feet or less as measured from finished grade along fifty percent or more of the longest wall as viewed from any designated public road, C. The improvement(s), including any required earthmoving or grading associated with the structure shall minimize removal of existing vegetation with emphasis on preserving mature trees. If the improvements require the removal of any tree with a diameter of six inches or greater,a detailed landscaping plan shall be prepared showing the location and replacement of trees and vegetation in a manner which screens the improvements from substantial views from designated public roads and provides for defensible space in conformance with state law, d. A significant portion of natural on-site vegetation has been retained to naturally screen the project from views of designated public roads, e. Landscaping will be installed and designed to screen the project from substantial views from designated public roads, f. The project lighting, including site lighting, has been designed to minimize off-site visibility and glare, g. The exterior color treatment of the structure will blend with the color of surrounding vegetation and landforms, h. Exterior windows and trim are nonreflective,and L Roof angles and composition are designed to conform to existing landforms and landscape; 3. If the structure is an addition to an existing residence or an agricultural structure,the total floor area, including all floors shall not exceed four thousand square feet. If the addition pertains to an accessory structure,the total floor area, including all floors, shall not exceed a combined total of two thousand five hundred square feet; 4. The project as sited and designed shall be in substantial compliance with the Design Manual to reduce its visual impact on the views of major and minor ridgelines as viewed from any designated public road and unique topographic or geologic features as viewed from any county road.The following landforms will be considered to be unique topographic or geologic features for the purposes of this subsection: Mt. St. Helena,Stag's Leap,Calistoga Palisades, Round HIII, Mt. George and Mt.St.John; 5. Involves the grading of less than one and one-half acres of land; 6. Future structures, including roads,driveways.wastewater disposal systems,and necessary earthmoving to construct project improvements shall be located to avoid environmentally sensitive areas as defined by Section 18.08.270 of the code; 7. A detailed landscape plan prepared by a qualified landscape professional shall be prepared which incorporates the criteria set forth in the Design Manual for review and approval by the director. D.Prior to the issuance of a building permit for any project authorized under this section,the property owner shall be required to execute and record in the county recorder's office a use restriction, in a form approved by county counsel, requiring building exteriors,and existing and proposed covering vegetation,as well as any equivalent level of replacement vegetation,to be maintained by the owner or the owner's successors so as to maintain conformance with either subsection(B)or(C)of this section. E. Projects that do not satisfy the criteria and standards contained in Section 18.106.040 shall be subject to review and approval under Section 18.106.050. Ord. 1278§1 (part), 2006: Ord. 1232§3, 2003: Ord. 1189§3(part), 2001) 18.106.050-Processing of projects subject to review and approval by the zoning administrator or the commission. A. If the director determines that a project does not meet the criteria in Section 18.106.040 the project shall not be cleared for further processing until the findings contained in subsection(B)of this section are made and a permit is issued by the zoning administrator, or upon referral, by the commission. B. The zoning administrator or commission shall make all of the following findings prior to approving a project: 1. The project as designed or modified is consistent with Chapter 18.108 of the code; I:\0RIGD0C3\APPF0RM3\10n Line VIEWSHED.doc Page 16 07/29/2010 2. If the highest point of the proposed project is located more than twenty-five vertical feet below a major or minor ridgeline,that measures have been included in the project to reduce its visual impact on the major or minor ridgeline through use of existing natural vegetation, landscaping,topographical siting, architectural design, and colortone;or if the highest point of the proposed structure is within twenty-five vertical feet of a major or minor ridgeline,that the existing vegetation, proposed landscaping, topographical siting,architectural design,and colortone screen the predominant portion of the proposed structure; 3. The proposed structure, access roads and other site improvements are sited and designed to minimize adverse effects on views from designated public roads; 4. The proposed structure,access road and other site improvements, including earthmoving or grading, and benches or shelves minimize the removal of vegetation; 5. The siting and design of site improvements and access roads minimize grading and alteration of natural landforms and topography; 6. A landscape and/or vegetation retention plan in conformance with the Design Manual has been submitted and approved for the site that would provide maximum screening from designated public roads through preservation of existing vegetation and the planting of new vegetation and provide for defensible space in conformance with state law; 7. The proposed structure and associated improvements substantially conform with the Design Manual in order to reduce their visual impact on the views of major and minor ridgelines as viewed from any designated public road and unique topographic or geologic features as viewed from any county road.The following landforms will be considered to be unique topographic or geologic features for the purposes of this subsection: Mt. St. Helena,Stag's Leap, Calistoga Palisades, Round Hill, Mt. George and Mt. St. John; C. Prior to the issuance of a building permit for any project authorized under this section,the property owner shall be required to execute and record in the county recorder's office a use restriction, in a form approved by county counsel,requiring building exteriors,and existing and proposed covering vegetation, as well as any equivalent level of replacement vegetation,to be maintained by the owner or the owner's successor so as to maintain conformance with subsection (B)of this section; D. If one or more of the findings in subsection(B)of this section cannot be made,the application shall be forwarded to the commission for a possible exception pursuant to Section 18.106.070. Ord. 1278§1 (part), 2006:Ord. 1232§4, 2003:Ord. 1189§3(part), 2001) 18.106.060-Required public and private notification. A. Within seven days of the issuance of a tentative decision that the project is subject to administrative approval under Section 18.106.040,the director shall give notice of his tentative decision, including the date on which the tentative decision will become final,which date shall be ten calendar days following the date notice of the tentative decision is mailed. 1. The notice shall be provided to the city or town closest to where the project is proposed to be built and to all public or private property owners located within three hundred feet of the outer perimeter of the property on which the project would be constructed as shown on the latest equalized assessment roll. 2. The tentative decision shall be final once the period identified in the notice has expired unless an appeal has been filed by the applicant or any interested person pursuant to Chapter 2.88 of this code,in which case the tentative decision shall become final only if and when the appeal is withdrawn, dismissed or denied. If the appeal is granted, in whole or in part, the decision of the board on appeal shall become final in the manner and within the time set forth in Chapter 2.88. B. At least ten days prior to a decision by the zoning administrator or the commission under Section 18.106.050 or 18.106.070, notice of a public hearing shall be provided to the city or town closest to where the project is proposed to be built and to all property owners located within three hundred feet of the outer perimeter of the property on which the project would be constructed as shown on the latest equalized assessment roll. Ord. 1278§1(part), 2006.Ord. 1232§5, 2003:Ord. 1201§7, 2002,Ord. 1189§3(part), 2001) 18.106.070 -Exceptions. Upon application by the property owner of a site,an exception to the requirement contained in subsection (B)of Section 18.106.050 may be granted by the commission. Such exception may be granted if, after conducting a public lAORIGDOCS%PPFORMS\1On Line VIEWSHED.doc Page 17 07/29/2010 hearing and reviewing available building sites on the subject property,the commission makes all of the following findings: A. Compliance with the provisions of subsection(B)of Section 18.106.050 would result in greater visual impact than would the proposed construction on the proposed building site; B. Compliance with the provisions of subsection(B)of Section 18.106.050 would result in greater impact on existing landforms and landscape than would the proposed construction on the proposed building site; C. Measures have been included in the project to reduce its visual impacts as seen from any designated public roads.Such measures include but are not limited to: 1. Installation of landscaping designed to screen the project from view of designated public roads; 2. Low level lighting on buildings and site which minimize off-site visibility and glare; 3. Nonreflective exterior windows and window frames; 4. Use of earth tone colors on building exteriors; 5. Roof angles and composition designed to conform with the existing land forms and landscape;and 6. Building height has been designed to minimize the silhouetting against the sky when viewed from any designated public road or open space owned or managed by a public agency or land trust. D. Prior to the issuance of a building permit for any project authorized under this section,the property owner shall be required to execute and record in the county recorder's office a use restriction, in a form approved by county counsel, requiring building exteriors,and existing and proposed covering vegetation,as well as any equivalent level of replacement vegetation,to be maintained by the owner or the owner's successors so as to maintain conformance with subsection(C)of this section. E. The project as designed or modified is consistent with the requirements of Chapter 18.108 of the code. Ord. 1278§ 1(part), 2006:Ord. 1232§6, 2003:Ord. 1189§3(part), 2001) 18.106.080-Variances not prohibited. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as prohibiting any person from filing an application for a variance or as prohibiting the board of supervisors or commission from approving a variance pursuant to Chapter 18.128 of the code. Ord 1278§1(part), 2006:Ord. 1189§3(part), 2001) 18.106.090-Denials and potential takings. No action shall be taken or a decision made pursuant to this chapter that denies the property owner economically viable use of the land (or the current legal standard in effect for a"takings"claim)under the Fifth Amendment of the U.S.Constitution at the time the applicant seeks project approval. Ord. 1278§ 1(part), 2006: Ord. 1189§3(part),2001) NAPA COUNTY CONSERVATION, DEVELOPMENT& PLANNING DEPARTMENT 1195 Third Street, Suite 210, Napa, California, 94559 • (707)253-4416 VIEWSHED PROTECTION MANUAL VIEWSHED PROTECTION PROGRAM A. Purpose. The purpose of this manual is to detail the requirements of the Viewshed Protection Ordinance. The manual utilizes text and graphical examples accompanied with brief explanations intended to standardize hillside development and convey the intent of the Ordinance. Where possible, the manual provides examples explains of practices intended to minimize the impact of man-made structures and grading on views of existing landforms and landscape, unique geologic features as seen from designated public roads within Napa County. 1AORIGDOCS\APPFORM311On Line VIEWSHED.doc Page 18 07/29/2010 B. General Requirements and Conventions. 1. All final grades, including all cut and fill slopes, visible from any designated public road shall be: a. Consistent with the existing landscape to the greatest extant possible, avoiding uninterrupted slope surfaces that stand out against existing topographic contours; b. Contoured to resemble existing terrain by varying slope increments and breaking the visual surface of banks and inclines both vertically and horizontally as naturally as possible; c. Constructed to allow for the creation of berms or mounding at the top of slopes and in other locations for the screening of structures and assurance proper site drainage. 2. Design, height and massing of hillside development shall: a. Maintain a balance of scale and proportion using design components that are harmonious with natural landforms and landscaping; b. Be small scale and low in height, conforming with hillside topography by stepping or staggering the mass of the proposed building up or down slope, avoiding flat pad construction and vertical massing; c. Utilize structural elements, building materials and color tones which blend artificial surfaces with surrounding native elements; d. Utilize construction materials, glass, roofing and other surfaces that are of a non-reflective nature; e. Ensure articulated walls that utilize reveals, cornice detailing, alcoves or other features which are appropriate to the scale of the building and building projections, trellises, landscaping or other devices, which in total, serve to break up long, continuous building walls which are visible from designated public roads; and f. Ensure that the proposed structure is not silhouetted against the sky when viewed from any designated public road. 3. Roadways, driveways and utility alignments shall be: a. Located to minimize grading and earthmoving activity, by following existing contours and positioned upon gradual slopes whenever possible; b. Constructed to blend with the existing landscape, through alignment with the natural curving contour of the land instead of keeping to straight lines or geometric patterns; c. Concealed from view through preservation and maintenance of existing vegetation or through planned landscaping that is constant with the natural character of the area. 4. Landscape planting and vegetation preservation shall: a. Incorporate trees where appropriate, planted in random groupings or clusters that mimic or maintain natural assemblages rather than in systematic rows; b. Maintain vegetation lines which convey the existing slope of the hillside; c. Preserve native vegetation, including grasses and open space when ever possible; d. Use native materials to the greatest extent possible and/or non-natives that are compatible with indigenous vegetation and confined to the adjacent vicinity of the proposed structure; e. Include a sufficient irrigation, maintenance and monitoring program designed to provide species requirements as well as protect against sedimentation, soil loss and land sliding; 5. Exterior and landscape lighting applications shall be: a. Designed to minimize nighttime disruption and visual glare by shielding lamp sources downward and away form view of designated public roads; b. Controlled by timers and/or motion sensors, to limit the duration of use and reduce prolonged glare; c. Sized with the minimum wattage possible to meet desired application. C. Graphical examples. 1. Major and minor ridgelines: lAORIGDOMAPPFORMS 1On Line VIEWSHED.doc Page 19 07129/2010 Nlaior Rideeline Nlinor Rid-eIine a. "Major Ridgelines" shall mean a ridgeline, which is prominently visible from a substantial land area within the County, characterized by the lack of a topographical backdrop where the sky is visible beyond the ridge; b. "Minor Ridgelines" shall mean a ridgeline that is not prominently visible to a large area of the County and those typically lower in height, when compared to the surrounding terrain and which may be visible only to a limited area, or have a backdrop of a nearby higher topographical feature. 2. Restricted development area for administrative review: Top of Major or Minor Ridgeline Highest Point >25' a. A project shall be certified and cleared for further processing under 18.106.040(B) if the project cannot be seen form a designated public road or under 18.106.040(C) if all the administrative criteria listed in that section are met, including that the highest point of the proposed structure is located more than 25' below a major or minor ridgeline. 3. Determining height of a building: 1AORIGDOCSWPPFORMS\10n Line VIEWSHED.doc Page 20 07/29/2010 I IIIIIIHEIGHT OF HEIGHT OF BUILDING BUILDING 5 FTI I I 5 FT I DATUMI I B , 5 FL I 5 FT. I 10' B 10 FT A 510' I A a. Height of a building is the vertical distance above the highest point of the coping of a flat roof or deck line of a mansard roof or to the average height of the highest gable of a pitched of hipped roof. The reference datum shall be either of the following, whichever yields the greater height of building: i. The elevation of the highest adjoining sidewalk or ground surface within a 5' horizontal distance of the exterior wall when such sidewalk or ground surface is not more than 10' above lowest grade; ii. An elevation 10' higher than the lowest grade when the sidewalk or ground surface described in item a. above is more than 10' above lowest grade; b. The height of a stepped or terraced building is the maximum height of any segment of the building. 4. Grading cut and fill slopes, roadways and driveways: ZZ 1 l Unnatural slope contouring: Geometric contouring: Not Rernnnmenrlerl Nnt Reernnmenrlerl I:\ORIGDOCS\APPFORMS\1On Line VIEWSHED.doc Page 21 07/29/2010 Var1 ing slope gradienis imitating Rounded edges conforming tonativernninnrintRrrommrnderl nann•nl Pride- Rernnunended 4 a. Finished cut and fill slopes shall be constructed to blend with the existing landscape, curving with the natural contour of the land. avoiding straight lines and/or geometric patterns; mac` L-xtensive cutting and tilling; Contouring to existing terrain: Not Recommend Recommend b. Unwarranted cutting and filling should be avoided when constructing roads, driveways and other related structures, using measures such as laterally balancing cut and fills, alignment with natural contours and restricting development to gentle climbing gradients; i l Stepped retaining N4alls:-all retaining WaIIS That CeSU•ICt RecommendedNotRecommended IAORIGDOMAPPFORMS\1On Line VIEWSHED.doc Page 22 OV29/2010 g Steep slopes and high 1 retaining walls: Finished slopes of 1:3 or Not Recommended less: Reconmtended c. Retaining walls along roadways or associated with structural developments should be stepped and terraced incrementally, avoiding tall flat surfaces that restrict views and slopes steeper than 1:3; 5. Building design, massing and configuration: Vertical stacking: Stepping building vertically Not Recommend with slope: Recommended Vertical stacking, Balanced cut and fill massive appearance: integrates with slope: Not Recommended Recommended IAORIGDOMAPPFORMV On Line VIEWSHED.doc Page 23 07/29/2010 fr Large scale buildings with vertical massing:Alternative small-scale Not Recommended buildings with staggered massive: Recommended a. Small scale and low in height construction is recommended, conforming with hillside topography by stepping or staggering the mass of the proposed structure up or down slope, avoiding flat pad construction; b. Maintain a balance of scale and proportion using design components which are harmonious with natural landforms and landscaping; r 5urftce al•ticulated,but not mass: Int 12arnmmPnrlvrl Articulation Of Slll•taee. Illass and volume: Recommended Not Recommended Recommended I:\ORIGDOCS\APPFORMS\1On Line VIEWSHED.doc Page 24 07/29/2010 c. Building shall ensure articulated walls and utilize reveals, cornice detailing, alcoves or other features which breakup the scale of the building. Uses of projections, trellises, landscaping or other devices which in total serve to break up long, continuous building walls is encouraged; 1 r Roof slopes following a..,,,t• oo„n,,,,,,o„aoa RecommendedL41ter, Gables that face downhill: hint [JArrnrnrn ndaf4 1. 1 Not Recommend J l Roof angles at or below angle of natural d. Roof slopes that follow the gradient of the site are recommended over those that diverge from the hill slope; I:\ORIGDOCSWPPFORMS\l On Line VIEWSHED.doc Page 25 07/29/2010 e. Construction materials, glazing, roofing and other surfaces that are of a non-reflective nature are encouraged; Design with integrated Tacked on decking: derkino- Revommend Not Reeiimmendf-d f. Installation of decking that is integrated into the building is recommended over that which is attached or tacked on to exterior walls; g. To the greatest extent possible, structural elements, building materials and color tones shall blend artificial surfaces with surrounding native elements; Not Reconimecdcd „_. Recomntcndc:d h. Proposed structures shall not be sited atop peaks nor silhouetted against the sky when viewed from any designated public road. 6. Landscape planning and vegetation preservation: I:IOWGDOMAPPFORMM[On Line VIEWSHED.doc Page 26 07/29/2010 i Retention and preset-vation of existing vegetation for screening: Recommended Landscaping plans that include a maintenance program for native and planted vegetation: Recommended r i Typical brow ditch hidden from down Use of native rock to slope view: natL1111ke manmade ditch: Recommended Recommended I:\ORIGDOCSWPPFORMS\1 On Line VIEWSHED.doc Page 27 07/29/2010 nf Vegetative screening of all structures: Recommended a. Whenever possible, structures, including roads shall be concealed from view through preservation and maintenance of existing vegetation or through planned landscaping that is consistent with the natural character of the area. 7. Exterior lighting of structures and landscaping: Not Recommended Recommended a. Outdoor lighting shall be designed to minimize nighttime disruption. Lamp sources should be shielded from view and light source directed downward. Timers and motion detectors should be used wherever possible. NOTE. The Viewshed Protection Manual has not been updated to reflect the revisions to the Viewshed Protection Program Ordinance. The Ordinance shall prevail if there's a conflict between the Manual and the Ordinance IAORIGDOcS\APPFORMS\IOn Line VIEWSHED.doc Page 28 07/29/2010 page intentianally leftMadfar duplicatingpuppases..J I.\ORIGDOCS\APPFORMS\1On Line VIEWSHED.doc Page 29 07/29/2010 NAPA COUNTY CONSERVATION, DEVELOPMENT& PLANNING DEPARTMENT 1195 Third Street, Suite 210, Napa, California, 94559• (707)253-4416 SLOPE DETERMINATION METHODOLOGY VIEWSHED PROTECTION PROGRAM Slope is the ratio of the vertical distance to the horizontal distance, or the elevation change in feet divided by the distance in feet. The percent slope of a development area (ie, the entire contiguous area that will be disturbed by the land clearing, grading, or other earthmoving activities) is the natural slope of the existing terrain, NOT the finished or proposed percent slope resulting from the project. Structures & Related Improvements: The percent slope of each contiguous development area shall be measured perpendicular to the contours across the area being disturbed including the driveway when the driveway is less than 50 feet in length. Its average slope shall be determined by averaging at least 3 typical cross sections. The slope determination will be made using a site plan with a contour interval of 2 to 5 feet and a scale of 1"=20'or better. When a driveway exceeds 50 feet in length, the slope of the "structural development area" is measured perpendicular to the contours across the area being disturbed excluding the driveway. The driveway slope is measured separately as identified in the Roads and Driveways category below. If the average slope of each development area is less than 30%, an administrative approval may be granted. If the average slope of any development area is 30% or greater, work in that area cannot be undertaken unless a use permit is approved by the Napa Co. Zoning Administrator or Conservation Development and Planning Commission. If the average slope is greater than 50%, approval of a variance will be required (For further information regarding a variance please contact a planner). Roads & Driveways: The percent slope of a road or driveway longer than 50 feet shall be measured using the following procedure: a) Stations will be established on the plan along the centerline of the proposed roadway at 100 foot intervals with 0+00 being assigned to the point where grading commences (at the new roads juncture with the existing road) b) Cross sections at a scale of 1" = 10' horizontal and vertical extending 100 feet from outer limits (edges) of the grading shall be taken at each station (i.e. at 0+00, 1+00, 2+00 etc). When the roadway is less than 200' long, 3 equally spaced cross sections shall be taken. The axis of each cross section shall be perpendicular to the existinq contours pertinent to that section. The average slope of each cross section shall be calculated by dividing the difference in elevation of the cut and/or fill catch points by the intervening distance. c) The average slope of the roadway shall be determined by averaging all these cross sections excluding those measured at less than 5% slope. This slope determination will be made by evaluating a site plan with a contour interval of 5 feet or less and a scale of 1"= 100'or better. If the average slope calculated is less than 30%, an administrative approval may be issued. If the average is 30% or greater OR if three (3) or more cross sections exceed 50%, road development cannot be undertaken unless a use permit is approved by the Napa Co Conservation Development and Planning Commission. If the average slope is greater than 50%, approval of a variance will be required (For further information regarding a variance please contact a planner). I:`,ORIGDOCSWPPFORMS\IOn Line VIEWSHED.doc Page 30 07/29/2010 General Land Clearing: The methodology for determining slope and the criteria applied thereto are the same as those utilized for agricultural projects under the Conservation Regulations (see section below). Agriculture: The percent slope of each contiguous area cleared (ie, each area not separated by roads, streams, or non-cleared areas) shall be measured perpendicular to the contours across said area. Its average slope shall be determined by averaging at least 3 typical cross sections The slope determination will be made by evaluating a site plan with a scale of 1"=200' or greater. When the project involves less than 30 acres contour intervals of 20 feet or less shall be used. When the project involves more than 30 acres, contours intervals of 5 feet or an interval acceptable to the CDPD shall be used. If the slopes of all portions of each contiguous area are less than 30%, an administrative approval may be issued. However, if any portion within each contiguous area to be cleared is 30% or greater in slope,the following standards then apply: a) If the total area of the contiguous clearing is larger than 1 acre, sub-areas completely inside the boundaries of the area being cleared up to 1 acre in size in the 30%-50% slope range may upon the recommendation of the Napa Co Resource Conservation District or County Consultant AND written approval by the Planning Director or his designee be cleared. Clearing of areas in the 30%-50% slope range (1) adjacent to the boundaries of the proposed clearing , or (2) exceeding 1 acre in size will require approval of a use permit by the Napa Co Conservation, Development and Planning Commission. b) If the total contiguous area to be cleared or graded is less than 1 acre, up to 1/3 of the area to be cleared or graded may exceed 30% in slope but only upon the recommendation of the Napa Co Resource Conservation District or County Consultant AND written approval by the Planning Director or his designee. c) Any area with a greater than 50% slope cannot be cleared or graded unless a variance is approved (For further information please contact a planner) If the average slope of any area is 30% or greater development of that area cannot be undertaken unless the Napa Co Conservation Development and Planning Commission approve a use permit. Moreover, any area with an average slope greater than 50% cannot be cleared or graded unless a variance is approved (For further information regarding a variance please contact a planner). I:\ORIGDOCS\APPFORMS\10n Line VIEWSHED doc Page 31 07/29/2010 I-IGURE 75: CANDIDATES FOR SCENIC HIGHWAY DE=NATION3 i r e f 2 F r 1` 28 .. anew 9, v r u.ar • 2s is avnp•o•• r Leai cQ LEGEND f uunnull STATE IfiGHWAY ROUTES GOVVY ROADS t t r iz SOI.apO C09R. NL'ES I:\0RIGD0CSWPPF0RMS\10n Line VIEWSHED.doc Page 32 07/29/2010 DESIGNATED PUBLIC ROADS Figure 76—Scenic Highways Element Napa County General Plan) COUNTY ROADS Silverado Trail Dry Creek Road—Oakville Grade Petrified Forest Road Deer Park Road and Howell Mountain Road (from St. Helena to Pope Valley Road) Butts Canyon, Pope Valley and Chiles Valley Roads Pope Canyon Road Wooden Valley Road Berryessa Knoxville Road Oak Knoll Avenue Yountville Cross Road Zinfandel Lane Lodi Lane Bale Lane Jameson Canyon Rd from Hwy 29 to the Solano County Line; American Canyon Rd from Flosden/Fairgrounds Rd.to Interstate 80; Highway 29 in its entirety; Mt. Veeder Road; Partrick Road; Lokoya Road; Wall Road; Larkmead Lane;) Dunaweal Lane; Tubbs Lane; Redwood Road; Spring Mountain Road; and Old Sonoma Road STATE HIGHWAYS State Hwy 128 (from Rutherford to Monticello Dam) State Hwy 29 (from American Canyon to Lake County Line) State Hwy 121 (from Sonoma County to Napa; from Napa to State Hwy 128) VIEWSHED UPDATES ORDINANCE#1232 adopted 12-9-03 amended the Viewshed regulations to include the following; 1. The extension of applicability to include "benches and shelves" which are defined as "flat areas which could be used as a building site which are other wise surrounded by slopes of fifteen percent or greater'; 2. The definition of "substantially" as "fifty one percent or more of viewable areas as it relates to views or screening of structures and benches and shelves from the designated road(s)"; and 3. A requirement, depending on the project, to execute and record a "use restriction" prior to the issuance of building permit. Be Advised that the above is only a summary of the amendments. For specific information on the viewshed program and regulations in its entirety, consult Chapter 18.106 of the Napa County Code. I:\ORIGDOCSWPPFORMS\10n Line VIEWSHED.doc Page 33 07/29/2010 APPENDIX B STOWE, VERMONT RIDGELINES/HILLSIDES OVERLAY DISTRICT Stowe Zoning Regulations Section 16.Ridgeline&Hillside Overlay District(RHOD SECTION 16 RIDGELINE & HILLSIDE OVERLAY DISTRICT (Added 8/3/98) 16.1 Purpose The purpose of the Ridgelines/Hillsides Overlay District (RHOD) is to protect the scenic and ecological resources associated with lands characterized by high elevations,steep slopes and visual sensitivity in a manner that allows for carefully designed, low-impact development. 16.2 Authority and Effect on Existing Regulations The RHOD is adopted pursuant to the Act [4405 & 4407]. The adoption of the RHOD shall not repeal or alter any existing ordinances, regulations or bylaws of the Town of Stowe. These regulations establish standards and procedures that are in addition to those contained in the Town of Stowe Zoning& Subdivision Regulations. 16.3 District Boundaries The RHOD shall apply to all lands in the Town of Stowe designated by the"Ridgelines/Hillsides Overlay District"Map dated September 1997. 16.4 General Submission Requirements and Procedures No zoning permit for any development within the RHOD boundary shall be issued without the prior approval of the DRB, in accordance with the following procedures and standards. 1) Review Procedures: All land development in the RHOD shall comply with a hillside development plan reviewed and approved by the DRB in accordance with the following procedures. A. Preliminary Review:The applicant shall schedule a meeting with the DRB to review the Site Development Plan and set forth in Section 16.4 (2) A. Basic Submission Requirements. The DRB may authorize a committee which includes the Zoning Administrator, Planning Director or any member of the DRB to conduct a preliminary review. The purpose of the preliminary review is to evaluate the conceptual development plans, including the location and general character of the site; to consider whether the proposed development should be classified as minor; and to provide the applicant with clear direction regarding the submission materials needed for review under these regulations. The committee or individual shall recommend to the full DRB whether the proposed development should be classified as minor. B. Project Classification and Notification of Submission Requirements:The DRB shall 16-1 Stowe Zoning Regulations Section 16.Ridgeline&Hillside Overlay District(MOD determine whether the application is to be classified as"minor"or"significant", in accordance with the standards included in Section 16.4(1),C,Project Classification Criteria,below. In the event the application is determined to be"significant",the DRB shall notify the applicant of this determination in writing,and in so doing shall indicate what supplemental submission requirements shall be required for review by the DRB. Projects classified as "minor"may be issued a zoning permit,providing the development is in compliance with all other applicable regulations. C. Project Classification Criteria: The DRB shall classify a development project as minor upon finding that the project meets the standards of Section 16.5 and that the following conditions are met: 1. The small scale and limited scope of the development project involves a minimal amount of construction, excavation and/or lot clearing and,poses minimal threat to aesthetic or environmental resources. Examples ofprojects that are small in scale or limited in scope may include outdoor decks and small accessory buildings and additions, and/or; 2. The location and character of the development site is such that the proposed development can take place without adverse aesthetic or environmental impacts. Examples of such sites might include those characterized by gentle slopes, proximity to areas characterized by existing moderate to high development densities, or areas that are not visible from important vantage points because of surrounding terrain, and/or; 3. The proposed project involves the renovation or expansion of a building constructed prior to August 3, 1998,providing said renovation or expansion does not result in an increase in the total aggregate floor area of the building in excess of 125%of the total floor space in existence as of August 3, 1998, or: 4. The proposed project is sited within a previously approved building zone as part of an approved subdivision. A building zone is an area that has been specified on the approved subdivision plans for the placement of a dwelling and lies well within the standard setback requirements. 5. The proposed project is sited on a building lot subject to DRB subdivision approval,dated August 3, 1998 or later,which includes specific findings and conditions regarding compliance with the RHOD development standards and guidelines,and the applicant has clearly demonstrated that the development project meets all of the relevant conditions and related standards. 16-2 Stowe Zoning Regulations Section 16.Ridgeline&Hillside Overlay District(RHOD In classifying a project as minor,the DRB may place appropriate conditions on the scope,scale and general character of the development to ensure compliance with the development standards and guidelines set forth below. Projects classified as significant shall be subject to further review by the DRB, in accordance with the process and standards set forth below. A project classified as minor may be issued a zoning permit only for the development,landscaping, clearing and related site improvements set forth in the Site Development Plan submitted per the requirements of Section 16.4(2)A. Any deviation from the activities described in the Site Development Plan, including forest management shall require a new zoning permit. Projects re- classified as significant shall be subject to further review by the DRB,in accordance with the process and standards set forth below. D. Reconsideration of District Boundaries: In the event an applicant questions the determination that a proposed development falls in the RHOD, upon request and following notice and public hearing,the DRB shall determine whether or not such planned development is located within the RIIOD. The landowner requesting such determination shall have the burden of proof. E. Review of Significant Projects: Upon submittal of the development plan,the DRB shall schedule a public hearing in accordance with 24 V.S.A. Chapter 117 [Section 4447]. The DRB shall review the materials submitted,together with other relevant plans and resources,and may elect to visit the proposed development site. The DRB shall act to approve, approve with conditions or disapprove any such site development plan within forty-five(45)days after the date ofthe final public hearing, and failure to so act within the forty-five(45)day period shall be deemed approval. Upon approval of the site development plan,the Zoning Administrator may issue a zoning permit pursuant to all applicable provisions of this ordinance. F. Coordination with Subdivision Review: In addition to the provisions of the Stowe Subdivision Regulations,all land to be subdivided within the RHOD shall satisfy the following standards: 1. Density Analysis. Prior to submitting an application for preliminary layout or final subdivision approval, the applicant shall complete a slope-density analysis to determine the allowable density for the subject parcel(s). Such analysis shall include a parcel map showing the average slope and an indication of the total area(in acres or square footage)of the parcel with an average slope steeper than 20%. Density will be calculated based on the minimum lot area for the underlying zoning district, with the minimum lot area for the portion of the parcel having an average slope of 20%being four times that of the underlying zoning district. For example,a 100 acre parcel in the RR-5 district with 60 acres having an average slope of less than 20%and 16-3 Stowe Zoning Regulations Section 16.Ridgeline&Hillside Overlay District(RHOD 40 acres in excess of 20%shall have atotal allowable density offourteen(14) lots (i.e. 100 acres = (60 acres<20%/5 acres=12 lots)+(40 acres>20%/5 acres x 4=2 lots)=14 units/lots). The applicant may submit an independent density/slope analysis prepared by a registered Vermont surveyor or a registered Vermont Engineer, or the applicant may request that such an analysis be prepared by the Stowe Planning Office using available data and GIS technology. 2. Coordination with Section 5.2 of the Stowe Subdivision Regulations. In addition to the density standards set forth above, the DRB may grant subdivision approval with conditions related to lot clearing, landscaping, house siting,architectural design or other relevant issues necessary to ensure compliance with these regulations. In instances where conditional subdivision approval has been granted within the RHOD, applications for review under these regulations may be classified as aminor application if the DRB or its designee determines that the applicant has complied with all of the conditions of subdivision approval and standards and guidelines of these regulations. 2) Submission Requirements:In accordance with the standards ofthe overlay district,any of the following plans and materials may be required. Upon determination by the DRB that a project is to be classified as significant, the applicant will receive a checklist of required documents,plans and information necessary for the DRB to conduct a complete and proper review of the application. A. Basic Requirements: The following information and materials are required for all applications for review under Section 16.4(1)A. Preliminary Review. 1. Site Development Plan:Two complete sets of site development plans,drawn in an appropriate scale on paper not smaller than 18"x 24". Such plans shall provide adequate information necessary to review the proposed project, including a general indication of the location and design of proposed development;an indication of the physical characteristics of the development site, including areas characterized by steep slopes, existing and proposed drainage patterns and forested and open areas;proposed landscaping,clearing and forest management; road access and driveway location, and any other information relevant to the proposed development and development site. B. Supplemental Requirements: Upon determination that the project is significant pursuant to Section 16.4(1)C, the DRB may require one or more of the following prior to the review under Section 16.4(1)E: 16-4 Stowe Zoning Regulations Section 16.Ridgeline&Hillside Overlay District(RHOD 1. Grading Plan: Existing and proposed contours at a maximum of 5' intervals for the area surrounding the proposed development, such area to be of sufficient size to show the relationship of the development to the surrounding terrain. 2. Lighting Plan: Location, type and height of all exterior lighting(including security lighting) is to be shown on the site development plan. Lighting studies may be required and would include photometric analyses of exterior lighting as well as a review of any impacts interior lighting may have on nighttime visibility through windows, such as the visibility of light through building fenestration. 3. Visibility Studies: Viewshed analyses,line of site sections,site photography and other means to assess the visual impact of the proposed application. On site measures such as plywood and pole mock-ups,and survey tape layout of site elements may be also be required in the event the site is deemed to be sensitive by the DRB or its designee. 4. Stormwater Management/Erosion Control Plan: An adequate stormwater drainage and erosion control plan,prepared by a registered Vermont engineer, shall be requested when the average slope of the site is steep/severely steep or there are major headwater streams and/or major drainage areas and waterways located on the site. 5. Architectural Plans and Renderings: Building design drawings clearly depicting all proposed structures to scale and their location on the site in relation to the physical and natural features of the parcel, including the proposed grade of the building area and finished floor elevations. Drawings should clearly display building elevation and architectural design; building materials,exterior colors and window fenestration. All structures proposed, including outbuildings and garages are to be shown. 6. Landscape Plan: Existing vegetation and proposed landscaping and clearing plans showing proposed type, size and location of all vegetation to be 16-5 Stowe Zoning Regulations Section 16.Ridgeline&Hillside Overlay District(RHOD) preserved and/or installed, along with other landscaping elements such as gazebos, berms, fences, walls, etc. Special attention should be given to existing/proposed vegetation adjacent to buildings for visibility and screening purposes(within at least 30'). A species list of existing vegetation and a plan for the maintenance of the existing and proposed landscape should be included. Such a plan shall address specific measures to be taken to ensure the protection and survival,and ifnecessary, replacement of designated trees during and after the construction and/or installation of all site improvements 7. Access Plan: A plan including existing roads, ROW's and trails; proposed roads, trails, walks, paths, parking areas, etc. Such a plan would include proposed paving materials,slopes of proposed access routes and erosion control measures.This plan might be combined with the Stormwater Management/Erosion Control Plan and should include road profiles as well. 8. Slope Analysis: Prepared pursuant to Section 16.4(1)F. 1. C. Technical Assistance:The DRB may seek the assistance oftechnical experts,such as engineering or architectural professionals,to provide independent analysis related to specific applications. Such experts will be compensated in accordance with the Town of Stowe Planning and Zoning Fee Schedule. 16.5 Standards/Guidelines 1) General Requirements: To protect the unique visual and environmental character of those areas of Stowe within the RHOD,especially those characterized by steep slopes,prominent knolls,ridgelines and significant focal points,all development shall be designed and sited in a manner that does not cause undue adverse impact to the visual/scenic landscape character and the physical environment of the town. 2) Designation of Vantage Points: For the purposes of the RHOD, vantage points shall be defined as maintained (class 3 or higher) public roads, state highways and municipal properties. In reviewing projects to determine compliance with these standards, and to identity appropriate mitigation to ensure that a project does not result in an undue adverse impact on scenic resources, the DRB shall consider the relative importance of the vantage points from which the project is visible(affected vantage points). Such consideration shall include the number of affected vantage points;the volume oftraffic using the affected roads or highways;the length of time that a project would be viewed by motorists traveling on the affected roads or highways; the project's distance from affected 16-6 Stowe Zoning Regulations Section 16.Ridgeline&Hillside Overlay District(RHOD) vantage points; and, the visibility of the project from vantage points typically used by pedestrians and/or serving as public observation points. 3) Standards and Guidelines:The following list of Standards, Guidelines and accompanying illustrations are the basis for guiding development in a visually and environmentally sensible way within the overlay district without an undue adverse impact to scenic and environmental resources. "Adverse" indicates a negative impact on an identified resource. "Undue Adverse"indicates that the proposed development violates one ore more ofthe Standards set forth in this ordinance and that the impacts cannot be mitigated. Standards are statements that express the development and design intentions of this overlay district. All development within this district must comply with these standards. The Standards reflect the visual and environmental concerns of the community in terms of the Town's hillsides and ridgelines. Guidelines are instructive in nature. They suggest a variety of means by which the applicant might comply with the standards. The options for compliance are not limited to the guidelines listed,but the applicant can use the list to aid in the design process. Illustrations graphically portray the prescriptions and concepts conveyed in both the Standards and Guidelines. A. Site Development and Environmental Protection Standard 1.1.All development, including grading, clearing and construction of driveways, shall provide for the retention ofnative top soil,stabilization of steep hillsides,prevention of erosion, and consequent sedimentation of streams and watercourses. Peak stormwater discharge from the site after development shall not exceed pre-development levels for a two 2)year/twenty four(24)hour storm event and existing drainage patterns will not be altered in a manner to cause an adverse impact on neighboring properties,town highways or surface waters. 16-7 Stowe Zoning Regulations Section 16.Ridgeline&Hillside Overlay District(RHOD) Minimum 50'setback Revegetated swale w/ from disturbed area native soils,plants Permeable paving recommended IllustrationSection Use biodegradable erosion control blankets where more intensive stabilization is required Guideline 1.1. The Vermont Erosion Control Manual for acceptable practices in site hydrology and soil conservation should be followed;where roads or driveways are proposed, culverts should be used at frequent intervals to avoid long, uninterrupted ditches and to disperse stormwater. Guideline 1.2. On steep slopes,clearing should be avoided to prevent erosion resulting from stormwater runoff, and in areas where streams and intermittent watercourses are found,a buffer(s)area should be established to limit sedimentation or other adverse impacts on water quality. Guideline 1.3. The flattest portion of the site should be used for locating house sites, subsurface sewage disposal systems and parking areas. (See illust. Al &A2) 16-s Stowe Zoning Regulations Section 16.Ridgeline&Hillside Overlay District(RHOD) Split uses between llse "natural terraces"I terraces I Use "natural terraces"Iratherthan grading of entire site Illustration A2: Section Maintain filter/buffer strip between terraces for runoff and visual screening. Terraced areas can be regraded w/proper pitch and curtain/interceptor drains as necessary i i i ` • ''. • ` • •••' ' ' J •ter • Option B uses less road,provides for more open space,uses 33% less land than Option A. Option B concentrates the road cuts in one area and sites structures below the base of the ridge. 16-9 Stowe Zoning Regulations Section 16.Ridgeline&Hillside Overlay District(RHOD) Guideline 1.4. Existing vegetative buffers should be employed as filter strips or employ vegetative stabilization methods where necessary. Existing plantings retained Trees retained in clumps on either side of house 1 oil Disturbed area kept to a minimum IllustrationA4: Section House is sited on natural terrace and stepped down with grade. Lawn area is reduced in size along with maintenance requirements. Guideline 1.5. Where appropriate, long driveways and large parking areas should be avoided. Lot coverage and building footprints should be minimized and development clustered,all to minimize site disturbance and preserve large areas ofundisturbed space.(See illust. A3) Standard 2. Subsequent to the application for a zoning permit within the RHOD, forest management and timber harvesting shall,at a minimum,adhere to the guidelines included in the publication Acceptable Management Practices for Maintaining Water Quality on Logging Jobs in Vermont,published by the Vermont Department of Forests,Parks&Recreation in 1987. 16-io Stowe Zoning Regulations Section 16.Ridgeline&Hillside Overlay District(RHOD) Guideline 2.1.Forest management should maintain the appearance of an unbroken forested canopy as viewed from off-site, should protect aesthetic resources and wildlife habitat,and provide for the sustainable, ongoing management of forest resources. Standard 3. Forest management activities designed as pre-development site preparation,including road and driveway construction,clearing and/or grading for house-sites and septic systems or related work,shall be reviewed by the DRB under these regulations. Where a landowner fails to submit pre- development site preparation plans to the DRB for review,the DRB may limit development to the non-impacted portion of the property and/or require the site to be restored or revegetated prior to development. Guideline 3.1. Prior to implementing a forest management plan, the landowner should review the plan with Town Planning and Zoning staff to ensure that forest management activities and future development plans are consistent with the standards set forth in this ordinance. Standard 4. Development shall not result in an undue adverse impact on fragile environments, including designated wetlands, wildlife habitats, streams, steep and extremely steep slopes and unique features. All efforts will be made to protect/preserve such areas and promote suitable buffers. 16-11 Stowe Zoning Regulations Section 16.Ridgeline&Hillside Overlay District(RHOD) hit, t alp Z . t• k Jbit lie Zit, • Je- J[ Tom' W•' ice• k sir '`,• N Zts Le i • ` •,' fa _ a• • , ` `\ . Zlt eft _ Illustration A5: Plan Option B avoids crossing the wetlands, clusters the structures on the most suitable land, and avoids construction and road impact on the wetland 16-12 Stowe Zoning Regulations Section 16.Ridgeline&Hillside Overlay District(RHOD) Guideline 4.1. Development should be clustered away from all fragile environments. Guideline 4.2.Ifroads and bridges must be put in wetlands,they should intersect the wetland at the narrowest part. (See illust. A6) Crossing- •r'. ,t_-' ^ r ''_ s, leavesV.wetland untouched . <`Ad iy t 1 slt 1r ah IllustrationA6: Plan Road is re-routed to avoid fill/environmental impact to wetland. A proper setback is maintained between the road and the wetland and the road narrows for wetland crossing. IMinimum 50'buffer I l Buffer width increases with >I from stream edge I I slope and environmental t sensitivity of land; I I Entire slope A protected tom_ Slope greater than 15% Slope 15%or less Illustration • Section 16-13 Stowe Zoning Regulations Section 16.Ridgeline&Hillside Overlay District(RHOD) Guideline 4.3. Existing vegetation should be preserved and, as much as possible, parcels should remain with their undisturbed portions connected to one another. Guideline 4.4.Buffer widths and setbacks from streams should be established,the width of which should increase with the steepness and length of slopes,and the width of the stream.A general rule is to keep a 50'setback from streams on lands with less than 15%slope,and on steeper slopes the buffer distance should be increased as the slope increases.(See illust.A7) B. Landscape and Scenic Character Standard 5.Ifthe project is on a forested hillside,there will be no significant exposure ofbuildings, and all development shall be minimally visible and blend in with surroundings in winter months.The amount and location of clearing adjacent to structures shall be limited;additional tree planting may be required in instances where such planting is needed to visually interrupt the portion of structures visible from defined vantage points. Guideline 5.1.Clearing and forest management should be restricted to protect the unbroken forested backdrop. Generally,forest management will be limited to practices which maintain a forested appearance adjacent to buildings. (See illust. A8) Guideline 5.2.Clearing ofvegetation at the edge ofthe road should be minimal,clearing only as much as necessary to create a driveway entrance with adequate sight distance and proper drainage control. (See illust. 132) t Illustration In Option D trees are left in "islands"or extensions of the forest rather than as individual specimens. 1-he driveway is routed to eliminate blasting and grading and to protect a section of woodland. The house is oriented with topography. 16-14 Stowe Zoning Regulations Section 16.Ridgeline&Hillside Overlay District(RHOD) loll 17 2 ,• IllustrationSections In (A)the clearing for the house creates an unnatural pattern on the ridgeline and the interrupted treeline draws attention to the devglopment,creating a visual impact. Drawing(B)shows the same house with existing vegetation retained to maintain the integrity of treeline behind and in front of the structure. In (C) the roofline of the house is visible above the height of land and he clearing has removed most of the screening/buffering trees. Drawing(D) illustrates the same house(]) with vegetation saved to mitigate visual impact, if no other siting alternatives exist. The recommended solution would be siting the house (2) below the height of land, with the treeline intact. Guideline 5.3. Clearing for views should be limited,with narrow view openings between trees and beneath tree canopies being a desirable alternative to clearing large openings adjacent to building facades. View clearing should involve the selective cutting of small trees and the lower branches of large trees,rather than removing mature trees. 16-15 Stowe Zoning Regulations Section 16.Ridgeline&Hillside Overlay District(RHOD) Illustration It is important to maintain a cleared zone at driveway intersections with roads for safety (visibility) purposes.The clear zone also allows for snow storage and effective stormwater management measures such as small detention basins. Native groundcovers and low vegetation should be esabltshed in these areas Treeline intact Tree removal creates visible Selective clearing allows gaps" in trcclinc view out but still "hides" Avoid huge lawns and home uburban style landscaping lug Illustration 133: Perspective In Option A, the desired approach, existing vegetation is selectively removed and the hillside retain~its natural, forested appearance. In Option B, extensive clearing, exposes the home as a visual focal point and undermines the integrity of the land- scape pattern.A large lawn and suburban style landscape is not appropriate in this context. 16-16 Stowe Zoning Regulations Section 16.Ridgeline&Hillside Overlay District(RHOD) Guideline 5.4. On wooded sites, existing forest cover should be maintained adjacent to proposed building sites to interrupt the facade of buildings,provide a forested backdrop to buildings and reduce or eliminate the visual impact ofnew development from vantage points. See illust. B 1) Standard 6. Development shall not detract from the sense of order or harmony of the landscape patterns formed by forests,agricultural fields and open meadows. (See illust. B3-B6) Guideline 6.1. On parcels characterized by meadows, additional landscaping and/or reforestation may be employed immediately adjacent to proposed structures to interrupt the facade of buildings,provide additional trees as backdrop to buildings and/or soften the visual impact of new development from vantage points. Guideline 6.2. Trees should be preserved or planted close to structures to provide screening and better blend structures into the wooded perimeter surrounding meadows. Guideline 6.3. Buildings should be located outside of cleared meadows. Guideline 6.4. Cleared meadows,reminiscent of historic hillside pastures,may be created but buildings should not be located in them(i.e.clearings should not frame and thereby draw attention to houses located on hillsides and ridgelines). Guideline 6.5. Using stone walls and hedgerows as property lines is recommended and existing stone walls and hedgerows should be preserved wherever possible. Should additional landscaping be required, it should be consistent with existing patterns such as hedgerows 16-17 Stowe Zoning Regulations Section 16.Ridgeline&Hillside Overlay District(RHOD) B. Illustration 134: Plans Drawing(A) is plan of a typical suburban style house lot with a large lawn, wide driveway and orientation to the road.An occasional mature tree has been saved in isolated locations.The preferred plan (B) sites the house and a narrow driveway/parking area in relation to the contours and maintains existing vege- tation in their native groupings, with understory intact as well. A 30 foot clearing limit from the sides of structures may be imposed on visually sensitive sites. 16-Is Stowe Zoning Regulations Section 16.Ridgeline&Hillside Overlay District(RHOD) Illustration 135: Plans These plans illustrate how reinforcing or relating to the existing vegetative conditions create siting possibilities for houses and mainatin the agricultural open space and character of an area.The extension of the treeline along the road and the hedgerow would create a potential site for a vernacular farmhouse and barn design. Guideline 6.6. For both wooded and meadow sites, landscaping proposed for the project should be of native or naturalized hardy species consistent with vegetation types and patterns appropriate to the site and environs.Invasive,non-native species should always be avoided. Guideline 6.7. Generally,the minimum caliper for trees is 2"and the minimum shrub size is 1 gallon. Standard 7. During construction,trees identified on the landscaping plan are to be protected. Guideline 7.1. Tree protection measure taken during construction should include snow fencing 5'outside ofdrip line or,with approval,trunkprotection and hay bale covering when construction work has to be within canopy. 16-19 Stowe Zoning Regulations Section 16.Ridgeline&Hillside Overlay District(RHOD) X. i 1rMi Illustration 3 Plan In Option B,attention is given to the existing landscape patterns. Houses and driveways are sited along or within the treeline or follow existing hedgerows. Open meadows are not disrupted and future development potential exists without disturbing the open meadows. Guideline 7.2. Trees should be saved undisturbed in groupings. Guideline 7.3. Native excavated soils should be stockpiled. Where feasible, transplant existing vegetation,trees,shrubs and ground covers elsewhere on site or near to its original location. C. Road and Driveway Access Standard 8. Driveway grades shall not exceed 15% and shall have an average grade that does not exceed 12%.Where necessary,limited steeper grades are acceptable ifthey serve to better minimize overall erosion potential and environmental/aesthetic impacts,provided adequate access is ensured 16-20 Stowe Zoning Regulations Section 16.Ridgeline&Hillside Overlay District(RHOD) for fire and rescue vehicles. Guideline 8.1 Wherever feasible or appropriate,retain and reuse old farm roads,town roads and trails instead of constructing new roads or driveways to minimize clearing and disruption of the landscape and relate to traditional and historic land use patterns. Guideline 8.2. Applicant should try to minimize crossing of steep slopes with roads and driveways and should avoid roads"against"the contours; follow contours. Ridge illside Itower Elleva- Wet soils/Riverine HSpruce(Pieea I Larch(Larix spp.) Red spp.)Fir I Sugar Maple ;Fields/Edges I Maple(Acer spp.)willow Abiesz (Moosewood(Acer I White and Red Pine (Salix spp.) spp.) 7 I spp.)Cherry(Prunusl (Pinus spp.) I Alder(Alnus spp.)ViburnumIBirch(Betula I(Viburnum spp.) IF White Birch Betula spp.) Mountain Ash Sorbus spp.) I spp.)White Ash I I Fraxinus spp.) IHawthor sl f i Beech(Fagus spp.) Ispp.)Poplar(Populus l Yellow Birch tsPp•) 1 t(Betula spp.) 1Shadbush(Antelanchid4 IllustrationSection A site analysis will yield native vegetation patterns in any location.Typical species types and associations in relation to physiography are shown. 16-21 Stowe Zoning Regulations Section 16.Ridgeline&Hillside Overlay District(RHOD) jALI Illustration If a higher site must be developed,driveways providing access should follow old woods trails/farm roads where available, and in every case, "wrap around" contours or follow a more gradual route, as shown in Road Alignment B, rather than a straight cut as shown in Alignment A. The straight cut makes the whole length of the road visible and results in more cut and till. Option B, in all cases. is the best approach and minimizes road construction cost and removal of vegetation. D. Building Design Standard 9. Development will not result in any building,roof or appurtenant structure being located in a manner which would allow the building,roof or structure to visually exceed the height ofland or tree line if it is protected serving as the visual and physical backdrop to the structure as viewed from vantage points. (See illust. D2) Guideline 9.1. Buildings and structures should not be sited on high points,outcroppings or prominent knolls within the project site. (See illust. D1) Guideline 9.2. When building on slopes,the preference is to set buildings into topography using partial earth sheltering. Try taking advantage ofthe topography by building multi-level structures with entrances on more than one level (i.e.: walk-out basements, garages under buildings). 16-22 Stowe Zoning Regulations Section 16.Ridgeline&Hillside Overlay District(RHOD) Standard 10. The massing of a proj ect(a single building or a group of buildings)shall be designed to minimize visual impacts and contribute to,and harmonize with,the scenic quality ofthe surrounding landscape. Guideline 10.1. Building materials,exterior colors and fenestration that minimize year round visibility, reflectivity, and night-time light impacts should be selected. Oversized picture windows and large expanses of glass should be avoided or the visual impacts mitigated by dividers or other architectural design elements. Guideline 10.2. A variety of volumes,roof planes and wall planes should be incorporated within a building project. Guideline 10.3. The main roof line (ridges and eaves) of individual buildings should be broken and varied to reduce the buildings' visual scale. Guideline 10.4. The surface of vertical walls should be modulated to avoid a single monolithic shape and/or to reduce the visual scale of buildings. Guideline 10.5. Building design should reflect the natural patterns of the site and should be well integrated with site design and landscaping. 1`. CEC.r i'I r' it /r r, i rr~.\ r — ram •/ ' r rr / T"111111, 1 1 1 NNW Illustration 3 Plan IK] Avoid siting in these locations Indicates better siting option for buildings High points 16-23 Stowe Zoning Regulations Section 16.Ridgeline& Hillside Overlay District(RHOD) Guideline 10.6. Building design should be well integrated into the surrounding neighborhood and be in keeping with the character of the area. 16-24 Stowe Zoning Regulations Section 16.Ridgeline&Hillside Overlay District(RHOD) Standard 11. Offsite light impacts shall be minimized. Outdoor lighting shall comply with the standards contained in Section 4.4 of these bylaws. Guideline 11.1. The use of reflective surfaces and outdoor lighting fixtures higher than 15' should be minimized to limit the visibility of the development from off-site. Bollard, low post lighting and low level,indirect lighting are recommended;spot or flood lights should be avoided. (See illust. D4) Guideline 11.2. Creative lot layout may also serve to limit off-site glare,visibility and night sky pollution by laying out buildings and structures that shield light fixtures from viewing areas. Structures shall not exceed highest point of land t- t f Illustration 132: Section House is terraced down hillside and not sited on high points. This helps to reduce visual mass.It also takes advantage of the topography by having entrances at different levels. Existing bedrock is maintained as are tree groups. 16-25 Stowe Zoning Regulations Section 16.Ridgeline&Hillside Overlay District(RHOD) M 7EFfl "M W 12 24 12 12 - i Illustration D3: Section Options A and B show two different window treatments. Option B helps to reduce glare and reduces the impact of interior lighting or reflection when viewed from the outside. Single pane windows and facades should he avoided. Options C and D show two different roofing types. The moderate pitch illustrateed in Option D avoids the roof becoming another "wall" and decreases the massing of the building in general. T Options A and C provide illustrations of low level and pedestrian lighting concepts that help reduce off-site lighting impacts. Option B illustrates a typical metal hallide light fixture that would not be ideal and a fixture with a shield to focus the light. Option D illustrates placing light fixtures using topography.plant material and Structures to minimize impact- E. Development Density 16-26 Stowe Zoning Regulations Section 16.Ridgeline&Hillside Overlay District(RHOD) Standard 12. The minimum area for all lots in existence prior to August 3, 1998 shall be as established for the underlying district.Minimum area for any lot created after August 3, 1998 shall be as established for the underlying district, excluding any portion of the lot with an average steepness(slope gradient)in excess of 20%,and shall have an area four times(4x)the minimum lot area identified in the underlying district for that portion of the parcel. . Guideline 12.1. Where possible, development should take place on the portions of a lot where the slopes are less than 15%. No development should occur on land where the slope is greater than 20%. 4) Pre-Existing Lots In the case of lots created prior to August 3, 1998, compliance with the standards of Section 16.5 shall be achieved to the extent that it is possible while still allowing for reasonable use of the pre- existing lot. 5) Exemptions from these Regulations A. The DRB may waive the density standards set forth in Section 16.5(3) Standard 12 thereby allowing a total density not to exceed the density established by the underlying district, in the event that the applicant can demonstrate that, through Section 17. Planned Residential Development, the proposed development can be clustered on the portion(s)of the property laying outside of the RHOD boundaries; and/or on the portion(s) of the property not characterized by steep slopes, other fragile environmental features or high visible locations in a manner that complies with all applicable standards of these regulations. In such a case,the portion of the property not used for the cluster development shall be maintained as open space consistent with Section 17.5 of these regulations and Section 5.3 of the Stowe Subdivision Regulations. B. Notwithstanding Section 16.4(1)F.l. and Section 16.5(3) Standard 12 of these regulations regarding density and minimum lot area, lands designated as Ski-PUD pursuant to Section 18.4 of these regulations shall have a development density calculated in accordance with Section 18.4(1)(D), regardless of slope gradient. C. Ski-lifts,ski-lift towers and trail improvements related to the operation of an alpine ski area shall be exempt from review under Section 16. RHOD. D. Telecommunications facilities located within the 28.4 acre"Co-Location Area"on the summit of Mount Mansfield are exempt from review under Section 16.5 Standard 9. Such facilities must comply with all other applicable standards of the Stowe Zoning Regulations. 16-27 APPENDIX C STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, MAINE CHAPTER 3151 "ASSESSING AND MITIGATING IMPACTS TO EXISTING SCENIC AND AESTHETIC USES Standard Operating Procedure Bureau of Land and Water Quality Date: July 20,2003 Doc num: DEPLW0541-A2003 COVERSHEET STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE Operation Title: Guidance for Assessing Impacts to Existing Scenic and Aesthetic Uses under the Natural Resources Protection Act Identification No.: DEPLW0541-A2003 Revision No.: 00 Originator Name: Judy Gates Reviser: N/A Effective Date: July 20, 2003 APPROVALS: Bureau of Land and Water Quality Director: Brooke Barnes Date: Print Name Signature QMSC Chair: Malcolm C. Burson Date: Print Name Signature DISTRIBUTION: Bureau of Air Quality...................................................... By: Date: Bureau of Land and Water Quality................................. By: Date: Bureau of Remediation and Waste Management.......... By: Date: Office of the Commissioner............................................ By: Date: Quality Management Steering Committee..................... By: Date: Bureau QACs and Lead auditors........................... By: Date: o aVtROkMfyf d Standard Operating Procedure Bureau of Land and Water Quality Date: July 20,2003 Doc num: DEPLW0541-A2003a= Bureau of Land and Water Quality Division of Land Resource Regulation Licensing Unit Standard Operating Procedure Guidelines for Assessing Impacts to Existing Scenic and Aesthetic Uses under the Natural Resources Protection Act 1. APPLICABILITY. This standard operating procedure (SOP) applies to all licensing staff in the Bureau of Land and Water Quality's Division of Land Resource Regulation (Division) after December 1, 2002. It applies to the processing of applications filed with the Department under the Natural Resources Protection Act(NRPA). 2. PURPOSE. This SOP is intended to establish consistent procedures for staff assessments of potential impacts to existing scenic and aesthetic uses during the processing of NRPA applications by the Division of Land Resource Regulation. 3. RESPONSIBILITIES. 3.1 COMPLIANCE. All licensing staff in the Division of Land Resource Regulation are responsible for becoming familiar, and complying with, the contents of this procedure prior to processing an application. The attached appendices are to serve as reference materials throughout the processing of applications. Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that licensing staff is familiar with and adhere to the procedures outlined in this SOP. Enforcement & Field Services staff Drafting Department Orders will also adhere to these procedures. 3.2 OTHER. The Licensing Coordinator is responsible for initial development, approval, distribution, and maintenance of the proposed SOP. Policy and Procedures staff in the Bureau of Land & Water Quality will track this SOP. The name of responsible individuals, document title, dates of last revision, and document numbers will be recorded. 4. GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES. 4.1 ORIGINATION AND CONTENTS. Division Licensing staff will be trained in the use of the Basic Visual Assessment (VIA) form (Appendix A) and Visual Impact Assessment Matrix (Matrix) (Appendix B) associated with this SOP. The appendices will be used by Division Licensing staff when potential impacts on existing scenic and aesthetic uses are identified during the processing of an NRPA application. The VIA and matrix will be used as guidance for determining whether a proposed activity will have an unreasonable adverse impact on an aesthetically significant place, as defined in Chapter 315, Section 9. The completed VIA and matrix will be included in o aVtROkMfyfd Standard Operating Procedure Bureau of Land and Water Quality Date: July 20,2003 Doc num: DEPLW0541-A2003a= r , the project file. Associated definitions included in this SOP apply to the VIA and matrix. 4.2 SOP DEVELOPMENT AND APPROVAL PROCESS. Approval of this SOP follows the preliminary draft cycle and final approval cycle for Bureau-specific SOPs described in SOP No. OC-PE-0001, Standard Operating Procedure Development, Format, Approval, and Distribution, dated June 15, 2001. The Director of the Bureau of Land and Water Quality and the Maine DEP's QAM approve the final SOP. 5. REFERENCES. 5.1 MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION QUALITY MANAGEMENT PLAN (JUNE 2001). 5.2 MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE ON STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES (OC- PE-0001). 5.3 MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, BUREAU OF LAND AND WATER QUALITY, STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE SUPPLEMENT TO OC-PE-0001 (DEPLW2001-22). 5.4 LANDSCAPE AESTHETICS: A HANDBOOK FOR SCENERY MANAGEMENT. REVISED OCTOBER 2000. U.S. FOREST SERVICE. 5.5 SMARDON, R.C. AND HUNTER, M. 1983. THE FUTURE OF WETLANDS: ASSESSING VISUAL—CULTURAL VALUES. TOTOWA, NJ. Page 2 of 5 o aVtROkMfyf d Standard Operating Procedure Bureau of Land and Water Quality Date: July 20,2003 Doc num: DEPLW0541-A2003a= APPENDIX A:Basic Visual Impact Assessment Form VISUAL ELEMENTS VISUAL SUB INDICATORS/CLUES ELEMENT ELEMENT ELEMENTS RATINGS SCORES Severe 3 LANDSCAPE Significantly different color, Moderate 2 COMPATIBILITY COLOR hue,value chroma Minimal 1 None 0 Severe 3 Incompatible 2/3 dimensional Moderate 2 FORM shape with landscape Minimal 1 surroundings None 0 Severe 3 Incompatible edges,bands,or Moderate 2 LINE silhouette lines introduced Minimal 1 None 0 Severe 3 Incompatible textural grain,Moderate 2 TEXTURE density,regularity or pattern Minimal 1 None 0 SUBTOTAL SCALE CONTRAST Major scale Severe 12 introduction/intrusion One of several major scales or Moderate 8 major objects in confined setting Significant object or scale Minimal 4 Small object or scale None 0 SCORE SPATIAL LANDSCAPE Object/activity dominates or is Dominate 12 DOMINANCE prominent in whole landscape composition;oris promently Co-Dominate 8 situated within the landscape;or SITUATION dominates landform,water,or sky backdrop Sub-ordinate 4 Insignificant 0 BACKDROP SCORE TOTAL VISUAL IMPACT SEVERITY Severe 27-36 Strong 26-18 DEPLW0541-A2002 Moderate 17-9 Used with permission of R.C.Smardon Weak or Negligible 8-0 Page 3 of 5 o aVtROkMfyf d Standard Operating Procedure Bureau of Land and Water Quality Date: July 20,2003 Doc num: DEPLW0541-A2003a= Definitions associated with Appendix A. A. Backdrop. The distant part of a landscape located from 4 miles to infinity from the viewer. B. Color. The property of reflecting light of a particular wavelength that enables the eye to differentiate otherwise indistinguishable objects. A hue (red, green, blue, yellow, etc.) as contrasted with a value (black,white,or gray). C. Contrast. Diversity or distinction of adjacent parts. Effect of striking differences in color, form, line,or texture of a landscape. D. Dominance. The extent to which an object is noticeable when compared to the surrounding context. E. Form. The structure,mass or shape of a landscape or an object. Landscape form is often defined by the edges or outlines of landforms, rockforms, vegetation patterns, or waterforms, or the enclosed spaces created by these attributes. F. Landform. One of the attributes or features that make up the Earth's surface, such as a plain, mountain,or valley. G. Landscape. An area composed of interacting ecosystems that are repeated because of geology, landform, soils,climate,biota,and human influences throughout that area. H. Landscape Character or Landscape Composition. Particular attributes, qualities, and traits of a landscape that give it an image and make it identifiable or unique. L Landscape Compatibility.The elements of color,form,line, and texture that typically determine landscape character. J. Line. Anything that is arranged in a row or sequence. In landscapes — ridges, skylines, structures,changes in vegetation,or individual trees and branches—may be perceived as line. K. Scale Contrast. The degree to which an activity or object dominates or intrudes into a landscape or confined setting. L. Situation.The position of the activity or object within the landscape. M. Spatial Dominance. The degree to which an activity or object dominates the landscape; is prominently situated within the landscape; or dominates landform,waterform,or sky backdrop. N. Texture. The grain of a landscape or repetitive pattern of tiny forms. Visual texture can range from smooth to coarse. O. Visual Elements. The landscape's components that make up the overall visual character of a landscape. P. Waterform. One of the attributes or features that make up the Earth's surface, such as a pond, lake, stream, river, waterfall, estuary, or ocean. Page 4 of 5 eoy1R0"ke}k Standard Operating Procedure Bureau of Land and Water Quality Date: July 20,2003 Doc num: DEPLW0541-A2003 APPENDIX B:Visual Impact Assessment Matrix LEGEND knpact severity UNACCEPTABLE.High level of visual contrast in line, Ratmg Severe Strong Moderate Weak/None form,color,or texturebetween existing high quality landscape and development proposal,view ofwater or otherScenicsignificantvisualresourceobstructed. May be grounds forsigni&can 36-27 26-18 17-9 8-0 project denial. 3 W ACCEPTABLE WITH MAJOR MITIGATION. High degree of contrast on landscape of medium significance, ly High moderate degree of contrast on highly significant landscape. Project re-designnecessary. W U ACCEPTABLE WITH MITIGATION. Some modification to project siting or design necessary to achieve Medium better landscape`fit.' wo 0-0 ACCEPTABLE WITH MINOR MITIGATION. Relatively minor adjustments to plan or siting necessary to Low achieve a higher level of project compatibility. z w U LOW/NO IMPACT. No perceptible change to the visual Unrated landscape. No mitigation required. Chart is recommended method for reviewing visual impacts Appendix B and determining level of effort required formitigation and/or Basic Visual Assessment Form reconsideration of project siting and design. Application of DEPLW0451-A2002 the recommended actions should consider length of view and Used with permission of Terrence DeWan& viewer expectation. Associates) Page 0 of 5 06-096 DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Chapter 315: ASSESSING AND MITIGATING IMPACTS TO EXISTING SCENIC AND AESTHETIC USES SUMMARY: This chapter describes the process for evaluating impacts to existing scenic and aesthetic uses resulting from activities in, on, over, or adjacent to protected natural resources subject to the Natural Resources Protection Act,pursuant to 38 M.S.R.A. § 480-D (1). 1.Introduction.In the Natural Resources Protection Act(NRPA), 38 M.R.S.A. §§ 480-A through Z,the Legislature has found and declared that Maine's rivers and streams,great ponds, fragile mountain areas, freshwater wetlands, significant wildlife habitat, coastal wetlands, and sand dune systems are resources of state significance. Section 480-A states that these resources have great scenic beauty and unique characteristics,unsurpassed recreational, cultural,historical, and environmental value ofpresent and future benefit to the citizens of the State and that uses are causing the rapid degradation and, in some cases,the destruction ofthese critical resources. The Legislature's recognition of the scenic beauty of these protected natural resources through statute distinguishes the visual quality of those resources and its value to the general population. Applicants for permits under the NRPA are required to demonstrate that a proposed activity meets the standards of the NRPA that have been established by the Legislature. Standard 1 in Section 480-D of the NRPA requires an applicant to demonstrate that a proposed activity will not unreasonably interfere with existing scenic and aesthetic uses. 2.Purpose. This rule specifies State regulatory concerns, defines visual impacts, establishes a procedure for evaluating visual impacts generated from proposed activities, establishes when a visual assessment may be necessary, explains the components of a visual assessment when required, and describes avoidance,mitigation, and offset measures that may eliminate or reduce unreasonable adverse impacts to existing scenic and aesthetic uses. 3.Applicability. This rule applies to the alteration of a coastal wetland,great pond, freshwater wetland, fragile mountain area, river, stream, or brook, as defined in 38 M.S.R.A. § 480-B of the Natural Resources Protection Act(NRPA),that requires an individual permit or is eligible for Tier 3 review. This rule does not apply to an activity that is exempt from permit requirements under the NRPA or that qualifies for a Tier 1 or Tier 2 permit. This rule does not apply to a Permit by Rule unless the Department exercises its discretionary authority to require an individual permit as described in Chapter 305, Section 1 (D). In the review of an application for a permit,the Department must evaluate the potential for unreasonable adverse visual impacts resulting from a proposed activity located in, on, over, or adjacent to a protected natural resource. 4.Scope of Review.The potential impacts of a proposed activity will be determined by the Department considering the presence of a scenic resource listed in Section 10,the significance of the scenic resource,the existing character ofthe surrounding area,the expectations ofthe typical viewer,the extent and intransience of the activity,the project purpose, and the context of the proposed activity. Unreasonable adverse visual impacts are those that are expected to unreasonably interfere with the general public's visual enjoyment and appreciation of a scenic resource, or those that otherwise unreasonably impair the character or quality of such a place. Chapter 315,Assessing and Mitigating Impacts to Existing Scenic and Aesthetic Uses I - 06-096 DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 5.Definitions.As used in these rules,the following terms have the following meanings. Other terms used in these rules have the meanings set forth at 38 M.S.R.A. § 480-X and Chapter 310, the Wetlands and Waterbodies Protection Rules. A. Adverse visual impact.The negative effect of a regulated activity on the visual quality of a landscape. B. Composition.The arrangement of the component parts of a landscape. Component parts are objects or activities usually described in terms of color,texture, line, form, dominance, and scale. C. Contrast. Comparing the component parts of a landscape in terms of form, line, color, texture, dominance, or scale. D. Existing uses.The current appearance and use of the landscape, considering previous human alterations. E. Landscape.An area characterized by its geology, landform,biota, and human influences throughout that area. F. Mitigation.Any action taken or not taken to avoid,minimize, rectify, reduce, or eliminate actual or potential adverse environmental impact, including adverse visual impact. G. Practicable.Available and feasible considering cost, existing technology and logistics based on the overall purpose ofthe activity. H. Scenic Resource.Public natural resources or public lands visited by the general public , in part for the use, observation, enjoyment, and appreciation of natural or cultural visual qualities.. The attributes, characteristics, and features of the landscape of a scenic resource provide varying responses from, and varying degrees of benefits to,humans. I.Viewshed.The geographic area as viewed from a scenic resource,which includes the proposed activity. The viewshed may include the total visible activity area from a single observer position or the total visible activity area from multiple observers' positions. J.Visual Quality.The essential attributes of the landscape that when viewed elicit overall benefits to individuals and,therefore,to society in general. The quality of the resource and the significance ofthe resource are usually,but not always, correlated. 6.Application submissions.An applicant is required to demonstrate that the proposed activity will not unreasonably interfere with existing scenic and aesthetic uses of a scenic resource listed in Section 10. Basic evidence must be provided to ensure that visual concerns have been fully addressed in each application. The applicant must describe the location of the activity and provide an inventory of scenic resources within the viewshed ofthe proposed activity by completing the MDEP Visual Evaluation Field Survey Checklist(doc. 4DEPLW0540)provided in the application. The applicant must describe the activity relative to its location and scale within the viewshed of any scenic resource, including a description of the existing visual quality and landscape characteristics. The applicant may request a pre-application meeting during which Chapter 315,Assessing and Mitigating Impacts to Existing Scenic and Aesthetic Uses 2- 06-096 DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION the Department can provide guidance for determining the location of the activity relative to scenic resources in the vicinity ofthe applicant's parcel. 7.Visual impact assessments.The Department may require a visual impact assessment if a proposed activity appears to be located within the viewshed of, and has the potential to have an unreasonable adverse impact on, a scenic resource listed in Section 10. An applicant's visual impact assessment should visualize the proposed activity and evaluate potential adverse impacts ofthat activity on existing scenic and aesthetic uses of a protected natural resource within the viewshed of a scenic resource, and to determine effective mitigation strategies, if appropriate. If required, a visual impact assessment must be prepared by a design professional trained in visual assessment procedures, or as otherwise directed by the Department. In all visual impact assessments, scenic resources within the viewshed ofthe proposed activity must be identified and the existing surrounding landscape must be described. The assessment must be completed following standard professional practices to illustrate the proposed change to the visual environment and the effectiveness of any proposed mitigation measures. The radius of the impact area to be analyzed must be based on the relative size and scope of the proposed activity given the specific location. Areas of the scenic resource from which the activity will be visible, including representative and worst-case viewpoints,must be identified. Line-of-sight profiles constitute the simplest acceptable method of illustrating the potential visual impact of the proposed activity from viewpoints within the context of its viewshed. A line-of-sight profile represents the path, real or imagined,that the eye follows from a specific point to another point when viewing the landscape. See Appendix A for guidance on line-of-sight profiles. For activities with more sensitive conditions,photosimulations and computer-generated graphics may be required. A visual impact assessment must also include narratives to describe the significance of any potential impacts,the level of use and viewer expectations,measures taken to avoid and minimize visual impacts, and steps that have been incorporated into the activity design that may mitigate any potential adverse visual impacts to scenic resources. 8.Mitigation.In the case where the Department determines that the proposed activity will have an adverse visual impact on a scenic resource, applicants may be required to employ appropriate measures to mitigate the adverse impacts to the extent practicable. Mitigation should reduce or eliminate the visibility ofthe proposed activity or alter the effect of the activity on the scenic or aesthetic use in some way. The Department will determine when mitigation should be proposed and whether the applicant's mitigation strategies are reasonable. The Department may require mitigation by requesting that the applicant submit a design that includes the required mitigation or by imposing permit conditions consistent with specified mitigation requirements. In its determination whether adverse impacts to existing scenic and aesthetic uses are unreasonable,the Department will consider whether the applicant's activity design is visually compatible with its surroundings, incorporating environmentally sensitive design principles and components according to the strategies described below. A. Planning and siting.Properly siting an activity may be the most effective way to mitigate potential visual impacts. Applicants are encouraged, and may be required,to site a proposed activity in a location that limits its adverse visual impacts within the viewshed of a scenic resource. Chapter 315,Assessing and Mitigating Impacts to Existing Scenic and Aesthetic Uses 3 - 06-096 DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION B. Design.When circumstances do not allow siting to avoid visual impacts on a scenic resource, elements of particular concern should be designed in such a way that reduces or eliminates visual impacts to the area in which an activity is located, as viewed from a scenic resource. Applicants should consider a variety of design methods to mitigate potential impacts, including screening,buffers, earthen berms, camouflage, low profile, downsizing,non-standard materials, lighting, and other alternate technologies. C. Offsets. Correction of an existing visual problem identified within the viewshed of the same scenic resource as the proposed activity may qualify as an offset for visual impacts when an improvement may be realized. Offsets may be used in sensitive locations where significant impacts from the proposal are unavoidable or other forms of mitigation might not be practicable. An example of an offset might be the removal of an existing abandoned structure that is in disrepair to offset impacts from a proposal within visual proximity of the same scenic resource. Offsets can also include visual improvements to the affected landscape, such as tree plantings or development of scenic overlooks. 9.Determination.It is the responsibility of the applicant to demonstrate that the proposed design does not unreasonably interfere with existing scenic and aesthetic uses, and thereby diminish the public enjoyment and appreciation ofthe qualities of a scenic resource, and that any potential impacts have been minimized. The Department's determination of impact is based on the following visual elements of the landscape: A. Landscape compatibility,which is a function of the sub-elements of color, form, line, and texture. Compatibility is determined by whether the proposed activity differs significantly from its existing surroundings and the context from which they are viewed such that it becomes an unreasonable adverse impact on the visual quality of a protected natural resource as viewed from a scenic resource; B. Scale contrast,which is determined by the size and scope of the proposed activity given its specific location within the viewshed of a scenic resource; and C. Spatial dominance,which is the degree to which an activity dominates the whole landscape composition or dominates landform,water, or sky backdrop as viewed from a scenic resource. In making a determination within the context of this rule,the Department considers the type, area, and intransience of an activity related to a scenic resource that will be affected by the activity,the significance of the scenic resource, and the degree to which the use or viewer expectations of a scenic resource will be altered, including alteration beyond the physical boundaries ofthe activity. hi addition to the scenic resource,the Department also considers the functions and values of the protected natural resource, any proposed mitigation,practicable alternatives to the proposed activity that will have less visual impact, and cumulative effects of frequent minor alterations on the scenic resource. An application may be denied if the activity will have an unreasonable impact on the visual quality of a protected natural resources as viewed from a scenic resource even if the activity has no practicable alternative and the applicant has minimized the proposed alteration and its impacts as much as possible through mitigation. An Chapter 315,Assessing and Mitigating Impacts to Existing Scenic and Aesthetic Uses 4- 06-096 DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION unreasonable impact"means that the standards of the Natural Resources Protection Act, 38 M.R.S.A. § 480-D,will not be met. 10. Scenic resources.The following public natural resources and public lands are usually visited by the general public, in part with the purpose of enjoying their visual quality. Under this rule,the Department considers a scenic resource as the typical point from which an activity in, on, over, or adjacent to a protected natural resource is viewed. This list of scenic resources includes,but is not limited to, locations of national, State, or local scenic significance. A scenic resource visited by large numbers who come from across the country or state is generally considered to have national or statewide significance. A scenic resource visited primarily by people of local origin is generally of local significance. Unvisited places either have no designated significance or are "no trespass"places. Sources for information regarding specific scenic resources are found as part of the MDEP Visual Evaluation Field Survey Checklist(doc. 4DEPLW0540)provided in the application. A. National Natural Landmarks and other outstanding natural and cultural features (e.g., Orono Bog, Meddybemps Heath); B. State or National Wildlife Refuges, Sanctuaries, or Preserves and State Game Refuges e.g., Rachael Carson Salt Pond Preserve in Bristol,Petit Marian National Wildlife Refuge,the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve); C. A State or federally designated trail(e.g.,the Appalachian Trail, East Coast Greenway); D. A property on or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places pursuant to the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended(e.g.,the Rockland Breakwater Light, Fort Knox); E. National or State Parks (e.g.,Acadia National Park, Sebago Lakes State Park); F. Public natural resources or public lands visited by the general public, in part for the use, observation, enjoyment and appreciation of natural or cultural visual qualities.(e.g.,great ponds,the Atlantic Ocean). STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 38 M.R.S.A. § 480-A ADOPTED DATE: June 5, 2003 EFFECTIVE DATE: June 29, 2003 -filing 2003-198 Chapter 315,Assessing and Mitigating Impacts to Existing Scenic and Aesthetic Uses 5 - 06-096 DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION APPENDIX A GUIDANCE FOR THE PREPARATION OF LINE-OF SIGHT-PROFILES Chapter 315,Assessing and Mitigating Impacts to Existing Scenic and Aesthetic Uses 6- 06-096 DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION UQp41Sod uoc aquas p / MMA L + rg U rt Jy p Tx K s L PtW}d Cry R O G r O L i LJ •eC T.m L rr d C R A N i i 61 rl alt/Qa4 a'o c aSA yUy L ffv-N yD!.Q4-ti C nj Cn • Gt a G'H rVJra uj Lu f C L H ew G r vJ ppL T. 3 a yr L Chapter 315,Assessing and Mitigating Impacts to Existing Scenic and Aesthetic Uses 7- 06-096 DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION VIEWSHEDS For illustrative purposes only. a "Partial ' .ier; :t;_ no, been eQnstrurted below. F :ial vlewsheC: r, i-s:.ir,.ir,ished from a fu11 ir, t.hat it only shows aselectedareafi-rm n,_P, an QbJect May be Seer. A fi,I i viewined shows all such areas. The ii .;,:_ ,tree 'r. thL nort-hoest corner of the lake is the o,tly area within theZak. ri:,y+. , r,r, ,r•hc ti_ l ad,,Ject )CC fUuL in height and situated at A (where the profile raaii c.,r,derge nay be seen. Th_ ;eflo,,, oiewin area has been constructed by connecting each poi rofi1F- 6.ere , iew,er ju-,t- begins to see the hypotl,eiical object, to adu ched. 40, 4 qe-,atior, tias _Teen factored into 7 . i ines of sight. 1-lie vegetaLt:r; alr, Chi•! vfewinG nglr- and ler'ce the initial viewpo.by the large blae;:dote rt 'L!ie intersect ion of the shaded area with eaci• rirof i r r adi i» r LI IN tsr •, I y lri. ,` } i _,$' r ea_g r iti fror r 1 r kl r 'n7 i ' —` " ti4 tip• f , f gp Lei c ' , y}•/.. LEGEND N YiEKSHED SCALE 1" a 2,000° Area within lake from which a fypnthetical 10a foot object located at "A" may be seen) Chapter 315,Assessing and Mitigating Impacts to Existing Scenic and Aesthetic Uses 8- 06-096 DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PROFILES 2,- fic Lruphpapr!r parall-rt and uonngjoLm to the nomenzai re::. LJ I-t ru-or.o:--atedbyhric A-B), Fn',L,•cd Mty kwurijuig v rticli hur; to ire(;O1-re4'%freight 4CCQrdLn'_' -r-. q..-Jected cmvEnic.rit vcrrWAI I iFL It.. G:j:,_T) Th I r.^I Lzt be d011C ffOW 1 1,!'_,'lhe h'jTjZoP 1(rJj U Lj6=cru a II 10 1: 1:0- '' at-.On in'LhC jatCE-:]!;_CI L-,.I t, it ec!L nom mn5 th,.-hciryjt t>r I r :-I[hne 1 r-.h-2 top of erich verl I rin[3r- lac:C j)dl_p j0ES LhC de`;PVrS_1iC nS Ili-T, r L ?v IIId 1 _'ITIg c:S F 11`Torn Point A to B on the plan map. 1.1 r' rc h'IOn aC Jar XCI"e( 10c-UIOLIS at the propur height j in LhiE uasv 40'j Aiusv rrs Q. Can abserver st loc.%Ljon"Z- see the ina_q 5h0rc 0 f ch,r lake 7 A. No Q, At witat poipo will 11(c obs4xvcr errr 6-viger be 110,,to sty I I T t+ l-, — A. At p%,Tat"Y Q. Wh'.!is flic w'L;ibjC PotWo of objurt'X*to an observer ar LN Eir T IT; L N A, Abr.ut 21)fizet T 11 Tat i'j Fl I... ... .... VERZIC.;U. SCALE I' 100' L— HOR17WJTAL SCALE J* NJ , C, L r Chapter 315,Assessing and Mitigating Impacts to Existing Scenic and Aesthetic Uses 9- APPENDIX D CANYON OAKS STORY POLES Canyon Oaks Story Poles Discussion v CITY of C ALABASAS A request to install story poles, per the attached story pole plan, for the proposed development of a 77-acre vacant site located at 4790 Las Virgenes Road at the eastern terminus of Agoura Road (APNs: 2069078009 and 2069078011 ). The proposed project includes: (1 ) a residential component consisting of 67 single- family detached homes and four affordable units located within two duplexes; and 2) a commercial component consisting of a four-story hotel. Approximately 80% of the site would be preserved as permanent open space. R+s Q1 n yl f I Ln 711 r* C' File No. 140000011 A request to install story poles for the proposed development of Planning Commission a 77-acre vacant site located at 4790 Las Virgenes Road. January 21, 2016 CITY of CALABASAS Proposed Development Summary The project site is currently zoned PD — RMF (20) — OSDR. Commercial component: 120-room, 66,516 square-foot hotel on approximately three acres; Residential component: 67 small lot, single-family residences and two duplexes (four units) on approximately 13 acres; Approximately 61 acres of dedicated open space. The project site is located within the Las Virgenes Road Scenic Corridor. The hotel and 19 of the 71 total residential units fall within the 500-foot Las Virgenes Road scenic corridor buffer. File No. 140000011 A request to install story poles for the proposed development of Planning Commissionka77-acre vacant site located 1 Las Virgenes • . • January 21, 2016 Review Authority Per the City of Calabasas Story Pole Procedures: Story poles are required for all new projects located within a Scenic Corridor Overlay Zone. Story poles are required for all projects seeking an exception in building height by way of variance or development plan, and the subject project does include a development plan request to exceed a height of 35-feet). Hotel component The Planning Commission is being requested to review the proposed story pole plan due to the impracticability of erecting the poles for the all of the houses in the scenic corridor in complete compliance with the guidelines. Story Pole Goals: (1 ) public notification; (2) assessment of visual impact. File No. 140000011 PlanningArequesttoinstallstorypolesfortheproposeddevelopmentofCommission on-CU C`1 kR ""'G • e kr u son f- s r' ti, I aJ O + V r4W r r 4 k wti Y t kl 5 r 49-1 Jffll F o_ 1 1 r 0 The Colony r siftMy r • d 9 a. 1 is m kie r r,r„ lowE4 Views from Las Virgenes r y _ wr r St,$ ' 70 44,11 Views from Las Virgenes mF . AA 71 T"'•y a s rya t a=der v.FIT I IN Goosle earth r „ Views from Las Virgenes mF . Aflu c & y d r5f 1r i Views from Las Virgenes low JL P. r.: A. l pp r A.; Section D Y FINAL Gle<T:E pgGPOSE4 I STORY POLE` RESIGENCE g-.' BGILpING EE g PROPOSED FINISH Ep STORY POLES Y GN o LPROPETY o PE=BJ9.00 i m o RIGFE RIGHT OF wpr GCE OF Wqr I I o EXIS.GROUND REBIOENCE I-IOEUCEI I PRIVATE pRNE II f, 1"'lA5 RRGEH6 RD.TRACT 53534 CANYON OAKS PROJECT SIiE TRACT 71456 755 1+00 2+pp J+pO 1-FW 5+p0 6+p0 SECTION"D" DHOR. 1'— 40" VER. 1'=20' Views from Las Virgenes low qq JL P. f , R r C R- r r 1 Views from Las Virgenes a MW xo r r.: A. l g 1 i V8 Views from Las Virgenes tit Sri y 4 Ao y ix R bi a Y FY e a r Y Story Pole Plan F F "x3 V KIM IJ r a m, r I I m , I m J r i I m, yy w IT r Hotel + Story Poles LP I j F- x w . a File No. 140000011 A request to install story poles for the proposed development of Planning Commission a 77-acre vacant site located at 4790 Las Virgenes Road. January 21, 2016 CITY of CALABASAS ed ,1 Story Pole Plan - Hotel Tallest point of f proposed building 54.9' m r r m r Tallest Pole: 4 S,TF Pole 9 Height= 36 5 Proposed ROAD H/LLS Tower Height= c Ale) 53' File No. N 140000011 PlanningArequesttoinstallstorypolesfortheproposeddevelopmentofCommission a 77-acre vacant site located 1 Las Virgenes • . • January 21, 2016 r m Proposed Residential Development + Stow Poles i Uft FP IN File No. 140000011 A request to install story poles for the proposed development of Planning Commission a 77-acre vacant site located at 4790 Las Virgenes Road. January 21, 2016 CITY of CALABASAS d r Proposed Res . Stow Poles r 1 File No. 140000011 A request to install story poles for the proposed development of Planning Commission a 77-acre vacant site located at 4790 Las Virgenes Road. January 21, 2016 CITY of CALABASAS Story Pole Plan - Residential J v'. 1 9 m I v r r f ry I A n Pole with Highest Elevation: Pole Height 43' oKn ti oa Proposed Building Height at roof eave)= 26.5' File No. 140000011 PlanningArequesttoinstallstorypolesfortheproposeddevelopmentofCommission Recommended Action That the Commission authorize the applicant to proceed with the proposed story pole plan . File No. 140000011 A request to install story poles for the proposed development of Planning Commission a 77-acre vacant site located at 4790 Las Virgenes Road. January 21, 2016 CITY of CALABASAS APPENDIX E WAIKAPU COUNTRY TOWN VISUAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT 4=O O O O C:+ +a G O rO_ :Q:O:O;O 4 04r'f IAk WAA Aft A< 41 xr,16 & do ;iu !~ rir I r r,io r r iir rw r,yr 0 iM! s* o Oftwo-wooft. IN oft- oft pa owk..o i i , i i 1 i r r i i , i i r • i, i AffectedCHAPTER V Human Environment, Potential Impacts1 Mitigation Measures r j+ r00 ;ice 1( rr i r I r M 11,r jr1 s+ ; lif r• ' CHAPTER 5 AFFECTED HUMAN ENVIRONMENT,POTENTIAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES 6. Visual Resources Existing Conditions. The WCT project area is located between the town of Wailuku to the north and M5'alaea to the south along the Honoapi'ilani Highway. The project site generally slopes from west to east with a high elevation of approximately 710 feet mean sea level (msl) at the northwesterly corner and a low elevation of about 256 feet above msl at the southerly corner, within the fertile Central Maui isthmus. Views from within the project site are both diverse and dramatic. Largely unobstructed views of Haleakala, the West Maui Mountains, the Central Maui isthmus and the Pacific Ocean are available at the mid and upper elevations. At the higher elevations Wailuku and Kahului, East Maui and South Maui are all visible. From the lower elevations largely unobstructed views are available of the West Maui Mountains, Haleakala, and sugar cane lands that stretch from Honoapi'ilani Highway to M5'alaea and Kihei. These same lower elevation views are presently available from Honoapi'ilani Highway looking into the project site. The existing mauka view from Honoapi'ilani Highway into the project site is of agricultural fields planted in sugar and diversified crops, the MTP, and the valley and ridgelines of the West Maui Mountains. The makai view from the highway, where not obstructed by right-of-way vegetation, is of the existing sugarcane fields and Haleakala. When the sugarcane has been harvested there are intermittent views of the ocean horizon (See: Figure 8 A-N, "Site Photographs"). Potentiol Impocts and Mitigation Measures. Chris Hart& Partners, Inc. prepared an island-wide Scenic Resources Inventory Study for the County of Maui, Department of Planning, in July 2006 in support of the General Plan 2030 Update.The purpose of the study was to inventory and rate the island's scenic resources so that appropriate advanced planning and mitigation strategies could be employed to protect these resources. The MIP incorporates the study's scenic roadway corridor recommendations into its "Context and Character Map" and references the corridors in policies within Chapter 3, Heritage Resources (See: Figure No. 34, "Maui Island Plan, Context and Character Map"). WAIKAPU COUNTRY TOWN V-26 DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT Character& Registered Historic Parcels"and Context MaRegisteredHistoricSites"only p represent those listed on State or Island ofMaui National Registers and included within Maui County's GIS system. Sites shown are not all-inclusive K.h.na- and do not represent all historic Background Map sites on Maui.As additional For Informational Purposes Only data becomes available it will be f integrated into future mapping. Legend 8 Pa a Y j7 11f P-mary Road N Ala Heleor OtherT.il K.'anapali J W.iluku Kahului - H kk Steam ie` ! ti Wetland,Pond orR.—I, r 4 I Reglste d Hs—-Site L h i 0 Registered H stack Parcel Keanae S-nocomaor Property Exceptional Location a`aW+ r HghumA5Medir( ti Boat n9 Faclty goat Launch Remp Olowalu Small Boat Harbory Aquatic Activity Ocean Recreatlon t>Board Surfing8rHan. Body Surfing(_ t it it \ Q Canoe Paddling v I I SnoMinglDiving IL f^Kipahulu cwnen©^swema.m,zoix ae ma nngDepatnerakrZanmg mnfirmati.n. This map is for informational purposes Prepared by: Long Range Planning Division only and subject to change based DepaHme^'nrPla^ningLountyorMaui on future research and findings. x6o sadh wian street/\(\ J$f:4/\jJ Wailuku:Ha li 86]89`:—? Figure 34:MIPContext&Character Map Map I-1 CHAPTER 5 AFFECTED HUMAN ENVIRONMENT,POTENTIAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES The Scenic Resources Inventory Study identifies the area along Honoapi'ilani Highway, fronting the project site, as an area of "High" scenic resource value. In the study, areas of "Exceptional" and "High" resource value are described as having "dramatic and diverse resource values consistently throughout the corridor" and are "typically in a natural condition and unmarked by development." The study's GIS inventory provides "field study" notes that describe the character of the subject corridor. The notes describing the Honoapi'ilani corridor, fronting the project site, are as follows: High concentration of agricultural lands; open space; and distant Haleakald views. Intact West Maui mountain views and expansive views of Md'alaea and the KKhei coastline and Lanai views exist. There is considerable utility clutter along the highway. Sprawl conditions along the highway between Waikapu and Md'alaea should be avoided through the establishment of clear boundaries and features such as landscape plantings and entry signage." Chapter 3, Heritage Resources, of the MIP contains policies that discourage sprawl and the merging of the island's small towns. MIP policies also protect views of Haleakala, the West Maui Mountains, the Pacific Ocean and other scenic resources. As such, design strategies are needed to mitigate the impact of the WCT on visual resources from the Honoapi'ilani Highway fronting the project site. The following documents scenic resource impacts and describes proposed urban design strategies to help mitigate these impacts. Sprawl. The WCTs urban and rural development will have approximately 4,700 linear feet of frontage along the Honoapi'ilani Highway. The proposed development pattern will produce a significant change from the largely undeveloped and open space views that currently exist along what will become the frontage of the project. It is unavoidable that the current open space views of sugarcane will be impacted by the development. However, the following urban design and landscape architectural treatments will be implemented to help reduce the appearance of sprawl like conditions and to create an aesthetically pleasing sense of place fronting the project site: Large Setbacks along the Highway. Setbacks of at least 60 feet, and in some areas significantly more than 60-feet, will be utilized along each side of the WAIKAPU COUNTRY TOWN V-28 DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT CHAPTER 5 AFFECTED HUMAN ENVIRONMENT,POTENTIAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES Honoapi'ilani Highway to separate the development from the public right-of- way. Landscape Planting within the Right-of-Way. Within the setbacks, the planting of large canopy Monkey Pod trees, tropical shrubs and ground covers will be maintained to create a sense of separation and definition between the urban development and the highway and to create a green canopy enclosure and greenway as a passage through the town. Separated Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities. An approximate 10-feet wide shared pedestrian and bicycle track, separated from the highway, will meander along the highway frontage. The shared use path will promote non-motorized transportation, while producing more opportunities for the public to experience the pleasant scenery along the highway. Haleakala and West Maui Mountains from Honoapi'ilani Highway. From Honoapi'ilani Highway, the elevation of the project site rises rather gradually, at a 3% to 6% slope, from about 325-feet above msl to about 550-feet above mis where the Waikapu Ditch traverses north to south across the property. From the Waikapu Ditch the slopes increase to between 10% and 15% as the elevation increases to the foot of the West Maui Mountains. The foot of the West Maui Mountains is at an elevation of approximately 1,250 feet at the upper reaches of the WCT property and is about 6,800 feet from the highway. In order to mitigate the obstruction of views from the highway to the West Maui Mountains and Haleakala, buildings will be setback at least 75-feet from the highway and building heights will be limited to a maximum of 30-feet along the highway frontage. Building placement and areas of separation will also help to create view corridors between the highway and the mountains. Within the project, roadways are purposefully aligned, where practicable, to capture mauka and makai view corridors. This opportunity exists at each entrance into the project site and along these roads as they travel east to west. In addition, views of the West Maui Mountains, Haleakala and the Pacific Ocean will also be preserved in various WAIKAPU COUNTRY TOWN V-29 DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT CHAPTER 5 AFFECTED HUMAN ENVIRONMENT,POTENTIAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES locations from public spaces within the WCT, including the Village Green, the WaikapG River Park, Waihe'e Ditch Greenway and the WaikapG Station Greenway. Open Space Resources. The project will impact views of agricultural lands on each side of the Honoapi'ilani Highway fronting the development. While these views are not unique within Central Maui,they do enhance Maui's beauty and are an important visual resource. In order to mitigate this impact, approximately 800 acres of agricultural land will be preserved in perpetuity as an open space buffer and permanent separation between WaikapG Town and M5'alaea. Along the section of the highway where agricultural land is to be preserved, largely unobstructed views of Haleakala, the West Maui Mountains and partial views of the Pacific Ocean exist. Within the project site, the WCT will transform the current character of the MTP from a visitor oriented attraction to a park-like village center, with its existing lagoon, gardens, open spaces, shops, and restaurant coming together to create a new sense of place. While the existing agricultural and open space ambiance of the lands abutting the MTP will become an urban and rural settlement pattern, the WCT will maintain a rural and agricultural ambiance at its boundaries because of the preservation of agricultural lands and incorporation of agricultural supporting activities, such as a farmers market, within the project site. From an urban design perspective, the proposed project will complement the unique country- town architectural character that exists in WaikapG, Wailuku, P5'ia, and Makawao. WCT design guidelines are being developed to control the density, architectural design, and variation of all buildings in the WCT to help preserve scenic resources and the aesthetic character of the development. Goals of the design guidelines will be to preserve views and maintain the aesthetic character of the community. A defining quality of the urban design character of the development will be to create architecturally pleasing streets with landscape planting that frames the travel ways and provides scale around architectural elements. As part of the DEIS, a visual impact assessment was conducted to determine how views might be impacted along Honoapi'ilani Highway, fronting the project site, following the Project's build-out. Figure No. 35 A-E, is a simulation of before project and after project views along Honoapi'ilani Highway. WAIKAPO COUNTRY TOWN V-30 DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT ti R 1.Before.Looking in a south-easterlydirection towards sugar land with Haleakala in the background. 1.After.Looking in a south-easterly direction overthe makai development with Haleakala in the back- ground and separated pedestrian and bicycle path in the foreground. IYiI''*4x4Y A i••" Y,hx',r Y 4 L M 4 L YL4q c4 4 L4 kh* a y LLi y• r6 L1 w, iYxN4 cLi4Y °'x kw a MF x L' L Y • , L i 4 y L L4 L Y Y ia0 4 Yx Ra44 L 1L7.-'_ S4 4 4 k MA i Y L Y 4 rFi A DIY i w o e Figure 35,A Visual Simulation of Pre-and Post Project Views 1N kL UWAIKAP COUNTRY TOWN CONSULTANTS HA WAll,LLC k r 2.Before.Looking in asouth-easterly direction towards sugar land with Haleakala in the background. 2.After.Looking in a south-easterly direction overthe makai development with canopy trees in the background and separated pedestrian and bicycle path in theforeground. h 4 tigR c4 y »4 yy b h i q y, IN kyY .b Yx AhMi 'YF FyW. x y• . Y1 M y. 1YrY'4ryiah F`yw Y h o- y y x Ryy` Mom.,, _ y h R Y F+Y i y y.+k' 'y'r`'. 2 p r 1 y yki i e Y` M r_wu w Figure 35,B Visual S ul.tion of Pre-and Post y YF ++. *, y jM h y', yl r,. _ Pro-t Views F F i 4.' ti+w wF+ F' ` • y" WAIKAPLJ COUNTRY TOWN 0 c PLANNINGLANNIG HAW41'1 LLC I 1 I i ti i a. t h M . k r low 3.Before.Looking in a north-westerly direction with the West-Maui Mountains in the background and 3.After.Looking in a north-westerly direction through the project with the West-Maui Mountains in the MTP grounds in the foreground. the background fit - II • "ti"Y F Iry4+': .at 4 Y YF 'Y lY Y iY L.n ! 4'N Mi till' w g r, . «` `. 1•4 sir '",a,.,..,.``Ms Y yap" n F Y aY rY .Y r a ti— ik Figure 35,C Visual S ulat+on of Pre-and Post y Y +. *, Y a jM p y' +,. _ Pro ect Views WAIKAPLJ COUNTRY TOWN COLANNIS ANTS HA WAII,LLC tiy, Ylr t 4.Before.Looking in asouth-westerly direction through the MTP with the West Maui Mountains in the 4.After.Looking in a south-wester) direction through the project with the West Maui Mountains in thebackground. background and the separated pedyestrian and bicycle path in the foreground. L 4 , b L i +tiyq c4 y »4kb 1L +a y LLi95LL6Ry! • M yFM y 4 y• r6 L1 1! iYxN4 cLi4Y °'x kw a MFs YLL L e Y,a,.L LM MY`•'x IL iy, h M r Figure 35,D A A Visual S ul.tion of Pre-and Post y Y +. *, L L jM r y' r,. _ Pro-t Views WAIKAPLJ COUNTRY TOWN COLANNIS ANTS HAW All,LLC 1 s x'L iil III 5.Before.Looking in a westerly direction through the MTPs agricultural fields with the with the West 5.After.Lookin in a westerly directionthrough the project with the West Maui Mountains inthe Maui Mountains in the background. background and the separated pedestrian and bicycle path in the foreground. 4 Y g G. OL1r•4 sir '",a,.,..,. ``Ms Y yaF ni 4+ FY F,Yi gypp •r y y, `.+,` Jb`' M F FT t-. 1 ik n'i ' Y M \ 5 Figure 35,E Visual S ulation of Pce-and Post y YF +. *, Y Y jM r y' r,. _ Pco ect Views kFF. F " rk WAIKAPLJ COUNTRY TOWN COLANNIS ANTS HA WAII,LLC APPENDIX F THE SILL, LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT y x s i. Planning Application for the demolition of existing National Park Visitor Centre(D1),Offices(B1),Retail(Al)and Cafe(A3)and 79 bed Youth Northumberland National Park Hostel(Sui Generis)and associated car parking,and redevelopment of site as new Landscape Discovery Centre incorporating Exhibition Space(D1), Retail(Al),Cafe(A3),Offices(B1)and 86 bed Youth Hostel(Sui Generis)together with 87 Permanent Car Parking Spaces,93 Overflow car parking spaces,associated landscaping,substation and crossing point across the B6318 Military Road,pedestrian ramp within near" age 1 the roadside ditch and formation of pedestrian refuges and route within wooded copse. Application situated at land South and North of the ottUNDEd B6318 at Once Brewed, Haydon Bridge, Northumberland, NE47 7AN be inspired LOTTERY FUNDED Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and TheYouth Hostel Association. THE SILL LANDSCAPE DISCOVERY CENTRE AND YOUTH HOSTEL LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT: CONTENTS PAGE CONTENTS PAGE 1.0 Introduction 2 4.3 Landscape Character 14 1.1 Scope of Assessment 2 4.4 The Landscape atNight 16 2.0 Policy Context 3 4.5 Landscape Value 17 4.6 Visual Baseline 18 2.1 Introduction 3 5.0 Potential Effects 21 2.2 Northumberland National Park Management Plan 2009-2014 3 5.1 Introduction 21 2.3 Northumberland National Park Local Development Framework 4 2.4 Hadrian's Wall Management Plan 2008-2014 5 5.2 Description of the Proposed Development 21 2.5 Landscape Character Assessment for Northumberland National Park 2007 6 5.3 Effects During Construction 24 2.6 Exterior Lighting Masterplan 6 5.4 Effects After Completion 24 3.0 Assessment Methodology&Significant Criteria 7 Schedule of Selected Viewpoints for Assessment of Visual Effects 31 3.1 Introduction 7 6.0 Mitigation Measures 37 6.1 Introduction 37 3.2 Landscape and Visual Effects 7 3.3 Landscape Sensitivity 8 6.2 Design Evolution 37 3.4 Visual Sensitivity 8 6.3 Alternative Car Park Options 38 3.5 Magnitude of Change 9 6.4 During Construction 38 3.6 Impact Significance Thresholds 9 6.5 After Completion 39 7.0 Residual Effect 40 3.7 Survey Area 10 3.8 Consultation 10 7.1 After Completion 40 4.0 Baseline Conditions 11 8.0 Summary and Conclusions 41 4.1 The Landscape ofthe Study Area 11 8.1 Summary 41 8.2 Conclusions 44 4.2 The Development Site 12 FIGURES 1-20(see separate schedule after page 44) Page 1 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and TheYouth Hostel Association. 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Scopeof assessment Cultural heritage 1.1.6 The archaeological and cultural heritage within this part of the Northumberland National Park is of 1.1.1 This Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment(LVIA)considers the anticipated landscape and visual international importance and fundamental to the unique character of the landscape within the study area. effects arising from construction of a proposed new Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel by While this report makes an assessment of the anticipated effects on the physical landscape and its Northumberland National Park Authority in partnership with the Youth Hostel Association. The new perceived character,an assessment of the effects on the setting of designated heritage assets such as facilities are to replace those currently present on the site at Once Brewed.The assessment has been the Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site and associated Scheduled Ancient Monuments is specifically undertaken by a member of staff at Glen Kemp Ltd.who is a Chartered Member of the Landscape excluded.Such an assessment is the remit of the specialist archaeologist or landscape historian using a Institute. methodology established by English Heritage('Seeing the History in the view:A method for assessing 1.1.2 Having first established the planning policy context for the site in question,the report sets out the heritage significance within views',2008).Such an assessment is covered in the relevant section of the methodology upon which the assessment has been based.It is important that the methodology employed Environmental Statement preparedfor thisdevelopment project. is transparent if the findings are to be interpreted correctly by the reader. In broad terms,both the Effects and mitigation sensitivity of the landscape/visual receptor and the anticipated magnitude of change resulting from the development are analysed and by combining these two factors,a level of significance ofeffect(which may 1.1.7 The potential landscape and visual effects are identified for the demolition,construction and management be positive or adverse)is predicted. stages of the project and,where relevant,an assessment is made of how mitigation measures have been Effects on the landscape. used to minimise the significance of any adverse effects on the landscape or visual amenity.Finally, residual effects—those that would remain after mitigation measures have been employed—are identified. 1.1.3 A description of the baseline physical and perceptual landscape of both the proposed development site and the broader study area,includes a review of its recognised value.The likely impacts on the landscape resulting from the development are then identified and the resulting effects noted.This includes direct effects on physical elements within the landscape and indirect effects on landscape character and distinctiveness. Visual effects 1.1.4 In assessing visual effects,this report identifies and examines the nature of the public and private views from the surrounding area which could be affected by the proposed development and predicts the magnitude of the'degree of change'in view and—taking account of the sensitivity of the visual receptor— evaluates the significance of the anticipated visual impact resulting from the proposed development. 1.1.5 Photomontages and visual impact schedules based on selected viewpoints from within the study area are used to assist the assessment of visual effects. Page 12 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and TheYouth Hostel Association. 2.0 Policy Context 2.1 Introduction 2.2.3 The four guiding principles identified as underpinning the delivery process are: i) sustainable development—"The National Park will aim to serve as a model of sustainable 2.1.1 This section provides a brief review of existing policy and management strategy frameworks which are development within the North East Region'. directly relevant to landscape issues relating to the proposed development.It concentrates primarily on it) equality and diversity—"Northumberland National Park is for everyone and should be accessible the Northumberland National Park Management Plan and the Northumberland National Park Local to the whole community regardless of economic social or physical constraints". Development Framework(LDF)and the relevant documents contained within it,but also makes reference in) partnership working tothe External Lighting Management Plan prepared as part ofthe successful bid to the International Dark iv) transparency and openness. Sky Association for Dark Sky Park status. 2.2.4 The'special qualitiesoftheNational Park are identfed asbeing: 2.2 Northumberland National Park Management Plan 2009—2014: i) A distinctive landscape character—a stunning and varied landscape,a key characteristic of which is its"openness,with landscapes and horizons free from significant human intrusions which 2.2.1 The Northumberland National Park Authority(NNPA)was established in 1997 as a special purpose local contribute significantly to the high levels oftranquillity'; authority with the role ofdelivering the speck National Park statutory purposes as set out in law.The two ii) A landscape rich in biodiversity and geology, statutory purposes are:i)to conserve and enhance the natural beauty,wildlife and cultural heritage,and ii) iii) A rich cultural heritage,reflected in the many layers of historic landscape in the Park, to promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities by the public-the iv) A true sense of tranquillity—freedom from noise and visual disturbance is a key component of first purpose taking precedence over the second in instances where the two purposes might conflict with experiencing the National Park.Itis an area with an emotional and spiritual quality.One third of each other. respondents to a visitor survey in 2007 stated that tranquillity was the thing they liked most about the Park. 2.2.2 The NNP Management Plan is the over-arching strategic document setting out the guiding principles, vision,objectives and actions for managing the National Park and outlines the framework which will guide 2.2.5 In addition,a survey by the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England(CPRE)in 2006 identiried Park's future and ensure delivery of the two statutory purposes.It also identifies an additional statutory Northumberland as the most tranquil local authority on England,and this is one of the characteristics most duty,that offostering the economic and social well-being of local communities within the National Park,in valued by visitors to the Northumberland National Park. recognition of the fact that the luring and working landscape and the Park is the result of the interaction of human activity and natural forces.Consequently,local communities need to be empowered to take on an 2.2.6 Together,these qualities have helped shape the vision for the National Park which is summarised in the active role as custodians of the landscape and the concept of'Action Area'working has been adopted by vision statement: NNPA as a framework to enhance the variation in locally distinctive character throughout the Park.Four Northumberland National Park will be a truly welcoming and distinctive place,easily accessible to all.Its Action Areas have been identified,the proposed development site falling with the Hadrian's Wall and inspiring and changing landscapes,characterised by open spaces,tranquillity,diverse habitats,geology South Tyne Action Area. and rich cultural heritage, will be widely recognised and valued. The liwng, working landscape will contribute positivelyto the well-being ofthe thriving and vibrant communities in and around the Park'. Page 13 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and TheYouth Hostel Association. 2.2.7 In turn,thevision of the Park is embedded in five Strategic Aims,setout below,with outcomes relevant to 2.3 Northumberland National Park Local Development Framework: this assessmentnoted as follows: 2.3.1 The LDF consists of a setofdocumentswhich togetherguide new development in the NationalParkand 1)A welcoming Park—i)people who come to the National Park will feel they have had an exceptional assist in delivering the strategy set out in the National Park Management Plan.The three documents experience in relating to the landscape and in finding peace,tranquillity and adventure,it)the National within the LDF which are of particular relevance to this LVIA are: Park will be accessible to a wider and more diverse audience,iii)a more diverse range of learning opportunities will be available.1)Core Strategy and Development Policies Document 2)A distinctive place—i)that will maintain a sense of inspiration and tranquillity,ii)the natural qualities 2.3.2 The following policy extracts are of particular note: and diverse habitats will be safeguarded and enhanced. Policy 1—Delivering Sustainable Development:sustainable development should conserve/enhance the 3)A living,working landscape for now and the future special qualities of the National Park,making efficient use of land,materials and infrastructure.It should 4)Thriving communities provide opportunities to understand and enjoy the special qualities of the Park and demonstrate high 5)A valued asset.quality design,promoting accessibility via public transport,cycling or walking.9 Y 9,P 9 Y P P Y 9 9. 2.2.8 Of particular relevance to this assessment is the Strategic Aim of delivering a'distinctive place'.This has Policy 3—General Development Principles:new development must promote principles of sustainable generated a number of objectives directly relevant to landscape with the most notable means ofachieving development,protecting and enhancing local character and distinctiveness through careful integration with themoutlined below: the existing built form.It should be sympathetic in terms of scale,height,massing,siting,form,materials, colour and to the protection of open space which contributes to the amenity,character and setting of a Objective Meals to achieve settlement.The well being of local communities should be supported by ensuring amenity is not adversely To protect and enhance tranquillity levels as the New development to be in line with policies set out affected in terms of visual impact,pollution,noise and waste and that services and infrastructure can be highest in England in the LDF. provided without compromising the quality of the landscape. To ensure all new development will conserve or Ensure effective design guidance is promoted and enhance the natural and cultural qualities of the good design iscelebrated.Policy 19—Tranquillity:Development proposalswhich conserve orenhance the tranquillity of the National National Park. Park will be supported.In order to determine the extent to which tranquillity is affected there will be an Ensure visitor and recreational use complements Positively promote and enhance low impact assessment of the impact on the level of noise,traffic and light generated,on the sense of openness of the character and capacity of the locations in recreational access to tranquil areas. the National Park and on the quite enjoyment of the landscape. which it takes place. Policy 20—Landscape Quality and Character:All proposals will be assessed in terms of their impact on landscape character and sensitivity as defined in the Landscape Supplementary Planning Document. Development which would adversely affect the quality and character of the landscape will not be permitted. Page 14 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and TheYouth Hostel Association. 2)Landscape Supplementary Planning Document New development in open countryside should: 2.3.3 The above document aims to assist an assessment of the potential impact of development on the take account ofwider views into and out of the development site, landscape of the National Park and is to be considered alongside a broader Landscape Strategy which it sit comfortably within the site and not harm views through the use of inappropriate materials, is understood is under preparation. It builds on the work of Natural England in assessing landscape reflect the form ofthe surrounding landscape, character.Consequently,the relevant content of this Supplementary Planning Document is referred to in take care not to break the skyline, section 4.3which considers issues relating to landscape character. have boundary treatments that avoid a suburbanising effect. 3)Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document New development within settlements should: 2.3.4 This is the current format of a Building Design Guide which has been in use since 1995.Rather than look at the form and rhythm of existing buildings, setting out new policy,the Supplementary Planning Document(SPD)helps interpret existing policies.This consider height,scale and massing in relation to surrounding buildings, specific SPD aims toimprove the quality ofthe built environment and safeguard the special qualities of the use boundary treatments to anchor the building into the wider setting, area,while at the same time promoting sustainable construction.It is intended to help deliver the vision consider opportunities for creating new habitats. that all development will contribute to protecting,sustaining and enhancing the special qualities of the National Park,and that it will be sensitively located and designed. With regard to external works: site boundaries should reflect surrounding character, 2.3.5 Guidance of particular relevance to the development project is noted below: consideration should be given to the facing material of retaining walls, Form and hierarchy is evident in individual buildings within the National Park and has traditionally been hard surfacing should be kept to aminimum and be permeable where possible, dictated byfunction and intended status. soft landscaping should use dominant native species and should aim toconnect with other natural The building materials used often reflects what materials were locally available,the intended status of a features to assist the movement of wildlife. building or even what was fashionable at the time of construction.The material most commonly used was stone,reflecting the diverse granites and whinstone. 2.4 Hadrian's Wall Management Plan 200E-2014 External features help tie a building into the wider landscape and anchor it into its setting,occasionally 2.4.1 Hadrian's Wall was designated as a World Heritage Site(WHS)in 1987 by the United Nations Educational declaring its status. Scientific and Cultural Organisation(UNESCO)as the most complex and best preserved ofthe frontiers of New technologies, designs and materials must be embraced and contemporary design is to be the Roman Empire.In 2005 it became part of the transnational WHS called'Frontiers of the Roman supported,but itmust be appropriate and locally distinctive. Empire',being judged to be of universal importance to humanity. Design quality of new development is of the highest importance and should consider siting,massing, scale,proportion,rhythm,materials and colour,aswell as the contribution to sustainable development. 2.4.2 As the whin escarpment on which the Wall sits and,to a lesser extent the Wall itself,are prominent Distinct design considerations for new buildings which are either in the'open countryside' or in a features in the landscape in which the development site is located,policies designed to protect the setting settlement(both of which are applicable to the Once Brewed site given its position within the hamlet of of Hadrian's Wall are directly relevant to the Once Brewed site.Indeed the site sits within a designated Twice Brewed)are listed. Buffer Zone',mapped as a visual envelope extending 1-13km from the designated WHS itself,one of the primary objectives ofwhich isto protectthe WHS from development thatwould be detrimentalto its visual setting. Page 15 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and TheYouth Hostel Association. 2.4.3 The Hadrian's Wall Management Plan notes that the"presence ofthe Wall has had a lasting effect on the Historic sites: conservation of historic sites and their settings and areas of earthworks should be landscape and perceptions of it",and that the particular characteristics of the landscape are"its open encouraged,particularly where they act as local focal points and create strong landscape patterns and aspect,the maintenance of space between rural settlements,the existing patterns of fields and open textures. country,the use oftraditional local materials in building,and woodland developed to reinforce the patterns Tourism and recreation:Any development should be low key,conserving the wild character of the Wall's ofthe landscape".setting,with care taken to avoid altering or suburbanising the landscape character.New buildings should respect the local surroundings in terms of materials and scale.New development should not be visually 2.4.4 The Hadrian's Wall Path—a National Trail—opened in 2003,running on or dose to the remains of the prominent and should not detract from the scenic quality ofthe area. Wall and in 2006 the Hadrian's Cydeway(National Cycle Route 72)was opened. Transport:Any improvements to road safety on the Military Road must have minimum visual impact on the open moorland character and the World Heritage Site.Night lighting should be resisted and signage 2.4.5 Appendix 7 of the Hadrian's Wall Management Plan summarises the policies set out within it,listing kept to a minimum. amongst other things,the need to maintain and reinforce the special character of the Wall landscape including its beauty and natural heritage,and to retain the vitality of the landscape. 2.6 Exterior Lighting Masterplan 2.6.1 In December 2013 the International Dark Sky Association(IDA)awarded Dark Sky Park status to the 2.5 Landscape Character Assessment for Northumberland National Park 2007 combined areas ofthe Northumberland National Park and the Kielder Water and Forest Park—a total area of 1,482km2.An essential component of the successful bid for Dark Sky Park status was an Exterior 2.5.1 This document has been used to inform the content ofthe Landscape Supplementary Planning Document Lighting Masterplan(LMP)prepared by Lighting Consultancy And Design Services Ltd.which aims to referred to above and the character of the landscape around the development site is covered in detail in provide practical advice on mitigating stray light within the Dark Sky Park for the NNPA,adjacent Local section 4.3 of this report.However,for each Landscape Character Type(LCT)identified in the above Authorities,local businesses and residents.The document is not regulatory but outlines strategies of best Landscape Character Assessment, an outline strategy principle is defined to help shape future working practice with regard to design and planning guidelines and choice of lighting fixtures and correct management ofthe specific landscape and guidelines are offered for what is considered to be appropriate installation practice. land management and development.The strategy for the LCT within which the site is located is set out as 2.6.2 The LIMP sets out nine Plan Statements which describe how a Basic Light Limitation Plan is to be applied follows: This landscape has a strong identity and many valuable landscape features which remain in good to defined'Environmental Zones'within the Dark Sky Park.The Once Brewed site falls within the broad Environmental Zone EO-250. condition.The overall strategy for this area is to conserve and sensifivelymanage." 2.5.2 With regard to future management,the following guidelines are relevant: 2.6.3 Appendix H of the LIMP contains a Planning Application Guidance Note for all new or refurbished exterior Forestry and woodland:Restocking of shelterbelts to increase native species.Planting to have softer lighting installations.It confirms that an assessment of existing and future lighting effects should now form outlines with shapes designed to integrate with local topography. an essential element for planning applications within a designated Dark Sky award area. It makes Field boundaries:Rebuilding and restoration of stone walls should be encouraged. reference to the Institution of Lighting Professionals(ILP)'Professional Lighting Guide 04:Guidance on Undertaking Environmental Lighting Impact assessments:2013'which focuses on the external lighting aspects ofnew development applications and includes design and assessment methodology. Page 16 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and TheYouth Hostel Association. 3.0 Assessment Methodology&Significance Criteria from changes in the physical landscape which may give rise to changes in its character and how this is 3.1 Introduction experienced.This may in turn affect the perceived value ascribed to the landscape. 3.1.1 The methodology for this LVIA is based on the'Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment': 3.2.4 The Guidelines define the assessment of visual effects as"assessing effects on specific views and on Third Edition:2013(GLVIA 3,2013),edited by the Landscape Institute and the Institute of Environmental the general visual amenity experienced by people.'People who will be affected by changes in views or Management and Assessment.This document is regarded as the industry standard work,setting out the visual amenity are referred to as visual receptors and visual effects relate to the changes that arise in the principles for the assessment process.While the accepted methodology for LVIA work is now reasonably composition of available views as a result of changes to the landscape,to people's responses to the well established,qualitative judgements and a degree of subjectivity remain a critical part of LVIA with changes,and to the overall effects with respect to visual amenity. regard to gauging the significance of identified effects for example,or identifying impacts on perceptual 3.2.5 Landscape and visual effects can be negative(adverse)or positive(beneficial).They can be direct, aspects of landscape character.Consequently,it is important that such professional judgement is based indirect,secondary or cumulative and be either permanent or temporary(short,medium or long term). on a logical and transparent methodology so that it can be examined and understood by others.This They can also arise at different scales(local,regional ornational). section of the LVIA chapter sets out the framework upon which the assessment has been made. 3.2.6 The level of significance ascribed to landscape and visual effects depends primarily on the interaction between, and combination of,the sensitivity of the landscape/visual receptor and the scale, or3.1.2 The'Landscape Character Assessment: Guidance for England and Scotland'published by the then Countryside Agency(2002)in association with Scottish Natural Heritage, has also been used as a magnitude ofthe predicted effects of the development. reference.3.2.7 To assess levels of sensitivity,both the susceptibility of the receptor to the type of change arising from the specific development proposal and the value attached to the receptor,need to be considered.In 3.2 Landscape and visual effects assessing landscape value,a measure of the physical state of the landscape lie.its condition or quality) 3.2.1 Following the recommendation in the GLVIA,in this assessment the term'impact'is used to refer to the may be made in terms of its intactness from a visual,functional or ecological perspective.It also'reflects action being taken and the term'effect'is defined as the change resulting from that action.It is the the state of repair of individual features and elements which make up the character in any one place', purpose of the LVIA to assess effects both on the landscape as a resource in its own right,and on views Countryside Agency&Scottish Natural Heritage,2002). ofthe landscape and general visual amenity. 3.2.8 In considering the magnitude of change,judgements need to be made about the size and scale, 3.2.2 It should be noted that issues relating specifically to the potential effects of the proposed geographical extent and the duration and reversibility of the effect identified.Once levels of receptor development on the historic landscape and the setting of sites of cultural heritage significance sensitivity and the magnitude of change resulting from a speck effect have been defined, a judgement have been assessed by specialist landscape historians within the Cultural Heritage chapter of the can be made about the overall significance of the landscape/visual effect. Environmental Statement.Consequently,a detailed analysis of such effects has been excluded 3.2.9 To assist in establishingclarity and transparency ofthe assessment process used in this LVIA,the criteria from this report.for the classification of:i)receptor sensitivity,ill the value of the baseline landscape and visual receptors, 3.2.3 The GLVIA defines the assessment of landscape effects as"assessing effects on the landscape as a iii)the magnitude of landscape and visual effects,and iv)the resulting significance of the impact identified, resource in its own right."Components of the landscape that are likely to be affected by a proposed are set out in the following tables. development are referred to as landscape receptors and can include individual elements or features, overall character and key characteristics and aesthetic or perceptual aspects.Landscape effects derive Page 17 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and TheYouth Hostel Association. 3.3 Landscape sensitivity 3.3.4 To assist the understanding of landscape value,landscape designations over a study area defined by a 3.3.1 The objective of the baseline study of the physical landscape of the development site and its setting is to minimum Urn radius from the centre of the site were identified using Defra's'MAGIC'web-based data assemble a comprehensive audit of those landscape character and land use features on and around the base. proposed development site that could contribute to a distinct'sense of place'.From such an audit,the more valued landscape receptors that could be directly or indirectly affected and physically altered by the 3.4 Visual sensitivity development proposals are identified and the significance of that effect assessed. 3.4.1 The sensitivity of a visual receptor is defined by the type of viewer(taking into account the expectation 3.3.2 Landscape susceptibility (the degree to which a landscape can accommodate change without and activity of the receptor),viewer numbers,the duration of exposure to the view and the factor of unacceptable detrimental impact on its character)is not an absolute criterion as its definition is dependent distance.It also takes into account the importance of both the view itself and the point from which the view on the nature of the potential development in question.Consequently,an assessment of landscape is experienced(see Table 2.). susceptibility is not strictly part of the baseline study,but is considered at the time of assessing landscape TABLE 2—Criteria for assessingthe sensitivity ofvisual receptors sensitivity in relation to specific identified impacts inherent in the specific development proposals. Level Typical criteria 3.3.3 The criteria forassessing landscape value isset out in Table1.High A strategic view or panorama of acknowledged national or regional importance,in which the proposed Sensitivity: development could be clearly seen from a highly sensitive public viewpoint.TABLE 1—Criteria for assessing landscape value Communities where the development results in changes to the landscape setting or valued views enjoyed by Value Typical criteria Typical scale Examples the community. Users of recreational facilities including public rights of way outside designated areas,whose interest is High Exceptional High importance and International, World Heritage Site,AONB,National focussed on the landscape. rarity. National.Park,National Scenic Area.Occupiers of residental properties with dews affected bythe development. No/very limited potential for Moderate A moderately valued viewor panorama of local importance,reasonably tolerant ofchange or a strategicsubstitution. Sensitivity view,or view ofacknowledged national or regional importance,seen from a less sensitive publicviewpoint High High importance and National, regional, AONB,National Park,National Scenic and orfrom asignificant distance. rarity. local. Area AHLV/AGLV. People travelling through or past the affected landscape in cars,trains or other transport routes and whose Limited potential for attention might be focused on the landscape. substitution. Users of outdoor sports and recreational facilities indesignated areas where the landscape is unlikely to be Moderate Moderate Medium importance Regional,local. AHLV/AGLV,Regional Scenic Area. the primary focus. and rarity. Limited potential for Low A relatively unimportant view which is potentially tolerant of charge or may benefit from that change or substitution. Sensitivity moderately valued viewor panorama oflocal importance seen from less sensitive viewpoint and/orfrom a Moderate-law Medium importance Regional,local. Undesgnated but value expressed in significant distance. and rarity. demonstrable use. People engaged in outdoor recreation in non-designated areas whose attention maybe focussed mayfrom Some/goad the change in the view andwhere tolerance tochange is likely to be high. potential for People at their place ofwork or engaged in similar activities whose attention maybe focussed away from the substitution. change in the view and where tolerance tochange is likely to be high. Low Law Law importance and Local. Area identified as having some aspect rarity. of local value but with scope for improvement. Very low Law importance and Local. Areas identified far recovery / rarity. enhancement. Page 18 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and TheYouth Hostel Association. 3.5 Magnitude of change 3.6 Impact significance thresholds 3.5.1 The magnitude or scale of physical or visual change can be measured in terms of the degree of change, whether it is adverse or beneficial and whether it is likely to be permanent or temporary.Criteria for the 3.6.1 Significance is notabsolute and can only be assessed in relation to each development in its location.The assessment of magnitude of change are set out in Table 3 below. two principal criteria used in determining significance are:i)the sensitivity of the landscape/visual receptor and ii)the magnitude of change anticipated. TABLE 3—Criteria for assessing magnitude ofchange Level Typical criteria 3.6.2 For the purposes of this report,the summary range of the significance of the predicted landscape and visual effects has been subdivided into five levels or grades.These'grades'of significance are defined inSubstantial: Total lass afar major alteration to keyelements/features/characteristics of the baseline landscape. Table 4 as follows:- Introduction of elements considered to be totally uncharacteristic in the context of the baseline landscape. TABLE 4—Criteria for assessing levels ofimpact significance A large number of sensitive receptors experiencing a major or fundamental change in nature of the Sensitivity of +Magnitude of change =Impact Significance baseline view,particularly in near views with the baseline urban skyline substantially changed. Receptor Moderate Partial lass ofor alteration to keyelements/characteristics of the baseline landscape. Introduction of elements that may be prominent but may not necessarily be considered substantially High High Substantial Proposals have a large effect within the context of the wider uncharacteristic in the context of the baseline landscape. area.) A moderate,but not fundamental,change in nature of view affecting a notable number of sensitive High Moderate Moderate-substantial receptors.Open,uninterrupted views with some middle distance obstruction of part ofthat view resulting High Law Moderate from the proposed development baseline urban skyline not adversely infringed in view typically seen Proposals have a noticeable effect within the context of the over medium/long distance wider area.) Moderate High Moderate-substantial Low Minor loss afar alteration to key elements/features/characteristics of the baseline landscape. Moderate Moderate Moderate Minor but non material charge in nature ofview,long distance views across urban landscape panorama, Proposals have a noticeable effect within the context of the or restricted views(upstairs bedroom windows only)with relatively few receptors affected. wider area.) Moderate Low Law-moderate Negligible Very minor lass of or alteration to key elements/features/characteristics of the baseline Low High Moderate Iandscape.Changes unlikely tobe perceived bythe majority ofvisual receptors. Proposals have a noticeable effect within the context of the wider area.) Low Moderate Law-moderate Low Low Low Proposals have only a limited effect within the mainly local area.) Page 19 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and TheYouth Hostel Association. 3.6.3 No discernible deterioration or improvement in the baseline landscape character or the baseline level of 3.8.3 It has been agreed with the Planning Authority that landscape and visual effects experienced from a visual amenity would obviously resultin no significant or negligible change being attributable.distance of 10km or more aregenerally likelyto havea negligible effect on visual receptors.However,itis acknowledged that an exception to this broad principle could result from the visual effects of night time 3.6.4 Impacts may be short term(or temporary),essentially related to changes evident during the construction illumination.Consequently a long distance viewpoint(VP6)located within the North Pennies Area of period of the proposed development,or longer term(or comparatively permanent)resulting in changes in Outstanding natural Beauty(which comes within 5km of the site at its closest point)has been selected landscape character and tothe perception ofthat landscape after final construction. specifically for this purpose at an elevated location on the B6305,just south of Langley Castle and 3.6.5 For the purposes of this report,impacts which are assessed as being moderate or substantial(adverse) c.10.5km to the south east of the Once Brewed site. are considered to be of a significance which should influence the design process and mitigation strategy for the proposed development.3.8.4 At the RIBA Stage C design stage,the initial design concepts for the building and external spaces where 3.7 Survey area presented to the North East Design Review and Enabling Service(NEDRES)—a panel of professional experts in the field of architectural and landscape design,set up to promote high building design quality 3.7.1 The extent of the survey area used for the purpose ofassessing landscape and visual effects was defined within the region.It was their shared opinion that the building should have a'presence'when seen from initially as a result of a desk top exercise,during which a Zone of Theoretical Visibility(ZTV)was the Military Road corridor and that the visual connection with both the Whin Sill and the Vellum should be established using digital terrain model with an OS raster backdrop.This ZTV was then tested and refined maximised.In their view,this would contribute to the sense of drama already evident in the broader as a result ofobservations made in the field. landscape. 3.7.2 Once a ZTV had been defined,key viewpoints were identified within it(see section 3.8)from which to base the assessment of visual effects on the broader landscape and those moving through it.Analysis of the visual effects has been summarised for each selected viewpoint. 3.8 Consultation 3.8.1 Viewpoints upon which the broader visual assessment has been made have been selected in consultation with the Local Planning Authority. 3.8.2 Ofthe 13no.viewpoints selected in total,those considered to be ofgreatest significance have been used to generate a photomontage which aims to show how the proposed development is likely to appear when seen from the viewpoint in question.These viewpoints are identified as PM1-8.In order to show the context of the Once Brewed site in the wider landscape at a scale that could be readily reproduced as part of this document,the baseline photographs were taken using a digital SLR camera with the lens set at a focal length of 32mm.To compensate for the loss of detail in these images when reproduced at A3 size, the speck area of the Once Brewed development site has been increased to a size which,when held at arms length,reflects the size of the image ofthe development as itwold appear in the field when seen with the nakedeye.The viewpoints for which no photomontage has been produced are labelled VP1-5. Page 110 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and TheYouth Hostel Association. 4.0 Baseline Conditions 4.1 The landscape of the study area See Figure 1) 4.1.5 Settlement is sparse,being restricted generally to individual farmsteads,the largest group of properties being the loose cluster defined as Twice Brewed.The only other notable elements of urban infrastructure 4.1.1 In describing the baseline landscape,the aim is to understand the landscape of the area that may be are the road signs associated with the B6318 and in particular,the group located around the junction affected by the proposed development.The study area used for the purposes of this assessment has adjacent tothe Once Brewed site. been informed largely by the Zone of Theoretical Visibility(ZTV)-see section 4.6-backed up by a desktop survey and observations in the field.However,it extends beyond the ZTV in places in order to 4.1.6 The proposed development site atOnce Brewed is located on the south side ofthe B6318(known locally capture the relevant setting and visual context for the proposed development site,particularly for those as the'Military Road')which runs in generally straight sections on an east—west alignment following the visual receptors who experience the site while passing through this distinct and characterful landscape. line of Hadrian's Wall.Once Brewed is positioned on the south facing slopes of the valley formed by the Brackies Burn and is 2.5 km north of the major transport route of the A69 road corridor and the valley of 4.1.2 The topography of the study area is very much dominated by the form of the Whin Sill,an intrusion of the River South Tyne along which it runs.The nearest town is Haltwhistle 5.6km to the south west and the dolonte(known locally as whinstone)which runs from Upper Teesdale to the Fames on the Northumbrian village of Bardon Mill lies 3.5km tothe south east,both settlements being located on the A69. coast.It forms a ridge running on agenerally east—west alignment,reaching a high point within the study area of 345m ACID at Winshield Crags to the north west of the site.Along this section ofthe Whin Sill,the 4.1.7 Once Brewed is part ofthe settlement of Twice Brewed,a dispersed group of buildings along the B6318 outcrops at Peel Crag and Steel Rigg present particularly dramatic focal points on the skyline when comprising the existing Once Brewed NNPA visitor centre and YHA building and the neighbouring Twice viewed from the B6318 corridor,the route from which most people are likely to experience the landscape Brewed Inn,the Winshields camp site,three domestic residences including West Twice Brewed,the within the study area. Vellum Lodge guest house and a domestic residence and farm stead at East Twice Brewed. 4.1.3 From the Whin Sill,the land falls tothe bottom of the valleys formed by Brackies Burn and Bradley Burn, 4.1.8 Other isolatedproperties of note within the vicinity ofthesite butsetbackfrom the B6318 corridor are: both of which feed into Chainley Burn which enters the River South Tyne at Bardon Mill.South of Brackies Seatsides and Smith's Shield on the top of a prominent ridgeline to the south of the site which Burn and Bradley Bum,the land rises again to form another ridge,not quite as high as the Whin Sill,but defines the southern boundary of the National Park designation, running parallel with it.In broad terms,thesetwo ridgelines define the extent of the most significant part of The National Trust owned holiday cottages of Springwell Cottage and Peel Bothy located on the the ZTV for the proposed development. minor road leading from the B6318 up to the Whin Sill to the north, The farm of East Bog on the south facing slope of the Whin Sill escarpment. 4.1.4 Rough grazing and semi-improved pasture dominate the landscape,with medium scale fields defined primarily by dry stone walls but also by post and wire fencing.Tree cover is limited to small clumps and 4.1.9 The Once Brewed site lies at the point atwhich one ofthe occasional minor roads running north — south individual specimens along the course of Brackies Burn and Bradley Burn and the small blocks around the connecting the A69 with the B6318,intersects the Military Road.Having crossed the Military Road,the Once Brewed site and the adjacent Twice Brewed Inn.Elsewhere,tree and shrub cover is restricted to minor road continues north over the Whin Sill and provides access to the Steel Rigg car park operated by individual specimens growing along field boundaries or alongthe B6318 road corridor. the NNPA. Page 111 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and TheYouth Hostel Association. 4.1.10 Public Rights ofWay and designated recreational routes within the study area are shown in Figure 1. 4.2.2 The boundaries of the site are dearly defined by the Military Road to the north,the minor road to the east The most notable are listed below: and the Brackies Burn to the south.The western boundary is shared with the Twice Brewed Inn and Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail—follows Hadrian's Wall on the crest of the Whin Sill associated car park at the northern end,and is largely defined by a field boundary and the course of a escarpment but occasionally runs on lower ground to the south of the ridge. tributary to the Brackies Burn on its central and southern sections.The northern part of the site currently Pennine Way National Trail—follows the line of the Hadrian's Wall Path before striking off contains the existing Northumberland National Park AuthoritVs visitor centre (NNPA) and a hostel northward at a point 1km west of Houseteads Roman fort. operated by the Youth Hostel Association(YHA).The central and southern sections are defined by a field National Cycle Routes 68 and 72—connect the site with the Whin Sill to the north,Vindolanda owned by the National Trust which is currently used by atenant farmer for grazing sheep. Roman fort to the east and the A69 to the south. 4.2.3 From a level of 224.5m ACID at the north eastern corner,the site slopes to 201.3m ACID at the valleySeveralpublicfootpathsrunningfromthe66318corridorsouthwardupslopetotheridgesouthof the Brackies Burn. bottom.In its central and southern sections,the site is slightly elevated above the minor road to the east along much of its length and there is a marked change in gradient along the western boundary where the 4.1.11 Designated heritage sites are covered in the heritage section of the Environmental Statement,however land falls more steeply to form a small valley for the stream which flows south into the Brackies Burn. three specific sites or features are of such significance that they should be mentioned here.The first is 4.2.4 Similarly,a section of the southern field falls south at a more pronounced gradient before levelling out at Hadrian's Wall and the associated linear earthworks of the Vellum.The former follows the ridge of the the valley bottom to form a distinct landscape character sub-zone within the site. Whin Sill and the latterruns dose tothe B6318.Consequently,both have a strong visual profile and play a Site features major part in defining the drama and romance of this ancient landscape.The other two sites are the Roman forts of Housesteads and Vindolanda(4.2km to the north east and 1.8km to the south east of the The northern part of the site: site respectively),both major tourist destinations drawing visitors to this local area. Also of note is the specific location on Hadrian's Wall know as'Sycamore Gap'just to the east of 4.2.5 All existing built development on the site is restricted to the northern section.The current NNPA visitor Milecastle 39 and 1.2km from the Once Brewed site.The view of the mature sycamore tree which has centre is a single storey building finished in natural stone cladding and with a pitched slate roof.Glazing established in the centre of a dramatic dip in the Whin Sill ridgeline has become an iconic image in the and timber cladding on the north elevation facing the service area and car park is of low visual quality but region,made all the more famous as a result of itbeing the location for a scene in the film'Robin Hood has alow visual profile.On the eastern elevation,signage in the form of large,white individual letters fixed Prince of Thieves'staring Kevin Costner(1991). to the plain stone dad wall identify the building as a tourist destination point when seen from the Military Road corridor. 4.2 The development site 4.2.6 The main entrance to the visitor centre is on the southern elevation and is marked by larger glazed panels. To be read in conjunction with Figure 2-'Existing Site Plan') Outside the entrance,riven faced stone flags and dry stone wall raised beds form a patio garden containing a haphazard arrangement of timber picnic tables and benches,steel bike stands,litter bins and Location and topography interpretation/information panels.Solar panels are located on the roof above the main entrance. 4.2.1 The proposed development site is located at the junction of the B6318 Military Road with the minor road 4.2.7 The western elevation of the visitor centre is dominated by a depot area with a large steel container which connects it with the A69 at Heshaw and at Bardon Mill to the south.It lies 400m within the southern enclosed by a close board fence of low visual quality.Adjacent to this storage area is a pathway to the boundary of the Northumberland National Park on the south facing slope of the valley containing the youth hostel which is largely screened from view by a block oftree and shrub planting. Brackies Bum flowing in a west—east direction. Page 1 12 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and TheYouth Hostel Association. 4.2.8 The hostel building itself takes the form of a stone clad single storey,flat roof building on the east side locations there is a scattered collection of individual but uncoordinated road signs and site markers separated from the NNPA visitor centre to the south by a narrow paved area)which is connected by a relating to the existing facilities. central timber dad single storey block with large glazed panels,to a two storey accommodation block with 4.2.14 The stone wall also runs down the northern section of the western site boundary.Although it forms the a slate pitched roof,stone cladding and pebble-dash finish above ground floor level.The main entrance boundary to the youth hostel garden,for the most part it is well screened from within the site by tree and within the central section is accessed via a courtyard garden area paved in precast concrete flags and shrub planting. containing a random arrangement of timber planters,picnic tables and benches.The garden space 4.2.15 Details of the tree cover on site is recorded in a Tree Survey produced by AMR Geomatics,2013.Theextendsaroundthewesternsideofthehostelbuildingwhereittakestheformofanovergrownnaturalistic garden dominated by individual mature treesand tree/shrub groups. survey records 51no.individual trees with a diameter greater than 75mm(the majority of which are assessed as being of fair to poor condition)and 9 tree groups(Groups A—H)of varying sizes.With 4.2.9 Immediately to the south of the YHA garden is a compacted stone footpath linking the neighbouring Twice regard to the individual trees,beech(Fagus sylvafica)and cherry(Prunus sp)are dominant,although 70 Brewed Inn site with the main NNPA car park.The path passes between the garden and a fenced off, of the cherries are noted as dead or in such poor condition as to warrant felling.Oak(Quercus pefraea), overgrown area containing septic tankswhich once served both buildings on site.sycamore(Acer pseudoplafanus),Scots pine(Pinus sylvesfris)and Norway maple(Acer plafanoides)are 4.2.10 The main car park to the visitor centre is located immediately to the south ofthe building and is formed in also present together with smaller numbers of silver birch(Befula pendula), ash (Fraxinus excelsior), tarmacadam with a stone sett edging and with unmarked parking bays formed in compacted gravel.A alder(Alnus glufinosa),rowan(Sorbus aucuparia)and Norway spruce(Picea abies). grass stripwith a couple of picnic tables and timber post and rail fence define the southern edge ofthe car 4.2.16 In terms of tree groups,the largest by far is the triangular block of woodland on the eastern site boundary park area. to the south of the NNPA car park which comprises an even aged stand of ash,rowan,Scots pine, 4.2.11 A second car park serving the youth hostel is located right in the visually prominent north eastern comer of sycamore and hawthorn(Crafaegus monogyna)approximately 10m in height.A sign on a timber gate the site where the large area of tarmac also caters for services vehicles and provides access to timber giving pedestrian access into the woodland at its northern end identifies it as a woodland play area, sheds/garage(in poor condition),a LPG compound and an unfenced bin store.The overall visual effect although signs of play activity are limited.Also visually prominent is a younger(but still well established) is one of low visual quality.This car park area has its own entrance directly off the minor road dose to the group of alder,ash,beech and hawthorn which screens the YHA building and its garden from the NNPA junction with the Military Road.Vehicular and pedestrian access gates are in timber and of an agricultural car park to the south.A small engraved timber sign suggests this planting was undertaken by the NNPA style.and the Northumbrian Tourist Board in 1992 as part of'Beacon Europe'. 4.2.12 From this service area,a narrow concrete path runs along the northern edge of the youth hostel,the 4.2.17 Other treegroups ofnote are the narrow strip ofmature Scots pines and overgrown leylandii hedge which northern elevation ofwhich is formed predominantly by a single storey stone dad block with a narrow strip form a dense evergreen screen along the western edge of the YHA garden at the north west comer of the ofglazing just below the eaves.The path marks the southern toe of the earth mound which is the Vellum— site,and the small fenced group of hawthorn and beech marked as a'wildlife garden'on the edge of the a Roman military earthwork and Scheduled Ancient Monument.Within the site,the Vellum is barely NNPA car park near the northern corner ofthe triangular woodland block. legible,its form being hidden by tree and shrub cover,much of which is in poor condition and is of low 4.2.18 As for the pattern of distribution of individually recorded trees within the site,the most prominent grouping visual quality. is that of the belt of trees which have become established on and adjacent to the Vellum on the site's 4.2.13 A low dry stone wall,generally in good condition,defines the site boundary on the Military Road corridor northern boundary.Small patches of ornamental shrubs such as cotoneaster and rhododendron are also and on the eastern boundary.Breaks in the wall mark the entrance points into the site and at these present within this tree belt in which the size and condition of the trees varies enormously.Interconnected groups of individual trees also define much of the character ofthe YHA garden space and the enclosed Page 1 13 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and TheYouth Hostel Association. nature of the western end of the NNPA car park.Elsewhere within the site,individual trees are generally through the site temporarily on its western boundary,is not fenced off.The western field boundary is seen in isolation,particularly alongthe north eastern and eastern boundary within the grass verge defined primarily by a dry stone wall but with a post and wire fence featuring at the southern end of the between the buildings/car packs and the public roads.Of these specimen trees,the only one worthy of site. particular note is the mature ash tree on the south side of the NNPA site entrance which acts as a focal 4.2.24 Timber poles located at intervals within the field near the top of the trlbutarlls west facing valley slope, point and an informal gateway feature.However,this tree leans at a significant angle out over the public support over head electric cables which run from apole mounted transformer near the western end of the highway and the tree survey has identified signs of rot in a hollow at the base of the trunk which merits NNPA car park,to a pole in the bottom of the valley.From here they run across the southern section of further investigation ifthe tree is to be retained. the field in two directions,both up and down stream on a broadly east—west axis. 4.2.19 One impact which is likely to affect the site,regardless of the development proposal,is the spread of Fraxinus chalara,a disease which causes the gradual death of ash trees and which has been detected in Copse north of the Military Road: mature trees ofthis species in Northumberland.Once infected,the Ice span of a tree is likely to be less 4.2.25 Directly opposite the north eastern corner of the site on the north side of the B6318 Military Road,there is than 10 years,however it is impossible to predict whether the trees on site will succumb to the disease or a group of alder and rowan which forms a small copse within an area enclosed by a dry stone wall. show resistance,or at what stage anyeffects might become apparent. Believed to be a former garden space associated with a previous youth hostel building,the regularly 4.2.20 For the purpose of this assessment it is appropriate to note that the three individual ash trees on site are spaced trees cover gently sloping ground falling towards the back of the Military Road highway verge.The all located adjacent to the entrance to the NNPA car park and represent the three age classes of'young, only break in the dry stone wall is on the southern boundary at a former narrow gateway marked by two middle aged'and'mature'.In the tree survey,all three are regarded as being of low quality and value stone gateposts. category C)but do provide some screening or softening effect to the locality(subcategory 2).If these 4.3 Landscape character three trees were lost,the eastern boundary of the site would become marginally more permeable in terms ofviews into the site in this location. Broad landscape 4.2.21 The loss of ash trees which are present within the planting block south of the youth hostel and in the 4.3.1 Landscape character refers to the distinct pattern of elements relating to geology,soils,topography,land triangle of woodland on the eastern boundary(tree groups A and D respectively)is unlikely to have a use, vegetation cover, settlement patterns etc. that differentiates one landscape from another and significant visual effect,on the basis that the space created by dead/dying trees is likely to be filled by contributes to a recognisable sense of place. the growth of neighbouring trees as they respond to the increased light levels. 4.3.2 The National Character Areas(NCA)as defined by Natural England,based on the Character Map of The central and southern section: England(Countryside Commission,1998)that fall within the study area are illustrated in Figure 3 and 4.2.22 The remaining two thirds of the main proposed development site comprises a field of semi-improved include: pasture,together with the triangle ofwoodland referred to in section 4.2.16 above.A timber field gate in 11 Tyne Gap and Hadrian's Wall the south eastern corner caters for agricultural vehicular access into the site but pedestrian access is also 5 Border Moors and Forests possible via timber gates in the post and rail fence along the southern edge ofthe NNPA car park.10 North Pennies 4.2.23 A post and wire fence prevents stock from gaining access to the Brackies Burn which flows in a small incised channel along the southern edge of the field.In contrast,access to the tributary which runs Page 114 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and TheYouth Hostel Association. 4.3.2 The site itself lies within the western section of NCA 11 Tyne Gap and Hadrian's Wall. Listed limited tree cover of small broadleaved copses and blocks of coniferous plantation, characteristics of note include:significant area for outdoor recreation. it is visually contained to the north bythe parallel scarps ofthe Whin Sill, 4.3.6 In addition,other observations of note include: farmland is pastoral in the west,merging to mixed and arable in the east, The outcrops of Whin Sill are seen rising often abruptly from the gently undulating moorland, there is a variety of enclosure patterns,with large,walled enclosures predominant in thewest and creating a sense of drama and ruggedness, hedged enclosures in the east, There are extensive areas of open mat-grass moorland and patches of carr woodland,reed bed north of the Whin Sill there is open,windswept semi-improved and rough grazing on elevated and bog habitats associated with lower lying areas and glacial loughs and within these areas the land,with loughs and rushy pastures, landscape has a large scale and exposed character, very evident remains of the Roman wall,forts and associated features occur on the Whin scarp. Elsewhere,the land has been enclosed by sandstone walls or fencing(particularly to the south of 4.3.3 The landscape of this NCA has been analysed in more detail byJulie Martin Associates and Alison Farmer the Whin Sill and around isolated farmsteads)to create a medium scale pattern of semi-improved Associates with Countryscape as part of their Landscape Character Assessment of Tynedale District and pastures,many of which are wet,the rushes creating visual texture. Northumberland National Park,2007. Tree cover is limited to small copses of ash and thorn and blocks of coniferous plantation, 4.3.4 This more detailed analysis has identified the Landscape Character Type(LCT)14:Parallel Ridges and Many ofthe farmsteads date to the 19thC and are located in a dispersed pattern,nestled into the Commons within the part of the NCA in which the site is located,Landscape Character Types being landform among rocky outcrops. landscapes with broadly similar combinations of basic landscape elements and which can therefore be More recent man-made features in this landscape relate to the area's importance for found in different places. recreation and tourism. Signage, car parks, footpaths and interpretation are frequent and 4.3.5 The key characteristics of LCT 14:Parallel Ridges and Commons are identified as follows: characteristic and are particularly concentrated along the Military Road and Whin Sill. repeating pattern of elevated ridges and shallow troughs with strong east-west alignment: This landscape character type feels remote because of its narrow roads, sparse settlement, cuesta landscape,extensive agriculture management,and exposure to the elements.The landscape seems timeless and unmodified since Roman times.The complex,enduring form of the Whin Sill,set within a dramatic outcrops of igneous rock forming pronounced north-facing scarps and south facing dip simple and uniform landscape of gently rolling moorland and enclosed pastures,remains its slopes; defining feature. open moorland with mat-and purple moor grass, peat bogs, improved pastures and 4.3.7 The LCT is broken down further into Landscape Character Areas—landscape units which share the same commons and loughs; characteristics as the LCT but which display their own individual character and identity.The Parallel medium to large-scale enclosure pattern defined by stone walls and post and wire fencing, Ridges and Commons LCT is divided into three LCAs,the development site lying dose to the centre of the extensive Roman archaeology associated with Hadrian's Wall but also earlier archaeology, largest of the three—LCA 14b Halfwhisfle,Melkridge and Ridley Commons which is defined primarlly for limited habitation of dispersed farmsteads nestling into landform and surrounded by shelter the dramatic escarpment and associated outcrops of the Whin Sill and the overt signs of Roman planting; occupation.Scattered farmsteads are often surrounded by small copses of trees and visitor signage is also prominent in parts. Page 115 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and TheYouth Hostel Association. Site character Zone 5:Brackies Burn valley bottom within the southern field—With very few urban elements present in 4.3.8 At a more detailed level,the proposed development site itself can be divided into 5 sub-character zones the view from this enclosed and secluded spot within the valley,the sense of being in a peaceful rural as follows: location is enhanced.Being in an incised channel,the Brackies Burn itself has limited impact on the visual Zone 1:Military Road corridor—a largely utilitarian area of low visual quality along the north side of the character of the space yet its presence still contributes to the sense harmony in the landscape character. existing buildings,dominated by the service area(bin store,LPG compound,sheds)YHA car park,and the noise and movement of traffic on the B6318.The'back of the YHA building is presented to the Vellum 4.4 The landscape at night Scheduled Ancient Monument and this important earthwork is barely legible in the landscape largely due 4.4.1 As might be expected in a landscape where buildings are generally isolated and sparsely scattered and to the tree and shrub cover growing on it,much of which is in a very poor condition.The proximity of the where roads are not lit,levels of illumination after sun set are extremely low within the study area.The buildings and the continuous tree cover means much of the area is in shade for prolonged periods and the main sources of light are: resulting sense of enclosure is at odds with the proximity of the B6318.In contrast to the immediate External security lights to domestic/commercial properties and farm buildings,some of which are surroundings however,this part of the site does give striking views(some filtered)north to the dramatic temporary,responding to the movement of vehicles/people —generally the most visible light landscape of the ridge of the Whin Sill,and in particular,the view to Peel Crag.sources being uncovered and bright; Zone 2.YHA garden—although similar to the western end of zone 1 in terms of being enclosed and Internal lighting to domestic properties—generally muted in intensity due to the presence of shaded by boundary tree cover and buildings,this'garden'space is more domestic in character.Signs of curtains/blinds used at night, a fire pit and the presence of a suspended basket seat from a tree indicate that the space functions as an Car lights—bright but transient.Catch the eye due to movement. informal garden.Much of the vegetation appears to be unmaintained giving it a naturalistic appearance which has a certain appeal.Although neglected,the space is secluded,relaxing and a offers a degree of 4.4.2 Light levels for the existing NNPA visitor centre are very low at night as the site facilities only operate escapism and communion with nature. between the hours of 10am and 3pm during the months between the end of October and end of March. Zone 3:NNPA and YHA environs—The sequence of linked,generally small spaces that combine to make Pin-point red and green security lighting is visible within the building but only from within the southern car up the'front of house'areas to the existing facilities on site lack visual quality but have a low key charm park area of the site itself.The entrance and associated signage into the site are not illuminated. nonetheless,being domestic in scale and welcoming.The absence of any coordinated design to the layout of the external spaces is apparent but is perhaps appropriate for such a location.The NNPA car 4.4.3 On the south side of the youth hostel,external spot lighting and a wash of lighting at the main entrance is park is of low visual impact from the main entrances to both buildings and allows the view south across visible but only from the southern car park where it is largely screened by a combination of existing the valley of the Brackies Burn to dominate. vegetation and the fenced depot area to the NNPA visitor centre.The visual impact of existing lighting Zone 4:South facing slope within the southern field—From within thisgrazed field,the dominant view is to when seen from locations to the south and which are outside the site,is very subtle.What is more the south and to the ridgeline of the north facing slope of the Brackies Burn valley.Consequently,the noticeable is the orange glow from a wall mounted security light to the Twice Brewed Inn car park. presence of the NNPA car park and visitor facilities has a reduced impact on the character of this space which is rural and open.In amenable weather conditions the view can be stimulating.In poor conditions, 4.4.4 In views westward into the site from the YHA car park to the north,external wall mounted lighting is more the openness ofthe site can translate as being exposed. visible but still has a limited visual profile in views from outside the site. Page 1 16 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and TheYouth Hostel Association. 4.4.5 In views south from the road leading up to the Steel Rigg/Peel Crag car park,the regular spacing of 4.5.6 The value of the local landscape for recreational activities in which direct experience of the landscape is uncovered wall mounted external lighting along the length of the north elevation of the youth hostel is important is confirmed by the presence of designated routes of national significance such as the Hadrian's uncharacteristic of lighting in the area and givesthe impression that there is a large building present,even Wall Path and the Pennine Way,and National Cycle Routes 68 and 72. if the building itself is not visible.On the neighbouring site the Twice Brewed Inn car park security light is dominant and internal lighting to the entrance porch is visible.Together,the Twice Brewed Inn and YHA 4.5.7 At'Sycamore Gap'1.2km to the north east ofthe site,a single mature sycamore tree growing on the line sites represent the main dusters of lighting visible in the view but the overall effect is not intrusive to a of the Wall(just east of Milecastle39)in the centre ofadramatic dip in the escarpment,is associated with significant degree.a scene in the film'Robin Hood Prince of Thieves'staring Kevin Costner and many visitors are drawn to that specific point on the line of Hadrian's Wall for that reason. 4.5 Landscape val ue 4.5.8 Although issues relating to ecology are beyond the scope of this report,it is worth noting that there are The broader landscape 2no.National Nature Reserves and 3no.Sites of Special Scientific Interest within 3.5km of the site(see Figure 1).The nearest of these is the Roman Wall Escarpment SSSI on the north side of the B6318. 4.5.1 Establishing the value of the landscape in which the proposed development site is located and of the 4.5.9 Consequently,there can be no doubt that the local landscape within which the proposed development landscape features within the site itself,is of direct relevance when it comes to assigning a level of site is located is valued at a national and international level.In addition,as of December 2013,the site susceptibility to change to those identilied landscape receptors. falls within an area which has been granted International Dark Sky Park(Gold tier)status by the 4.5.2 The role of Northumberland National Park as a'special place and a valued resource not just for the North International Dark Sky Association(IDA).It is the largest area of protected night sky in Europe,and East but for the nation as a whole,has been noted in section 3 above.The NNPA Management Plan itself amongst the largest in the world. notes that:"National Parks are the most beautiful,spectacular and dramatic expanses of countryside in England,Scotland and Wales and are landscapes of national importance.They contain a wealth of Landscape receptors on site nationally and internationally important wildlife and cultural heritage."The Northumberland National Park is 4.5.10 This section considers the value of the main individual landscape features within the site in terms of their expansive,covering 20%of the county.However,there is no doubt that the specific landscape within quality and aesthetic appeal and their contribution to the recognised value of the broader landscape. which the Once Brewed site is located is as valued as any within the remainder of the Park.The dramatic 4.5.11 The existing buildings themselves are considered to be of little architectural merit and value.Although they topography created by the Whin Sill outcrop inspires and challenges.It can have an emotional and generally blend into the landscape as a result of the use of stone and slate in construction,when seen spiritual quality and a sense of tranquillity that is one of the main perceptual qualities valued by visitors to close up,the elevational treatment and detailing and the surrounding external spaces are seen to be of the area. low visual quality. 4.5.3 The Once Brewed site falls within theWHS'buffer zone,'identified as the area beyond the WHS which 4.5.12 The Tree Survey for the site prepared by AMR Geomatics notes that:"The mature trees on the site make defines its setting.a significant contribution to the landscape of this part of the Hadrian's Wall corridor and help to blend the 4.5.4 Other heritage assets of the Roman period of national value, designated as Scheduled Ancient existing buildings into the landscape."The value of the trees lies predominantly in the role they perform as Monuments, surround the site and one, the Vellum Earthworks, actually lies within the northern a group in terms of their screening function,habitat provision and generating a feature characteristic of a section of the proposed development site. landscape in which trees are generally restricted to groups and clumps associated with individual 4.5.5 A Grade II post medieval listed building lies 200m to the west ofthe site at West Twice Brewed. farmsteads or residential properties. Page 117 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and TheYouth Hostel Association. 4.5.13 When considered in isolation,many of the trees are in poor to fair condition,and there are few highly 4.6.3 Further a field(c.5+km),on the south side of the river and the A69 road corridor,views of the site are valued individuals.One notable'landmark'tree is the mature ash at the existing entrance to the NNPA car theoretically possible from an area south of Bellingham and a much smaller area north west of Whitfield, park.However,there are concerns overits future stability. and from higher ground to the west,east and south of Langley Castle,including sections of the A686 and 4.5.14 Although the trees on the Vellum along the northern site boundary perform a valuable screening role to B6305.Further south still,the ZTV includes an area of moorland between Ninebanks and Allendale Town, the existing buildings inviews from the north,it is acknowledged that their presence could be detrimental c.13km from the site.Although further from the Once Brewed site,these potential viewpoints south of the tothe condition and preservation of the Vellum Scheduled Ancient Monument. River South Tyne are of particular significance as most fall within the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty(AONB). 4.5.15 Tree cover on the site is therefore generally assessed as being of low to moderate value. 4.6.4 Given the theoretical nature of the zone of visual influence illustrated in Figure 4,survey work in the field 4.5.16 The low dry stone wall which defines the extent of the site on its northern and eastern boundaries is has been carried out to establish actual levels ofvisibility from the more distant viewpoints within the North generally in good condition.It is a distinctive feature of the site and an element which is characteristic of Pennines AONB.As expected,the screening effect oftree cover,buildings and roadside walls and hedges the broader landscape.It is of moderate value. reducessignificantly theactual area fromwhich the site can be seen.Photographs in Figure 5taken at the 4.5.17 The field to the south of the existing NNPA car park is of moderate value,providing an attractive setting to five key viewpoints VP 6—10 identified in Figure 4 give an indication ofthe extent to which the site is views south across the Brackies Burn valley from the current visitor centre.The southernmost section of visible at such distances.Clearly,at distances greater than 5km,the existing site has a low visual profile this field which forms the valley floor,is visually segregated from the site facilities by the local topography. within the broader views north and in most instances there are other landforms or features on the horizon This isolation and containment generates a distinct sense of place which is of a higher value.that draw the eye and provide a focus away from the area in which the site is located.One exception is 4.5.18 The site feature of most significant value is the Vellum—an earthwork feature from the Roman period viewpoint VP6 on the B6305 east of Langley, where the Once Brewed site, although virtually which runs along the northern boundary of the site and which is designated as a Scheduled Ancient indistinguishable in the broader landscape,is located just below one of the most visually prominent ridges Monument of national importance. Winshield Crags)on the horizon. 4.6 Visual baseline 4.6.5 It should be noted that the site is not visible from Langley Castle which is located within the wooded valley of the Langley Burn and the number of public rights of way within the ZTV south of the River South Tyne Visual context—broader landscape is limited.The only public footpath providing sustained long distance views northwards to the Once Brewed site is that running on an east-west axis across agrouse moor at Greenrigg Moor south east of 4.6.1 A digital terrain model covering the area within a 15km radius of the Once Brewed site has been used to Langley. generate a Zone of Theoretical Visibility(ZTV)for the existing site(see Figure 4).This uses elevation data alone to predict points from which ground level of the existing site is theoretically visible assuming a'bare Visual context—local landscape earth'landscape in which the potential screening impact of vegetation and buildings etc.is not taken into 4.6.6 A more detailed illustration ofthe ZTV based upon site ground level covering the area to the north of the account. River South Tyne is provided in Figure 6 4.6.2 The ZTV in Figure 4 shows that,given the parameters set out above,the areas on the north side of the River South Tyne from which the site may be visible are restricted to a comparatively short section of the Military Road corridor,including the line ofHadrian's Wall and the World Heritage site itself,and a section of road to the south east ofthe Once Brewed site and due east of the Vindolanda Roman fort site. Page 118 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and TheYouth Hostel Association. 4.6.7 It shows that the site may be visible from a 3km section of the B6318 Military Road corridor between this close viewpoint,the stone and pebbledash finish to the youth hostel,which is filtered by vegetation on Shield on the Wall to the west,and East Twice Brewed to the east.It also indicates that the ZTV is the Vellum,is of low visual quality.The Vellum itself is barely legible,obscured as it is by existing tree and contained by the ridge of the Whin Sill and the line of Hadrian's Wall to the north,and the ridge formed by shrub cover. the top of the southern slopes of the Brackies Burn valley to the south(and which marks the southern 4.6.12 When travellingtowards the site along the roadfrom Henshaw and Bardon Mill to the south,although the boundary ofthe National Park). Twice Brewed Inn together with a scattered duster of other buildings are visible,the existing visitor centre 4.6.8 To the east,the areas from which the existing site might be visible are limited,being restricted mainly to and youth hostel buildings are all but hidden from view by existing tree cover.Once past Smith's Shield, sections ofthe Whin Sill ridge extending as far as Hotbank Crags and the point at which the Pennine Way direct and unobstructed views of the field to the south of the existing car park are possible from limited leaves the Hadrian's Wall Path,striking off northward,and astrip of elevated ground on the north western sections of road before it drops down into the bottom of the Brackies Burn valley.When present,vehicles edge ofThorngrafton Common,c.300m east of Vindolanda. minibuses in particular)parked in the existing YHA car park and atthe western end ofthe NNPA car park, 4.6.9 Most visual receptors experience the local landscape around Once Brewed from the Military Road corridor are notable.These views form part of a broader vista north in which the outcrop of Peel Crag forms a and as such,the Once Brewed site must be seen in the context of a broader visual experience which, locally distinct focal point.From the point where the road crosses the Burn,views into the lower section of whether travelling from the east or the west,captures the drama of Hadrian's Wall and the cuesta this field are possible,but these are transitory. landscape with which itis associated.Within this setting,the existing site and its features have a generally 4.6.13 Although not a direction from which visual receptors are likely to encounter the existing site for the first low visual profile.However,the precise nature of this visual profile depends very much on the direction time,the visual profile of the site from the north is highly significant as this is the direction from which the from which the visual receptor,passing through the landscape,approaches the site. site is seen from the Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site and the Hadrian's Wall and Pennine Way 4.6.10 The existing buildings on the site are most visible when approached from the east, yet due to the recreational routes.Currently,views of the existing buildings are heavily fitered,even in winter,by tree screening effectof the dry stone boundary wall on the south side of the B6318,the NNPA visitor centre is and shrub cover within the site.Vehicles parked in the YHA car park at the north east corner of the site not dearly visible in the view from the road until one is comparatively dose to the buildings.From a are visible and are unscreened. distance,the warm grey of the stone and slate building materials blends well with the surrounding 4.6.14 The south facing field south of the existing NNPA car park is hidden from view.In contrast,the Twice backdrop of tree cover and it is only the large white lettering on the east facing elevation which marks the Brewed Inn,painted white on its north facing elevation,is dearly visible,as are cars parked in its car park building as a feature of public note. to the east of the Inn.This is the building which most draws the eye,although other buildings such as 4.6.11 Approaching from the west,ridges to the north and south prevent a broader outlook and concentrate Seatsides,East Twice Brewed and Smith's Shield are also visible. views along the road corridor to a greater extent.The other dwellings and agricultural buildings which Visual receptors make up the hamlet of Twice Brewed are notable at stages in the view.The large property at Seatsides on the skyline to the south draws the eye, as does the longer distance view of the ridge formed by 4.6.15 There are only c.11no.residential properties shown to fall within the ZTV illustrated in Figure 6.These Thorngrafton Common.The field to the south ofthe existing NNPA visitor centre is visible in this view but include one public house(The Twice Brewed Inn),one campsite(Winshields Farm Campsite),a guest has a low visual profile.However,as one approaches the Once Brewed site,not onlyis the Twice Brewed house(Vellum Lodge)and two holiday cottages owned by the National Trust(Springwell Cottage and Peel Inn much more dominant in the view than the YHA building,which is largely screened by mature tree Bothy).By their very nature,private domestic residences are generally considered to be highly sensitive cover around the outer edges of the site,but distinctive earthworks to the north ofthe highway provide a visual receptors. focus for attention together with the profile of the Whin Sill forming the horizon.Consequently,the existing site buildings go almost unnoticed until the receptor is travelling along the northern edge of the site.From Page 119 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and TheYouth Hostel Association. 4.6.16 Out of these properties,three have direct views of the northern site boundary(East Bog,Springwell Vindolanda.However,the site is visible in the background in views of the Vindolanda site as experienced Cottage and Peel Bothy)and two(Seatsides and Smith's Shield)have direct views of the field to the south from the elevated ground of Thorngrafton Common. ofthe existing facilities on site. 4.6.22 The visual impact on these and other significant heritage and cultural assets is assessed in detail in the 4.6.17 The remaining properties which make up the hamlet ofTwice Brewed to the west ofthe Once Brewed site heritage chapter of the ES.For the purposes ofthis LVIA,the visual effects of the proposed development have very restricted views of the site,screened as it is by buildings and tree cover.Some limited views of on views both from and to landscape features of heritage value,are assessed on the basis of selected the field forming the southern part of the proposed development site are possible. viewpoints at locations.These are analysed in more detail in section 5 of this report. 4.6.18 In terms of properties providing accommodation for visitors and tourists,there are no significant views of 4.6.23 Other highly sensitive receptors engaged in recreational pursuits would be those using the National Cycle the site from the Winshields Campsite and the Vellum Lodge Guest House.Unobstructed views of the Route 68 whichpasses bythe site. site's north western boundary are possible from the neighbouring Inn but the boundary vegetation 4.6.24 Figure 6 identifies a number of public footpaths within the ZTV and although some of these are likely to be provides a strong filter to views ofthe YHA building.Similarly,as seen from the Springwell Cottage and used only infrequently,all recreational users should be considered to be potentially highly sensitive visual Peel Bothy holiday lets,both of which are located on the road up to the Steel Rigg car park.Given that the receptors.Aside from the recreational routes associated with Hadrian's Wall and the Whin Sill ridge,the great majority of visitors to the locality are attracted by the highly valued landscape and heritage assets, footpaths providing the most notable views of the existing site are the two routes which run from Twice properties providing accommodation for tourists(short term and long term)are generally considered to be Brewed(one from the Winshields Campsite)up the south side of the Brackies Burn valley and over the visual receptors ofhigh sensitivity unless specific site conditions suggest otherwise. ridge on which Seatsides is located.Although much of the existing buildings are screened or filtered by 4.6.19 Despite being subservient to the A69 with which it runs parallel,the B6318 still functions as an important tree cover,open views of the southern field within the proposed development site are possible from the transport route for those who live and work in the area,connecting the hamlets and isolated farmsteads higher ground. along the line of the Whin Sill.Some receptors using this route will be of low to moderate susceptibility to change.However,it is its role in providing both visual and physical access to some of the most significant heritage sites in the North East which is of particular relevance,as it carries the great majority ofthe c.50- 70,000 people who visit the existing Once Brewed site every year,on average.As previously noted,the quality of the landscape is one of the key factors that attracts visitors to this part of the county,and consequently it should be assumed that potential visual receptors travelling on the B6318 could be moderately to highly sensitive to change. 4.6.20 For the same reason,visual receptors travelling on the road linking the Once Brewed site with the A69 and the road skirting the western edge of Thorngrafton Common,should also be considered to be of moderate to high sensitivity. 4.6.21 It is apparent thatthe existing site is potentially visible from sections of the Hadrian'sWall World Heritage Site between Turret 37A and Milecastle 41.It is not visible from the Roman fort and Scheduled Ancient Monument at Housteads nor is itvisible from the Roman fort and Scheduled Ancient Monument at Page 20 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and TheYouth Hostel Association. 5.0 Potential Effects 5.2.3 In response to the site's sloping topography,the north eastern end of the Landscape Discovery Centre is recessed into the ground while the south western end(the two storey YHA accommodation block which 5.1 Introduction drops half a floor level in relation to the main building mass)appears to project out from the ground.In addition,the provision of a green roof further assimilates the built form with the surrounding green space. 5.1.1 Within this section the effects of the proposed development on both landscape and visual receptors is 5.2.4 As the building is to function as a'gateway'to the landscapes of the National Park,it is intended that it assessed and the significance of thateffect is graded accordingto the methodology set out in section 4.2.should have a presence in the landscape and be legible and distinctive.However,it is also a fundamental Consideration is given to the generally temporary effects which relate directly to the construction process, part of the design concept that the building should be constructed using materials which are of a local such as the movement and noise of heavy plant etc.,and to the more long term effects evident once the character and provenance as much as possible. construction process is completed.For each effect identified,where appropriate,the level of significance is assessed first without,and then with,reference to mitigation measures which have been incorporated The building into the design proposal. 5.2.5 The shared main entrance is central to the southern elevation,much of which supports a projecting canopy at first floor level made up of photovoltaic panels.The Landscape Discovery Centre is two storeys 5.1.2 Some measures taken to mitigate the impact of the proposed new building on the landscape were defined at its north eastern end(8m above existing ground level),with a cafe at the upper level aligned with the ata very early stage in the design process and are fundamental to the final architectural vision and design striking vista to Peel Crag and the Whin Sill.Although the YHA accommodation block is two storey,the concept.These inherent mitigation measures are outlined in section 7. fact that it is dropped half a floor level in relation to the main building allows the first floor cafe and viewing 5.2 Description of the proposed development terrace to the Landscape Discovery Centre to function as the feature which draws the eye.Much of the northern and western elevation reads as two storey although a pronounced section of sloping roof 5.2.1 The development which has been assessed is illustrated in Figures 7 and 8. deliberately breaks up the straight rooffine at the centre of the building and brings it down dose to ground level. Basic design concept 5.2.6 On the northern elevation which faces out onto the Military Road corridor,the building is to be faced in 5.2.2 The new building has a single footprint of c.2,157m2 and is madeupofthe NNPA's Landscape Discovery whin stone filled gabion baskets at the lower levels with timber cladding used at the higher levels.The Centre(the eastern part of the building)and the new YHA 86 bed hostel(the western section of the junction between the two is stepped so as to reflect the block-like profile of the actual Whin Sill outcrop. building).Understanding the design concept behind the proposed building helps with the interpretation of Window voids are irregular for the same reason.The stepped form ofthe whin stone gabions will provide its complex form which is largely inspired by the undulating cuesta landscape in which it is located.The opportunities for incorporating appropriate native planting on the building fat;ade.On the south facing bold northern elevation captures the drama of the north facing Whin Sill escarpment,while the more gentle elevation,although the principle of using timber cladding at higher levels is repeated,lower levels are to profile of the southern elevation reflects the softer south facing escarpment slopes.Similarly,building and be faced in sandstone as a softer contrast to the darker whin stone on the northern aspect. landscape are fully integrated atthe north eastern comer as the lower section of the sloping roof rises out from existing ground levels at a constant gradient before turning back on itself in order to create a dramatic viewpoint and architectural statement aligned with the vista north towards the local focal point of Peel Crag and the Whin Sill. Page 121 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and TheYouth Hostel Association. replaced with a green events space and the ramped access to the green roof.The new building line is set 5.2.7 On the northern elevation the main area of glazing is that of the cafe.This glazing continues,running further back from the Vellum SAM and alive management of the vegetation currently growing on the along the length ofthe south facing elevation of the first floor as it projects above the lower sloping section Vellum would include the removal of much of the lower growing ornamental shrubs including of the green roof to form an atrium.Below this,much of the central section of the southern elevation is rhododendron,and dead/dying trees.Over a prolonged period,there would be a phased approach to the glazed with panels in between stone buttresses formed using dry stone walling techniques.On the YHA continued selective removal of vegetation on the Vellum which would run parallel with a programme of accommodation block,glazing is restricted to bedroom windows although a linear skylight is present along new planting designed to recreate some of the screening and filtering function of the removed vegetation the length ofthe roof to this block. but in a more considered location where it would not have an adverse impact on archaeological remains. 5.2.8 Thegreen roofto the main body ofthe building is to be formedusing transplanted whin vegetation typical ofthe rare and threatened plant communities which are associated with the Whin Sill outcrop.Plant plugs 5.2.12 Key trees marked for retention along the boundary with the Military Road corridor are identified in Figure are to be planted into a predominantly whinstone gravel—dust and compost mix.A ramp extending from 9.Atthe western end ofthis green buffer strip between the new development and the SAM,a newwoven the building at its north eastern end is to continue up on to the roof where it connects with a timber deck willow hedge planted behind a dry stone wall would provide privacy and security to the YHA garden space walkway.This weaves through the whin vegetation passing seating or rest areas,until it reaches the which is laid out in the space between the new youth hostel and the western boundary.Much of the highest point on the roof which takes the form of a viewing deck over the first floor cafe.Balustrading to mature coniferous planting along the north western boundary is to be retained.The garden space is to the publicly accessible green roof is to be provided using c.1in high galvanised steel mesh panels of incorporate an informal play space,an open events area and a patio with pergola and seat swing etc.A irregular lengths.The green roof to the YHA accommodation block is to be constructed using a basic garden path will connect with the gateway to the Twice Brewed Inn site.The north west corner of the matrix of appropriate grass species as used on the main green roof.At the southern end,where the garden is also to accommodate a timber bat loft-a 4x4m x 4.7m high structure with a slate pitched roof accommodation block terminates with the main plant room for the whole building,flues from the plant The floor of the loft would be 2.5m above ground and the space below it enclosed for use as a cycle room will extend 1.5m above the level ofthe green roof.storage facility.This element would be constructed in advance ofthe demolition of the existing buildings. 5.2.9 The internal lighting for the building has yet to be specked but it is understood that the one of the key 5.2.13 To the east of the building,a series of dry stone walls(both free standing and retaining)accommodate objectives would be to minimise light spill by specifying fittings which cast no light above the horizontal changes in levels as the green roof and main building integrate with the external landscape.A new lay-by plane. set back from the highway verge is to be formed to cater for service deliveries.Just south of this lay-by,a External spaces covered bin store and cycle storage facility are to be constructed in dry stone walling and with a green turf roof.This storage area marks the eastern boundary of a courtyard area defining the arrival/gathering 5.2.10 The overriding design principle for the treatment of external spaces is that they should be treated with a space outside the main entrance.A feature wall projecting out of the building segregates the main light touch and blend seamlessly with the surrounding landscape.The main challenge has been to entrance area from the neighbouring outdoor classroom space to the west.This educational gathering accommodate a requirement for approximately 180no.car parking spaces(87 permanent spaces and 93 space is to be separated from the main circulation route to the south by a hawthorn hedge.To the west of overnow spaces,the latter in a grassed field).Prior to fixing the design solution illustrated in Figure 7,a the outdoor classroom is an outdoor dining space for the YHA,the southern edge of which is defined by a number of alternative layouts were considered before being rejected and these are described in section 6 dry stone retaining wall at the northern end of the YHA accommodation block.Along the southern edge of as part of theearly mitigation process. this'front of house'area,a sweeping arc of a footpath connects the main entrance with the parking areas 5.2.11 On the north side of the new building,the demolition of the existing visitor centre and youth hostel sees to the south. the removal of the existing car park and service area at the north eastern corner of the site.This is Page 122 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and TheYouth Hostel Association. 5.2.14 Vehicular access to the site remains in its existing southern position and a new timber double leaf field in gabions with hand placed stone to the face would have a maximum height of 1.5m and run between the gate is to be provided which can be dosed during the movement of livestock along this.The main car park southern edge of the upper car park and the path which is at the lower level.New embankments are to be area is located between the new building and the existing triangle of woodland on the eastern site formed to tie the ramped path levels into the existing steep slope leading down to the south flowing boundary.The space allocated to parking is broken up by the inclusion of new belts and dumps of native tributary. tree and shrub planting.A raised hedgebank c.1In high defines the northern edge ofthe central parking area.All linear planting is to be maintained as informal hedgerow with unrestricted vertical growth.Two 5.2.19 Within the valley bottom,the more level part of the field is to be allocated for dual use as overflow parking low pressure gas tanks are located near the car park entrance,screened by an extension to the existing and events space.Minor grading of levels together with land drainage will be required to facilitate this as dry stone boundary wall and by a fence with hedge planting.At the southern end ofthe upper car park,set will a visually discreet means of reinforcing the grass surface.Access to the overflow car park is to be via against the western edge ofthe triangular woodland,an electric substation is to be located.It would have an existing field gate location in the south east corner of the field.To the north of the entrance,a a 5x5m footprint,be faced in dry stone walling and have a pitched slate roof,giving d the appearance of submerged water treatment plant is to be located in the field,discharging into the Brackies Burn. an agricultural out-building. 5.2.20 The existing overhead electric cable mounted on timber poles which runs down the field and along the 5.2.15 A second tier of car parking is located further down the existing slope and south of the triangle of valley bottom,is to be relocated underground as part of the development works. woodland.It ends on an area of comparatively level ground,approximately 12m back from the top of the crest of a steeper slope down into the Brackies Burn valley bottom.Coach parking bays are positioned 5.2.21 External lighting of the pedestrian route from the two car park areas up to the Landscape Discovery alongside the wood's western boundary. Larger planting areas are used to break up the area of Centre and youth hostel is to be in the form of low level,directional timber bollard lighting to give the hardstanding and a broad belt of native screen planting runs along the southern edge of the car park and lowest level of illumination required to allow safe access. up the eastern boundary. 5.2.22 A camera for registration plate recognition purposes is to be installed near the entrance gate at a point 5.2.16 The main circulation route through the car park areas is to have an asphalt surface finish.Most bays along the existing fence line.A dump of new native shrub planting would form a backdrop. within the upper car park,together with the accessible parking and drop-off area are to be top dressed with tar spray and chippings,giving a softer visual texture.Throughout the remaining car park areas, Military Road crossing point parking bays are formed using a gravel filled plasticgrid. 5.2.23 It is proposed that the works on site would include improved access across the Military Road for pedestrians wishing to make the journey up to Hadrian's Wall and the Whin Sill.This is to be delivered in 5.2.17 Between the upper and lower car parks lies a play space focusing on naturalistic play.It also includes a the form of a break in the site'northern boundary wall and millstone flags placed within the highway verge concrete platform for astronomical observation.Although a detailed design for the play area has yet to be at the north eastern corner of the site(see Figure 7)with millstone flags defining a route along the created,the provision of some fixed play equipment is anticipated but any such structure would be in opposite verge to a step down into the existing ditch,and which then continues along the base of the ditch timber and have a maximum height of c.3m. to an existing gateway into a small rectangular copse enclosed by a dry stone wall on all sides.The millstone flag path runs around the inner face of the southern and eastern boundary walls before crossing 5.2.18 South of the YHA accommodation block a ramped compacted whin stone path(together with resting areas over the wall,via a newly formed break near the north east comer,and into the highway verge of the road and timber benches)connects the car parks and play area with the main building.A retaining wall formed leading up to Peel Crag. Page 123 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and TheYouth Hostel Association. Junction improvements 5.2.24 Improvements to the sghtlines at the junction ofthe Vindolanda road with the Military Road are also to be 5.3.4 During the construction process,signage and site security fencing would be required,the visual effects of carried out as part of the development proposal.This would involve the lowering of the height of the which would be difficult to mitigate.The temporary urbanisation of the landscape character of the site existing dry stone retaining wall that forms the field boundary on the south side of the Military Road on the would be a temporary adverse landscape and visual effect of low to moderate significance when east side of the junction.The wall would be taken down to the level of the highway verge over a c.30m experienced closer up. length and the existing stock proof post and wire fence running in the field immediately behind the wall, would be renewed.On the west side ofthe junction,the height of the dry stone wall forming the northern 5.3.5 It is expected that the receptors most affected by the adverse effects would be the few residents around site boundary would be reduced by approximately one course overa 30m length.the hamlet of Twice Brewed who live close to the site or who are located in elevated positions overlooking the site from the south.Another group of receptors who are likely to be particularly sensitive to noise are those using the recreational routes on the Whin Sill ridge and for whom noises generated by the 5.3 Effects during construction construction process could be carried northwards on the prevailing wind,resulting in a transient but moderately-substantially adverse effect on their experience and enjoyment of a landscape otherwise 5.3.1 It is anticipated that during the construction process there will be adverse landscape and visual effects of valued for its tranquillity and escapism. low to substantial significance.These would relate primarily to the effects of construction plant movement both on and off the site)and noise on the local landscape character and sense of tranquillity but would be temporary.Itis expected thatthe effects would be of greatest significance during the early demolition and 5.4 Effects after completion earth moving stages of an approximately 18 month construction phase. Effects on individual landscape receptors within the site 5.3.2 Although stockpiles of crushed concrete,stone and brick generated during the demolition process would look out of place until the time they could be re-cycled during the construction phase,they would only be 5.4.1 The following sections consider the anticipated effects on the main physical elements that constitute visible from a comparatively limited area.The presence of site cabins and storage containers themselves landscape receptors within the site. would represent an urban intrusion into the rural landscape.It is unknown where site cabins are likely to Existing buildings: be located,but in the event that they are positioned off-site on neighbouring land to the west,perhaps on the site of the existing Twice Brewed Inn car park,then they would only really have any visual significance 5.4.2 These have been identified as being of low value and are considered to be of low susceptibility to change in views from the B6318 road corridor when travelling west and from East Bog farm in its elevated location and therefore to be of low sensitivity. Their demolition represents a magnitude of change which is to the north. assessed as being beneficial to a moderate—substantial degree resulting in an effect of moderate beneficial significance. 5.3.3 Increased levels of illumination are expected to an extent during hours of darkness when the construction The Vellum: site is operational or when site cabins are occupied and the significance of any adverse effects are likely to be low to moderate given their limited duration and would only be visible from a restricted area.5.4.3 As a landscape feature which is designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument,it is of high—exceptional value and potentially highly susceptible to change as a result of new built development,making ita Page 124 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and TheYouth Hostel Association. landscape receptor of high sensitivity.The removal of the existing youth hostel building along its southern Boundary dry stone walls: boundary and the creation of new open space between the new buildings and the SAM boundary would 5.4.8 Of moderate landscape value,the boundary walls within the site are moderately susceptible to the improve the setting ofthe Valium.In addition,the proposed initial tree removal on the mound itself would redevelopment of the site on this scale and are therefore of moderate sensitivity. enhance its legibility in the landscape.This represents a magnitude of change which is moderately beneficial.This is likely to increase to a magnitude of substantially beneficial in the longer term as a 5.4.9 Most ofthe existing walls are to be retained or extended and,where removed,replaced with new walls on sensitive vegetation management plan sees the gradual removal of the great majority of the existing tree slightly different alignments.The new boundary wall construction would match the visual character of the cover on the Valium.Consequently,the significance of the effect of the proposed development on the existing walls.In places they would be higher and incorporate pedestrian access gates,perhaps giving the Valium within the site is assessed as being moderately beneficial,increasing to substantially beneficial boundary feature a slightly more domestic rather than agricultural character. over the 20-00 year period after construction ofthenew facilitieson site. 5.4.10 On balance,the expected magnitude of change to this landscape receptor is negligible to low adverse, 5.4.4 Footpath works proposed for within the copse on the opposite side of the Military Road.would have no giving an effect of negligible to low adverse significance. significant impact on the visual character of this part of the SAM. Southern field: Tree cover: 5.4.11 The field to the south ofthe existing NNPA car park on site is considered to vary in landscape value from 5.4.5 The tree cover on site has been assessed as being of low to moderate value for the reasons set out moderate to high largely as the result of the subtle change in landscape character between the upper and section 5.2.It is a resource which can be recreated easily enough,but it is acknowledged that new central part ofthe field and the more enclosed lower section in the bottom of the Brackies Burn valley. planting maytake slightly longer to reach the levels of maturity currently present on site compared to the Given the simple nature of this landscape receptor it is highly susceptible to change as a result of new majority of development sites due to the exposed nature of the location and more harsh growing build development making it generally highly sensitivity overall. conditions. Consequently it is considered to be of moderate susceptibility to change and of low to moderate sensitivity overall. 5.4.12 For the lower section of the field,the introduction of a camera on the southern boundary as part of the system for administering parking charges and a footpath connecting the proposed overnow car park/ 5.4.6 Despite the generally poor quality of much ofthe tree cover,itsvalue lies largely in its screening function events area with the main building,represents a low adverse magnitude ofchange.The proposed system and the resulting contribution it makes to the character of the local landscape.As much of the most for providing additional strength to the existing grass sward would have a negligible effect on the visual significant tree cover in this regard is to be retained,the magnitude of change as a result of the proposed character of this part of the field. development is expected to be low adverse.The overall significance of the effect on tree cover across the site is therefore assessed as being low to moderately adverse. 5.4.13 However,in the central and upper sections a greater magnitude of adverse change is anticipated.A significant proportion of the grass sward would be replaced with hard standing for the vehicular access 5.4.7 However,as the proposed new native structure planting establishes and makes visual connections with road and parking bays,although the latter would be formed in reinforced gravel so as to generate a more existing mature tree groups on this and adjacent sites,the effect on this landscape receptor is expected to natural colour and visual texture.Parked vehicles and features associated with the proposed play area become of low beneficial significance. would add three dimensional elements currently lacking in the field,although it should be noted that the existing timber poles carrying the overhead power line down the length of the field would be removed as a Page 125 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and TheYouth Hostel Association. result of the development project.In addition,the movement of vehicles within the area of the car park 5.4.18 In all instances,when assessed in these terms,the landscape around the proposed development site is would be very different from that of the sheep which occasionally graze the field.Consequently,the judged to be of high value,increasing to exceptionally high with regard to distinctive local character. magnitude of change for the central and upper part of the field is expected to be moderate to substantially adverse. 5.4.19 In the context of the above,the landscape's susceptibility to the potential changes associated with the construction of a new building on the existing site is considered to be moderate due to the scale of the 5.4.14 As a result,whereas the significance of effect on the lower section of the field is assessed as being minor landscape and the visual character of the facilities already on site.In terms of establishing landscape adverse,the effects on parts of the more elevated sections are likely to be of moderate to substantial sensitivity,this is assessed as being moderate-high in all instances. adverse significance within avery local context. 5.4.20 Due to the complexity of establishing the anticipated magnitude of change resulting from the many facets 5.4.15 Obviously the proposed new planting which forms part of the mitigation strategy for this landscape effect of the development on the key aspects of landscape character,it is proposed that critical aspects of the would take time to establish and full its role as a visual barrier and filter to areas of hardstanding and development project should be assessed individually.A judgement can then be made on the composite vehicles on site.Based on apparent growth rates for existing mass planting on site,it is anticipated that magnitude of change. the significance of the adverse effect would be reduced to'moderate'within ten years,and to'low'within twenty years. 5.4.21 Using the Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document within the NNP's Local Development Framework as a reference,the main aspects of the development selected for assessment are:scale— building and external works),rhythm,materials—(colour,texture,reflection),signage,function,lighting, Effects on landscape character movement and noise.Each one is considered in turn,although some are inevitably interconnected. 5.4.16 Having considered the effects on individual landscape receptors on the site,the cumulative effects need to Scale: be examined alongside other anticipated impacts such as new building construction and potential changes 5.4.22 Building-the footprint of the new building(2,157m2)is greater than the combined footprints of the existing tothe waythe site is used in order to assess theoverall effecton the perceived landscape character of the buildings(957m2)and it would reach two storeys in height(8m)at its eastern end where currently the site and the contribution it makes to the broader landscape.The interrelationship between these elements visitor centre is only one storey.At its western end the accommodation block to the youth hostel is also is complex and in line with good practice itis proposed that the assessment process should focus on what two storeys but this part of the structure drops half a floor in relation to the main new building utilising the are expected to be the most significant effects on the key aspects of the baseline landscape character. sloping site to best advantage.Similarly,in the north east corner,the ground floor exhibition space is cut into existing ground level by c.1m. 5.4.17 In Section 3 of this report,the review of planning and management policies relating to the landscape of the Northumberland National Park and of the local area around the Once Brewed site provided an overview of 5.4.23 The observer's perception of scale is influenced to a degree by levels of visual screening,built form and the characteristics ofthe landscape which are considered to be of most value and therefore most worthy construction materials(see below).In this instance,much of the tree cover on the site boundaries is to be of protection.It is suggested that the key aspects of greatest significance can be summarised as being: retained,however the tree group currently screening the YHA building on its southern aspect would be the sense oftranquillity, lost. distinctive local character, dark skies and the night time landscape. Page 126 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and TheYouth Hostel Association. 5.4.24 Although larger in size,the designed form of the new building is a more sensitive response to the site Materials: topography,rising out of the ground in part at its eastern end with a split level roof which breaks up the 5.4.27 Colour—in terms of surface finishesto the new main building,colours would generally be the natural and visual mass of the building.The proposed use of natural materials such as whin stone,sandstone and muted warm/dark/silver greys and browns associated with whinstone,sandstone and timber.These timber cladding would help reduce the apparent size of the building, allowing it to blend into the softer colours would extend out into the external surface finishes through the use of natural aggregates surrounding soft landscaping as is the case with the existing structure.Significantly more glazingis and stone flags.Although parking areas would be formed in natural aggregates,main vehicular circulation proposed in the new structure than currently exists and this can help reduce the perception of visual mass routes would be formed in black tarmac—as is the case in the existing car park on site.Extensive areas of by reflecting surrounding colours and textures.Magnitude of change in relation to size of building=low to glazing would generally reflect colours in the surrounding external landscaping.With regard to the colour moderate adverse. of materials used for miscellaneous items within external circulation spaces, it is anticipated that a considered and coordinated approach to specification on the new project would generate a more subtle 5.4.25 External works-an increase in the area of car parking is proposed.The existing site has capacity for c.77 palate of colours than currently exists.There would be a very strong emphasis on the use of appropriate no.vehicles whereas the new permanent car park facility would accommodate c.90 vehicles including 3 native tree,shrub,herbaceous and grass species throughout the site and it is anticipated that colours of coaches.The majority of these would be located in a field currently used for pasture to the south of the the soft landscaping would blend successfully with the wider landscape.The effects of the colour of the existing site,resulting in the permanent replacement of soft landscaping with hard standing and static whin vegetation proposed for the green roof are difficult to assess given that the recreation of such vehicles.The magnitude of change in relation to the scale of the external layout for the upper sections of specialist and unique plant communities in a green roof location is untested and colonisation/success the field is moderate tosubstantial adverse but is experienced from a comparatively restricted area locally. rates are unknown.However,it is expected that the colour of the vegetation that does establish,although In addition,when considering the change in size or extent of car parking,changes in distribution of the having a resonance with grassland in the wider local landscape,will differ from that ofthe grazed fields areas ofparking are also important.The new development would see the removal of parking on one of the adjacent to the site—particularly as the harsher micro climate of the green roof may result in the rooftop most visually prominent parts of the site(thatbeing the north east corner—visible from the WHS and the vegetation responding earlier to seasonal changes than the plant communities in the neighbouring fields. Military Road corridor)with the area being given over to soft landscaping.This would bring a beneficial In the light of the above,the magnitude of change in relation to the colour of materials for built structures change of low magnitude.A further c.90 overflow parking spaces are proposed for the more level lower would be expected to be low beneficial.However,when considered together with the introduction of cars area at the southern end ofthe field but as this would be onlyoccasional and is reversible,the net level of into the green field to the south of the existing site,(which is off-set to a degree by the beneficial effect of change for this more sensitive part of the site is assessed as being negligible. the proposal to remove vehicles from the northern site boundary)the magnitude of change shifts to being one of moderate adverse. Rhythm: 5.4.26 The form of the new building's green roofline is intended to flow out of the landscape and the elevational 5.4.28 Texture—the issues are very much the same as those set out above for the colour of materials used on treatments,on the north side in particular,are designed to reflect the rhythm of the Whin Sill escarpment the development,the main exception being that ofthe proposed glazing.Although large glazed panels do itself.The pattern of level changes in the built form mimics that of the local cuesta landscape as do the occur on the existing buildings,the proposed glazed southern elevation at the main entrance,the glazed lines and terraces in the external layout.This contrasts favourably with the regular geometric patterns of first floor cafe and the glazed atrium are designed to feature as key elements of the fabric of the building. the existing site features and layout.Magnitude of change in relation to rhythm of built structures and Long sections of glass present a visual texture which is very contemporary in character and its use in this external layout=substantial beneficial. manner represents a departure from the scale to which it is characteristically used in buildings elsewhere within the local landscape.Consequently,the magnitude of change in relation to the visual texture of Page 127 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and TheYouth Hostel Association. 5.4.32 Existing signage within the site,although uncoordinated,does not appear to have a significant adverse materials used on site is assessed as being low-moderate adverse.However,see section on'function' effect on landscape character.New signage for the Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel would below. be kept to a minimum and would be coordinated in terms of form,style and materials.A main site marker 5.4.29 Reflection—the issue of light reflection off glazed surfaces within the building and off the metallic surfaces for the project could be the subject of an artist's commission and as such no design proposals are of vehicles is significant given the proposed increase in both these elements within the development available for assessment.However,it is anticipated that part of any design brief would be the requirement proposals.The glare resulting from sunlight reflecting off such surfaces may be only transient but when that any installation must represent a creative response to the character of the local landscape. seen in the context of a landscape which is generally regarded as being free from overt signs of significant human intrusion,the experience is readily interpreted as an indicator ofthe presence of man-made 5.4.33 The presence of signage and interpretation along the Military Road is identified as being characteristic of objects in the landscape.A computer generated sun path model has confirmed that the large area of the landscape of the area in the Landscape Character Assessment of Tynedale District and glazing to the cafe which faces north east towards the Whin Sill and Hadrian's Wall WHS will not Northumberland National Park(see section 5.3).Existing busstop signs locatedin the highway verge experience direct sunlight and would not therefore result in reflected light being visible from elevated view either side ofthe road leading into the site would be removed as part of the project(buses would pick-up/ points to the north. drop-off within the site)bringing some beneficial effect. 5.4.30 The glazed south facing elevation is shielded by a canopy of photovoltaic panels that projects 3m from the 5.4.34 A comprehensive review of the existing road signage and the need to replace damaged signs and the size building and which would therefore screen the windows from direct sunlight.The panels themselves are and positioning of signs has yet to be carried out.This process may become linked to the possible positioned at an angle that would not result in visible solar glare and which gives them a very low visual introduction of a 40mph speed restriction along the Military Road at Twice Brewed.However,given the profile when seen in views form the south.However,the south and south east facing glazing to the atrium level of signage already in place,it is anticipated that the magnitude of change in relation to signage could result in reflected light being seen from points within a restricted area on the south side of the would be negligible. Brackies Burn and Bradley Burn valleys,although this would be occasional and obviously of a transient nature.The same applies to the reflection of light off the metallic surfaces and windscreens of parked/ Function: moving cars within the proposed south facing car park.It is also worth noting here that light reflection is 5.4.35 The'Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document'reviewed in section 3.3 above observes that not uncommon within the broader landscape depending on weather conditions and time of year.The glare within the National Park,form and hierarchy is evident in individual buildings and that this has traditionally of reflected strong sunlight can be seen across the landscape from multiple sources such as standing been dictated by function and intended status.It is the case that public knowledge about the function or water in fields and on roads and from wet black plastic bale wrap.Magnitude of change in relation to role of a building will influence how its presence in the landscape is interpreted.In the case of The Sill increase in reflective surfaces=low adverse. project,the scale and form of the building and use of contemporary sustainable construction techniques may be regarded more favourably in the knowledge that the building represents a public gateway to the Signage: National Park and acts,quite literally as a window to the riches of its landscapes,than if itwere a private 5.4.31 Badly located or poorly coordinated signage can lead to the urbanisation of the landscape.As well as commercial venture or domestic residence.The Landscape Discovery Centre would be one ofthe primary signage proposed for the area within the site,where required,effects relating to the introduction of new visitor destinations in the National Park and possibly the region.The principle that this status should be signage within the public highways on the approach to the new facilities needs to be taken into account. reflected in its appearance and presence in the landscape is one which has been long established in this ancient landscape.Magnitude of change in relation to the visual interpretation of the intended function of the building=substantially beneficial. Page 128 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and TheYouth Hostel Association. Lighting: footpath route to read as a regular linear feature which is out of keeping with the general distribution 5.4.36 There are three main aspects relating specifically to the issue of lighting in relation to the landscape and pattern of infrequent and scattered light sources across the night landscape.Without mitigation,this would visual effects ofthe development proposal:generate a magnitude of change which was moderate-substantially adverse over a limited local area. Light spill from internal light sources—the existing YHA facility is operational 24hrs a day but between the Again however,it is expected that the design of the external lighting would comply with guidance in the end of October and the end of March,the NNPA visitor centre closes during the week and is only open Lighting Management Plan.Lighting to the footpath in particular could be movement activated so that its between 10am—3pm at weekends during this period.The newYHA would operate on the same basis as presence is only temporary and it could be switched off after a certain time in the evenings.On this basis, the existing,but the new Landscape Discovery Centre is expected to operate all year round and to provide the potential magnitude of change is assessed as being low-moderately adverse. a venue for evening activities.Whereas the glazing to the proposed first floor cafe would have black-out blinds,the glazed atrium,the glazed sky light to the YHA accommodation block and the floor to ceiling 5.4.38 The visual impact of illumination from car headlamps—although transitory in nature,the moving glare from glazing at the main entrance which provides access to the YHA part of the building and so would be car headlamps draws the eye in an otherwise tranquil night time landscape and is visible from a significant operational 24hrs a day,would not have any screening.Consequently,there is higher potential for light distance.The existing car parking for the YHA is on the northern boundary of the site where night time spill to occur at these points.Such light spillage would most likely present itself as a soft glow along the vehicular movement is a feature of the Military Road corridor.The NNPA car parking where vehicles are length of these glazed features at a scale and form which would be uncharacteristic of existing patterns of generally off site by 4pm in winter months is located on the more peaceful southern side of the building. night time illumination in the locality.There is some internal glow within the existing youth hostel but it is In contrast,the new development would see all vehicle parking provided on the south facing valley slope. generally screened from public view by planting.Without any mitigation measures in place,the expected The increase in both the likely duration of periods of night time vehicle movement and the actual number magnitude of change in relation to light spillage from the building would be moderately adverse,the of movements would represent a substantial adverse magnitude of change with regard to the effects of change being greatest when observed from the south.However,it is expected that internal light fittings in illumination from car headlamps when seen from limited areas within the lower parts of the Brackies Burn the public circulation space in these areas would prevent any light spillage beyond the horizontal and valley,but would reduce in significance as one moved up the valley slopes(see schedule 1—PM5). would comply with the design guidance set out in the Lighting Management Plan.Together with the impact of screen planting as it matures,the magnitude of change would be revised to low—moderate adverse Movement: after approximately 10years,and low—negligible after 20 years. 5.4.39 The movement of objects within a landscape can influence the perceived levels of peacefulness and tranquillityascribed to its character.It is expected that the new site facilities could attract 80,000 visitors a 5.4.37 Light spill from external lighting—in section 4.4 it was noted that wall mounted external lighting on the year—with the potential for this to increase to 100,000 within a three year period from opening and existing buildings are not covered and the main effect ofthis is experienced in views from the north where perhaps up to 120,000 over a longer period.Although current visitor numbers are at a level of c.45,000 a the regular spacing of external light units gives the impression of there being a large commercial scale year,in the 1990's they stood at around 100,000,dropping to c.70,000 by 2005-6.Consequently,the building present in the night landscape.Consequently,their removal would be a change of low beneficial target visitor numbers for the new facility do not represent a significant departure from the numbers of magnitude.All external lighting associated with the new development would be covered to prevent light visitors accommodated on the site within the last 20 years.The two main factors associated with higher spill beyond the horizontal and light sources would be orientated so as to face away from primary public visitor numbers to the new building are the increase in vehicle movements and the heightened visibility of view points beyond the site boundary.On the new development proposal,the element most likely to people accessing the cafe terrace and green roof. The effect associated with static parked cars is generate adverse effects would be the lighting required for the car park areas and for the pedestrian considered under the heading of'materials'above.The effects relating specifically to moving cars are routes linking the upper,lower and overnow packing area with the main building.Light sources would be considered to be secondary but would still be adverse when occurring an a part of the site which is present in views from the south where there currently are none and there is the potential for lighting to the predominantly static in character—apart from when sheep are present in the field.In a landscape where Page 129 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and TheYouth Hostel Association. thousands of visitors walk along visually prominent sections of the line of Hadrian's Wall and along the of Sycamore Gap.However,given the nature of the terrain affected,this increase in the ZVT is not minor roads adjacent to the Once Brewed site,the presence of visitors to the site walking up the ramped considered significant. green roof does not represent an adverse change and could even be considered as another feature of interest on the B6318 route.Consequently the magnitude of change relating to issues of increased 5.4.43 For those resident in the duster ofproperties making up the hamlet of Twice Brewed,the new building on movement on the site is assessed as being low adverse. the Once Brewed site would be hidden by the tree cover around the boundary of the site or by existing buildings.A view of the southern field containing vehicles in the new car park would be possible from a Noise: short section of road east of Winshields Farm campsite but would be of low significance in the view.In 5.4.40 Given the presence of the B6318 road corridor immediately to the north of the site and the lack of terms of night time views,the potential effect on residential visual receptors located on the south side of permanent neighbouring receptors who might be affected by any moderate increase in noise as a result of the Brackies Burn valley,from where the impact of lighting is likely to be greatest,is assessed in relation increased visitor numbers and external events,the magnitude of change in the landscape character to viewpoint PM 5 in Schedule 1 below. relating to increased noise levels is considered to be negligible adverse. 5.4.44 In the broader landscape within the ZTV,one of the areas potentially most sensitive to increased night 5.4.41 In section 4.2 of this report it was noted that any effects which are assessed as being moderately or time illumination is the higher ground south east of Langley on the basis that this is probably the most substantially adverse should influence the mitigation strategy for the proposed development. readily accessed part of the AONB within the ZTV which gives long distance vistas that include the Once Consequently,it is worth looking in more detail at the elements that are believed to generate the most Brewed site.From the viewpoint VP6(see Figure 4)on the B6305,uncovered light sources associated significant magnitudes of adverse change in landscape character—namely:scale of external works,colour with the new facilities could potentially be visible.A softer glow arising from light spillage from hidden light of materials,and lighting.In all instances the critical issues relate to the impact of extending car parking sources such as might occur along the line of the glazed atrium,would be much less legible at this into the southern field where the resulting effects have been assessed on the basis of the condition of the distance.However,any lighting would be seen in the context of a night time view which already features site at the time of completion of the construction works.Obviously,the proposed screen planting within the bright lights on the horizon to the west of Once Brewed,moving lights on the A69(and to a lesser extent car park areas and particularly along the southern edge will have a significant mitigating effect given time on the B6318), small dusters of lights generally across the landscape (including Bandon Mill, in terms of the screening/filtering ofviews ofparked cars and associated external lighting.Consequently, Humshaugh),and a larger duster at Haltwhistle.Consequently,the significance of any additional external it is assessed that after ten years growth,effects judged to be moderately adverse will be mitigated to low lighting on views from the North Pennines AONB is assessed as being negligible. adverse,diminishing to negligible adverse after 20 years when the planting should be approaching a height comparable to existing tree groups. Effects on selected representative visual receptors 5.4.46 The nature of more direct views of the site fromwithin the widerlocal area is assessed usingthe selected Effects on visual receptors—overview viewpoints identified in Figure 6.These have beenpicked on the basis ofselectingwhat are considered to 5.4.42 The Zone of Theoretical Visibility(ZTV)for the site containing an 8m high structure(see Figure 4)is only be the most sensitive visual receptors whether they are private properties,public recreational routes or marginally larger than that based onground level.In the wider landscape it is more extensive in the area landscape viewpoints of aesthetic,cultural or heritage significance and the selection has been make in to the south of Bellingham and the area north of Whitfield and includes new areas of moorland west of consultation with the National Park planning authority.To assist the assessment process,photographs Whitfield and at Blenkinson Common south of Greenfield.Nearer the site(see Figure 6)it is slightly more taken from those visual receptors thought to be of highest value have been used to generate extensive in the area around Thomgrafton Common,on the southern slopes of Hotbank Crags and south photomontages of the proposed development(PM nos. 1-8).Photographs with the development site identified have been used forthe remainingviewpoints(VP nos.1-5). Page 130 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority andThe Youth HostelAssociation. Schedule 1:Selected viewpoints for assessment of visual effects.(To be read in conjunction with Figures 11-20.) Ref. Visual Receptor with OS grid ref. Distance from site Assessment of visual effect Mitigation PM1 Wnshields Crags(Hadrian's Wall Path and 1.2km Receptor sensitivity. Nonerequired. Pennine Way) WHSand national recreational route.High 374211,567564 Magnitude ofchange: Extensive views south to the North Pennines AONB are possible from the most elevated point on the Whin Sill ridge.The site is visible in the middle distance.The YHA accommodation block is visible in pad above peripheral tree cover but the scale not dissimilar to the neighbouring Twice Brewed Inn which is much more prominent in the view.Negligible. Significance ofeffects: Negligible. PM2 Peel Crags (Hadrian's Wall Path and 650m Receptor sensitivity: Nonerequired. Pennine Way) WHSand national recreational route.High 375390,567540 Magnitude ofchange: Views south to the North Pennines AONB are possible over the southern ridge ofthe Brackies Bum Valley. The site is visible in the middle distance.The eastern end of the glazed cafe is prominent but much of the remainder of the new building is heavily filtered by retained tree cover along the Vallum.The contemporary materials of the visible structure have no strong colours to draw the eye,unlike the Twice Brewed Inn which contrasts strongly wth the muted natural colours ofthe surrounding landscape and which is comparable in scale wth the visible sections ofthe proposed newstructure.Vehicles currently visible atthe north east comerofthe site when present,would be removed from the view.The property ofSeatsides is also prominent in the view on top ofthe ridge just below the skyline.Negligible-Low adverse. Significance ofeffects: Low adverse PM3 Military Road corridor to the west (nr.loom Receptor sensitivity: Nonerequired. Twce Brewed Inn) This road is the main route fortourists passing through this valued landscapebut views ofthesite are transitory.The eye of travellers is likely to be drawn to prominent views ofPeel Crag to the 375110,566900 north.Moderate Magnitude ofchange: Like the existing YHA building,the new facility would be largely screened by existing boundary tree cover.A shod section ofthe YHA accommodation block would be visible inviews across the eastern end ofthe Twice Brewed Inn car park.Negligible Significance ofeHects: Negligible. Page 131 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority andThe Youth HostelAssociation. Ref. Visual Receptor with OS grid ref. Distance from site Assessment of visual effect Mitigation PM4 Military Road corridor to the east(near 150m Receptor sensitivity: Specimen tree planting proposed on the eastern boundary ofthe site would junction) This road is the mainroute for tourists passing throughthis valued landscapeand views ofthesite further break up the visual mass ofthe building and the amount ofglazing 375470,566986 are less transitory when heading west.For many visitors travelling for leisure purposes,the new which can be seen,reducing thesignificance ofthe visual effect over time to building may representtheir destination point.Moderate-high Low adverse. Magnitude ofchange: Screened in pad onthe approach by the boundary wall on the south side ofthe roadforthose travelling by car,once visible the building would drawthe eye,the glazing and steelwork ofthe green roof balustrade representing a very contemporary structure.Colours howeverwould be neutral withthe possibility ofsomelate afternoon sun reflecting offthe cafes south facing windows.The lowersection ofthe sloping green roof breaks upthe visual mass ofthe building. The vertical supportofthe cafecanopy andvertical balustrade pasts are characteristicofother vertical elements such asfence pasts,telegraph poles and exposed tree trunks. The bat most structure in the YHAgarden in the north west comer ofthe site would bescreened to a significant degree by a retained oak tree nearthe corner ofthe cafeterrace. Low adverse. Significance ofeffects: Low-moderate adverse. PM5 Seatsides residential property andPROW 520m Receptor sensitivity: As it matures,the structure planting proposed wthin the car park and along 374933,566131 Private residence and minor recreational route but with clear views of the Whin Sill Ridge and the its southern and western edges would reduce the significance of this WHS.High adverse effect to Negligible—Low by eventually screening the carpark and providing a heavy filter to views ofthe building. Magnitude ofchange: The new building sits below the skyline but dose to the landform of Peel Crag which draws the eye.Much of the new building is visible atthis angle ofviewand would appear as thelargest built structure in the local landscape.Although cars in the existing NNPA car park are visible in the current view,the new carparking would be more extensive and coaches parked against the back drop ofexisting woodland would be visible.The play area would also be seen.As theviewpoint is higher than the new development,it is unlikely that there would be a significant issue relating to sunlight reflecting off the south facing atrium glazing but visual receptors could experience temporary sun glare offvehicles attimes. Seatsides is likely to be the private property most affected by the impact of external lighting. However,from this vantage point two bright light sources can be seen onthe existing site and lighting from neighbouring properties(Valium Lodge,East Bog,Twice Brewed Inn,Smith's Field) is also visible.In addition,car headlamps can cleady be seen moving along the Military Road along much ofthe section from Hotbank Crags to a paint past Wnshield Farm camp site.Seen in this context,the introduction of vehicle lights into the southem field is less significant than might be first anticipated. Low—Moderate adverse. Significance ofeHects. Moderate adverse. Page 132 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority andThe Youth HostelAssociation. Ref. Visual Receptor with OS grid ref. Distance from site Assessment of visual effect Mitigation PM6 'Long Stone'view point,minor road and 2.58km Receptor sensitivity: None required. PROW,Thorngrafton Common Thisviewpoint representsviews gainedfrom a minorroadand recreational route butwhich include 377851,566414 views doom on to the site of Vindoanda.Moderate-High Magnitude ofchange: The Once Brewed site isvisible in the same direction of view as bath the Roman heritage site of Vindolanda and Winshields Crag,but any new building would be barely noticeable when seen from this distance,especially when other buildings such as farmsteads are clearly visible as a feature ofthe local landscape.Negligible. Significance ofeffects: Negligible. PM7 'Spnngwell Cottage',National Trust holiday 130m Receptor sensitivity: Longer term management oftree removal onthe Vallum should besensitive cottage Holiday cottage owned by National Trust. to the visual effects experienced by this visual receptor.New planting 375280,567068 No permanent residents but occupiers likely to be staying for the purpose of recreational proposed for the space between the new building and the Vallum SAM to engagement with the landscape.,although property looks out towards B6318 road condor. maintain light filtering of views ofthe new building,could be positioned to Moderate maximise the screening effectfrom this property. Magnitude ofchange: If necessary,there is scope to plant a hedge for screening purposes along Principle viewfrom front of property is south to Military Road which virtually forms the skyline,with the inner edge ofthe southern boundary wall to the cottage. no significant distant horizon the draw the eye.Roof of existing NNPA visitor centre is visible above old earthworks on the foreground but is visually indistinct.The eastern end of the new building with its glazed cafe would be higher and materials more contemporary in appearance. People on the cafe terrace and the green roofobservation point abovethe cafe would be visible, introducing colour and movement into the view,with associated possible increased noise levels above the sound of any traffic movements.However,proposed events spaces between the building and the B6318 would be hidden from view.The westem end ofthe YHA facilities would be visible as are the existing,but with slightly less filtering following selected tree removal on the Vallum.This is oneviewwhere the screeningIfiltering ofthe new buildingbytree cover would be significantly higher when deciduous trees are in leaf,thanduring winter months. Low-Moderate adverse. Significance ofeHects. Low-Moderate adverse. Page 133 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority andThe Youth HostelAssociation. Ref. Visual Receptor with OS grid ref. Distance from site Assessment of visual effect Mitigation PM8 Henshaw to Once Brewed minor country 160m Receptor sensitivity The visual effect on receptors at this viewpoint is based on the condition of road Main direction of approach to the Once Brewed facilities for tourists leaving the A69.Views from the site at time of completion ofthe contracted works and so the effects of 375409,566515 the road are transient wrath direct views into the southern field often filtered by roadside vegetation, mitigating screen planting is not taken into account.It is anticipated that as but the site is seen in the context ofthe first open dramatic views ofPeel Crag and the Whin Sill the planting matures,after 10years the adverse significance of visual effects ridge line as travellers cross the local ridgeline and the NNP boundary and drop down into the would be reduced to Low,reducing further to Negligible—Lowafter twenty Brackies Bumvalley. years,when the new structure planting would blend seamlessly wrath the Moderate-High existing treegroups either side. Magnitude ofchange: The NNPALandscape Discovery Centre would be hidden behind the existing woodland along the eastern site boundary but there would be direct open views of the YHA accommodation block Whereas the proposed neutral facing materials of stone and timber for the visible pad of the building would sit comfortably in the landscape,the colours and reflective nature of parked vehicles in the southern field would drawthe eye.Although the far eastern comer ofthe cafe is likely to be seen projecting outfrom behind the semi-maturewoodland block,parkedvehicles such as cars,vans and minibuses which are currently visible when present in the YHA car park in the north eastern comer,would be removed from view. Other buildings such as the Twice Brewed Inn,West Twice Brewed and East Bog farm are also visible in the view,but the new building is greater in scale.The scale of the new parking area is significantly foreshortened in the view so that cars at the southern end of the car park would screen those further up the slope.Parked coaches would be seen,but against a woodland backdrop. Moderate adverse. Significance ofeffects. Moderate adverse. VP1 Military Road condor to the west of the 320 Receptor sensitivity In time,screen planting would reduce this level of significance toNegligible. Twice Brewed Inn This road is the main route for tourists passing through this valued landscape but near distance 374872,566838 views tend to betransitory.The eye of travellers is likely to bedrawn to prominent views ofPeel Crag to the north.Moderate Magnitude ofchange. The northern part of the site is screened from view by existing buildings and vegetation cover. Although limited transient views ofthe upper section ofthe southern field are passible,evenwhen containing parked cars..this is unlikely to drawthe eye.Negligible. Significance ofeHects. Low—Negligible adverse. Page 134 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority andThe Youth HostelAssociation. Ref. Visual Receptor with DS grid ref. Distance from site) Assessment of visual effect Mitigation VP2 PROW nr.Melkndge Tilery Campsite 1.95km Receptor sensitivity: Proposed native structure planting would reduce the significance of this 373400,566040 A view from a minor recreational route but which provides open vistas north in which the profile effectto NegligibleanddramaoftheWhinSillescarpmentisparticularlylegible.Moderate-High Magnitude ofchange: The proposed new building would be hidden by existing tree coverin the locality buta limited view of the southern field is passible.Although indistinct in the broader landscape at present,this element of the site is more likely to catch the eye when containing parked cars(which may reflect strong sunlight at times)and the proposed play area.It is worth noting however,that vehicles moving onthe B6318 are a regularfeature in this view.Negligible—Low adverse. Significance ofeffects: Low adverse VP3 'Peel Bothy',National Trust holiday cottage 460m Receptor sensitivity: None required. 375278,567410 Holiday cottage owned by National Trust. No permanent residents but occupiers likely to be staying for the purpose of recreational engagement with the landscape.Moderate-High Magnitude ofchange: Principle views from the front of the property are southward across the Brackies Bum valley.From this elevated position,unlike Spnngwell Cottage,much more extensive views over the southem valley ridge to the North Pennines AONB beyond,are passible.The glazed northeast facing cafe is likely to bevisible inthe position where the current visitor centre isseen now.The YHAfacility is likely to be less filtered in the view than the existing building due to proposed selective tree removal on the Vallum.The actual scale ofthe building would be broken up by the retained tree coverwith the result that visible sections of the building would bein keepingwith the scale ofthe neighboun rig Twice Brewed Inn,but would blend more successfully into the visual texture of the landscape.In this view,other elements such as the North Pennine moors on the horizon and the property of Seatsides in its prominent location on top of the Brackies Bum valley ridge are also likely to register as focal points ofinterest.Negligible-Low adverse. Significance ofeffects: Low adverse Page 135 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority andThe Youth HostelAssociation. Ref. Visual Receptor with OS grid ref. Distance from site Assessment of visual effect Mitigation VP4 Milecastle 39nr'Sycamore Gap',(Hadrian's 1.05km Receptor sensitivity: None required. Wall Path and PennineWay) WHS and national recreational route. Regional visitor destination of contemporary cultural significance.High 376150,567717 Magnitude ofchange: The Once Brewed site features in the middle ground of vistas which extend a significant distance to the North Pennines—weatherpermitting.In this view southward,the landscape appears to be very simple and rolling and the Once Brewed site facilities would register with receptor as afocal point of interest,set within a clump ofexisting trees.The visible sections of new building would compare favourably in terms of scale compared with the neighbouring Twice Brewed Inn. Negligible. Significance ofeffects: Negligible. VP5 Hotbank Crags,(Hadrian's Wall Path and 3.3km Receptor sensitivity: Nonerequired. Pennine Way) WHS and national recreational route. High 378045,568616 Magnitude ofchange: Site is only just discemable in long distance views gained from justbelowthe Whin Sill ridge.From the ridge itselfthe site is hidden by an existing plantation. Negligible. Significance ofeHects. Negligible. Page 136 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and TheYouth Hostel Association. 6 Mitigation Measures 6.2.2 The positioning of the proposed building and its alignment within the site has been influenced by a desire 6.1 Introduction to respond positively to both the detailed site characteristics and the broader landscape character.The alignment of the building maximises the opportunity to bed the structure into the sloping topography, 6.1.1 Mitigation of potential significant adverse effects can be addressed through the processes of prevention or thereby minimising the visual effects of providing a two storey buildings on the site,while at the same time avoidance(the preferred option),through reduction,or through compensation(generally considered to be making the most of the visual connection with the dramatic views of Peel Crags to the north east.It also the least favourable option). allows the green roof to merge with the existing ground levels in a seamless integration of landscape and building.The green roof itself is also intended to reduce the apparent visual mass of the proposed new 6.1.2 This section of the LVIA explains how a review of potential landscape and visual effects has been a built structure. fundamental part of the broader iterative design process for The Sill project and that the mitigation of 6.2.3 The positioning of the building avoids adverse physical impact on the Valium Scheduled Ancient potential adverse effects has been considered from the earliest stages of the first site analysis and Monument and facilitates the retention of the majority of the key trees on the northern and western site identification of site constraints and opportunities. As well as providing an overview to the design boundaries and the visual screening/filtering function which they perform.Much of the proposed tree development of the project and identifying the main mitigation measures embedded in the final design removal on the northern boundary is driven by a desire to improve the legibility and interpretation of the scheme,it also reviews alternative design options for the car parking element which were rejected on the Valium as a heritage asset and promote its preservation. basis of landscape and visual considerations.Itthen considers mitigation proposals relating specilically to the potential construction and post-construction phases of the project. 6.2.4 Similarly,to protect and enhance the setting of the Valium,a decision was taken to remove any car parking or service/delivery area from the zone between the northern elevation of the building and the 6.1.3 The impact that the mitigation measures incorporated within the development proposal are expected to Scheduled Ancient Monument. have on the potential significant adverse landscape and visual effects identilied,is taken into account 6.2.5 With regard to the layout of external spaces,the car parking for the new facilities has been located to the within the assessment process setout in section 5. south of the building where it is screened from views gained from the Hadrian's Wall and the World Heritage Site.Alternative locations for the car parking were considered during the design process prior to being discounted and these are reviewed in section 6.3 below. 6.2 Design evolution 6.2.6 The layout of the final car park design is intended to balance a requirement to deliver as many parking 6.2.1. Right from the outset,the design brief for The Sill project has specked that the proposed new facilities on spaces close to the main building as possible with the desire to provide green infrastructure throughout the the Once Brewed site lie.the Landscape Discovery Centre and new youth hostel)should be'of the car park which would break up the visual mass of the associated hard landscaping and integrate it into the landscape'and a landscape architect has been part of the design team working closely with the project landscape.The result is a series oftiers to the parking provision which work with the existing contours. architect from the preliminary site analysis stage.Community consultation has also taken place throughout 6.2.7 The existing triangle of woodland on the eastern boundary is retained so as to make the most of its the design process and has informed the final development proposal. screening potential.Coach parking is located along its western edge so that these larger vehicles are positioned against a backdrop of mature tree cover. Page 137 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and TheYouth Hostel Association. 6.2.8 Where potential adverse effects cannot be avoided,in order to minimise the visual effects of proposed car 6.3 Alternative car park options parking within the open field to the south of the existing facilities on site,the southern edge of the parking has been set back from a break in slope which means that parked cars would be screened by the local 6.3.1 During the early stages of the design process,a number of options for delivering the appropriate number landform in views up the field from the adjacent public highway as it crosses the Brackies Burn.It also of parking spaces required were considered before being rejected.These are illustrated in Figure 10. means proposed screen planting can be positioned on subtle mounding along the southern edge of the 6.3.2 As an alternative to extending the proposed development footprint beyond the southern boundary of the parking area thereby maximising its screening impact.Where appropriate,hazel or willow hurdles would existing site,options for using the adjacent field to the east of the site were examined.In the past,overnow be used to act as a wind break to facilitate plant establishment and to provide an early screen to parked parking for the existing NNPA facility has been accommodated on occasion in the northern part of the vehicles. eastern field, but this was rejected as a more formal solution to accommodating increased parking 6.2.9 Throughout the external site layout,native tree and shrub planting has been designed in a manner that will numbers due to the potential adverse effect on views from the World Heritage Site and on known allow itto integrate visually with existing planting beyond the site as it matures when seen in the broader archaeological features. landscape context in views from the south of the Bradaes Burn.Similarly,plant species associated with 6.3.3 The use of the lower sections of the same field as an additional or overFlow car park where rejected for the Whin Sill are proposed for the green roof(rather than commercially available sedum carpets)in order similar reasons.It also became apparent that the local highway authority was concerned about issues of to create visual textures and colours more appropriate to the local landscape. highway safety with regard to any proposed new vehicle access/exit point to the field.In addition,the 6.2.10 Proposed materials for the construction ofthe new building and of the external areas of hardstanding have permanent use of such a large section of the field for car parking would have compromised the viability of been selected with a view to minimising adverse visual effects and reflecting existing landscape character. the field for agricultural purposes. The proposed use of whinstone and sandstone as facing material for the building makes reference to locally available building materials and where practical,external hard surfaces would be formed or surface 6.4 During construction dressed with granular materials such asgravel or whinstone aggregate.6.4.1 Section 5.3 of this report identifies the potentially significant adverse landscape and visual effects that 6.2.11 Where the loss of wildlife habitat in the form of tree and shrub cover or semi-improved grassland is might be associated specifically with the construction phase of the proposed development.Measures to unavoidable,it is intended that new habitats should be fully integrated with the fabric of the building and mitigate such effects are generally secondary measures in that they are not an integral part of the external structures as compensation.Although 25no. individual trees and 710m2 of native structure proposed development but relate more to the manner in which the construction process is carried out and planting would be lost,c80no.new individual trees,1,745m2 of native structure planting and 110 linear m to working methods or constraints identified within the building contract documentation. of new hedging would be planted as part of the development. In time,it is proposed that the new development would enhance the biodiversity of the site. 6.4.2 The positioning ofsite cabins either within the site or on adjacent land should be carefully considered in 6.2.12 With regard to lighting and the requirement to comply with the Dark Sky Park Lighting Management Plan, order to minimise any associated adverse visual effects. This is likely to be most relevant to the external lighting is to be kept to an absolute minimum.A detailed lighting scheme is not currently available construction phase rather than any demolition phase. but it is anticipated that it will follow the recommendations set out in both the LIMP and the Lighting Impact Assessment prepared for the development.Movement activated lighting and cut-off/timing devices are likely to be employed as necessary together with the use of concealed sources of red light for external footpath links with the car parking area. 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Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and TheYouth Hostel Association. 6.4.3 The visual effects of the post demolition phase,when existing buildings have been levelled and stockpiles 6.5.2 In a similar vein,a management plan for the green roof would be required to ensure that it is adequately of crushed concrete and stone have been formed for reuse in the construction phase,would be minimised maintained and that the necessary expertise is available to monitor and guide the maintenance process so if theconstruction phase commenced immediately as part ofthe same contract. that it responds appropriately to the various evolutionary stages of the plant communities evolving on it.It must also be capable of responding to any unforeseen events-particularly as the process of establishing 6.4.4 Opportunities to store stripped soils on site in a manner that provides temporary screening to vehicle whin vegetation in the form of a green roof is unique to The Sill project. movement and construction operations should be maximised. 6.4.5 Working methods will be required to address the requirement to reduce external light emissions to the minimum necessary for safe working and restrictions on working hours during winter months may be employed. 6.4.6 The timing of vegetation removal would be restricted so as to avoid the bird nesting season and the building demolition phase would need to be carried out in strict accordance with the bat mitigation strategy forming part of the bat licence issued by English Nature. 6.4.7 Protective fencing compliant with BS 5837:2012 Trees in relation to design,demolition and construction' would be maintained throughout the construction phase to protect the root protection areas of trees to be retained. 6.5 After Completion 6.5.1 After completion of the construction phase there are certain elements relating to the management of the site which would be required to ensure the delivery of key components of the primary landscape and visual mitigation strategy.One of the most important of these would be the maintenance of the soft landscaping and,in particular,the screen planting to the car park areas.To ensure this is carried out in an appropriate manner,a comprehensive maintenance regime covering an appropriate establishment period for new native structure planting would form part of the soft landscape spec cation for the project.Issues relating to plant replacements,thinning and pruning operations to promote healthy growth rates and rapid establishment would be covered. 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Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and TheYouth Hostel Association. 7.0 Residual Effects 7.1 After Completion 7.1.1 In section 6 it was noted that the landscape effects assessed as being of moderate to substantial adverse significance at the time of completion of the works are the subject of a mitigation strategy based on reducing the adverse effects identified rather than preventing them.As the mitigation relies on the growth of soft landscape structure planting to perform a screening and fiNering function,itwould take time for the mitigating benefits to be apparent on site.Plant growth rates on this exposed site are expected to be slower than might be anticipated on most construction projects,but it is suggested that a sign cant reduction in the relevant adverse effects would be noticeable within 10 years,and continue to reduce for a further ten years after which point the adverse effect would be diminished to a point requiring no further mitigation.This being the case,it is considered that there are no permanent adverse effects of significance relating to landscape and visual effects anticipated for this project. Page 140 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and TheYouth Hostel Association. 8.0 Summary and Conclusions 8.1 Summary Brewed is part of a much larger area which has recently been awarded Dark Sky Park status by the International Dark Sky Association,making it the largest area of protected dark sky in Europe.As such any Scope of assessment and methodology new project involving external lighting must comply with the Exterior Lighting Masterplan. 8.1.1 This report considers the anticipated landscape and visual effects arising from the construction of a The existing landscape proposed new Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel to replace the existing Northumberland National Park visitor centre and YHA hostel at Once Brewed. 8.1.5 The landscape of the area covered by this report is dominated by the Whin Sill,a well known geological feature in the region,running from Upper Teesdale to the Fame Islands on the Northumberland coast. 8.1.2 The assessment methodology used in this report is based on the'Guidelines for Landscape and Visual This high ridge of hard rock defines the northern skyline within much of the study area,the southern Impact Assessment' Third Edition:2013(LI and IEMA). The level of significance given to identified skyline being defined by another smaller ridge running parallel with the Whin Sill.This second ridge marks landscape and visual effects(effects can be adverse or beneficial)depends on the combination of the the southern boundary of the National Park.The road B6318(known locally as the Military Road)follows sensitivity of the landscape element,/landscape character/view or observer,and the scale of the effects the line of the landscape corridor formed by these two ridgelines and provides the main route from which predicted.When defining the sensitivity of the existing landscape,one must consider the value attached to to view the dramatic Whin Sill,Hadrian's Wall and the simple landscape dominated by rough grazing in it.The criteria for making such judgements are set out in section 4 in order to make the assessment which settlement is sparse and tree cover is generally restricted to small dumps around isolated process as transparent as possible. properties.The area is rich in Roman heritage sites and the line of the Roman Wall is also the route of two 8.1.3 It should be noted that issues relating specifically to the potential effects of the proposed development on National Trails—the Hadrian's Wall Path and the Pennine Way.Two National Cycle Routes connect the the historic landscape and the setting of sites of cultural heritage significance have been assessed by area of the development site with the Whin Sill,the local Roman site of Vindolanda and the A69. specialist landscape historians within the Cultural Heritage chapter of the Environmental Statement 8.1.6 The proposed development site itself is located on the south side of the Military Road which forms its prepared for the project.Consequently,a detailed analysis of such effects has been excluded from this northern boundary and extends southwards to the bottom of the Brackies Bum valley.The northern report. section of the site contains the Vellum Scheduled Ancient Monument but is dominated by the existing Existing policy visitor centre and YHA building,both of which are of little architectural merit.The majority of trees on site 8.1.4 A brief review of existing planning policy and management strategy frameworks for the landscape in which are assessed in the site's tree report as being in fair to poor condition.Their main value is in the screening the site is located concentrates mainly on the Northumberland National Park Management Plan and the they provide to the existing facilities on site.South of the existing buildings,a the upper sections of a Northumberland National Park Development Framework.These documents confirm just how special the sloping grazed field provide an attractive setting to views out across the Brackies Bum valley and the landscape is around Once Brewed.Itis a landscape with a distinct character and a much valued sense of lower section is comparatively enclosed at the bottom of the valley,providing a sense of peace and tranquillity and contains a rich cultural heritage as well as being a landscape rich in biodiversity and intimacy not available elsewhere on the site. geology. The designated Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site and its associated Management Plan 8.1.7 As might be expected,in the night time landscape,sources of light are limited to isolated properties and indicates the landscape being considered is of international value.In addition,the landscape around Once car headlamps.Light sources from the buildings are generally hidden,the most noticeable impact resulting from uncovered external wall mounted lights on the northern side ofthe buildings. Page 141 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and TheYouth Hostel Association. 8.1.8 There is no doubt that the proposed development site is located within a highly valued landscape of minor country lane,again the buildings are well screened by trees and it is the field to the south which can international importance in terms of its cultural heritage and its dark skies.In addition,it is perceived as a clearly be seen. special place with a sense of tranquillity that brings with it a spiritual quality and as such,it is of national 8.1.13 Most of the properties within the hamlet of Twice Brewed have no or very limited views of the site.Only importance for the recreational opportunities it provides.Of the existing features on site,the main features three have direct views of the site from the north and two from the south.People in private residences and of significance are the tree cover,the dry stone boundary walls,the field to the south and the Roman visitors engaged in recreational activities which focus on this valued landscape are considered to be highly earthwork of the Vellum.sensitive to changes in the view. Visual context of the existing site Description of the proposed development 8.1.9 Using electronic Orndnance Survey data,a map covering the area within a 15km radius of the Once 8.1.14 A plan of the proposed Landscape Discovery Centreand Youth Hostel scheme is shown in Figure 7.and Brewed site is used in Figure 4 to show the area from which the ground level of the existing site can be images of the building shown in Figure 8. seen.This is only theoretically as the process by which the map is produced assumes there are no landscape features above ground level which could screen or interrupt the view from anygiven point. 8.1.15 The design of the proposed building is inspired bythe distinctive landforms of the landscapein which it is located.The north face of the building captures aspects of the north facing Whin Sill outcrop itself with the 8.1.10 Because the strong ridgelines in the local landscape contain views of the site to a large degree,on the south facing side of the building being softer in form.The main features of the building(which is a north side of the River South Tyne and the A69 corridor,the area from which the site can be seen is maximum of two storeys)are a glazed cafe facing north east so as to make the most of dramatic views to restricted to a short section of the Military Road corridor(including the line of Hadrian's Wall and the World Peel Crags on the Whin Sill escarpment and to the Roman Wall;a long YHA accommodation block on the Heritage Site)and a much smaller area onThomgrafton Common just east ofVindolanda Roman fort. west side,and a green roof which takes the form of a long ramp rising out of the ground at the north east 8.1.11 In theory,views of the site are also possible from vantage points south of the River South Tyne,mainly corner and which doubles back on itself,eventually ending at a viewpoint above the cafe.The green roof from higher ground west of the River Allen and south ofHaydon Bridge,most of which fall within the North is to support establishing plant communities associated with the harsh conditions of the Whin Sill outcrop. Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. However,fieldwork has shown that at these longer 8.1.16 The National Park Authority are keen that the new facility should be well integrated with the landscape. distances(5+km)the Once Brewed site is difficult to identify and has a low visual profile within the broader However,as the Landscape Discovery Centre is to function as a'gateway!to the landscape of the landscape. National Park,it should still be distinctive,acting as a marker in the landscape. 8.1.12 The facilities atOnce Brewed are most likely to be seen first when travelling on the Military Road.Because 8.1.17 In terms of the project's external spaces,it is intended that they should blend with the existing rural of the existing tree cover around the boundaries of the site to the north and the west which serves to landscape.On the northern boundary the largest trees would be kept but the poorest quality trees and screen the buildings on site,the direction of travel very much influences how much of the site can be seen. shrubs would be removed from the Vellum making it easier to see.They would be replaced by new trees When travelling from the east,the existing visitor centre is visible but the YHA building is largely hidden. planted outside the protected archaeologically sensitive area.On the western boundary,most of the When travelling from thewest,virtually all buildings on the site are screened until the observer is alongside existing tree cover within the YHA garden would be retained as would the footpath link to the Twice the site.In views from the north lie.the Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site,the Hadrian's Wall and Brewed Inn. Pennine Way National Trails)although vehicles parked in the YHA car park at the north eastern corner of the site are visible,the buildings are well screened by existing trees on the Vellum and it is the neighbouring Twice Brewed Inn which draws the eye.When approaching the site from the south along a Page 142 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and TheYouth Hostel Association. 8.1.18 On the east side of the site new dry stone walls would form the edge of the building and the existing YHA man-made materials which are a strong contrast to the natural appearance of the field.Vehicles could also car park(which is currently in the most publicly visible parts of the site)would be removed.As a result reflect glare from the sun in certain light conditions.The negative impact of this on the field would be there would be only one vehicle access point into the site and that would be in the position of the existing moderately to substantially significant so the scheme includes screen planting within and around the car entrance into the National Park visitor centre car park.Near the south facing main entrance to the new park which,once established would reduce the negative impact to low significance after 10 years.After 20 building there would be an entrance courtyard,a cycle store and bin store built in dry stone walling with a years the car pads would be virtually completely hidden. green roof,and an outdoor classroom space.Just to the south of these spaces would be an upper car 8.1.24 In considering the potential impact of the development project on the special character of this highly park which would lead past a new play area into a lower car park further down the field which is currently valued and sensitive landscape,the assessment looks at:the scale of the new building and external used forgrazing sheep.The existing triangle of woodland on the eastern site boundary would be retained.facilities,the form of the building,the materials proposed for both the building and the external spaces 8.1.19 The field slopes down to the Brackies Burn and at the bottom of the valley it is proposed that the more including the car park in terms of colour,texture and levels of reflection,signage,the function of the enclosed flatter ground should be used as both an events space and an overflow car park.This would be building as a potential primary visitor attraction in the region and the impact of the potential increase in the done in a manner that allowed thisattractive area to stay as a green field. number of visitors to the site,lighting,movement,and noise.The main negative impacts all relate to the 8.1.20 A new footpath would link allthe car park levels to the main building and these paths would have low level impact of extending car packing into the southern field.As noted,once the planting proposed around the lighting activated by movement in hours of darkness when necessary.All external lighting would be kept to car parking has grown enough to form a screen,this negative impact would be reduced to low levels after a minimum and would be designed so as to prevent light pollution. 10 years and low—negligible levels after 20 years. 8.1.21 Outside the site boundary,on the north side of the Military Road opposite the Once Brewed site,a new 8.1.25 The impact of the proposed development on the quality of views from within the surrounding landscape path would be made through an existing group of trees surrounded by a wall in order to create a safer are assessed using selected representative viewpoints which have been agreed with the National Park route from the site,over the road to the Whin Sill and Peel Crags.In addition,an existing field boundary planning authority.These viewpoints are identified in Figure 11 and include views from key points to the wall would be lowered to improve sight lines at the existing road junction at the north east corner of the north along Hadrian's Wall/the Pennine Way/Hadrian's Wall Path,as well as views from the Military site. Road to the east and west,and from near/more distant viewpoints to the south on the south side of the Brackies Burn valley. Where views are considered to be particularly sensitive or significant, Anticipated landscape and visual effects photomontages of the proposed development have been produced using computer generated images to 8.1.22 During the early phases of the construction process in particular, when the existing buildings are show how the building would look in the landscape.These key viewpoints are identified by the reference demolished and earthworks are carried out,the movement and noise of construction traffic would have a PM'.Other viewpoints labelled'VP'are shown in a photograph with the location of the Once Brewed site substantial adverse effect on the sense of tranquillity.Although seen directly without any screening from marked. only a few viewpoints,the construction site would read as an urban feature out of keeping with the 8.1.26 The impact of the proposed development on theviews identifiedcan be summarised as follows: character of the local landscape.This would be temporary however,and the impact would generally The effect on views from within the Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site and from the two National reduce as the expected c.18 month construction project progressed.Trails is assessed as being of negligible significance increasing to low adverse significance at the 8.1.23 By the end of the building works,the removal of the existing poor quality buildings and the improvements closest viewpoint(Peel Crags), to the setting of the Vallum would be beneficial landscape effects.The main adverse effect on the landscape within the site would relate to the creation of the new car park on the upper and central sections ofthe green field south ofthe existing visitor centre.This is largely due to the introduction ofvehicles and Page 143 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and TheYouth Hostel Association. From the Military Road corridor,the scheme would have negligible to low adverse impact when 8.2 Conclusion approaching from the west,increasing to low to moderate adverse impact when travelling from 8.2.1 The landscape ofthe Whin Sill escarpment is indeed a special landscape,prized for its unique landscape the east.The latter effect can be reduced to low adverse in time with the mitigation proposed.character,sense of tranquillity and for its dark skies.A series of policies and management plans have From properties/public highway on the south side of the Brackies Burn valley the impact on the been put in place to protect these aspects and make them relevant to the lives of those who live and work view would be of low to moderate adverse impact,reducing with time to negligible—low as screen in the area and more accessible to those visitors who wish to engage with the landscape in a manner planting established.From holiday rental properties to the north of the Military Road the negative which is completely sustainable.The fact that the new facility is designed specifically with the aim of impact would vary from low to moderate depending on distance from the site. delivering this broad objective and that,to an extent,the project represents a re-birth of the existing site The impact of the scheme on views in which the site ofVindolanda is visible would be negligible. facilities,is likely to have a positive influence on the way the building is perceived and interpreted in the landscape by those who visit it or view it without any direct engagement. Mitigation measures 8.2.2 That the new building is to function as a'gatewaV to the National Park landscape means it is expected to have a presence worthy of the role and it is this'public profile which must be carefully balanced against 8.1.27 The main reason for the relatively limited adverse impact of the development proposal on the landscape the requirement to minimise adverse effects on the valued and sensitive landscape and visual character and its views is that right from the first stages of the design process,the integration of the building and its of both the site and the broader landscape of which itis a part. associated car parking into the landscape has been a primary objective.This is reflected in the way the building and car packing is positioned on site and how it relates to the local landform. 8.2.3 The fundamental design concept behind the design of the building and the external works appears to have'built in'asignificant component of the mitigation strategy for the development which would assist in 8.1.28 In addition, he materials proposed for he building and the external hard landscape elements have been integrating it into the landscape to a significant degree.The'Design Guide Supplementary Planning selected for their natural colours and textures and new planting would be carried out using species that Document within the National Park Local Development Framework notes that sustainable contemporary grow naturally in the area.design is to be supported.The proposed building undoubtedly has contemporary themes but the design 8.1.29 Although the extension of car parking into the field to the south of the existing buildings is seen to have the follows many of the recommendations,such as using locally available materials,not breaking the skyline, potential to generate some of the most adverse impacts on the landscape and certain views in the area,avoiding a suburbanising effect,use of native plant species etc.to help blend it into the local landscape. on balance,the layout proposed is considered to be the best option available. Other layouts which explored the potential to provide parking in the field to the east of the site were considered and rejected on 82.4 There are three principle aspects of the Whin Sill landscape upon which a new building of size and the basis thatthey were likely to have unacceptable levels of negative impact. character could potentially have an adverse effect:i)landscape elements within the site,it)landscape character,iii)visual quality. 8.1.30 It is notedthat appropriate management plans for the proposed planting and green roof vegetation must be put in place after the works on site are completed in order that these features can perform the roles 8.2.5 With regard to anticipated effects on the physical landscape elements within the site,both adverse and intended in terms of screening and integrating the building into the landscape.The planting is required to beneficial effects are recorded initially but with time,it is the adverse effects which diminish and the net reduce the few individual effects which have been identified as being of moderate to substantial adverse beneficial effects which are strengthened. significance,to an appropriate level.A significant reduction in adverse impact would be seen within ten years with continued reduction occurring during the next ten year period. Page 144 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and TheYouth Hostel Association. 8.2.6 The effects of the project on landscape character have been reviewed in detail against various criteria and it is noted that generally,in instances where an effect of'moderate adverse'significance is identified,it is in relation to the extension of the car park into the southern field.As above,this adverse effect is one which can readily be mitigated in time(effective within the first ten years)to a level of low and ultimately negligible significance. 8.2.7 Given the recent award of Dark Sky Park(gold tier)status to the area in question,the issue of potential adverse effects on the quality of the night sky and the night time landscape is of particular resonance. This report has found that the potential for greatest adverse impact occurs when the southern part of the site is experienced from the lower parts of the Brackies Burn valley which,by its very nature involves transient views experienced by comparatively few receptors.From more elevated positions,the potential for adverse impact diminishes and it is confirmed that anticipated impact on night time views of the broader landscape as experienced from within the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, would be negligible.In all instances,the soft landscaping proposed to address mitigation issues relating to the car park in particular,would successfully mitigate against adverse effects on landscape character relating to external lighting. 8.2.8 In terms of the effects of the developmentprojecton key views and the visual character of the area,it has been seen that beyond distances of 5km the anticipated change in the view would be negligible.From the viewpoints of international value gained from the line of Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site,the visual effects are assessed as being of low adverse significance at worst. 8.2.9 From viewpoints closer to the development site where an overall visual effect of moderate adverse significance is anticipated,it is seen that proposed mitigation measures in the form of appropriate planting would reduce this level ofsignificance to'low—negligible'over time. 8.2.10 Given that much of the secondary mitigation(ie.that which reduces effects rather than prevents them)is dependent on new structure planting,it is important to consider the overall effect of this planting itself and it is concluded that once mature,the belts of native tree and shrub planting proposed for the southern field in particular,would sit comfortably in the view,reading as natural extensions of existing blocks of tree planting either side of the field. 8.2.11 In summary,it is concluded that no enduring adverse landscape or visual effects of substantial or moderate significance are anticipated in association with the development proposal outlined in this report. Page 45 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and TheYouth Hostel Association. THE SILL LANDSCAPE DISCOVERY CENTRE AND YOUTH HOSTEL LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT: SCHEDULE OF FIGURES Figure 1 Site Context Plan Figure 2 Existing Site Plan Figure 3 Landscape Character Areas Figure 4 Zone of Theoretical Visibility(1:100,000 scale) Figure 5 Views towards site from Viewpoints VP 6—9 within the North Pennines AONB Figure 6 Zone of Theoretical Visibility(1:25,000 scale) Figure 7 Proposed Site Masterplan Figure 8 Proposed Architectural Details Figure 9 Proposed Tree Retention&Removal Plan Figure 10 Rejected Car Park Sketch Options Figures 11—18 Photomontage Viewpoints PM1—PM8 Figures 19—20 Viewpoints VP 1-5 Page 146 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 The Sill Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and The Youth Hostel Association cone o d nce S vey d t,Oo crow c,pyrght and d t b se,ghts 2014 L n no.0100031673. 1 KEY Proposed development ste Nat'onal Park boundary NORTH Hadr'ans Well Path Nat onal Trail Penn'ne WaY Nat'onal Tral atonal cycle Routes v, C ie blic Rights of WaY(oR,W,) io0 r Footpathc Y F g` Byway open to all traffic B0AT1 Restricted byway too reh'cular access) Nat'onal Nature Reserres g 1 z 0 sssrs r I ftm Scheduled monuments r World Hert'age S'te(ncludesbuffer/nnel Propert'es'n Twce6rewed notnomedo.Mplans 1, Tw ce Brewed lnn 2, West Tvi Brewed n 3, Val um Lodge uet HusegeGO 4, SPrgwell Cottages t .'n'• 2 .. i.. ec°c 5 Peet cattyi e s.r N \ f V T lFol. u is L b N FIGURE 1.llkF,e e w mn,. n n: SITE CONTEXT PLANw o t Scale-1:25,000 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 Figure 1. The Sill Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and The Youth Hostel Association TREE CONSTRAINTS KEY x I see am tree survey and z- report) categoryAtree category Btree Category Ctree i r fr gorY tree 1 Reot protect'on area I v` r s I a o-gzo t FIGURE 2. Existing Site Plan Scale-1:1250 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 Figure 2. The Sill Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and The Youth Hostel Association Coot'n.ordnance S.—data©Cro pyrls s S 1 .BIA KEYhtanddtbaseriht20,4. Preston umsike Slacks t31m r National Charactarnraas 422 Lodge j" 325 i r sa meH-d NORTH Stanehau9t W6hygate 15 c Proposed Development ste„ t'~ BniteHln n S Black 5 1r PryD nortnmmberlana pat—al Park S am FB11 nblirn nosONortnPonnaorvs 33Forest laughton 1 1 a Landscape Character Type 14 w Qfll1t1a61 4C y 0 Para[LMR'dses&Commons Landscapecharaterareas Middle efts J n S Wall at n 14a Th-11Common 250 H _ 46 Haltwhistle Melkridge&RidleyPrlrt3raenlearrwalx, Lnmmnnr Wiley I hs 1 f 14, hanehton ELS monbnrnCommonsyett Whillesid Other Local Landscape Character TYPes wall COTT. VERCOVICIV h morlanarores tn, fir,a. LM1 ewbro o upland FrnseFarmlana NS 345 --`ln F n!7 d _ 15 q 12 Broad-oalanavalley s tj-7 A6_LU7t t C` E ST FA-11 Gilsla d TCt ALL G Vgt SUr I 15 upland Commons&Farmland Be 1 6 GLac al Trough Valley Floori 17IEdrdOn H,BYd z elar al Trousn valley es f ! Haltwhl mshaw INiu. 7 a Z a t i j( -, Alelkridge 13 B Idg@ D,a sasnvaleyeFnnses 19 Lower Dale 290, 1 8elt ghe 17 _zo addle Dale 5 15 R w --_ _. ._.. I. t J r, zz nmorlana Ruse:es mm ts n nton Fell I( y7 663a6 - a Pl mefler'Common . Fr4ttliie ke Castle 9 Oct Tmdate. F" Mid me yae tamh • S7 u5e' Wbifield' l Dn lea Gate z 1 ! r j`w1 00 Ca nndleFells22 22 He d 22 i old Fefi dC w dale R1\ J FIGURE 3. 621 Ojen ue Ffl LANDSCAPE CHARACTER AREAS22Scale-1:100,000 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 Figure 3. The Sill Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and The Youth Hostel Association Comt—ordnanceS .e sm C)Cro, p,copyright and database right 2014 esran - urnsike 1 r BlacAa E7,2 Wa i I-- Proposed De.elopment 5'te 422 Lodge 325 p toll augn ,'.1 24 burr North-berlaodNaronolPork e`^_ C _t Chijkffiuse NORTH Whygat North Penn'nes ADNB Zone ofTheoret'cal V'sual lnFluence shovnng qq- F qri from whah the d—topmeert sto may be LButterburn t vrs'ble(based on Om above ground lerel) r u zone of Tneoret'cal v suaunFluence snoynnQ S deadam FeJI u m wh ch the development sto maybe 332 r-NaUghldn Fi¢ bl (based on am above grouodle u rL'O1?1mDn v' p'nt Locat'ons VP 6 9(for vP,ssee P 6318 Nums O fg.6) wall Forest a117 i p6 66305 1km east of Langley vPZ m r fp bF footpeth-hPkFeenleeWillck- orWileyr-- h[j1fl lqugli 11 w h'ld S'd roes,spm LOuyh ,. so th f IS Iti gh m Sike -;,vue_ CrILV,1VV M Peetht'Feuhouse Feu whthem y Q Whnesida I 1 s vP9 --tee Feu Allendele Thlrlwall Common vERcoVICUMM I FQ StCrag1960Newbroagb rAES`4 tAt 7Fi ntt ADRffiAESIGS WALL r 345 1r (p{ Hat EC STLE49 Alista 1d( ., 1H _N _ ptS ti W d ttr 4 4 hNNLJOL"ANDA Hardon r ILECAsr1 HaltwhiSt e Ne bw- . IURI I-::Greenhead I. 7 Lbw Melkridge 13 Row i • 1" 1Wen m`Ile' wteswick•Beltingha I f a nton F¢I! it I` r actfe . r299fi 05 Plenmeller Common r C • a• Po eearrul•slomease4• Rowfoot 8 AIS g lndat¢m 1 La IeYV O Wirilfield oor99reenn 7A d e Tar, mb StOn¢hGUS Ha on Lea Gate t ti Cotton dare'f71s a Bearsbridga whill esd Z 47Q Allendale Cold F0 Town 15km radius around proposed F27 C1end m FUN L - I 37 development site FIGURE 4. ZONE OF THEORETICAL VISUAL INFLUENCE Knarsda Wh11f121d,% ground level a+am AOD)Chimneys Hexhamshrrc Scale-1:100,000 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 Figure 4. The Sill Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and The Youth Hostel Association Once Brewed site Once Brewed site VP6-Location on B6305,1km east of Langley VP7-Location at junction of public footpath with Whinshield Side minor road,1.5km south of Beltingham Once Brewed site Once Brewed site VP8-Location at Peat Hill.Fellhouse Fell,Whitfield VP9-Location on minor road,Morralee Fell,Allendale FIGURE 5. VIEWS TOWARDS SITE FROMVIEWPOINTS VP6-VP9 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 Figure 5. The Sill Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and The Youth Hostel Association rveyd t C) 0pyr g end a t b 'ghts 2014 L o oi000316)3 r y,. KEY FM co ht 1 Proposed Development S'bon i 1 a. a wxrc: vFMovlYiin Conta 0 d Su to o Northumberland NarenalPark NORTH oo"\ _._. Pow^ WFai S °% re•. vvbuc aisnts of war(vRowx7 r. Footpath open to all traffic IBOATI a r xa Restricted byw y( h' I raccess) 4 ee m / Zone of Theo t IV' 1 Huence shovnng areas 2 \ aw d 1 a that may be 'ble from the proposed development site(based on 0m above ground 1eve1)a zone of ybeo-, ble r m the prence shovdng areas v I FLKRK\ CE P T o- Othat mar beanie from me PrnPnsea ae mPmem t site(based on Sm above ground level) T P nt Locato (for VP69sre g ) VP1 gmsvd ( Va„um d uest 5of VP2 PROWnrRMelkr dge Tlery Came e the VP3 Peel Oothy,N at'onal Trust Holiday Cottage re Gap v.x---.. VPS Wall Path ags n(—Wan'soWal Pahadaan' s lll~""571i Hotbank H'o I a}1 ROn FAM1 .M u .- ton Cpmmont !/ Pennine Way) 1• Photomontage Vewpom Locatonst PMr W'nsh'elds Crags Hadr'ans Wall Path and Me 1@k ad\ err B r Pennine Way) L PM3 g PM2 Peel Crags(Hadr'ans Wall Path and Pennine corr aor to we ( Tw,e xn«W B•nlae" "_ leap d K It Y good rt nr e PAW 6 t ono d 'd r to Bart(nr.3uncHon) e 7 4x by PMS Seat'a d t',property and PROW t y..r '•.- 1 P116 Long St P'nt and PROW Thorng,aftomcommon P- Spnng-11Cottage N at'ona,Trust holiday N r 9 cottage PM8 bo-h—to Once Brewetlmn—.00try roodNra e Boy..o„ k n Y, FIGURE 6. ZONES OF THEORETICAL VISUAL1h INFLUENCE(ground level 8+8m ADD) Scale-1:25,000 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 Figure 6. The Sill Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and The Youth Hostel Association All 01 o E A: FIGURE 7. THE SILL LANDSCAPE DISCOVERY j CENTRE AND YOUTH HOSTEL j SITE MASTERPLAN i Scale-1:1000 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 Figure 7. The Sill Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and The Youth Hostel Association II 17 uTn l ll. ur Qr ELEVI\10 SS.EEZ l Mom.. FIGURE B. ARCH ITECTU RA MODEL Scale-NTS Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 Figure 8. The Sill Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and The Youth Hostel Association KEY d e1"""d j' a Trees to be reta ned enae. swm° lary m nea ten, T46 _ Tree Root P t...'on Area(RRA)ed as def'ned n' tree survey by PAlR Geomatcs Trees not ncluded n topograph'cal surveyL yr qr,k.i. M STPRY i" Re erence lode le n tee survey T50 i45 Remavea scrubumers a ,.,v,.w°"' o Trees to be removed 1qt Tay cer Tree group/understorey to be removed O m nag around ev stepst ,2 va BeeaM1 44J sep'res Pork Vallum Scheduled Anc'ent Monument LPGiGRIo e NOTES' All tree/shrub cover to be removed outside the bird Ty,y TET TUs Rnaaaae a eNld m breeding season(i.e.during the period August to 1 February)Some trees identified for removal contain bat boxes Trees within SAM which are identified for removal are paving to have stumps ground only to a—depth of 100mm s p and the base of the stem(i.e.]ustenough to 1 e enhoyUP 4 a s prevent regeneration) G T52 4,rtorcercre T43 73 T62 TTT T]e T55 9 gross T70 ii5 T54 TI1(Oek)a f ) j r,.iettnetl ii4Tf encwuregeNon.rvaeh th TE1 ( be mo E f .removed anc 6esebsM1etlemg,nt1 on. T4$ T41 The Gup o P 7a k Q orYln9 9 T40 T68 GROUP Parkln9 8 T61 T82 ports noture l \ bays erden Tle(Asn)"ature treetPsuresasa slat Euenta isto be inv fla lunFer. FIGURE9. Tree Removal 8 Retention Plan Scale-1:500 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 Figure 9. The Sill Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and The Youth Hostel Association I Car Park Provision: Car Park Provision: Car Park Provision: Sketch option 1. Sketch option L Sketch option 3. FIGURE 10. Rejected Parking Options Scale-NTS Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 Figure 10. The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and The Youth Hostel Association Existing Building Proposed Building Photomontage Viewpoint PM1-AsExisting Photomontage Viewpoint PM1-Proposed Proposed Building off"'^ vac F'"4=. Tvnce Brewed Inn AM Az!t Photomontage scaled so that when held at arm's length,it reflects the size of the image of the development as it would appear in the FIGURE 11.field when seen with the naked eye. PHOTOMONTAGE VIEWPOINT PM1 WINSHIELD CRAGS Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 Fi¢ure 11. The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and The Youth Hostel Association Existing Building Proposed Building Photomontage Viewpoint PM2-As Existing Photomontage Viewpoint PM2-Proposed Seatsides Proposed Building Twice Brewed Inn Photomontage scaled so that when held at arm's length,it reflects the size of the image of the development as itwould appear in the FIGURE 12.field when seen with the naked eye. PHOTOMONTAGE VIEWPOINT PM2 PEEL CRAGS Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 Fi¢ure 12. The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and The Youth Hostel Association Proposed Building Existing Building Photomontage Viewpoint PM3-As Existing Photomontage Viewpoint PM3-Proposed U Proposed Building i•_ Photomontage scaled so that when held at am's length,it reflects the size of the image of the development as it would appear in the FIGURE 13. field when seen with the naked eye. PHOTOMONTAGE VIEWPOINT PM3 MILITARY ROAD CORRIDOR TO THE WEST(nr.Twice Brewed Inn) Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 Fi¢ure 13. The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and The Youth Hostel Association Proposed Building Existing Building Photomontage Viewpoint PM4-As Existing Photomontage Viewpoint PM4-Proposed Proposed Building r. sf m Photomontage scaled so that when held at arms length,it reflects FIGURE 14.the size of the image of the development as it would appear in the field when seen with the naked eye. PHOTOMONTAGE VIEWPOINT PM4 MILITARY ROAD TO THE EAST Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 Figure 14. The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and The Youth Hostel Association Existing Building Proposed Building Photomontage Viewpoint PM5-As Existing Photomontage Viewpoint PM5-Proposed Peel Crags Proposed Building Photomontage scaled so that when held at arm's length,it reflects the size of the image of the development as it would appear in the field when seen with the naked eye. FIGURE 15. PHOTOMONTAGE VIEWPOINT PM5 SEATSIDES RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY Ft PROW Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 Figure 15. The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and The Youth Hostel Association Existing Building Proposed Building Photomontage Viewpoint PM6-As Existing Photomontage Viewpoint WAS-Proposed Proposed Building Vindolanda Roman Fort x Photomontage scaled so that when held at arm's length,it reflects the size of the image of the development as itwould appear in the FIGURE 16.field when seen with the naked eye. PHOTOMONTAGE VIEWPOINT PM6 LONG STONE'VIEWPOINT Et PROW,THORNGRAFTON COMMON Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 Figure 16. The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and The Youth Hostel Association Existing Building Proposed Building Photomontage Viewpoint PM7-As Existing Photomontage Viewpoint PM7-Proposed Proposed Building j k Photomontage scaled so that when held at arm's length,it reflects the size of the image of the development as itwould appear in the FIGURE 17.field when seen with the naked eye. PHOTOMONTAGE VIEWPOINT PM7 SPRINGWELL COTTAGE,NATIONAL TRUST HOLIDAYCOTTAGE Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 Fi¢ure 17. The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and The Youth Hostel Association Existing Building Proposed Building Photomontage Viewpoint PM8-As Existing Photomontage Viewpoint PM8-Proposed Twice Brewed Inn Proposed Building Photomontage scaled so that when held at arm's length,it reflects the size of the image of the development as itwould appear in the FIGURE 18.field when seen with the naked eye. PHOTOMONTAGE VIEWPOINT PM8 HENSHAW TO ONCE BREWED MINOR COUNTRY ROAD Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 Figure 18. The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once B—d. Landscape and Visual Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and The Youth Hostel Association r f. Existing Building Y Southern Field Photographic Viewpoint VP1-Military Road corridor to the west of the Twice Brewed Inn(nr.Valium Lodge Guest House) Existing Building Photographic Viewpoint VP2-PROW near Mellaidge Till Campstte Photographic Viewpoint VP3-Peel Bothy,National Trust holiday cottage FIGURE 19. PHOTOGRAPHIC VIEWPOINTS VP1-VP3 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 Figure 19. The Sill'Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth Hostel,Once Brewed. Landscape and Visual Assessment Northumberland National Park Authority and The Youth Hostel Association Existing Building Photographic Viewpoint VP4-Milecastle 39 nr.Sycamore Gap(Hadrian's Wall Path and Pennine Way).NB:Site is not visible from Sycamore Gap itself. Existing Building a Photographic Viewpoint VP5-Hotbank Crags(Hadrian's Wall Path and Pennine Way) FIGURE 20. PHOTOGRAPHIC VIEWPOINTS VP4-VP5 Glen Kemp Ltd.,January 2014 Figure 20. APPENDIX G VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN, VISUAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT Village Specific Plan Visual Impact Assessment rtPk. JgyY f a r a Prepared for.- The City of Del Mar Planning and Community Development Department 1050 Camino del Mar Del Mar, CA 92014 Prepared by. KTU+A Planning and Landscape Architecture 3916 Normal Street San Diego, CA 92103 March 13, 2012 Revised July 5, 2012 Visual Impact Assessment Table of Contents Table of Contents 1.0 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY .............................................................................................3 2.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION................................................................................................3 3.0 ASSESSMENT METHOD.................................................................................................5 4.0 VISUAL ENVIRONMENT OF THE PROJECT .................................................................5 4.1 Project Setting .......................................................................................................5 4.2 Regulatory Setting.................................................................................................7 4.2.1 State Scenic Highway Program.................................................................7 4.2.2 California Coastal Act................................................................................7 4.2.3 Del Mar Community Plan...........................................................................7 4.2.4 Scenic View Protection Ordinance ............................................................7 4.2.5 Tree Ordinance..........................................................................................8 4.2.6 Design Review...........................................................................................8 4.2.7 Historic Preservation Overlay Zone...........................................................9 4.2.8 Other Municipal Code Regulations............................................................9 4.3 Visual Character Units.........................................................................................10 4.4 Project Viewshed and Views ...............................................................................23 5.0 EXISTING VISUAL RESOURCES AND VIEWER RESPONSE.....................................36 5.1 Methods used for Visual Resource Analysis .......................................................36 5.2 Existing Visual Resources...................................................................................37 5.2.1 Scenic Resources....................................................................................37 5.2.2 Existing Visual Character.........................................................................41 5.2.3 Existing Visual Quality.............................................................................41 5.3 Methods of Predicting Viewer Response.............................................................42 5.3.1 Existing Viewer Groups, Viewer Sensitivity, and Viewer Exposure.........42 6.0 VISUAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT ..................................................................................45 6.1 Method of Assessing Impacts .............................................................................45 6.2 Definition of Visual Impact Levels........................................................................45 6.3 Analysis of Candidate Key Views........................................................................45 6.4 Analysis of Key View Simulations........................................................................46 6.5 Impact Assessment Summary.............................................................................65 7.0 VISUAL MITIGATION.....................................................................................................67 7.1 Visual Mitigation Options.....................................................................................67 7.2 Visual Impacts After Mitigations ..........................................................................68 8.0 REFERENCES................................................................................................................71 List of Figures Figure 4-1: Project Location and Village Specific Plan Boundary.................................................6 Figure 4-2: Viewshed and Human Eyesight Dynamics...............................................................24 Figure 4-3: Determining Ocean Views from Slopes....................................................................26 VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page 1 i Visual Impact Assessment Table of Contents Figure 4-4: Viewshed Trendline with Existing Buildings along CDM ..........................................27 Figure 4-5: Viewshed Trendline with Proposed Buildings along CDM........................................28 Figure 4-6: Viewshed Trendline Net Difference ..........................................................................29 Figure 4-7: Viewshed of Existing Buildings along CDM ..............................................................30 Figure 4-8: Viewshed of the Proposed Buildings along Camino del Mar....................................31 Figure 4-9: Viewshed Net Difference of Building Heights...........................................................32 Figure 4-10: Ocean Viewsheds and View Corridors Along and Through Camino del Mar.........33 Figure 6-1: Key View Simulation "A,'...........................................................................................47 Figure 6-2: Key View Simulation "B.. ...........................................................................................49 Figure 6-3: Key View Simulation "C.............................................................................................51 Figure 6-4: Key View Simulation "D1...........................................................................................53 Figure 6-5: Key View Simulation "D2...........................................................................................55 Figure 6-6: Key View Simulation "E.............................................................................................57 Figure 6-7: Key View Simulation "F1" .........................................................................................59 Figure 6-8: Key View Simulation "F2" .........................................................................................60 Figure 6-9: Key View Simulation "F3" .........................................................................................61 Figure 6-10: Key View Simulation "F4" .......................................................................................62 Figure 6-11: Key View Simulation "G...........................................................................................64 List of Tables Table 5-1: Visual Quality Assessment of Character Units ..........................................................41 Table 5-2: Summary of Viewer Groups.......................................................................................44 List of Appendices APPENDIX A CANDIDATE KEY VIEWS .............................................................................A-1 VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page I ii Visual Impact Assessment 1.0 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY The purpose of this study is to assess the visual impacts of the proposed Del Mar Village Specific Plan, also referred to as the Village Specific Plan. The study also proposes measures to mitigate any adverse visual impacts associated with the implementation of the plan and its effect on the visual environment. 2.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION The proposed project consists of a new Specific Plan for the Village that is designed to implement the vision found in the Community Plan. Some of the major policies that may affect the visual environment resulting from implementation of the Specific Plan include: increased development potential within the study area; requirements for a build-to line requiring a street wall along the walk for storefronts; requirements for various setbacks from property lines and stepbacks of upper building elements; raised height limit to 26'-0" on the western side of Camino del Mar to match the allowed height limit on the eastern side; height limit bonus for an additional 4' 0" on top of the 26'-0" for articulated rooflines; creation of a mixed-use zone for commercial properties that also allows residential development at a density of 20 dwelling units per acre; permitting parking structures in both the mixed-use and public facilities zones; redesigned sidewalks and on-street parking to be continuous and aligned within the public right-of-way; and, redesigned Camino del Mar to be a 2-lane roadway with roundabouts at key intersections. The new Specific Plan would allow building parcels to increase their maximum development potential from the existing .45 Floor Area Ratio (FAR) to a 1.0 FAR. Proposed allowed building heights would be 26 feet above Camino del Mar for properties that face Camino del Mar to allow two stories. Side street parcels within the Specific Plan would be allowed to have a 26'-0" height from their average street front property elevation. Roof articulation features may extend an additional four feet, but would not be allowed to create habitable space. Three parcel-specific Specific Plans have been previously adopted and fall within the Village Specific Plan boundaries: the Hotel Specific Plan (L'Auberge), the Plaza Specific Plan (Del Mar Plaza and 1435 Camino del Mar), and the Garden Del Mar Specific Plan 941 Camino del Mar and 307 101"Street). Both the Hotel and Plaza have been developed according to their adopted Specific Plans. The Garden Del Mar site remains entitled, but undeveloped and vacant. No build-out is anticipated beyond that which is currently constructed at either the L'Auberge Hotel or the Del Mar Plaza, excluding 1435 Camino del Mar. VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 P a g e 13 Visual Impact Assessment Computer model outputs showing existing buildings (top), maximum building envelopes middle) and theoretical infill buildings (bottom). These views are looking from the north, by the Del Mar Plaza at 151" Street, southward to 91" Street. w mom' r y all #SR Rd VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 P age 14 Visual Impact Assessment 3.0 ASSESSMENT METHOD The study follows Appendix G of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) thresholds for visual impacts identified by the State of California and further defined by the Association of Environmental Planners. In addition, methods used at the federal level have also been included, even though this study is not a NEPA document, they are relevant for visual studies. The processes from the federal level used in this visual impact study generally follow the guidelines outlined in the publication "Visual Impact Assessment for Hiqhwav Projects," Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), March 1981, as well as processes known as "Visual Resource Management" methods from the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service and the National Forest Service. Local, state, federal guidelines and national standards commonly suggest six steps for conducting visual impacts. They are as follows: A. Define the project setting and viewshed. B. Identify key views for visual assessment. C. Analyze existing visual resources and viewer response. D. Depict the visual appearance of project alternatives. E. Assess the visual impacts of project alternatives. F. Propose methods to mitigate adverse or significant visual impacts. 4.0 VISUAL ENVIRONMENT OF THE PROJECT 4.1 Project Setting The Village Specific Plan boundary is shown in Figure 4-1. The plan occupies approximately 40 acres within the urbanized town center of Del Mar. The Village Specific Plan generally encompasses the central business district corridor that is along Camino del Mar between 91" Street and approximately the easterly alignment of 171" Street. Additionally, commercial and post office properties along 151" Street west to Stratford Court are included. VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 P age 15 b v a dig y , n r r d rOV,4 Y G Ar 44 y n ti m 4 Legend Village Specific Boundary r7spe-Cific Plan Boundary F COO 2 51C Fool i 11 , Visual Impact Assessment 4.2 Regulatory Setting 4.2.1 State Scenic Highway Program California's Scenic Highway Program was created by the Legislature in 1963. Its purpose is to preserve and protect scenic highway corridors from change, which would diminish the aesthetic value of lands adjacent to highways. There are no designated or eligible scenic highways in the area listed in the California Scenic Highway Program. 4.2.2 California Coastal Act Under the California Coastal Act of 1976, scenic and visual qualities of coastal areas are considered and protected as a visual resource. Permitted development should be sited and designed to protect public views to and along the ocean and scenic coastal areas. The act also requires minimizing the alteration of natural landforms, to assure that they are visually compatible with the character of surrounding areas, and, where feasible, to restore and enhance visual quality in visually degraded areas. The City implements their Local Coastal Plan (LCP) through the Community Plan, various Policy reports, the San Dieguito Lagoon Enhancement Program, as well as other goals and policies adopted by the City Council to guide future development within Del Mar. Aesthetic components of the LCP relevant to the Plan area include development of a community center with attractive walkways and landscaped court and open spaces, pedestrian-oriented streetscapes, and architectural style which retains a small-town character and preserves public ocean views and public access to the coastline. 4.2.3 Del Mar Community Plan The Del Mar Community Plan (1976 amended 1985) includes goals and policies that address aesthetics. The overall goal is to "fplreserve and enhance the special character of Del Mar, the elements of which are a village-like community of substantially single- family residential character, a picturesque and rugged site, and a beautiful beach." Other goals applicable to aesthetics include minimizing the impact of vehicles on the character of the City, and preserving and enhancing the "special residential character and small town atmosphere with its harmonious blending of buildings and landscape in proximity to a beautiful shoreline." As identified in the Community Plan, Camino del Mar is a scenic roadway and views of the Pacific Ocean and other visual resources such as bluffs and trees are to be protected. Jimmy Durante Boulevard (formerly Turf Road), Crest Road, Carmel Valley Road, Coast Boulevard, and Del Mar Heights Road are also considered scenic roadways; however, the Plan area is not located within the scenic views identified for preservation for these roadways. 4.2.4 Scenic View Protection Ordinance DMMC Chapter 23.51 provides for protection of trees, scenic views, and sunlight that contribute to the character of the City and benefit to residents. This chapter is informally known as the Scenic View Protection Ordinance and gives residents the right to preserve scenic views or sunlight that existed at the time they purchased or occupied the residence or in the last 10 years, whichever is shorter. Scenic views are defined as "a view of the ocean, lagoons, canyons, the community and its landscapes and urban forest character, or other scenic vistas, from the Primary Living Area of a residence." Primary Living Areas are defined as the "fsinglel portion of a residence from which a Scenic View is observed most often by the occupants and quests at the residence." VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 P a g e 17 Visual Impact Assessment Under this ordinance, vegetation and trees must be properly maintained within 300 feet of residential properties to preserve scenic views and sunlight. The Municipal Code has established a procedure to resolve conflicts regarding protected trees, scenic views and sunlight rights. 4.2.5 Tree Ordinance The Tree Ordinance (Chapter 23.50 of the DMMC) provides for the orderly protection of trees, including the following measures: B. In the interest of the public health, safety and welfare, as well as general aesthetics of the community and the importance of the ecology of the area, the City of Del Mar finds it necessary to encourage conservation of trees and the application of management techniques to create a healthy, diverse urban forest, including but not limited to pruning, thinning, trimming, shaping, and selective planting and removal of trees and vegetation within the City of Del Mar on private as well as Public property. [Ord. 7491 C. The species Torrey Pine, the species Monterey Cypress, and all species of trees located within the Central Commercial zone and the environmentally sensitive Open Space Overlay zone are of particular significance to the City, and should therefore be protected to conserve the environmental qualities of the City. To further enforce this protection, the City of Del Mar prepared a Public Tree Policy Manual in 2004. This manual directs tree preservation in order to preserve the community's unique, village-like atmosphere, which is distinguished by its community forest. Trees species of particular concern include Torrey pines and Monterey cypress, although the manual indicates all trees within the Plan area are considered significant. A Tree Removal Permit is required to remove a Protected Tree, except in certain situations outlined in the Municipal Code Chapter 23.50.050. In the case of public trees, a separate Encroachment Permit from the City is also required (this statement does not apply to the City or its contractors). Implemented through the Design Review process, trees are also required to be protected during construction to prevent tree loss. 4.2.6 Design Review Ordinance The Design Review Chapter 23.08 of DMMC Title 23 (also known as Design Review Ordinance) requires all new construction or major remodeling projects within the Plan area to obtain a Design Review Permit (DRP). The purpose of the DRP is to "to achieve and protect a residential, seaside community which is both beautiful and pleasant in character, by fostering and encouraging good design which encompasses the use of harmonious materials and colors, compatible proportional relationships and appropriate use of landscaping, and to protect the citizens of the City of Del Mar." The DRP process includes several evaluation components, including many related to aesthetics. Overall, the evaluation components provide the following guidance: Minimize the disruption of existing natural features such as trees and other vegetation, natural ground forms, and view. This includes blending proposed grading with existing topography. Include landscaping that matches existing landscaping in the area and compliments and visually softens buildings. VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page 18 Visual Impact Assessment Unattractive features shall be screened from view. Minimize blockage impacts to public and private coastal views, and retains scenic resources. Development shall be similar in scale and design (including style, materials, or colors) relative to the surrounding neighborhood; however, similar or identical building fagades shall be avoided on adjacent parcels. Design lighting to reduce adverse impacts to the local neighborhood and be architecturally integrated. Views and designs shall be considered in all elevations. The Design Review section of the Design Regulations (Section 23.08.070) does not allow projects where "design unreasonably blocks significant public coastal views" or unreasonably encroaches upon primary scenic views of neighboring property." As the above information is only a summary of several pages of evaluation components, please refer to the Design Review Ordinance for more information. As a part of the Design Review aesthetics analysis, story poles may be required to indicate the proposed alignment and massing of a development. Story poles are required for projects that involve a new structure, a second-story addition to an existing structure, or any addition which, in the estimation of staff or the Design Review Board, may cause concerns about inappropriate bulk and mass, or view blockage. The story pole analysis shall be completed per the City's story poles application guide. The Design Review Board, or City Council, has the authority to impose conditions on projects to protect and enhance the health, safety, and welfare of the surrounding area, and to ensure that projects fully meet the criteria as set forth in Chapter 23.08 of the Municipal Code. As stated in Chapter 23.08.100, conditions shall be reasonably related to the project. 4.2.7 Historic Preservation Overlay Zone The DMMC designates the HP-OZ. The HP-OZ protects the architectural and historic integrity of certain historically significant properties located within the City. The Stratford Square and the City Library are the two sites within the Plan area with HP-OZ designations. In addition, the residence at 110 151" Street, the former train station, the Powerhouse Community Center located west of Coast Boulevard, and the "Rock House," a residence located adjacent to the east side of the Plan area are nearby properties with HP-OZ designations. 4.2.8 Other Municipal Code Regulations Other DMMC regulations also indirectly regulate aesthetic impacts. Supplemental Municipal Code zoning regulations in Chapter 30.86 pertain to undergrounding utilities; fences; screening of unsightly uses including garbage storage space; rooftop structures chimneys and vents); yard landscaping; and yard projections. The zoning code provides height and density restrictions. Within the Plan area, height restrictions include 26 feet for properties along east side of Camino del Mar and 14 feet along the west side of Camino del Mar. Currently, 70 percent of the structures on the west side of Camino del Mar are nonconforming in that they already exceed this 14-foot building height restriction. VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 P age 19 Visual Impact Assessment Assignment of a maximum FAR, the amount of building square footage relative to the size of a development parcel is a primary means by which Del Mar and other communities control the visible bulk and mass of structures. The maximum allowable FAR in the Central Commercial Zone is 0.45 and the Public Facilities Zone does not have a FAR limit. Forty percent of the existing buildings in the Village already exceed the current CC Zone 0.45 FAR limitation. In addition, signs are regulated by Municipal Code Chapter 30.84. 444.3 Visual Character Units A visual character unit is a portion of the regional landscape that can be thought of as an outdoor room exhibiting a distinct and definable visual character. A character unit will often correspond to a place or district that is commonly known among local viewers. A total of seven visual character units have been identified either within the specific plan boundary or adjacent to the boundary: Civic, Residential, Commercial, Hotel, Plaza, Vacant, Street and Streetscape. These units are important to establish the context of the visual environment. Impacts to a visual environment resulting from project changes, all depend on the visual character setting in which these changes occur. Civic Character Unit Civic spaces within the Village Specific Plan boundary include the City Hall, the Library, and the Post Office. All three of these buildings are unique in character and are set off the street. The City Hall site is underutilized and consists of a building on the corner of Camino del Mar and 111" Street and a large parking lot adjacent to Camino del Mar. ka-010'^ tii y VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 P a g e 10 Visual Impact Assessment Residential Character Unit The residential neighborhoods are both to the west and east of Camino del Mar. The architecture and landscape ranges in style. The buildings are tucked behind the main streets and are either moderately or highly hidden by mature landscape and trees. The buildings heights are limited to protect views to the oceans and generally follow the topography. f a u VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page 111 Visual Impact Assessment Commercial Character Units The commercial character unit along Camino del Mar varies in architectural style and character. The buildings are limited and consistent in height because of the current restrictions in the municipal code. The setbacks on the buildings vary and are inconsistent, which creates a variable pedestrian space between the roadway and building fagade. f a t W is s VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page 112 Visual Impact Assessment Hotel and Plaza Character Unit The Plaza development at the north end of the study area includes a variety of view- oriented restaurants and retail that take advantage of the topography. The project is generally oriented around a pedestrian experience. The Plaza includes an underground parking garage at the north end of the character unit. Across the street to the west is the L'Auberge Del Mar Hotel. It creates a visual gateway into the commercial core of Del Mar. Both of these developments include manicured landscape with modernized, well- maintained architecture. t mow. "a'° v v VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 P a g e 13 Visual Impact Assessment Vacant / Parking Character Unit Most of the lots in the Del Mar Village area are developed, though the intensity of development is only moderate compared to many downtown areas of similar size to Del Mar. Much of the land not occupied by buildings is used for surface parking. Large lots are found at the City Hall, and diagonal parking is in front of several businesses along Camino del Mar. There is one parcel that is vacant. This parcel is comprised of an asphalt-paved surface with a wooden fence surrounding the site. y a r. h S VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page 114 Visual Impact Assessment Street and Streetscape Character Unit The existing right-of-way along Camino del Mar is 100 feet wide with parking, bike lanes, two lanes of travel in each direction and a median. The parking along this street is inconsistent and includes parallel, head-in and diagonal parking. There are mature plantings within the median, which include random groupings of large, mature trees. The pedestrian spaces between the face of curb and buildings fronting Camino del Mar vary greatly because of the buildings setbacks and other unique site constraints. The paving, planting, furnishings, lighting, and signage are inconsistent. Aty i Y; VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page 115 Visual Impact Assessment Recreation Character Unit The recreation character unit includes Powerhouse Park and the bluffs and coastline along the Pacific Ocean. Many local residents and visitors use these areas for a variety of recreational opportunities. Powerhouse Park consists of an expansive lawn with tables and benches. Adjacent to this park heading south, there are pathways on top of bluffs that are covered in native and non-native vegetation with direct views to the ocean below that individuals use for walking and running. y VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page 116 Visual Impact Assessment Existing Architectural Form and Street Character The City of Del Mar has an eclectic and unique character resulting from a mixture of architecture, landscape, parking facilities, and the streetscape elements. Camino del Mar is the main road through the city and development is concentrated on each side of it. It is comprised of two travel lanes in both directions with bike lanes inconsistently located along its length. Parking includes of a variety of parallel and angled parking with some of it within the right of way. Other spaces are arranged in a "town and country" style on private property in front of buildings. The north and southbound lanes are divided by landscaped medians with mature trees and a variety of smaller shrubs and groundcover. Architectural Character: One of the major contributors to the eclectic style of Del Mar is the variety of architectural styles present along Camino del Mar. The buildings generally take elements from a specific architectural style or period but do not always follow one style consistently. The mixture of styles from lot to lot creates a distinctive style and character. This occurs throughout the Specific Plan area. A good example of this mixture can be seen on the west side of Camino del Mar south of 151" Street. The photograph on the left illustrates three unrelated styles for three different buildings. The building on the far right was built in the Tudor Revival style while the building at the far left has elements of Spanish Revival. The building in the middle has no distinct style but was built during the 1970s. It is this blend of variety of mixed styles that contributes to the eclectic feel and unique character of the Village of Del Mar. Although the architectural styles of the buildings are different along Camino del Mar, there are consistencies with respect to materials, doors, and windows openings. The buildings incorporate a variety of materials. All types of colors, textures and materials from stucco finishes to brick can be found along Camino del Mar. Doors and windows also have a significant impact on the success of the pedestrian environment and overall streetscape. The buildings that contribute most to the streetscape environment are the ones that activate the pedestrian experience. These buildings typically have doors that are easily identifiable and windows that allow for shop displays starting no more than 24"' above the exterior grade and extend to at least 6' in height. The majority of buildings along Camino del Mar have larger display windows with easily accessible doors. Below are two photographs that illustrate the use of these larger windows and door entries. b EL o x x VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 P a g e 17 Visual Impact Assessment W x a . The architectural style varies, from Tudor and Scandinavian architecture to Polynesian hip roof styles. r U. Though of different heights and scales, these two buildings are good examples of period and style consistent structures that add to the sense of place of Del Mar. a itr Other buildings do not portray much of a style and are either dominated by the front lot parking areas or tend to be modern architecture with limited indoor/outdoor spatial connections. VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page 118 Visual Impact Assessment Street Character: Just as the buildings are architecturally varied, the sidewalk conditions and building placements along Camino del Mar are varied as well. The sidewalk is sometimes constructed of brick pavers, concrete, or a combination of materials. Buildings are sometimes set back to accommodate larger cafe areas and planting areas and other times buildings are placed in a zero lot line condition. The photograph below (upper left) shows two buildings with two different setbacks. The building on the left has incorporated the additional setback distance for a covered porch and clothing sales rack while the building on the right is utilizing the space for exterior cafe seating. Larger setbacks can also be used to create courtyards or additional exterior space to be shared amongst buildings. The photograph below (right) shows two buildings with a building between that is setback more than 10'. This large setback allows for some relief from the building edge, but also provides an area of larger outdoor sale opportunities or alternatively a cafe or restaurant. Variations in setbacks enhance the streetscape experience and add interest to the physical environment while creating opportunities for additional exterior uses. The addition of different sidewalk materials and varied building setbacks contribute to the unique character of this area. The variation between design elements indicates that changes to the area will not dramatically contrast or "stand out" by being different. A unifying design element is missing from this portion of Del Mar. Efforts in the future may attempt to provide uniformity through the walkway materials, street lights, benches and plant material found along the corridor. Recently, some efforts have been made in terms of adding a "Del Mar" branding to its benches and trash receptacles. Also, many of the sidewalk areas recently added are providing a consistent exposed chipped rock aggregate that will help to provide a unifying element along the street. i vp 4 w t t' t y Many buildings along Camino del Mar address the pedestrian experience successfully. Although the average sidewalk width is approximately 10', the sidewalk contains many streetscape elements including, benches, planter boxes with small shrubs, outdoor cafes, clothing racks, signage and other human scaled elements. The photograph at the left illustrates an example of how street elements set the character of the streetscape. VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mafs4-2012 P a g e 119 Visual Impact Assessment k 3 f + - ry, Plazas associated with some of the larger developments are often activated by outside eating and sitting areas. Shade, water features and defined spaces are often included. 4y Though both examples have outdoor spaces at the front of the buildings, the image on the left lacks activation of its space based on adjacent land uses and lack of seating facilities. i LY Some buildings do not have clear windows that encourage window-shopping and others are negatively affected by the angle parking that forces the walkways away from the street. VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 P a g e 120 Visual Impact Assessment There is a great deal of variety in rooflines and overall forms, as well as setbacks and parking areas. a f1 h Many of the streetscapes are highly detailed with plant material, overheads, seating and fountains. N. 4 Very nice examples include those with a great integration of interior or exterior spaces or those that have used plant material and seat walls to define a transitional space from public to private. VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page 121 Visual Impact Assessment 4L O Some areas have great spatial definition, some created away from the street while others are spatially flat and linear with limited fagade variations that define the street wall. w r 01 B' i rri, a v, The street wall varies and is often determined by the sidewalk and angle off-street parking. Pedestrians are not always up against the road edge, which makes for a non-contiguous street edge. VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page 122 Visual Impact Assessment 444.4 Project Viewshed and Views Viewshed Definition: the natural environment that is visible from one or more viewing points (Merriam-Webster). From a Geographic information systems (GIS) standpoint, viewsheds can be described as the determination of visibility of a surface DEM (digital elevation model) by one or more observer points located on that surface. The visibility of each surface cell center is determined by comparing the altitude angle of the cell center surface) with the altitude angle to the local horizon of each observer point. The local horizon is computed by considering the intervening terrain between the point of observation and the current cell center. If the point lies above the local horizon, it is considered visible (see Figure 4-2). The Iandform surface model was obtained from an existing digital elevation model. The resolution of each surface cell analyzed in the model is 10 meters by 10 meters, or approximately 1,076 square feet. Viewshed Processes: A viewshed for a single vantage point may be run across a surface in order to predict what can be seen from that single vantage point. This is valuable in validating whether areas across the surface are visible or not from that specific location. This does not, however, give us quantitative information about the degree of visibility for a given area. To simulate how many project features, or how much project area can be seen, a viewshed can be run from the project features (or area) using this surface. Many visual test points are used in these models and the visible points can be added up to give an idea of the overall extent of the Viewshed. The dynamics of the Del Mar visual environment requires the development of two distinctively different viewshed types. Views of the Pacific Ocean are an important aspect of living in Del Mar. They affect property values and the quality of life. Though one large body of water, the ocean in visual terms has: a horizon line or background view; an open water view or middle ground view; and a coastal beach /shore view or a foreground view. The proposed buildings on Camino del Mar have the potential of blocking views of the ocean by interceding or piercing the view corridor. A viewshed model was developed first to determine the leading edge of the ocean as seen by all of the residents on the slopes east of Camino del Mar. Then, the leading edge of this view was selected and a viewshed model was developed to show the areas that can see the multiple points along this linear leading edge in the ocean. Interceding buildings along Camino del Mar, as well as other topography in the area, determine what can see this leading edge and what cannot(see Figure 4-4). It should be noted that vegetation and other buildings outside the Specific Plan area are not in the model, so the results should be considered as the worst-case situation. The real viewshed model can be dramatically less than this due to other buildings and vegetation. The computer model was then modified to include increased building heights allowed in the Specific Plan and another viewshed model was calculated (see Figure 4-5). Finally, the difference between the current viewshed and the proposed viewshed based on the building height differences was calculated (see Figure 4-6). Using the processes above, the viewsheds to the project and from the project were analyzed. As shown in Figure 4-7, the majority of the buildings along Camino del Mar are visible from residences located uphill between Camino del Mar and Luneta Drive and again at the residences to the north and south of Crest Drive. Locations along Camino del Mar also have high visibility of other buildings along Camino Del Mar. The remaining areas within the City have a low to moderate visibility of the buildings along Camino del Mar. VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 P a g e 123 Visual Impact Assessment Figure 4-2: Viewshed and Human Eyesight Dynamics How a viewshed works a vrewshed is U`ke a search fight rotatiffig at a veeWW locarfen-., 9tin., . rioting the tacatl(ris When" 1 thebeafn ffurrririates the terrain dtu d I 9 ViewEshed Map 8+yw7 do-rr T.liwYlerrY FovaW V1910n 7 Figure B 4Faeus Pointl How a human eye works 55 mm le" SA mrn IonsPsraFoveai Vision 30' BIIi6Cu181 I 23 Mm Tens 16 A Ion 45t"; IS il'Mi'l e M18 Flaid of lgGiY W f} MM fens t Par phrMraY 4fslwf 16V 3 mm 19ns ULtI C7F'IfitiF'1l41 i (it t i I:1i Description of What is Seen Fip3n!FmSMAICe '1vVram 7;Frxusec F} 8fl.Color.6 Tertul J;Sxroo Fac:;s for S:ae,[kepis 8 patpWivo k rre°al Ce,as 8€dor,Rates an IM B wi to Peae joW her 5)Ck Y m=mint Huh OWhasl 8 Mass FWM"Can hn:Fop;S an,chewer WLEJ-W Pad cf MsHw b See Moro it VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July 2012 Page 124 Visual Impact Assessment A second series of viewshed models were developed that show the visibility of the buildings themselves, without regard to the background ocean views. This second viewshed model was run showing the areas that can see the current buildings along Camino del Mar. Then the computer model was adjusted by increasing building heights to 30' with variable roof heights from 26' to 30' (see Figure 4-8). The difference between the building heights and their affect on the viewshed extent is shown on Figure 4-9. The view corridor summary map shown on Figure 4-10, illustrates where view corridors exist through the Specific Plan area to the Pacific Ocean. This analysis indicates locations of primary, secondary, intermittent and partial ocean view corridors. Generally, primary view corridors consist of the east-west streets that extend through the Plan area to the bluffs. The secondary views corridors originate from roadways located to the east of the Plan area along streets that either do not go all the way through Camino del Mar, or where the angle of the streets a few blocks to the east of the Specific Plan area, allow for additional views to the west. The analysis also locates where intermittent views of the ocean are visible from Camino del Mar, generally where buildings are currently missing, or large gaps between buildings are available. In some cases, the elevation along Camino del Mar, affords some minor views towards the northwest, over existing single story buildings. Finally, this analysis determines where private parcels along Camino del Mar, have portals, gaps or plazas on the street that allow users of Camino del Mar to see small portions of ocean views. However, most of these views are very confined or are currently blocked by other buildings and trees. The Viewshed summary map also indicates areas to the east of Camino del Mar that have been grouped into view categories. Upper slopes east of Camino del Mar above a certain elevation (shown in light yellow), see entirely over the buildings along Camino del Mar. In some cases, they may see the views of buildings in the specific plan area, but they are not blocking middle-ground views of the ocean beyond the beach, nor do they interrupt the horizon line. Whether buildings are 14' or 30' from this area, their presence would not be considered a blocking of a view corridor to the ocean. This zone is overlaid on the Viewshed maps indicating visibility of the trend line in the ocean. Those area that are a very pale yellow, do not have visibility of the ocean, due to interceding topography and canyon Iandforms. Those that have an orange to red color showing through the pale yellow, have increasing degrees of visibility of the ocean. The lower slopes show in bright yellow on Figure 4-10, are those from approximately one to two blocks east of Camino del Mar. Depending on topography, these roadway segments and private parcels, potentially have a small portion of their views blocked by buildings that are 26' or taller. Several existing buildings currently block views of the lower portions of the ocean, and dozens of mature trees also interrupt these views. In general, a building between 26' and 30' would be part of the viewing scene of the middle-ground from this area, and the near shoreline out past the trend line (shown on Figures 4-3 to 4-6). The horizon line is not likely to be interrupted by buildings up to 30'. The next zone shown on Figure 4-10 (in red) includes parcels that are generally from '/2 block to 1 block from Camino del Mar. These properties do have views blocked off by buildings on the east side that are greater than 14' in height and buildings on the west side of about 20'-24' in height. Some views do exist from this location, but most of these properties are either commercial properties on the back side of the eastern lots on Camino del Mar, or front the alley. Finally, the green zone shows areas along Camino del Mar that have there views of the ocean completely blocked by any building that is 6' to 14' in height. VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Ma;G4-2012 P a g e 125 Visual Impact Assessment Figure 4-3: Determining Ocean Views from Slopes This figure shows the ocean views as seen from the slopes east of Camino del Mar. The deeper the red, the more houses (indicated with black dots) that can see this part of the ocean. e. e romp •'*ti r t;5a observer Point Location Preference Legend Parcel 0bsL rvef Points Existing Views (east Cam Del Mar) WPage Specific Pran Area _ Visual Trend line Village Specific Plan - Visual Impact Assessment VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page 126 Visual Impact Assessment Figure 4-4: Viewshed Trendline with Existing Buildings along CDM Viewshed of the trendline (dashed line) on the ocean determined to be the most visible part of the near ocean that most structures on the slopes east of Camino del Mar can see (given current buildings and landforms that block views). II o h 1 3 y.. J I l Legend Existing Viewshed i SOFVCF Points Existing Viewshed Visual Tfendllm Hun: 100 Village 3pecific Plan Area LOW.0 a Sao i,ago 2.aa9 F6m t Y Y i VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 P a g e 27 Visual Impact Assessment Figure 4-5: Viewshed Trendline with Proposed Buildings along CDM Viewshed of the ocean (trendline) given increased building heights (from 26' to 30' variable roofline) along Camino del Mar. ilk T'I w. i I r 4 q 1 J3 SY i1.. Legend Pratentlal Vlewshed Observer Points Potential VlwWahed Viwak Trendline High 100 Village Speciftc Plan Area cw.0 VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Ma;G -2012 Page 128 Visual Impact Assessment Figure 4-6: Viewshed Trendline Net Difference Net difference of areas where portions of the view of the ocean (trendline) would be partially blocked by building heights along Camino del Mar versus existing building heights. LL s Legend Potential Imacts Viewshed Analysis Cabs*rvei Paints Viewshed Impact Potential Visual Trend line Low Potential-0 Village Specific Plan Area - Highs PotenkiW : -86 504 TO Z.447C FM 1 . .i. . 1 VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page 129 Visual Impact Assessment Figure 4-7: Viewshed of Existing Buildings along CDM Areas in color indicate those areas of Del Mar that can see existing buildings along Camino del Mar. Red areas can see most all buildings, whereas areas with no color see no buildings. V Y H.. r r L i o r Legend Existing Camino Del Mar Building V'iFew5he+d Analysis C DM Observer Pc nts Existing CDM Buildings Viewshed Village Specific Plan Area ' High :65 Law_0 0 5W 1 0oo moo Frn.4 VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mafs4-2012 P a g e 130 Visual Impact Assessment Figure 4-8: Viewshed of the Proposed Buildings along Camino del Mar The viewshed shown indicates areas that can see the existing and proposed buildings. New buildings have replaced existing buildings where it has been assumed the site would redevelop. a r ir r 4 ioni riY r ; w • rr ii r }k r Legend Potential Camino Del Mar Building Viewshed Analysis CDM Observe( Points Potential COM Buildings Viewshed Village Specific Plan Area H`gn :65 Low :0 o APO I.Wo 2.000 1 ix!i VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mafs4-2012 P a g e 31 Visual Impact Assessment Figure 4-9: Viewshed Net Difference of Building Heights Net difference of properties affected by changes in building heights (note that blue colors indicate minor change in visibility while orange indicates a more dramatic change). Pei Wo I I ry i q i I a a a. y a n V y Legend Existing and Potential Camino Del Mar Building cQlul Observer Paints DM Buiilil>gs UrDerence V iewshed Difference Village Specific Plan Area Law Potenwl 1 High Pdenhal Impact:42 0 500 1 I71II i IP.ID I I.mA I I VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Ma;G -2012 P a g e 132 Visual Impact Assessment Figure 4-10: Ocean Viewsheds and View Corridors Along and Through Camino del Mar OCEAk WEINSHEDS a"c bW"m emu..M.. prwrid-n-tear mnfR aldu r5rr,• in SJe;afiL va`L Lowe uc.i.o4)m Lail o uo'- C:.Mwhere wil M%, ayEvb nrex re4t Cyr'd'w4 416'S if i!. tU n errs.,,c'r,I s I C:#'._';JIs 2CfCti'tiS 01iic!k pam,ds J k, 0,5 °71r J 8' piellballa bioa;t j t Y 44:r-1?+01.FFn study aio cu ili'°iv' VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Ma;G -2012 P a g e 33 Visual Impact Assessment a. r w Most of the east to west streets have views of the ocean, but the amount of ocean seen can vary dramatically as you head to the east, where just one block will allow you to see over most buildings. r ri i4i .xmt..t ,iiiP it3tr ry r m 4pi lj11j, a ttt tl«StUltt 1( Views heading north or southbound on Camino del Mar are much more limited. Where they do appear, it is the result of a break in building masses and where mature plant material does not exist. 4 l 1i A few midblock views can be seen between buildings. A portion of the ocean can be seen from across from the east side of the street, though more dramatic views can be seen from the west side. VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page 134 Visual Impact Assessment P'r_ Other openings exist, but contain a large amount of walls or landscaping that blocks most of the view. Current buildings block most of the views as seen from the road or sidewalk. Even a depressed 14' building cannot be seen over the top from this side. Where buildings are missing, views do exist. p x Views over buildings occur once you head east up the streets and gain altitude. Views over the west side buildings from the first half block eastward only occur over the top of 14' buildings. It is likely that buildings at 26' to 30' will not be seen over unless you travel east of the alleyway. VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 P a g e 135 Visual Impact Assessment 5.0 EXISTING VISUAL RESOURCES AND VIEWER RESPONSE 5.1 Methods used for Visual Resource Analysis Individual visual resources, when combined, make up the uniqueness of visual character. The visible individual components of a landscape include landform, landcover, water bodies, vegetation and man-made development. Step 1: Identify Visual Character—Visual character is descriptive and non-evaluative, which means it is based on defined attributes that are neither good nor bad in themselves. A change in visual character cannot be described as having good or bad attributes until it is compared with the viewer response to that change. If there is public preference for the established visual character of a regional landscape and resistance to a project that would contrast that character, then changes in the visual character can be evaluated. Step 2: Assess Visual Quality—Visual quality is evaluated by identifying the vividness, intactness and unity present in the viewshed. This method should correlate with public judgments of visual quality well enough to predict those judgments. This approach to evaluating visual quality can also help identify specific methods for mitigating each adverse impact that may occur as a result of a project. The three criteria for evaluating visual quality can be defined as follows: Vividness is the visual power or memorability of landscape components as they combine in distinctive visual patterns. Intactness is the visual integrity of the natural and man-built landscape and its freedom from encroaching elements. It can be present in well-kept urban and rural landscapes, as well as in natural settings. Unity is the visual coherence and compositional harmony of the landscape considered as a whole. It frequently attests to the careful design of individual manmade components in the landscape. VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 P a g e 136 Visual Impact Assessment 5.2 Existing Visual Resources 5.2.1 Scenic Resources The City of Del Mar begins at the edge of the Pacific Ocean and follows the topography up toward the east. Many residences and businesses in Del Mar have views of the ocean. Under the California Coastal Act of 1976, scenic and visual qualities of coastal areas are considered and protected as a visual resource. Permitted development should be sited and designed to protect views to and along the ocean and scenic coastal areas. The act also requires minimizing the alteration of natural landforms to assure that they are visually compatible with the character of surrounding areas, and, where feasible, to restore and enhance visual quality in visually degraded areas. View of Pacific Ocean from residential neighborhood along 10t" Street VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 P a g e 37 Visual Impact Assessment There are a diverse collection of street trees in the Village Plan area, including Eucalyptus species, and Monterey Pines and Torrey Pines along Camino del Mar in the medians and throughout the residential neighborhoods. The Tree Ordinance (Section 23.50) of the Del Mar Municipal Code provides for the orderly protection of trees, including the following measures: B. In the interest of the public health, safety and welfare, as well as general aesthetics of the community and the importance of the ecology of the area, the City of Del Mar finds it necessary to encourage conservation of trees and the application of management techniques to create a healthy, diverse urban forest, including but not limited to pruning, thinning, trimming, shaping, and selective planting and removal of trees and vegetation within the City of Del Mar on private as well as public property. [Ord. 749] C. The species Torrey Pine, the species Monterey Cypress, and all species of trees located within the Central Commercial zone and the environmentally sensitive Open Space Overlay zone are of particular significance to the City, and should therefore be protected to conserve the environmental qualities of the City. Specimen Torrey Pines are found throughout the City of Del Mar Pi VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 P a g e 38 Visual Impact Assessment The Del Mar Municipal Code designates the Historic Preservation Overlay Zone (HP-OZ). The HP-OZ protects the architectural and historic integrity of certain historically significant properties located within the City, but also provides the means to designate additional properties as historically significant. Within the HP-OZ, no building, improvement, structure, or portion thereof shall be erected, constructed, demolished, relocated, converted, altered, or enlarged, nor shall any lot or premises be excavated or graded unless approved by the Design Review Board. The City of Del Mar has two designated Historical Sites. Both Stratford Square (1438- 1454 Camino del Mar; 225 West 151" Street) and the City Library (1309 Camino del Mar) have HP-OZ designations and have been designated by the City as historic landmark properties. The Del Mar Library and Eucalyptus trees along Camino del Mar XAL i T Stratford Square 5 9 F r a m VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 P a g e 39 Visual Impact Assessment Adjacent to the Plan area are other parcels with the HP-OZ designation, including a linear parcel west of the Post Office along the east side of the railroad tracks, the Powerhouse park located west of Coast Boulevard, and the Ivan Gayler Trust located adjacent to the east side of the Plan area, north of 151" Street. Powerhouse Park I v The State Scenic Highway Program lists highways that are either eligible for designation as a scenic highway or are already designated as a scenic highway. Designation as a scenic highway depends on how much of the natural landscape travelers can see the scenic quality of the landscape, and the extent to which development intrudes on the traveler's enjoyment of the view (Caltrans, 2010). While there are no state designated or eligible scenic highways in the area listed in the California Scenic Highway Program, the Community Plan does designate scenic roadways. Camino del Mar is a scenic roadway and views of the Pacific Ocean and visual resources such as bluffs and trees are to be protected. Jimmy Durante Boulevard (formerly Turf Road), Crest Road, Carmel Valley Road, Coast Boulevard, and Del Mar Heights Road are also considered scenic roadways. VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page 140 Visual Impact Assessment 5.2.2 Existing Visual Character The City of Del Mar is made up of an eclectic style of architecture, landscape, parking areas, and streetscapes. Camino del Mar is the visually prominent road through the city. It is made up of two travel lanes in both directions with bike lanes and either parallel or angled parking along much of its edges. In most locations, the north and southbound lanes are divided by landscaped medians with mature trees and a variety of smaller shrubs and groundcover. The pedestrian walkways adjacent to the road have variable widths due to a variety of building setbacks. The walks are sometimes difficult to navigate because they are discontinuous and the widths are inadequate for the number of people along the walk during peak times. The walkway surfaces and landscape along the road is also made up of a variety of materials and includes a few large trees. There is a consistent change in elevation and Iandform from the ocean moving toward the east. The majority of the buildings in Del Mar are limited to two stories in order to protect ocean views. The architecture is a mixture of historical and modern styles but also contain a few obsolete or poorly detailed buildings that detract from the visual intactness of this corridor. The common design form found along the eclectic collection of architectural treatments, is the dominance of human scale and visual interest provided by the variety of shops and outdoor spaces. The changes in building materials, display of public art or shop items for sale, all carry with it, a very human scale. The primary concentration of businesses includes office, retail, restaurants, and hotels located along Camino del Mar. The residential areas take advantage of the ocean views and are located to both the east and west of Camino Del Mar. The beach and adjacent bluffs along with Powerhouse Park provide recreational opportunities. 5.2.3 Existing Visual Quality The visual quality of each character unit is shown in Table 5-1: Visual Quality Assessment of Character Units. This qualitative evaluation takes into account the vividness, intactness, and unity of the study area. Table 5-1: Visual Quality Assessment of Character Units Character Unit Vividness Intactness Unity Overall Visual Quality Civic Low to Low Low Low Moderate Residential Moderate Moderate High Moderate Commercial Moderate Moderate Low Moderate Hotel and Plaza High High High High Vacant/Parking Low Low Low Low Street and Moderate Moderate Low ModerateStreetscape Recreation High High High High VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page 141 Visual Impact Assessment 5.3 Methods of Predicting Viewer Response Viewer response is composed of two elements: viewer sensitivity and viewer exposure. These elements combine to form a method of predicting how the public might react to visual changes brought about by a project. Viewer sensitivity is defined both as the viewers' concern for scenic quality and the viewers' response to change in the visual resources that make up the view. Local values and goals may confer visual significance on landscape components and areas that would otherwise appear unexceptional in a visual resource analysis. Even when the existing appearance of a project site is uninspiring, a community may still object to projects that fall short of its visual goals. Viewer exposure is typically assessed by measuring the number of viewers exposed to the resource change, type of viewer activity, duration of their view, speed at which the viewer moves, and position of the viewer. High viewer exposure heightens the importance of early consideration of design, art, and architecture and their roles in managing the visual resource effects of a project. 5.3.1 Existing Viewer Groups,Viewer Sensitivity, and Viewer Exposure A summary of the viewer sensitivity and exposure can be found in Table 5-2 and are described below. A total of 7 viewer groups include pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, retail workers or customers, and hotel and restaurant workers or customers, office workers, and residents were considered. Pedestrians are individuals utilizing adjacent walks within the project area. The view of the project would be in the foreground for this group and as a pedestrian moving along the corridor of Camino del Mar, the viewing duration would be short to moderate, depending on their walking speed and dwell time in front of shops and restaurants. Pedestrians using this area have a moderate sensitivity to visual change. Many of the pedestrians are visitors to Del Mar and don't frequently visit the area to notice changes. Bicyclists are individuals biking along Camino del Mar. Del Mar sits along a popular route that runs along the coast and bicyclists throughout the region use the bike lanes along Camino del Mar. The number of bicyclists is moderate when comparing them to the quantity of other viewer groups such as vehicular drivers, but still significant enough to note. Similar to the pedestrians, the project is in the foreground as bicyclists are travailing through the project area, but the viewing duration is short resulting in low viewer exposure and low viewer sensitivity. Motorists are drivers and passengers utilizing surface streets in the project area. The viewer sensitivity to change is moderate to low. There are existing views to the ocean along Camino del Mar and through street corridors running in the east/west direction also exist to see views of the ocean. Camino del Mar is sometimes unfavorably used as an alternative route to Interstate 5 which runs in the north / south direction, parallel to Del Mar Village. This roadway is often congested during night and morning commute times. It is also congested during weekends and when special events such as the San Diego County Fair and Del Mar Racetrack are running resulting in a high quantity of viewers. The viewing duration is short and the project is in the foreground of the view resulting in a moderate viewer exposure. VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page 142 Visual Impact Assessment Retail Workers or Customers are individuals working or purchasing goods or service in the project area. This viewer group has a moderate viewer exposure. The quantity of viewers and the viewing duration is moderate, and the view of the project is in the foreground. Retail workers and customers have a moderate sensitivity to the view and changes. They are often concerned with the aesthetic and visibility of storefronts or blockage of business fagades and the visual relationship of the immediate visual environment. Hotel/ Restaurant Workers or Customers are individuals working or procuring services at a hotel or restaurant within the project area. This group has a high sensitivity to changes in the visual environment. They rely on the visual resource of the ocean to create a unique experience for patrons or customers. They are also concerned with the fagade of the buildings and visibility of immediate surroundings and aesthetics. The proposed project is in the foreground of this viewer group's view. The viewing duration is moderate and the quantity of viewers is moderate resulting in a moderate viewer exposure. Office Workers are individuals working in a business within the project study area. There is a low quantity of viewers within this group, but the viewing duration is moderate to high. The view of the proposed project is in the foreground. The viewer exposure and viewer sensitivity to changes are low to moderate. This viewer group does not rely on the visual resources to enhance their business, but it is an added benefit. Homeowners/Residents are individuals owning homes adjacent to the project. There are no residents within the project boundary; however, due to the topography of Del Mar, the gradual slope up from the ocean in the eastern direction results in residents with views to the project. Residents have a high viewer exposure because of their long viewing duration, and close proximity to the project. The quantity of viewers is high, and under the existing Del Mar Municipal Code, individual residents' private views are protected as seen by an owner's designated primary viewing room. In addition, many of the residents in Del Mar have a partial or full view of the ocean from their residence and so the viewer sensitivity is high to visual changes. VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page 143 Visual Impact Assessment Table 5-2: Summary of Viewer Groups Distance from Viewer Viewer Quantity of Viewing to Project Viewer Viewer Group Viewers Duration Corridor Exposure Sensitivity Moderate Short to Foreground Low ModeratePedestrianModerate Bicyclist Low Short Foreground Low Low High Short Foreground Moderate Low to Motorist Moderate Retail Moderate Moderate Foreground Moderate ModerateWorkeror Customer Hotel / Restaurant Moderate Moderate Foreground Moderate High Worker or Customer Office Low Moderate Foreground Low to Low to Workers Moderate Moderate Home High Long Foreground to High High Owners Middleground VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN JulyMafsk-2012 Page 144 Visual Impact Assessment 6.0 VISUAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT 6.1 Method of Assessing Impacts The visual impacts of a project under CEQA are determined by assessing the visual resource change due to the project and predicting viewer response to that change. Visual resource change is the sum of the change in visual character and change in visual quality. The first step in determining visual resource change is to assess the compatibility of the proposed project with the visual character of the existing landscape. The second step is to compare the visual quality of the existing resources with projected visual quality after the project is constructed. The viewer response to project changes is the sum of viewer exposure and viewer sensitivity to the project. The resulting level of visual impact is determined by combining the severity of resource change with the degree to which people are likely to oppose the change. This project is particularly interested in impacts to view corridors. The process for view quality impacts is to first determine the extent of view corridors, model a viewshed and then determine if the project is likely to block a view corridor of distant viewing scenes of the ocean. 6.2 Definition of Visual Impact Levels This document will use the following levels of impact to determine significance: Low - Minor adverse change to the existing visual resource, with low viewer response to change in the visual environment. May or may not require mitigation. Moderate - Moderate adverse change to the visual resource with moderate viewer response. Impact can be mitigated within five years using conventional practices. Moderately High - Moderate adverse visual resource change with high viewer response or high adverse visual resource change with moderate viewer response. Extraordinary mitigation practices may be required. Landscape treatment required will generally take longer than five years to mitigate. High —A high level of negative change to the resource or a high level of viewer response to visual change such that architectural design and landscape treatment cannot mitigate the impacts. Viewer response level is high. Based on CEQA thresholds, a High or Moderately High Adverse impact would be considered as a significant impact. 6.3 Analysis of Candidate Key Views It is necessary to select a number of possible key viewpoints that most clearly display the visual effects of the project. These candidate key views represent the primary viewer groups that would potentially be affected by the project. Based on fieldwork, viewer groups, probable changes, viewing duration, and viewer sensitivity, candidate key views were selected and building massings were draped over the existing conditions to help understand the impacts of the Specific Plan. Descriptions of the candidate key views can be found in Appendix A. VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page 145 Visual Impact Assessment 6.4 Analysis of Key View Simulations Because the study area is visible from a very large area, key views that most clearly display the visual effects of the project have been selected for simulation. These key views represent areas where visually prominent project features would affect existing views. The existing visual quality of each of these key views and the initial contrasts have been evaluated and discussed below. 6.4.1.1 Key View Simulation "A" This key view looks northbound on the west side of Camino del Mar, south of the 121n Street intersection and is depicted in Figure 6-1. Existing Visual Quality/Character The existing visual character of the buildings in the key view are uniform in scale. The mature trees and planting along the street also create a uniform view and are considered to be visual resources contributing to the character of the area. However, large gaps in storefronts along Camino del Mar create a visual environment that is not intact for a pedestrian or motorist. Proposed Project Features This series of simulations depicts a transition of the proposed allowable building heights. The first image shows the infill of buildings, which would include the allowable increase 14 feet for the first floor. The second image shows a second story on the west side of Camino del Mar for a total of 26 feet. The third image shows the building with a four-foot maximum articulated roof for a total of 30 feet. Note that a partial parking reconfiguration is shown on this image, representing a probable phasing whereby portions of blocks adjacent to new development will be reconfigured while other portions may remain with town and country" (storefront parking on private property) parking until redeveloped. Change to Visual Quality/Character The proposed changes have a low visual contrast and may actually increase the visual quality of the streetscape as seen by a pedestrian or motorist along Camino del Mar. There is an opportunity to improve the vividness and unity of the space through the design of the pedestrian environment. The building heights are not excessive in terms of scale and massing compared with other buildings along Camino del Mar. The articulated roofline (30') does not increase the appearance of height above the flat roof(26') version. No existing views along this segment of Camino del Mar will be affected by these changes. Viewer Response The reaction to the proposed changes will not likely be negative from this view point. The majority of the viewers include motorist bicyclists and pedestrians. Their sensitivity and exposure to the view is low to moderate mostly because of the short viewing duration and with the exception of the motorists, the low quantity of viewers. Resulting Visual Impact Overall, the resulting visual impact of this view has a low adverse change and might actually improve the uniformity, intactness, and vividness of the view. The changes to the view would not require mitigation and would be considered less than significant. VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page 146 Visual Impact Assessment Figure 6-1: Key View Simulation "A" y La. VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN JulyMafsk-2012 Page 147 Visual Impact Assessment 6.4.1.2 Key View Simulation "B" This view looks north on the east side of Camino del Mar south of the 121" Street intersection and is depicted in Figure 6-2. Existing Visual Quality/Character Same as Simulation "A". Proposed Project Features Same as Simulation "A". Change to Visual Quality/Character Same as Simulation "A". Viewer Response Same as Simulation "A". Resulting Visual Impact Overall, the resulting visual change of this key view would only have a low adverse change and might actually improve the uniformity, intactness, and vividness of the view. The changes to the visual environment would not require mitigation and would be considered less than significant. VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page 148 Visual Impact Assessment Figure 6-2: Key View Simulation "B" rrMT- MENOW VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN JulyMafsk-2012 Page 149 Visual Impact Assessment 6.4.1.3 Key View Simulation "C" This key view looks north on Camino del Mar just south of the intersection at 111h Street and is depicted in Figure 6-3. Existing Visual Quality/Character The majority of the buildings on the west side of Camino del Mar are blocked by mature trees and planting in the median. Along the east side of the street, the buildings, landscape and setbacks are not vivid, nor are they uniform. The pedestrian environment is disrupted by the parallel parking along the street and in front of store fronts. For a pedestrian or a motorist, the visual experience is not intact nor would it be considered a high visual quality area. Proposed Project Features The proposed project features include the reconfiguration of the street to include angled parking, improved streetscape, infill of buildings, and the roundabout at the intersection. Additional parkway planting is proposed to improve the pedestrian environment, while assuring that the visibility through the traffic circle is open and clear for safety purposes as well as to make sure that trees do not block view corridors from the east to the west on 11 th Change to Visual Quality/Character The proposed changes have a low visual impact and may actually increase the intactness of the view as seen by a pedestrian or motorist. The proposed features would eliminate a large mature tree in the existing median reducing the vividness of the median, but it would be replaced by other trees on the parkway side of the street. Overall, the walkway environment and the roundabout itself, will increase the visual quality of the area due to increased landscaping, improved paving materials and the decrease in the scale of the street resulting from the proposed improvements in the street. Viewer Response The reaction to the proposed changes will not likely be negative from this view point. The majority of the viewers include motorist bicyclists and pedestrians. Their sensitivity and exposure to the view is low to moderate mostly because of the short viewing duration and with the exception of the motorists, the low quantity of viewers. Overall, the scale to these viewers is positive and the pedestrian and vehicular environments have been clarified and improved in visual quality. Resulting Visual Impact Overall, the resulting visual impact of this view has a low adverse change and might actually improve the uniformity, intactness, and vividness of the view and improve the visual environment. Because the large mature tree would be eliminated, the replacement of this tree in the immediate visual area is assumed to be part of the project as proposed. VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 P a g e 150 r ° f r vim_ G r> 1 u S¢ 11 , Visual Impact Assessment 6.4.1.4 Key View Simulation "D1" This view looks west from the library patio adjacent to Camino del Mar and is depicted in Figure 6-4. Existing Visual Quality/Character This view is high in intactness and visual quality. This is an important view of the ocean. In addition, the architectural character represented in the view along Camino del Mar is vivid and characteristic of Del Mar in its pedestrian scaled buildings, Spanish style architecture, large storefront windows, and diverse pedestrian environments. Proposed Project Features Proposed project features include an extension of the height toward the back of the parcel with an upper level building, while the pedestrian scaled architecture is maintained along Camino del Mar. The preservation of the front portion of these very human-scaled and high visual quality buildings is important and it is assumed that the Design Review Board process would require se„Tethi;g SmMi',;;r te Aghatis shc4WA thxQ ROM ";;tosnssuch design features. Note that the proposed roadway and parking is not simulated in this view, since the primary concern here is of view corridor blockage and building massing and scale and its affect on the existing character. Change to Visual Quality/Character The proposed project will have a highly adverse affect on the view corridor from this location due to blockage of the view of the ocean from this public viewing location. However, the number of viewers is considered to be low. But, because of the view quality the impact should still be considered significant. The height difference between a 26' flat roof and the 30' articulated roof would be not different since they both would block the views in this location. The impact to the existing scale and character of the storefronts and adjacent buildings is considered to be a moderately adverse impact. Much of the character and scale is left intact as seen in the simulation. The overall height increase, though it impacts the view corridor, it does not impact the scale and massing or the visual character of the storefronts. Viewer Response This view represents what a person sitting on the library patio would see. The number of viewers and viewer duration is low resulting in a low viewer exposure. The viewer sensitivity would be high. This is an important view of the ocean and the viewers would be concerned and notice this change. Viewer response to the changes in the building massing and scale compared to the adjacent building and streetscape environment would not be considered high. Resulting Visual Impact Overall, the resulting impact on the view corridor from a public viewing place would be moderate to highly adverse and considered potentially significant. Though a limited number of viewers are likely to see this, it would still be considered potentially significant. Ultimately, the Design Review Ordinance would not allow future development to substantially block scenic views and the potentially significant view impact would be avoided. The changes to the visual quality and character of the area would also not be considered significant, given the ass iry PtOGRG that the DRB review process requirements;^491-19-' ro16,4 ;r , ROM01,r rlo-1— c in in th.A ROMI"Ativn. VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page 152 Visual Impact Assessment Figure 6-4: Key View Simulation "131" At R jj 1 y r p 1l' i VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN JulyMafsk-2012 P a g e 53 Visual Impact Assessment 6.4.1.5 Key View Simulation "N" This view looks northwest from the east side of Camino del Mar in front of the library and is depicted in Figure 6-5. Existing Visual Quality/Character This view is highly intact. Different from Key View D1, there is not a view of the ocean in this view given the height and position of the existing buildings. Again, the architectural character represented in the view along Camino del Mar is vivid and characteristic of Del Mar in its pedestrian scaled buildings, Spanish style architecture, large storefront windows, and a diverse pedestrian environment. In addition, the streetscape provides uniformity for the character of the area. Proposed Project Features Proposed project features include the existing architecture and extended building height on the back side of the parcel. Setback and stepbacks are indicated in the rendering to create visual interest and protect the first floor scaled buildings that do establish some of the character of the village. The pedestrian realm is enhanced with outdoor dining, shopping, seating, and plantings where setbacks occur along Camino del Mar. Change to Visual Quality/Character By maintaining some of the existing architectural character, on the front of the parcel facing Camino del Mar, the change to the view scene and visual character is moderate. The pedestrian scale of the buildings are maintained and the visual character remains intact. But the overall change to the visual environment is not considered to be that dramatic. Viewer Response Depending on a viewer's outlook and opinion, some viewers may consider this change objectionable while others may not. The reaction to the proposed changes will not likely be overly negative from this viewpoint, but they may be adverse. The majority of the viewers including cyclists and pedestrians, will see this view from a transitory or moving perspective. Their sensitivity and exposure to the view is low to moderate mostly because of the short viewing duration, movement and low quantity of viewers. Resulting Visual Impact The resulting impact on the view corridor from this public viewing place would be low and would not be considered significant. The changes to the visual quality and character of the area would not be considered significant, given the assumptions that the DRB review process would result in a similar design as shown in the simulation. VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page 154 i , M1 ' d ar a•o• .,`; .,mac... i. x Yj s j i 4i.7 5, i r al ; 4n4 Visual Impact Assessment 6.4.1.6 Key View Simulation "E" This view looks west to the ocean across Camino del Mar from the north side of 12th Street at Maiden Lane and is depicted in Figure 6-6. Existing Visual Quality/Character This view represents a typical view corridor to the ocean found on most of the numbered streets running in an east/west direction. The view is considered to be highly intact, though it is partially blocked by mature vegetation. This is also typical of most of the view corridors in the study area. These views are important to the City of Del Mar and create a vivid view and uniform rhythm of views when driving, riding or walking down the street. This is an important view of the ocean though it is somewhat interrupted by large mature trees in the middle ground and background. However, enough of a view still exists to be of concern. Based on the simple simulations, it can be seen that most of the view to the ocean is maintained with the proposed building heights of 14', 26' or 30'. The side stepback on the second floor is considered to be important to protecting this view corridor. Proposed Project Features Proposed features in this view include the new building heights. The chamfer at the corner lots will help to keep some of the view corridor when approaching from the north or south as a pedestrian. In addition, the ten-foot stepback on the upper floor helps to maintain the views to the ocean and the view corridor so it is not excessively blocked. Change to Visual Quality/Character The change to the visual quality and character would be moderate to low. The massings of the buildings are similar to the existing forms, though higher. The visual quality of the existing buildings on the west side are not high. Replacement buildings are likely to have a higher visual and design quality. The existing vegetation is already partially blocking the scenic vista to the ocean and would not be affected by the project. Viewer Response Currently residents, retail workers and customers have a partial view of the ocean that is interrupted by mature plant material. The viewer exposure and sensitivity to these changes would be low. The extended heights on the buildings do not completely remove the view of the ocean and the scenic vista is maintained. The proposed scale is not out of character with other buildings in the area. Resulting Visual Impact The resulting visual impact of this view would be considered low to moderately adverse. The scenic vista to the ocean is mostly preserved, though a small notch would be affected. This blockage would not be considered significant. The change to the visual character and quality is also considered to be low to moderate. Depending on the final design of replacement buildings, the visual character could be improved along with the overall visual quality. VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page 156 Visual Impact Assessment Figure 6-6: Key View Simulation "E" 14 11, ea 5 tl iG' T5 ICI 4 a VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 P a g e 57 Visual Impact Assessment 6.4.1.7 Key View Simulations "F1, F2, F3, and F4" Key view F1 looks west to Camino del Mar from the south side of 14th Street near the intersection and is depicted in Figure 6-7. Key view F2 looks west to Camino del Mar from the south side of 14th Street, mid-block and is depicted in Figure 6-8. Key view F3 looks west to Camino del Mar from the south side of 14th Street at Maiden Lane and is depicted in Figure 6-9. Key View F4 looks west to Camino del Mar from the intersection of 14th Street and Luneta Drive is depicted in Figure 6-10. Existing Visual Quality/Character This series of views is typical of the view corridors to the ocean from the numbered streets running in an east/west direction. This view is consistent along Camino del Mar and is highly intact. These views are important to the City of Del Mar and are typical of residential views on the lower slopes east of Camino del Mar. The view of the ocean is blocked by existing buildings when a viewer is standing at Camino del Mar. Where there are no buildings, the view is partially blocked by mature trees in the background. Moving up the hillside to the east, the views to the ocean open up and more of the vista is revealed. Change to Visual Quality/Character The proposed building heights from a massing and scale perspective are not in contrast with other buildings in this area. The changes to the visual quality are also not likely to negatively contrast with the current setting, assuming a Design Review Board process that will assure that elements of the Del Mar Village are repeated and existing high quality architecture and storefronts are preserved. Viewer Response Currently residents, retail workers and customers have a partial view of the ocean that is interrupted by mature plant material and overhead powerlines. The viewer exposure and sensitivity to these changes would be moderate. The extended heights on the buildings do not completely remove the view of the ocean and the scenic vista is maintained by the preservation of the view corridor on one of the lots. The view could actually be improved if the background utilities were removed. Also, increased public views would be possible with the development of a Paseo plaza open to the public, between these buildings. The removal of surface parking would also be an improvement. Resulting Visual Impact The resulting visual impact of this view would be considered low to moderately adverse. The scenic vista to the ocean is mostly preserved, though a portion would be affected from the lower slope within the first half block from Camino del Mar. A moderately adverse impact that would be considered less than significant would result to the views in this corridor. A low to moderately adverse impact that is also less than significant, would result to the character of the area, assuming that the Design Review Board process would result in a similar form and character of as show in previous simulations. VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page 158 Visual Impact Assessment Figure 6-7: Key View Simulation "F1" Ln P i ti 1M _ e pp i Yklt VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page 159 Visual Impact Assessment Figure 6-8: Key View Simulation "F2" f v: w a a VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 P a g e 60 Visual Impact Assessment Figure 6-9: Key View Simulation "FY y F ' f 94' f Irma is I Ell 4 VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN JulyMafsk-2012 Page 161 Visual Impact Assessment Figure 6-10: Key View Simulation "F4" J4 RBM I'I'I P m e wi,nr v 111 a VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN JulyMafsk-2012 Page 162 Visual Impact Assessment 6.4.1.8 Key View Simulation "G" This view looks north to the intersection of Camino del Mar and is depicted in Figure 6-11. Existing Visual Quality/Character The majority of the buildings on the east side of Camino del Mar are blocked by mature trees and plantings in the median. Along the west side of the street, the buildings, landscape and setbacks are neither vivid nor uniform. The pedestrian environment is disrupted by the parallel parking along the street and in front of storefronts. For a pedestrian, the visual experience is not intact. In addition, there are gaps in the building storefronts along Camino del Mar. Within the view, the trees in front of the library are an important visual element and enhance the visual character of the area. Proposed Project Features The simulation shows a series of images to depict a sequence of potential build out and roadway environment changes. The second image shows the realignment of the street to include angled parking, a bike lane, the realignment of the sidewalk, and one lane of traffic. The last image includes building infill and other enhancements to the pedestrian environment. Change to Visual Quality/Character The proposed changes have a low visual impact and may actually increase the intactness of the view as seen by a pedestrian or motorist experiencing the space along Camino del Mar. The overall scale and dominance of the roadway does improve and is not as expansive and vehicular dominant. Viewer Response The reaction to the proposed changes will not likely be negative from this view point. The majority of the viewers include motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians. Their sensitivity and exposure to the view is low to moderate mostly because of the short viewing duration and with the exception of the motorists, a low quantity of viewers. Resulting Visual Impact Overall, the resulting visual impact to this key view would be a low adverse change since some of the visual environment would be improved through new design features and new spatial organization and visual interest improvements. The proposed project changes would not be considered to be significant. VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 P a g e 163 r max pq t V i P r P=.14" v 11 , Visual Impact Assessment 6.5 Impact Assessment Summary The City of Del Mar does not currently have guidelines for determining significant thresholds. Therefore, CEQA, Appendix G was used to determine the level of impacts the project is likely to cause. The following criteria apply: Have a substantial adverse effect on a scenic vista? Many of the vistas in Del Mar are currently blocked by mature shrubs and trees or other existing buildings and landforms. There are scattered scenic vistas throughout Del Mar of the ocean depending on the topographic setting of the viewer. The most substantial scenic vistas of the ocean occur at the streets running west and east. The Village Specific Plan takes these vistas into account by requiring stepbacks from the side streets on the upper levels and a chamfer corner at the first level of proposed corner lots buildings. This design detail helps to reduce the adverse visual impacts associated with view corridor blockage, but does not completely eliminate adverse effects on views not located along the east-west street corridors. The proposed changes would potentially result in a moderate impact on some scenic vistas not located along east-west street corridors, such as View D1 and mitigation may be req sired. Ultimately, the Design Review Ordinance requires projects to be designed so that they do not unreasonably block significant public coastal views or scenic views from the primary living area of residences. With the implementation of the Design Review Ordinance through the Design Review Board review process, potentially significant scenic vista impacts would be mitigated.T"e Substantially damage scenic resources, including, but not limited to trees, rock outcroppings, and historic buildings within the Village area defined by the Specific Plan Boundary? The traffic circles and the realignment of the street have the potential to reduce the number of mature trees found along Camino del Mar. Other trees will be removed, but many more will be added as a result of the proposed new developments and streetscape improvements. These tree removals and additions would have the potential for either an adverse or positive change to the visual environment depending on the viewer and the viewer location. The removal of mature trees could potentially open views to the ocean. However, the trees along Camino del Mar are also considered to be characteristic of the Del Mar setting and are a scenic resource and help to strengthen the vividness of the City. The proposed specific plan does not make recommendations to remove or modify any existing historic buildings; therefore, there are no adverse changes to the historic buildings. The view of the ocean must be considered as a scenic resource. The increase in building heights proposed in the Village Specific Plan may result in a full or partial blocked view of the ocean for a variety of viewer groups. As a viewer moves up the hillside to the east, the resulting visual impact becomes less adverse because of the changing perspective resulting from rising topography. The combination of these changes would result in a moderate to high visual impact and would need to be mitigated. Therefore, a significant impact to scenic resources and visual resources would be expected, some of which can be mitigated through replacement of visual resources and the Design Review Board review process. VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page 165 Visual Impact Assessment Substantially degrade the existing visual character or quality of the site and its surroundings? The existing character of Del Mar is moderate in vividness, intactness, and unity. Most of the existing inconsistencies are the varying building setbacks and the lack of a visually identifiable pedestrian environment. The proposed changes in the Village Specific Plan would create a uniform visual environment. The proposed changes would result in a low visual impact and in some situations, would actually improve the visual character and quality of the site. There may be some circumstances where visual character may be removed and not replaced with the same level of pedestrian scale, building material quality and overall character. However, it is assumed that through the application of design guidelines and the Design Review Board process, that projects will be of a higher quality and will address the visual character of the area and any removal of character elements will be replaced by new improvements. Therefore, the proposed project is not expected to have a significant impact on the visual character or visual quality of the specific plan area. Create a new source of substantial light or glare that would adversely affect day or nighttime views in the area? Shade calculations on adjacent residential units were completed for the longest day of the year, December 22. Using computer modeling, it has been determined that the proposed increase in the height of the building will not result in a low adverse change to the shadow pattern on adjacent buildings. Existing conditions currently result in a partial shade pattern on the fagade of residential buildings at 8am; however, the shade pattern disappears from the fagade by 9am. The same is true when the building heights are increased. Computer modeling was also used to evaluate the shade patterns on Camino del Mar during the equinox and solstice. The models showed an increase in shadow patterns as the building heights increased. During the longest day of the year, shadow patterns form the buildings on the west side of the street stretched to the median by mid afternoon, but did not shade the entire corridor of Camino del Mar. The proposed setbacks and articulation in the buildings will result in more light coming through the buildings to Camino del Mar, and therefore results in a low adverse change. The proposed building height increase would result in a low adverse change to the glare and ambient light into the nighttime sky. This impact would not be considered to be significant. VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page 166 Visual Impact Assessment 7.0 VISUAL MITIGATION 7.1 Visual Mitigation Options Visual mitigation for moderate to highly adverse project impacts addressed in the key view simulation assessments of the previous chapter, are discussed below. Implementation of the following mitigation measures will reduce impacts of the project. Because it is impossible to determine the impact on individual residents within this study, the proposed project is subject to design review to guard against unreasonable view blockage from public areas or from neighboring properties. Story poles will be erected to fully determine visual impact of individual residence as part of the Design Review process. The Design Review Board will review the proposed development's affect on individual residence on a project-by project basis. The views will be evaluated from each residence, based on the property owner's primary viewing location within the residence. The proposed Village Specific Plan required stepbacks and the articulation of roofs on buildings. This variety in architecture will result in more light into the project and adjacent residential units as well as increased visual interest. Mature trees are considered to be a scenic resource and add to the vividness and intactness of the City. A few of these trees may be disturbed with the realignment of median and the addition of roundabouts per the improvements in the Village Specific Plan. A tree replacement or relocation plan should be created and implemented to reduce the visual impacts because of the tree removal. Any tree requiring removal should be replaced with a tree of similar size or relocated in close proximity to the existing tree without blocking scenic views to the ocean. Where setbacks of the proposed building occur on Camino del Mar, the space between the building and curb shall be utilized for the pedestrian. Amenities such as awnings, outdoor dining, seating, shopping, and plant material must be used to enhance the pedestrian scale. Cohesive site amenities should be utilized throughout the Del Mar Village to create visual intactness in the urban setting. This will improve the unity and intactness of the Village and enhance the visual pedestrian setting. Consistent site amenities are shown on the following pages. VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 P a g e 167 Visual Impact Assessment 7.2 Visual Impacts After Mitigations Substantial impacts on scenic vistas With the implementation of Design Review Board review, the use of story poles, setbacks, stepbacks and corner lot 45 degree chamfers on corner lots, the significant impact on scenic vistas would be avoided. The Design Review Ordinance would ultimately not allow redevelopment that would substantially impact scenic vistas^.n he lessened- hi,t they mini ild- remain sigRifiGapt after Substantial impacts on visual resources With the protection of significant tree resources found in the corridor and the replacement of trees that are to be removed in accordance with the Tree Ordinance, this significant impact on visual resources in the specific plan area, would be reduced to below a level of significance. The mitigation assumes that approximately 50% of the biomass removed, would be replaced and that this bio- mass would grown to approximately 75% of the removed tree resources within a 3-5 year period. VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page 168 Visual Impact Assessment Benches with City Branding a AIL dY Sidewalks with a consistent finish and a minimum width throughout the Village Tree Grates VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN JulyMafsk-2012 Page 169 Visual Impact Assessment Planting 4 Signage with City Branding isms Trash and Recycling Receptacle with City Branding o VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 P a g e 70 Visual Impact Assessment 8.0 REFERENCES Camino del Mar Streetscape Plan, Andrew Spurlock Martin Poirier Landscape Architects, December 1996. The Community Plan for the City of Del Mar, California, March 1976 with 1985 amendments. U.S.D.O.T., Federal Highway Administration, Office of Environmental Policy, Visual Impact Assessment for Highway Projects, U. S. Department of Transportation. VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 P a g e 171 Visual Impact Assessment APPENDIX A CANDIDATE KEY VIEWS The locations of these keyviews are shown on the photo location map on the following page. Based on fieldwork, viewer groups, probable changes, viewing duration, and viewer sensitivity, candidate key views were selected and building massings were draped over the existing conditions to help understand the impacts of the Specific Plan. The yellow masses indicate a maximum building envelope for the west side of Camino del Mar, and the red buildings represent the maximum building envelopes on the east side of the street. Please note the massing overlays are not intended to look realistic in any manner, and foreground elements have not been removed, so some perspective distortions do exist in these graphics. VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page IA-1 Visual Impact Assessment Candidate Key View Photo Location Lr rrW 3 y I a Ilt G 9 r V Legend Candidate Keyviews Candidale Keyviev4s kl Village Specific Plan Area sco OM r-ee¢ 1 I I I 1 a i 1 VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page J A-2 Visual Impact Assessment Candidate Key View#1 This view looks west from the north side of 151" Street at 412 151". This view is not recommended for simulation. This view shows the affect of the 30' maximum height on the ocean view; it does not interrupt the horizon line. Candidate Key View#1 t. I s x. VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page J A-3 Visual Impact Assessment Candidate Key View#2 This view looks southwest from the north side of 151" Street at 412 151". This view is not recommended for simulation since the proposed changes will not interrupt the horizon line. Candidate Key View#2 r r rr r r" VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page J A-4 Visual Impact Assessment Candidate Key View#3 This view looks west from the north side of 151" Street at 383 151". This view is not recommended for simulation since potential changes do not fully block the horizon. Candidate Key View #3 MONOMER ti 9 1 f n r. F} r bd9 0 by 5 VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page J A-5 Visual Impact Assessment Candidate Key View#4 This view looks west from the parking lot east of Maiden between 141" Street and Parish. This view is not recommended for simulation since current regulations would block view. Candidate Key View#4 k 7 VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page J A-6 Visual Impact Assessment Candidate Key View#5 This view looks west from the east side of Maiden between 141" and 151" Street. This view is not recommended for simulation since it would be blocked by current regulations. Candidate Key View#5 VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page IA-7 Visual Impact Assessment Candidate Key View#6 This view looks west from the south side of 141" street at 349 141". This view is not recommended for simulation because the existing foreground vegetation blocks the proposed changes. Candidate Key View#6 y y VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page J A-8 Visual Impact Assessment Candidate Key View#7 This view looks west from the south side of 141" street at 323 141". This view is not recommended for simulation as a sequence as the building in the foreground will most likely not change. Candidate Key View#7 A VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page J A-9 Visual Impact Assessment Candidate Key View#8 This view looks west from the north side of 141" Street at 327 141". This view is not recommended for simulation it be used in a sequence with Error! Reference source not found.and Error! Reference source not found.. Candidate Key View#8 t n` VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page I A-10 Visual Impact Assessment Candidate Key View#9 This view looks west from the southeast side of the intersection of 141" Street and Maiden. This view is not recommended for simulation as the building in the foreground will most likely not change. Candidate Key View#9 VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page I A-11 Visual Impact Assessment Candidate Key View#10 This view looks west from the northwest side of the intersection of 141" Street and Maiden. This view is not recommended for simulation, but shows a sequence of views to the horizon line the with Error! Reference source not found.. Candidate Key View#10 r VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page I A-12 Visual Impact Assessment Candidate Key View#11 This view looks west from the north side of 141" Street at 309 141". This view is not recommended but shows how the view corridor could be kept open if development was not allowed in the street extension. Candidate Key View#11 9i VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page I A-13 Visual Impact Assessment Candidate Key View#12 This view looks west from the east side of Camino del Mar between 131" Street and 141n Street. This view is not recommended for simulation since no ocean view exists. Candidate Key View #12 All r rp,i F i a1c., VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page I A-14 Visual Impact Assessment Candidate Key View#13 This view looks west from the north side of 131" Street at the Del Mar. This view is not recommended for simulation since only a minor view opening exists. Candidate Key View#13 y. zz x µ h e VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page I A-15 Visual Impact Assessment Candidate Key View#14 This view looks west from the north side of 131" Street at the Del Mar. This view is not recommended for simulation since only a minor view opening exists. Candidate Key View#14 f p Alk AW VIM a VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page I A-16 u y Pam •, _. f A a m w ate Visual Impact Assessment Candidate Key View#16 This view looks west from the east side of Camino del Mar at 1247 Camino Del Mar. This view is not recommended for simulation since a 14' building would block the view Candidate Key View#16 c. m VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page I A-18 Visual Impact Assessment Candidate Key View#17 This view looks west from the north side of 121" Street at 381121". This view is not recommend for simulation but shows the stepbacks on the side street and the heavy vegetation blocks some views. Candidate Key View#17 r e14 iq 1 6 v 1 ntSS+ VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page I A-19 Visual Impact Assessment Candidate Key View#18 This view looks west from the south side of 121" Street at 389 121". This view is not recommended for simulation due to the background vegetation. Candidate Key View #18 0 VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page I A-20 Visual Impact Assessment Candidate Key View#19 This view looks south at the intersection of 111" Street and Camino del Mar. This view is not recommended for simulation since the existing buildings most likely will not change with the proposed heights and FAR's. Candidate Key View #19 i w VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page I A-21 Visual Impact Assessment Candidate Key View#20 This view looks west from the south side of 111" Street at 331 111". This view is not recommended for simulation since too much vegetation blocks the view. Candidate Key View#20 Rt I' u _ r u_ VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page I A-22 Visual Impact Assessment Candidate Key View#21 This view looks west from the south side of 111" Street at 317 111". This view is not recommended for simulation but shows a corner lot setback and could show a roundabout in the simulation as well. Candidate Key View#21 Y 4 W M r 4 v VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page I A-23 Visual Impact Assessment Candidate Key View#22 This view looks northwest from the south side of 101" Street at 411 101". This view is not recommended for simulation, but shows the proposed building are less of an impact moving up the hill. Candidate Key View#22 VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page I A-24 Visual Impact Assessment Candidate Key View#23 This view looks south at the intersection of 91" Street and Camino del. This view is not recommended for simulation of the roundabout. Candidate Key View#23 F Y S- x VILLAGE SPECIFIC PLAN July Mas4-2012 Page I A-25 From: Gary Wono To: LPCtestimonv Subject: Revise Hawaii General Plan Testimony Here Date:Thursday,November 21,2024 9:02:25 AM Here are some concerns: The word"Stakeholder"defined in the plan,is written 86 times and literally means anyone in the entire world can have input on this 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 and management are crucial for the success and sustainability of any initiative,as it helps ensure that diverse perspectives and interests are considered. Hilo does not have a Community Development Plan. How can a Big Island General Plan move forward without that? Hilo is 22%of the island. This plan wants to tum land into"conservation". The exact opposite is what is needed for Big Island! We need to tum land into Ag Villages and grow more food! Steve Shropshire,a resident of Papaikou,has created an Ag Villages plan. 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 to because it's not the locals? "Pursue the acquisition of lands"does this say they are going to pursue taking people's private property? Again with"protection of natural resources". This plan should be focused on people growing more food and it is doing the exact opposite. Thank-you Rita Wong SubjecC HERE 17 Date. Thwstlay November 2l,2629991::ibAMRy Thank you forgivingme the opportunity to input into the General Planprocess. I agree with the attached addresses and pdfs created attachedto this email atthebottom.Please considerand apply thechanges to TheGeneral Plan.Weneed more emphasis on ourlocalinvolvement and the inspiration to embrace andpromote participation forthe highestgood. Effective local community engagement and management arecrucial forthesuccess and sustainability ofany initiative,as it helps ensurethat diverseperspectives and interests areconsidered. The"Stakeholder"definitionshould beconsideredseriously as totheapplicationand intention for allowing less than desirable outcomes to thedirection ofinterests andcontrol.Local Communities arethe prime energies to directthe success and healthy lifeon the Island.Moreemphasis should focus on inspiring community involvement as this creates healthypurposefortheresidents hereand works toward unity andsuccess ofmore ofthe residents. OSCER'S team are indoctrinated educatedoff islandyoung peoplewithlimitedknowledge andexperienceofthecultural aspects anddesirableprogress forthepeoplehere ontheisland.Planshavebeen handed down world wide from a hierarchy ofunelected officials as a format for change based on terms as"smut'and"sustainable"and"climate".This has been infiltrated into the education systems. The term"Smut"mayhavethe promotion ofintelligence,but it loses overallwhen embracing details andtruth that comefromthealoha.Sustainable should be clangedto aspirations and desires toward outcomes, this means ifs always evolving based on changeand understanding. Climatehas notyet addressedthe heating oftheatmosphere andweatherpatterns by the electric communications,satellites and haarp and suchdevices or thegeoengineering ofthe weather.Howmanytowers and what metheir effecton the communities environments,mental impact and biological outcomes. Themanipulation ofour planetand itspopulation through technology and theattention pushing people toward ignoring the surrounding am&is proving to be detrimental and no one is addressing this fact.Yet blaming it on the people and fossil fuels,where green technology is not proving a perfect solution either and is polluting the planet also.Mostimplementations ofsystems me setupbythe unelected officials and corporateentities that glean theprofits by itsoutcome,yetlobbied and promotedinto government systems. Changing zoning and lowering property values is a huge question.Ifyou lookat the designation ofresident to re-creation.What is being re-created?The people were all ready established on their property. Value?Whatisthe truevalue ofa property,but it's stewardship and usetonurture the life created there-ifs sacredspace tothe inhabitants.It seems thevalue benefits me focusedand directed to the tax assessors or real estate sales and profits and now toward a general plan.Not working with the true value of the aim and its inhabitants. Havevisitedwithan appraiser herein Hawaii stating they started using Marshall and SwiftBoeckhsoftware forappraisal. around Covid.Theproperties have doubled and tripled inmany cases herein the last fewyears.Withcommercial RE beinghit hard. Ifyouto the links throughtheweb Marshall&Swift/Boeckh company whichwasboughtoutby Corelogicwhichwas boughtup by StonePointCapital andwithInsight Partners.These are global venture fl m Theymakethesecompanies looklike they are small operations..they arenot.Iwould considerthatallinformationfor landandpropertyis at thelands ofthese largecorporate firms for manipulation ofthe people along with census statistics. I find it interestingthatifevery city(which Iknow oneother city recently brought their software in)isusing theirsoftware these corporations with investors me driving up themarkets fortheirprofits andcould be influencing price strategies across theworld.Withtheprinting ofmoneyand redirection ofwealth this is all tied into land acquisition ofmegaproportion. Weneed to question everything andtheintention andpower behind it.Because ofthese increasesmigrationacross the country has happenedandbusinesses have closed andpeople can'tafford properties which has driven the homeless situation and housing crisis.Look at what has happened in downtown Kailua with the businesses and puking-where does this stem from.Now we have a plan that transitions property ownership and businessesasasteal by forceofeconomic planning. I stand with the changes submitted here as alternatives and additions to the Plan. Please consider and reviewthe changesneeded topromote our Hawaii Island community. Thank you SaraNee Kittom Our common welfare should come first personal progress foi the greatest number depends rypon unity_ 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 of Papaikou,has created an Ag Villages plan. Ag Village to add to the General Plan: Papaikou Ag Village Objectives: https7/www.standtopetherhawaii.com/_fles/ugd/86fc0c_2cb 1cc6d604f4cdd971 ad40831 c745bcpdf Papaikou Site Plan: hftps://www.standtL)getherhawaii.com/fles/ugd/86fcOc 5e4cdb02efeb46a5ae949a3579aff00d.p_df Papaikou Development: hftps://www.standtL)getherhawaii.com/fles/ugd/86fcOc c2af52c8b3c645bla6868a724eee8304.pdf A Hawaiian born Kanaka revised the Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship that is in the plan.You can see it in the pdfbelow: Part One:https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_fles/ugd/86fc0c_Oa 1 d5be8fl d 140069415f7b691725786 pdf Part Two:hops://86fcOcbd-8207-4076-85fa- 5a62e4e933b4.usrfiles.com/ugd/86fc0c_ecc498ba 192d4a7689ebf31 c3681 c2ec.pdf Here is alonger revised version ofthe plan from locals: https://www.standtopetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fc0c_b34739e4c99c461685de4c0207bf286e.pdf Your Signature) From: Tario Aboufakhr To: WPCtestimonv Cc: LPCtestimonv Subject: Revise Hawaii General Plan Testimony Date: Thursday,November 21,2024 9:55:37 AM This raises my eyes.. Here are some concerns: 1. The word "Stakeholder," defined in the plan,is written 86 times and literally means anyone in the entire world can have input on this 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 and management are crucial for the success and sustainability of any initiative, as it helps ensure that diverse 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 use will be changed from resident to recreation due to the General Plan 2045. This will drastically lower 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 be further 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. 5. Hilo does not have a Community Development Plan.How can a Big Island General Plan move forward without that?Hilo is 22%of the island. 6. 1.13 under"Increase the biodiversity and resilience ofnative habitats" reads, "Incentivize private land management practices thatprotect 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 too because it's not the locals? Pursue the acquisition of lands" does this say they are going to pursing taking people's private property?Again with "protection of natural resources". This plan should 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 of Papaikou, has created an Ag Villages plan. Ag Village to add to the General Plan: Papaikou Ag Village Objectives: Papaikou Site Plan: Papaikou Development: A Hawaiian born Kanaka revised the Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship that is in the plan.You can see it in the pdf Part Two: Here is a longer revised version of the plan from locals: The way this plan is written is very far from what will support our island. From: AddressOnlvTemoorary To: LPCtestimonv Subject: Revise Hawaii General Plan Testimony Here Date: Friday,November 22,2024 5:11:47 AM To Whom It May Concern, Here are some ofmy concerns with the General Plan: There is a huge part of the plan dedicated to"Climate Change".However,why do most experts state there is NO climate danger? Over 1900 credentialed scientists have signed a World Declaration literally stating,"There is No Climate Danger".Review it here htips:Hclintel.org/wu-content/uploads/2024/IOIWCD-241023.pd The declaration states: "To believe the outcome of a climate model is to believe what the model makers have put in. This is precisely the problem of today's climate discussion to which climate models are central. Climate science has degenerated into a discussion based on beliefs, not on sound self-critical science.Should not we free ourselves from the naive belief in immature climate models?" John Coleman,Good Morning America's first weather man and the founder of the Weather channel states,"There is No Global Warming".Find it here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K56fms2VZTc 50 Years as Meteorologist with the US Airforce and Climatologist Professor David Dilley,says the earth is cooling not warming. He explains the Milankovitch Cycles here:https://youtu.be/sa- t1ITPnM?si O-ubPSELxpFnAVH5 On the Boston Globe's YouTube channel,on May 14,2010,MIT Professor of Meteorology Richard Lindzen shared,"If one asks,"Is the temperature increasing or decreasing?"it's always doing one or the other.I have no concern about that.By asking people to worry about whether it's going up or down,you're immediately establishing dishonesty.The Earth is always changing. Climate change is nothing you have to prove.It always is happening.It always has happened.So,to make that into something alarming seems a little bit weird to me."Find his interview here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwvVephTIHU Profession Lindzen also stated,"At any given place,traditionally,sea level is measured by what are called tide gauges:a stick in the water,basically.Two things that change are what a tide gauge shows:the land moving up and down and the sea moving up and down.In most places,it's the land that has the biggest effect,and so you don't have a good measure of sea level rise." On August 21,2020,NASA published an article titled"NASA-led Study Reveals the Causes of Sea Level Rise Since 1900." Find the article here:https://chmate.nasa.gov/news/3012/nasa-led-study-reveals-the-causes-of-sea-level-rise-since-1900/ It reads: Sea levels have risen on average 1.6 millimeters(0.063 inches)per year between 1900 and 2018." That means the sea level has risen a little over 7.4 inches in the last 118 years!Does that show the world is in danger of being engulfed by water?No.It shows that it will be a very,very,very long time before humans are in danger.Does that mean documentaries like"An Inconvenient Truth"are telling lies? An article was published in the Seattle Times on October 12,2007,titled`British judge ruled the Oscar-winning film on global warming,"An Inconvenient Truth,"contains"nine errors.""Find the article here:https://www.seattletimes.com/nation- world/truth-is-gore-film-has-9-errors-british-judge-rules/ Here is the list of inaccuracies found in Court taken from the"Friends Of Science"website. The inaccuracies in the documentary include(Find the article here:htips:Hfriendsofscience.org/assets/documents/FOS%2OEssgy/British High Court Ruling Ruling on An Inconvenient Truth.html): 1.The film claims that melting snows on Mount Kilimanjaro evidence global warming.The Government's expert was forced to concede that this is not correct. 2.The film suggests that evidence from ice cores proves that rising CO2 levels cause temperature increases over 650,000 years. The Court found that the film was misleading:over that period,the rises in CO2 lagged behind the temperature rises by 800- 2,000 years. 3.The film uses emotive images of Hurricane Katrina and suggests that this has been caused by global warming.The Government's expert had to accept that it was"not possible"to attribute one-off events to global warming. 4.The film shows the drying up of Lake Chad and claims that this was caused by global warming.The Government's expert had to accept that this was not the case. 5.The film claims that a study showed that polar bears had drowned due to disappearing arctic ice.It turned out that Mr.Gore had misread the study:in fact,four polar bears drowned,and this was because of a particularly violent storm. 6.The film threatens that global warming could stop the Gulf Stream,throwing Europe into an ice age.The Claimant's evidence was that this was a scientific impossibility. 7.The film blames global warming for species losses,including coral reef bleaching.The Government could not find any evidence to support this claim. 8.The film suggests that sea levels could rise by 7 meters,causing the displacement of millions of people.In fact,the evidence is that sea levels are expected to rise by about 40 centimeters over the next 100 years and there is no such threat of massive migration. 9.The film claims that rising sea levels has caused the evacuation of certain Pacific islands to New Zealand.The Government was unable to substantiate this,and the Court observed that this appears to be a false claim. Also,the Court's interim ruling included the following: 1.The film suggests that the Greenland ice covering could melt,causing sea levels to rise dangerously.The evidence is that Greenland will not melt for a millennia. 2.The film suggests that the Antarctic ice covering is melting;the evidence was that it is,in fact,increasing. High Court Judge Michael Burton stated: Former Vice President Al Gore,the documentary's moderator,makes nine statements in the film that are not supported by the current mainstream scientific consensus.For instance,Gore's script implies that Greenland or West Antarctica might melt soon, creating a sea-level rise ofup to 20 feet that would cause devastation from San Francisco to the Netherlands to Bangladesh." The judge called this"distinctly alarmist"and said the consensus view is that if Greenland melted,it would release this amount of water"but only after,and over,a millennia." The word"Stakeholder,"defined in the plan,is written 86 times and literally means anyone in the entire world can have input on this 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 and management are crucial for the success and sustainability of any initiative,as it helps ensure that diverse perspectives and interests are considered. 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. The Planning Department has sent out letters too many homeowners telling them their land use will be changed from resident to recreation due to the General Plan 2045.This will drastically lower 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. There is a huge section on climate change and things that will be affected.This needs to be further 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. Hilo does not have a Community Development Plan.How can a Big Island General Plan move forward without that?Hilo is 22%of the island. 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 ofnatural resources.""Incentives"mean more taxes. "Protection"means more rules.Who's"values"is this plan referring too because it's not the locals?"Pursue the acquisition of lands"does this say they are going to pursing taking people's private property?Again with"protection of natural resources".This plan should be focused on people growing more food and it is doing the exact opposite! 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 of Papaikou,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 2cblcc6d604f4cdd971ad4083lc745bapdf Papaikou Site Plan: https://www.standtoggetherhawaii.com/ files/u,gd/86fc0c 5e4cdb02efeb46a5ae949a3579aff00d.12df Papaikou Development: htips://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/ files/ugd/86fc0c c2af52c8b3c645bla6868a724eee8304.12df A Hawaiian born Kanaka revised the Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship that is in the plan.You can see it in the pdf below: Part One:-htWS7//www.standtogetherhawaii.coni/ files/ugd/86fc0c Oald5be8fld140069415f7b691725786.pdf Part Two:https://86fcOcbd-8207-4076-85fa-5a62e4e933b4.usrfiles.com/ugd/86fc0c ecc498bal92d4a7689ebf3lc368lc2ec.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. Alyssa Stamey From: Sophia"s Mom To: LPCtestimonv; WPCtestimonv Subject: Please consider my testimony on The Hawaii General Plan Date: Friday, November 22, 2024 12:02:42 PM Aloha Honorable Planning Commissioners of Hawai'i County Director Kern, Regarding the General Plan and cultural resources you focused on today, many cannot be obtained as objectives with collaboration and partnerships. They must have a foundation of trust and commitments of financial support which will not happen unless we manage our citizens money by disclosing audited, financial reports to the citizens, whose money the administration of this county is responsible for. This is the adoption of a measure that will incentivize the participation of the most important resource, being the people of Hawaii nei, including our neglected indigenous Hawaiian people! With mandatory disclosure, including all income, all paid employees, names of contractors and amounts paid for services, work, any consulting costs for the County; including all capital projects and utilities; i.e., our cost of solid waste services, we will not be aware nor be able to evaluate how effective the General Plan can be. When this is mandated and we then mandate money for the restoration, preservation and maintenance of sacred places and educational opportunities to learn about our Hawaiian culture and its significance, this will be the usual rhetoric with no implementation. I agree the today's presentation was impressive but I didn't see any Hawaiian people involved. So even regarding this presentation, your objective is not being met in my opinion. Regarding the General Plan and cultural resources, you know these cannot be obtained as objectives with collaboration and partnerships, because they must have a foundation of trust and commitments of financial support which will not happen unless we manage our citizens money by disclosing audited, financial reports to the citizens, whose money the administration of this county is responsible for. This is the adoption of a measure that will incentivize the participation of our true resource which is the people of Hawaii nei, including our neglected indigenous Hawai'ian people! Without Geo engineered weather, which is visually observable by anyone with fairly good eyesight and an open mind, it has been scientifically challenged. The question of whether climate change is real, or more propaganda in the well- financed plan of the WEF, World Economic Forum, to create a Geo -Engineering is so questionable, we DO NOT WANT TO place our children's future on disinformation. It could be so much the indoctrination to commit the crime of stealing our land, our rights and our resources as we've seen in 3rd world countries already! I agree with the native born Hilo, Leslie, and others that have already testified that the CDP needs to be completed for a very important area of our island Hilo and that all emergency plans need to have organized interaction with the civil defense, which is not happening now under this governor. I helped form the Waikoloa Village CDP, ever working mo hours on the logistics committee to found it. We need to have the inclusion of amateur Ham radio operators in The General Plan. This would've made a huge difference in the disaster that occurred in Lahaina Maui. We need to make, as our priority over all these sections, our safety first until all hazards for various areas of our island are covered within the plan have been carefully laid out and financed in the plan with the accounting needed to quell objections. The Plan needs to do delineate the repair of these bridges that are vital and have been not repaired since they were damaged long time ago. We need to make sure that areas that landslide as soon as the rain becomes .6"/hour need to be solved. We have an area at I'ole between Kapa'au and Hawi that does this. We also have our entry into the emergency shelter for an entire North Kohala area line with albezia (sic?) trees. Why in the world would we allow these things to grow the 20-25 feet when we know they will prevent access to our main emergency shelter in the earthquake that's coming someday ? We must protect the people first these are the most important issues and as Brenda Ford mentioned, we cannot frack a rock which requires its structure in order to produce those lenses of drinkable water. Mahalo for your kokua, April April Lee PO Box 190705 Hawi, HI 96719 Sent with Proton Mail secure email. From: Carolina Visser To: LPCtestimonv Subject: Testimony on General plan 3045 Date: Friday,November 22,2024 6:20:58 AM This plan wants to tum land into "conservation". The exact opposite is what is needed for Big Island! We need to tum land into Ag Villages and grow more food! Steve Shropshire, a resident of Papaikou, has created an Ag Villages plan. Ag Village to add to the General Plan: Papaikou Ag Village Objectives: hUs://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_2cb 1 cc6d604f4cdd97l ad40831 c745bc.12df Papaikou Site Plan: hUs://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fc0c_5e4cdb02efeb46a5ae949a3579aff00d.pdf Papaikou Development: hUs://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_c2af52c8b3 c645b 1 a6868a724eee8304.12df A Hawaiian born Kanaka revised the Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship that is in the plan.You can see it in the pdf below: Part One:hUs://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fc0c_0aId5be8f1d140069415f7b691725786.pdf Part Two: https://86fcOcbd-8207-4076-85fa- 5a62e4e933b4.usrfiles.com/ugd/86fcOc_ecc498bal92d4a7689ebf31 c368lc2ec.pdf Thank you for standing with us, the people of Hawaii Carolina Visser 808 987-4840 Kau resident. From: donna arabow To: LPCtestimonv Subject: General Plan 2045 - PIs remove exaggerations about Climate Change Date: Friday, November 22, 2024 8:41:28 AM Please consider the following as a testimony today, November, 2024 Sea levels have risen on average 1.6 millimeters (0.063 inches) per year between 1900 and 2018." 1900 scientists have signed a World Declaration literally stating, "There is No Climate Danger". Review it here https://clintel.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/WCD-241023.pdf The declaration states: "To believe the outcome of a climate model is to believe what the model makers have put in. This is precisely the problem oftoday's climate discussion to which climate models are central. Climate science has degenerated into a discussion based on beliefs, not on sound self-critical science. Should not wefree ourselves from the naive belief in immature climate models?" John Coleman, Good Morning America's first weather man and the founder of the Weather channel states, "There is No Global Warming". Find it here https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=K56fms2VZTc Sea levels have risen on average 1.6 millimeters (0.063 inches) per year between 1900 and 2018." That means the sea level has risen a little over 7.4 inches in the last 118 years! Does that show the world is in danger of being engulfed by water? No. It shows that it will be a very, very, very long time before humans are in danger. Does that mean documentaries like "An Inconvenient Truth" are telling lies? Sincerely, Donna Grabow Hilo From: ss To: WPCtestimonv' LPCtestimonv Subject: Re: General Plan Needs Major Overhaul Date: Friday, November 22, 2024 11:50:41 AM Aloha, In addition to my testimony comments, this link should be a mandatory read for all county planning officials. https://nwri.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/How- Public-Officials-can-Recognize-Agenda-21 odf Mahalo, Donna Thompson Sent with Proton Mail secure email. On Friday, November 22nd, 2024 at 10:39 AM, sharkgss <sharkgss@protonmail.com> wrote: Aloha, After commenting on the 2045 General Plan online, providing extensive testimony and attending workshops it is clear this document needs a great deal of revision and citizens are not aligned with the draconian template handed down to local communities in Western countries by the World Economic Forum. The original version in 2005 plan contains the words "homeowner" and "farmer" while the 2045 plan is written by and for stakeholders!" This is outrageous and the words "homeowner" and "farmer" do not appear anywhere! "Farmer" is in the 2005 GENERAL PLAN fourteen (14) times and "homeowner" appears four (4) times. In addition to my original testimonies below being re -submitted I want to add a few more points: 1. The State and the County corporations have no rightto acquire land. The State has no rightto any Countyproperty, including harbors. 2. Remove anyreferenceto "Hawaii State Wildlife Action Plan" itis notrelevantforour island. 3. Remove reference to climate change caused byhumans, this is unprovenand beingused as a psychological controlmechanism by the top 1%. This includes removing references to "carbon footprint", "net zero", "greenhouse gas", "green infrastructure" and / or "climate adaptation". Carbon dioxide sequestration is a really really stupid idea, waste of tax payer funds, and will further degrade our flora. 4. Remove the section 2.2 Biocultural Stewardship Goal (1.13) because State and Countycorporations are notacting onbehalfofits residents and clearly acting on behalf of stakeholders. 5. Remove the word "stakeholder" from everywhere it appears, and instead use the words "land owner" or "farmer/rancher". 6. Zoning needs to bere -visited - why is Agricultural land being reducedby 40%, unacceptable!!! 7. Remove the words "equity" and "equitable" from everywhere they appear. More emphasis shouldbe on equality ofopportunityrather than equity ofresults. We do not want to move into commmusm, people need to work for what they get, and people who haveworked and succeeded needto keep the fruits oftheir labors. Equity cannot be legislated. 8. Remove the word "sustainability" fromeverywhere it appears. This term has NO SCIENTIFICPARAMETERS, NO EFFECTIVE DEFINITION for anything to do withlawmaking !! 9. Revise the proposed land usemaps, they are not fully relevant to ourvastmicro climates. 10. REMOVE 32c and 32p and 20e because all have to do with the egregious concept of "smart" cities. This is a rural island. 11. Remove ANY reference to digital currencies. 12. Remove ANY use of the word "resilience." This is a psychological term that has NO PLACE in a government document. 13. Close down the County Office of Sustainability, Climate, Equity, and Resilience (OSCER) as NOBODY VOTED FOR THIS OFFICE TO BE STARTED. Remove ANY reference to such office from the proposed general plan. 14. Rewordthe governments intention for "inspection" or "surveillance" or "inventory" of land that will notbe a violation ofprivacy rights. 15. Add language regarding the dangerof5G andbeyond technology easements and studies. 16. Remove ANY reference to incentivizing orregulating water use and incentivize catchment. 17. Remove the phrase "circular systems". This is a conceptonly vaguely defined and certainlywithout any solid demonstration of its use. 18. Remove the phrase "Vision Zero" as it has NO RELEVANCE for our island. 19. Remove the phrase "One Water" as itrefers to a NorthAmerica groupand has NO RELEVANCE for our island. Testimony submitted 27 March 2024 Aloha, Please consider appointing a team comprised of "stewards" of the community to review and re -write this document. We need a plan that is by the people and for the people. Providing comments on the county version live document is a very cumbersome process and not user friendly. Below are relevant comments combined from a few county residents including myself. Mahalo, Donna Thompson Kamuela, HI General Comments are as follows: Suggest subtitle "Stewardship Plan for Hawai'i County" Overall the plan lacks presentation of relevant issues, proposes some harmful initiatives, contains garbled language, and lacks vital public input. There is no clear plan for strengthening infrastructure and power grid against space weather. Stakeholders are stated in the document 47 times. Who are the Stakeholders and Partners with the government? What private and nonprofit agencies are involved in this process? It is deeply concerning that partnership with landowners and the general public is not stated anywhere. The plan should not be finalized until the State legislative session is over, the Govemor is done signing/vetoing bills, and the override deadline has passed to allow for accommodation of relevant changes. The document appears to be a template handed down from the United Nations Agenda 21 initiative that is using human based climate change models to implement a one world government attempting to "capture" local govemments. Thousands of scientists have come forward in recent years explaining that the human effect on climate is minuscule as compared to the sun. The document contains no explanation how the county will handle a breakdown of critical infrastructure (supply chain, energy, communications) due to impending space weather/solar events in which the Federal Government has been diligently preparing for. This document lacks sufficient detail in many areas to include tables, and maps. Syntax is sometimes garbled. Few acronyms are explained. There are notes indicating information may be added later. The table of contents and appendix are missing. Concems raised by commenters need to be addressed, and another round of public meetings held, before the plan goes to the Planning Commissions and County Council. The comment period needs to be extended, the document is too vague and the code of ethics and professional conduct of the American Institute of Certified Planners shall provide timely, adequate, clear, and accurate information on planning issues to all affected persons and to govemmental decision makers. See page 4. Purpose and Authority Authority Limits of the General Plan The 2045 General Plan contains no authority to change previously existing subdivisions or Zoning without collective collaboration. It's hard for community collaboration when the document contains obscure and garbled language. Clarify what is meant by "specific to the actions" and "because, as" Hawai'i Island Goals The goals of the General Plan synthesize those concepts and value statements adopted by ordinance in the 2005 General Plan and CDPs. The appendix includes tables used to complete the goals, including the source material from the 2005 General Plan and CDPs. page 8 The LUPAG maps contain numerous zoning changes. Regulatory Implementing Actions in the 2045 General Plan, future land use maps, policies, and standards are specific to the actions through which zoning ordinances, subdivisions, and public improvements or projects are initiated or adopted because, as they must conform to and implement the general plan in accordance with the County Charter §3-15. p. 7 Climate Mitigation A great deal of content is based on Climate Mitigation from human activity which has a minuscule effect on the earth's overall climate. Over 99% of the climate affects are driven by solar activity, cycles, and space weather. The document completely fails to mention the threat of space weather and is almost entirely focused on carbon emissions promoted by the United Nations Climate Agenda. Our Federal Govemment has been preparing for space weather threats for many years, yet the Hawaii island plan lacks any reference to this even though critical infrastructure energy, communications, transportation, and supply chain) is at risk due to increased solar radiation from our weakening magnetosphere. In 2015 the magnetosphere was down by 40% according to this Federal Doc. https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/AD1040918#:-:text=The%20research%20evaluates%20the%20impacts reversals%20and%20adverse%20space%20weather In October of 2016 President Obama issued the following executive order Coordinating Efforts To Prepare the Nation for Space Weather Events - Executive order 13744 (https:llwww.govinfo.govlappldetails/DCPD-201600692 ) Section 1. Policy. Space weather events, in the form of solar flares, solar energetic particles, and geomagnetic disturbances, occur regularly, some with measurable effects on critical infrastructure systems and technologies, such as the Global Positioning System (GPS), satellite operations and communication, aviation, and the electrical power grid. Extreme space weather events—those that could significantly degrade critical infrastructure—could disable large portions of the electrical power grid, resulting in cascading failures that would affect key services such as water supply, healthcare, and transportation. Space weather has the potential to simultaneously affect and disrupt health and safety across entire continents. Successfully preparing for space weather events is an all -of -nation endeavor that requires partnerships across govemments, emergency managers, academia, the media, the insurance industry, non -profits, and the private sector. It is the policy of the United States to prepare for space weather events to minimize the extent of economic loss and human hardship. The Federal Govemment must have (1) the capability to predict and detect a space weather event, (2) the plans and programs necessary to alert the public and private sectors to enable mitigating actions for an impending space weather event, (3) the protection and mitigation plans, protocols, and standards required to reduce risks to critical infrastructure prior to and during a credible threat, and (4) the ability to respond to and recover from the effects of space weather. Executive departments and agencies (agencies) must coordinate their efforts to prepare for the effects of space weather events. Sec. 2. Objectives. This order defines agency roles and responsibilities and directs agencies to take specific actions to prepare the Nation for the hazardous effects of space weather. These activities are to be implemented in conjunction with those identified in the 2015 National Space Weather Action Plan (Action Plan) and any subsequent updates. Implementing this order and the Action Plan will require the Federal Government to work across agencies and to develop, as appropriate, enhanced and innovative partnerships with State, tribal, and local governments; academia; non -profits; the private sector; and international partners. These efforts will enhance national preparedness and speed the creation of a space -weather -ready Nation. https://www.federal reg ister.gov/docu ments/2016/10/18/2016-25290/coordinating-efforts-to-prepare-the-nation-for-space-weather-events In October 2016 (about 10 days before the above executive order was signed) the Russian Government hosted a training event of 40 million civilians, 200,000 emergency rescuers and 50,000 units of equipment from October 4 to October 7, 2016. It took 3 days to do a mock evacuation of 40 million civilians into 5000 bunkers.This was a massive exercise carried out for the first time in modem history. A spokesman said in a statement: "The main goal of the drill is to practice organization of management during civil defense events and emergency and fire management, to check preparedness of management bodies and forces of civil defense on all levels to respond to natural and man-made disasters and to take civil defense measures." https://www.express.co. uk/news/world/717446/russia-evacuate-40-million -people -emergency -drilI-vladimir-putin-ww3 Additional info on this: Cataclysmic Polarity Shift , Part 2 - How Can I Prepare For Such An Event? https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=GSHnF2PTz5s Safe Zones and Disasters https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpILRrxCMiw Solar Micronova is Going to Happen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEMXp1H1zUs&t=Os Earth Disaster is Coming 1 ALL The Evidence https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j635Cv2aOIA&t=0s Man made geoengineering is an operation primarily used to block out solar radiation and create, distribute, and deflect weather systems. Its use over many decades is outside the scope of public knowledge and having significant impacts on our environment/weather to include increased super storms, fires, flooding, droughts, and causing very high levels of aluminum in the soil and tissue samples of all mammals. I personally have tested hundreds of humans and animals and seen very high levels in all hair analysis tests. This is why Monsanto developed aluminum resistant seeds, soil in North America is testing 40,000 times higher rates of aluminum in the last 2 decades. httpsi/www geoengineeringwatch org/links-to-geoengineering-patents/ Tennessee and New Hampshire have recently introduced bills to ban this practice. https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/2024/03/20/ten nessee-senate-passes-biII -ban ningchemtrails-what-to-know/73027586007/ Maui county council passed a bill in 2010 to ban geoengineering and this link explains how it is being used to lessen the effects of solar radiation. There has been no public oversight or consent to these projects. httpi/mauiskywatch org/info-official-reports/ It is clear based on the above information the governments of the world are preparing for space weather effects due to the weakening magnetic field, therefore it is critical that the county review and adopt their own contingency plans. Hawaii county should implement a ban on geoengineering before soil is too toxic with aluminum and when combined with glyphosate it can cross the blood brain barrier. Some suggested solutions are environmentally unfriendly, and nuclear power is catastrophically dangerous Potential of micro nuclear was mentioned on page 15. Hawaii State Constitution, article XI, section 8 NUCLEAR ENERGY Section 8. No nuclear fission power plant shall be constructed or radioactive material disposed of in the State without the prior approval by a two-thirds vote in each house of the legislature. We live on an active volcano with frequent earthquakes, threats of hurricanes, tsunamis and unexpected lava flows. Having a nuclear power plant on this island is a huge liability. It could be cataclysmic and there will always be the issue of storage leaks. In 2011 I experienced the 5.8 earthquake in Orange, VA. It shut down the Lake Anna Nuclear facility for almost 2 years. There are numerous other types of energy to explore, to include water generated motors that are now used in places like Pakistan and India. These kits allow existing vehicles to be fitted that use only 2% fuel consumption and 98% water. We should be looking at ways to hamess ocean water for energy. The ocean thermal energy conversion, or OTEC, which uses seawater to tum solar energy into electricity or hydrokinetic energy or marine renewable energy, is a renewable power source that is hamessed from the natural movement of water, including waves, tides, and river and ocean currents. These should be considered since water surrounds the entire island. Climate change threats p. 19 3.3 Collaborate with govemment, private and nonprofit agencies, and other stakeholders to monitor impacts that may be specific to Hawai'i County due to its unique exposure to climate change and sea level rise impacts. Hawai'i County needs to first and foremost collaborate with the general public. Transparency is needed on exactly how govemment agencies, private corporations, nonprofit agencies are involved and explain who these "stakeholders" are. The planning department should take into consideration that over 1,900 scientists from around the world have signed a declaration that there is no climate emergency. Climate change has been occurring on this planet all along driven by solar activity and cycles. https://clintel.org/wp-content/u ploads/2023/08/WCD-version-081423. pdf John Coleman, the founder of the weather channel, the first meteorologist on Good Morning America in the 1970's and the winner of the Meteorologist of the Year award by the US Association for Meteorology in 1982, has spent 60 years studying the weather. He presents his view that there is no significant man-made global warming in this half-hour PowerPoint presentation. https://youtu.be/K56fms2VZTc? si=ZuTpJ-bEnNPCGOkf WASTE -TO -ENERGY Two "waste -to -energy" proposals (2008 and 2015) for Hawai'i Island were rejected after months of divisive debate. It was concluded the island doesn't generate enough garbage to make it cost effective. O'ahu taxpayers are paying penalties to H -Power because O'ahu can't generate enough waste to fulfill the contract. While some advanced waste treatment technologies are promoted as alternative energy producing, the energy conserved by recycling and composting the source materials exceeds the amount of energy produced by these technologies by three to five times. There are some glass type" building materials that can be produced by the incineration process. Incineration is a form of Destructive Disposal via combustion or thermal conversion/treatment, using high temperatures of discarded materials into ash/slag, syngas, flue gas, fuel, or heat. Incineration includes facilities and processes that may be stationary or mobile, may recover energy from heat or power and may use single or multiple stages. Some forms of incineration may be described as resource recovery, energy recovery, trash to steam, waste to energy, energy from waste, fluidized bed, catalytic cracking, biomassl5, steam electric power plant (burning waste), pyrolysis, thermolysis, gasification, plasma arc, thermal depolymerization or refuse derived fuel. Sustainable Development and Resilient Communities Section 1: Land Use Table 4: Land Use Challenges Regulations The current regulatory process dictates that the State Land Use Commission must preside over boundary amendments that exceed 15 acres, which limits the efficiency of ensuring consistency in the land use pattern. p. 25 Land Use Commission protections against unwise development should be maintained when it comes to outside large scale developers. However, property owners should not have more regulations and rules than they already have. Table 5: Land Use Opportunities Coordinate with the Department of Health (DOH) to address unique land use situations on the island related to individual wastewater systems (IWS) and prioritization of resources. p. 26 Clarification is needed on the meaning of land use situations Explain clearly what the "rezoning" will be and clarify if AG land will be affected. The current zoning for Hawaii island is 80% AG. Any reduction of AG is contrary to sustainable production of food. Transparency is needed on what the "preferred land use pattern" is. The current system should remain, so developments are proposed one by one, and agencies and communities have time and energy to address impacts. Policies Sentence types are mixed, hampering comprehension. 4.3 Zoning, subdivision, and other applicable ordinances shall provide for and protect open space areas. These new zonings shall not hinder current land owners who have a right to own their property unhindered by govemmental policies. Declarative sentence 4.4 Support mechanisms, such as Planned Unit Development and Cluster Plan Development, that cluster density to preserve open space, recreational areas, or scenic viewsheds. p. 27 Define "cluster density". This should not be in regards to developing apartment style homes. ENERGY 4.9 Route selection for high-voltage transmission lines should include consideration for setbacks from major thoroughfares and residential areas. Where feasible, delineate energy corridors for such high-voltage transmission lines. p. 27 Encourage - incentivize "off grid" or distributed power sources, instead of centralized, to increase resiliency. Priority Actions 4.a Develop a process for County -initiated State Land Use boundary reclassification. p. 28 See related comment for p. 26. Transparency for "boundary reclassification" is needed. What exactly are the boundaries in question and what will it be reclassified to? 6.d Amend the Zoning Code to allow for Planned Unit Developments (PUD) to become administrative permits and subject to the approval of the Planning Director. p. 29 This should be deleted! The people do not want to live in Units and these "planned units" are against current zoning codes. Table 6: Urban Land Use Urban Expansion Reserve Allows for a mix of high density, medium density, low density, industrial -commercial mix, and/or natural designations in areas where growth may be desirable, but where specific settlement and infrastructure have not yet been determined. p. 32 This should be deleted! Mixing housing, industrial, and natural uses can result in severe impacts on safety, health, and natural resources. Priority Actions 9.d Amend the Zoning Code and Subdivision Code to establish Clustered Rural Subdivision PUD. p. 60 The meaning of "Clustered Rural Subdivision PUD" should be explained. Objective 10 Support the active use of Productive Agricultural lands. Policies p. 62 A policy to support small-scale agriculture should be added 10.5 Support the development of small-scale visitor accommodations that directly promote the agriculture industry, health and wellness industry, or are near points of interest. p. 62 Only accommodations that directly promote agriculture should be allowed. More transparency is needed in reference to the "health and wellness industry" and why they are in this section or remove it. Those industries are not an integral part of AG land use. They are a bi-product of good farming practices. 10.6 Any subdivision or farm labor housing complex developed on Productive Agricultural Lands should be clustered to minimize impact. p. 62 Define clustered, subdivisions should not be developed on these lands. There is no proof carbon sequestration will be effective, it is expensive, obtrusive, and the entire premise of global warming from CO2 level increase is unfounded. Earthquakes, eruptions, floods, and other events release carbon stored underground. CO2 only makes up 0.04% of our atmosphere and is necessary for photosynthesis. Priority Actions 10.b Conduct a study to review a maximum developed area consideration for properties designated as Productive Agricultural lands. p. 62 This should be deleted. Private property AG land should not be considered for anything other than what the property owner desires. It should not be considered for "maximum development". 10.c Create and adopt a County Agricultural Tourism program p 62 The plan has no merit. Private land owners don't want to be disturbed. It is also a liability with livestock and trespassing. 10.g Amend the Zoning Code to require Plan Approval for commercial open area recreational uses in the County Agricultural District. p 62 Zoning should NOT be amended in AG land, it is important for sustainability. Section 2: Transportation Access and Mobility Table 18: Transportation Key Trends Investment in Electric Vehicles is counter productive to the environment. Electric Vehicles add a huge strain on the electric grid. They are very costly to own both in price of car, maintenance, and electric bill. The companies that make EV use fossil fuels. The new gas driven cars are much lower in emissions and cheaper to buy. Lastly, the batteries in EVs are dangerous during car accidents and toxic to the environment. Table 20: Transportation Opportunities Continuing, Comprehensive, and Cooperative Planning p 68 Traffic plans submitted to planning commissions and County Council typically include many pages dealing with vehicular traffic and very few pages on bicycles, walking, wheelchairs, etc. Requirements should be changed so alternative modes receive at least equal consideration, safe bike lanes should be a high priority to cut down emissions. Objective 14 Reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT). p. 78 The Planning Department can create easier and safer methods of travel but have no right to dictate how many miles people drive. The people's right to travel shall not be impeded. Delete this section. Developers should not be granted relief from requirements for sidewalks, bike lanes, etc. Priority Actions p. 78 The County traffic lights should be set to staggered operating hours for both public and private sectors, to lessen traffic congestion and improve safety. Drinking Water p 89 The County, In cooperation with State and Federal government, should support people on catchment with information about system design, construction, operation, troubleshooting, and repair, including readily accessible information and assistance for safeguarding health. Wastewater p 89 Federal government should be removed. This could be a simple information packet that supports off grid lifestyles. Alternatives to sewers and septic systems should be considered, such as toilets that use little or no water, and water recycling. Table 25: Public Utility Opportunities Be a net power producer with hydrogen and waste management. p 91 The meaning of "Be a net power producer with...waste management" should be clarified. Add what are the benefits to hydrogen fuel, how will vehicles be retrofitted to carry this technology? Priority Actions Drinking -Water Conservation p 102 New water bottling plants should be prohibited to prevent depletion of the aquifer. Drinking -Water Prioritization p. 102 There should be standard requirements for new water wells so parts are interchangeable. Presently, different developers install different types of wells. So when repairs are needed, parts are not interchangeable and must be special ordered, often with lengthy delays. 23.k Develop criteria and standards for all variances in water supply p 103 Variances in water supply" should be explained. 3.5: Wastewater Treatment and Reuse p. 105 Water recycling should be encouraged wherever possible. 24.n Amend HCC, Section 21-26-1(a) requiring "all sewer extensions shall be approved by resolution of the County council" to read, "all sewer extensions outside of Urban Growth Areas shall be approved by resolution of the County council." p 109 This should be deleted and County Council oversight should be maintained. This is an overreach of the govemment. Section 4: Public Facilities and Services 4.1: Introduction Table 29: Public Facilities and Services Opportunities Solid Waste Investigate and implement innovative waste management technologies and practices, which may include...waste-to-energy conversion...p. 118 waste -to -energy conversion" should be deleted. See comments for p. 15. 4.5: Recreation Objective 30 Priority Actions Recreational Facilities Maintenance and Improvement 30.y...Note: Edit to reflect future code updates. p. 138 30.z ...Note: Confirm that this is adequate. p. 138 The edit and confirmation should have been in the draft plan so the public could Comment. 4.6: Community Health and Wellness Objective 31 Priority Actions 31.h Amend county zoning and building codes as necessary to accommodate home and community-based care elderly care. PD Phase 1 CODE AMENDMENT p. 144 Add "and residential facilities for people with disabilities". Section 5: Housing for All Priority Actions Neighborhood covenants that require houses to have a minimum square footage should be prohibited. This leads to unnecessary expense and unnecessary use of resources, and makes housing unaffordable for many people. Table 40: Economic Key Trends Poverty Persists p. 161 Information on the number of wealthy people on the island to include total land ownership should be included. Job Market Characteristics Tourism drives the arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services industries and much of the retail trade, representing a large portion of employment. p. 162 Measures should be taken to reduce dependence on tourism and focus on producing food and other necessities locally. Table 41: Economic Challenges General p. 163 Data centers are a tremendous drain on electricity and need water for cooling. They generate stressful levels of noise 24 hours a day. Data centers and nuclear power plants should not be considered. Agriculture and Food Systems p.164 Support should be Increased for backyard farmers, including gardening advice. Section 8: Agriculture and Food Systems p. 169 This should be section 7, since it is a higher priority. Objective 42 Increase interagency coordination, programs, and policy initiatives that improve local agriculture infrastructure. Priority Actions 42.g Amend bulk regulations including building materials for agricultural facilities and infrastructure. (CODE AMENDMENT 1 PD 1 phase 1) p. 175 Need more transparency. The plan should be specified with proposed amendments. 42.i Evaluate grubbing and grading ordinances as they pertain to agriculture including the creation of exemption categories for water storage and aquaculture. (CODE AMENDMENT' PD 1 phase 1) p. 175 42.m Amend Hawai'i County Code to include provisions for suitable agricultural infrastructure projects financed by County bonds and liens on real property of participating agricultural stakeholders, whether such assessments on TMKs involve contiguous parcels of lands encumbered under an "Agricultural Improvement District". (CODE AMENDMENT 1 PD 1 phase 1) p. 175 More transparency is needed in regards to County bonds and liens on property. TMK" should be defined. GENERAL PLAN IMPLEMENTATION Introduction Local Engagement Foster grassroots participation and balancing of interests by providing opportunities for active civic engagement, where citizens have the means to collaborate with the govemment and are empowered to effect positive change consistent with plans developed under this chapter. p. 202 The government" should be removed and replaced with the County. See comment for p. 182. Community Development Plans p. 204 Urban Development Plans p. 205 Special Area Plans p. 206 Public Agency Functional Plans and Programs p. 206 The General Plan draft should cite statutory authority for each of these. Public Agency Functional Plans and Programs p. 206 Blocks of text for this section appear to be moved to the wrong spot on the page. Priorities and Phases The first phase is the consistency phase and will require a hard look at our policy and planning framework to ensure consistency with this General Plan. It includes implementation actions such as auditing codes to determine needed updates and updating our Community Development Plans and other relevant plans. p. 209 There should be ample opportunity for the public to comment. Transparency regarding which codes will be audited and how is crucial. Phase 1 2024-2029 Revamp of CIP process p. 209 CIP" should be explained. Proposed changes should be more fully described. COMPARISON OF 2005 AND 2045 PLANS The 2045 Plan is lacking many features of the 2005 Plan that provided information and facilitated understanding. Public comment is hampered by the lack of a table of contents for 2045, and by no mechanism to copy text from the 2005 plan PDF. 2005 2045 Table of Contents none, unless you happen to click on an Icon on the left, which yields a brief table of contents. Things that are needed include: List of Tables List of Maps Statement of assumptions Projections re. employment and population Citation of sources for tables Maps other than LUPAG maps Lava hazard zones Historic sites Schools Libraries Police stations Fire stations Courts Correctional facilities Hospitals Landfills and transfer stations Cemeteries Electric power generating facilities Water wells and springs Wastewater treatment plants Parks—County, State, Federal Roadways—detailed maps for various districts Airports Wharfs and harbors Government owned lands: Federal, State, DHHL Military installations Testimony comments submitted 25 September 2024 click below Hide original message Aloha, After attending 23 September workshop in Waimea regarding the 2045 Hawaii County plan, it was very clear no one that attended was in favor of the final proposed draft. The language was not practical for the needs of the community with the most common concern being lack of water to sustain the projected population growth, followed by land use, lack of affordable housing and transportation needs. My intention as a 33 year national security expert is to provide overview testimony of more imminent issues in emergency management we as a community must prepare for in addition to long term planning based on population growth. Agenda for the 21st Century by Non Governmental Organizations - Stakeholders In the first sentence of policy rationale executive summary in the 2023 Integrated Climate Action Plan (ICAP) for Hawaii states 'The United Nations UN) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has concluded in its most recent report that human activities have unequivocally caused global warming" https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/WebLink/1 /edoc/135070/County°/ 20of / 20Hawaii % 20- % 20lntegrated % 20Climate % 20Action % 20PIan % 20(2023).pdf This ICAP template is solely focused on human based activities which have less than 1% impact on our climate according to numerous sources. ICAP also fails to mention space weather events which have far more repercussions to all lifeforms and human civilization. The UN and other non governmental organizations such as the World Economic Forum (WEF) have been touting this narrative for decades as a mechanism to implement Agenda 21. The Hawaii County Planning Department should educate on the history of this agenda which is linked to consolidation of power by the few Stakeholders) to form a New World Order with full intention to erode individual freedom and sovereign nations. Dr. Jacob Nordangard provides a historical overview in the video link below. These policies fail to uphold our God given rights and legislators captured by this Agenda have already begun to introduce draconian bills without understanding repercussions of their actions upon the community. https://rumble.comNlgxp4i--full-history- of-the-wef-u n-the-climate-change-hoax-covid-19-and-the-people. html On September 22, 2024 the UN consolidated its reach into sovereign nations despite pushback and adopted the Pact for the Future, in which Heads of State and Government — representing the peoples of the world — made 56 pledges to action seeking to protect the needs and interests of present and future generations amid the climate change, crisis and conflict currently gripping the globe. "Nevertheless, at the outset of the meeting, the representative of the Russian Federation proposed an amendment (document A/79/L.3) to the Pact, stating that "no one is happy with this text". That amendment proposed the addition of language relating to the United Nations' intervention in "matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any State" and to avoiding certain duplication of effort." httos-//oresssan org/en/2024/ga12627 doc.htln The rationale behind the Hawaii County plan does not address significant earth changes even though world governments have been preparing for decades As of 2015 'The Earth's core is in the midst of a significant change. During the last 400 years, the geomagnetic field, or magnetosphere, has declined in strength by a remarkable 40%. Measurements by ESA's SWARM geomagnetism monitoring satellite array have further confirmed this change with measurements indicating the magnetic field is weakening ten times faster than previously predicted. The weakening trend in the magnetic field clearly shows that the Earth's core is undergoing a substantial transformation. The Earth's geomagnetic field is responsible for both shielding the atmosphere and biosphere from the harmful effects of solar and cosmic radiation, and creating conditions on the surface that are ripe for life. The magnetosphere, then, is the invisible barrier that has played a significant role in protecting the Earth from the harmful effects of space" https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/AD1040918.pdf Although man-made weather modification thru geoengineering patents are also implicated for the uptick in many local and regional events to include storms, flooding, and fires (including Lahaina which was blamed on a hurricane over 500 miles away) over the last few decades; it is worth noting that our sun, planetary alignments, cycles, and space weather ultimately drive weather patterns. According to 50 year meteorologist David Dilley among others, we are entering a cooling pattern. https://www.geoengineeringwatch.org/links-to-geoengineering-patents/ While non govemmental organizations such as the WEF tout climate change is coming from human carbon emissions, world governments are preparing for adverse space weather during a polarity transition building vast underground infrastructure. In October 2016 the Obama administration issued Executive Order 13744 to all departments Coordinating Efforts To Prepare the Nation for Space Weather Events. This executive order was written after the 2015 research document by Tyler J. Williams, Captain, USAF (above link) that evaluated the impacts to US infrastructure of increases in solar and cosmic radiation regarding the weakening magnetosphere of our planet. https://www.federalreg ister.gov/docu ments/2016/10/18/2016-25290/coord inating-efforts-to-prepare-the-nation-for-space-weather-events Wandering magnetic north pole moving out of Canada toward Siberia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth's magnetic field Just 10 days before the above executive order was signed, the Russian Government hosted a training event of 40 million civilians, 200,000 emergency rescuers and 50,000 units of equipment from October 4 to October 7, 2016. It took 3 days to do a mock evacuation of 40 million civilians into 5000 bunkers. This was a massive civil defense exercise carried out for the first time in modern history. It is worth noting that a nuclear war scenario would not allow time to evacuate that amount of civilians into bunkers. https://www.express.co.0 k/news/worldf717446/russia-evacuate-40-million-people-emergency-drill-vlad imir-putin-ww3 Hawaii General plan mentions the potential to sequester CO2 as rationale to reduce man made impacts, even though temperature levels are drastically lower now than they have been in 485 million years (see chart above) Photosynthesis activity in plants requires CO2 and only makes up 0.04% of our atmosphere. Reduction of this necessary element would have a catastrophic chain reaction and is a risk to ALL carbon based lifeforms. Several long -teen studies have provided strong support demonstrating that growing crops under elevated [CO2] can increase photosynthesis and result in an increase in yield, flavour and nutritional content (including but not limited to Vitamins C, E and pro -vitamin A). hi the case of tomato, increases in yield by as much as 80% are observed when plants are cultivated at 1000 ppm [CO2], which is consistent with current commercial greenhouse production methods in the tomato fruit industry. These results provide a clear demonstration of the potential for elevating [CO2] for improving yield and quality in greenhouse crops. https://academic.ou p.com/hr/article/10/4/uhad026/7049409?log in=false This testimony is to provide overall big picture of extinction level event(s) to instigate community emergency preparedness as part of the overall plan Increased solar radiation as a result of the earths weakening magnetosphere and polarity shift will significantly impact survivability of our community. There will be significant disruptions of the supply chain, challenges with food production, energy blackouts, and limited communications. Community preparedness for such events are not documented in the draft general plan, meanwhile many eastem hemisphere nations including Russia, Thailand, and Japan have been preparing for these events with local civil defense for years. Citizens of Hawaii county are aware of the influx of billionaires over the last 20 years that have had impact on county policy and planning. Many have taken permanent residence and hedging Hawaii island has a good chance of survivability during these changes. In light of this information, my suggestion is for our county to birth its own plan based on the needs of the community expressed in numerus testimonies and include space weather scenarios as potential hazards. County officials would be wise to form a committee of experienced personnel from various departments - including the local community members with relevant capabilities that can prioritize and draft a community plan that includes emergency preparedness that is relevant to our our island. We need to focus on independence with agricultural food production, innovative energy and building technologies and resilience thru preparation to create our own future we want to see. Mahalo for your service, Donna Thompson Kamuela, HI From:shams To: WPCtesbmonv. LPCtestmonv Subject: General Plan Needs Major Overhaul Date: Friday, November 22, 2024 10:40:52 AM Aloha, After commenting on the 2045 General Plan online, providing extensive testimony and attending workshops it is clear this document needs a great deal of revision and citizens are not aligned with the draconian template handed down to local communities in Western countries by the World Economic Forum. The original version in 2005 plan contains the words "homeowner" and "farmer" while the 2045 plan is written by and for "stakeholders!" This is outrageous and the words "homeowner" and "farmer" do not appear anywhere! "Farmer" is in the 2005 GENERAL PLAN fourteen (14) times and homeowner" appears four (4) times. In addition to my original testimonies below being re -submitted I want to add a few more points: 1. The State and the County corporations have noright to acquire land. The State has no right to any County property, including harbors. 2. Remove any reference to "Hawaii State Wildlife Action Plan" it is not relevant for our island. 3. Remove referenceto climate change caused by humans, this is unproven andbeing used as apsychological control mechanism by the top 1%. This includes removing references to "carbon footprint", "net zero", "greenhouse gas", "green infrastructure" and / or "climate adaptation". Carbon dioxide sequestration is a really really stupid idea, waste of tax payer funds, and will further degrade our flora. 4. Remove the section 2.2 Biocultural Stewardship Goal (1.13) because State and County corporations are not acting on behalf of its residents and clearly acting on behalf of stakeholders. 5. Remove the word "stakeholder" from everywhere it appears, and instead use the words "land owner" or "farmer/rancher". 6. Zoning needs to be re -visited - why is Agricultural land being reduced by 40%, unacceptable!!! 7. Remove the words "equity" and "equitable" from everywhere they appear. More emphasis should be on equality of opportunity rather than equity ofresults. We do not want to move into communism, people need to work for what they get, and people who have worked and succeeded need to keep the fruits of their labors. Equity cannot be legislated. 8. Remove the word "sustainability" from everywhere it appears. This term has NO SCIENTIFIC PARAMETERS, NO EFFECTIVE DEFINITION for anything to do with lawmaking !! 9. Revise the proposed land use maps, they are not fully relevant to our vast micro climates. 10. REMOVE 32c and 32p and 20e because all have to do with the egregious concept of "smart" cities. This is a rural island. 11. Remove ANY reference to digital currencies. 12. Remove ANY use of the word "resilience." This is a psychological term that has NO PLACE in a government document. 13. Close down the County Office of Sustainability, Climate, Equity, and Resilience (OSCER) as NOBODY VOTED FOR THIS OFFICE TO BE STARTED. Remove ANY reference to such office from the proposed general plan. 14. Reword the governments intention for "inspection" or "surveillance" or "inventory" ofland that will not be a violation ofprivacy rights. 15. Add language regarding the danger of 5G and beyond technology easements and studies. 16. Remove ANY reference to incentivizing or regulating water use and incentivize catchment. 17. Remove the phrase "circular systems". This is a concept only vaguely defined and certainly without any solid demonstration of its use. 18. Remove the phrase "Vision Zero" as it has NO RELEVANCE for our island. 19. Remove the phrase "One Water" as it refers to a NorthAmerica group andhas NO RELEVANCE for our island. Testimony submitted 27 March 2024 Aloha, Please consider appointing a team comprised of "stewards" ofthe community to review and re -write this document. We need a plan that is by the people and for the people. Providing comments on the county version live document is a very cumbersome process and not user friendly. Below are relevant comments combined from a few county residents including myself. Mahalo, Donna Thompson Kamuela, HI General Comments are as follows: Suggest subtitle "Stewardship Plan for Hawai'i County" Overall the plan lacks presentation of relevant issues, proposes some harmful initiatives, contains garbled language, and lacks vital public input. There is no clear plan for strengthening infrastructure and power grid against space weather. Stakeholders are stated in the document 47 times. Who are the Stakeholders and Partners with the government? What private and nonprofit agencies are involved in this process? It is deeply concerning that partnership with landowners and the general public is not stated anywhere. The plan should not be finalized until the State legislative session is over, the Governor is done signing/vetoing bills, and the override deadline has passed to allow for accommodation of relevant changes. The document appears to be a template handed down from the United Nations Agenda 21 initiative that is using human based climate change models to implement a one world government attempting to "capture" local governments. Thousands of scientists have come forward in recent years explaining that the human effect on climate is minuscule as compared to the sun. The document contains no explanation how the county will handle a breakdown of critical infrastructure (supply chain, energy, communications) due to impending space weather/solar events in which the Federal Government has been diligently preparing for. This document lacks sufficient detail in many areas to include tables, and maps. Syntax is sometimes garbled. Few acronyms are explained. There are notes indicating information may be added later. The table of contents and appendix are missing. Concerns raised by commenters need to be addressed, and another round of public meetings held, before the plan goes to the Planning Commissions and County Council. The comment period needs to be extended, the document is too vague and the code of ethics and professional conduct of the American Institute of Certified Planners shall provide timely, adequate, clear, and accurate information on planning issues to all affected persons and to governmental decision makers. See page 4. Purpose and Authority Authority Limits of the General Plan The 2045 General Plan contains no authority to change previously existing subdivisions or Zoning without collective collaboration. It's hard for community collaboration when the document contains obscure and garbled language. Clarify what is meant by "specific to the actions" and because, as" Hawai'i Island Goals The goals of the General Plan synthesize those concepts and value statements adopted by ordinance in the 2005 General Plan and CDPs. The appendix includes tables used to complete the goals, including the source material from the 2005 General Plan and CDPs. page 8 The LUPAG maps contain numerous zoning changes. Regulatory Implementing Actions in the 2045 General Plan, future land use maps, policies, and standards are specific to the actions through which zoning ordinances, subdivisions, and public improvements or projects are initiated or adopted because, as they must conform to and implement the general plan in accordance with the County Charter §3-15. p. 7 Climate Mitigation A great deal of content is based on Climate Mitigation from human activity which has a minuscule effect on the earth's overall climate. Over 99% of the climate affects are driven by solar activity, cycles, and space weather. The document completely fails to mention the threat of space weather and is almost entirely focused on carbon emissions promoted by the United Nations Climate Agenda. Our Federal Government has been preparing for space weather threats for many years, yet the Hawaii island plan lacks any reference to this even though critical infrastructure (energy, communications, transportation, and supply chain) is at risk due to increased solar radiation from our weakening magnetosphere. In 2015 the magnetosphere was down by 40% according to this Federal Doc. https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/AD1040918#:-:text=The%20research%20evaluates%20the%20impacts reversals%20and%20adverse%20space%20weather In October of 2016 President Obama issued the following executive order Coordinating Efforts To Prepare the Nation for Space Weather Events - Executive order 13744 (https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/DCPD-201600692 ) Section 1. Policy. Space weather events, in the form of solar flares, solar energetic particles, and geomagnetic disturbances, occur regularly, some with measurable effects on critical infrastructure systems and technologies, such as the Global Positioning System (GPS), satellite operations and communication, aviation, and the electrical power grid. Extreme space weather events—those that could significantly degrade critical infrastructure—could disable large portions of the electrical power grid, resulting in cascading failures that would affect key services such as water supply, healthcare, and transportation. Space weather has the potential to simultaneously affect and disrupt health and safety across entire continents. Successfully preparing for space weather events is an all -of -nation endeavor that requires partnerships across governments, emergency managers, academia, the media, the insurance industry, non -profits, and the private sector. It is the policy of the United States to prepare for space weather events to minimize the extent of economic loss and human hardship. The Federal Government must have (1) the capability to predict and detect a space weather event, (2) the plans and programs necessary to alert the public and private sectors to enable mitigating actions for an impending space weather event, (3) the protection and mitigation plans, protocols, and standards required to reduce risks to critical infrastructure prior to and during a credible threat, and (4) the ability to respond to and recover from the effects of space weather. Executive departments and agencies (agencies) must coordinate their efforts to prepare for the effects of space weather events. Sec. 2. Objectives. This order defines agency roles and responsibilities and directs agencies to take specific actions to prepare the Nation for the hazardous effects of space weather. These activities are to be implemented in conjunction with those identified in the 2015 National Space Weather Action Plan (Action Plan) and any subsequent updates. Implementing this order and the Action Plan will require the Federal Government to work across agencies and to develop, as appropriate, enhanced and innovative partnerships with State, tribal, and local governments; academia; non -profits; the private sector; and international partners. These efforts will enhance national preparedness and speed the creation of a space -weather -ready Nation. https://www.fede ra lregiste r.gov/documents/2016/ 10/18/2016-25290/coo rdi nati ng -efforts -to -pre pa re-the-nation-fo r -space -weather -events In October 2016 (about 10 days before the above executive order was signed) the Russian Government hosted a training event of 40 million civilians, 200,000 emergency rescuers and 50,000 units of equipment from October 4 to October 7, 2016. It took 3 days to do a mock evacuation of 40 million civilians into 5000 bunkers.This was a massive exercise carried out for the first time in modern history. A spokesman said in a statement: "The main goal of the drill is to practice organization of management during civil defense events and emergency and fire management, to check preparedness of management bodies and forces of civil defense on all levels to respond to natural and man-made disasters and to take civil defense measures." https://www.express.co. uk/news/world/717446/russia-evacuate-40-million-people-emergency-drill-vladimir-putin-ww3 Additional info on this: Cataclysmic Polarity Shift , Part 2 - How Can I Prepare For Such An Event? https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=GSHnF2PTz5s Safe Zones and Disasters https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpl LRrxCMiw Solar Micronova is Going to Happen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEMXp1 HIzUs&t=0s Earth Disaster is Coming 1 ALL The Evidence https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j635Cv2aOIA&t=0s Man made geoengineering is an operation primarily used to block out solar radiation and create, distribute, and deflect weather systems. Its use over many decades is outside the scope of public knowledge and having significant impacts on our environment/weather to include increased super storms, fires, flooding, droughts, and causing very high levels of aluminum in the soil and tissue samples of all mammals. I personally have tested hundreds of humans and animals and seen very high levels in all hair analysis tests. This is why Monsanto developed aluminum resistant seeds, soil in North America is testing 40,000 times higher rates of aluminum in the last 2 decades. https://www. geoe nginee ringwatch.org/links-to-geoenginee ri ng -pate nts/ Tennessee and New Hampshire have recently introduced bills to ban this practice. https://www.ten nessea n. co m/story/news/local/2024/03/20/te nnessee-senate-passes-bilI -ban ni ng-che mtrai Is-what-to-know/73027586007/ Maui county council passed a bill in 2010 to ban geoengineering and this link explains how it is being used to lessen the effects of solar radiation. There has been no public oversight or consent to these projects. http://mauiskywatch.org/info-official-reports/ It is clear based on the above information the governments of the world are preparing for space weather effects due to the weakening magnetic field, therefore it is critical that the county review and adopt their own contingency plans. Hawaii county should implement a ban on geoengineering before soil is too toxic with aluminum and when combined with glyphosate it can cross the blood brain barrier. Some suggested solutions are environmentally unfriendly, and nuclear power is catastrophically dangerous. Potential of micro nuclear was mentioned on page 15. Hawaii State Constitution, article XI, section 8 NUCLEAR ENERGY Section 8. No nuclear fission power plant shall be constructed or radioactive material disposed of in the State without the prior approval by a two-thirds vote in each house ofthe legislature. We live on an active volcano with frequent earthquakes, threats of hurricanes, tsunamis and unexpected lava flows. Having a nuclear power plant on this island is a huge liability. It could be cataclysmic and there will always be the issue of storage leaks. In 2011 I experienced the 5.8 earthquake in Orange, VA. It shut down the Lake Anna Nuclear facility for almost 2 years. There are numerous other types of energy to explore, to include water generated motors that are now used in places like Pakistan and India. These kits allow existing vehicles to be fitted that use only 2% fuel consumption and 98% water. We should be looking at ways to harness ocean water for energy. The ocean thermal energy conversion, or OTEC, which uses seawater to turn solar energy into electricity or hydrokinetic energy or marine renewable energy, is a renewable power source that is harnessed from the natural movement of water, including waves, tides, and river and ocean currents. These should be considered since water surrounds the entire island. Climate change threats p. 19 3.3 Collaborate with government, private and nonprofit agencies, and other stakeholders to monitor impacts that may be specific to Hawai'i County due to its unique exposure to climate change and sea level rise impacts. Hawai'i County needs to first and foremost collaborate with the general public. Transparency is needed on exactly how government agencies, private corporations, nonprofit agencies are involved and explain who these "stakeholders" are. The planning department should take into consideration that over 1,900 scientists from around the world have signed a declaration that there is no climate emergency. Climate change has been occurring on this planet all along driven by solar activity and cycles. https://clintel.org/wp- conte nt/uploads/2023/08/WCD-ve rsion-081423. pdf John Coleman, the founder of the weather channel, the first meteorologist on Good Morning America in the 1970's and the winner of the Meteorologist of the Year award by the US Association for Meteorology in 1982, has spent 60 years studying the weather. He presents his view that there is no significant man-made global warming in this half-hour PowerPoint presentation. https://youtu.be/K56fms2VZTc?si=ZuTpJ- bEnNPCGOkf WASTE -TO -ENERGY Two "waste -to -energy" proposals (2008 and 2015) for Hawai'i Island were rejected after months of divisive debate. It was concluded the island doesn't generate enough garbage to make it cost effective. O'ahu taxpayers are paying penalties to H -Power because O'ahu can't generate enough waste to fulfill the contract. While some advanced waste treatment technologies are promoted as alternative energy producing, the energy conserved by recycling and composting the source materials exceeds the amount of energy produced by these technologies by three to five times. There are some "glass type" building materials that can be produced by the incineration process. Incineration is a form of Destructive Disposal via combustion or thermal conversion/treatment, using high temperatures of discarded materials into ash/slag, syngas, flue gas, fuel, or heat. Incineration includes facilities and processes that may be stationary or mobile, may recover energy from heat or power and may use single or multiple stages. Some forms of incineration may be described as resource recovery, energy recovery, trash to steam, waste to energy, energy from waste, fluidized bed, catalytic cracking, biomassl5, steam electric power plant (burning waste), pyrolysis, thermolysis, gasification, plasma arc, thermal depolymerization or refuse derived fuel. Sustainable Development and Resilient Communities Section 1: Land Use Table 4: Land Use Challenges Regulations The current regulatory process dictates that the State Land Use Commission must preside over boundary amendments that exceed 15 acres, which limits the efficiency of ensuring consistency in the land use pattern. p. 25 Land Use Commission protections against unwise development should be maintained when it comes to outside large scale developers. However, property owners should not have more regulations and rules than they already have. Table 5: Land Use Opportunities Coordinate with the Department of Health (DOH) to address unique land use situations on the island related to individual wastewater systems IWS) and prioritization of resources. p. 26 Clarification is needed on the meaning of land use situations Explain clearly what the "rezoning" will be and clarify if AG land will be affected. The current zoning for Hawaii island is 80% AG. Any reduction of AG is contrary to sustainable production of food. Transparency is needed on what the "preferred land use pattern" is. The current system should remain, so developments are proposed one by one, and agencies and communities have time and energy to address impacts. Policies Sentence types are mixed, hampering comprehension. 4.3 Zoning, subdivision, and other applicable ordinances shall provide for and protect open space areas. These new zonings shall not hinder current land owners who have a right to own their property unhindered by governmental policies. Declarative sentence 4.4 Support mechanisms, such as Planned Unit Development and Cluster Plan Development, that cluster density to preserve open space, recreational areas, or scenic viewsheds. p. 27 Define "cluster density". This should not be in regards to developing apartment style homes. ENERGY 4.9 Route selection for high-voltage transmission lines should include consideration for setbacks from major thoroughfares and residential areas. Where feasible, delineate energy corridors for such high-voltage transmission lines. p. 27 Encourage - incentivize "off grid" or distributed power sources, instead of centralized, to increase resiliency. Priority Actions 4.a Develop a process for County -initiated State Land Use boundary reclassification. p. 28 See related comment for p. 26. Transparency for "boundary reclassification" is needed. What exactly are the boundaries in question and what will it be reclassified to? 6.d Amend the Zoning Code to allow for Planned Unit Developments (PUD) to become administrative permits and subject to the approval of the Planning Director. p. 29 This should be deleted! The people do not want to live in Units and these "planned units" are against current zoning codes. Table 6: Urban Land Use Urban Expansion Reserve Allows for a mix of high density, medium density, low density, industrial -commercial mix, and/or natural designations in areas where growth may be desirable, but where specific settlement and infrastructure have not yet been determined. p. 32 This should be deleted! Mixing housing, industrial, and natural uses can result in severe impacts on safety, health, and natural resources. Priority Actions 9.d Amend the Zoning Code and Subdivision Code to establish Clustered Rural Subdivision PUD. p. 60 The meaning of "Clustered Rural Subdivision PUD" should be explained. Objective 10 Support the active use of Productive Agricultural lands. Policies p. 62 A policy to support small-scale agriculture should be added 10.5 Support the development of small-scale visitor accommodations that directly promote the agriculture industry, health and wellness industry, or are near points of interest. p. 62 Only accommodations that directly promote agriculture should be allowed. More transparency is needed in reference to the "health and wellness industry" and why they are in this section or remove it. Those industries are not an integral part of AG land use. They are a bi-product of good farming practices. 10.6 Any subdivision or farm labor housing complex developed on Productive Agricultural Lands should be clustered to minimize impact. p. 62 Define clustered, subdivisions should not be developed on these lands. There is no proof carbon sequestration will be effective, it is expensive, obtrusive, and the entire premise of global warming from CO2 level increase is unfounded. Earthquakes, eruptions, floods, and other events release carbon stored underground. CO2 only makes up 0.04% of our atmosphere and is necessary for photosynthesis. Priority Actions 10.b Conduct a study to review a maximum developed area consideration for properties designated as Productive Agricultural lands. p. 62 This should be deleted. Private property AG land should not be considered for anything other than what the property owner desires. It should not be considered for "maximum development". 10.c Create and adopt a County Agricultural Tourism program p 62 The plan has no merit. Private land owners don't want to be disturbed. It is also a liability with livestock and trespassing. 10.g Amend the Zoning Code to require Plan Approval for commercial open area recreational uses in the County Agricultural District. p 62 Zoning should NOT be amended in AG land, it is important for sustainability. Section 2: Transportation Access and Mobility Table 18: Transportation Key Trends Investment in Electric Vehicles is counter productive to the environment. Electric Vehicles add a huge strain on the electric grid. They are very costly to own both in price of car, maintenance, and electric bill. The companies that make EV use fossil fuels. The new gas driven cars are much lower in emissions and cheaper to buy. Lastly, the batteries in EVs are dangerous during car accidents and toxic to the environment. Table 20: Transportation Opportunities Continuing, Comprehensive, and Cooperative Planning p 68 Traffic plans submitted to planning commissions and County Council typically include many pages dealing with vehicular traffic and very few pages on bicycles, walking, wheelchairs, etc. Requirements should be changed so alternative modes receive at least equal consideration, safe bike lanes should be a high priority to cut down emissions. Objective 14 Reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT). p. 78 The Planning Department can create easier and safer methods of travel but have no right to dictate how many miles people drive. The people's right to travel shall not be impeded. Delete this section. Developers should not be granted relief from requirements for sidewalks, bike lanes, etc. Priority Actions p. 78 The County traffic lights should be set to staggered operating hours for both public and private sectors, to lessen traffic congestion and improve safety. Drinking Water p 89 The County, In cooperation with State and Federal government, should support people on catchment with information about system design, construction, operation, troubleshooting, and repair, including readily accessible information and assistance for safeguarding health. Wastewater p 89 Federal government should be removed. This could be a simple information packet that supports off grid lifestyles. Alternatives to sewers and septic systems should be considered, such as toilets that use little or no water, and water recycling. Table 25: Public Utility Opportunities Be a net power producer with hydrogen and waste management. p 91 The meaning of "Be a net power producer with...waste management" should be clarified. Add what are the benefits to hydrogen fuel, how will vehicles be retrofitted to carry this technology? Priority Actions Drinking -Water Conservation p 102 New water bottling plants should be prohibited to prevent depletion of the aquifer. Drinking -Water Prioritization p. 102 There should be standard requirements for new water wells so parts are interchangeable. Presently, different developers install different types of wells. So when repairs are needed, parts are not interchangeable and must be special ordered, often with lengthy delays. 23.k Develop criteria and standards for all variances in water supply p 103 Variances in water supply" should be explained. 3.5: Wastewater Treatment and Reuse p. 105 Water recycling should be encouraged wherever possible. 24.n Amend HCC, Section 21-26-1(a) requiring "all sewer extensions shall be approved by resolution of the County council" to read, "all sewer extensions outside of Urban Growth Areas shall be approved by resolution of the County council." p 109 This should be deleted and County Council oversight should be maintained. This is an overreach of the government. Section 4: Public Facilities and Services 4.1: Introduction Table 29: Public Facilities and Services Opportunities Solid Waste Investigate and implement innovative waste management technologies and practices, which may include... waste -to -energy conversion...p. 118 waste -to -energy conversion" should be deleted. See comments for p. 15. 4.5: Recreation Objective 30 Priority Actions Recreational Facilities Maintenance and Improvement 30.y... Note: Edit to reflect future code updates. p. 138 30.z ...Note: Confirm that this is adequate. p. 138 The edit and confirmation should have been in the draft plan so the public could Comment. 4.6: Community Health and Wellness Objective 31 Priority Actions 31.h Amend county zoning and building codes as necessary to accommodate home and community-based care elderly care. PD Phase 1 CODE AMENDMENT p. 144 Add "and residential facilities for people with disabilities". Section 5: Housing for All Priority Actions Neighborhood covenants that require houses to have a minimum square footage should be prohibited. This leads to unnecessary expense and unnecessary use of resources, and makes housing unaffordable for many people. Table 40: Economic Key Trends Poverty Persists p. 161 Information on the number of wealthy people on the island to include total land ownership should be included. Job Market Characteristics Tourism drives the arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services industries and much of the retail trade, representing a large portion of employment. p. 162 Measures should be taken to reduce dependence on tourism and focus on producing food and other necessities locally. Table 41: Economic Challenges General p. 163 Data centers are a tremendous drain on electricity and need water for cooling. They generate stressful levels of noise 24 hours a day. Data centers and nuclear power plants should not be considered. Agriculture and Food Systems p.164 Support should be Increased for backyard farmers, including gardening advice. Section 8: Agriculture and Food Systems p. 169 This should be section 7, since it is a higher priority. Objective 42 Increase interagency coordination, programs, and policy initiatives that improve local agriculture infrastructure. Priority Actions 42.g Amend bulk regulations including building materials for agricultural facilities and infrastructure. (CODE AMENDMENT I PD 1 phase 1) p. 175 Need more transparency. The plan should be specified with proposed amendments. 42.i Evaluate grubbing and grading ordinances as they pertain to agriculture including the creation of exemption categories for water storage and aquaculture. (CODE AMENDMENT I PD 1 phase 1) p. 175 42.m Amend Hawai'i County Code to include provisions for suitable agricultural infrastructure projects financed by County bonds and liens on real property of participating agricultural stakeholders, whether such assessments on TMKs involve contiguous parcels of lands encumbered under an Agricultural Improvement District". (CODE AMENDMENT 1 PDI phase 1) p. 175 More transparency is needed in regards to County bonds and liens on property. TMK" should be defined. GENERAL PLAN IMPLEMENTATION Introduction Local Engagement Foster grassroots participation and balancing of interests by providing opportunities for active civic engagement, where citizens have the means to collaborate with the government and are empowered to effect positive change consistent with plans developed under this chapter. p. 202 The government" should be removed and replaced with the County. See comment for p. 182. Community Development Plans p. 204 Urban Development Plans p. 205 Special Area Plans p. 206 Public Agency Functional Plans and Programs p. 206 The General Plan draft should cite statutory authority for each of these. Public Agency Functional Plans and Programs p. 206 Blocks of text for this section appear to be moved to the wrong spot on the page. Priorities and Phases The first phase is the consistency phase and will require a hard look at our policy and planning framework to ensure consistency with this General Plan. It includes implementation actions such as auditing codes to determine needed updates and updating our Community Development Plans and other relevant plans. p. 209 There should be ample opportunity for the public to comment. Transparency regarding which codes will be audited and how is crucial. Phase 1 2024-2029 Revamp of CIP process p. 209 CIP" should be explained. Proposed changes should be more fully described. COMPARISON OF 2005 AND 2045 PLANS The 2045 Plan is lacking many features of the 2005 Plan that provided information and facilitated understanding. Public comment is hampered by the lack of a table of contents for 2045, and by no mechanism to copy text from the 2005 plan PDF. 2005 2045 Table of Contents none, unless you happen to click on an Icon on the left, which yields a brief table ofcontents. Things that are needed include: List of Tables List of Maps Statement of assumptions Projections re. employment and population Citation of sources for tables Maps other than LUPAG maps Lava hazard zones Historic sites Schools Libraries Police stations Fire stations Courts Correctional facilities Hospitals Landfills and transfer stations Cemeteries Electric power generating facilities Water wells and springs Wastewater treatment plants Parks—County, State, Federal Roadways—detailed maps for various districts Airports Wharfs and harbors Government owned lands: Federal, State, DHHL Military installations Testimony comments submitted 25 September 2024 click below Hide original message Aloha, After attending 23 September workshop in Waimea regarding the 2045 Hawaii County plan, it was very clear no one that attended was in favor of the final proposed draft. The language was not practical for the needs ofthe community with the most common concern being lack ofwater to sustain the projected population growth, followed by land use, lack of affordable housing and transportation needs. My intention as a 33 year national security expert is to provide overview testimony of more imminent issues in emergency management we as a community must prepare for in addition to long term planning based on population growth. Agenda for the 21st Century by Non Governmental Organizations - Stakeholders In the first sentence of policy rationale executive summary in the 2023 Integrated Climate Action Plan (ICAP) for Hawaii states 'The United Nations (UN) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has concluded in its most recent report that human activities have unequivocally caused global warming." https://records.hawa iicounty.gov/WebLink/1 /edoc/135070/Co unty%20of%20Hawa ii%20-%201 ntegrated%20Climate %20Actio n%20PIa n%20(2023). pdf This ICAP template is solely focused on human based activities which have less than 1% impact on our climate according to numerous sources. ICAP also fails to mention space weather events which have far more repercussions to all lifeforms and human civilization. The UN and other non governmental organizations such as the World Economic Forum (WEF) have been touting this narrative for decades as a mechanism to implement Agenda 21. The Hawaii County Planning Department should educate on the history ofthis agenda which is linked to consolidation of power by the few (Stakeholders) to form a New World Order with full intention to erode individual freedom and sovereign nations. Dr. Jacob Nordangard provides a historical overview in the video link below. These policies fail to uphold our God given rights and legislators captured by this Agenda have already begun to introduce draconian bills without understanding repercussions of their actions upon the community. https://rumble.com/vlgxp4i--full-history-of-the-wef-un-the-climate-change-hoax-covid-19- and-the-people.html On September 22, 2024 the UN consolidated its reach into sovereign nations despite pushback and adopted the Pact for the Future, in which Heads of State and Government — representing the peoples ofthe world — made 56 pledges to action seeking to protect the needs and interests of present and future generations amid the climate change, crisis and conflict currently gripping the globe. "Nevertheless, at the outset of the meeting, the representative of the Russian Federation proposed an amendment (document A/79/L.3) to the Pact, stating that "no one is happy with this text'. That amendment proposed the addition of language relating to the United Nations' intervention in "matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any State" and to avoiding certain duplication of effort" https://press.un.org/en/2024/ga12627.doc.htm The rationale behind the Hawaii County plan does not address significant earth changes even though world governments have been preparing for decades As of 2015 "The Earth's core is in the midst of a significant change. During the last 400 years, the geomagnetic field, or magnetosphere, has declined in strength by a remarkable 40%. Measurements by ESA's SWARM geomagnetism monitoring satellite array have further confirmed this change with measurements indicating the magnetic field is weakening ten times faster than previously predicted. The weakening trend in the magnetic field clearly shows that the Earth's core is undergoing a substantial transformation. The Earth's geomagnetic field is responsible for both shielding the atmosphere and biosphere from the harmful effects of solar and cosmic radiation, and creating conditions on the surface that are ripe for life. The magnetosphere, then, is the invisible barrier that has played a significant role in protecting the Earth from the harmful effects of space." https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/AD1040918.pdf Although man-made weather modification thru geoengineering patents are also implicated for the uptick in many local and regional events to include storms, flooding, and fires (including Lahaina which was blamed on a hurricane over 500 miles away) over the last few decades; it is worth noting that our sun, planetary alignments, cycles, and space weather ultimately drive weather patterns. According to 50 year meteorologist David Dilley among others, we are entering a cooling pattern. https://www.geoengineeringwatch.org/links-to-geoengineering-patents/ While non governmental organizations such as the WEF tout climate change is coming from human carbon emissions, world governments are preparing for adverse space weather during a polarity transition building vast underground infrastructure. In October 2016 the Obama administration issued Executive Order 13744 to all departments Coordinating Efforts To Prepare the Nation for Space Weather Events. This executive order was written after the 2015 research document by Tyler J. Williams, Captain, USAF (above link) that evaluated the impacts to US infrastructure of increases in solar and cosmic radiation regarding the weakening magnetosphere of our planet. https://www.fede rakeg ister.gov/documents/2016/10/18/2016-25290/coord inati ng-efforts-to-prepare-the-natio n-for -space -weather -events Wandering magnetic north pole moving out of Canada toward Siberia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth's magnetic field Just 10 days before the above executive order was signed, the Russian Government hosted a training event of 40 million civilians, 200,000 emergency rescuers and 50,000 units of equipment from October 4 to October 7, 2016. It took 3 days to do a mock evacuation of 40 million civilians into 5000 bunkers. This was a massive civil defense exercise carried out for the first time in modern history. It is worth noting that a nuclear war scenario would not allow time to evacuate that amount of civilians into bunkers. https://www.express.co. uk/news/world/717446/russia-evacuate-40-million -people -emergency -drill-vladimir-putin-ww3 Hawaii General plan mentions the potential to sequester CO2 as rationale to reduce man made impacts, even though temperature levels are drastically lower now than they have been in 485 million years (see chart above) Photosynthesis activity in plants requires CO2 and only makes up 0.04% of our atmosphere. Reduction of this necessary element would have a catastrophic chain reaction and is a risk to ALL carbon based lifeforms. Several long-term studies have provided strong support demonstrating that growing crops under elevated [CO2] can increase photosynthesis and result in an increase in yield, flavour and nutritional content (including but not limited to Vitamins C, E and pro -vitamin A). In the case oftomato, increases in yield by as much as 80% are observed when plants are cultivated at 1000 ppm [CO2], which is consistent with current commercial greenhouse production methods in the tomato fruit industry. These results provide a clear demonstration ofthe potential for elevating [CO2] for improving yield and quality in greenhouse crops. https://acade mic.oup.com/hr/article/10/4/uhad026/7049409?login=faIse This testimony is to provide overall big picture of extinction level event(s) to instigate community emergency preparedness as part of the overall plan Increased solar radiation as a result of the earths weakening magnetosphere and polarity shift will significantly impact survivability of our community. There will be significant disruptions of the supply chain, challenges with food production, energy blackouts, and limited communications. Community preparedness for such events are not documented in the draft general plan, meanwhile many eastern hemisphere nations including Russia, Thailand, and Japan have been preparing for these events with local civil defense for years. Citizens of Hawaii county are aware of the influx of billionaires over the last 20 years that have had impact on county policy and planning. Many have taken permanent residence and hedging Hawaii island has a good chance of survivability during these changes. In light of this information, my suggestion is for our county to birth its own plan based on the needs ofthe community expressed in numerus testimonies and include space weather scenarios as potential hazards. County officials would be wise to form a committee of experienced personnel from various departments - including the local community members with relevant capabilities that can prioritize and draft a community plan that includes emergency preparedness that is relevant to our our island. We need to focus on independence with agricultural food production, innovative energy and building technologies and resilience thru preparation to create our own future we want to see. Mahalo for your service, Donna Thompson Kamuela, HI From: Eileen Downing To: LPCtestimony Subject: Revise Hawaii General Plan Date: Friday, November 22, 2024 7:22:53 AM Attachments: preview.png preview.png preview.png preview.png Here are some concerns: 1. The word "Stakeholder," defined in the plan, is written 86 times and literally means anyone in the entire world can have input on this 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 and management are crucial for the success and sustainability of any initiative, as it helps ensure that diverse 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 use will be changed from resident to recreation due to the General Plan 2045. This will drastically lower 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 be further 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 move forward without that? Hilo is 22% of the island. 6. 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 of Papaikou, has created an Ag Villages plan. Ag Village to add to the General Plan: Papaikou Ag Village Objectives: Papaikou Site Plan: Papaikou Development: A Hawaiian born Kanaka revised the Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship that is in the plan. You can see it in the pdf below: Here is a longer revised version of the plan from locals: The way this plan is written is very far from what will support our island. Eileen Downing PROPOSED PAPAIKOU AGRARIAN POCKET NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECT Project Summary Project Nam.: New name wM nput from advrswy b&dI Applicant &Orman NewLLC wahadmsory bowel[ wner'sRepresentative Advisory Board Location a Acreage' 25 fts .,rev hrou.so Hilo Island P. County of Hawaii Projectuth Objectives. The g serve as a laboratory'o olieetentna Ialw.gcpu.., m unity vetNeighborliness ahihghwopDesigntsanofafford.. unitsincome mfoster interacbon through walkable pocket reghbomaes and inbrmal galM1..° agtare mniry Nuupate1en a range on optima togrow and. process agnoultural u. as documented end disclosed by ants. Age inunity. providefull perumocareoptions mgeneration in pace through nome car dskilled nursing care homes etsof Piganage shotI nae epos owns. unity vath accountable respdnsib lit tasmanagemeYleCountyded.al thray1 aFrends ofthe PN or cooper aagelement. Site D..cnptbn: The S. h. the follow.° chereaerlao. m.., won Proumny m urban caner na is lorated.nMe rural munny of gaga.. appro...My In minute. cove horn Hilo. Page 1 86fc0c_2cb1cc6d604f4cdd971ad40831c745bc r_ https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/ files/ugd/86fc0c 5e4cdb02efeb46a5ae949a3579aff00d.pdf Preserving Papaikou For Future Development 1.1. PI. The pur,mae u th, Plan isto guide the panern offuture development inMe County of long.term goals for all of its residents. The Nawan Count. L.. Le, Plan Mrects future urban growth onthe Ilamakua Coast These are allelements of what the Minim, world calls -Smart Growth'. Namakua needs more of this. not less. Oth prompals of 'Smart Growth- Include. Create a Range of -Housing Opportunities and Choices Create Walkable Neighborhoods Foster DIstinallve.Altrattive Communities with a Strong Sense ofPlace Strengthen and Direct Development Towards Existing Commundies Provide aVariety ofTransportation Choices Densions Statistia suggest that young families on the Namakua Coast have largely moved away, moved In with their parents or moved to Puna for inexpenime andunder -served housing options. This 0111-1.,[111111,e, lett N1.1100i5with declining populations and once thriving plantatmn towns with vacant storefronts. This Is Me case for XALANIANAOLE ELEMENTARY & INTERMEDIATE SCNO01., across street fromMesiteandM needofstudentstoensureasviaMlity. Building modern. affordable housing. no easy task anywhere in Hawn.. For residential developers today. affordability has to include the oast ol sewage colleaion and treatment. new domestic water sources. modern road and intemection Improvements...1y and State impact fees and much more. The only way to produce Nordahle pricing IS to build amil of housing products that allows 1110er-endhoussngto carryMe sharedinfrastructure expenses andsubsidizeMe affordable product. Producing future affordable units In Namakua require careful land seleamn. Me use ofexisting infrastructure capacity and amix of product wear, the costs of modern building requeements. 86fcOc c2af52c8b3c645b1a6868a724eee8304 FDF Dooment 123 KB Crsaoter 2 Collaborative Broculturell StewardShig. - 1.0•084 3, Da .1 oaoe as • 2.1 Introduction Collahati.utco Ittoculttwil se/cc, .1.11111 is an approach to sustainahle developicern scaphomm a sellMot alitos and partnership building among stakeholder art imegi aim wont, cnsl cultural resource management strategies to promote sustsoncelltts. and resilience. This framework is foundatimial to the General Plail Li, 11 seeks to balanceeconomic. social. and environmental goals. name Hawaiian comnignilies. cultural praclil Rine, homeowners. and government. Resiew. esaluate and identity from prevmus years successes or failures of bioculturahtewardship. Res iew all current ware and redo.] laws supporting Noodle.' stewardship. Evaluate it -current laws are succeeding in reaching environmental goals. Cooperative efforts aimed at achieving successful m.agcment of ecological systems are crucial Important for protecting our natural and built ens mulleins. Land use planning and management should be holishe e. and adapt, emreflect the native I law aiian people. home°, nerand community values. knowledge. md lemons. The General Plan onhatles key strategies to achieve Nocultural stewardship by inchcinic Me kr .• II es mon people. cultural practitioner ww ear rail commun., engagement. partnership building. collaborative desloon-m.4.nm. and collective action. Imowinmenial and sesta! towtems are complex and dynamic These systems will require adaptive management and continuous learning researsh esaluation. and treason.. s as we no. !gate the future The policies presented in this section seek to foster partnerships that arc bmed on mutual respect. trust. and shared saNes hcas ii is disslosure. Ian el t lel. I the iris II, a .1... ir he siannianity engagement proses, inetcpsiraie dr en's. perspestr es and knowledge s, steins min conser anon and thnelopmciil such pi nth, san the co -creation kilo, ledge. the sharing et 1,1,111,, 111,1 IIIC C111,1,1111.111 of commanires BS lee aging the stiengnis air iestaits iss ttt thrlownt stakeholders we sanenhance the eapaeit, ,,1111111111111,. 111.111, 11.1.1 a andcultural resources sustainahls Ctt ttItIll.I thc Lint, ol noworks and alkalises. promoting ...LI L.01011.11111 le,1,11.1.` 86fcOc Oal d5be8f1d140069415f7b691725786 PDF Document • 209 KB Legend Yellow HpNighted la raga.sg,g teat 10 noRemoved PM Rgnlglnad !s aGatuMCanlenn Page: 27 Implementation Strat.glas Ilse Regulations Update regukocns m align we thegoals oftna General Plan' Mem change I. 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Please deems Page 28 I I The pm-pos.0 Me Gemini Plan are to Provide Me framework lor regulatory decoeMns. capitalstrategies. andotner pertinent government programs vonton County organization and coordinated we State and Federal programs. 86fc0c b34739e4c99c461685de4c0207bf286e From: ptanok12@amail.com on behalf of Moku Loa Hawaii Island Sierra Club To: LPCtestimonv Subject: Testimony on draft General Plan 2045 Date: Friday, November 22, 2024 9:19:02 AM Attachments: GP2040, Aua. 2019 draft, Public Access thru Cultural&Historic Preservation.pdf November 22, 2024 Leeward Planning Commission 101 Pauahi St, Ste 103 Hilo HI 96720 Re: Final draft General Plan 2045 Aloha Madame Chair and members of the Commission, Mahalo nui loa for your volunteer service to our community on one of the most important, consequential boards and commission in our county. HIG's testimony today is as follows: Public Comments HIG is asking for clarification on the public comments provided to the Commission in its board packet for yesterday's meeting. The draft General Plan 2045 (GP2045) is a complete rewrite and reorganization of the current General Plan. In addition, GP2045 is a complete rewrite and reorganization ofthe draft General Plan 2040 (GP2040) released in 2019. The comments received by the Planning Department (PD) after the comprehensive review was begun in 2015 were comments on the current General Plan. The comments received by the PD after the GP2040 was release in 2019 were on that draft. Because GP2045 is a complete gut -and -replace of the current GP and of GP2040, the only comments that are relevant to the draft GP2045 are those received after GP2045 was released in September 2023. HIG would like to know if the comments provided in the board packet are solely all comments received since September 2023 or if other comments prior to that time are included. HIG would like to reiterate its request that the comment provided to the Commission be separated into the relevant sections of GP2045. For instance, since the Commission is reviewing Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship today, the Commission would be able to compare the comments list to GP2045 and determine which comments were or were not included. In addition, comments on the GP2045 land use map should be listed by District so that the Commission can better determine if those comments have resulted in any changes to the land use map. Standard Section 3-15 of the county Charter states, in part, "The general plan shall contain a statement of development objectives, standards and principles with respect to the most desirable use of land within the county...". Unfortunately, all Standards listed in the current General Plan have been removed. Therefore, HIG requests that, at a minimum, the following Standards in the current General Plan related to Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship be restored in GP2045: ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, Section 4.4 STANDARDS a) Pollution shall be prevented, abated, and controlled at levels that will protect and preserve the public health and well being, through the enforcement of appropriate Federal, State and County standards. b) Incorporate environmental quality controls either as standards in appropriate ordinances or as conditions of approval. c) Federal and State environmental regulations shall be adhered to. FLOODING AND OTHER NATURAL HAZARDS, Section 5.4 STANDARDS a) "Storm Drainage Standards," County of Hawaii, October, 1970, and as revised. b) Applicable standards and regulations of Chapter 27, "Flood Control," of the Hawaii County Code. c) Applicable standards and regulations of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). d) Applicable standards and regulations of Chapter 10, "Erosion and Sedimentation Control," of the Hawaii County Code. e) Applicable standards and regulations of the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Soil and Water Conservation Districts. HISTORIC SITES, Section 6.4 STANDARDS The evaluation of the importance of specific historic sites is necessary for future action. The following standards establish a framework for evaluating sites. a) Importance in the life or activities of a major historic person. b) Associated with a major group or organization in the history of the island or community. c) Associated with a major historic event (cultural, economic, military, social, or political. d) Associated with a major recurring event in the history of the community (such asannual celebrations). e) Associated with a past or continuing institution that has contributed substantiallyto the life of the community f) Unique example of a particular style or period. g) One of the few of its age remaining h) Original materials and/or workmanship that can be valued in themselves. i) Sites with a preponderance of original materials in context and complexes ratherthan single isolated sites unless they are of great significance. j) Sites of traditional and cultural significance. NATURAL BEAUTY, Section 7.4 STANDARDS The following standards provide guidelines for designating sites and vistas of extraordinary natural beauty that shall be protected. a) Distinctive and identifiable landforms distinguished as landmarks, e.g. Mauna Kea, Waipio Valley. b) Coastline areas of striking contrast , e.g. Laupahoehoe Point. c) Vistas of distinctive features. d) Natural or native vegetation attractive to a particular area. e) Areas that are harmoniously developed and enhanced by man to appear natural. NATURAL RESOURCES AND SHORELINE, 8.4 STANDARDS The following shall be considered for the protection and conservation of natural resources. a) Areas necessary for the protection and propagation of specified endangered native wildlife, and conservation for natural ecosystems of endemic plants, fish and wildlife. b) Lands necessary for the preservation of forests, park lands, wilderness and beach areas. c) Lands with a general slope of 20 per cent or more that provide open space amenities or possess unusual scenic qualities. d) Lands necessary for the protection of watersheds, water sources and water supplies. e) Lands with topographic, locational, soils, climate or other environmental factors that may not be normally adaptable or required for urban, rural, agricultural or public use. f) The Coastal Zone and Special Management Area as defined by statute and in accordance with the adopted objectives and guidelines. Carryover Sections from GP240 Relevant to Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship HIG strongly urges the Commission to revise GP2045, Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship, to include the relevant Sustainability Objective, Policy, Action, and Agency Action sections and language in GP2040, pp. 102-117. The language contained within these sections of GP2040 better articulate and implement the draft General Plan (attached to this e-mail), including: Promoting Active Living Through Recreation, Trails, and Public Access: Public Access and Trails, Preserving Our Cultural and Historical Legacies: Native Hawaiian Values and Practices, Preserving Our Cultural and Historical Legacies: Multi -cultural Heritage, Preserving Our Cultural and Historical Legacies: Historic Preservation Protecting Scenic Resources Mahalo for this opportunity to testify and provide additional information to assist in this most important task any Planning Commission can undertake. Moku Loa (Hawaii Island) Group, Sierra Club We work hard to advance Sierra Club's mission to explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places ofthe earth; to practice and promote the responsible use ofthe earth's ecosystems and resources; to educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment; and to use all lawful means to carry out these objectives. PROMOTING ACTIVE LIVING THROUGH RECREATION, TRAILS, & PUBLIC ACCESS Public Access & Trails SUSTAINABILITY OBJECTIVE Number of public access sites created through acquisition or easement or enhanced with assistance from CZM funding or staff. POLICY 404. The County of Hawai'i shall establish: public access to and along the shoreline to significant historic sites, public transit along the top of cliff, streams and other natural water courses, mauka trails, facilities, and access to sites for gathering, hunting, and other recreational purposes and in accordance with Hawai'i County Code Chapter 34. Rationale: Based on existing County Code 34, General Plan Policy 12.3 (I, m), Ka'u CDP Policy 81, and Hamakua CDP Policy 48] 405. Subdividers of six or more lots, parcels, units, or interests shall be required to dedicate land for public access for pedestrian travel from a public highway or street to the land below the high-water mark on any coastal shoreline or to areas in the mountains where there are existing facilities for hiking, hunting, fruit -picking, ti leaf sliding, and other recreational purposes, and where there are existing mountain trails. Rationale: Based on existing HRS 46-6.5 and HCC 34-4(c)).] 406. Prior to disposing of, leasing, or transferring public lands, including public roads or trails, public access potentials shall be assessed, documented and protected if public access use is in the public's interest. Rationale: Based on existing HRS Section 46-1.5, Hamakua CDP Policy 50, and General Plan 12.3 (n).] 407. Ensure that publicly owned historic trails and roads are properly identified, and consultation occurs to protect the public's interests. Rationale: Based on the Highways Act of 1892, Hamakua CDP Policy 50, and the General Plan 12.3 (n).] 408. Alignment of coastal trails shall consider flexibility for realignment for sea level rise and other dynamic shoreline changes. [Climate Change] Rationale: Based on current status of some impacted coastal areas and research relating 102 Section 4: Community Placemaking to projected sea level rise impacts on coastal assets. See also California Coastal Commission Sea Level Rise Policy Guidance.] 409. Determine the location and ownership of historic trails and roads as early as possible in the land use application process. Rationale: Based on identified challenges with ownership of historic trails and roads and the subsequent legal implications. See also General Plan Policy 13.2.3 (q)] 410. Where a subdivision is traversed by a natural water course, drainage way, channel, or stream, the Planning Director should require a pedestrian, equestrian, and/or bicycle path when the opportunity exists to connect to existing or future drainage or trail corridors. 411. Trails may also be used as emergency access routes, where appropriate. 412. Support the development of a Rails to Trails type program to facilitate the conversion of old railway segments to a public trail network. 413. Seek private -public partnerships to manage and maintain public access to the shoreline, public trails, hunting areas, scenic places and vistas, and significant historic sites, buildings, and objects of public interest. [Public Access] 414. Explore options and collaborate with community groups to increase access to former sugar cane roads to be used as non -motorized trails where feasible and appropriate. ACTION 4.49 Amend code to require bicycle and walking path easements be developed in urban areas to increase walkability and multimodal transportation options. [Code] 4.50 Work with the State and adjacent landowners in establishing old railroad right-of- ways as pedestrian and bicycle trails. 4.51 Identify by GPS coordinates all existing historic trail alignments that (a) have been recommended for preservation by SHPD, (b) appear on historic maps and/or are known by oral tradition, and incorporate these into the County GIS database. 4.52 Actively implement the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail Memorandum of Understanding. 4.53 Appropriate, finance, allot, and encumber Capital Improvement Projects in support of trail development as part of a regional trail system. 4.54 Add public access requirements as listed in Hawai'i County Code Chapter 34 Public Access to apply to Chapter 23 Subdivision Code, SMA review, zoning code, special permits, etc. [Code] Section 4: Community Placemaking 103 4.55 Develop and implement a public-private program to establish and manage specific access points and trails. SUSTAINABILITY OBJECTIVE Develop and maintain a public access program that integrates recreation, subsistence, and cultural access priorities. POLICY 415. Integrate Public Access into County department priorities in the following ways: a) Incorporate public access and development into a program overseen by the Planning Department as per Chapter 34. b) Integrate PONC property management and maintenance into the Parks and Recreation code in Chapter 2: Article 11 and Chapter 15: Parks and Recreation. c) Develop adequate staff to carry out the provisions of Chapter 2 Article 42, relating to the PONC maintenance fund (as per: Section 2-214.2 (b). Pursuant to section 10-16(c) of the Charter, the maintenance fund shall be administered and managed by the department of parks and recreation. Adequate staff to carry out the provisions of this article and section 10-16 of the Charter shall be provided in the department of parks and recreation. Rationale: Based on identified gaps in addressing or applying public access regulations and procedures consistently between the various County Departments. The County lacks capacity to fulfill its existing public access objectives without increasing staff capacity, maintenance capacity, and without having clearer directives between the various departments to implement a cohesive public access program.] 416. Integrate County public access priorities in all aspects of land use decisions and permit reviews. 417. Consistently integrate public access development and maintenance into Parks and Recreation department priorities. 418. Support facility development for access management at access points and along trail corridors. ACTION 4.56 Establish a County of Hawai'i Public Access and Trail Program with sufficient staff and resources. Staff will be required to consult/consider recommendations of this program in all permit reviews. Elements of this program may include: 104 Section 4: Community Placemaking Nimumogni a) A comprehensive access inventory; b) A public access rating system to help with prioritization; c) Comprehensive reviews of projects (on public or private lands) that will affect public accesses and trails; d) Inventory of ancient trails, cart roads, and old government roads in coordination with appropriate State agencies. e) Public outreach and coordination element. f) Identify agencies/groups to develop, administer, and maintain public accesses, including developing County capacity for this purpose; g) Identify funding sources to purchase and manage public access easement to priority areas; h) When public access goals will involve several landowners, acquire the public access incrementally as opportunities arise to do so; i) Public accesses that cross private land will be acquired and held until appropriate management of the accesses is in place; j) Collaborate with State and Federal agencies on public accesses that require multi -agency involvement; k) Develop a standardized template to promote consistency and comprehensiveness in the public access plans required by landowners; I) Partner with community organizations capable of assisting with public access management; m) Work with State agencies (particularly with DOFAW) to coordinate, survey, develop, and manage public trails and roads leading to forest reserves; n) In co-sponsorship with the State when possible, acquire land for public access to historic sites and objects and to the shoreline where safe transit does not already exist; o) Reinstitute a Public Access Wayfinding program managed by the Planning Department to assist interested community groups in maintaining appropriate signage at public access points; p) Provide cultural and safety information at trailheads; q) Provide for substantive community input to the County Planning Department and the County Council in order to finalize and accept priority access. Include community input in program policy. r) Whenever the County assumes the responsibility for posting and maintaining signage and maintaining public accesses and other public infrastructure, a specific County agency will be identified and assigned the aforementioned responsibilities. [Code, Public Access] Section 4: Community Placemaking 105 4.57 Amend the subdivision code to better address public access issues in the following ways: a) Revise/Develop enforcement protocols for public access violations, including fines for noncompliance and mechanisms to remove private obstructions from public accesses; b) Review Hawai'i County Code Chapter 34 requirements for public access standards, including design that fits into surrounding community, environment, and conditions. Establish parameters for requiring appropriate right-of-way, parking, and comfort stations for various types of public accesses/trails and incorporate these into Chapter 34; c) Amend Hawai'i County Code Chapter 34 to develop a clear methodology to modify public access routes in order to adapt to sea level rise, landslides and erosion, and other impacts related to environmental impacts and climate change; d) Amend Hawai'i County Code Chapter 34, Rule 21, Chapter 23, and Chapter25 CA 1.1.1 to ensure access and trail rights-of-way during subdivision. [Code] 4.58 Complete an inventory and database of significant natural resource areas with recreational and trail connectivity value. 4.59 Adopt an on-going program of identification, designation, and acquisition of areas with existing or potential recreational resources, such as land with sandy beaches and other prime areas for shoreline recreation in cooperation with appropriate governmental agencies. 4.60 Develop procedural rules and templates for public access agreements and Grant of Easement (GOE) to facilitate consistency and to provide mechanisms for tracking, follow-through, and geographic information system (GIS) identification in County of Hawai'i systems, etc. 4.61 Develop procedural guidelines for renegotiating access agreements. 4.62 Renegotiate public accesses that were developed prior to Chapter 34 to be consistent with Chapter 34. 4.63 Evaluate and initiate Charter & code amendments related to Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resource Preservation (PONC). These may include: a) Clearly distinguish categories of PONC property, such as active or passive use, conservation, restoration, natural buffer areas, access uses, etc. (for 106 Section 4: Community Placemaking instance, lands acquired to provide access versus lands acquired to preserve from development that may not be appropriate for public access). b) Amend Charter Section 10-5 c & f to allow PONC funds to be used for the planning, design, development of new buildings, facilities, (including comfort stations) or infrastructure such as roads, paths, bridges, culverts, ramps, or drainage features if such improvements are necessary to meet the objectives of public safety and to meet the purposes outlined in Hawai'i County Code 2-214.1. [Code] c) Interpret or amend Charter Section 10-15 (c) 3 and County Code Section 2- 214.1 c) 3 referring to natural resource buffer zones to include buffer zones for natural hazard areas, such as properties facing sea level rise, lava inundation, steep slopes, or identified priority viewsheds. [Code] d) Include assessments of tax revenue implications for lands nominated for PONC consideration. e) Amend Charter section 10-15 (c) and County Code Section 2-214.1 (c) to be consistent with each other. For example, the County Code allows PONC funds to be used for "significant habitat or ecosystems" but the Charter does not include those terms. [Code] 4.64 Amend Chapter 15 to include PONC and trail development as part of the Parks and Recreation Department's priorities to be consistent with Chapter 34 in partnership with the Planning Department.[Code] 4.65 Conduct a performance review of the PONC Maintenance Fund and Stewardship Grant program to identify and implement ways to improve PONC management system. 4.66 Amend Hawai'i County Code Section 2-218 Prioritized list of qualifying lands worthy of preservation to establish a means to evaluate the socio -environmental equity of the lands nominated by district. Such as: a) When there are multiple lands under consideration at any one time, priority shall be given to coastal lands and lands where matching funding is available to leverage the County contribution; b) Consideration should be given to lands within districts under -represented by PONC preservation program. [Code] Section 4: Community Placemaking 107 AGENCY ACTION 4.67 Coordinate with State agencies to improve access and access/trail management resources (including policies, conditions, identification, cataloguing, enforcement, maintenance, etc.). 4.68 Consider establishing a working group with surrounding land owners and the user - community to educate users and manage ATV use to ensure that non -pedestrian allowances are not permitted within sections of modern trails that overlap, are congruent, or correspond to ancient or historic trails and its associated features. 4.69 Coordinate with hunting associations and other land stewards, to establish clear hunting policies and disseminate education regarding these policies. 4.70 To facilitate greater public access to and along the shoreline and elsewhere, amend Hawai'i Revised Statutes 520, Hawai'i's Recreational Use Statute (RUS), to make it less ambiguous and to discourage frivolous lawsuits. PRESERVING OUR CULTURAL & HISTORIC LEGACIES Native Hawaiian Values & Practices SUSTAINABILITY OBJECTIVE Native Hawaiian language, values and practices are integrated into all County processes. POLICY 419. Ensure Native Hawaiian access rights are clearly expressed in County code, policies, and procedures. Rationale: Based on identified gaps in County code and an over -reliance on State statutes to address Native Hawaiian rights. See HRS Section 1-1, 7-1 and Article 12 Section 7 of the Constitution of the State of Hawai'i.] 420. Protect all rights, customarily and traditionally exercised for subsistence, cultural, and religious purposes and possessed by ahupua'a tenants who are descendants of Native Hawaiians who inhabited the Hawaiian Islands prior to 1778, subject to the right of the State to regulate such rights. [Public Access, Natural Resources, Health] Rationale: Based on identified gaps in County code and an over -reliance on State statutes to address Native Hawaiian rights. See HRS Section 1-1, 7-1 and Article 12 Section 7 of the Constitution of the State of Hawai'i.] 108 Section 4: Community Placemaking Nommusgai 421. Prioritize and maintain an education and awareness program for County employees regarding Native Hawaiian culture, values, and resource management. Rationale: Based on identified gaps in County capacity to sensitively address Native Hawaiian issues.] 422. County shall staff include qualified personnel versed in Hawaiian language, Hawaiian history, and historic preservation to provide dedicated expertise in support of the objectives, polices, and actions stated in this plan. Rationale: Based on identified gaps in County capacity to sensitively address native Hawaiian issues.] 423. Ensure access for cultural practitioners in areas that may not be appropriate for public access (e.g. Burial sites, specific heiau). Rationale: Based on examples of sensitive areas that may need special treatment based on cultural protocol.] 424. Support festivals and events that promote Native Hawaiian history and culture. 425. Support the development a multi -sector public education program regarding historic sites that target the hospitality industry, real estate agents, site developers, consultants, schools, youth groups, civic organizations, etc. ACTION 4.71 Codify protections of Native Hawaiian customs and gathering rights related to access and cultural preservation. 4.72 Identify and inventory important Native Hawaiian cultural and historic places, traditional cultural properties, traditions, and practices, through the use of architectural, archaeological, ethnographic surveys, and oral histories. [Mapping] 4.73 Develop an inventory of Native Hawaiian cultural resources and practices with potential to be impacted by sea level rise. Work with Native Hawaiian communities to determine steps they want to take regarding climate impacts. [Climate Change] 4.74 Amend the County building code to add standards for structures utilizing traditional Hawaiian building design and construction methods. There may be certain limitations placed on the occupancy or use of these structures, such as for cultural purposes, accessory uses and/or occasional gatherings only. [Code] Section 4: Community Placemaking 109 PRESERVING OUR CULTURAL & HISTORIC LEGACIES Multi -Cultural Heritage SUSTAINABILITY OBJECTIVE At least one yearly cultural event is supported by the County in each district. POLICY 426. Support festivals and events that promote the island's multi -cultural heritage. 427. Represent Hawai'i as a place that embraces not only its own multi -cultural heritage, but all world cultures in inclusive and celebratory ways. 428. Promote educational and celebratory opportunities for cultural exchanges with other world cultures. 429. Promote opportunities for 'sister city' and other types of place -based cultural enrichment opportunities with international communities. ACTION 4.75 Establish and maintain a County Program (including grants) to support festivals and events that promote history and culture. PRESERVING OUR CULTURAL & HISTORIC LEGACIES Historic Preservation SUSTAINABILITY OBJECTIVE Achieve 100% preservation of sites identified for preservation by State Historic Preservation Division. POLICY 430. Historic Preservation shall represent the full range and diversity of the multi -cultural heritage of Hawai'i Island. Rationale: Based on General Plan Goals 6.2, and Policies 6.3 (a -o).] 110 Section 4: Community Placemaking aRS<il 431. The County shall maintain an inventory of significant cultural and historic sites and districts compatible with that of the State Historic Preservation Division. The inventory shall identify the location of sites on the Hawai'i and National Register, the State Inventory of Historic Places, and may also include sites of community significance identified as being: a) Important in the life or activities of a major historic person; b) Associated with a major group or organization in the history of the island or community; c) Associated with a major historic event (cultural, economic, military, social, or political); d) Associated with a past or continuing institution that has contributed substantially to the life of the community; e) Unique example of a particular style or period; f) One of the few of its age remaining; g) Original materials and/or workmanship that can be valued in themselves; h) Sites with a preponderance of original materials in context and complexes rather than single isolated sites unless they are of great significance; and i) Sites of traditional and cultural significance. Rationale: General Plan 6.3 (a -o).] 432. Preservation plans shall be completed for all subdivisions with cultural or historical properties (sites, buildings, objects, landscapes) identified for preservation prior to approval of the final plat map or any site work. Rationale: Based on identified issues where development commences prior to County permit approvals, thereby possibly damaging historic sites or areas. See also General Plan 6.3 (a -o).] 433. The County shall develop a comprehensive management plan for historic and cultural resources that are on County owned properties or on properties managed by the County. Rationale: General Plan 6.3 (a -o).] 434. Require completion of preservation plans for all significant sites identified for preservation. Rationale: Based on identified issues where development commences prior to County permit approvals, thereby possibly damaging historic sites or areas. See also General Plan 6.3 (a -o).] 435. Require completion of mitigation plans for identified sites, or resources that have been identified as historic but will not be preserved. Rationale: Based on identified issues where development commences prior to Section 4: Community Placemaking 111 completion of mitigation plans, thereby possibly damaging historic sites or areas. See also General Plan 6.3 (a-o).] 436. Require stewardship and/or protection of sites, buildings, objects, and landscapes of significant cultural and historical importance to the County. Rationale: Based on General Plan 6.3 (b).] 437. Partner with DLNR-SHPD to outline how each agency will cooperate to ensure historic and cultural protections, verify that approved Preservation Plans are being implemented, and promote appropriate restoration of historic sites and cultural landscapes. Rationale: Based on identified needs for further collaboration between State and County agencies and on General Plan 6.3 (a).] 438. Through the Hawai'i County Cultural Resources Commission, the County shall engage in consultation with Section 106, National Historic Preservation Act, and shall use this opportunity to engage the community, especially those with generational and traditional environmental knowledge, in the consultation process. Rationale: Based on Section 106 National Historic Preservation Act and the HCC Chapter 2 Article 44.] 439. Subdivisions subject to cultural or historic surveys shall have all sites approved for preservation, including any required buffers or access easements, identified on the plat maps of the subdivision prior to granting of final subdivision approval. The metes and bounds descriptions of the preservation easements and all applicable covenants and restriction pertaining to the preservation easements, shall be added to applicable deeds prior to the transfer of subdivided properties. [code/mapping] Rationale: Based on consultation with Administrative Permit Division of Planning Department and identified gaps in comprehensive recordkeeping in subdivision files. See also General Plan 6.3 (g).] 440. Outstanding natural or cultural features, such as scenic resources, water courses, fine groves of trees, heiau, and historical sites and structures, shall be identified and preserved during subdivision. Rationale: Based on preserving public trust, and Hawai'i County Code Section 23-26, and General Plan Goals of 6.2, 6.3 (g).] [Mapping] 441. The County shall use and promote the use of interpretive signage and/or other appropriate methods to recognize landscapes, sites, buildings, and objects of significant historical and cultural importance. 112 Section 4: Community Placemaking aRS<ii 442. Partner with Community Development Plan Action Committees and the Cultural Resource Commission to develop design guidelines for designated communities containing significant historic buildings, sites, or landscapes. 443. Partner with DLNR's State Historic Preservation Division to increase, maintain, and regularly update the State inventory of Historic Places database with significant historical and culturally important sites, buildings, objectives, and landscapes on Hawai'i Island. 444. Seek private -public partnerships to maintain and steward the preservation of sites, buildings, objects, and landscapes of significant cultural and historical importance. 445. For new County community facilities, incorporate and consider cultural design elements appropriate for the region. 446. Establish Historic Districts, Heritage Landscapes, Corridors, Areas, and Centers as land use designations for purposes of preserving, conserving, or restoring historic properties for the benefit of communities' sense of place and appropriate adaptive reuse for future generations. ACTION 4.76 Identify and map valued cultural and historic places, structures, traditions, and practices, and Hawai'i's multi -cultural heritage through the use of architectural, archaeological, ethnographic surveys, and oral histories. [Mapping] 4.77 Compile and maintain a list of cultural/historic experts by island districts who may be consulted, as needed. 4.78 Complete community -level historic surveys. 4.79 Amend the subdivision code, Section 23-69 to include a requirement that the final plat map reflect information from the preservation plan, including any required buffers or access easements. [Code] 4.80 Down -zone identified State and County -owned parcels that have special cultural and/or scenic value. 4.81 Amend the zoning code to include criteria for requiring cultural preservation plans prior to development. [Code] 4.82 Adopt rules that establish when ethnographic Surveys or Cultural Impact Assessments will be required and what standards should be followed. 4.83 Develop County -wide Cultural Resource Commission processes for reviewing permit applications that relate to identified cultural or historic resources. Section 4: Community Placemaking 113 4.84 Develop protocols for receiving community input during capital project siting and design. Consult with and solicit input from community members with generational knowledge to minimize the impact of proposed changes to the use of land on cultural practices, cultural sites, and culturally significant areas, including burials. 4.85 Adopt design guidelines for designated communities containing significant historic buildings, sites, or landscapes. 4.86 Prepare Cultural Landscape Reports, prioritizing Historic Districts to articulate preservation goals, objectives, and policies that provide the basis for making sound decisions about management, treatment, and use of historic and cultural resources. [Report] 4.87 Promote the real -property tax incentives for preservation of historic properties. PROTECTING SCENIC RESOURCES SUSTAINABILITY OBJECTIVE Increase participation in scenic preservation programs (Heritage Corridors, Scenic Byways, Scenic Corridors and Exceptional Trees) POLICY 447. Hawai'i County shall use the following place types as guidelines for designating sites and viewsheds that shall be protected: a) Distinctive and identifiable landforms distinguished as landmarks and/or cultural landscapes, e.g. Mauna Kea, Waipi'o Valley. b) Coastline areas of striking contrast, e.g. Laupahoehoe Point c) Vistas of distinctive features d) Natural or native vegetation attractive to a particular area. e) Landscapes that are harmoniously developed, enhanced by man while maintaining their natural appearance, e.g. Pu'ukohola, 'Akaka Falls. f) Lands with a general slope of 20 percent or more that provide open space amenities or possess unusual scenic qualities. Rationale: Based on the Standards from General Plan 7.4 (a -e) and 8.4 (c).] 448. Visual impact assessments shall include photo simulations or balloon tests with views from various vantage points to show visual impact of a proposed project. Rationale: Creating visual modeling through photo simulations or balloon tests are 114 Section 4: Community Placemaking Nimumogni common strategies used in visual impact assessments in other municipalities. These visual impact assessment tools would help achieve General Plan 7.2 Goals and policies 7.3 (b, e, h, 449. Prioritize maintaining the views at scenic overlooks with a frequently maintained vegetation management program which includes eradication of invasive species. Coordinate this work with regular roadway vegetation management maintenance program. Rationale: Based on identified challenges with vegetative management of existing scenic overlook and the prevalence of the views being obstructed by invasive species or other vegetation. See also Hamakua CDP 38, Kokua Action 9, and General Plan 7.2 (b), 7.3 (a, b, c, f).] 450. Maintain a continuing program to identify and inventory exceptional trees, forest areas, or groves/stands of trees. Rationale: Based on Standards from General Plan 7.3 (g) and policies 7.4 (a -e) 8.3 (j, k, m.] 451. Maintain the Exceptional Tree Program for the recognition and protection of trees with significant or unique historical, ecological, cultural and/or aesthetic significance. Rationale: Based on General Plan policy 7.3 (g).] 452. No variance shall be granted unless appropriate conditions are imposed to minimize adverse impacts on public views to, from, and along the shoreline. Rationale: Based on Hamakua CDP Policy 17, General Plan goals 7.2 (a -c), and policies 7.3 (b), 8.3 (c, d). See also HRS 205A. 453. Do not allow incompatible development in areas of natural beauty that have been identified through the Scenic Resources Protection Program. Rationale: Based on an identified need to identify natural beauty areas through a scenic resource protection program and restrict development appropriately to ensure scenic resources are not lost to development. Based also on General Plan policies 7.3 (h, i).] Mapping] 454. Applications for Special Permits and environmental assessment reports for proposed changes of zone on property that may impact open space, viewsheds, and areas of natural beauty shall include visual impact assessments and propose conditions to mitigate scenic impacts. Rationale: Based on identified needs to protect scenic resources, open space and natural beauty in the special permit process. Also based on Hamakua CDP policy 33 and Ka'u CDP policy 57.] Section 4: Community Placemaking 115 455. Hawai'i County shall seek to minimize, any development which would substantially interfere with or detract from the line of site toward the sea from the State highway nearest the coast. Rationale: Based on Hamakua CDP Policy 35, Ka'u CDP Policy 54, General Plan policy 7.2 b) and 7.3 (f).] 456. Ensure that new developments are compatible with their visual environment by designing and locating such developments to minimize the alteration of natural landforms and existing public views to and along the shoreline. Rationale: Based on an identified need to ensure that development is managed appropriately to protect natural landforms and viewplanes. Based also on General Plan policies 7.3 (h, i).] [Land Use] 457. Preserve roadway corridors that have historic, scenic, or unique physical attributes that enhance the character and scenic resources of communities. 458. Support the development and promotion of Heritage Corridors and Scenic Byways where appropriate. 459. Support the designation of scenic byways through the State Scenic Byway Program. 460. In reviewing Special Permit applications, rezoning, and other land use changes in the Agricultural District, appropriate conditions should be determined to preserve existing viewsheds to and along the coastline. [Land Use] ACTION 4.88 Develop and establish viewshed regulations to preserve and protect from obstruction scenic resources, vistas, viewsheds, open space, prominent landscapes, and areas of natural beauty identified in the General Plan. 4.89 Develop and maintain a program to identify, inventory, preserve, acquire, and develop (where appropriate) viewing sites on the island. [Transportation] 4.90 Collaborate with the State to modify zoning on publicly -owned parcels that have been identified as having special cultural and/or scenic value. [Land Use] 4.91 Identify valued scenic resources in the Coastal Zone Management area. [Land Use, Mapping] 4.92 Identify and develop scenic lookouts along highways to ensure important views coastal, mountain, and waterfall) are preserved from development, create various opportunities to view these scenic resources, and develop a vegetation maintenance program. 116 Section 4: Community Placemaking 4.93 Establish a Scenic Resources Protection Program to identify, inventory, and protect areas of significant beauty. The program would include: a) Rate viewsheds and roadway corridors documented in the Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project (June, 2016) b) Develop scenic resource and viewshed corridor maps c) Develop administrative rules to implement Hawai'i County Code section 25- 6-60 d) Develop Scenic Corridor Management Plan(s) for specific corridors identified. Scenic Corridor Management Plan(s) should include permit conditions, such as design guidelines, landscaping, screening, or structural setbacks from major thoroughfares and highways, to mitigate any visual impacts from development. e) Prepare Urban Design and Scenic Resource Protection Guidelines f) Staff and Planning Commission Training; g) Set Guidelines for Development Compatibility Standards. [Program] 4.94 Develop, maintain, and implement design standards to protect important viewsheds and ensure structural setbacks from major thoroughfares and highways. 4.95 Develop Scenic Corridor Management Plans. 4.96 Adopt administrative rules to implement Hawai'i County Code for Scenic Corridors. 4.97 Perform a feasibility study on developing a scenic route from Waipi'o Valley Lookout extending mauka to connect Mud Lane at the entrance of Waimea and a scenic park with a viewing area of Hi'ilawe Falls. 4.98 Coordinate with the State to upgrade the viewing site from the rim of Pololu Valley. AGENCY ACTION 4.99 Encourage the State to develop and maintain scenic lookouts along highways where appropriate to ensure ocean, mountain, pastoral, and waterfall views are preserved from development, and coordinate a regular roadway vegetation maintenance program. 4.100 Consider adding/improving viewing locations and interpretive signage near the scenic bridges for safe parking and views of the areas' waterfalls and coastline and along Saddle Road (Route 200) for views of the summit. Section 4: Community Placemaking 117 From: Michelle Melendez To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv Subject: General Plan Testimony About Electric Vehicles. Date: Saturday, November 23, 2024 4:11:26 PM Aloha Commissioners, Here is the information you need to know before recommending electric cars come to the Big Island. https://youtu.be/K5vDWhMHTwE?si=dZdYkT-zdV-QCMap It will explain What really happens when an electric car catches on fire? And does your fire department know how to put these raging infernos out? Please do not bring these cars to the island. It will be like the mongoose, fire ants, and more! Mahalo, Michelle Melendez -Freedom Activist Fitness and Wellness Expert Since 1996 Author Of The Best Selling and 4x Award Winning Book, End Dieting Hell: How to find peace in your body and release the weight Order your copy of End Dieting Hell Click Here Great Maui Land Grab" NOW Available here On Sat, Nov 23, 2024 at 8:50 AM Michelle Melendez michelle@blossominnerwellness.com> wrote: Aloha Commissioners, If this is a plan locals have supported and they're being contacted with each new draft, as Mr. Kern stated yesterday, why hasn't one person shown up? Mr. Kern wasn't sworn in and asked to raise his right hand to swear to tell the truth. I think he should be. Concerns about the plan: Reduced Miles Traveled" should be changed to "Travel Alternatives". It's against the Constitution to deprive people of their right to travel. That language must be removed from the plan or you, and all those who created this plan are in violation of your oath of office. (No disrespect intended. That is simply the truth.) Electric Vehicles (EV): They want to put charging stations around Big Island for EV which will have more impact on the already impacted grid. How this is being considered disturbs me greatly. There are already power -shortages on the island. This would hinder it even more. Plus, as I've stated in my previous email, EV's are dangerous. Here is a quote from a firefighter. "The problem with EVs is that the lithium -ion batteries can actually propagate a fire. In fact, they can actually encourage a fire. Ifa fire has already started and you have lithium -ion batteries, they can ignite a lot more vigorously compared to any other cars said Captain Rahul Khanna, the Global Head of Marine Consulting at Allianz; he has 26 years' experience in the shipping and maritime industry and 14 years in various ranks on merchant ships.. Source: "Is It Safe To Ship Thousands Of Electric Cars On Big Ships?" by Mark Vaughn, May 10, 2022.https://www.autoweek.com/news/industry- news/a39951439/is-it-safe-to-ship-thousands-of-electric-cars-on-big-ships/ How will we remove these dangerous cars once they are retired? What about the cost to dispose of EV batteries once they are no longer in use? These batteries cannot simply be thrown away. They are toxic to the environment and people. Hawaii is an island. So will you ship these batteries off island or store them and their toxic waste on the island? They should not be allowed here. What happens if the grid goes down? How will people charge their EV? Off Grid Living: This plan wants to work with the DOH around water catchment. The last thing locals want are more regulations and fines for off grid living. Not one person has died from unhealthy water catchment. This should be removed from the plan. Locals know how to take care of themselves. That is not the government's job. Please help stop government overreach. Carbon: There is a section on the plan about reducing carbon. This should be removed. It is government overreach and will increase regulations and reduce freedom for people under a false premise. The General Plan manager stated that they did research with the Federal Government, not actual weather experts and scientists. Gregg Braden is a geologist, five -time New York Times best-selling author, scientist, international educator, and renowned as a pioneer in the emerging paradigm based in science, social policy, and human potential, had this to say about the dangers of carbon on the planet: "The idea that carbon dioxide is a poison is afalse narrative to begin with. We are carbon -based beings. By demonizing carbon dioxide and carbon life, we're actually demonizing ourselves. Source: "Gregg Braden - Why THE POWERS THAT BE" are So Desperate to Reduce Carbon Dioxide on OUR Planet?" by Gregg Braden Official, January 11, 2023. https://youtu.be/7vJ-Qefos8A? 5i=BviOKcdznXx6tgSQ Braden also stated in the same interview: "Ifyou could look at the ice cores in Antarctica and Greenland, you would see that the temperature ofthe Earth increases or decreases around 800 years before the change in carbon dioxide. That means carbon dioxide does not drive the change; it is the response to the temperature change. "We're being led to believe that carbon levels ofCO2 have never been higher; that the Earth is going to be destroyed ifthey are higher; and that CO2 is the driving temperature, both ofwhich are not true. Climate Change: This entire section should be removed. It is absolute government overreach again on a false premise. An article at Britannica.com written by Thor Arthur Hansen, Professor of Invertebrate Paleontology, Paleoecology, and Evolution at Western Washington University, U.S., and Carl Fred Koch, Professor of Geological Sciences at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia. It was fact -checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica and last updated on Feb 7, 2024. The article said that sea level was higher primarily because the water in the ocean basins was displaced by the enlargement of mid -oceanic ridges . It was not due to carbon! It was due to the Earth's mantle. Source: "Cretaceous Period," by Carl Fre Koch, Thor Arthur Hansen, https://www.britannica.com/science/Cretaceous-Period If you need more experts proving what they are saying in the plan is false, let me know. It is important to have experts give their opinion and not those invested in renewable energy. Rezoning: The plan will not directly rezone areas but it opens the door to rezoning in many many areas. This will change people's way of life and have a huge impact on the future of our keiki. What local would want that? This plan should be stopped immediately. It is not the plan that 4K locals worked on. No local would want... Their property value to be reduced To turn much of the coastland to conservation and have that impact people's property value and right to enjoy the land To have more regulations, policies and fines To have "incentives" ie. tax increases, to force people to do what the government wants There are no sections in the plan for: Supporting people to grow more food. The needed CDP for Hilo More roads to evacuate from South Kona, Waikoloa, and Puna No mention of the fracking that is going on here Supporting and enhancing the systems that are already here This plan does not support this island. It is a massive government overreach. Mahalo for your time. My passion is not meant to be disrespectful. I know you are volunteers and I more than appreciate what you're doing. Standing up and saying this is a no go, won't be easy. For the future of this island and the keiki, I hope you're brave enough to do it. Mahalo Nui Loa, Michelle Melendez -Freedom Activist Fitness and Wellness Expert Since 1996 Author Of The Best Selling and 4x Award Winning Book, End Dieting Hell: How to find peace in your body and release the weight Order your copy of End Dieting Hell Click Here Great Maui Land Grab" NOW Available here From: Michelle Melendez To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv Subject: IMPORTANT Testimony on General Plan 2045 (Mahalo for your k6kua) Date: Saturday, November 23, 2024 8:51:16 AM Aloha Commissioners, If this is a plan locals have supported and they're being contacted with each new draft, as Mr. Kern stated yesterday, why hasn't one person shown up? Mr. Kern wasn't sworn in and asked to raise his right hand to swear to tell the truth. I think he should be. Concerns about the plan: Reduced Miles Traveled" should be changed to "Travel Alternatives". It's against the Constitution to deprive people of their right to travel. That language must be removed from the plan or you, and all those who created this plan are in violation of your oath of office. (No disrespect intended. That is simply the truth.) Electric Vehicles (EV): They want to put charging stations around Big Island for EV which will have more impact on the already impacted grid. How this is being considered disturbs me greatly. There are already power -shortages on the island. This would hinder it even more. Plus, as I've stated in my previous email, EV's are dangerous. Here is a quote from a firefighter. "Theproblem with EVs is that the lithium -ion batteries can actually propagate a fire. In fact, they can actually encourage afire. Ifafire has already started and you have lithium -ion batteries, they can ignite a lot more vigorously compared to any other cars ," said Captain Rahul Khanna, the Global Head of Marine Consulting at Allianz; he has 26 years' experience in the shipping and maritime industry and 14 years in various ranks on merchant ships. . Source: "Is It Safe To Ship Thousands Of Electric Cars On Big Ships?" by Mark Vaughn, May 10, 2022.https://www.autoweek.com/news/industry-news/a39951439/is-it-safe- to-ship-thousands-of-electric-cars-on-big-ships/ How will we remove these dangerous cars once they are retired? What about the cost to dispose of EV batteries once they are no longer in use? These batteries cannot simply be thrown away. They are toxic to the environment and people. Hawaii is an island. So will you ship these batteries off island or store them and their toxic waste on the island? They should not be allowed here. What happens if the grid goes down? How will people charge their EV? Off Grid Living: This plan wants to work with the DOH around water catchment. The last thing locals want are more regulations and fines for off grid living. Not one person has died from unhealthy water catchment. This should be removed from the plan. Locals know how to take care of themselves. That is not the government's job. Please help stop government overreach. Carbon: There is a section on the plan about reducing carbon. This should be removed. It is government overreach and will increase regulations and reduce freedom for people under a false premise. The General Plan manager stated that they did research with the Federal Government, not actual weather experts and scientists. Gregg Braden is a geologist, five -time New York Times best-selling author, scientist, international educator, and renowned as a pioneer in the emerging paradigm based in science, social policy, and human potential, had this to say about the dangers of carbon on the planet: The idea that carbon dioxide is a poison is afalse narrative to begin with. We are carbon -based beings. By demonizing carbon dioxide and carbon life, we're actually demonizing ourselves. Source: "Gregg Braden - Why "THE POWERS THAT BE" are So Desperate to Reduce Carbon Dioxide on OUR Planet?" by Gregg Braden Official, January 11, 2023. https://youtu.be/7vJ-Qefos8A?si=BviOKcdznXx6tgSQ Braden also stated in the same interview: "Ifyou could look at the ice cores in Antarctica and Greenland, you would see that the temperature ofthe Earth increases or decreases around 800 years before the change in carbon dioxide. That means carbon dioxide does not drive the change; it is the response to the temperature change. "We're being led to believe that carbon levels ofCO2 have never been higher; that the Earth is going to be destroyed if they are higher; and that CO2 is the driving temperature, both ofwhich are not true." Climate Change: This entire section should be removed. It is absolute government overreach again on a false premise. An article at Britannica.com written by Thor Arthur Hansen, Professor of Invertebrate Paleontology, Paleoecology, and Evolution at Western Washington University, U.S., and Carl Fred Koch, Professor of Geological Sciences at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia. It was fact -checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica and last updated on Feb 7, 2024. The article said that sea level was higher primarily because the water in the ocean basins was displaced by the enlargement of mid -oceanic ridges . It was not due to carbon! It was due to the Earth's mantle. Source: "Cretaceous Period," by Carl Fre Koch, Thor Arthur Hansen, https://www.britannica.com/science/Cretaceous-Period If you need more experts proving what they are saying in the plan is false, let me know. It is important to have experts give their opinion and not those invested in renewable energy. Rezoning: The plan will not directly rezone areas but it opens the door to rezoning in many many areas. This will change people's way of life and have a huge impact on the future of our keiki. What local would want that? This plan should be stopped immediately. It is not the plan that 4K locals worked on. No local would want... Their property value to be reduced To turn much of the coastland to conservation and have that impact people's property value and right to enjoy the land To have more regulations, policies and fines To have "incentives" ie. tax increases, to force people to do what the government wants There are no sections in the plan for: Supporting people to grow more food. The needed CDP for Hilo More roads to evacuate from South Kona, Waikoloa, and Puna No mention of the fracking that is going on here Supporting and enhancing the systems that are already here This plan does not support this island. It is a massive government overreach. Mahalo for your time. My passion is not meant to be disrespectful. I know you are volunteers and I more than appreciate what you're doing. Standing up and saying this is a no go, won't be easy. For the future of this island and the keiki, I hope you're brave enough to do it. Mahalo Nui Loa, Michelle Melendez -Freedom Activist Fitness and Wellness Expert Since 1996 Author Of The Best Selling and 4x Award Winning Book, End Dieting Hell: How to find peace in your body and release the weight Order your copy of End Dieting Hell Click Here Great Maui Land Grab" NOW Available here From: Michelle Melendez To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimon Subject: GP 2045 Commissioner Rodiguez"s question Date: Sunday, November 24, 2024 11:17:57 AM Aloha Commissioners, Commissioner Rodiguez asked if "Climate Change" could be changed to "Pollution to get more people on board" with the plan. You can't just change a word and keep all the regulations and policies in the plan. That proves the reason for the regulations is false. I have sent you numerous experts from around the world that state there is no climate danger. Even a judge in Great Britain. What evidence has the Planning Department shown that there is climate danger? None. Is Hilo or Kona underwater or have any indication that it is a threat? No. Their "Climate Change" narrative is a theory with no evidence. The entire section on "Climate Change" must be taken out. Look at the plan. Look at all the regulations and policies and rezoning language. Look at how the land use, and many other areas in the plan will take private property for "conservation". Is that what the Big Island needs? People are stewards of the land. They shouldn't be kicked off it. We should be growing food, not conserving land. I appreciate that a Commissioner wants people to be on board with the plan. However, we will never be on board with a plan that wants to regulate us to death, take private property, and has so much government overreach that our keiki will not be able to own land or live free if this plan moves forward. That is not over exaggerating. It is the truth. This plan was not created by locals.There is no way locals would have wanted any of this. The things that are important to the people are not included in the plan at all. It should not move forward. With Respect, Michelle Melendez -Freedom Activist Fitness and Wellness Expert Since 1996 Author Of The Best Selling and 4x Award Winning Book, End Dieting Hell: How to find peace in your body and release the weight Order your copy of End Dieting Hell Click Here Great Maui Land Grab" NOW Available here On Sat, Nov 23, 2024 at 4:10 PM Michelle Melendez<michelle@blossominnerwellness.com> wrote: Aloha Commissioners, Here is the information you need to know before recommending electric cars come to the Big Island. https://youtu.be/K5vDWhMHTwE?si=dZdYkT-zdV-QCMap It will explain What really happens when an electric car catches on fire? And does your fire department know how to put these raging infernos out? Please do not bring these cars to the island. It will be like the mongoose, fire ants, and more! Mahalo, Michelle Melendez -Freedom Activist Fitness and Wellness Expert Since 1996 Author Of The Best Selling and 4x Award Winning Book, End Dieting Hell: How to find peace in your body and release the weight Order your copy of End Dieting Hell Click Here Great Maui Land Grab" NOW Available here On Sat, Nov 23, 2024 at 8:50 AM Michelle Melendez michelle@blossominnerwellness.com> wrote: Aloha Commissioners, If this is a plan locals have supported and they're being contacted with each new draft, as Mr. Kern stated yesterday, why hasn't one person shown up? Mr. Kern wasn't sworn in and asked to raise his right hand to swear to tell the truth. I think he should be. Concerns about the plan: Reduced Miles Traveled" should be changed to "Travel Alternatives". It's against the Constitution to deprive people of their right to travel. That language must be removed from the plan or you, and all those who created this plan are in violation of your oath of office. (No disrespect intended. That is simply the truth.) Electric Vehicles (EV): They want to put charging stations around Big Island for EV which will have more impact on the already impacted grid. How this is being considered disturbs me greatly. There are already power -shortages on the island. This would hinder it even more. Plus, as I've stated in my previous email, EV's are dangerous. Here is a quote from a firefighter. "The problem with EVs is that the lithium -ion batteries can actually propagate a fire. In fact, they can actually encourage afire. If afire has already started and you have lithium -ion batteries, they can ignite a lot more vigorously compared to any other cars ," said Captain Rahul Khanna, the Global Head of Marine Consulting at Allianz; he has 26 years' experience in the shipping and maritime industry and 14 years in various ranks on merchant ships. . Source: "Is It Safe To Ship Thousands Of Electric Cars On Big Ships?" by Mark Vaughn, May 10, 2022.https://www.autoweek.com/news/industry- news/a39951439/is-it-safe-to-ship-thousands-of-electric-cars-on-big-ships/ How will we remove these dangerous cars once they are retired? What about the cost to dispose of EV batteries once they are no longer in use? These batteries cannot simply be thrown away. They are toxic to the environment and people. Hawaii is an island. So will you ship these batteries off island or store them and their toxic waste on the island? They should not be allowed here. What happens if the grid goes down? How will people charge their EV? Off Grid Living: This plan wants to work with the DOH around water catchment. The last thing locals want are more regulations and fines for off grid living. Not one person has died from unhealthy water catchment. This should be removed from the plan. Locals know how to take care of themselves. That is not the government's job. Please help stop government overreach. Carbon: There is a section on the plan about reducing carbon. This should be removed. It is government overreach and will increase regulations and reduce freedom for people under a false premise. The General Plan manager stated that they did research with the Federal Government, not actual weather experts and scientists. Gregg Braden is a geologist, five -time New York Times best-selling author, scientist, international educator, and renowned as a pioneer in the emerging paradigm based in science, social policy, and human potential, had this to say about the dangers of carbon on the planet: "The idea that carbon dioxide is a poison is a false narrative to begin with. We are carbon -based beings. By demonizing carbon dioxide and carbon life, we're actually demonizing ourselves. Source: "Gregg Braden - Why "THE POWERS THAT BE" are So Desperate to Reduce Carbon Dioxide on OUR Planet?" by Gregg Braden Official, January 11, 2023. https://youtu.be/7vJ-Qefos8A?si=BviOKcdznXx6tgSQ Braden also stated in the same interview: "Ifyou could look at the ice cores in Antarctica and Greenland, you would see that the temperature ofthe Earth increases or decreases around 800 years before the change in carbon dioxide. That means carbon dioxide does not drive the change; it is the response to the temperature change. "We're being led to believe that carbon levels ofCO2 have never been higher; that the Earth is going to be destroyed ifthey are higher; and that CO2 is the driving temperature, both ofwhich are not true." Climate Change: This entire section should be removed. It is absolute government overreach again on a false premise. An article at Britannica.com written by Thor Arthur Hansen, Professor of Invertebrate Paleontology, Paleoecology, and Evolution at Western Washington University, U.S., and Carl Fred Koch, Professor of Geological Sciences at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia. It was fact - checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica and last updated on Feb 7, 2024. The article said that sea level was higher primarily because the water in the ocean basins was displaced by the enlargement of mid -oceanic ridges . It was not due to carbon! It was due to the Earth's mantle. Source: "Cretaceous Period," by Carl Fre Koch, Thor Arthur Hansen, https://www.britannica.com/science/Cretaceous-Period If you need more experts proving what they are saying in the plan is false, let me know. It is important to have experts give their opinion and not those invested in renewable energy. Rezoning: The plan will not directly rezone areas but it opens the door to rezoning in many many areas. This will change people's way of life and have a huge impact on the future of our keiki. What local would want that? This plan should be stopped immediately. It is not the plan that 4K locals worked on. No local would want... Their property value to be reduced To turn much of the coastland to conservation and have that impact people's property value and right to enjoy the land To have more regulations, policies and fines To have "incentives" ie. tax increases, to force people to do what the government wants There are no sections in the plan for: Supporting people to grow more food. The needed CDP for Hilo More roads to evacuate from South Kona, Waikoloa, and Puna No mention of the fracking that is going on here Supporting and enhancing the systems that are already here This plan does not support this island. It is a massive government overreach. Mahalo for your time. My passion is not meant to be disrespectful. I know you are volunteers and I more than appreciate what you're doing. Standing up and saying this is a no go, won't be easy. For the future of this island and the keiki, I hope you're brave enough to do it. Mahalo Nui Loa, Michelle Melendez -Freedom Activist Fitness and Wellness Expert Since 1996 Author Of The Best Selling and 4x Award Winning Book, End Dieting Hell: How to find peace in your body and release the weight Order your copy of End Dieting Hell Click Here Great Maui Land Grab" NOW Available here From: Michelle Melendez To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimon Subject: Electric Vehicle Danger too Big Island General Plan Testimony About Electric Vehicles. Date: Sunday, November 24, 2024 10:44:43 AM Aloha Commissioners, Homeowner questions EV safety after fire destroys her Nocatee home https://youtu.be/SIpXkQhg1ps?si=GvZusjNOx7-hvNUi These cars should not be brought to Big Island. What if this happens in Waikoloa or another fire danger zone. Another Lahaina disaster! Arizona woman trapped in Tesla after battery dies https://youtu.be/zxzlLnZJyfk?si=yISCaXkoVwDg1EX7 Billionaire Dies After Accidentally Backing Tesla Into Pond https://youtu.be/taWMcCs1sVg?si=rTfdocl prJ-zFdgl These cars will wreak havoc on our power grid and are dangerous to the Big Island and its residents. Recommend they be removed from the plan. Kind Regards, Michelle Melendez -Freedom Activist Fitness and Wellness Expert Since 1996 Author Of The Best Selling and 4x Award Winning Book, End Dieting Hell: How to find peace in your body and release the weight Order your copy of End Dieting Hell Click Here Great Maui Land Grab" NOW Available here On Sat, Nov 23, 2024 at 4:10 PM Michelle Melendez<michelle@blossominnerwellness.com> wrote: Aloha Commissioners, Here is the information you need to know before recommending electric cars come to the Big Island. https://youtu.be/K5vDWhMHTwE?si=dZdYkT-zdV-QCMap It will explain What really happens when an electric car catches on fire? And does your fire department know how to put these raging infernos out? Please do not bring these cars to the island. It will be like the mongoose, fire ants, and more! Mahalo, Michelle Melendez -Freedom Activist Fitness and Wellness Expert Since 1996 Author Of The Best Selling and 4x Award Winning Book, End Dieting Hell: How to find peace in your body and release the weight Order your copy of End Dieting Hell Click Here Great Maui Land Grab" NOW Available here On Sat, Nov 23, 2024 at 8:50 AM Michelle Melendez michelle@blossominnerwellness.com> wrote: Aloha Commissioners, If this is a plan locals have supported and they're being contacted with each new draft, as Mr. Kern stated yesterday, why hasn't one person shown up? Mr. Kern wasn't sworn in and asked to raise his right hand to swear to tell the truth. I think he should be. Concerns about the plan: Reduced Miles Traveled" should be changed to "Travel Alternatives". It's against the Constitution to deprive people of their right to travel. That language must be removed from the plan or you, and all those who created this plan are in violation of your oath of office. (No disrespect intended. That is simply the truth.) Electric Vehicles (EV): They want to put charging stations around Big Island for EV which will have more impact on the already impacted grid. How this is being considered disturbs me greatly. There are already power -shortages on the island. This would hinder it even more. Plus, as I've stated in my previous email, EV's are dangerous. Here is a quote from a firefighter. "The problem with EVs is that the lithium -ion batteries can actually propagate a fire. In fact, they can actually encourage afire. If afire has already started and you have lithium -ion batteries, they can ignite a lot more vigorously compared to any other cars ," said Captain Rahul Khanna, the Global Head of Marine Consulting at Allianz; he has 26 years' experience in the shipping and maritime industry and 14 years in various ranks on merchant ships. . Source: "Is It Safe To Ship Thousands Of Electric Cars On Big Ships?" by Mark Vaughn, May 10, 2022.https://www.autoweek.com/news/industry- news/a39951439/is-it-safe-to-ship-thousands-of-electric-cars-on-big-ships/ How will we remove these dangerous cars once they are retired? What about the cost to dispose of EV batteries once they are no longer in use? These batteries cannot simply be thrown away. They are toxic to the environment and people. Hawaii is an island. So will you ship these batteries off island or store them and their toxic waste on the island? They should not be allowed here. What happens if the grid goes down? How will people charge their EV? Off Grid Living: This plan wants to work with the DOH around water catchment. The last thing locals want are more regulations and fines for off grid living. Not one person has died from unhealthy water catchment. This should be removed from the plan. Locals know how to take care of themselves. That is not the government's job. Please help stop government overreach. Carbon: There is a section on the plan about reducing carbon. This should be removed. It is government overreach and will increase regulations and reduce freedom for people under a false premise. The General Plan manager stated that they did research with the Federal Government, not actual weather experts and scientists. Gregg Braden is a geologist, five -time New York Times best-selling author, scientist, international educator, and renowned as a pioneer in the emerging paradigm based in science, social policy, and human potential, had this to say about the dangers of carbon on the planet: "The idea that carbon dioxide is a poison is a false narrative to begin with. We are carbon -based beings. By demonizing carbon dioxide and carbon life, we're actually demonizing ourselves. Source: "Gregg Braden - Why "THE POWERS THAT BE" are So Desperate to Reduce Carbon Dioxide on OUR Planet?" by Gregg Braden Official, January 11, 2023. https://youtu.be/7vJ-Qefos8A?si=BviOKcdznXx6tgSQ Braden also stated in the same interview: "Ifyou could look at the ice cores in Antarctica and Greenland, you would see that the temperature ofthe Earth increases or decreases around 800 years before the change in carbon dioxide. That means carbon dioxide does not drive the change; it is the response to the temperature change. "We're being led to believe that carbon levels ofCO2 have never been higher; that the Earth is going to be destroyed ifthey are higher; and that CO2 is the driving temperature, both ofwhich are not true." Climate Change: This entire section should be removed. It is absolute government overreach again on a false premise. An article at Britannica.com written by Thor Arthur Hansen, Professor of Invertebrate Paleontology, Paleoecology, and Evolution at Western Washington University, U.S., and Carl Fred Koch, Professor of Geological Sciences at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia. It was fact - checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica and last updated on Feb 7, 2024. The article said that sea level was higher primarily because the water in the ocean basins was displaced by the enlargement of mid -oceanic ridges . It was not due to carbon! It was due to the Earth's mantle. Source: "Cretaceous Period," by Carl Fre Koch, Thor Arthur Hansen, https://www.britannica.com/science/Cretaceous-Period If you need more experts proving what they are saying in the plan is false, let me know. It is important to have experts give their opinion and not those invested in renewable energy. Rezoning: The plan will not directly rezone areas but it opens the door to rezoning in many many areas. This will change people's way of life and have a huge impact on the future of our keiki. What local would want that? This plan should be stopped immediately. It is not the plan that 4K locals worked on. No local would want... Their property value to be reduced To turn much of the coastland to conservation and have that impact people's property value and right to enjoy the land To have more regulations, policies and fines To have "incentives" ie. tax increases, to force people to do what the government wants There are no sections in the plan for: Supporting people to grow more food. The needed CDP for Hilo More roads to evacuate from South Kona, Waikoloa, and Puna No mention of the fracking that is going on here Supporting and enhancing the systems that are already here This plan does not support this island. It is a massive government overreach. Mahalo for your time. My passion is not meant to be disrespectful. I know you are volunteers and I more than appreciate what you're doing. Standing up and saying this is a no go, won't be easy. For the future of this island and the keiki, I hope you're brave enough to do it. Mahalo Nui Loa, Michelle Melendez -Freedom Activist Fitness and Wellness Expert Since 1996 Author Of The Best Selling and 4x Award Winning Book, End Dieting Hell: How to find peace in your body and release the weight Order your copy of End Dieting Hell Click Here Great Maui Land Grab" NOW Available here From: Michelle Melendez To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimon Subject: General Plan Testimony About Hawaiian Land Date: Sunday, November 24, 2024 1:08:58 PM Aloha Commissioners, Hawaii House Minority Leader Representative Diamond Garcia said, "The Homeland Commission Act was passed in 1920 by Republican Congressman Prince Kuhio, and put into law in 1921. It was set to have 208,000 acres of Hawaii land for native Hawaiians." Why does the State want to take more land from the people instead of honouring this law and give land back to Hawaiian natives? This plan will not support Big Island or her people. You do not have to go through the motions and move it forward. There are so many things wrong with it. You can stop it. Mahalo, Michelle Melendez -Freedom Activist Fitness and Wellness Expert Since 1996 Author Of The Best Selling and 4x Award Winning Book, End Dieting Hell: How to find peace in your body and release the weight Order your copy of End Dieting Hell Click Here Great Maui Land Grab" NOW Available here On Sat, Nov 23, 2024 at 4:10 PM Michelle Melendez<michelle@blossominnerwellness.com> wrote: Aloha Commissioners, Here is the information you need to know before recommending electric cars come to the Big Island. https://youtu.be/K5vDWhMHTwE?si=dZdYkT-zdV-QCMap It will explain What really happens when an electric car catches on fire? And does your fire department know how to put these raging infernos out? Please do not bring these cars to the island. It will be like the mongoose, fire ants, and more! Mahalo, Michelle Melendez -Freedom Activist Fitness and Wellness Expert Since 1996 Author Of The Best Selling and 4x Award Winning Book, End Dieting Hell: How to find peace in your body and release the weight Order your copy of End Dieting Hell Click Here Great Maui Land Grab" NOW Available here On Sat, Nov 23, 2024 at 8:50 AM Michelle Melendez michelle@blossominnerwellness.com> wrote: Aloha Commissioners, If this is a plan locals have supported and they're being contacted with each new draft, as Mr. Kern stated yesterday, why hasn't one person shown up? Mr. Kern wasn't sworn in and asked to raise his right hand to swear to tell the truth. I think he should be. Concerns about the plan: Reduced Miles Traveled" should be changed to "Travel Alternatives". It's against the Constitution to deprive people of their right to travel. That language must be removed from the plan or you, and all those who created this plan are in violation of your oath of office. (No disrespect intended. That is simply the truth.) Electric Vehicles (EV): They want to put charging stations around Big Island for EV which will have more impact on the already impacted grid. How this is being considered disturbs me greatly. There are already power -shortages on the island. This would hinder it even more. Plus, as I've stated in my previous email, EV's are dangerous. Here is a quote from a firefighter. "The problem with EVs is that the lithium -ion batteries can actually propagate a fire. In fact, they can actually encourage afire. If afire has already started and you have lithium -ion batteries, they can ignite a lot more vigorously compared to any other cars ," said Captain Rahul Khanna, the Global Head of Marine Consulting at Allianz; he has 26 years' experience in the shipping and maritime industry and 14 years in various ranks on merchant ships. . Source: "Is It Safe To Ship Thousands Of Electric Cars On Big Ships?" by Mark Vaughn, May 10, 2022.https://www.autoweek.com/news/industry- news/a39951439/is-it-safe-to-ship-thousands-of-electric-cars-on-big-ships/ How will we remove these dangerous cars once they are retired? What about the cost to dispose of EV batteries once they are no longer in use? These batteries cannot simply be thrown away. They are toxic to the environment and people. Hawaii is an island. So will you ship these batteries off island or store them and their toxic waste on the island? They should not be allowed here. What happens if the grid goes down? How will people charge their EV? Off Grid Living: This plan wants to work with the DOH around water catchment. The last thing locals want are more regulations and fines for off grid living. Not one person has died from unhealthy water catchment. This should be removed from the plan. Locals know how to take care of themselves. That is not the government's job. Please help stop government overreach. Carbon: There is a section on the plan about reducing carbon. This should be removed. It is government overreach and will increase regulations and reduce freedom for people under a false premise. The General Plan manager stated that they did research with the Federal Government, not actual weather experts and scientists. Gregg Braden is a geologist, five -time New York Times best-selling author, scientist, international educator, and renowned as a pioneer in the emerging paradigm based in science, social policy, and human potential, had this to say about the dangers of carbon on the planet: "The idea that carbon dioxide is a poison is a false narrative to begin with. We are carbon -based beings. By demonizing carbon dioxide and carbon life, we're actually demonizing ourselves. Source: "Gregg Braden - Why "THE POWERS THAT BE" are So Desperate to Reduce Carbon Dioxide on OUR Planet?" by Gregg Braden Official, January 11, 2023. https://youtu.be/7vJ-Qefos8A?si=BviOKcdznXx6tgSQ Braden also stated in the same interview: "Ifyou could look at the ice cores in Antarctica and Greenland, you would see that the temperature of the Earth increases or decreases around 800 years before the change in carbon dioxide. That means carbon dioxide does not drive the change; it is the response to the temperature change. "We're being led to believe that carbon levels ofCO2 have never been higher; that the Earth is going to be destroyed ifthey are higher; and that CO2 is the driving temperature, both ofwhich are not true." Climate Change: This entire section should be removed. It is absolute government overreach again on a false premise. An article at Britannica.com written by Thor Arthur Hansen, Professor of Invertebrate Paleontology, Paleoecology, and Evolution at Western Washington University, U.S., and Carl Fred Koch, Professor of Geological Sciences at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia. It was fact - checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica and last updated on Feb 7, 2024. The article said that sea level was higher primarily because the water in the ocean basins was displaced by the enlargement of mid -oceanic ridges . It was not due to carbon! It was due to the Earth's mantle. Source: "Cretaceous Period," by Carl Fre Koch, Thor Arthur Hansen, https://www.britannica.com/science/Cretaceous-Period If you need more experts proving what they are saying in the plan is false, let me know. It is important to have experts give their opinion and not those invested in renewable energy. Rezoning: The plan will not directly rezone areas but it opens the door to rezoning in many many areas. This will change people's way of life and have a huge impact on the future of our keiki. What local would want that? This plan should be stopped immediately. It is not the plan that 4K locals worked on. No local would want... Their property value to be reduced To turn much of the coastland to conservation and have that impact people's property value and right to enjoy the land To have more regulations, policies and fines To have "incentives" ie. tax increases, to force people to do what the government wants There are no sections in the plan for: Supporting people to grow more food. The needed CDP for Hilo More roads to evacuate from South Kona, Waikoloa, and Puna No mention of the fracking that is going on here Supporting and enhancing the systems that are already here This plan does not support this island. It is a massive government overreach. Mahalo for your time. My passion is not meant to be disrespectful. I know you are volunteers and I more than appreciate what you're doing. Standing up and saying this is a no go, won't be easy. For the future of this island and the keiki, I hope you're brave enough to do it. Mahalo Nui Loa, Michelle Melendez -Freedom Activist Fitness and Wellness Expert Since 1996 Author Of The Best Selling and 4x Award Winning Book, End Dieting Hell: How to find peace in your body and release the weight Order your copy of End Dieting Hell Click Here Great Maui Land Grab" NOW Available here From: Michelle Melendez To: WPCtestimony; LPCtestimony Subject: General Plan: Question About Your Comments After Testimonies Date: Sunday, November 24, 2024 4:23:08 PM Aloha Commissioners, I heard that you changed "Stakeholders" to "Interested Parties". That was not the issue. Even though the word "Stakeholder" should be changed, the issue is the definition. It reads as if anyone in the entire world can influence the Big Island GP. That is the problem we have. Change the definition along with the name. It would be better to change it to "Local Communities". The definition could be: All local communities including homeowners, farmers, Big Island investors, renters, business owners. I sent you an email about this earlier with the complete definition. I'd be very grateful ifyou used that. Local Communities are who should have the most influence on our GP, not just anyone. Agenda 21 is not in the plan. We were talking about the fact that this GP 2045 is modeled like the UN Agenda 21 plan. This is not good. You will understand more if you watch Rosa Koire, who went around the nation speaking to County Councils. She was a 30 year director of transportation for the State of California and an expert witness on Eminent Domain. https://youtu.be/o8-bcAwc28s?si=inEsFE-ZYs2k86hk The video above will let you know why we are all very concerned about this plan. It would be greatly appreciated if you watched it. Even if it's only 10 minutes. Page 32: Environmental Protection should be changed to Environmental Stewardship. Protection implies more rules and regulations and "incentives" i.e. higher taxes if people don't comply. Not okay. We need to grow more food and be stewards of the land so Big Island is more self-sufficient and not reduce the use of available land to grow more food on. Here is an amazing Ag Village plan that should absolutely be in the plan: Ag Village to add to the General Plan: Papaikou Ag Village Objectives: https://www.standtogetherhawaii. com/_file s/ugd/86fc0c_2cb 1 cc6d604f4cdd971 ad40831 c745bc.pdf Papaikou Site Plan: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fc0c_5e4cdb02efeb46a5ae949a3579aff00d.pdf Papaikou Development: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fc0c_c2af52c8b3c645b1 a6868a724eee8304.pdf Lastly, page 32 "Social & Cultural Equity" should change to "Thriving Communities". The word Equity" opens the door to more rules and regulations. It means fairness. Who gets to decide what is fair? I think we've all had enough of the models of "fairness" in the world that are separating people. Make it "Thriving Communities" and instead of focusing on what is fair, let's focus on how our communities can thrive together. I really appreciate you all making an effort to understand what we are talking about. This plan will set up the future of our island. We must get it right for future generations to thrive and be happy. Mahalo for your amazing diligence, Michelle Melendez -Freedom Activist Fitness and Wellness Expert Since 1996 Author Of The Best Selling and 4x Award Winning Book, End Dieting Hell: How to find peace in your body and release the weight Order your copy of End Dieting Hell Click Here Great Maui Land Grab" NOW Available here On Sun, Nov 24, 2024 at 1:08 PM Michelle Melendez <michelle@blossominnerwellness.com> wrote: Aloha Commissioners, Hawaii House Minority Leader Representative Diamond Garcia said, "The Homeland Commission Act was passed in 1920 by Republican Congressman Prince Kuhio, and put into law in 1921. It was set to have 208,000 acres of Hawaii land for native Hawaiians." Why does the State want to take more land from the people instead of honouring this law and give land back to Hawaiian natives? This plan will not support Big Island or her people. You do not have to go through the motions and move it forward. There are so many things wrong with it. You can stop it. Mahalo, Michelle Melendez -Freedom Activist Fitness and Wellness Expert Since 1996 Author Of The Best Selling and 4x Award Winning Book, End Dieting Hell: How to find peace in your body and release the weight Order your copy of End Dieting Hell Click Here Great Maui Land Grab" NOW Available here On Sat, Nov 23, 2024 at 4:10 PM Michelle Melendez <michelle@blossominnerwellness.com> wrote: Aloha Commissioners, Here is the information you need to know before recommending electric cars come to the Big Island. https://youtu.be/K5vDWhMHTwE?si=dZdYkT-zdV-QCMap It will explain What really happens when an electric car catches on fire? And does your fire department know how to put these raging infernos out? Please do not bring these cars to the island. It will be like the mongoose, fire ants, and more! Mahalo, Michelle Melendez -Freedom Activist Fitness and Wellness Expert Since 1996 Author Of The Best Selling and 4x Award Winning Book, End Dieting Hell: How to find peace in your body and release the weight Order your copy of End Dieting Hell Click Here Great Maui Land Grab" NOW Available here On Sat, Nov 23, 2024 at 8:50 AM Michelle Melendez<michelle@blossominnerwellness.com> wrote: Aloha Commissioners, If this is a plan locals have supported and they're being contacted with each new draft, as Mr. Kern stated yesterday, why hasn't one person shown up? Mr. Kern wasn't sworn in and asked to raise his right hand to swear to tell the truth. I think he should be. Concerns about the plan: Reduced Miles Traveled" should be changed to "Travel Alternatives". It's against the Constitution to deprive people of their right to travel. That language must be removed from the plan or you, and all those who created this plan are in violation of your oath of office. No disrespect intended. That is simply the truth.) Electric Vehicles (EV): They want to put charging stations around Big Island for EV which will have more impact on the already impacted grid. How this is being considered disturbs me greatly. There are already power -shortages on the island. This would hinder it even more. Plus, as I've stated in my previous email, EV's are dangerous. Here is a quote from a firefighter. "The problem with EVs is that the lithium -ion batteries can actually propagate afire. Infact, they can actually encourage afire. Ifa fire has already started and you have lithium -ion batteries, they can ignite a lot more vigorously compared to any other cars ," said Captain Rahul Khanna, the Global Head ofMarine Consulting at Allianz; he has 26 years' experience in the shipping and maritime industry and 14 years in various ranks on merchant ships. . Source: "Is It Safe To Ship Thousands Of Electric Cars On Big Ships?" by Mark Vaughn, May 10, 2022.https://www.autoweek. com/news/industry-news/a39951439/is-it-safe-to-ship-thousands-of- electric-cars-on-big-ships/ How will we remove these dangerous cars once they are retired? What about the cost to dispose of EV batteries once they are no longer in use? These batteries cannot simply be thrown away. They are toxic to the environment and people. Hawaii is an island. So will you ship these batteries off island or store them and their toxic waste on the island? They should not be allowed here. What happens if the grid goes down? How will people charge their EV? Off Grid Living: This plan wants to work with the DOH around water catchment. The last thing locals want are more regulations and fines for off grid living. Not one person has died from unhealthy water catchment. This should be removed from the plan. Locals know how to take care of themselves. That is not the government's job. Please help stop government overreach. Carbon: There is a section on the plan about reducing carbon. This should be removed. It is government overreach and will increase regulations and reduce freedom for people under a false premise. The General Plan manager stated that they did research with the Federal Government, not actual weather experts and scientists. Gregg Braden is a geologist, five - time New York Times best-selling author, scientist, international educator, and renowned as a pioneer in the emerging paradigm based in science, social policy, and human potential, had this to say about the dangers of carbon on the planet: "The idea that carbon dioxide is a poison is afalse narrative to begin with. We are carbon -based beings. By demonizing carbon dioxide and carbon life, we're actually demonizing ourselves. Source: "Gregg Braden - Why "THE POWERS THAT BE" are So Desperate to Reduce Carbon Dioxide on OUR Planet?" by Gregg Braden Official, January 11, 2023. https://youtu.be/7vJ-Qefos8A? si=BviOKcdznXx6tgSQ Braden also stated in the same interview: `Ifyou could look at the ice cores in Antarctica and Greenland, you would see that the temperature of the Earth increases or decreases around 800 years before the change in carbon dioxide. That means carbon dioxide does not drive the change; it is the response to the temperature change. "We're being led to believe that carbon levels of CO2 have never been higher; that the Earth is going to be destroyed ifthey are higher; and that CO2 is the driving temperature, both ofwhich are not true." Climate Change: This entire section should be removed. It is absolute government overreach again on a false premise. An article at Britannica.com written by Thor Arthur Hansen, Professor of Invertebrate Paleontology, Paleoecology, and Evolution at Western Washington University, U.S., and Carl Fred Koch, Professor of Geological Sciences at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia. It was fact -checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica and last updated on Feb 7, 2024. The article said that sea level was higher primarily because the water in the ocean basins was displaced by the enlargement of mid -oceanic ridges . It was not due to carbon! It was due to the Earth's mantle. Source: "Cretaceous Period," by Carl Fre Koch, Thor Arthur Hansen, https://www.britannica.com/science/Cretaceous-Period If you need more experts proving what they are saying in the plan is false, let me know. It is important to have experts give their opinion and not those invested in renewable energy. Rezoning: The plan will not directly rezone areas but it opens the door to rezoning in many many areas. This will change people's way of life and have a huge impact on the future of our keiki. What local would want that? This plan should be stopped immediately. It is not the plan that 4K locals worked on. No local would want... Their property value to be reduced To turn much of the coastland to conservation and have that impact people's property value and right to enjoy the land To have more regulations, policies and fines To have "incentives" ie. tax increases, to force people to do what the government wants There are no sections in the plan for: Supporting people to grow more food. The needed CDP for Hilo More roads to evacuate from South Kona, Waikoloa, and Puna No mention of the fracking that is going on here Supporting and enhancing the systems that are already here This plan does not support this island. It is a massive government overreach. Mahalo for your time. My passion is not meant to be disrespectful. I know you are volunteers and I more than appreciate what you're doing. Standing up and saying this is a no go, won't be easy. For the future of this island and the keiki, I hope you're brave enough to do it. Mahalo Nui Loa, Michelle Melendez -Freedom Activist Fitness and Wellness Expert Since 1996 Author Of The Best Selling and 4x Award Winning Book, End Dieting Hell: How to find peace in your body and release the weight Order your copy of End Dieting Hell Click Here Great Maui Land Grab" NOW Available here From: Rebecca Melendez To: LPCtestimonv; WPCtestimonv Subject: General Plan Opposing Testimony Date: Monday, November 25, 2024 7:41:55 PM Dear Council Members, I ask you to please sincerely look at and ask why the Hawai'i Planning Department is changing Land Titles all over the Big Island in their General Plan because this will affect the people who own these lands and their families' futures, as well please look for high-end developers Land Title changes from agriculture to urban because this will cause serious issues on the Big Island and high-end developers land titles should NOT be changed in a General Plan. The Big Island has a lot of resource issues and high-end developer's land should NOT have their Land Titles changed in the General Plan. Here are a few resource News Articles that prove my point about Big Island resources: Hawaiian Electric Customers On Big Island Urged To Conserve Power - Honolulu Civil Beat Microsoft Word - Unit Blueprint - Hawaii's Freshwater Ecosystems.doc Here is a petition that will give you more information on Big Island resources with 530 signatures asking for no more developments because the island's resources need to be addressed Petition Help Big Island Resources and Infrastructure Stay Safe For ALL Who Live Here and Visit - United States Change.org This General Plan is extremely vague at times and it could mean more than one thing in many different areas. They need to make this plan extremely clear for all of us to understand their true intentions. This General Plan's map is very challenging to understand, and CANNOT be understood by the average resident. They need a map that will show simple photos of what they want to change and why, with who made all these changes and where is their research on why these changes are a good idea. https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/f073ef273f054cea97b12bf658def023/page/Land- UsL Why are they not using any of the past General Plan's? This is a good question to ask to learn why they want to completely change Big Island. I was sent this information. Please watch for this kind of information in their General Plan. I just saw the new plans for Kona by SmartCode which was published by New Urban Publications Inc. A guide line used for other communities. Basically expect more apartment buildings, smaller communities within walking distance to transits. Also more lower income apartments instead of houses. The Civic center that will be built will stand out above all other buildings. It will be the gathering place for communities. Skimming through these plans I see no need for vehicles, churches or homes. 1.3.3 Block and Building- f.ThatCIVIC BUILDINGS and public gathering places be provided as locations that reinforce community identity and support self-government. g.ThatCIVIC BUILDINGS be distinctive and appropriate to a role more important than the other buildings that constitute fabric of village. Kind of reminds me of hunger games and a 15min city combined. PLEASE STAND AND STOP THIS GENERAL PLAN FROM CREATING A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT KIND OF COMMUNITY ON THE ISLAND THAT WILL FAVOR HIGH-END DEVELOPERS. PLEASE KEEP THE BIG ISLAND'S LAND AND COMMUNITY SAFE FOR ALL WHO LIVE HERE. PLEASE PROTECT PERSONAL PRIVATE LANDS FROM LAND USE TITLE CHANGES AND OTHER CHANGES STATED IN THIS PLAN THAT WILL AFFECT THEIR LAND FOREVER. Thank you for hearing our voices. Sincerely, Rebecca Melendez P.S. Please watch for the above issues in this General Plan because the Hawai'i Planning Director Zendo Kern is NOT for the preservation of the land, is NOT for community voices, is NOT for the protection of marine life and island resources, and IS for high-end developers: Hundreds Of Hawaii Island Residents Protest Proposed Housing Project In Punaluu - Honolulu Civil Beat and the Hawai'i Planning Director didn't listen to community voices and favored this developer. petition: All Who Oppose the Resort in Punalu`u Ka'u This petition has almost 19,000 signatures trying to SAVE Punalu'u from development and still Zendo Kern gave the "green light" for this development. Polluted runoff in Hawaii endangers green sea turtlesChemservice News This article was written 10 years ago saying harmful pollution has come from developments and Zendo Kern still favored high-end developments for years after. New Directors of Housing, Planning In Hawaii County Tied to Developers nfli •f in -r- K-rn i_n •ff on i. .r• ,1 of .r•' - consultant - West Hawaii Today r .r n - tit mmn From: ascendingstarseed To: WPCtestimony; LPCtestimony Subject: Revise Hawaii General Plan Testimony Here Date: Saturday, November 30, 2024 12:24:11 PM Aloha Commissioners, The Big island Plan cannot go through the way it is designed. It is hard to believe any local helped design this plan. Here are some concerns: There is a huge part of the plan dedicated to "Climate Change". However, why do most experts state there is NO climate danger? Climate Experts Speak Out Against Climate Danger Click Here! The word "Stakeholder," defined in the plan, is written 86 times and literally means anyone in the entire world can have input on this 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 and management are crucial for the success and sustainability of any initiative, as it helps ensure that diverse perspectives and interests are considered. 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. The Planning Department has sent out letters too many homeowners telling them their land use will be changed from resident to recreation due to the General Plan 2045. This will drastically lower 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. There is a huge section on climate change and things that will be affected. This needs to be further 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. Hilo does not have a Community Development Plan. How can a Big Island General Plan move forward without that? Hilo is 22% of the island. 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 landsfor the protection ofnatural resources." Incentives" mean more taxes. "Protection" means more rules. Who's "values" is this plan referring too because it's not the locals? "Pursue the acquisition of lands" does this say they are going to pursing taking people's private property? Again with "protection of natural resources". This plan should be focused on people growing more food and it is doing the exact opposite! 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 of Papaikou, 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 2cb1 cc6d604f4cdd971 ad40831 c745bc.pd Papaikou Site Plan: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/files/ugd/86fc0c5e4cdb02efeb46a5ae949a3579aff00d.pdf Papaikou Development: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/ files/ugd/86fc0c_c2af52c8b3c645b 1 a6868a724eee8304.pdf A Hawaiian born Kanaka revised the Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship that is in the plan. You can see it in the pdf below: Part One: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/files/ugd/86fc0cOald5be8f1 d140069415f7b691725786.pdf Part Two: https://86fc0cbd-8207-4076-85fa- 5a62e4e933b4.usrfiles.com/ugd/86fc0c_ecc498ba192d4a7689ebf31 c3681 c2ec.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. Annette O'Toole From: L Pasco To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimon ; Ken; Michelle Melendez Subject: response to Hawaii County General Plan 2045 Date: Sunday, December 1, 2024 11:15:46 AM Attachments: The County of Hawaii General Plan 2045 needs to be rewritten 2.paaes Importance: High Hawaii County Planning Commissioners - The County of Hawaii General Plan 2045 needs to be trashed and rewritten. This general plan 2045 is full of double -speak, in the guise of politically -correct jargon. It proposes to give powers to the County and State governments that will destroy our constitutional republic. The General Plan 2045 severely abridges the right of personal liberty which our constitution so preciously, and jealously guards for the people, and for posterity. You, who are putting the words together in this planning document, callously override the most important value and spirit of our republic, that of liberty, without a word of discussion or dissent about these abridgements. The destruction of personal liberty may appear to be justified under our present, manmade climate -fear mainstream narrative, but what are the actual facts that prove the existence of a manmade climate catastrophe which you are using to allow for the possible abridging of the people's rights? Certainly the sea level rise problem has not happened, as Liliuokalani Park in Hilo is still not inundated after 100 years. What other errors, distortions, and lies have been pushed as real facts? Are you certain that there are no other scientists with opposing facts and information? Are you working with facts or are you working with politicized ideologies? Where is your due diligence? These is your responsibility. Ignorance has no place in scientific inquiry. To ignore any fact -based and reasoned presentation of contrary information is ignorance. Making policy decisions based on these one-sided, unscientific and politicized ideologies is the ruin of honest government and in our case the destruction of our constitutional republic. The ramifications of proceeding with this commission's approval of General Plan 2045 and its proveably unscientific reasoning will result in a future where only the wealthy will own businesses, and property, and homes. The liberties and rights of the people, presently guaranteed protection by our constitution, will be eliminated. You and your progeny will curse this document that you expect the County Council to ratify and make into a legally referenced guide for the future. You and your families will have to live with the unconstituional overreach and tyranical abuse that the hypnotic language of this plan would allow. The people will own nothing but will not be happy! Aloha , Loretta Pasco From: Eileen Downing To: WPCtestimony; LPCtestimony Subject: Revise Hawaii General Plan Date: Monday, December 2, 2024 11:41:55 AM Attachments: Big Island General Plan 2045 Testimony .pdf Aloha Commissioners, The Big island Plan cannot go through the way it is designed. It is hard to believe any local helped design this plan. Here are some concerns: There is a huge part of the plan dedicated to "Climate Change". However, why do most experts state there is NO climate danger? Climate Experts Speak Out Against Climate Danger Click Here! The word "Stakeholder," defined in the plan, is written 86 times and literally means anyone in the entire world can have input on this 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 and management are crucial for the success and sustainability of any initiative, as it helps ensure that diverse perspectives and interests are considered. 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. The Planning Department has sent out letters too many homeowners telling them their land use will be changed from resident to recreation due to the General Plan 2045. This will drastically lower 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. There is a huge section on climate change and things that will be affected. This needs to be further 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. Hilo does not have a Community Development Plan. How can a Big Island General Plan move forward without that? Hilo is 22% of the island. 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 too because it's not the locals? "Pursue the acquisition of lands" does this say they are going to pursing taking people's private property? Again with "protection of natural resources". This plan should be focused on people growing more food and it is doing the exact opposite! 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 of Papaikou, 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_2cb1 cc6d604f4cdd971 ad40831 c745bc.pdf Papaikou Site Plan: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fc0c_5e4cdb02efeb46a5ae949a3579aff00d.pdf Papaikou Development: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fc0c_c2af52c8b3c645b1 a6868a724eee8304.pdf A Hawaiian born Kanaka revised the Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship that is in the plan. You can see it in the pdf below: Part One: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fc0c_Oa1 d5be8f1 d140069415f7b691725786.pdf Part Two: https://86fc0cbd-8207-4076-85fa- 5a62e4e933b4.usrfiles.com/ugd/86fc0c_ecc498ba192d4a7689ebf31 c3681 c2ec.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. Respectfully, Eileen Downing Legend: Black: Directly out of General Plan Red: Edit Yellow Highlighted is requesting text to be Removed Pink Highlighted is a Concern/Comments Page: 27 Implementation Strategies Zoning & Land Use Regulations Update regulations to align with the goals of the General Plan." Please change to: "Update regulations" to "align with the goals of local Communities and the General Plan." Public -Private Partnerships Collaborate with private entities and homeowners to achieve mutual development and conservation objectives." CONCERN: The word "Homeowner" is not written anywhere in the entire plan. That is VERY concerning. Why are you leaving homeowners out of the general plan that will affect them and their future generations? Please include "homeowner" wherever "stakeholder" is and where suggested in this document. Also, please be clear about who these private entities are that you want to collaborate with so this is more transparent. Community Engagement Continuously engage residents and stakeholders in the decision- making process." CONCERN: The community deserves to know who "Stakeholders" are and EXACTLY what they have stake in. Please define. Page: 28 1.1 The purposes of the General Plan are to: Provide the framework for regulatory decisions, capital improvement priorities, acquisition strategies, and other pertinent government programs within the County organization and coordinated with State and Federal programs. This sounds like you want to take people's property through acquisition and regulate the heck out of locals. Please change to the following: Provide framework that supports local farmers and communities without further regulations, capital improvement priorities, and other pertinent local and government programs within the County organization and coordinate with State and Federal programs to support thriving communities. Promote and safeguard the public interest and the interest of the County as a whole." Please change to the following: "Promote and safeguard the public interest and the interest of the County as a whole without violating personal freedoms, the Constitution or further regulating the public." Effect political and technical coordination in community improvement and development." CONCERN: This sounds like you will bring politics into community living. That is not pono. Please change to: "Effect strategies that support community improvements and development for locals." The 2045 General Plan is the primary policy document for county agencies, planning commissions, elected officials, landowners, developers, and citizens to guide land use policy decisions for the Island of Hawaii." Please change to: The 2045 General Plan is the primary policy document for county agencies, planning commissions, elected officials, landowners, homeowners, developers, and locals to guide land use policy decisions for the Island of Hawaii. Please add: (a) The general plan shall contain a statement of development objectives, standards and principles with respect to the most desirable use of land within the county for residential, recreational, agricultural, commercial, industrial and other purposes which shall be consistent with proper conservation of natural resources without violating personal rights and freedoms, and supporting local communities to prosper, and the preservation of our natural beauty and historical sites, while still giving access to the public; the most desirable density of population in the several parts of the county (Remove) b) The council shall enact zoning, subdivision, and such other ordinances which shall contain the necessary provisions to support thriving communities, farmers and homeowners. The way it is currently written describes zoning people out of their homes with more regulations and fines. Page 29: d) Amendments to the general plan may be initiated by the council or the planning director giving adequate notice to the public for needed testimony. Page 32: CONCERN WITH THE THREE CIRCLE "SUSTAINABILITY" DIAGRAM: The words: Sustainability and Equity are part of a political woke vocabulary and should not be in the Hawaii General Plan. Also, "Social and Culture Equity" should be removed. It is not the responsibility of the planning department to control the behavior of people. That again is a "woke" agenda. Nor does this language reflect a thriving community. "Environmental Protection" gives the impression of more regulations and a reduction of people's rights. Please remove it. Instead call it: INNOVATION with these 3 circles: Economic Alternatives, Environmental Support, Thriving Communities The goal of the planning department should be to create an environment of prosperity and not one of over regulation and constraints on locals. We can do those through new innovations and not sustainability. Sustainability moves Big Island backwards not forward! 1.4 Innovation Principles and Practices CONCERN: Big Island needs to move toward free energy, which is available and not more regulations on what we have. Change: Integrating innovation into the General Plan is crucial for fostering long-term resilience and thriving communities. Change: "This includes increasing the effectiveness of new technologies to support local communities, improving coordination among various agencies and levels of government, and finding new and innovative ways to support our natural and cultural resources. for better development that supports a thriving environment, economic alternatives (sharing without taxes, trading without regulation), and flourishing communities. The General Plan recognizes this need and aligns with the Hawaii 2050 Sustainability Plan,, which sets a strategic framework for achieving a sustainable future. By embedding sustainability principles into its core, this Plan sets forth a cohesive and forward- thinking strategy that addresses key challenges and anticipates future needs." Please remove what is highlighted! CONCERN: By using the word "Sustainable" you are not supporting Hawaii to move forward. You are creating more control of the environment, and communities. That is not Pono and violates the HS [§5-7.5] "Aloha Spirit": "Aloha" means mutual regard and affection and extends warmth in caring with no obligation in return. If the planning department creates a general plan that adds more regulations and constraints on locals, they violate the Aloha Spirit law. The Hawaii 2050 Innovation Plan "created the State's first definition of sustainability" (remove): A Hawaii that achieves the following: 1. Respects the culture, character, beauty, and history of our state's island communities; 2. Support a thriving community both socially and economically as we support our environment to heal and prosper; and 3. Meets the needs of the present without violating freedoms or compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Page 33: In the diagram: Regulatory Measures" County Code Administrative Rules Permits This shows that this general plan will increase restrictions and fees on farmers and other locals. This is not Pono. The plan should reflect innovation not constraints against the population. Please change to CHANGE TO: Innovation Practices" Implement new resources Administration support Economic Alternatives Remove "permits". Stop trying to permit the population to death! CURRENTLY: The Plan also incorporates guidelines to serve as strategic directions and standards to inform decisions regarding topics such as land use, infrastructure, housing, and resource management. These guidelines help to ensure consistency in planning and implementation, promoting sustainable growth, environmental stewardship, and community well-being. (This is a complete overreach of the government. You cannot tell people what to do with their property! It is NOT the responsibility of the planning department to ensure people's well-being! This should be revised to support environment, innovations, and thriving communities.) Vision: The ability to plan for the future with creativity and innovation in support of thriving communities. Goal: To see Hawaii Island become self-sustaining as communities and the environment prosper Objective: Measurable, achievable, and time -bound milestones toward achieving a goal. Guideline: A stated course of action that shall take precedence when addressing areas of concern and should be followed, unless a determination is made that it is not the most desirable in a particular case; thus, a guideline may be deviated from without penalty or sanction as longe as it supports thriving communities, economic alternatives and supporting the environment. Page 34 Regulatory Implementing Actions (Locals DO NOT need more regulations and hoops to jump through. That will not support thriving communities.) Regulatory implementing actions are one of two types of approaches used in the General Plan to pursue the vision, goals, and objectives. Regulatory actions are controlling in that they define boundaries, development parameters, and measures intended to implement goals or objectives. The three regulatory implementing actions in the Plan include: Please change the last paragraph to: Work with local communities to pursue the vision, goals, and objectives. Find fair and supportive directions to define boundaries, development parameters, and measures intended to implement goals or objectives. Three actions in the Plan include: General Plan Land Use Map: A map that graphically delineates the areas of intended future land use types that support thriving communities and environmental support and do not hinder personal freedoms. Policy: A general rule for action focused on a specific issue, derived from more general goals3that also support thriving communities and supporting the environment. Standard: A supportive measure that defines the meaning, quality, or quantity of a policy by providing a way to measure its attainment. In the General Plan, future land use maps, policies, and standards are specific to the actions through which zoning ordinances, subdivisions, and public improvements or projects are initiated or adopted through innovations and are flexible to support thriving communities. because, as they must conform to and implement the general plan in accordance with the County Charter, Section 3-15." Remove! The word "conform" is concerning. We are not in Communist China. Please revise to support thriving communities. Non -regulatory implementing actions typically involve community engagement, education and outreach, partnership development, and resource allocation to encourage support from the community (remove "compliance") and proactive efforts. This approach allows for flexibility and innovation in achieving the Plan's vision. Throughout the General Plan, the objectives and policies are followed by a set of implementing actions. There are three types: Add: Community Support: Taking testimony and revisions from the community seriously and implementing where possible. Page 35: 1.6 Grounded Vision and Goals As we navigate our future, maintaining a balance between economic alternatives, environmental support, and thriving communities is paramount. By integrating those established values and principles, the General Plan ensures continuity and reflects the collective vision of Hawaii Island residents, guiding new innovation developments while honoring our unique cultural and environmental heritage. The four primary chapters of the Plan encompass the innovation pillars of environment, community, and economy, as outlined in the Hawaii State Planning Act Goals. General Plan Vision Statement Hawaii Island is an exemplary leader with healthy and resilient communities that are built by innovative developments, a thriving and diversified local economy, and collaborative biocultural stewardship with locals. General Plan Chapter Goal Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship Natural and cultural resources are thriving and sustainably managed, preserved, and restored to maintain our unique and diverse environment and use innovative techniques if and when appropriate to support future growth. Addressing Climate Change for Island -Wide Health CONCERN: Please realize there is no climate change emergency. 1944 credentialed scientists from around the world have signed a "No Climate Change Emergency Declaration". You can find it here: Ensure the science is followed and investigate credentialed scientists and the Milankovitch cycles of which both have shown the earth is cooling. Since humans have less than 1% impact on climate, start supporting ways that we can maintain a healthy island by incorporating policies, rram,, anddegsonSmakingtructurethatsupport the environment and thriving communities. And NOT policies that take away more freedoms and regulate locals to death! Hawaii Island will not believe in false narratives with political agendas. https://clintel.org/world-climate-declaration/ Humans have less than 1% affect on climate. Please do your own research on this. Innovative Development & Thriving We strategically apply innovative land use Communities strategies incorporating indigenous and contemporary knowledge and place-based practices to direct and manage growth for thriving communities. It is NOT the responsibility of the planning Each community is connected by adepartmenttomanagethehealthandsafety of communities. That is an overreach of the multimodal and modernized transportation government! network that provides a system for safe, efficient, and comfortable movement of people and goods. Our communities are adequately served by innovation and efficient public infrastructure, utilities, and services based on existing and future growth needs, sound design principles, and effective maintenance practices. Our communities are thriving and supported and have access to integrative health, education, and social services to support a high quality of life for all residents. Residents have access to adequate (change to: comfortable) and affordable housing to meet the needs of the population and provide equitable (remove) opportunities for household flexibility and mobility. We employ integrated systems that are efficient, equitable (remove), fair, and organized to facilitate coordination and collaboration. Thriving, Diversified, Competitive with Our economy is competitive, innovative, and Economic Alternatives supportive. It helps our communities thrive and increases local economic opportunities. Agriculture is a robust sector that supports local farmers and includes a broad range of agricultural-based businesses that highlight value, organic and good health practices. A high quality of life for locals is maintained when a supportive visitor industry balances economic growth with natural and cultural responsibility. Page: 38 2.1 Introduction Collaborative biocultural (remove) stewardship is an approach to innovation development that emphasizes collaboration and partnership building among stakeholders (VVho are they and what do they have stake in?), and homeowners and integrates natural and cultural resource management strategies to promote thriving communities. conservation, sustainability, and resilience (remove). Cooperative efforts aimed at achieving innovative development sustainable management remove) of ecological systems are crucial for protecting our natural and built environments. Land use planning and management should be holistic, inclusive (remove), and adaptive to reflect thriving communities values, knowledge, and aspirations (remove). The General Plan provides key strategies to achieve biocultural (remove) supportive stewardship, including community engagement, partnership building, collaborative decision-making, and collective action. Environmental and social systems are complex and dynamic. These systems will require adaptive management and continuous learning as we navigate the future. The policies presented in this section seek to foster partnerships that are based on mutual respect, trust, and shared values. The community engagement process must be inclusive to incorporate diverse perspectives and knowledge systems into conservation and development strategies. Following such practices can promote the co -creation of knowledge, the sharing of resources, and the empowerment of communities. By leveraging the strengths and resources of different stakeholders REMOVE (VVho are they and what do they have stake in?), and homeowners we can enhance the capacity of communities to manage natural and cultural resources sustainably remove). We can also facilitate the creation of new networks and alliances, promoting social cohesion and resilience. Ultimately, the collaborative biocultural stewardship approach can foster a more integrated, inclusive, and equitable approach to conservation and development that reflects the aspirations and needs of local communities. (REMOVE THIS IS LANGUAGE IT IS DESIGNED TO REDUCE FREEDOMS INCREASE GOVERNMENT AND STAKEHOLDER OVERREACH AND BRING IN MORE GOVERNMENT CONTROL) CHANGE TO: We can also facilitate the creation of new innovative programs that support and reflect the aspirations of thriving local communities. This fundamental element of the Plan strives to cultivate a sense of place and connection to the environment and recognizes that the management of natural and cultural resources requires the participation of local communities, government, homeowners and other agencies diverse actors, including communities, governments, non-governmental organizations, and private sector entities. By promoting collaborative decision-making and collective action, we can enhance the effectiveness, equity, and legitimacy of conservation and development and innovative policies. By promoting community-based conservation and restoration strategies, we can enhance ecological integrity, promote biodiversity, and preserve cultural heritage and scenic landscapes.(Redundant Remove) Biocultural stewardship acknowledges the role of cultural diversity in shaping environmental perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors (Remove. People do not want to be manipulated). [It recognizes that cultural practices arising from traditional ecological knowledge are integral to maintaining ecosystem services and biological diversity.] remove) Change to: Cultural practices arising from traditional ecological knowledge are integral to supporting the growth of thriving communities that wish to improve their environment. Page 39: Table 1: Biocultural (change to Land) Stewardship Challenges The word "Bioculture" is reflective of both biological and cultural factors that affect human behavior. Locals do not want the planning department to affect our behavior. Your job is to support the land, environment, and thriving communities. Native Habitat Hawaii has been known as the extinction capital of the world. Climate change and sea level rise pose threats to existing habitats for native flora and fauna. REMOVE (Again, according to 1944 credential scientists from around the world, there is no climate danger. This is a narrative created by the "stakeholders" to move their agenda forward. https://clintel.org/world-climate-declaration/) Has the water level risen in any of the towns in Hawaii? Longer and/or more severe weather and climate change may increase the likelihood of wildfires. REMOVE (The Maui fire was NOT normal. A fire where trees do not burn but glass is melted out of cars, where animals and humans are left recognizable, and where plastic doesn't burn or even melt is not normal. That was an attack and murder of our Lahaina ohana. That is why only 20 building permits have been issued after a year! AND why Lahahina is STILL locked down!) Invasive species continue to pose a threat to native and endemic species as well economic, environmental, and human health. (Reminder: It is not the responsibility of the planning department to protect people's health.) The carrying capacity of our resources is not comprehensively modeled and monitored. Modeled and monitored should be for government agencies.) The County lacks specific regulations for wetlands, riparian ecosystems, or other valuable habitats. Stewardship The County has a limited budget for its large-scale geographic responsibility for the protection of public trust natural and cultural resources. (Revise. This doesn't make sense. VVhat are you trying to say? VVhat responsibility are you talking about? VVhat does the protection of public trust mean?) Hawaii Island has a large variation of unique biomes and ecosystems. The difference between traditional and modern practices along with varying mauka to makai ownership makes it difficult to comprehensively steward natural resources. Page 40 Native Habitat The County can collaborate with the State Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to create models for monitoring the carrying capacity of natural resources that will support farmers and thriving communities. Ongoing conservation work can continue to evolve from species-specific conservation (e.g., Albizia eradication) to focus on ecosystem restoration across multiple land ownership to protect Hawaii's biodiversity and support local farms. Maintaining healthy, native -dominant forests offers immense savings of land biocultural Remove) and water resources that might otherwise be lost to the impacts of climate change Remove) and invasive species. Conservation lands hold significant value in the water resources they represent. Incentivizing and developing regenerative land uses without further regulations or fines, such as agroforestry, can provide sustainable opportunities to ecosystems and communities. Hawaii can become a statewide adaptation and resiliency leader by focusing on its unique strengths and diversity to evolve with changing realities. Urban forestry can be prioritized or incentivized in the County Code. This means more regulations and possible fines. No thank you! Change to: Support the further growth of current urban forestry Watersheds Establish more place -based watershed partnerships to create unique management plans that incorporate the generational knowledge of those water systems and protect our island's watersheds and local farms. Strengthen the integration of Hawaiian biocultural remove resource management and traditional ecological knowledge across County government to support local farms. Practice an integrated approach to ecosystem -based collaborative management that considers the entire ecosystem and local communities. VVatershed protection and management require collaboration and coordination across all levels of government and must include effective community engagement. Revise to: Support VVatershed and management coordination which integrates local communities. Stewardship Hawaii Island has a large variation of its unique natural biomes and ecosystems. Ongoing interagency coordination, including consultation with place -based land stewards,cultural and historical advisory groups, land and homeowners, and other stakeholders being transparent of what they hold stake in. The County can take a more proactive role in exercising its protective public trust role for natural and cultural resources. This sounds like government overreach. Again, the planning department is NOT responsible for protecting the public. That is a byproduct of what you do but it is NOT the main part of your job! Revise to: The County can take a more proactive role in supporting thriving communities and their natural and cultural resources. Maintain and increase involvement with existing partnerships and identify new partners that help promote and enhance biocultural (remove) Land stewardship. Collaborate to complete additional EPA -approved watershed plans to increase eligibility for future conservation funding. Page 41 2.2 Biocultural Stewardship Goal, Objectives, Policies, and Actions Objective 1 Increase the biodiversity and resilience of native habitats. Policies 1.4 Maintain the shoreline for recreational, cultural, educational, and/or scientific uses in a manner that is protective of nature, respectful of resources, and is of the maximum benefit to the general public. 1.8 Prioritize native landscaping for all County projects while allowing communities to enjoy it at their leisure. 1.11 Encourage and incentivize green belts, tree plantings, and landscape plans and designs in urban areas without further regulations or fines. 1.13 Incentivize private land management practices that protect and enhance natural resource and values without further regulations or fines. and, when appropriate, pursue the acquisition of lands for the protection of natural resources (Remove! This is a 110% overreach of the government.) 1.14 Partner with government, private and nonprofit agencies, communities, farmers, homeowners, and other stakeholders (VVhat do they have a stake in? Who are they?) to: Page 42: a) Implement the Hawaii State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) (VVhat is this plan? Where can it be found?) b) Better understand and model carrying capacities of the island's habitats and resources c) Improve the inventory of forested lands and associated ecosystem services d) Encourage the continued identification and inclusion of unique wildlife habitat areas of Native Hawaiian habitat within the Natural Area Reserve System e) Anticipate future habitat migration, especially wetlands and coastal ecosystems f) Prioritize quantitative wetland assessment to identify wetlands g) Expand native and/or endemic forest cover h) Improve enforcement for illegal activities that harm or degrade endemic habitats Who is defining endemic habitats and how is it defined? I MUST be defined by Hawaii citizen commission and not anyone outside Hawaii. Mainland people should NOT be able to define this.) 1.18 Public landscaping and irrigation shall be designed to maximize water use efficiency and native plants. Actions 1.b Review tree survey requirements and amend the Code to incorporate as part of site planning for public use. 1.h Develop buffer policies to protect native forests, wildlife, rivers, streams, coastal waters, and other native habitats without. This is too vague. VVhat policies are you considering and will that come with penalties? If so, remove this. Page 43 1.i Create incentives for landowners to retain and re-establish forest cover in upland watershed areas with an emphasis on native forest species without further regulations or 1.k Amend the landscape standards in Rule or Code (Remove) to require the use of native plants for screening or landscaping. Change to: Support local education on the importance of using native plants for screening or landscaping. 1.1 Amend the Code to incentivize (Remove) Replace with Support local education on the importance of the establishment of threatened and endangered endemic plant species within their habitable ranges during development approvals. 1.m Review the Code and consider amendments to encourage site clustering of development in order to avoid critical environmental areas and assets. REMOVE This is more unneeded regulations. This is BIG Island. People do not need to be ontop of each other. You're promoting too many regulations. 1.n Develop and establish Open Space Network Overlay on current unoccupied territory for natural landscape features, such as beaches and dunes, forests, streams, floodplains, wetlands, estuaries, or recharge areas that have the inherent capacity to avoid, minimize, or mitigate the impacts of climate change (Remove) 1.q Develop comprehensive programs and policies and provide resources for enhancing urban forestry canopy cover in unoccupied areas and without further regulations or fines for local farmers 1.0 Partner with government, private and nonprofit agencies, communities, and other stakeholders and local farmers to develop a program for the identification and protection of plant species of special status, including plants significant for cultural practitioners. Page 44: 2.7 Partner with government, private and nonprofit agencies, communities, farmers, and homeowners, and other stakeholders (Remove. Who are these people and what do they have stake in?) to: o a) Implement a comprehensive conservation plan that identifies priority watershed areas for habitat restoration and enhancement without further regulations or fines on locals. o b) Review and designate forest, river corridors, and watershed areas into the conservation district during State land use boundary comprehensive reviews. o c) Monitor nearshore water quality and impacts to reefs and marine environments and address land-based sources of impacts. o d) Protect and restore wetlands and riparian corridors to ensure more pristine water quality, decrease erosion, and increase sediment management, groundwater infiltration, nutrient/pollutant uptake, soil moisture retention, stormwater abatement, and cultural/community connections without further regulations or fines on locals.. o e) Develop reasonable standards to improve stream and coastal water quality monitoring and encourage local communities to develop such projects without further regulations or fines on locals. Page 45 Objective 3 Increase direct community restoration and collaborative efforts to conserve and nourish the island's biocultural resources. Policies 3.1 Encourage an overall conservation ethic in the use of Hawaii's resources by protecting, preserving, and conserving critical and significant natural resources without further fines and regulation on the population. Pg 47 Actions 4.b Change from: Reassess Certified Local Government status to ensure the support of farmers and homeowners and maximize funding opportunities for self-supporting communities. 4.h Partner with government, private and nonprofit agencies, farmers, homeowners, other local communities, and other stakeholders (remove or let us know what they have stake in) to develop design guidelines for designated communities containing significant historic buildings, sites, or landscapes. 4.i Assess and prioritize County -owned lands for historic site restoration in collaboration with government, private and nonprofit agencies, farmers, homeowners, other local communities, and other stakeholders (remove or let us know what they have stake in). Page 48 Objective 5 Protect, restore, and enhance our communities' unique scenic character. Policies 5.c Develop a process for reviewing and revising guidelines for designating Natural Beauty Sites without invasion of current resident areas or local farms. 5.d Establish a Scenic Resources Protection Program to identify, inventory, and protect areas of significant beauty. The program could include recommendations from the Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project (2016) without invasion of current resident areas or local farms. Page 56 3.1 Introduction The climate change section of the General Plan is intended to be used as a policy guide for the coordinated climate mitigation and adaptation efforts on Hawaii Island. This element provides a high-level policy framework, building on the scientific knowledge and government -level strategies and actions developed in the Integrated Action Plan (ICAP) for the island of Hawaii. This is VERY Concerning! As stated earlier the World Climate Declaration was signed currently by 1,944 scientists stating there is no climate danger. Here is what a few more scientists have to say. On the Boston Globe's YouTube channel, on May 14, 2010, MIT Professor of Meteorology Richard Lindzen shared the following: If one asks, "Is the temperature increasing or decreasing?" it's always doing one or the other. I have no concern about that. By asking people to worry about whether it's going up or down, you're immediately establishing dishonesty. The Earth is always changing. Climate change is nothing you have to prove. It always is happening. It always has happened. So, to make that into something alarming seems a little bit weird to mei." 1 "Global warming: why you should not worry," by the Boston Globe, May 14, 2010. Dr. David DiIley, a former Meteorologist with the National Weather Service, United States Air Force, Senior Research Meteorologist, and Climatologist at Global Weather Oscillations Inc., has 50 years' experience in meteorology and climatology. He's also a working partner in the International Hurricane Protection Association. This is what he has to say about global warming: Global warming begins in the Arctic and Antarctic. It has about a 230 -year cycle. When it comes back, it takes about 20 years for it to hit its peak. It started in the 1990s and hit its peak this past year. With global warming, the Antarctic and higher regions warm up. As it warms up, you have less cold air available to filter south into the middle latitudes, and it warms the middle latitudes. That is global warming2." DiIley explained that the same thing happens with global cooling but in reverse, as the temperature increases and decreases in cycles. DiIley then shared that 2022 was the coldest spring and summer on record, with the winter of 2021 being the coldest winter on record. He also shared that in April 2023, five months before the Lahaina Fire, the Earth was running low -to -normal temperatures, and the Arctic was actually cooling down. DiIley is also an expert of the "Milankovitch Cycle," which illustrates the rotation of the Earth, sun, and the moon, and their effects on global warming. According to DiIley, every 120,000 years, the Earth comes closest to the sun. Then, about 68,000 years later, it's the furthest approach from the sun. He says that our closest approach was 8,000 years ago. DiIley states, "We were warmer 6,000 to 8,000 years ago than we are today. The reason was that we were the closest approach to the sun and we had just come out of an Ice Age. We're 8,000 years off the peak now, and so we're actually cooling down." John Coleman, also an expert on the weather, shares the same thoughts. Coleman was the original weatherman on Good Morning America in the 1970s. He founded The Weather Channel in the 1980s. In 1982, he was voted "Meteorologist of the Year" by the American Meteorology Society. With regards to the Arctic and sea levels, Coleman states: They tell us that we're melting the polar ice caps. The Antarctic polar ice cap is at an all-time high, and the Arctic ice cap is increasing again after diminishing. They tell us that we're flooding the shorelines. Do you live on the coast? How much has the water come up in your lifetime? They manufactured data to make it look like we're increasing the water level of the oceans, but we're nota." Professor Richard Lindzen states: https://youtu.be/pwvVephTIHU?si=XoxAcPc51 JNT)XdeF: 2"Signals - Global Cooling Cycle Beginning - Global Warming Ending -Professor David Dilley," by David Dilley GlobalWeatherCycles, May 10, 2023. 3 "John Coleman's case against significant man-made global warming," by Kusi News, June 24, 2013. https://youtu.be/K56fms2VZTc?si=Cn-ApS8z2Y_kiI76 At any given place, traditionally, sea level is measured by what are called tide gauges: a stick in the water, basically. Two things that change are what a tide gauge shows: the land moving up and down and the sea moving up and down. In most places, it's the land that has the biggest effect, and so you don't have a good measure of sea level rise141." Let's review the danger of water rising and engulfing coastline towns. Is there one city or town on the shoreline that is in danger of being underwater? Is Venice, a town that lives at sea level, in danger of being lost to the sea? Have home insurance companies stopped giving insurance policies to homeowners who live on the coastline because they'll soon be underwater? The answer would be no! On August 21, 2020, NASA published an article titled "NASA -led Study Reveals the Causes of Sea Level Rise Since 1900." It reads: Sea levels have risen on average 1.6 millimeters (0.063 inches) per year between 1900 and 20184." That means the sea level has risen a little over 7.4 inches in the last 118 years! Does that show the world is in danger of being engulfed by water? No. It shows that it will be a very, very, very long time before humans are in danger. Does that mean documentaries like "An Inconvenient Truth" are telling lies? An article was published in the Seattle Times on October 12, 2007, titled "British judge ruled the Oscar -winning film on global warming, "An Inconvenient Truth," contains "nine errors5."" Here is the list of inaccuracies found in Court taken from the "Friends Of Science" website6. The inaccuracies in the documentary include: 1. The film claims that melting snow s on Mount Kilimanjaro evidence global warming. The Government's expert was forced to concede that this is not correct. 2. The film suggests that evidence from ice cores proves that rising CO2 levels cause temperature increases over 650,000 years. The Court found that the film was misleading: over that period, the rises in CO2 lagged behind the temperature rises by 800-2,000 years. NASA -led Study Reveals the Causes of Sea Level Rise Since 1900," by Ian J. O'Neill / Jane J. Lee, August 21, 2020. https://climate. nasa.gov/news/3012/nasa-led-study-reveals-the-causes-of-sea-level-rise-since-1900/ Truth is, Gore film has 9 errors, British judge rules," by Mary Jordan, Oct 12, 2007. https://www.seattletimes. com/nation-world/truth-is-pore-film-has-9-errors-british-judge-rules/ 6 "Inaccuracies in Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth - A Ruling of the British High Court" https://friendsofscience.org/assets/documents/FOS%20Essay/British High Court Ruling on An Inconvenient Tru th.html 3. The film uses emotive images of Hurricane Katrina and suggests that this has been caused by global warming. The Government's expert had to accept that it was "not possible" to attribute one-off events to global warming. 4. The film shows the drying up of Lake Chad and claims that this was caused by global warming. The Government's expert had to accept that this was not the case. 5. The film claims that a study showed that polar bears had drowned due to disappearing arctic ice. It turned out that Mr. Gore had misread the study: in fact, four polar bears drowned, and this was because of a particularly violent storm. 6. The film threatens that global warming could stop the Gulf Stream, throwing Europe into an ice age. The Claimant's evidence was that this was a scientific impossibility. 7. The film blames global warming for species losses, including coral reef bleaching. The Government could not find any evidence to support this claim. 8. The film suggests that sea levels could rise by 7 meters, causing the displacement of millions of people. In fact, the evidence is that sea levels are expected to rise by about 40 centimeters over the next 100 years and there is no such threat of massive migration. 9. The film claims that rising sea levels has caused the evacuation of certain Pacific islands to New Zealand. The Government was unable to substantiate this, and the Court observed that this appears to be a false claim. Also, the Court's interim ruling included the following: 1. The film suggests that the Greenland ice covering could melt, causing sea levels to rise dangerously. The evidence is that Greenland will not melt for a millennia. 2. The film suggests that the Antarctic ice covering is melting; the evidence was that it is, in fact, increasing. High Court Judge Michael Burton stated: Former Vice President Al Gore, the documentary's moderator, makes nine statements in the film that are not supported by the current mainstream scientific consensus. For instance, Gore's script implies that Greenland or West Antarctica might melt soon, creating a sea -level rise of up to 20 feet that would cause devastation from San Francisco to the Netherlands to Bangladesh139." The judge called this "distinctly alarmist" and said the consensus view is that if Greenland melted, it would release this amount of water "but only after, and over, a millennia." The climate change narrative will destroy people's freedom and add more regulations, fines and fees. Do not allow this government narrative to continue on the Big Island. The people do NOT want more laws, regulations, and fines based on a false narrative that completely changes community infrastructures from self-reliant to "sustainable" living, with "stakeholders" carrying the purse strings and the power. That is NOT Pono! Gregg Braden is a geologist, five -time New York Times best-selling author, scientist, international educator, and renowned as a pioneer in the emerging paradigm based in science, social policy, and human potential, had this to say about the dangers of carbon on the planet: The idea that carbon dioxide is a poison is a false narrative to begin with. We are carbon -based beings. By demonizing carbon dioxide and carbon life, we're actually demonizing ourselves'." Science 101 shows us that plants take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. If plants die due to lack of carbon dioxide, so do humans for lack of oxygen. During the Cretaceous Period, which began 145 million years ago and ended 66 million years ago, we had a lot more carbon than we do today - tons more! This was the time of the dinosaurs, and everything was huge! Plants were much larger than they are now. The sea levels were also a lot higher during the Cretaceous Period. Was that due to more carbon dioxide? Not according to an article at Britannica.com written by Thor Arthur Hansen, Professor of Invertebrate Paleontology, Paleoecology, and Evolution at Western Washington University, U.S., and Carl Fred Koch, Professor of Geological Sciences at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia. It was fact -checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica and last updated on Feb 7, 2024. The article said that sea level was higher primarily because the water in the ocean basins was displaced by the enlargement of mid -oceanic ridges8. It was not due to carbon! It was due to the Earth's mantle. On January 11, 2023, in an episode titled "Why "THE POWERS THAT BE" are So Desperate to Reduce Carbon Dioxide on OUR Planet?" posted on geologist and scientist Gregg Braden's YouTube channel, John L. Petersen of the Arlington Institute stated: If you could look at the ice cores in Antarctica and Greenland, you would see that the temperature of the Earth increases or decreases around 800 years before the change in carbon dioxide. That means carbon dioxide does not drive the change; it is the response to the temperature changes." In the same interview, Braden stated: Gregg Braden - Why "THE POWERS THAT BE" are So Desperate to Reduce Carbon Dioxide on OUR Planet?" by Gregg Braden Official, January 11, 2023. https://youtu.be/7vJ-Oefos8A?si=BviOKcdznXx6tgSO 8 "Cretaceous Period," by Carl Fre Koch, Thor Arthur Hansen, 9 "Why 'THE POWERS THAT 13E' are So t)espera1e lo Reduce Carbon Dioxide on OUR Planet?" by Gregg Braden, January 11, 2023. We're being led to believe that carbon levels of CO2 have never been higher; that the Earth is going to be destroyed if they are higher; and that CO2 is the driving temperature, both of which are not true147." Gregg showed a graph indicating that during the Cretaceous Period, carbon dioxide levels were over three times higher than they are today. Carbon dioxide levels were between 800-1,000 parts per million. During this period, there was an extreme greening of the Earth. Plants and life thrived! According to Braden: If CO2 drops below 184 parts per million, that seems to be the threshold where we (humans) are in trouble! If CO2 drops below those levels, we are actually cutting off the very life-force that is providing oxygen on this planet." Is the entire CO2 narrative intended to increase the bankroll of the "stakeholders" around the world invested in renewable energy with no regard for human life? Stakeholders who've invested in progressive and "sustainable energy" have a lot to gain in their pocketbooks by populations living in fear of climate change and believing they will be saving" the Earth by going along with renewable energy and electric vehicles. They'll also be giving up a lot of their freedoms in doing so. Page 59 Transportation The General Plan further discusses strategies for decreasing vehicle reliance and (Remove) improving public Transportation Access and Mobility. You have no right to hinder people's right to travel. Please take ANYTHING out that references decreasing people's use of their vehicle! The County can reduce its footprint by increasing the percentage of renewable fuel used to power public facilities and infrastructure, reducing VMT, (REMOVE). YOU CANNOT LIMIT PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO TRAVEL. THAT VIOLATES THE CONSTITUTION AND IS BEYOND YOUR JURISDICTION Page 61 The General Plan expands on opportunities for climate -conscious land development in the Land Use section without violating people's rights, over regulating or increasing fines. Page 63 The General Plan further expands on strategies to increase resilience in the Transportation Access and Mobility, Public Utilities, and Public Facilities and Services sections without violating the Constitution, or over regulating farmers and homeowners. The General Plan expands on renewable energy in the Public Utilities section with safety studies prior to installation, and without increasing costs to the public. Page 66 Transportation Promoting the use of electric vehicles through expanding charging infrastructure and educating the public on the safety studies done for the use of these vehicles from third parties. Renewable Energy Increasing the use of green technology (including third party safety studies) will increase the energy independence of individuals and businesses on the island. Supporting renewable energy technologies, such as solar, wind, ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC), and geothermal (Remove. This practice is not safe for an island with active volcanoes!) Land Use & the Built Environment Implementing smart growth strategies, without violating people's right to travel can reduce urban sprawl and create more walkable communities. Developing a County building code that balances health and safety, affordability, and carbon footprint (REMOVE! This is more regulations and fines. NOT Pono! It is NOT your responsibility to focus on people's health. That is for each individual! This is an overreach! Encouraging the construction of energy-efficient buildings and retrofitting existing buildings being sure to prove any additional technology is safe for the public.. Promoting regenerative agriculture practices that reduce emissions and enhance carbon sequestration while not further regulating farms or increasing fines. Greening urban areas increases the availability of cool areas for residents to live and recreate. Integrating energy savings and waste management, without more regulations and fines on the population, provides an opportunity to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in new development. Conservation Protecting reefs and marine ecosystems that act as carbon sinks, without hindering public use. Implementing a One Water strategy and other water -saving technologies and practices can reduce the energy required for water treatment and distribution. This is NOT a good idea. If this goes down, where will people get their water? Remove or revise. Conserving natural habitats without hindering public use to preserve biodiversity and enhance ecosystem resilience to climate change. Efforts to expand renewable energy, with third party safety studies and without hindering public can consider the preservation of unique and diverse ecosystems, avoiding negative impacts on wildlife and natural habitats. Additional Measures Improving public engagement about climate change and encouraging sustainable practices. Remove and educate yourself on the fact that scientists from around the world have stated there is no climate danger.) Implementing policies and regulations that support climate mitigation efforts, without further regulations or fines on locals. (Please educate yourself) Supporting research into new technologies and approaches for reducing emissions and enhancing resilience and include third party safety studies while ensuring no further cost to the public. Page 67 Water Resources • Management Promoting a One Water strategy can create cross -agency collaboration to identify and address overlapping challenges in adapting to sea level rise and building more resiliency into infrastructure across water, wastewater and stormwater sectors. How does this promote collaboration? This seems like a monopoly. Agriculture & • Food Security Encouraging the cultivation of climate -resilient and diversified crops to enhance food security without further regulations and fines. Infrastructure & Urban Planning Retrofitting or relocating bridges and roads provides an opportunity to reduce GHG emissions by reducing miles traveled. (REMOVE) THIS VIOLATES THE CONSTITUTION. YOU CANNOT DEPRIVE PEOPLE OF THE RIGHT TO TRAVEL. ALSO, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO RELOCATE" LOCAL BRIDGES. THIS SHOULD BE REMOVED! Implement zoning and land use planning policies that consider climate risks and promote sustainable development after a full investigation of the climate change narrative is examined. (Do not further regulate and fine people without fully investigating the climate change narrative and proving that any additional technology is safe for the human life.) Social Equity Engage communities in planning and decision-making processes to ensure that adaptation measures are socially inclusive (Remove. This is woke language.) and culturally appropriate. Increasing equitable resilience to climate hazards will benefit historically marginalized and frontline Engage communities (What does this mean?) and those that are vulnerable to climate change impacts. Energy & • Transportation Invest in renewable energy sources that are proven safe and affordable to the public to reduce GHG emissions and increase energy resilience. Promote energy efficiency in buildings and transportation that are proven safe and affordable to the public to reduce overall energy consumption and without increasing regulations or fines Biodiversity & Ecosystems Managed retreat strategies and new shoreline setback regulations would expand open space along the shoreline to support coastal ecosystems such as anchialine pools without hindering public access. Supporting conservation programs that are proven safe for the people and the environment can help protect native species and habitats from climate change impacts without hindering public access and without increasing regulations and fines. Strengthening measures to control and eradicate invasive species can help protect local ecosystems. Enhance habitat connectivity to allow species to migrate in response to changing environmental conditions without hindering public access and without increasing regulations and fines. Education & Capacity Building Build capacity for local government agencies by providing training and resources that improve their ability to plan and implement climate adaptation initiatives without increasing regulations and fines. Collaborate and coordinate with the County's Office of Sustainability, Climate, Equity, and Resilience (OSCER). This is woke language and should be removed. Support research and monitoring efforts to better understand climate impacts and the effectiveness of adaptation measures. (Please educate yourself on this false narrative) Develop and implement educational programs to raise awareness about climate change and adaptation strategies. REMOVE (This is a FALSE narrative that you would be perpetuating.) Page 68 3.2 Climate Change Goal, Objectives, Policies, and Actions This ENTIRE section should be removed. Rosa Korie WARNED that what is planned for this country through the planning departments "is an erasure ofjurisdictional boundaries. It is a loss of private property rights, a loss of sovereignty - both personal physical sovereignty and physical sovereignty in terms of our nation - and it's a loss of ourfreedom." From Rosa Koire's special presentation to the New Hampshire Legislature. https://youtu.be/350IbVtpzvw?si=u_NNsNoL9XtGxDEA Page 71 8.3 Collaborate with farmers, government, private and nonprofit agencies, communities, and other stakeholders REMOVE Who are they? What do they have stake in? to monitor impacts that may be specific to Hawai`i County due to its unique exposure to climate change and sea level rise impacts. (Please educate yourself on this false narrative. Is Kona or Hilo or any Hawaiian town close to being underwater? NO!) 8.11 Partner with government (e.g., State Office of Planning and Sustainable Development OPSD1), private and nonprofit agencies, communities, and other stakeholders REMOVE Who are they? What do they have stake in? to analyze conservation buffers to accommodate shifting native habitats impacted by climate change, particularly wetlands and high -elevation forests. Remove this ENTIRE section! We do NOT want "buffer" zones! You want to take away the ability for people to be in nature. That is NOT pono!) 8.b Support and partner with government, private and nonprofit agencies, communities, and other stakeholders REMOVE Who are they? What do they have stake in? on research for adaptive policies and technology that includes safety studies to the public and environment, that increase resilience without further regulations and fines on the public.. 8.d Adopt a land acquisition program with potential leaseback options for the purchase of hazard- prone locations or those with beneficial attributes for climate adaptation and mitigation. REMOVE. THIS IS GOVERNMENT OVERREACH! THIS IS NOT A COMMUNIST COUNTRY! YOU CANNOT TAKE PEOPLE'S PROPERTY! 8.e Collaborate with government, private and nonprofit agencies, communities, and other stakeholders REMOVE Who are they? What do they have stake in? to implement environmentally beneficial upgrades for wastewater, irrigation, and/or landscaping, including sea level rise, storm, and other climate change considerations. (Remove). Getting at least three bids for contracts from different companies. Pg 74 4.1.1 Introduction 1st para: "achieve sustainable development and" (Remove) change "resilient" to safe 2nd para: "Sustainable development is a key objective of land use planning for the County. By strategically" and in the sentence "Land use planning is essential. (Remove) change "resilient" to safe. 3rd para: - change "resilience" to safety. "and the impacts of climate change" (Remove) Better prepared for and protected against potential disasters. Change: "sustainable" to diversified. desirable" to fair, equitable. Last para 5th line down: Change: "should" to may Pg 75 Economic Opportunity Planning: "other growth sectors." Need to be specific, identify other growth sectors. Last sentence: "muck like the weave of sustainability," (Remove) Pg. 76 Table 16: Land Use Key Trends Changing & Aging Population: "Over the next 25 years .....0.9% per annum" decline in population already seen and projected needs to addressed as to why the population is in decline. How you do Planning if you don't address reasons for population decline. This is crucial. Housing Affordability & Choice: "In 2010..." down to "However, on average, Hawaii County's overcrowding....." Shifting Visitor Accommodation Types: - Change "With the upward trend...." to "rentals." & There is also a shift.." Revise that entire sentence. Job Availability & Growth: - Revise last sentence "In 2020, 14% of the....." Pg. 77 Table 17: Land Use Challenges Revise: Infrastructure section Regulations section Funding & Financing entire section Land Use Compatibility entire section Public Engagement entire section My note is VVhat is NIMBYism?) Pg. 78 Table 18: Land Use Opportunities Infrastructure:: last sentence "County departments can provide....." Regulations: Red: "Collaborate across State and County agencies to....." (Need more public input and ideas); The most direct role the County plays..,..property tax policy." (Need much more research on property tax rates, regulations, policies & scrutinized by the public who are affected by paying property taxes. This should be the most glaring concern so that we do not leave tax burden for future generations who may lose their properties to taxes paid to the government). Funding & Financing: "Partner with the State and other counties to create a capacity building plan stakeholders." (Remove) Market Conditions: "Seek to acquire land for affordable housing developments...." Add: without violating people's right to own property or take this out. Revise it. This is government overreach! Land Use Compatibility: "Demonstrate smart growth developments." (Remove) Public Engagement: "Encourage affordable housing projects to meet the needs of neighborhoods (YIMBY) without further regulations and fines." (VVhat is YIMBY?) and next line Apply strategies to...." "stakeholder". Who are these stakeholders? What do they have stake in? Pg. 79 4.1.2 Land Use Goal, Objectives, Policies, and Actions Item 9.7 - Red: "Encourage" change to Mandate developers Item 9.8 - Red: "Route selection for ....." that entire sentence. (This is a high priority revision as it pertains directly to 5G dangers. Here is where the people/public need to have direct input/approval/changes. Item 9.a - Red: "Develop a process for County....." this is crucial for public scrutiny & opportunity for the public to get transparency. Transparency can only be realized if we, the public include ourselves into all governmental processes. If not, we will not get transparency, period! Pg 80 Land Use Goal, Objectives, Policies, and Actions - continued Item 9.e - "Conduct a review and re-evaluation.... entire sentence to be revised. Item 10.3 "Proposed discretionary permits for large developments.....Ka'u Districts" -Not clear needs revision. Item 10.b "Amend.......allow CPDs to be applied to all zoning districts..." - Why amend the Zoning Code? We need to compare current Zoning Codes to what they propose to amend to see if the people or the developers have the advantage. What are CPDs? Item 10.c - Red: "Collaborate with the State Office of Planning Native Hawaiian customary and traditional.." Need to revise to ensure that Hawaiian cultural experts, NOT the State government or its agencies have any input for preserving, protecting, educating, safeguarding, sharing, marketing, ..every aspect of utilizing our native Hawaiian (kanaka maoli) heritage of language, practices, traditions, religion & more belong exclusively to the kanaka maoli elders, experts, kupuna, kahuna, healers NEVER the government or its agencies... NEVER!!! Pg 81 continue Item 11.4 "Concurrency reviews should incorporate (Remove)" entire sentence absolutely NO! Actions 11.a - Red: "Collaborate with the SHPD to create..... entire sentence - Need experts. 11.d - Red: "Amend Zoning Code...." do not give the Planning Director more power, it's time to decrease power for that position, we need to humble these government workers/servants. Now is that time as history has shown us, when they have power, they want more; when they have more power, it's not enough & the cycle continues while the people suffer. STOP giving away the power from the people. 11.f - "Update traffic impact....." (Remove) entire sentence. Travel should not be the Planning Board's power to take away from me or you, ever. Objective 12 Reduce the threat to life and property from natural hazards and disasters. Policies The above sentence - Red: add "unnatural & natural hazards" - It is important to identify the reality that unnatural hazards have always existed, therefore, why is that omitted? 12.3 Red: "Consider natural ... Again add in unnatural & force the Planning Board to address DE disasters, weather machine disasters which are human created disasters, which is criminal. Why shouldn't the Planning Board include these disasters as they certainly affect the health & safety of the people & our environment. 12.8 Red: "Encourage the development...." entire sentence. Again, must address DE/Weather machines/human initiated disasters. Pg 82 Actions Item 12.a - Red: "Update the Building Code....." entire sentence need extreme revisions, I initially wanted to delete, but it is necessary to revise to include unnatural/man made disasters & address "carbon footprint". These are areas to not hide by deleting, but rather talk about them through revisions. Item 12.g - "Amend the Zoning Code...." (Remove) Until they can prove climate change is happening, delete this section that refers to climate change as that is a false narrative that we the people/public should not allow to continue. I do not want to tell a lie over & over again until everyone believes it. That's breaking the 10 commandments. Pg. 83 4.1.3 Overview of Land Use Designations and Maps No changes. Pg. 84 Table 19: General Plan Land Use Designations and Maps No Changes Pg. 85 Agriculture and Natural Land Use No Changes Pg 86 4.1.4 Urban Growth Areas 2nd para: Red: "Smart Growth" change to something safer, know what it represents not hidden meanings. Black out: the word "sustainable" and from "More specifically, urban centers have been designed to create.... Driving." - The government or its agencies should not impede or alter the rights of citizens to travel it's call our right to travel, which is constitutional. Pg 87 Objective 13 Increase the use of Smart Growth principles to focus development within designated urban centers. Policies Red: change "Smart Growth" to Evaluate and analyze development within designated urban centers. Item 13.3 Red: "Incentivize" what is that & how does it benefit the public? 13.6 Red: "may include additional acreages to account for....." must revise section to make it clearer as to how this inclusion will work to the advantage or disadvantage of historic sites, public access, parks, & open spaces. More clarity is necessary because saying ok to unclear PLANNING" should never be accepted. Item #13.12 - Red: Revise entire sentence "Urban renewal, rehabilitation...." need to include people or the public not just communities, businesses, & governmental agencies. Planning Boards should always include the people/public. This will give people the power to make decisions, not just testify for 3 minutes at a Planning Commission hearing. That needs to change. More people/public involvement needs to be promoted. This involvement may be the inspiration or motivation for people to become active in planning for themselves, their future generations. It is time for governments & businesses to take a back seat! Item 13.13 Red: Revise entire sentence. "Support master planning by ....." it's not "Support" it should be to Scrutinize, evaluate, analyze and recommend by experts and the people. Pg. 88 Commercial - Industrial Item 13.28 Red: "Discretionary permit applications.. Entire sentence need revision as it is not fair to have Discretionary permit applications for new commercial developments. Everyone follows the rules, no exceptions by the Planning Board. Resort Item 13.49 - Red: Revise "On-site affordable housing and workforce units shall be excluded from the total permitted visitor unit counts....." Again, how does this exclusion help the people, the visitors, the workforce? How does it affect permitted visitor unit counts? Pg 90 Actions 13.c Red: revise "Amend the Subdivision Code to ensure block sizes are based...." What are the current codes & what are the proposed amendments to compare who will have the advantage or disadvantage of this proposal to Amend Subdivision Code. Pg. 91 Urban Character Guidelines Table 20: Transit -Oriented Development (TOD) Character Guidelines No Changes. Pg. 92 Table 21: Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) Character Guidelines No Changes Pg. 93 Table 22: Urban Neighborhood Center Character Guidelines No Changes Pg. 94 Table 23: Industrial Center Character Guidelines No Changes Pg. 95 Table 24: Criteria for Industrial Land Conversion to Commercial/Mixed-Use No Changes Pg. 96 Table 25: Resort Area Character Guidelines No Changes Pg. 97 4.1.5 Rural No Changes Pg. 98 Objective 14 Maximize the use of Rural designated lands to preserve rural character and lifestyle. Policies All items from 14.1, 14.2, 14.3, 14.4, 14.5, 14.6 - Red: Must revise all items as the Planning Board is asking for Support of everything they are doing, which contradicts any changes that the public may be deemed detrimental. Asking for "blind" support is ridiculous. Actions - Items 14.a, 14.b, 14.c, & 14.d Red: Revise all items as it is asking to Amend Zoning Code, zoning districts which is crucial to see current codes compared to amendments. How are these amendments affecting the public to their advantage vs. disadvantages. This is very important to NOT just accept amendments. Thorough research is necessary to protect the public. Pg. 99 Table 26: Rural Neighborhood Character Guidelines No Changes Pg. 100 4.1.6 Agriculture Last para: "The General Plan provides planning tools to incentivize the highest and best use of productive agricultural lands. The Plan's policies...... entire paragraph need to be revised. I am especially concerned with the word "incentivize the highest and best use... here again what does this mean, how will it be done, who benefits. Pg. 101 Objective 15 Support the active use of Productive Agricultural lands. Actions All items 15.a, 15.b, 15.c. 15.d, 15.e must be revised Not just Amend. Pg. 102 Actions (continue) Item 15.f - Revise "Update the Real Property Tax Code....." need public input for transparency. Item 15.g Revise "Amend the Zoning Code..." again do not just accept Amending Item 15.k Revise "Collaborate with USDA and the State.... It's not just collaborate, it's what are the decisions based upon, what are the final decisions, how are these decisions helping farmers. Since, we have passed hundreds of years farming in Hawaii you would think we have identified major problems, why these problems do not get resolved, who are responsible for the non -resolutions. This is just repeating ....USDA, the State who have been in charge of agriculture, I want to see a report card that covers 1950s to 2023. Report cards are transparency mechanisms to identify who & what are creating our farmer's problems. VVe cannot fix anything without transparency. Politicians say it, but absolutely no actions. This section is entitled ACTION. Let us begin to act. Pg. 104 4.2.1 Introduction Third para: "Resilience...." I don't want the word resilience to be an escape mechanism for the government or its agencies. That word should change. The last para: "The Plan is focused on improving connectivity within ....." this sounds good, but I don't see good results as I am pass 70 yrs old. VVe should not accept "rinse & repeat". VVhat did the Planning Board learn from over 100 yrs. Of past failures? They say they focus on improving, yet we cannot determine how they will improve. Stronger language to ensure that the public can know they plan to improve. Pg. 105 Table 27: Transportation Key Trends No Changes Pg. 106 Table 28: Transportation Challenges All items Red: Revisions necessary. It refers to electric cars, Pre-COVID-19 (false narratives that must be stopped) Pg. 107 Table 29: Transportation Opportunities All items Red: Need revisions since they want to establish metrics, improve interagency collaboration, prepare projects, standardize interagency agreements. It contains a multitude of changes that are unclear, very ambiguous, & again, transparency is lacking. Pg. 108 4.2.2 Transportation Goal, Objective, Policies, and Actions All items Red: Requires revisions. Examples: item 16.2 "Encourage safe and convenient use non-polluting" VVhat is non-polluting to the Planning Board? VVhat do they know about pollution as they don't know that EMFs are dangerous pollutants. And example: Item 16.10 Identify and evaluate transportation..... energy and climate issues." VVe need to stop the false Pg. 109 Actions - continue All items - Red: Revisions necessary. Same reasons as above for Pg. 108. Sorry Michelle - did not complete pages 104 to 118-119. Can do later/Kalei K. completed today, Monday 9-23-24 at 12:01 pm. Pg. 110 4.2.3 Active Living Corridors and Public Access No Changes Pg. 111 Objective 17 Increase transportation connectivity. Policies All items Red: Need revisions. Example: Item 17.1 "Ensure Native Hawaiian access rights are clearly expressed...." This is an area of talk talk talk & no action. Again, what violations have already occurred, how long have these violations been going on, have these violations stopped? Just putting in a sentence in a Plan does not mean it has been adhered to. Therefore, these proposals are weak. As a native Hawaiian it is imperative to get enforcement for these violations, identify violations, how long it's been happening, why & who are responsible to stop violations, protect native Hawaiian access rights. If this item # is weak, which it is - than the others need revisions. Pg. 112 Table 30: Public Access Spacing Standards No Changes Pg. 4.2.4 Mass Transit All paragraphs need revisions Red: revisions necessary. Mass Transit has been proven wrong on Oahu, the Rail. Over budgeted, from hundreds of millions of dollars (budgeted) to billions of dollars, NOT budgeted. Who is paying for this government error? You, me & our visitors. We have an historic example from the City & County of Honolulu. The people protested against this Rail", but years later a Mayor brought back the Rail & all Mayors thereafter continue with this project. Please investigate this "Planning" before Hawaii County repeats history. All words in this section/page are the same words use by the Planning Dept. of the City & County of Honolulu. Absolutely requires total revisions to 4.2.4 Mass Transit Pg. 114 Objective 18 Increase mass transit ridership by 50 percent by 2045 Policies All items are basic objectives. No changes (yet) Pg. 115 4.2.5 Roadways 2nd to last para: What is the County's Vision Zero Action Plan Pink: Concern Pg. 116 Objective 19 Reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) All items Red: Need revisions Concern - VVhat is reduce vehicle miles traveled? Why reduce vehicle miles traveled? VVhat is this agenda for & what will it accomplish? Who will benefit? Again, our right to travel cannot be altered or impeded as that right is protected by the US Constitution & God. Pg. 117 Objective 20 Achieve a transportation system that employs all modes of transportation at a community scale. All items need to be revised Pg. 117 continue: Objective 21 Incorporate green infrastructure to reduce stormwater runoff. Policies All items Red: Concern See item 21.1 "green infrastructure strategies, and pollution prevention procedures...." Again, sine the Planning Board does not understand EMF pollution & its dangerous - what are they talking about here "pollution prevention procedures.." Pg. 118 continue from above. Actions & Objective 22 Increase transportation safety for transportation's most vulnerable users and reduce traffic fatalities.Policies All items Red: revise Pg. 119 Continue from above. All items from 22.7 to 22.9 Red: revise Concern. 22.7 Dm/clop roadway standards to accommodatc cmcrging tcchnology for conncctcd and automatcd vchicics. This appears to be referencing the very unproven technology of `driverless cars??' Emerging technology needs to go through rigorous standards of testing before being released onto roadways. This text here, with a clear reference to something that is already proving dangerous on the roadways and the subject of lawsuits does not belong in our County Plan. 22.8 Maintain dedicated roadway standards that are appropriate to roadway type and achieve active transportation and safety goals. 22.9 Engage and collaborate with the owners of private roads and local community groups to help identify and develop road management agreements that mitigate road closures to provide emergency evacuation routes. Actions 22.a Amend the County Code to incorporate Vision Zero safety principles and Complete Street design principles. This is too vague and should be elaborated in detail. These safety principles need to be spelled out or they don't belong in the County Plan. 22.b Develop educational programs promoting traffic safety. Where something is designated an `action' in a County General Plan Document, sufficient detail should be provided. This is too vague and should be elaborated in detail. Objective 23 Adequately maintain public transportation systems. Policies 23.1 Maintain an Asset Management Program aimed at utilizing maintenance plans for pavement, bridges, and other road infrastructure to prolong the life of our transportation system as well as reduce its whole -life cost. 23.2 Maintain the unique features of historic bridges, while balancing safety needs and preserving historic and scenic character. 23.3 Prioritize the replacement of deficient and inadequate bridges and maintain pedestrian/bicycle access across bridges. 23.4 Design new bridges and bridge improvements to accommodate and not negatively impede identified scenic resources. 23.5 Evaluate freight routes identified in the State Freight Master Plan for required improvements to meet roadway standards. 23.6 Encourage the adoption of innovative materials and methods that improve roadway sustainability and resilience. Actions 23.a Create an asset management program. 23.b Continue the bridge inspection program and expand rehab or replacement to include active transportation accommodations. 4.2 Transportation Access and Mobility 1 County of Hawai`i General Plan 119 Roadway Standards The County adheres to several federal and industry standards for roadway design. These include the AASHTO Green Book and Roadside Design Guide, the MUTCD, the NACTO, and the Highway Capacity Manual.5 Examples of topics addressed by these guidelines include road geometry (e.g., curves, sight distance), safety within ROWs adjacent to travel ways, design speeds, level of service, signs/striping/signaling, and urban transit. In addition to these sources, the County adheres to the following locally defined standards. Street Standards Highways shall not be wider than four through travel lanes that accommodate single occupancy vehicles and should be limited to the most populated areas typically connecting residential areas with employment centers. Integrate transportation networks to prioritize the most vulnerable roadways users and the greenest modes of travel through a Multimodal Hierarchy (Figure 7) that prioritizes investments in the following order: 1. Pedestrian 2. Public Transit 3. Bicycle 4. Auto This is a directive for future transportation policy ? It is 4 words and yet it is a giant reach toward a set of ideals and it is not explained at all in detail. OBJECTION : This `policy directive' reflects a radical socialist agenda of forcing people to give up automobiles and give up their autonomy at the same time. This shows contempt for the most basic principles of freedom. . We refer you to : The United States Constitution which protects the freedom to move about within the country, both domestically and internationally. This fundamental right is deeply rooted in American liberty and has been recognized and protected by the Supreme Court. " The priorities established in a General Plan should reflect careful consideration of the island's economy and how to best support our island economy but instead this prioritization of pedestrians `first' and `automobile' transport reflects an obsession with addressing carbon as a cause' for an alleged crisis for our climate. . It's strange to us that in this document that purports to be about a plan for `development' there is barely a focus on the actual economy. Here instead we see a document `prioritizing' Pedestrian travel (on an island with very few densely populated urban centers) without context of what will actually promote agriculture, commerce, industries, jobs and economic activities. This directive would make more sense for an Oahu General Plan because of the size of the land mass and ratio of population. If it is in this document without much explanation then it appears to be a reflection of a `fad' in transportation policy rather than a practical and well thought out policy directive. The minimum roadway width standards to accommodate the County Roadway Classifications were adopted in Resolution 779-20. The following provides an overview of this standard with reference to the Federal Highway Administration (FHVVA) Functional Classification system. 4.2.6 Transportation Terminals: Airports and Harbors As a major hub for tourism, commerce, and connectivity, Hawaii County recognizes the importance of effective planning and management of its airports and harbors. These key infrastructure components serve as lifelines that facilitate economic growth, enhance regional connectivity, and provide essential services for residents and visitors. Airports and harbors connect the County to the rest of the world, allowing for the efficient movement of goods, people, and ideas. They are essential nodes within the transportation network, acting as important economic drivers for the region. Efficient airports and harbors directly contribute to the success of various industries, including tourism, agriculture, trade, and logistics. Moreover, they are instrumental in supporting emergency response efforts, disaster management, and ensuring the overall resilience of the region's transportation system. Again, over and over the objection 'in general' to this General Plan 2045 is that the document references `economic growth' and yet does not address the actual drivers of the economy in detail. As public servants it is your best service to our island if you would study how you can support the farmers, producers of goods and services to build a great economy together. Unfortunately there are dozens of instances where legislators and public servants have imposed restrictions, fees and taxes on those very `drivers' of our economy. Airport Terminals and Harbors do not `cause' the economy to grow and are not drivers of the economy and yet we see a General Plan with weighted emphasis on `transportation' and urban development without seeing evidence of a study of what will actually support the individuals and households that produce economic value for our actual economy. This is an extremely poor outcome for a document that presents as a `guide' for legislators and policy makers for the next 20 plus years. The principal concerns of planning for transportation terminals involve a comprehensive approach that addresses various aspects, including location, zoning of adjacent land, infrastructure development, capacity management, safety and security measures, environmental sustainability, integration with other modes of transportation, and financing and programming of improvements and services through capital improvement projects. While the State of Hawaii Department of Transportation (DOT) is responsible for the actual design, construction, and operation of terminals and supporting facilities, the General Plan addresses the location of these facilities in relation to the pattern of overall land uses. There are two deep draft harbors on the island, one in Hilo and another in Kawaihae. While improvements continue to be made, both harbor terminals lack adequate docking and Harbor has increased significantly as the population and development in West Hawaii continue to grow. In 2011, the Hawaii Commercial Harbors 2035 Master Plan was developed by the State to accommodate the future needs of facilities CONCERN: THE HARBORS SHOULD NOT BE CONTROLLED BY THE STATE OF HAWAII. THEY ARE HARBORS CRUCIAL TO THE ECONOMY OF OUR ISLAND AND WERE PREVIOUSLY UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE COUNTY. WHAT HAPPENED TO HOME RULE? WHERE WAS THE CONSULTATION OF THE PUBLIC WHEN DECISIONS WERE MADE TO HAND OVER CONTROL OF OUR HARBORS TO THE STATE ?. Air terminals that transportation are in Hilo, Waimea, `Upolu, and Kona. The terminals at Hilo and Kona are overseas facilities. Overseas flights at the Kona International Airport at Keahole will continue to increase with the growth of resort areas in Kona and Kohala. Overseas flights through Hilo International Airport have been important for agriculture in East Hawai`i. What is concerning about this County General Plan 2045 is the lack of analysis about our actual economy. WHY DO WE SEE A DOCUMENT THAT STATES `OVERSEAS FLIGHTS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE WITH THE GROWTH OF RESORT AREAS?' THIS PLAN SEEMS FLAWED DUE TO LACKING IN CRITICAL ARGUMENTS' FOR THE PLANNED GROWTH BASED ON ACTUAL NUMBERS AND STUDIES . IF THERE ARE STUDIES AND STATISTICS THAT DO SUPPORT THE ASSERTIONS MADE MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE GENERAL PLAN ABOUT PROJECTED ECONOMIC GROWTH THEN THEY SHOULD BE REFERENCED AND INCLUDED IN THE PLAN. ALSO CITATIONS OF WHERE THIS INFORMATION WAS PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC IN `CONSULTATIONS' STRANGELY THE HILO PLAN IS MISSING FROM THE GENERAL PLAN DOCUMENT AND THIS IS ONE OF TWO URBAN CENTERS AND THE CENTER FROM WHICH TWO OF THE `HARBORS' AND `TERMINALS' OPERATE? THIS SEEMS (AGAIN) A GLARING OMISSION. Since 2011, the DOT has embarked on a $2.3 billion Hawaii Airports Modernization Program to improve the safety, capacity, and efficiency of our major passenger and cargo airports. As the population becomes more mobile and as resident and visitor populations increase, there will be a greater demand for new and expanded transportation facilities that are adjacent to compatible land uses and include alternative and active transportation connections to decrease the demand for cars and reliance on fossil fuels. OBJECTION TO THIS SENTENCE IS THAT IT IS NOT SUPPORTED BY ANY FACTS OR AN ARGUMENT MADE FOR THE CASE BEING PRESENTED. AGAIN THE CONCERN ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT IS THAT IT IS COMMITTING OUR ENTIRE COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND OUR LEGISLATURE TO A RADICAL COURSE OF ACTION BASED ON THE PREMISE THAT FOSSIL FUELS ARE TO BE ERADICATED AND THAT PERSONAL AUTOMOBILE TRANSPORTATION SHOULD ALSO BE ERADICATED AND OR COMPLETELY ELIMINATED. THESE PREMISES ARE PART OF A RADICAL SOCIALIST AGENDA THAT VIOLATES THE CONSTITUTION SINCE IT WILL UNDOUBTEDLY LIMIT THE FREEDOM OF UNITED STATES CITIZENS TO FREELY MOVE ABOUT. service inter -island 4.2 Transportation Access and Mobility 1 County of Hawai`i General Plan 122 Objective 24 Improve accessibility to airports, harbor systems, and support facilities. Policies 24.1 Encourage the programmed improvement of existing terminals, including adequate provisions for control of pollution and appropriate and adequate covered storage facilities for agricultural products. 24.2 The State Department of Transportation should continue to implement its plans for transportation terminals and related facilities to promote and follow desired land use policies. 24.3 Transportation terminals should be developed in conjunction with the different elements of the overall transportation system. 24.4 Encourage maximum use of the island's airport and harbor facilities. 24.5 Encourage the development, maintenance, and enhancement of Hilo and Kawaihae Harbors as detailed within the State's Hawaii Commercial Harbors 2035 Master Plan. THIS COULDN'T BE MORE VAGUE AS A STATED OBJECTIVE. IT DOESN'T REFERENCE THE VERY PRACTICAL MATTERS OF ECONOMIC DRIVERS AND OVERALL ECONOMIC HEALTH OF OUR ISLAND. WHERE IS DISCUSSION ABOUT THE ACTUAL ECONOMY IN THIS ENTIRE DOCUMENT ? THIS ALSO OMITS MENTION THAT A PROSPEROUS AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY WOULD BE THE RATIONALE FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE AT KAWAIHAII AND HILO HARBORS. AGAIN THERE IS AN OBJECTION TO HANDING OVER HARBORS TO THE STATE OF HAWAII WHERE THEY ARE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO THE ISLAND . 24.6 Support the State's objectives to acquire rights within the runway clear -zones, limit heights within approach zones, and restrict noise -sensitive uses within designated noise contours determined by the State. CONCERN: THIS APPEARS TO REFERENCE PROPERTY ACQUISITION AND SUGGESTS THAT THE COUNTY SHOULD SUPPORT' THE STATE TO RESTRICT USES AND ACTIVITIES IN CERTAIN AREAS NEAR TO AIRPORTS?' THIS AGAIN IS ONE MORE COMMUNIST LAND GRAB PRACTICE. THIS DOESN'T BELONG IN OUR COUNTY PLAN DOCUMENT FOR 2045. 24.7 Future land uses in the vicinity of airports and harbors should have an adequate open space buffer and/or be compatible with the anticipated noise exposure and industrial nature in the vicinity. 24.8 Encourage pedestrian -oriented connectivity around harbors and small boat harbors. 24.9 Encourage master planning of small boat harbors to accommodate commercial and recreational fishing, tour boats, as well as business and recreational ocean activities, that balance economic vitality and environmental sensitivity. CONCERN THERE HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ATTEMPT TO EXCLUDE MANY USERS FROM ACCESS TO HARBORS (SAILING COMMUNITY, FISHING COMMUNITY HAVE EXPERIENCED HIGHER USER FEES AND MORE RESTRICTIONS OF USE IN RECENT YEARS) AND MANY OF THE HARBORS IN THE STATE HAVE BECOME PRIVATIZED. (If privatization occurs, then management controls everything. .) . Actions 24.a Create a strategic improvement plan, including mapping, for County owned and/or managed boat harbors and develop an island -wide needs assessment to better serve regional gaps in ocean accesses. 24.b Ensure collaboration with State agencies to offer a variety of transportation options at airports and harbors. 4.2 Transportation Access and Mobility 1 County of Hawai`i General Plan 123 4.3 PUBLIC UTILITIES 4.3 Public Utilities 1 County of Hawai`i General Plan 124 4.3.1 Introduction In Hawaii County's pursuit of a prosperous and resilient future, public utilities stand as pillars of essential infrastructure. THERE IS A LOFTY CLAIM MADE BY THIS ENTIRE EXERCISE TO SUGGEST THAT THE DOCUMENT ITSELF REPRESENTS ANY KIND OF PLAN FOR A PROSPEROUS AND RESILIENT FUTURE. THERE ARE MANY BUZZWORDS THAT ARE BEING USED IN THIS DOCUMENT THAT ARE HOLLOW. THESE WORDS THEMSELVES DON'T CONJURE UP A FUNCTIONING ECONOMY BUT THEY DO OFTEN GIVE PUBLIC SERVANTS THE WARM FEELING THAT THESE WORDS CAN 'DO ALL THE WORK.' THIS DOCUMENT IS LACKING IN A GROUNDING OF ACTUAL ECONOMIC STUDY AND LACKS THE INSIGHTS INTO THE OBVIOUS WAYS THAT COUNTY GOVERNMENT COULD SUPPORT THE AGRICULTURE AND TOURISM SECTOR AND ENCOURAGE NEW INDUSTRY ON THE ISLAND. These are services regulated by the government and provided in response to existing and prospective patterns of development. Changes in land use, population density, and development usually generate changes in the demand and supply of utilities. As the backbone of modern society, public utilities encompass a wide range of vital services that support the health, safety, and sustainability of our communities. This critical infrastructure allows us to function in many ways, including the ability to maintain healthy living conditions, proper sanitation, and access reliable energy to power our homes and businesses. Public utilities play a key role in forming the foundation upon which social, economic, and environmental progress is built. Such essential services enhance the quality of life for residents, visitors, and businesses while safeguarding the natural resources and cultural heritage of our island. The significance of public utilities can be understood through their contributions in the areas of environmental sustainability, economic prosperity, and social well-being. Public utilities drive environmental stewardship by promoting clean energy generation, efficient water management, waste reduction, and recycling initiatives. AS PART OF GENERAL PLANNING AND GOOD MANAGEMENT PRACTICE, WHY HAS THERE BEEN NO AUDIT OF THE WASTEWATER DIVISION OF THE WASTE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT? NO DOCUMENT PURPORTING TO PLAN AHEAD FOR 20 PLUS YEARS CAN COVER FOR THE FACT THAT MALADMINISTRATION AND POOR LEADERSHIP HAS LEAD TO MULTIPLE `FAILS' OF RAW SEWAGE TREATMENT WHERE LEAKS OCCURRED AND THE PUBLIC WASN'T ADEQUATELY INFORMED. THE PLAN SHOULD START WITH A MORE SERIOUS ASSESSMENT OF THE FAILURES OF THE CURRENT MANAGEMENT STRATEGY IN OUR WASTEWATER SYSTEM. Through the application of sustainable practices and technologies, public utilities protect our fragile ecosystems, mitigate climate change impacts, and preserve the beauty of our island for future generations. HOW DO `PUBLIC UTILITIES' `MITIGATE' `CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ? This is an example of a wild overstatement and is not supported by fact. Additionally, robust and reliable infrastructure attracts investment, supports economic growth, and fosters job creation. From powering local industries to enabling efficient transportation networks, public utilities are catalysts for economic development, making our communities more resilient in the face of challenges. Waste to Energy incinerators have been opposed multiple times in the past in Hawaii County and each time a massive multi million dollar contract for construction of an incinerator was required which the public was going to be financing over many years. We notice that the Incinerator `Waste to Energy' proposal is in this County General Plan 2045 in spite of all the protests in the past. This history of pushing forward unpopular projects that have seen community objection and then forcing the property Access to safe and affordable utilities is a fundamental right of every individual. Really ?? Who wrote this ? As a general comment, it has been pointed out repeatedly that this General Plan' document is poorly written and has many flaws.Here we see misuse of the term fundamental rights' where there is no such `fundamental right.' While 'Safe and Affordable utilities' may be considered `essential' for a `standard of living' or to meet the definition of economic prosperity' but use of the phrase `fundamental right' is a confusion of what the legal understanding is concerning `fundamental rights.' The `fundamental rights' of say .. `freedom to move' ARE (as cited elsewhere in the transportation section) the rights that this document happily waives aside (ignoring the Constititution in the process) . Further, there should be statistics included about what proportion of the island currently is 'off grid' since that proportion is very high and those numbers would provide a necessary context for all discussion about proposals to provide utilities `affordably' AND `universally.' Public utilities ensure equitable distribution of resources, allowing residents of all socioeconomic backgrounds to enjoy necessities such as clean water, affordable energy, and accessible internet-based services. These services enhance public health, education, and overall quality of life, fostering thriving and inclusive communities. As with previous comment, this entire section seems flawed due to lacking in facts. This statement reflects `wishes' rather than a series of steps toward an attainable goal. Given the unique challenges posed by our geography and vulnerable ecosystem, the General Plan aims to effectively guide the development, maintenance, and improvement of these critical services. This section of the Plan is primarily concerned with the planning aspects of our, water, wastewater, stormwater, electricity, and telecommunications systems. Planning for the location of utility facilities such as reservoirs, pumping stations, and sewage treatment plants is an important aspect of the land planning process, as it makes way for development opportunities. Where is the context for this statement? Here we see the notion of `development opportunities' being introduced without context or explanation. This is objectionable since it could be interpreted by future administrations or legislatures as a `mandate' for growth while lacking any parameters. Unintegrated utilities can burden developments with lower levels of service and may limit or even prevent development. The integration and availability of public utilities in priority growth areas are imperative. CONCERN: VVhy isn't this spelled out more ? VVhy is there no clear explanation here of what is meant by `priority growth area' . Changes in the intensity of land use greatly influence the quantitative design of utilities and services, particularly their design capacity. There may be distinctions in the type of services offered for each utility as land use intensities vary. These distinctions also depend on local codes and ordinances, health and sanitary considerations, and practices followed by utility companies. 4.3 Public Utilities 1 County of Hawai`i General Plan 125 Table 33: Public Utilities Challenges General Funding and financing the development, conversion, repair, operations, and maintenance of public utilities are central challenges for communities, developers, and county government. WHAT IS MISSING HERE IS REFERENCE TO THE IDEA THAT HOMEOWNERS WILL ALL BE ASKED TO PAY FOR CONVERSION FROM CESSPOOL/ SEPTIC OVER TO ACTUAL COUNTY SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE. THIS TOPIC DESERVES A FULL DISCUSSION. DITTO WHAT IS CONCERNING IS THAT THE PUBLIC CAN BE REQUIRED TO PAY FOR DEVELOPMENT' OF PUBLIC UTILITIES.. Any large infrastructure expansions are paid for by developers and the costs are not to scale for financing. Geographical variability and obstacles require creative solutions for utility buildout. Aging public utility infrastructure must become more resilient to natural hazards, extreme weather events, and climate change impacts. WHERE ARE THE CITED STUDIES PROVING THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS CAUSING WEATHER EVENTS / CLIMATE WEATHER ? IN THE ENTIRE DOCUMENT WE SEE NONE REFERENCED. Absent, aging, or dilapidated infrastructure limits new development where it is needed, consistent with strategic land use patterns and inhibits existing development. THIS SENTENCE IS POORLY WRITTEN WITH THE RESULT OF CONFUSING THE READER. WHY ARE WE LEFT WONDERING WHAT IS BEING SAID HERE? Outdated utility systems and practices can pose environmental and health concerns and are expensive to change. Disputes over water source capacity can prevent development where it is needed and consistent with desired development patterns. Water commitments have been assigned to parcels that are not being developed or lack development potential. THIS NEEDS TO BE TAKEN OUT OR ELSE EXPLAINED SO THAT THE MEANING IS CLEAR. Guidelines for assigning water units per system need to be updated. Modeling of water demand and potential demand needs to be closely aligned to land use. • The water systems serving, North Kohala, South Kohala, North Kona, and Puna will require additional water source development. On-site wastewater disposal can adversely impact groundwater resources. THIS APPEARS TO BE A REFERENCE TO SEPTIC /CESS POOL SYSTEMS. ELABORATION AND A LOT MORE DETAIL SHOULD BE REQUIRED HERE. VVastewater planning and policy primarily focus on maintaining and servicing existing systems and do not proactively plan for developing new systems to accommodate growth or to extend existing lines to align with urban zoning. County policy has largely relied on private developers to develop commercial and private wastewater systems for new development, which ultimately leaves significant municipal service gaps in urban areas. Many County wastewater systems may not be able to accommodate unserved, existing zoned capacity and projected growth. Landowners and developers may incur the costs of constructing private systems or upgrades due to the insufficiency and lack of wastewater systems in many areas. VVastewater requirements hinder the redevelopment or rehabilitation of existing structures and are often seen as an affordable housing issue. Treated wastewater is typically discharged into ocean waters or injected into the ground and is not generally reused. Wastewater infrastructure improvement and development costs are not fiscally planned for, either in the County budget or through County wastewater fee valuation. Individual wastewater systems (IWS) are associated with limitations and regulations. Currently, the Department of Health's rules do not allow single-family dwellings and additional dwelling units (ADU) on a single IWS system. Reliance on IWS is an impediment to compact development due to minimum lot size requirements for IWS, thereby contributing to sprawl. Coastal residential neighborhoods without centralized wastewater are contaminating near- shore waters with pollution from IWS. ELABORATION AND A LOT MORE DETAIL SHOULD BE REQUIRED HERE. THIS SEEMS TO IMPLY A POLICY DIRECTIVE THAT IS SPECIFIC TO APPLY TO COASTAL NEIGHBORHOODS ? IMPOSING FINES OR HIGH COSTS TO HOME OWNERS TO ADDRESS A NEW REQUIREMENT FOR MAINS SEWER OR EVEN SEPTIC TANK INSTALLATION IN ROCKY TERRAIN WILL LEAD TO DELINQUENCY AND THEN FINES AND POTENTIAL SEIZURE OF PROPERTY. THIS IS A VERY `DANGEROUS' POLICY DIRECTIVE TO LEAVE AMBIGUOUS. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS POLICY DIRECTIVE MUST BE EXPLORED AND CLEARLY STATED. THIS DOCUMENT IS CITING THE HUGE OBSTACLES TO ADDRESSING THE PROBLEMS OF OUR ISLAND WHERE SO MANY HOUSEHOLDS RELY ON CESSPOOLS. WHILE THERE ARE EXAMPLES OF INNOVATIVE BIO -REMEDIATION METHODS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO CONVENTIONAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT' NO STUDIES ARE INCLUDED, NO MENTION OF THESE KINDS OF OPTIONS ARE INCLUDED. BIO REMEDIATION WOULD MOST CERTAINLY BELONG IN A DOCUMENT LIKE THIS SINCE SUCH METHODS SHOULD BE EXPLORED AS A COST SAVING MEASURE AND DATA IS AVAILABLE TO DEMONSTRATE EFFECTIVENESS. FURTHER THE IMPACT TO COASTAL ECO SYSTEMS OF INADEQUATELY TREATED WASTEWATER AND RAW SEWAGE ARE WORTHY OF MENTION HERE IN THIS DOCUMENT. TO CITE A WELL KNOWN EXAMPLE: THE `GENKI BALL' EXPERIMENTS HAVE BEEN DONE IN SEVERAL POLUTED WATERWAYS IN HAWAII. MOST NOTABLY THE `GENKI BALLS' USED AT ALA WAI CANAL IN HONOLULU RESULTED IN BETTER WATER QUALITY AND FISH RETURNING TO THE AREA. WHERE A COMBINATION OF CULTURED `BOKASHI' AND CLAY WERE INTRODUCED TO THE WATERWAYS THUS BILLIONS OF MICROBES WERE RELEASED CAPABLE OF REDUCING ECOLI AND OTHER LEVELS OF BACTERIA IN THE WATER. THIS AND OTHER KINDS OF BIOREMEDIATION BELONGS IN A PLANNING DOCUMENT FOR HAWAII ISLAND. PAGE 126 The looming deadline to convert cesspools to sewer or other IWS may create lack of local expertise to meet demand if not properly planned. The future impacts of climate change on future rainfall volumes are uncertain. WHERE IS THE FACTUAL EVIDENCE THAT THERE IS SUCH A THING AS 'MAN MADE CLIMATE CHANGE'? Outdated codes limit the effectiveness of stormwater infrastructure and stormwater-related practices. Water quality changes caused by non -point source pollution, human activities, erosion, and sediment transport can negatively impact environmental systems and processes. A lack of incentives and flexibility exists in the permitting process for stormwater and green infrastructure. There is a lack of a dedicated funding source for public systems. There is a heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels for power generation. The State of Hawaii has the highest electricity rates in the United States. Building codes, design perspectives, and construction practices can increase electrical demand. There is a constant need to update and renovate electrical systems and infrastructure. The adoption of renewable energy practices may offload environmental costs to other distant communities, which can offset positive climate action. POORLY WRITTEN , AMBIGUOUS GENERALIZING STATEMENTS LIKE THIS DO NOT BELONG IN A COUNTY GENERAL PLAN . WHAT EXACTLY IS MEANT BY THE TERM RENEWABLE ENERGY `PRACTICES?' WHAT ENVIRONMENT COSTS ARE REFERRED TO HERE? HOW ARE COSTS `OFFLOADED TO DISTANT COMMUNITIES' HOW ARE THESE OFFSETTING `POSITIVE CLIMATE ACTION?' Renewable energy developments can be controversial, such as geothermal and wind turbines. THIS STATEMENT IS OBJECTIONABLE. THE REASON THESE `ENERGY DEVELOPMENTS' ARE CONTROVERSIAL' IS THAT THEY HAVE INJURED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND ARE KNOWN TO CAUSE HARM. WE NOTE THAT NUCLEAR POWER WAS IN THE ORIGINAL FIRST DRAFT OF THIS DOCUMENT AND IS ALSO CONTROVERSIAL.IF MAKING A CASE FOR GEOTHERMAL OR WIND TURBINES (OR NUCLEAR ENERGY) OPPORTUNITY TO SUBMIT DOCUMENTATION ACKNOWLEDGING THE RISKS SHOULD BE AFFORDED TO THE PUBLIC. Inadequate access disrupts efficiency and productivity and is a barrier to accessing public services and information. INADEQUATE ACCESS TO WHAT ? THIS IS A POOR SENTENCE AND IS AMBIGUOUS IN MEANING. Last mile infrastructure is often the most costly and difficult segment to deploy, especially for rural areas where distances from a central distribution point are greater and population density doesn't economically promote the deployment. Consistent and accurate service data is needed to provide a constantly improving network for the island.THE STATEMENT `PROVIDING A CONSTANTLY `IMPROVING NETWORK' CAN BE INTERPRETED TO REFERENCE THE INCREASINGLY INTENSE LEVELS OF SIGNAL BEING ESTABLISHED. 5 G WHILE BRINGING HIGHER SPEED LEVELS OF DATA TRANSFER IS PROVING TO POSE A HEALTH RISK TO HUMAN TISSUE. THE REGULATION OF 5G TOWERS WITH CONSIDERATIONS FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY IS AN URGENT ISSUE. WE NOTE THAT THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING ZENDO KERN HAS RECENTLY RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES THAT WILL NOT STRINGENTLY ENFORCE SAFETY STANDARDS FOR THE COMMUNITY. Providers seeking to deploy broadband infrastructure face multiple layers of permitting and approvals at both the State and County level, in addition to community opposition regarding the installation of telecommunications towers. SEE ABOVE COMMENT. THIS REFLECTS AN INTENTIONAL DISREGARD FOR SAFETY CONCERNS THAT ARE WIDELY DOCUMENTED AND CURRENTLY THE SUBJECT OF LEGISLATION. Limited competition in broadband service providers and transpacific backhaul providers means high consumer rates due to a lack of competition within the market. (??? THIS IS JARGON THAT ISN'T EXPLAINED ) General Pursue creative funding and financing tools such as Community Facilities Districts (CFD) and Improvement Districts, for utility development, conversion, repair, operations, and maintenance THIS NEEDS BETTER EXPLANATION. `CREATIVE FUNDING' IS AN OBJECTIONABLE TERM AND SOUNDS LIKE A PROCESS FOR SELLING OFF UTILITIES OR FINANCING CONSTRUCTION, REPAIRS OR MAINTENANCE SO EITHER WAY, THE PUBLIC WILL PAY MORE FOR UTILITIES. Ensure that utility development matches desirable development priorities. Streamline the process of utility infrastructure development to achieve the highest possible level of service for our communities. Lead the charge in resource conservation and assess creative solutions to incentivize resource conservation for the public. Prioritize the conversion and modernization of outdated utility systems and practices. Use an integrated approach to value all water as a resource (e.g., drinking water, wastewater, stormwater). Collaborate with asset management (e.g., road resurfacing and utility upgrades). ASSET MANAGEMENT IS A VAGUE TERM THAT IS NOT SUFFICIENTLY DEFINED. Explore public-private partnership opportunities to create circular systems. ANOTHER VAGUE TERM THAT IS NOT SUFFICIENTLY DEFINED. PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS USUALLY IS ANOTHER WORD FOR INCREASING PUBLIC DEBT WHILE GIVING AWAY PUBLIC ASSETS TO PRIVATE CORPORATIONS. THIS IS MORE FROM THE PAGES OF SOCIALISM AND WE REJECT IT. Increase partnerships and enhance collaboration with government, private and nonprofit agencies, and other stakeholders. HERE `OTHER STAKEHOLDERS' IS A VAGUE TERM THAT IS NOT SUFFICIENTLY DEFINED. PLEASE DEFINE IT CLEARLY OR TAKE IT OUT ALTOGETHER. Explore innovative ways to fund water infrastructure improvements to attract development that is consistent with desired density and the land use pattern. AGAIN A REFERENCE TO `DESIRED DENSITY AND LAND USE PATTERNS' THIS HAS NOT BEEN SUFFICIENTLY EXAMINED IN THE PLANNING DOCUMENT AND IS BEING REFERENCE HERE AS A STANDARD Seek creative funding for significant expansion of water systems to reach new customers in non -service areas. Promote and practice water conservation practices to maximize efficient water use. Adopt One VVater recommendations to standardize interagency collaboration in planning for and managing water resources. Rainfall collection can provide additional water capacity even where we have Department of Water Supply (DWS) systems. NEEDS CLEAR EXPLANATION. Align the VVater Use Development Plan, Master Plan, General Plan, DWS Capital Improvements Program (CIP), DWS guidelines, DWS water commitments, and private improvements to the DWS system. NEEDS CLEAR EXPLANATION. Exercise some controls over the permitted uses within the defined zone of influence for downstream deep well sources. IN THIS GENERAL PLANNING DOCUMENT THERE APPEARS TO BE NO MENTION OF THE IMPACT OF MILITARY ON THE SOIL, WATER AND AIR QUALITY. HERE A REFERENCE TO POLLUTERS UPSTREAM OF WATER SOURCES AND YET MILITARY IS NOT MENTIONED? POHAKULOA MILITARY BASE CONTINUES TO LEASE FOR $1 AND CONDUCTS LIVE FIRE TRAINING DIRECTLY ABOVE THE ISLAND'S VAST AQUIFER. IT HAS BEEN A KNOWN FACT THAT DEPLETED URANIUM HAS BEEN SCATTERED ONTO THE BASE AND CONTINUES TO BE DISTURBED BY MILITARY ACTIVITIES UP THERE. Encourage groundwater recharge from regional scale master planning to on-site best management practices such as low -impact development (LID). Increase opportunities for recycled water. THIS SHOULD BE ELABORATED SINCE IT APPEARS TO BE A DIRECTIVE. THE PUBLIC IS ENTITLED TO BE CONSULTED ON SUCH MATTERS. Prioritize sewer for sensitive urban areas. Proactively seek grant funding to assist with wastewater development. AGAIN STATING THAT REFERENCING OVER AND OVER THE NEED FOR `WASTEWATER DEVELOPMENT' WHILE DEDICATING NO TIME AND EFFORT TO EXPLORING ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF BIO REMEDIATION IS A MAJOR OMMISSION Advocate for expanding cesspool conversion tax credit to all cesspool conversions. THESE ARE MAJOR COSTS BEING PASSED ON TO HOME OWNERS. Explore opportunities for public-private partnerships as well as those for technology upgrades and innovation. THE TERM `PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP' IS A TERM ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED DEBT FOR THE PUBLIC AND A REDUCTION (USUALLY) IN HARD ASSETS THAT ARE HANDED OVER TO CORPORATE PRIVATE INTERESTS. Promote the expanded use of greywater for landscape irrigation and groundwater recharge via rules for new construction and retrofits Advocate to the Department of Health (DOH) to adopt appropriately scaled requirements and standards and develop flexible guidelines for designing and permitting wastewater systems that meet environmental objectives. Low-pressure systems should be prioritized for retrofitting instead of gravity flow. • Higher -density development can contribute more to a centralized system. HERE AGAIN WE SEE AN ASSERTION THAT FUTURE DEVELOPMENT WILL BE HIGHER DENSITY AND THIS LACKS PUBLIC DISCUSSION AND YET Drinking Water Wastewater 4.3 Public Utilities 1 County of Hawai`i General Plan 128 Stormwater Electricity & Energy Telecommunications & Broadband Increase availability and access to information about private wastewater treatment plant capacities or expansion opportunities. Prioritize resiliency measures that support climate change impact scenarios. Regularly amend County codes to be as current and innovative as possible. Be a leader in prioritizing green infrastructure over gray infrastructure. Ensure that stormwater infrastructure decisions align with related plans and the CIP budget. Green infrastructure practices may provide opportunities for creating or expanding industry. Prioritize the use of native plants in landscaping. Promote and support the development of alternative energy production facilities. Be a net power producer with hydrogen and waste management. THIS STATEMENT WARRANTS ELABORATION OR IT DOESN'T BELONG IN THIS DOCUMENT. Hawai`i Island has the highest renewable energy percentage in the State and can continue to support renewable energy projects to decarbonize our energy system and stabilize electricity costs. WHAT DOES `DECARBONIZE OUR ENERGY SYSTEM' ACTUALLY MEAN ? ELECTRIC CARS ON THE ISLAND ARE CHARGED AT STATIONS THAT RELY ON POWER FROM DIESEL FUEL GENERATORS. IN OTHER WORDS ELECTRIC CARS REMAIN DEPENDENT ON THOSE FOSSIL FUELS BUT WE SEE OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT PROMOTING ELECTRIC CARS AS PART OF AN ALTERNATIVE ENERGY STRATEGY. THE NOTION OF `DECARBONIZING OUR ENERGY SYSTEM' IS FEEDING A MYTH ABOUT HOW RAPIDLY 'WE' CAN TRANSFORM OUR ENTIRE ECONOMY AND OUR WAY OF LIFE. THE IDEA OF `DECARBONIZING' THE ENERGY SYSTEM IS VERY VERY RADICAL AND IS COMING FROM A SOCIALIST MYTH THAT CARBON (THE BUILDING BLOCK OF LIFE) IS 'BAD' AND THAT SOMEHOW `CARBON' IS THE CAUSE OF WEATHER EVENTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE.' THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT SUPPORTS A RADICAL AGENDA TO DECARBONIZE' OUR ENTIRE ENERGY SYSTEM. FURTHER, SINCE THIS WILL REQUIRE COMPLETE DISRUPTION TO THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AND SINCE IT IS IMPLIED THAT PEOPLE WILL BE DISCOURAGED FROM MOVING ABOUT `FREELY' THIS IS A RADICAL OVERHAUL OF OUR ECONOMY WHICH IS LIKELY TO PRODUCE MANY PAINFUL SHOCKS TO INDIVIDUALS, OHANA AND COMMUNITIES. THIS IS ABOUT THE CLEAREST EXAMPLE OF `RECKLESS' ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNMENT THAT ONE COULD POSSIBLY IMAGINE. WHAT IS EXTREMELY DISTURBING ABOUT SEEING THE COUNTY DOCUMENT LINE UP SO CLOSELY WITH DECLARED GOALS OF AN ELITE INSTITUTION REPRESENTING THE WEALTHIEST 1% OF OUR PLANET (THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM') IS THAT THIS ORGANIZATION APPOINTED ITSELF AS THE CUSTODIANS AND ARBITERS OF A PLAN TO BRING IN THE 4TH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION WHICH IS THE MOST RADICAL OF ALL THE TRANSITIONS AT ANY TIME IN HISTORY AND BROUGHT ABOUT THROUGH A SERIES OF CRISES: PANDEMIC DISEASE, CLIMATE EVENTS' THAT APPEAR AS A CRISIS AND ALSO FOOD SHORTAGES IN PART CAUSED BY INTERFERENCE WITH SUPPLY CHAIN THAT BEGAN WITH LOCKDOWNS IN 2020. THE CATCH PHRASE BY WEF LEADER KLAUS SCHWAB AT THE TIME OF INTRODUCING THE GREAT RESET' WAS 'BY 2030 YOU WILL OWN NOTHING AND YOU WILL BE HAPPY.' WE SPECIFICALLY OBJECT TO TERMS SUCH AS `DECARBONIZING OUR ENERGY SYSTEM' BECAUSE THIS IMPLIES THAT YOU HAVE THE CONSENT OF THE PUBLIC A) TO ASSERT THAT CARBON IS A PROBLEM AS IF THERE IS CONSENSUS ON THIS TOPIC WHEN THERE IS NOT AND B) TO TAKE EXTREMELY RADICAL AND DANGEROUS STEPS TO TRANSITION THE ENTIRE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. Support the County's Broadband Initiative and coordination with the State to facilitate digital equity efforts e.g., establishing broadband as a public utility, infrastructure deployment, providing training support, and coordinating funding strategies for broadband and telecommunication services). AFTER 5G THERE IS 6G COMING . WITH EACH OF THE INCREMENTAL INCREASES IN THE INTENSITY OF THE FREQUENCY ILLNESSES AND TISSUE DAMAGE RESULTS CONSISTENT WITH `RADIATION POISONING' . THERE NEEDS TO BE A COMMITMENT TO REVIEW SAFETY INFORMATION AND TO TAKE AN APPROACH THAT HAS A PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE. THIS IS THE MINIMUM STANDARD OF GOOD GOVERNMENT. Compact development and higher population densities where appropriate are favorable for commercial service providers as they contribute to more economically viable market conditions. WHICH COMMERCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS' IS THIS REFERENCING ? THIS STATEMENT NEEDS TO BE EXPLAINED BETTER OR ELSE REMOVED FROM THIS SECTION. Providing consistent and accurate digital literacy data will promote a desirable level of service for all residents. WHAT IS DIGITAL LITERACY DATA AND HOW WILL THIS PROMOTE A DESIREABLE LEVEL OF SERVICE ? IS `DIGITAL LITERACY DATA' A CLASS OF INFORMATION THAT COMES WITH VIGILANT PROTECTION OF EACH AND EVERY INDIVIDUAL; THEIR PRIVACY AND THEIR 1ST AMENDMENT RIGHTS ? WITHOUT PROTECTION OF THIS KIND, IF OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT IS WAIVING ON THE INVASIVE DATA COLLECTION PRACTICES OF THE DIGITAL INDUSTRY, THEN IT MAY BE ENDANGERING THE PEOPLE OF THIS ISLAND. WE ARE REQUESTING THAT THE PRIMACY OF SAFETY AND DATA PRIVACY ABOVE THE INTERESTS OF INVESTORS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE WRITTEN INTO THIS GENERAL PLAN. THERE IS A LOT OF DATA TO SUPPORT THAT WHEN THE SAFETY AND PRIVACY OF INDIVIDUALS ARE COMPROMISED, THE PUBLIC WILL BE ENDANGERED AND TYRANNY WILL LIKELY RESULT. THESE ARE THE REASONS THE ENTIRE DOCUMENT IS FLAWED: WE DON'T SEE CARE TAKEN BY OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT INDIVIDUALS' HEALTH AND SAFETY. . Increasing digital inclusion efforts, which focus on ensuring both access to and ability to use a range of technologies, will contribute to better outcomes for health, public safety, economic opportunity, and civic participation. THE TERM `digital inclusion' IS BASED ON AN ASSUMPTION THAT MORE ACCESS TO 5G AND HIGHER BANDWIDTH IS A POSITIVE THING. THIS PREMISE IS WIDELY PROMOTED IN THIS POLICY DOCUMENT AND YET NO SAFETY STUDIES ARE CITED. Streamlining permitting and approval processes will improve the efficiency of broadband and telecommunication development and delivery. THIS IS AMBIGUOUS AND MAY BE PROMOTION OF A LOOSE SET OF GUIDELINES FOR TOWER PLACEMENT THAT IS NOT IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST. Pursue partnerships to develop public spaces with broadband access. THIS IS AMBIGUOUS AND MAY BE PROMOTION OF AN OBJECTIVE THAT IS NOT IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST. 4.3 Public Utilities 1 County of Hawai`i General Plan 129 4.3.2 Public Utilities Goal, Objective, Policies, and Actions Our communities are adequately served by sustainable and efficient public infrastructure, utilities, and services based on existing and future growth needs, sound design principles, and effective maintenance practices. Objective 25 Improve the efficiency, reliability, and sustainability of essential infrastructure systems. Policies 25.1 Public utility facilities shall be designed at a scale that meets the needs of future development. IN THIS DOCUMENT SO FAR, THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT AN ACTUAL FOCUS ON THE ECONOMY, ON THE SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY THAT REQUIRE SUPPORT, HAS ACTUALLY BEEN CONSIDERED. VVHY IS THERE AN EMPHASIS ON `FUTURE DEVELOPMENT' WITHOUT THE MAIN FOCUS BEING ECONOMIC GROVVTH? 25.2 Provide utilities and service facilities that minimize total cost to the public and effectively serve the needs of the community. 25.3 Utility facilities shall be designed to complement adjacent land uses and minimize pollution or disturbance of the natural environment and natural resources. 25.4 Improvement of existing utility services shall be encouraged to meet the needs of users. THIS IS MEANINGLESS. VVHY IS THIS SENTENCE NECESSARY ? 25.5 Encourage the clustering of developments to reduce the cost of providing utilities. VVE ARE FAMILIAR WITH THIS IDEOLOGY. IT'S NOT GOVERNMENT POLICY DEVELOPMENT IT NEEDS TO BE NAMED FOR WHAT IT IT: `SMART CITY' PROPAGANDA. STACK EM AND PACK EM HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS ARE A PART OF THE PLAN AND THIS IS A RADICAL COMMUNIST AGENDA THAT VVE REJECT. IT IS THROUGHOUT THIS DOCUMENT WHICH IS EXTREMELY CONCERNING. THE SMART CITIES THAT ARE BEING DESIGNED GLOBALLY ARE ANOTHER REFLECTION OF VVEF STATED GOALS TO CREATE URBAN CENTERS WHERE SURVEILLANCE AND CARBON MONITORING FORM THE JUSTIFICATION FOR CONFINING PEOPLE AND PREVENTING THEM FROM MOVING ABOUT FREELY. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND TRAITOROUS PROPOSAL TO FIND IN A DOCUMENT THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE DELIVERING TO OUR ISLAND A PLAN FOR OUR WELL BEING AS A COMMUNITY, FOR ECONOMIC GROVVTH, AND FOR THE CARE OF OUR `AINA. 25.6 Develop short- and long-range capital improvements programs and plans for public utilities within its jurisdiction that are consistent with the General Plan. 25.7 Maintain an Asset Management Program aimed at utilizing maintenance plans to prolong the life of our utilities as well as reduce whole -life costs. Actions 25.a Develop and adopt an Impact Fees Ordinance to aide in the expansion of public utilities. 4.3 Public Utilities 1 County of Hawai`i General Plan 130 4.3.3 Drinking Water Conservation The Hawaii State Constitution provides that all public natural resources, including water, are held in trust by the State for the benefit of the people. The State Constitution further maintains that "the State has an obligation to protect, control, and regulate the use of Hawaii's water resources for the benefit of its people." Water availability is crucial to any type of development, whether urban, rural, or agricultural. Water availability is based on the sustainable yields of the groundwater hydrologic units established through the State VVater Code., Land use allocation must be closely related to water availability, including the quantity and quality of the water, and the adequacy of the transmission and distribution system. The General Plan requires an understanding of water availability and capacity, current demands, and future demands based on planned and anticipated future growth and land uses. The County's Department of VVater Supply (DVVS) is the primary agency that manages, controls, and operates the water supplies of the County and its properties. There are 23 individual water systems distributed throughout the island. VVater demand is directly related to population and industry usage and is expressed as gallons per day (gpd) or million gallons per day (mgd). Demand does not represent domestic consumption alone, but also includes all agricultural, industrial, and commercial uses, fire protection, and other uses. In some areas, however, non-domestic users are likely to create the major demand, and careful attention must therefore be given in any study of probable future water needs. In Hawaii, there are a multitude of public agencies that are either actively tasked with regulating water resources or whose policies affect water use. There are also a number of private entities that use and manage water resources. Over the decades, water management has become segregated in a way that has created disjointed, mechanical approaches to a naturally continuous resource. The disconnection has included narrow perspectives that fail to see the larger picture. Hawaii County aspires to achieve water resource management that is free from the limitations and issues of siloed practices, processes, agencies, and government bodies. Achieving a One VVater approach in Hawaii County includes actionable steps that can be adapted and adjusted to localize the One VVater strategies. QUESTION : WHY IS A PRIVATE COMPANY BEING SOLD THE RIGHTS TO BOTTLE WATER IN HILO ? WHY ISN'T A PLANNING DOCUMENT CONCERNED WITH FUTURE WATER ACCESS CLEAR THAT NO WATER IS TO BE `SOLD' OR COMMERCIALIZED SINCE IT BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE OF HAWAII? One Water One Water is a strategy that integrates the management of stormwater, wastewater, groundwater, sea water, freshwater, graywater, and recycled water to create resource and financial efficiencies. One Water will help the County of Hawaii address climate change impacts by creating cross -agency coordination and advancing the capacity within agencies. ANY PREMISE USED TO CONTROL WATER ACCESS, WATER RIGHTS WHETHER BY A CORPORATION OR A GOVERNMENT MUST BE REJECTED. WATER IS AN INCREASINGLY PRIVATISED COMMODITY ACROSS THE WORLD. THIS SHOULD CONCERN US. IT ALREADY SEEMS EXTREMELY CONCERNING THAT ON THE ONE HAND APPLICANTS HAVE REPEATEDLY ATTEMPTED VIA A COUNTY PERMITTING PROCESS TO PURCHASE THE RIGHTS TO BOTTLE WATER FROM OUR MAUNA KEA AQUIFER AND ON THE OTHER HAND THAT THE COUNTY WOULD BE PROMOTING CONTROL OF WATER MANAGEMENT IN A CENTRALIZED FASHION INVOLVING MULTIPLE `UNDISCLOSED AGENCIES' FURTHER, AGAIN THERE IS AN OBJECTION TO THE SUGGESTION THAT THE COUNTY OF HAWAII WILL ADDRESS `CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS' WHEN THE VERY PREMISE OF CLIMATE CHANGE HAS BEEN CHALLENGED BY MULTIPLE LEADING AUTHORITIES AND IS THE SOURCE OF CONTROVERSY DUE TO THE LACK OF HARD EVIDENCE THAT CARBON' IS THE CAUSE OF `CLIMATE CHANGE' AND `CLIMATE EVENTS' THAT APPEAR TO REPRESENT AN EMERGENCY. Objective 26 Increase the protection of existing and potential sources of drinking water. Policies 26.1 All public water systems shall be designed and built to the DWS dedication standards. All other systems shall meet all relevant health and safety regulations and be designed and constructed by a licensed engineer. 26.2 Water sources shall be protected to prevent depletion and contamination from natural and man- made occurrences or events. 26.3 An effort by County, State, and private interests shall be coordinated to identify sources of additional water supply to be implemented and ensure the development of sufficient quantities of water for existing and future needs of high-growth areas and agricultural production. 26.4 Installation or rehabilitation of water distributions shall be sized to adequately meet fire protection. 26.5 Ensure the highest quality of water is reserved for the most valuable end-use. 26.6 Encourage the design of large development projects (200+ units) in the North Kohala, South Kohala, North Kona, South Kona, and Ka 'u Districts to be as water neutral as reasonably possible through water conservation, recharge, and reuse measures to reduce the water footprint. 26.7 Promote best practices in sustainable water collection and use for private water systems. 26.8 Water system improvements, including exploratory wells, shall correlate with the County's desired land use development pattern. 26.9 The DWS shall prioritize infill development and focus source development to serve designated Urban Growth Areas. 26.10 Waterdemandprojectionsshallincludeallconsumptiveandnon-consumptivedemands. 26.11 TheDWSandthePlanningDepartmentshallcoordinateprioritiesbeforetheadoptionofanynew water development or County land use plans. 26.12 AllCountypotablewatersystemsshouldhavebackupstandbysources. One Water 26.13 Treat all water as a valuable resource in community design, and integrate designs for drinking water, stormwater, and recreational water needs. CONCERN: AN EXAMPLE OF YET MORE POORLY EXPRESSED LANGUAGE THAT SEEMS INAPPROPRIATE. WHAT IS MEANT BY 'RECREATIONAL WATER NEEDS?' 26.14 Managewater, stormwater,andwastewaterasthesamenatural resourceincollaborationwithth e DWS, DEM, DPW, and DOH. 26.15 New developments should be designed to reduce water demand, retain runoff, decrease flooding, and recharge groundwater. 26.16 Supportlocalized,small-scalesolutionstowaterreuseandon-sitesystems. Actions 26.a In collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), conduct further research on localized rainfall modeling to accurately assess future precipitation trends. 4.3 Public Utilities 1 County of Hawai`i General Plan 132 26.b Expand water conservation programs, primarily aimed at reducing demand, such as leak detection, and rebates for low flow. 26.c Evaluate and amend the fee schedule for water use to take into account high water use and aquifer recharge projections. Use the funds generated to pay for conservation measures and infrastructure. 26.d Improve County water conservation practices to lead by example. 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. 26.f Collaborate with the DOH to develop standards and/or guidelines for the construction and use of rainwater catchment systems to minimize the intrusion of any chemical and microbiological contaminants. 26.g Promote the use of groundwater sources to meet DOH water quality standards. 26.h Seek state and federal funds to assist in financing projects to bring the County into compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act. 26.i Explore the feasibility of incentive methods such as property tax deductions, conservation easements, or transfer of development rights to protect the defined zone of influence of existing or proposed public and private wells. AGAIN THIS SEEMS TO REFER VAGUELY TO THE PRIVATISATION OF WATER AND CONVERSELY TO PROPERTY ACQUISITION WHICH IS NOT CURRENTLY CONSIDERED THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT. UNDER A COMMUNIST GOVERNMENTAL SYSTEM ONE COULD EASILY EXPECT THAT A GOVERNMENT WOULD BE CRAFTING POLICY IN SUCH A WAY THAT TRANSFER OF PROPERTY FROM PRIVATE LANDOWNER TO GOVERNMENT WOULD BE FACILITATED. 26.j Investigate alternative financing options for expanding water systems to support infill growth consistent with the County's desired land use development pattern. AGAIN THIS IS A VAGUE REFERENCE WHEN THAT SHOULD NOT BE LEFT AMBIGUOUS AND THIS IS CONCERNING BECAUSE IT COMPROMISES THE VALUE OF THE ENTIRE DOCUMENT. 26.k Collaborate with government, private and nonprofit agencies, communities, and other stakeholders to develop, improve, and expand agricultural water systems in appropriate areas on the island. 26.1 Continue to participate in the United States Geological Survey (USGS) exploratory well drilling program. 26.m Expand programs to provide agricultural irrigation water. One Water 26.n Develop water conservation and stormwater management guidelines for commercial, industrial, and residential properties. 26.o Codify the administrative structure needed to develop a water resource program and interdepartmental collaboration framework. 26.p Collaborate with government, private and nonprofit agencies, communities, and other stakeholders to develop and facilitate community partnerships between upstream and downstream communities. 26.q Develop public-private partnerships to leverage funding sources. 4.3 Public Utilities 1 County of Hawaii General Plan 133 Table 35: Water System Standards Domestic Consumption Guidelines Zoning Designation Residential: Single -Family or Duplex Multi -Family Commercial Resort Light Industry Schools and Parks Agriculture Average Daily Demand 400 gals/unit 400 gals/unit 3000 gals/acre 400 gals/unit or 17,000 gal/acre 4000 gals/acre 4000 gals/acre or 60 gals/student 3400 gals/acre 4.3 Public Utilities 1 County of Hawai`i General Plan 134 4.3.4 Wastewater Treatment and Reuse The General Plan recognizes the significance of wastewater treatment and reuse as essential components of the County's comprehensive water management strategy. Adequate sewer systems are vital to maintain public health and protect the environment. As communities generate wastewater through various sources such as residential, commercial, and industrial activities, effective treatment is necessary to remove harmful pollutants and contaminants before the water is discharged back into the environment. Improperly treated wastewater can have detrimental effects on marine ecosystems, coastal waters, and freshwater resources, jeopardizing both human and ecological health. An adequate system minimizes contamination of both the groundwater supply and coastal waters, beaches, and waterborne recreational areas and is not a visual and odor nuisance. Land development plans for resort -residential complexes located in shoreline areas pose a potential water quality problem for adjacent near -shore waters. Adequate treatment facilities are essential prerequisites for development. HERE IN THIS DOCUMENT VVITH NO REFERENCE TO BIO REMEDIATION AND VVITH THE SHEER VOLUME OF HOUSEHOLDS OPERATING OFF GRID, THIS DOCUMENT IS CREATING `CRIME' OUT OF REGULAR HOUSEHOLD OPERATIONS. THE FACT THAT THIS COUNTY ADMINISTRATION IS PROPOSING A POLICY DIRECTIVE TO MANDATE/ FORCE HOUSEHOLDS TO ADDRESS THE LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE ON OUR RURAL ISLAND IS A VERY RECKLESS DIRECTION TO TAKE. REFER PREVIOUS COMMENTS 1) AN AUDIT SHOULD BE DONE OF THE CURRENT WASTEWATER DIVISION 2) ALTERNATIVE BIOREMEDIATION METHODS MUST BE INVESTIGATED AND FINDINGS PUBLISHED. MORE PUBLIC DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC AWARENESS IS NEEDED BEFORE THIS POLICY DIRECTIVE WOULD BE ADOPTED SINCE IT WILL LIKELY BRING GREAT FINANCIAL STRAIN TO MANY HOUSEHOLDS AND REQUIRE ONEROUS LEVELS OF `ENFORCEMENT.' Wastewater reuse, also known as water recycling or reclaimed water, involves treating wastewater to a level suitable for non -potable uses. Reusing treated wastewater provides an opportunity to conserve precious freshwater resources and reduce the strain on existing water supplies. For Hawaii Island, where freshwater resources are limited and vulnerable to climate change impacts, the implementation of wastewater reuse projects becomes vital for ensuring water sustainability. By implementing appropriate treatment processes, treated wastewater can be used for a range of purposes, including irrigation of agricultural lands, landscape irrigation, industrial processes, and groundwater recharge. This practice helps meet non -drinking water needs, reducing the reliance on freshwater sources for non -potable purposes and leaving more available for essential uses like drinking water. THERE IS NO MENTION HERE OF THE SAFETY CONCERNS THAT MUST ACCOMPANY SUCH USES OF TREATED WASTEWATER. The County operates municipal sewerage in Hilo, Papa`ikou, Kapehu, Pepe`ekeo, Honoka`a, Kealakehe, and Kaloko. The remaining communities are served by private wastewater treatment facilities or individual facilities, such as cesspools or septic tanks. In 2017, the Hawaii State Legislature passed Act 125, mandating that all Hawaii's cesspools be replaced by 2050. Cesspools are substandard sewage disposal systems as they do not treat wastewater. According to the latest report on the Hawaii Cesspool Hazard Assessment and Prioritization Tool, Hawaii Island contains an estimated 48,596 cesspools. Sewerage disposal system designs must be examined with the particular region in mind. Of critical importance in an examination of sewerage disposal for a community is the cost of the system, including construction and operation costs. These costs vary with the characteristics of each area. The Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 legislated the protection of all aquifers or portions of aquifers currently serving as drinking water sources and any other aquifer capable of yielding consumable water. This mandate was based on a national concern for the quality of the groundwater and the increasing evidence of contamination of this valuable resource. In 1976, the State Legislature enacted Act 84, relating to safe drinking water, which requires the State Department of Health (DOH) to establish an underground injection control program to protect the quality of the State's underground sources of drinking water. Because of the importance ofgroundwater as a source of municipal water supplies, the underground injection control program is considered a beneficial approach in the identification of aquifers that should be protected from subsurface disposal of wastewater through injection wells. HERE AGAIN THERE IS NO MENTION OF THE PRIMARY POLLUTER OF THE AQUIFER : THE MILITARY BASE ON POHAKULOA. THERE IS ALSO NO MENTION OF TESTING WATER QUALITY AND TESTING FOR CONTAMINANTS. THIS IS ANOTHER DIVISION OF OUR COUNTY THAT SHOULD BE AUDITED. WHY IS NOTHING DONE ABOUT A MILITARY POTENTIAL `SUPER FUND SITE' OPERATING ABOVE A PRISTINE AQUIFER? The protection of these aquifers is established by designating areas currently being used or will be used in the future for drinking water supply. The Underground Sources of Drinking VVater USDVV) will be protected from pollution by prohibiting the construction of new injection wells that may pollute the USDVV. Injection wells are allowed in exempted areas. The boundary lines between the USDVV and the exempted areas have been developed. ** PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION OR ELSE TAKE OUT THIS EXEMPTION REFERENCE. THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE BETTER INFORMED UPON READING THIS PLAN, NOT LEFT IN THE DARK TO WONDER . Under Chapter 62, Wastewater Systems, the DOH adopted a 1,000 -foot setback of wastewater systems from all public drinking water wells and springs. In compliance with the Federal VVater Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 (Public Law 92- 500), the DOH and the County jointly prepared the VVater Quality Management Plan for Hawaii County in 1978 and subsequently updated the plan in 1980. In 1979, the County Council adopted the plan through a resolution to serve as the planning guide for the development of regional waste treatment systems and the control of non- point sources of pollution. To implement the management plan, the County has prepared facility plans for various areas on the island. Facility plans are developed by the County to satisfy a requirement for the application of loans from the State to develop wastewater treatment facilities. The facility plans identify problems, potential solutions, and costs. In 1985, the State Legislature enacted Act 282, Relating to Environmental Quality, which reassigns the County, effective July 1, 1987, or upon receipt of State funds, to assume complete administration and implementation for the regulation of sewerage and wastewater treatment system programs. Source: Hawai'i News Now (2022). 4.3 Public Utilities 1 County of Hawai`i General Plan 136 Objective 27 Planned and developed municipal sewer capacity is expanded to serve our Urban Growth Areas and reduce sewage -related impacts on water quality. Policies 27.1 A Sewerage Study for All Urban Areas, including appropriate water quality management strategies, shall be completed and used as guides for the general planning of sewerage disposal systems. 27.2 Private treatment systems shall be installed by land developers for major resorts and other developments along shorelines and sensitive higher inland areas, except where connection to nearby treatment facilities is feasible and compatible with the County's long-range plans, and in conformance with State and County requirements. 27.3 Immediate steps shall be taken to designate treatment plant sites, sewerage pump station sites, and sewer easements according to the facility plans to facilitate their acquisition. 27.4 The County shall obtain State and Federal funds to finance the construction of proposed sewer systems and improve existing systems. 27.5 Plans for wastewater reclamation and reuse for irrigation and biosolids composting remaining solids from the treatment of wastewater are processed into a reusable organic material) shall be utilized where topographically feasible and needed for landscaping, agricultural purposes, or fire protection. Wastewater and Environmental Quality Prioritization 27.6 Pollution shall be prevented, abated, and controlled at levels that will protect and preserve public health and well-being through the enforcement of appropriate Federal, State, and County standards. 27.7 Ensure municipal wastewater systems serve designated Urban Growth Areas UGA) with the capacity to accommodate projected population growth. 27.8 The Department of Environmental Management and the Planning Department shall coordinate priorities before the adoption of any new wastewater development or land use plans. 27.9 Prioritize developing a multipronged approach to wastewater infrastructure funding, including proactively seeking grant funding for wastewater system expansion, improvements, and new development. 27.10 Ensurewastewaterfeesreflectactualcostsforservice,maintenance,andfutureimprovements. 27.11 Ensure that wastewater systems and improvements are designed and functioning to maximize system efficiencies, prevent accidental leaks or spills, and provide sanitary, reliable wastewater treatment that is not negatively impacting natural resources. One Water -Recycled Water Expansion 27.12 Striveforani nteg ratedapproachtostormwaterandwastewater, andwaterresou rcemanageme nt that is comprehensive and as efficient as possible. 27.13 Encourageon-sitewaterreusesolutionsforlargedevelopments. 4.3 Public Utilities 1 County of Hawai`i General Plan 137 27.14 Encourageandincentivizethecollectionofrainfallfornon-potableuse. 27.15 PrioritizetheuseofgraywaterinareasconnectedtoCountywaterandnotconnectedtoCounty wastewater. Actions Wastewater and Environmental Quality Prioritization 27.a Prioritize areas where on-site wastewater treatment should be converted to sewer and establish financial tools such as improvement districts to aid in implementation. 27.b Prioritize areas where wastewater treatment facilities are necessary to facilitate future growth and utilize financing tools such as community facilities district (CFD) or tax increment financing (TIF) to aid in implementation. 27.c Review, assess, and amend Codes relating to sewer connection requirements to ensure wastewater issues and requirements are addressed in a consistent, sustainable, and socially equitable way. 27.d Develop a wastewater master plan with a clear prioritization method for wastewater system expansions and improvements based on criteria involving land use, projected growth, social equity, and environmental factors. 27.e Develop plans to improve, connect, or develop new wastewater systems in unsewered urban coastal communities. 27.f Perform a study to assess individual wastewater systems (IVVS) in unsewered urban growth areas to assess the rate of failures/negative impacts, determine rates of large capacity cesspools still in use, and develop plans to improve, connect, or develop new wastewater systems for unsewered urban communities. 27.g Proactively seek opportunities for public-private partnerships for wastewater collection and treatment development. 27.h Facilitate the use of infrastructure improvement districts and other types of localized funding mechanisms to fund improvements. 27.i Streamline the sewer connection loan program. 27.j Develop wastewater cost valuation in service fees (similar to the water model fee structure). 27.k Develop a criteria -based infrastructure prioritization tool to develop new or expand existing municipal wastewater systems. Base these priority areas on designated urban growth boundaries, urban zoning and density, population trends and anticipated growth, health/safety, and environmental factors. 27.1 Implement innovative wastewater systems at a cost-effective scale for small communities. 27.m Amend the County Code, Section 21-26-1(a) requiring "all sewer extensions shall be approved by resolution of the County council" to read, "all sewer extensions outside of Urban Growth Areas shall be approved by resolution of the County council." REFERRING AGAIN TO CONCERNS THAT THIS IS AN UNFEASIBLE COST TO REGULAR HOUSEHOLDS. THIS IS A VERY CONCERNING POLICY DIRECTIVE AND AS ACKNOWLEDGED HERE, MORE STUDIES WOULD BE REQUIRED PRIOR TO ADMINISTERING SUCH POLICIES.. SO WHY ARE WE SEEING THIS EMPHASIS IN THE GENERAL PLAN ? 4.3 Public Utilities 1 County of Hawai`i General Plan 138 27.n In collaboration with the DOH Wastewater Branch, reevaluate and clarify the requirements set forth in Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR), Section 11-62-31.1(a) (1) B) and amend County sewer requirements accordingly to accommodate needed housing units. 27.o Collaborate with the DOH to advance progressive wastewater technology and regulations. One Water -Recycled Water Expansion 27.p In collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, develop a water resource strategy for efficient agricultural water use and reuse. 27.q Install non -potable systems, such as reclaimed wastewater, brackish groundwater, and untreated surface water in proximity to priority UGAs for non -potable water uses. 27.r Conduct supply and demand studies to determine a level of service for non -potable water needs. 27.s Facilitate greywater reuse systems through code amendments and through partnering with DOH for regulatory changes and incentives. 4.3 Public Utilities 1 County of Hawai`i General Plan 139 4.3.5 Stormwater Infiltration and Green Infrastructure Stormwater management and the implementation of green infrastructure are critical elements of the General Plan for their vital role in sustainability on Hawaii Island. As an island ecosystem with limited freshwater resources and vulnerable coastal areas, managing stormwater effectively and integrating green infrastructure practices are essential for preserving our water resources and ensuring environmental sustainability. Stormwater refers to the runoff from precipitation that flows over land surfaces, eventually entering water bodies such as streams, rivers, and oceans. Stormwater is a crucial element of the island's overall water landscape. While precipitation may be an obvious contributor to stormwater, all the phases of the hydrologic cycle are related to stormwater and are influenced by public utility decisions made in the built environment. Precipitation and surface runoff are often the phases of the hydrologic cycle that people recognize as stormwater, whereas evaporation, transpiration, and condensation are not as easily observed processes. Uncontrolled stormwater runoff can lead to various detrimental effects on water resources and ecosystems. Polluted runoff, also known as nonpoint source pollution, from agriculture, urban development, forestry, recreational boating, marinas, and hydromodification activities is the leading cause of water pollution in waters across the country and in Hawaii. Uncontrolled stormwater runoff can also lead to localized flooding, causing damage to infrastructure, property, and even loss of life. Implementing stormwater management strategies helps to control the flow of stormwater, reducing the risk of flooding and associated hazards. Moreover, excessive stormwater runoff can cause soil erosion, leading to the loss of fertile topsoil, sedimentation in water bodies, and degradation of natural habitats. Proper stormwater management practices, including erosion control measures, help minimize erosion and preserve the island's natural resources. Stormwater is a prime example of the unavoidable connections that exist between the built environment and the natural environment. Increasing the opportunities for infiltration and transpiration can reduce the amount of evaporation that surface runoff requires. The social, environmental, and economic impacts of stormwater infrastructure have meaningful implications for our overall island sustainability as water is one of the most precious resources. Point and Nonpoint Source Pollution Engineering efficiency in conveying stormwater runoff using impervious surfaces (e.g., paved swales, channelized streams) must be balanced against environmental considerations. If the drainage is directed to streams, excessive freshwater volumes and sediment loads may impact coastal water resources (e.g., degrade water quality and smother coral reefs). If the drainage is directed to injection wells, more studies are needed to determine the impact of storm runoff on groundwater quality. Sediment basins, wetlands, or less impervious methods of conveyance e.g., grass swales) should be considered where feasible to reduce nonpoint source pollution of the coastal waters from stormwater runoff and filter infiltrating water. Green infrastructure refers to the network of natural or engineered features that manage stormwater while providing additional benefits to the environment and community. Such features may include rain gardens, permeable pavement, bioswales, and vegetated buffers. Green infrastructure is crucial for stormwater management, as it captures and absorbs runoff, reducing the volume and rate of runoff. By mimicking natural hydrological processes like sediment filtration and bioremediation, it helps to recharge groundwater, replenish streams, and 4.3 Public Utilities 1 County of Hawai`i General Plan 140 reduce stress on our water resources during periods of heavy rainfall. CONCERN: HERE AT LEAST WE SEE REFERENCES TO BIOREMEDIATION. WHY IS THIS ACCEPTABLE' AS A STRATEGY WHERE TREATMENT OF WATER RUN OFF IS CONCERNED BUT NEVER ENTERTAINED IN THE MATTER OF RAW SEWAGE TREATMENT (A `SOLUTION' AND POLICY DIRECTIVE HERE WHICH THREATENS TO BE COST PROHIBITIVE TO MANY HOUSEHOLDS? ) By retaining and infiltrating stormwater, green infrastructure reduces the reliance on freshwater sources for irrigation, thus conserving water resources. This is particularly important for our island communities where freshwater availability is limited. Green infrastructure features may also provide habitats for native plants and wildlife. They contribute to biodiversity conservation and help restore and enhance Hawaii Island's natural ecosystems. Green infrastructure plays a key part in mitigating the impacts of climate change by reducing the urban heat island effect, moderating temperatures, and increasing resilience to extreme weather events. These measures align with the County's sustainability goals and efforts to adapt to climate change. 4.3 Public Utilities 1 County of Hawai`i General Plan 141 Page 166 34.15 Encourage the expansion of digital access and equity through the resilient buildout of broadband infrastructure and facilities. Does this take into account the safety of 5G+? Is this to facilitate surveillance of citizens in the future? Page167 34.a Implement a Safe Route to School (SR2S) program for all schools. Will surveillance be implemented to ensure safety? Page169 4.4.6 Recreation Housing developers should not bear a disproportionate burden, or be forced to contribute more than their fair share, as inequitable requirements could deter needed housing development. This proviso seems to favor developers. Page171 35.a Provide funding for planning and acquisition,if necessary, of key corridor segments after corridor -zone plans are adopted. Does this preclude the rezoning and acquisition ofprivate property? 35.k Maintain an on-going program of identification, designation, and acquisition of areas with existing or potential recreational resources, such as land with sandy beaches and other prime areas for shoreline recreation in collaboration with government, private and non profit agencies, and other stakeholders. Please include private property owners in your definition of stakeholders. Page 175 4.4.7 Encouraging the establishment of farmers' markets, community gardens, and a range of agricultural activities can promote local food production and improve access to fresh nutritious food. Please include home gardens. Page 177 36.g Support the distribution of telehealth support services, particularly to unserved and underserved communities. Encourage instead person to person contact. 36.j Amend the County Code to designate a lead agency for coordinating and responding to outbreaks of life-threatening, highly communicable diseases pursuant to the DOH direction. While ensuring the statues of the Nuremberg Code are observed. Page 179 4.5.1 Blueprint for the creation of a 15 minute island, clustering us together in "a centralized, higher -density urban infill, supported by nearby, accessible public and private services and facilities." Page 181 Under Housing Challenges Targets: "Homeownership for investment purposes that are kept vacant or used for transient accommodation rentals reduces available stock for long term resident ownership and rental opportunities." Prohibits and discourages the rights of private ownership. Page 182 37.6 Vacant lands in the urban growth boundary (UBG) should be prioritized for residential and supportive uses before additional agricultural lands outside the UBG are converted into urban uses. With the consent ofproperty owner should be included. Page183 38.1 Enable data -driven research to support and maintain a housing inventory program that monitors existing housing. 38.a Perform existing housing inventory data analysis to identify structural conditions and needs for rehabilitation or demotion. Both justify the necessity of more surveillance of the community. 38.a also precludes the private property owner's rights and opinions. Take this out or revise. Page 184 39.5 Allow for and apply property tax and land use regulations to incentivize private property owners to provide affordable housing units in mix -use and urban areas and to discentivize the land banking of unimproved properties. In other words land use regulations and property tax hikes will be weaponized against the private property owner. TAke this out or revise! Page185 Table 40: Additional Infrastructure - Provide adequate broadband without invading people's privacy. Ensuring future surveillance capabilities? Page188 40.8 Require all County Departments to collaborate with the County Office of Sustainability, Climate, Equity, and Resilience (OSCER) as the lead agency to ensure the integration of the County's goals of sustainability, climate resilience, and equity into all county operations and planning initiatives. To whom does OSCER answer? Who's watching the watchdog? THIS ORGANIZATION WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2023. IT WAS PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC AS AN AGENCY THAT COULD ACCEPT GRANT FUNDS FROM GOVERNMENT AND NON GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS. IT WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO BE GRANTED EXTRA POWERS AS AN ADMIINISTRATIVE ARM OF THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT WE SPECIFICALLY OBJECT TO THE LANGUAGE REQUIRING' `ALL COUNTY DEPARTMENTS' TO COLLABORATE WITH THE OSCER. THE COUNTY'S `GOALS' OF sustainability, climate resilience, and equity HAVE NOT BEEN ADEQUATELY DEBATED IN OUR COMMUNITY . WE CHALLENGE THE SUGGESTION THAT THERE IS CONSENSUS ON THIS MATTER AND WE SPECIFICALLY CHALLENGE THE OSCER `AGENCY' TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF THE ABOVE. WE SPECIFICALLY CHALLENGE THE PLANNING DIRECTOR AND THE LEGISLATURE TO STAGE A FULL PUBLIC REVIEW OF BOTH SETS OF DATA AND BOTH ARGUMENTS THAT THERE IS A CLIMATE CRISIS CAUSED BY CARBON THE `Office of Sustainability, Climate, Equity, and Resilience (OSCER)' BEGINS WITH A FLAWED AND DISPUTED PREMISE THAT THERE IS A CLIMATE `CRISIS' AND THAT THE OTHER 3 `PILLARS' OF THE ORGANIZATION (SUSTAINABILITY, EQUITY AND RESILLIENCE) BELONG TOGETHER AS PART OF A `SOLUTION.' VVHAT IS FLAWED ABOUT THE BUZZ VVORD `SUSTAINABILITY' IS THAT THIS WORD LEADS THE IDENTICAL AGENDAS OF CONTROLLING LAND USE, WATER RIGHTS, ACCESS TO PUBLIC SPACE, THE RIGHT TO TRAVEL, FARMING AND PASTURING OF ANIMALS AND FOOD SECURITY. THESE BUZZWORDS ARE COMING FROM WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM AND THE UNITED NATIONS. ALL OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS PLUS THE BILL AND MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION AND 'NET ZERO' PROMOTE A DANGEROUS AGENDA OF OVERRIDING SOVEREIGN HOME RULE LOCAL COUNTIES AND STATES AND REPLACING WITH `GLOBAL AGENDAS' VVHICH ARE BRINGING IN COMMUNIST' VALUES AND SYSTEMS OF PROPERTY ACQUISITION AND DESTRUCTION OF SMALL BUSINESS AND THE CORPORATIZATION OF PUBLIC ASSETS. VVHAT IS FLAWED ABOUT THE BUZZ VVORD `EQUITY' IS THAT IT IS QUICKLY BECOMING A WAY OF WAVING ON A COMMUNIST STYLE OF ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS VVHICH PROMOTES LARGER PORTION OF THE POPULATION BEING ON WELFARE AND DIVERSITY HIRE PRACTICES THAT PROMOTE MEDIOCRITY AND NOT MERITOCRACY. THE WORD `RESILIENCE' ALSO HAS COME TO BE ANOTHER 'BUZZ VVORD' THAT IS A RATIONALE FOR THE CATCH PHRASE `BUILD BACK BETTER' AND THE IDEA THAT MORE RIGOROUS BUILDING CODES, MORE RESTRICTIONS AND MORE BUILDING COSTS AND INSURANCE COSTS WILL FOLLOW IN THE AFTERMATH OF EACH `DISASTER.' ELSEWHERE IN THIS DOCUMENT THERE VVAS A CHALLENGE TO THE PREMISE THAT THE RECENT FIRE IN LAHAINA VVAS `NORMAL' AND THAT THE RESULTING LOCKDOWNS AND FAILURE OF GREEN ADMINISTRATION TO SUPPORT HOUSEHOLDS TO REBUILD ARE ALSO `NORMAL.' TO THE CONTRARY, WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN LAHAINA FOR THE PAST 13 MONTHS EXEMPLIFIES THE VVAY THAT THE WORD `RESILIENCE' HAS COME TO MEAN `CONTROL OF A POPULATION AFTER A DISASTER TO THE POINT THAT MANY VVILL BE DISPLACED AND VVILL BE FORCED TO LEAVE THE AREA, FINDING NO VVAY TO REBUILD AND RESTORE THEIR LIVES AND LIVELIHOOODS.' Page194 Resulting in Longer Commutes: There are notable mismatches between locations of high population and job centers. Furtherjustification for clustering in population centers. Further policy directive to justify curtailing personal independent transportation options. This again is objectionable and shows contempt for a fundamental constitutional right and as such has no place in a policy document published by this County Administration. Page 196 Table 43:Economic Opportunities / General Increase broadband infrastructure to provide opportunities for participation in the digital economy while allowing for other economic alternatives. CBDC's here we come! Page 206 46.i Partner with government, private and non profit agencies, communities, and other stakeholders for carrying capacity studies of fisheries and the establishment of State community-based subsistence fishing areas. More restrictions on fishing rights. Oddly in 5.3 Agriculture and Food Systems there is no mention at all of hunting and gathering. Page 210 Wahi Pana Need assurances our wahi pana and other natural assets will be protected from commodification and collateralization. Page 213 49.1 [Encourage the] [i]ntegrat[ion] [of] `aina- place -based values 49.2 [Encourage] the accessibility 49.3 [Promote] a visitor industry 49.5 [Encourage] regenerative tourism efforts 49.6 [Foster] initiatives and improve[d] efforts 49.h and farmers, homeowners, and other residents to develop and support place -based educational programs COMMENT: FINALLY HERE IS A DIRECTIVE THAT SPEAKS TO SUPPORTING THE EXISTING ECONOMY AND THE PEOPLE WHO ALREADY LIVE ON THIS ISLAND. THE FACT THAT THIS IS SHOWING UP ON PAGE 214 SHOULD BE CONCERNING TO ANYONE UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS DOCUMENT IS SUPPOSED TO GUIDE THE PRIORITIES OF OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATURE. THE OPENING SECTION OF THE DOCUMENT SHOULD BE ABOUT SUPPORTING THE EXISTING CULTURE AND ECONOMY OF THE ISLAND. THE CAPACITY TO SUPPORT AND HELP GROW IN THIS AREA WOULD BE ALL Page 215 6.1 para 2 presenting [residents a true voice] for the future of Hawaii Island. 1 [where citizens collaborate with the County to effect change consistent with plans developed under this chapter.] 3 Ensure consistency among the General Plan and respective regional plans [What are regional plans?] 4 set forth in the General Plan's [Should this be plural or possessive?] 5 Establish an implementation system that is based on county -wide, regional, and agency levels What are regional and agency levels?] Page 216 Top para by promoting [economic] growth, 2nd para collaboration among various [residents] Key areas of focus include fostering [understanding of the role of government in] ensuring community engagement and input, securing funding, and coordinating priorities. Page217 6.2.1 Para 1 Community Development Plan Framework During the General Plan Comprehensive Review process, existing community plans were used to guide the CDP framework. From the adoption of the Kona, Puna, North and South Kohala CDPs in 2008, Ka`u CDP in 2017, and Hamakua CDP in 2018, there has been much to learn and grow from as we look to the future. The General Plan also benefited from years of collective participation in CDP implementation efforts through regional committees that implement their respective CDP. [NOTE: Hilo was not included in this CFP framework. Although there had been Hilo meetings in the past that dealt with some issues contained in the General Plan, no mechanism was put in place that paralleled the multi-year single -purpose work that was undertaken in the other six districts.] Para 2 To build on these lessons learned, future CDPs[, which it is hoped will include a CDP for Hilo,] shall be drafted The purpose of a CDP is threefold: 3. Provide a process for citizens to engage in civic dialogue [through open -forum townhalls where vigorous question -answer format is primary, eliciting the priorities of the community.] Page 218 6. Social Capital and Community Network Mapping During the process of reviewing a Community Development Plan, instances where community needs are not met may be identified. Examples of this may include a need for community gathering spaces such as parks or recreation hubs. Community Development Plans may identify such needs and outline a plan of action for community members and other [Hawaii Island residents] to coordinate efforts, combine and collect resources, and connect public and private sector agents to advocate for such enhancements to their community. [In the case of Hilo, where a CDP was never initiated by the Planning Department, an examination of why this was neglected must be addressed, for the purpose of getting input from this district even though the General Plan may have been already implemented. This could be accomplished through addendums to the General Plan at future dates.] Page 224 6.4.3 Para 1 The General Plan is a comprehensive framework designed to guide [innovative] development patterns, [and provide assistance toward] future opportunities and public investments. Para 3 The tables are intended to provide a clear and concise reference for agencies, policymakers, communities, farmers, homeowners, and other residents Page 225 Table 45 Climate change, carbon footprint, net zero,GHG emissions, green infrastructure projects, climate adaptation The above terms, taken from Table 45, derive from the United Nations Agenda 21 Sustainable Development, inaugurated in 1992 at the United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Residents of Hawaii Island have never had the opportunity to engage in discussions in every town, using every venue, to discuss the entire subject of climate change. It is a foundational subject, as it is the substrate upon which so much of the General Plan is predicated. It is un -Democratic to simply take ideas from other places and cement them into the plans we make for our own people, our own land, our own island, without engaging in an unhurried, full-blown examination of this agenda, neighbor with neighbor. Until such time as this takes place, we must place this draft of a General Plan on hold. Table 46 Objectives 13. Increase the use of Smart Growth principles to focus development within designated urban centers. As above, SMART is an acronym taken from the World Economic Forum that pertains to Internet -Of -Things technology. Its purpose is linkage of devices for the purpose of control and monitoring. No island -wide discussion has taken place as to the merits of SMART GROWTH. Again, it is a concept from far away, irreversible once implemented, without so much as a real attempt to inform residents. How can a General Plan proceed on concepts alien to the people? Table 47 21. [Engineer infrastructure] to reduce stormwater runoff. Page 227 Table 48 25. Improve the efficiency and reliability, and sustainability of essential infrastructure systems. 28. Increase green infrastructure practices. Example Indicators Annual funding allocated for [efficient] infrastructure initiatives Percentage of new development projects including [efficient] infrastructure elements Table 49 Our communities are adequately served by sustainable and efficient public infrastructure P232 6.4.4 1.a Seek [procedure] to support wetland identification and assessments. 1.j Identify partners and [S]upport a public awareness and education campaign to elevate recognition of the value of urban trees as essential infrastructure. 3.b Create special (business) improvement districts to engage in environmental research, restoration and maintenance, natural resource management, climate change or sea level rise adaptation or other purposes to improve environmental conditions and provide community benefit. 4.a [Seek Hawaii Island residents and groups] to maintain and steward the preservation of sites, buildings, objects, and landscapes of significant cultural and historical importance. 4.c Support the identification of Heritage Landscapes, Corridors, Areas, and Centers. Heritage designation is UNESCO. It is crucial that Hawaii Island maintain control of its lands and natural resources, free of encumbrances of global organizations 4.h [Foment discussion among] government, private and nonprofit agencies, communities, and other stakeholders farmers, homeowners, and other residents 4.i private and nonprofit agencies, communities, and other stakeholders farmers, homeowners, and other residents Table 54: Climate Change Delete Table 54: Climate Change has not been debated across Hawaii County in a systematic way. Such a debate would entail townhall presentations by each side, allowing all the time necessary to absorb the decades of information circulating through media and academia. At some later time, these information -gathering events could then be followed by public open debates. Hawaii Island residents at that juncture would then be ready to decide whether they wished to premise all future growth on the notion of Climate Change, or reject it as unscientific.] 240 Table 56 Transportation Access and Mobility 20.e Adopt a Complete Streets ordinance. [Complete Streets derives from Agenda 21's SMART Cities designation. It has nothing to do with residents of Hawaii Island, until such time as they can be apprised of the overall design of Agenda 21, as it entails constricting traffic, expanding bike lanes and bus routes, installing islands - many changes that may or may not be workable. Hilo and Kona have very different requirements, and a cookie -cutter approach levels differences. Just because it is recommended by a national or international association does not mean it is suitable here. Again, it must be thoroughly discussed across the island before a decision can be made.] 22.a Amend the County Code to incorporate Vision Zero safety principles and Complete Street design principles. [Vision Zero, as stated above with Complete Streets, is an internationally utilized approach to pedestrian safety that first needs a full discussion here to see to what extent it is workable, if at all.] 243-255 27.d social equity, [No relevance to this category] 27.g Proactively seek opportunities for [strategies] for wastewater collection and treatment development. 28.c Update the DPW Storm Drainage Standards to reflect current data and to incorporate strategies and standards of green infrastructure and low impact development. 28.f Create a green infrastructure dedication standard. 28.1 Identify County parks and recreation, rights-of-way, and other County owned sites for green infrastructure demonstration projects 29.a Partner with government, private and nonprofit agencies, communities, farmers, homeowners, and other residents for the research and development of alternative/renewable energy resources. 30.d Collaborate with government, private and nonprofit agencies, communities and other Hawaii Island residents] 30.i [Encourage private] funding for broadband initiatives and deployments. 30.m Foster [private investments] to support the development and expansion of broadband infrastructure, 32.c Review county lighting and landscaping ordinances to implement CPTED. CPTED is a component of a SMART City that watches, listens, announces, tracks, records. It is a creation of Agenda 21 and the VVEF and the UN. It must be rejected by the residents of Hawaii Island unless/until it is thoroughly discussed and debated. 32.p This point to be deleted In light of the controversy in the aftermath of the Lahaina fire, to be formulating a redevelopment plan, IN ADVANCE of an incident, creates a climate of distrust and anger. This subject must be handled very carefully in discussions with groups and individuals across the island.] 35.c Partner with government, private and nonprofit agencies, farmers, homeowners, and other residents 35.d Partner with government, private and nonprofit agencies, farmers, homeowners, and other residents 35.i government, private and nonprofit agencies, farmers, homeowners, and other residents 35.k private and nonprofit agencies, farmers, homeowners, and other residents 36.d communities, and other farmers, homeowners, and other residents 36.f communities, and other farmers, homeowners, and other residents Page 254 45.k Partner with government (e.g., DOT, DBEDT, etc.), private and nonprofit agencies, communities, farmers, homeowners, and other residents to monitor 45.1 Partner with government, private and nonprofit agencies (e.g., business associations, realtors, chambers of commerce, etc.), communities, farmers, homeowners, and other residents 45.m expand the research and development industry for [innovative] economic development. 46.i private and nonprofit agencies, communities, farmers, homeowners, and other residents From: Michelle Melendez To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv Subject: Re:Testimony on General Plan Climate Change Date:Monday,December 2,2024 3:41:58 PM It's not about the "climate change" word. It's the entire part of the plan that will regulate us to death. I'm listening to your comments on his://www.youtube.com/live/EDLoHi2SLcg? si=K31aGG5W-jskg2R11 Timestamep 2:50:00 and I can't believe you're wanting to change the words and not disregard part of the plan. It doesn't matter if you change the word. It matters that you change and/or disregard that area of the plan that is not good for our island. Then someone says, "educate people so they understand what it means". We know what it means. We are telling you it is false. This is not from me. This is from Good Morning America's first weatherman, the founder of the weather channel, 50 meteorologists for the US Navy,MIT professor and more. Will you please look at the information I sent and take into account this narrative is wrong? That section in the plan should be taken out. It is based on a false premise and again, that comes from numerous scientists from around the world. Kind regards, Michelle Melendez-Freedom Activist Fitness and Wellness Expert Since 1996 Author Of The Best Selling and 4x Award Winning Book, End Dieting Hell:How to find peace in your body and release the weight Order your copy of End Dieting Hell Click Here Great Maui Land Grab"NOW Available here From: Michelle Melendez To: WPCtestimonv;LPCtestimonv Subject: You Are Ignoring My Testimony on General Plan Per YOUR Comments Date: Monday,December 2,2024 3:29:13 PM Aloha Commissioners, I'm very disturbed that you have ignored my testimony on"climate change". I believe it was the Chair at timestamp 2:49:00 who said that there is evidence of climate change and sea level rising.WHERE?Do you see it in Hilo,Kona or ANY land mass on the planet? I have given numerous experts sharing information to the contrary of climate danger,which I will share again below. Commissioner Rodriguez wants to change the name"climate change"so everyone can get on board with ALL the regulations and rules that this plan wants to put in place because of this false narrative. If you change the name,you MUST eliminate that section because it then has NO Standing.There is no reason for that section of the plan. Will you Please look at the evidence I'm sharing? I have a right to be heard.This is NOT a Conspiracy Theory! Are Climatologists,Meteorologists,and other scientists from around the world lying? Here is the evidence(please review): Over 1900 credentialed scientists have signed a World Declaration literally stating,"There is No Climate Danger".Review it here https://clintel.orV,/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/WCD-241023.pdf The declaration states: "To believe the outcome of a climate model is to believe what the model makers have put in. This is precisely the problem oftoday's climate discussion to which climate models are central. Climate science has degenerated into a discussion based on beliefs,not on sound self-critical science.Should not we free ourselves from the naive belief in immature climate models?" John Coleman,Good Morning America's first weatherman and the founder of the Weather channel stated,"There is No Global Warming".Find his talk here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K56fins2VZTe 50 Years as Meteorologist with the US Airforce and Climatologist Professor David Dilley,says the earth is cooling not warming. He explains the earth was closer to the sun 800 years ago.He shares the Milankovitch Cycles here:https://youtu.be/sa- t1ITPnM? si=0-ubPSEL2jpFnAVH5 On the Boston Globe's YouTube channel,on May 14,2010,MIT Professor of Meteorology Richard Lindzen shared,"If one asks, Is the temperature increasing or decreasing?"it's always doing one or the other.I have no concern about that.By asking people to worry about whether it's going up or down,you're immediately establishing dishonesty.The Earth is always changing.Climate change is nothing you have to prove.It always is happening.It always has happened.So,to make that into something alarming seems a little bit weird to me."Find his interview here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwvVephTIHU Profession Lindzen also stated,"At any given place,traditionally,sea level is measured by what are called tide gauges:a stick in the water,basically.Two things that change are what a tide gauge shows:the land moving up and down and the sea moving up and down.In most places,it's the land that has the biggest effect,and so you don't have a good measure of sea level rise." It reads: Sea levels have risen on average 1.6 millimeters(0.063 inches)per year between 1900 and 2018." That means the sea level has risen a little over 7.4 inches in the last 118 years!Does that show the world is in danger of being engulfed by water?No. It shows that it will be a very,very,very long time before humans are in danger.Does that mean documentaries like"An Inconvenient Truth"are telling lies? An article was published in the Seattle Times on October 12,2007,titled"British judge ruled the Oscar-winning film on global warming,"An Inconvenient Truth,"contains"nine errors."" Here is the list of inaccuracies found in Court taken from the"Friends Of Science"website(Find the article here:https://friendsofscience.org/assets/documents/FOS%20EssayBritish High Court Ruling on An Inconvenient Truth.html):. The inaccuracies in the documentary include: 1.The film claims that melting snows on Mount Kilimanjaro evidence global warming.The Government's expert was forced to concede that this is not correct. 2.The film suggests that evidence from ice cores proves that rising CO2 levels cause temperature increases over 650,000 years.The Court found that the film was misleading:over that period,the rises in CO2 lagged behind the temperature rises by 800-2,000 years. 3.The film uses emotive images of Hurricane Katrina and suggests that this has been caused by global warming.The Government's expert had to accept that it was"not possible"to attribute one-off events to global warming 4.The film shows the drying up of Lake Chad and claims that this was caused by global warming.The Government's expert had to accept that this was not the case. 5.The film claims that a study showed that polar bears had drowned due to disappearing arctic ice.It turned out that Mr.Gore had misread the study:in fact,four polar bears drowned,and this was because of a particularly violent storm. 6.The film threatens that global warming could stop the Gulf Stream,throwing Europe into an ice age.The Claimant's evidence was that this was a scientific impossibility. 7.The film blames global warming for species losses,including coral reef bleaching.The Government could not find any evidence to support this claim. 8.The film suggests that sea levels could rise by 7 meters,causing the displacement of millions of people.In fact,the evidence is that sea levels are expected to rise by about 40 centimeters over the next 100 years and there is no such threat of massive migration. 9.The film claims that rising sea levels has caused the evacuation of certain Pacific islands to New Zealand.The Government was unable to substantiate this,and the Court observed that this appears to be a false claim. Also,the Court's interim ruling included the following: 1.The film suggests that the Greenland ice covering could melt,causing sea levels to rise dangerously.The evidence is that Greenland will not melt for a millennia. 2.The film suggests that the Antarctic ice covering is melting;the evidence was that it is,in fact,increasing. High Court Judge Michael Burton stated: Former Vice President Al Gore,the documentary's moderator,makes nine statements in the film that are not supported by the current mainstream scientific consensus.For instance,Gore's script implies that Greenland or West Antarctica might melt soon, creating a sea-level rise of up to 20 feet that would cause devastation from San Francisco to the Netherlands to Bangladesh." The judge called this"distinctly alarmist"and said the consensus view is that if Greenland melted,it would release this amount of water"but only after,and over,a millennia." You may be asking,"Why is this in the general plan and why is the climate change narrative in the media throughout the world if it isn't true?" Because those who've invested in renewable energy will profit greatly and have more power over people if we adopt their narrative. They also own most of the news.I'm not a climate denier.I'm not a conspiracy theorist.I'm someone who researches until I discover the truth. The truth is,ifyou put this plan through as it is,you will destroy freedom and prosperity on Big Island for future generations. Regards, Michelle Melendez-Freedom Activist Fitness and Wellness Expert Since 1996 Author Of The Best Selling and 4x Award Winning Book, End Dieting Hell:How to findpeace in your body andrelease the weight Order your copy of End Dieting Hell Click Here Great Mani Land Grab"NOW Available here On Thu,Nov 21,2024 at 5:10 PM Michelle Melendez<michelle&_blossominnerwellness.com>wrote: Aloha Leeward Commission, Mahalo so much for listening to us today.I know you are all volunteers and I really appreciate your time. A huge part of the plan is dedicated to"Climate Change".However,I've researched and found many climate experts disagree with this narrative. This is VERY dangerous because this section will add more rules,and regulations and take away freedom.In the name of climate change it will restructure the Big Island way of life and give more power to the government. Here is what you need to know: Over 1900 credentialed scientists have signed a World Declaration literally stating,"There is No Climate Danger".Review it here https://clintel.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/WCD-241023.pdf The declaration states: "To believe the outcome ofa climate model is to believe what the model makers have put in.This is precisely the problem of today's climate discussion to which climate models are central. Climate science has degenerated into a discussion based on beliefs,not on sound self-critical science.Should not we free ourselves from the naive belief in immature climate models?" John Coleman,Good Morning America's first weatherman and the founder of the Weather channel stated,"There is No Global Warming".Find his talk here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K56fins2VZTc 50 Years as Meteorologist with the US Airforce and Climatologist Professor David Dilley,says the earth is cooling not warming. He explains the earth was closer to the sun 800 years ago.He shares the Milankovitch Cycles here:https://youtu.be/sa- t1ITPnM? si=0-ubPSELxpFnAVH5 On the Boston Globe's YouTube channel,on May 14,2010,MIT Professor of Meteorology Richard Lindzen shared,"If one asks, Is the temperature increasing or decreasing?"it's always doing one or the other.I have no concern about that.By asking people to worry about whether it's going up or down,you're immediately establishing dishonesty.The Earth is always changing.Climate change is nothing you have to prove.It always is happening.It always has happened.So,to make that into something alarming seems a little bit weird to me."Find his interview here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwvVephTIHU Profession Lindzen also stated,"At any given place,traditionally,sea level is measured by what are called tide gauges:a stick in the water,basically.Two things that change are what a tide gauge shows:the land moving up and down and the sea moving up and down.In most places,it's the land that has the biggest effect,and so you don't have a good measure of sea level rise." On August 21,2020,NASA published an article titled"NASA-led Study Reveals the Causes of Sea Level Rise Since 1900."Find the article here:https://climate.nasa.gov/news/3012/nasa-led-study-reveals-the-causes-of-sea-level-rise-since-1900/ It reads: Sea levels have risen on average 1.6 millimeters(0.063 inches)per year between 1900 and 2018." That means the sea level has risen a little over 7.4 inches in the last 118 years!Does that show the world is in danger of being engulfed by water?No. It shows that it will be a very,very,very long time before humans are in danger.Does that mean documentaries like"An Inconvenient Truth"are telling lies? An article was published in the Seattle Times on October 12,2007,titled"British judge ruled the Oscar-winning film on global warming,"An Inconvenient Truth,"contains"nine errors."" Here is the list of inaccuracies found in Court taken from the"Friends Of Science"website(Find the article here:https://friendsofscience.org/assets/documents/FOS%20EssayBritish High Court Ruling on An Inconvenient_Truth.html):. The inaccuracies in the documentary include: 1.The film claims that melting snows on Mount Kilimanjaro evidence global warming.The Government's expert was forced to concede that this is not correct. 2.The film suggests that evidence from ice cores proves that rising CO2 levels cause temperature increases over 650,000 years. The Court found that the film was misleading:over that period,the rises in CO2 lagged behind the temperature rises by 800-2,000 years. 3.The film uses emotive images of Hurricane Katrina and suggests that this has been caused by global warming.The Government's expert had to accept that it was"not possible"to attribute one-off events to global warming 4.The film shows the drying up of Lake Chad and claims that this was caused by global warming.The Government's expert had to accept that this was not the case. 5.The film claims that a study showed that polar bears had drowned due to disappearing arctic ice.It turned out that Mr.Gore had misread the study:in fact,four polar bears drowned,and this was because of a particularly violent storm. 6.The film threatens that global warming could stop the Gulf Stream,throwing Europe into an ice age.The Claimant's evidence was that this was a scientific impossibility. 7.The film blames global warming for species losses,including coral reef bleaching.The Government could not find any evidence to support this claim. 8.The film suggests that sea levels could rise by 7 meters,causing the displacement of millions of people.In fact,the evidence is that sea levels are expected to rise by about40 centimeters over the next 100 years and there is no such threat of massive migration. 9.The film claims that rising sea levels has caused the evacuation of certain Pacific islands to New Zealand.The Government was unable to substantiate this,and the Court observed that this appears to be a false claim. Also,the Court's interim ruling included the following: 1.The film suggests that the Greenland ice covering could melt,causing sea levels to rise dangerously.The evidence is that Greenland will not melt for a millennia. 2.The film suggests that the Antarctic ice covering is melting;the evidence was that it is,in fact,increasing. High Court Judge Michael Burton stated: Former Vice President Al Gore,the documentary's moderator,makes nine statements in the film that are not supported by the current mainstream scientific consensus.For instance,Gore's script implies that Greenland or West Antarctica might melt soon, creating a sea-level rise ofup to 20 feet that would cause devastation from San Francisco to the Netherlands to Bangladesh." The judge called this"distinctly alarmist"and said the consensus view is that if Greenland melted,it would release this amount of water"but only after,and over,a millennia." You may be asking,"Why is this in the general plan and why is the climate change narrative in the media throughout the world if it isn't true?" Because those who've invested in renewable energy will profit greatly and have more power over people if we adopt their narrative.They also own most of the news.I'm not a climate denier.I'm not a conspiracy theorist.I'm someone who researches until I discover the truth. The truth is,if you put this plan through as it is,you will destroy freedom and prosperity on Big Island for future generations. You have the power to help bring light to this plan.I trust in God and I trust in you. Mahalo, Michelle Melendez-Freedom Activist Fitness and Wellness Expert Since 1996 Author Of The Best Selling and 4x Award Winning Book, EndDieting Hell:How to find peace in your body andrelease the weight Order your copy of End Dieting Hell Click Here Great Maui Land Grab"NOW Available here From: donna orabow To: LPCtestimonv Subject: Dec. 5 Meeting,General Plan 2045 Date:Tuesday, December 3,2024 8:50:12 AM Aloha County Council, From reading what the document proposes, General Plan 2045 is a worldwide concept (and not just for Hawaii), that wants to regroup the land and rewrite maps in order to rehouse people and remove their rights and freedom. Plan 2045 uses "Global Warming" or "Climate Change" as a guise to justify reducing human rights, and to be able the control of land - to have unlimited power in redistricting land and neighborhoods. Concerns Include: Land Use changing Residential to Recreation DROPS property value! Plan could set up MANY opportunities for State to take your land & Rezone! Plan could regulate OFF-GRID living! Plan will further STRESS electric grid increasing prices Please vote against the regressive proposals of General Plan 2045 Thank you for listening. Donna Grabow, Hilo From: Lisa Kerman To: LPCtestimonv Subject: Proposed General Plan for Big Island Date:Tuesday, December 3,2024 3:21:46 PM To All Concerned, I am adamantly opposed to the proposed general plan for the Big Island. This plan will not serve the people of Hawaii. It will open up the doors for state government to rezone property if they feel the need to do so.Rezoning residential properties to recreational property decreases the value of these properties. It will further burden the already over burdened electrical grid.These are only a few of the disasters that this plan will create.In no way is this a positive situation for the population of Big Island.I urge you to do what's right for the people and veto this"Plan". Thank you, Lisa Kerman Kauai Sent from my Wad From: Marianna Kovalev To: LPCtestimony Subject: General Plan concerns. Date:Wednesday,December 4,2024 9:50:03 AM Attachments: Big Island General Plan 2045 Testimony.pdf httVS://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fc0c b34739e4c99c461685de4c0207bf286e.12df Sent from my Whone Legend: Black: Directly out of General Plan Red: Edit Yellow Highlighted is requesting text to be Removed Pink Highlighted is a Concern/Comments Page: 27 Implementation Strategies Zoning & Land Use Regulations Update regulations to align with the goals of the General Plan." Please change to: "Update regulations" to "align with the goals of local Communities and the General Plan." Public-Private Partnerships Collaborate with private entities and homeowners to achieve mutual development and conservation objectives." CONCERN: The word "Homeowner" is not written anywhere in the entire plan. That is VERY concerning. Why are you leaving homeowners out of the general plan that will affect them and their future generations? Please include "homeowner' wherever"stakeholder" is and where suggested in this document. Also, please be clear about who these private entities are that you want to collaborate with so this is more transparent. Community Engagement Continuously engage residents and stakeholders in the decision- making process." CONCERN: The community deserves to know who "Stakeholders" are and EXACTLY what they have stake in. Please define. Page: 28 1.1 The purposes of the General Plan are to: Provide the framework for regulatory decisions, capital improvement priorities, acquisition strategies, and other pertinent government programs within the County organization and coordinated with State and Federal programs. This sounds like you want to take people's property through acquisition and regulate the heck out of locals. Please change to the following: Provide framework that supports local farmers and communities without further regulations, capital improvement priorities, and other pertinent local and government programs within the County organization and coordinate with State and Federal programs to support thriving communities. Promote and safeguard the public interest and the interest of the County as a whole." Please change to the following: ""Promote and safeguard the public interest and the interest of the County as a whole without violating personal freedoms, the Constitution or further regulating the public." Effect political and technical coordination in community improvement and development." CONCERN: This sounds like you will bring politics into community living. That is not pono. Please change to: "Effect strategies that support community improvements and development for locals." The 2045 General Plan is the primary policy document for county agencies, planning commissions, elected officials, landowners, developers, and citizens to guide land use policy decisions for the Island of Hawai`i." Please change to: The 2045 General Plan is the primary policy document for county agencies, planning commissions, elected officials, landowners, homeowners, developers, and locals to guide land use policy decisions for the Island of Hawaii. Please add: (a) The general plan shall contain a statement of development objectives, standards and principles with respect to the most desirable use of land within the county for residential, recreational, agricultural, commercial, industrial and other purposes which shall be consistent with proper conservation of natural resources without violating personal rights and freedoms, and supporting local communities to prosper, and the preservation of our natural beauty and historical sites, while still giving access to the public; the most desirable density of population in the several parts of the county (Remove) b) The council shall enact zoning, subdivision, and such other ordinances which shall contain the necessary provisions to support thriving communities, farmers and homeowners. The way it is currently written describes zoning people out of their homes with more regulations and fines. Page 29: d) Amendments to the general plan may be initiated by the council or the planning director giving adequate notice to the public for needed testimony. Page 32: CONCERN WITH THE THREE CIRCLE "SUSTAINABILITY" DIAGRAM: The words: Sustainability and Equity are part of a political woke vocabulary and should not be in the Hawaii General Plan. Also, "Social and Culture Equity" should be removed. It is not the responsibility of the planning department to control the behavior of people. That again is a "woke" agenda. Nor does this language reflect a thriving community. "Environmental Protection" gives the impression of more regulations and a reduction of people's rights. Please remove it. Instead call it: INNOVATION with these 3 circles: Economic Alternatives, Environmental Support, Thriving Communities The goal of the planning department should be to create an environment of prosperity and not one of over regulation and constraints on locals. We can do those through new innovations and not sustainability. Sustainability moves Big Island backwards not forward! 1.4 Innovation Principles and Practices CONCERN: Big Island needs to move toward free energy, which is available and not more regulations on what we have. Change: Integrating innovation into the General Plan is crucial for fostering long-term resilience and thriving communities. Change: "This includes increasing the effectiveness of new technologies to support local communities, improving coordination among various agencies and levels of government, and finding new and innovative ways to support our natural and cultural resources. for better development that supports a thriving environment, economic alternatives (sharing without taxes, trading without regulation), and flourishing communities. The General Plan recognizes this need and aligns with the Hawaii 2050 Sustainability Plan,, which sets a strategic framework for achieving a sustainable future. By embedding sustainability principles into its core, this Plan sets forth a cohesive and forward- thinking strategy that addresses key challenges and anticipates future needs." Please remove what is highlighted! CONCERN: By using the word "Sustainable" you are not supporting Hawaii to move forward. You are creating more control of the environment, and communities. That is not Pono and violates the HS [§5-7.5] "Aloha Spirit": "Aloha"means mutual regard and affection and extends warmth in caring with no obligation in return. If the planning department creates a general plan that adds more regulations and constraints on locals, they violate the Aloha Spirit law. The Hawaii 2050 Innovation Plan "created the State's first definition of sustainability" (remove): A Hawaii that achieves the following: 1. Respects the culture, character, beauty, and history of our state's island communities; 2. Support a thriving community both socially and economically as we support our environment to heal and prosper; and 3. Meets the needs of the present without violating freedoms or compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Page 33: In the diagram: Regulatory Measures" County Code Administrative Rules Permits This shows that this general plan will increase restrictions and fees on farmers and other locals. This is not Pono. The plan should reflect innovation not constraints against the population. Please change to CHANGE TO: Innovation Practices" Implement new resources Administration support Economic Alternatives Remove "permits". Stop trying to permit the population to death! CURRENTLY: The Plan also incorporates guidelines to serve as strategic directions and standards to inform decisions regarding topics such as land use, infrastructure, housing, and resource management. These guidelines help to ensure consistency in planning and implementation, promoting sustainable growth, environmental stewardship, and community well-being. (This is a complete overreach of the government. You cannot tell people what to do with their property! It is NOT the responsibility of the planning department to ensure people's well-being! This should be revised to support environment, innovations, and thriving communities.) Vision: The ability to plan for the future with creativity and innovation in support of thriving communities. Goal: To see Hawaii Island become self-sustaining as communities and the environment prosper Objective: Measurable, achievable, and time-bound milestones toward achieving a goal. Guideline: A stated course of action that shall take precedence when addressing areas of concern and should be followed, unless a determination is made that it is not the most desirable in a particular case; thus, a guideline may be deviated from without penalty or sanction as long2 as it supports thriving communities, economic alternatives and supporting the environment. Page 34 Regulatory Implementing Actions (Locals DO NOT need more regulations and hoops to jump through. That will not support thriving communities.) Regulatory implementing actions are one of two types of approaches used in the General Plan to pursue the vision, goals, and objectives. Regulatory actions are controlling in that they define boundaries, development parameters, and measures intended to implement goals or objectives. The three regulatory implementing actions in the Plan include: Please change the last paragraph to: Work with local communities to pursue the vision, goals, and objectives. Find fair and supportive directions to define boundaries, development parameters, and measures intended to implement goals or objectives. Three actions in the Plan include: General Plan Land Use Map: A map that graphically delineates the areas of intended future land use types that support thriving communities and environmental support and do not hinder personal freedoms. Policy: A general rule for action focused on a specific issue, derived from more general goals3that also support thriving communities and supporting the environment. Standard: A supportive measure that defines the meaning, quality, or quantity of a policy by providing a way to measure its attainment. In the General Plan, future land use maps, policies, and standards are specific to the actions through which zoning ordinances, subdivisions, and public improvements or projects are initiated or adopted through innovations and are flexible to support thriving communities. because, as they must conform to and implement the general plan in accordance with the County Charter, Section 3-15." Remove! The word "conform" is concerning. We are not in Communist China. Please revise to support thriving communities. Non-regulatory implementing actions typically involve community engagement, education and outreach, partnership development, and resource allocation to encourage support from the community (remove "compliance") and proactive efforts. This approach allows for flexibility and innovation in achieving the Plan's vision. Throughout the General Plan, the objectives and policies are followed by a set of implementing actions. There are three types: Add: Community Support: Taking testimony and revisions from the community seriously and implementing where possible. Page 35: 1 . 6 Grounded Vision and Goals As we navigate our future, maintaining a balance between economic alternatives, environmental support, and thriving communities is paramount. By integrating those established values and principles, the General Plan ensures continuity and reflects the collective vision of Hawaii Island residents, guiding new innovation developments while honoring our unique cultural and environmental heritage. The four primary chapters of the Plan encompass the innovation pillars of environment, community, and economy, as outlined in the Hawaii State Planning Act Goals. General Plan Vision Statement Hawaii Island is an exemplary leader with healthy and resilient communities that are built by innovative developments, a thriving and diversified local economy, and collaborative biocultural stewardship with locals. Goal General Plan Chapter Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship Natural and cultural resources are thriving and sustainably managed, preserved, and restored to maintain our unique and diverse environment and use innovative techniques if and when appropriate to support future growth. Addressing Climate Change for Ensure the science is followed and Island-Wide Health investigate credentialed scientists and the Milankovitch cycles of which both have CONCERN: Please realize there is no shown the earth is cooling. Since humans climate change emergency. 1944 have less than 1% impact on climate, start supporting ways that we can maintain a credentialed scientists from around the healthy island by incorporating policies, world have signed a "No Climate Change programs, infrastructure, and decision-making that support the environment Emergency Declaration". You can find it and thriving communities. And NOT policies here: that take away more freedoms and regulate locals to death! https:Hcli ntel.ora/world-climate-declaration/ Humans have less than 1% affect on climate. Hawaii Island will not believe in false narratives with political agendas. Please do your own research on this. Innovative Development & Thriving We strategically apply innovative land use Communities strategies incorporating indigenous and contemporary knowledge and place-based practices to direct and manage growth for thriving communities. It is NOT the responsibility of the planning department to manage the health and safety Each community is connected by a of communities. That is an overreach of the multimodal and modernized transportation government! network that provides a system for safe, efficient, and comfortable movement of people and goods. Our communities are adequately served by innovation and efficient public infrastructure, utilities, and services based on existing and future growth needs, sound design principles, and effective maintenance practices. Our communities are thriving and supported and have access to integrative health, education, and social services to support a high quality of life for all residents. Residents have access to adequate (change to: comfortable) and affordable housing to meet the needs of the population and provide equitable (remove) opportunities for household flexibility and mobility. We employ integrated systems that are efficient, equitable (remove), fair, and organized to facilitate coordination and collaboration. Thriving, Diversified, Competitive with Our economy is competitive, innovative, and Economic Alternatives supportive. It helps our communities thrive and increases local economic opportunities. Agriculture is a robust sector that supports local farmers and includes a broad range of agricultural-based businesses that highlight value, organic and good health practices. A high quality of life for locals is maintained when a supportive visitor industry balances economic growth with natural and cultural responsibility. Page: 38 2 . 1 Introduction Collaborative biocultural (remove) stewardship is an approach to innovation development that emphasizes collaboration and partnership building among stakeholders (Who are they and what do they have stake in?), and homeowners and integrates natural and cultural resource management strategies to promote thriving communities. conservation, sustainability, and resilience (remove). Cooperative efforts aimed at achieving innovative development sustainable management remove) of ecological systems are crucial for protecting our natural and built environments. Land use planning and management should be holistic, inclusive (remove), and adaptive to reflect thriving communities values, knowledge, and aspirations (remove). The General Plan provides key strategies to achieve biocultural (remove) supportive stewardship, including community engagement, partnership building, collaborative decision-making, and collective action. Environmental and social systems are complex and dynamic. These systems will require adaptive management and continuous learning as we navigate the future. The policies presented in this section seek to foster partnerships that are based on mutual respect, trust, and shared values. The community engagement process must be inclusive to incorporate diverse perspectives and knowledge systems into conservation and development strategies. Following such practices can promote the co-creation of knowledge, the sharing of resources, and the empowerment of communities. By leveraging the strengths and resources of different stakeholders REMOVE (Who are they and what do they have stake in?), and homeowners we can enhance the capacity of communities to manage natural and cultural resources sustainably remove). We can also facilitate the creation of new networks and alliances, promoting social cohesion and resilience. Ultimately, the collaborative biocultural stewardship approach can foster a more integrated, inclusive, and equitable approach to conservation and development that reflects the aspirations and needs of local communities. (REMOVE THIS IS LANGUAGE IT IS DESIGNED TO REDUCE FREEDOMS INCREASE GOVERNMENT AND STAKEHOLDER OVERREACH AND BRING IN MORE GOVERNMENT CONTROL) CHANGE TO: We can also facilitate the creation of new innovative programs that support and reflect the aspirations of thriving local communities. This fundamental element of the Plan strives to cultivate a sense of place and connection to the environment and recognizes that the management of natural and cultural resources requires the participation of local communities, government, homeowners and other agencies diverse actors, including communities, governments, non-governmental organizations, and private sector entities. By promoting collaborative decision-making and collective action, we can enhance the effectiveness, equity, and legitimacy of conservation and development and innovative policies. By promoting community-based conservation and restoration strategies, we can enhance ecological integrity, promote biodiversity, and preserve cultural heritage and scenic landscapes.(Redundant Remove) Biocultural stewardship acknowledges the role of cultural diversity in shaping environmental perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors (Remove. People do not want to be manipulated). [It recognizes that cultural practices arising from traditional ecological knowledge are integral to maintaining ecosystem services and biological diversity.] remove) Change to: Cultural practices arising from traditional ecological knowledge are integral to supporting the growth of thriving communities that wish to improve their environment. Page 39: Table 1 : Biocultural (change to Land) Stewardship Challenges The word "Bioculture" is reflective of both biological and cultural factors that affect human behavior. Locals do not want the planning department to affect our behavior. Your job is to support the land, environment, and thriving communities. Native Habitat Hawai`i has been known as the extinction capital of the world. Climate change and sea level rise pose threats to existing habitats for native flora and fauna. REMOVE (Again, according to 1944 credential scientists from around the world, there is no climate danger. This is a narrative created by the "stakeholders" to move their agenda forward. htti)s:Hclintel.ora/world-climate-declaration/) Has the water level risen in any of the towns in Hawaii? Longer and/or more severe weather and climate change may increase the likelihood of wildfires. REMOVE (The Maui fire was NOT normal. A fire where trees do not burn but glass is melted out of cars, where animals and humans are left recognizable, and where plastic doesn't burn or even melt is not normal. That was an attack and murder of our Lahaina ohana. That is why only 20 building permits have been issued after a year! AND why Lahahina is STILL locked down!) Invasive species continue to pose a threat to native and endemic species as well economic, environmental, and human health. (Reminder: It is not the responsibility of the planning department to protect people's health.) The carrying capacity of our resources is not comprehensively modeled and monitored. Modeled and monitored should be for government agencies.) The County lacks specific regulations for wetlands, riparian ecosystems, or other valuable habitats. Stewardship The County has a limited budget for its large-scale geographic responsibility for the protection of public trust natural and cultural resources. (Revise. This doesn't make sense. What are you trying to say? What responsibility are you talking about? What does the protection of public trust mean?) Hawai`i Island has a large variation of unique biomes and ecosystems. The difference between traditional and modern practices along with varying mauka to makai ownership makes it difficult to comprehensively steward natural resources. Page 40 Native Habitat The County can collaborate with the State Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to create models for monitoring the carrying capacity of natural resources that will support farmers and thriving communities. Ongoing conservation work can continue to evolve from species-specific conservation (e.g., Albizia eradication) to focus on ecosystem restoration across multiple land ownership to protect Hawai`i's biodiversity and support local farms. Maintaining healthy, native-dominant forests offers immense savings of land biocultural Remove) and water resources that might otherwise be lost to the impacts of climate change Remove) and invasive species. Conservation lands hold significant value in the water resources they represent. Incentivizing and developing regenerative land uses without further regulations or fines, such as agroforestry, can provide sustainable opportunities to ecosystems and communities. Hawai`i can become a statewide adaptation and resiliency leader by focusing on its unique strengths and diversity to evolve with changing realities. Urban forestry can be prioritized or incentivized in the County Code. This means more regulations and possible fines. No thank you! Change to: Support the further growth of current urban forestry Watersheds Establish more place-based watershed partnerships to create unique management plans that incorporate the generational knowledge of those water systems and protect our island's watersheds and local farms. Strengthen the integration of Hawaiian biocultural remove resource management and traditional ecological knowledge across County government to support local farms. Practice an integrated approach to ecosystem-based collaborative management that considers the entire ecosystem and local communities. Watershed protection and management require collaboration and coordination across all levels of government and must include effective community engagement. Revise to: Support Watershed and management coordination which integrates local communities. Stewardship Hawai`i Island has a large variation of its unique natural biomes and ecosystems. Ongoing interagency coordination, including consultation with place-based land stewards,cultural and historical advisory groups, land and homeowners, and other stakeholders being transparent of what they hold stake in. The County can take a more proactive role in exercising its protective public trust role for natural and cultural resources. This sounds like government overreach. Again, the planning department is NOT responsible for protecting the public. That is a byproduct of what you do but it is NOT the main part of your job! Revise to: The County can take a more proactive role in supporting thriving communities and their natural and cultural resources. Maintain and increase involvement with existing partnerships and identify new partners that help promote and enhance biocultural (remove) Land stewardship. Collaborate to complete additional EPA-approved watershed plans to increase eligibility for future conservation funding. Page 41 2 . 2 Biocultural Stewardship Goal , Objectives, Policies, and Actions Objective 1 Increase the biodiversity and resilience of native habitats. Policies 1.4 Maintain the shoreline for recreational, cultural, educational, and/or scientific uses in a manner that is protective of nature, respectful of resources, and is of the maximum benefit to the general public. 1.8 Prioritize native landscaping for all County projects while allowing communities to enjoy it at their leisure. 1.11 Encourage and incentivize green belts, tree plantings, and landscape plans and designs in urban areas without further regulations or fines. 1.13 Incentivize private land management practices that protect and enhance natural resource and values without further regulations or fines. and, when appropriate, pursue the acquisition of lands for the protection of natural resources (Remove! This is a 110% overreach of the government.) 1.14 Partner with government, private and nonprofit agencies, communities, farmers, homeowners, and other stakeholders (What do they have a stake in? Who are they?) to: Page 42: a) Implement the Hawaii State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) (What is this plan? Where can it be found?) b) Better understand and model carrying capacities of the island's habitats and resources c) Improve the inventory of forested lands and associated ecosystem services d) Encourage the continued identification and inclusion of unique wildlife habitat areas of Native Hawaiian habitat within the Natural Area Reserve System e) Anticipate future habitat migration, especially wetlands and coastal ecosystems f) Prioritize quantitative wetland assessment to identify wetlands g) Expand native and/or endemic forest cover h) Improve enforcement for illegal activities that harm or degrade endemic habitats Who is defining endemic habitats and how is it defined? I MUST be defined by Hawaii citizen commission and not anyone outside Hawaii. Mainland people should NOT be able to define this.) 1.18 Public landscaping and irrigation shall be designed to maximize water use efficiency and native plants. Actions 1.b Review tree survey requirements and amend the Code to incorporate as part of site planning for public use. 1.h Develop buffer policies to protect native forests, wildlife, rivers, streams, coastal waters, and other native habitats without. This is too vague. What policies are you considering and will that come with penalties? If so, remove this. Page 43 1.i Create incentives for landowners to retain and re-establish forest cover in upland watershed areas with an emphasis on native forest species without further regulations or 1.k Amend the landscape standards in Rule or Code (Remove) to require the use of native plants for screening or landscaping. Change to: Support local education on the importance of using native plants for screening or landscaping. 1.1 Amend the Code to incentivize (Remove) Replace with Support local education on the importance of the establishment of threatened and endangered endemic plant species within their habitable ranges during development approvals. 1.m Review the Code and consider amendments to encourage site clustering of development in order to avoid critical environmental areas and assets. REMOVE This is more unneeded regulations. This is BIG Island. People do not need to be ontop of each other. You're promoting too many regulations. 1.n Develop and establish Open Space Network Overlay on current unoccupied territory for natural landscape features, such as beaches and dunes, forests, streams, floodplains, wetlands, estuaries, or recharge areas that have the inherent capacity to avoid, minimize, or mitigate the impacts of climate change (Remove) 1.q Develop comprehensive programs and policies and provide resources for enhancing urban forestry canopy cover in unoccupied areas and without further regulations or fines for local farmers 1.0 Partner with government, private and nonprofit agencies, communities, and other stakeholders and local farmers to develop a program for the identification and protection of plant species of special status, including plants significant for cultural practitioners. Page 44: 2.7 Partner with government, private and nonprofit agencies, communities, farmers, and homeowners, and other stakeholders (Remove. Who are these people and what do they have stake in?) to: o a) Implement a comprehensive conservation plan that identifies priority watershed areas for habitat restoration and enhancement without further regulations or fines on locals. o b) Review and designate forest, river corridors, and watershed areas into the conservation district during State land use boundary comprehensive reviews. o c) Monitor nearshore water quality and impacts to reefs and marine environments and address land-based sources of impacts. o d) Protect and restore wetlands and riparian corridors to ensure more pristine water quality, decrease erosion, and increase sediment management, groundwater infiltration, nutrient/pollutant uptake, soil moisture retention, stormwater abatement, and cultural/community connections without further regulations or fines on locals.. o e) Develop reasonable standards to improve stream and coastal water quality monitoring and encourage local communities to develop such projects without further regulations or fines on locals. Page 45 Objective 3 Increase direct community restoration and collaborative efforts to conserve and nourish the island's biocultural resources. Policies 3.1 Encourage an overall conservation ethic in the use of Hawai`i's resources by protecting, preserving, and conserving critical and significant natural resources without further fines and regulation on the population. Pg 47 Actions 4.b Change from: Reassess Certified Local Government status to ensure the support of farmers and homeowners and maximize funding opportunities for self-supporting communities. 4.h Partner with government, private and nonprofit agencies, farmers, homeowners, other local communities, and other stakeholders (remove or let us know what they have stake in) to develop design guidelines for designated communities containing significant historic buildings, sites, or landscapes. 4.i Assess and prioritize County-owned lands for historic site restoration in collaboration with government, private and nonprofit agencies, farmers, homeowners, other local communities, and other stakeholders (remove or let us know what they have stake in). Page 48 Objective 5 Protect, restore, and enhance our communities' unique scenic character. Policies 5.c Develop a process for reviewing and revising guidelines for designating Natural Beauty Sites without invasion of current resident areas or local farms. 5.d Establish a Scenic Resources Protection Program to identify, inventory, and protect areas of significant beauty. The program could include recommendations from the Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project (2016) without invasion of current resident areas or local farms. Page 56 3 . 1 Introduction The climate change section of the General Plan is intended to be used as a policy guide for the coordinated climate mitigation and adaptation efforts on Hawaii Island. This element provides a high-level policy framework, building on the scientific knowledge and government-level strategies and actions developed in the Integrated Action Plan (ICAP) for the island of Hawaii. This is VERY Concerning! As stated earlier the World Climate Declaration was signed currently by 1,944 scientists stating there is no climate danger. Here is what a few more scientists have to say. On the Boston Globe's YouTube channel, on May 14, 2010, MIT Professor of Meteorology Richard Lindzen shared the following: If one asks, "Is the temperature increasing or decreasing?"it's always doing one or the other. I have no concern about that. By asking people to worry about whether it's going up or down, you're immediately establishing dishonesty. The Earth is always changing. Climate change is nothing you have to prove. It always is happening. It always has happened. So, to make that into something alarming seems a little bit weird to me'." Global warming:why you should not worry,"by the Boston Globe,May 14,2010. Dr. David Dilley, a former Meteorologist with the National Weather Service, United States Air Force, Senior Research Meteorologist, and Climatologist at Global Weather Oscillations Inc., has 50 years' experience in meteorology and climatology. He's also a working partner in the International Hurricane Protection Association. This is what he has to say about global warming: Global warming begins in the Arctic and Antarctic. It has about a 230-year cycle. When it comes back, it takes about 20 years for it to hit its peak. It started in the 1990s and hit its peak this past year. With global warming, the Antarctic and higher regions warm up. As it warms up, you have less cold air available to filter south into the middle latitudes, and it warms the middle latitudes. That is global warming2." Dilley explained that the same thing happens with global cooling but in reverse, as the temperature increases and decreases in cycles. Dilley then shared that 2022 was the coldest spring and summer on record, with the winter of 2021 being the coldest winter on record. He also shared that in April 2023, five months before the Lahaina Fire, the Earth was running low-to-normal temperatures, and the Arctic was actually cooling down. Dilley is also an expert of the "Milankovitch Cycle," which illustrates the rotation of the Earth, sun, and the moon, and their effects on global warming. According to Dilley, every 120,000 years, the Earth comes closest to the sun. Then, about 68,000 years later, it's the furthest approach from the sun. He says that our closest approach was 8,000 years ago. Dilley states, "We were warmer 6,000 to 8,000 years ago than we are today. The reason was that we were the closest approach to the sun and we had just come out of an Ice Age. We're 8,000 years off the peak now, and so we're actually cooling down." John Coleman, also an expert on the weather, shares the same thoughts. Coleman was the original weatherman on Good Morning America in the 1970s. He founded The Weather Channel in the 1980s. In 1982, he was voted "Meteorologist of the Year" by the American Meteorology Society. With regards to the Arctic and sea levels, Coleman states: They tell us that we're melting the polar ice caps. The Antarctic polar ice cap is at an all-time high, and the Arctic ice cap is increasing again after diminishing. They tell us that we're flooding the shorelines. Do you live on the coast? How much has the water come up in your lifetime? They manufactured data to make it look like we're increasing the water level of the oceans, but we're not'." Professor Richard Lindzen states: https://voutu.be/pwvVephTIHU?si=XoxAcPc51 JNIOXdeF: z "Signals - Global Cooling Cycle Beginning - Global Warming Ending-Professor David Dilley,"by David Dilley GlobalWeatherCycles,May 10,2023. John Coleman's case against significant man-made global warming,"by Kusi News,June 24,2013. https://voutu.be/K56fins2VZTc'?si=Cn-ApS8z2Y k1176 At any given place, traditionally, sea level is measured by what are called tide gauges: a stick in the water, basically. Two things that change are what a tide gauge shows: the land moving up and down and the sea moving up and down. In most places, it's the land that has the biggest effect, and so you don't have a good measure of sea level rise141 " Let's review the danger of water rising and engulfing coastline towns. Is there one city or town on the shoreline that is in danger of being underwater? Is Venice, a town that lives at sea level, in danger of being lost to the sea? Have home insurance companies stopped giving insurance policies to homeowners who live on the coastline because they'll soon be underwater? The answer would be no! On August 21, 2020, NASA published an article titled "NASA-led Study Reveals the Causes of Sea Level Rise Since 1900." It reads: Sea levels have risen on average 1.6 millimeters (0.063 inches) per year between 1900 and 20184." That means the sea level has risen a little over 7.4 inches in the last 118 years! Does that show the world is in danger of being engulfed by water? No. It shows that it will be a very, very, very long time before humans are in danger. Does that mean documentaries like "An Inconvenient Truth" are telling lies? An article was published in the Seattle Times on October 12, 2007, titled "British judge ruled the Oscar-winning film on global warming, "An Inconvenient Truth," contains "nine errors5.'" Here is the list of inaccuracies found in Court taken from the "Friends Of Science" website6. The inaccuracies in the documentary include: 1. The film claims that melting snow s on Mount Kilimanjaro evidence global warming. The Government's expert was forced to concede that this is not correct. 2. The film suggests that evidence from ice cores proves that rising CO2 levels cause temperature increases over 650,000 years. The Court found that the film was misleading: over that period, the rises in CO2 lagged behind the temperature rises by 800-2,000 years. 4"NASA-led Study Reveals the Causes of Sea Level Rise Since 1900,"by Ian J. O'Neill/ Jane J.Lee,August 21, 2020. https:Hclimate.nasa.gov/news/3012/nasa-led-study-reveals-the-causes-of-sea-level-rise-since-1900/ Truth is, Gore film has 9 errors,British judge rules,"by Mary Jordan,Oct 12,2007. https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/truth-is-gore-film-has-9-errors-british-judge-rules/ 6"Inaccuracies in Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth-A Ruling of the British High Courf' https:Hfriendsofscience.or--/assets/documents/FOS°/`2OEssavBritish High Court Ruling on An Inconvenient Tru ht .html 3. The film uses emotive images of Hurricane Katrina and suggests that this has been caused by global warming. The Government's expert had to accept that it was "not possible" to attribute one-off events to global warming. 4. The film shows the drying up of Lake Chad and claims that this was caused by global warming. The Government's expert had to accept that this was not the case. 5. The film claims that a study showed that polar bears had drowned due to disappearing arctic ice. It turned out that Mr. Gore had misread the study: in fact, four polar bears drowned, and this was because of a particularly violent storm. 6. The film threatens that global warming could stop the Gulf Stream, throwing Europe into an ice age. The Claimant's evidence was that this was a scientific impossibility. 7. The film blames global warming for species losses, including coral reef bleaching. The Government could not find any evidence to support this claim. 8. The film suggests that sea levels could rise by 7 meters, causing the displacement of millions of people. In fact, the evidence is that sea levels are expected to rise by about 40 centimeters over the next 100 years and there is no such threat of massive migration. 9. The film claims that rising sea levels has caused the evacuation of certain Pacific islands to New Zealand. The Government was unable to substantiate this, and the Court observed that this appears to be a false claim. Also, the Court's interim ruling included the following: 1. The film suggests that the Greenland ice covering could melt, causing sea levels to rise dangerously. The evidence is that Greenland will not melt for a millennia. 2. The film suggests that the Antarctic ice covering is melting; the evidence was that it is, in fact, increasing. High Court Judge Michael Burton stated: Former Vice President Al Gore, the documentary's moderator, makes nine statements in the film that are not supported by the current mainstream scientific consensus. For instance, Gore's script implies that Greenland or West Antarctica might melt soon, creating a sea-level rise of up to 20 feet that would cause devastation from San Francisco to the Netherlands to Bangladesh's " The judge called this "distinctly alarmist" and said the consensus view is that if Greenland melted, it would release this amount of water "but only after, and over, a millennia." The climate change narrative will destroy people's freedom and add more regulations, fines and fees. Do not allow this government narrative to continue on the Big Island. The people do NOT want more laws, regulations, and fines based on a false narrative that completely changes community infrastructures from self-reliant to "sustainable" living, with "stakeholders" carrying the purse strings and the power. That is NOT Pono! Gregg Braden is a geologist, five-time New York Times best-selling author, scientist, international educator, and renowned as a pioneer in the emerging paradigm based in science, social policy, and human potential, had this to say about the dangers of carbon on the planet: The idea that carbon dioxide is a poison is a false narrative to begin with. We are carbon-based beings. By demonizing carbon dioxide and carbon life, we're actually demonizing ourselves'." Science 101 shows us that plants take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. If plants die due to lack of carbon dioxide, so do humans for lack of oxygen. During the Cretaceous Period, which began 145 million years ago and ended 66 million years ago, we had a lot more carbon than we do today - tons more! This was the time of the dinosaurs, and everything was huge! Plants were much larger than they are now. The sea levels were also a lot higher during the Cretaceous Period. Was that due to more carbon dioxide? Not according to an article at Britannica.com written by Thor Arthur Hansen, Professor of Invertebrate Paleontology, Paleoecology, and Evolution at Western Washington University, U.S., and Carl Fred Koch, Professor of Geological Sciences at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia. It was fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica and last updated on Feb 7, 2024. The article said that sea level was higher primarily because the water in the ocean basins was displaced by the enlargement of mid-oceanic ridges$. It Was not due t0 carbon! It was due to the Earth's mantle. On January 11, 2023, in an episode titled "Why "THE POWERS THAT BE" are So Desperate to Reduce Carbon Dioxide on OUR Planet?" posted on geologist and scientist Gregg Braden's YouTube channel, John L. Petersen of the Arlington Institute stated: If you could look at the ice cores in Antarctica and Greenland, you would see that the temperature of the Earth increases or decreases around 800 years before the change in carbon dioxide. That means carbon dioxide does not drive the change; it is the response to the temperature changes." In the same interview, Braden stated: Gregg Braden - Why "THE POWERS THAT BE"are So Desperate to Reduce Carbon Dioxide on OUR Planet?" by Gregg Braden Official,January 11,2023. https://voutu.be/7vJ-Qefos8A'?si=BviOKcdznXx6t2SQ 8"Cretaceous Period," by Carl Fre Koch,Thor Arthur Hansen, 9 "Why `THE POWERS THAT B9_` arc So Dcsperaic io Reduce Carbon Dioxide on OUR Planet?" by Gregg Braden,January 11,2023. x w„ We're being led to believe that carbon levels of CO2 have never been higher; that the Earth is going to be destroyed if they are higher; and that CO2 is the driving temperature, both of which are not true147." Gregg showed a graph indicating that during the Cretaceous Period, carbon dioxide levels were over three times higher than they are today. Carbon dioxide levels were between 800-1,000 parts per million. During this period, there was an extreme greening of the Earth. Plants and life thrived! According to Braden: If CO2 drops below 184 parts per million, that seems to be the threshold where we (humans) are in trouble/ If CO2 drops below those levels, we are actually cutting off the very life-force that is providing oxygen on this planet." Is the entire CO2 narrative intended to increase the bankroll of the "stakeholders" around the world invested in renewable energy with no regard for human life? Stakeholders who've invested in progressive and "sustainable energy" have a lot to gain in their pocketbooks by populations living in fear of climate change and believing they will be saving" the Earth by going along with renewable energy and electric vehicles. They'll also be giving up a lot of their freedoms in doing so. Page 59 Transportation The General Plan further discusses strategies for decreasing vehicle reliance and (Remove) improving public Transportation Access and Mobility. You have no right to hinder people's right to travel. Please take ANYTHING out that references decreasing people's use of their vehicle! The County can reduce its footprint by increasing the percentage of renewable fuel used to power public facilities and infrastructure, reducing VMT, (REMOVE). YOU CANNOT LIMIT PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO TRAVEL. THAT VIOLATES THE CONSTITUTION AND IS BEYOND YOUR JURISDICTION Page 61 The General Plan expands on opportunities for climate-conscious land development in the Land Use section without violating people's rights, over regulating or increasing fines. Page 63 The General Plan further expands on strategies to increase resilience in the Transportation Access and Mobility, Public Utilities, and Public Facilities and Services sections without violating the Constitution, or over regulating farmers and homeowners. The General Plan expands on renewable energy in the Public Utilities section with safety studies prior to installation, and without increasing costs to the public. Page 66 Transportation Promoting the use of electric vehicles through expanding charging infrastructure and educating the public on the safety studies done for the use of these vehicles from third parties. Renewable Energy Increasing the use of green technology (including third party safety studies) will increase the energy independence of individuals and businesses on the island. Supporting renewable energy technologies, such as solar, wind, ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC), and geothermal (Remove. This practice is not safe for an island with active volcanoes!) Land Use &the Built Environment Implementing smart growth strategies, without violating people's right to travel can reduce urban sprawl and create more walkable communities. Developing a County building code that balances health and safety, affordability, and carbon footprint (REMOVE! This is more regulations and fines. NOT Pono! It is NOT your responsibility to focus on people's health. That is for each individual! This is an overreach! Encouraging the construction of energy-efficient buildings and retrofitting existing buildings being sure to prove any additional technology is safe for the public.. Promoting regenerative agriculture practices that reduce emissions and enhance carbon sequestration while not further regulating farms or increasing fines. Greening urban areas increases the availability of cool areas for residents to live and recreate. Integrating energy savings and waste management, without more regulations and fines on the population, provides an opportunity to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in new development. Conservation Protecting reefs and marine ecosystems that act as carbon sinks, without hindering public use. Implementing a One Water strategy and other water-saving technologies and practices can reduce the energy required for water treatment and distribution. This is NOT a good idea. If this goes down, where will people get their water? Remove or revise. Conserving natural habitats without hindering public use to preserve biodiversity and enhance ecosystem resilience to climate change. Efforts to expand renewable energy, with third party safety studies and without hindering public can consider the preservation of unique and diverse ecosystems, avoiding negative impacts on wildlife and natural habitats. Additional Measures Improving public engagement about climate change and encouraging sustainable practices. Remove and educate yourself on the fact that scientists from around the world have stated there is no climate danger.) Implementing policies and regulations that support climate mitigation efforts, without further regulations or fines on locals. (Please educate yourself) Supporting research into new technologies and approaches for reducing emissions and enhancing resilience and include third party safety studies while ensuring no further cost to the public. Page 67 Water Resources • Management Promoting a One Water strategy can create cross-agency collaboration to identify and address overlapping challenges in adapting to sea level rise and building more resiliency into infrastructure across water, wastewater and stormwater sectors. How does this promote collaboration? This seems like a monopoly. Agriculture & • Food Security Encouraging the cultivation of climate-resilient and diversified crops to enhance food security without further regulations and fines. Infrastructure & Urban Planning Retrofitting or relocating bridges and roads provides an opportunity to reduce GHG emissions by reducing miles traveled. (REMOVE) THIS VIOLATES THE CONSTITUTION. YOU CANNOT DEPRIVE PEOPLE OF THE RIGHT TO TRAVEL. ALSO, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO RELOCATE" LOCAL BRIDGES. THIS SHOULD BE REMOVED! Implement zoning and land use planning policies that consider climate risks and promote sustainable development after a full investigation of the climate change narrative is examined. (Do not further regulate and fine people without fully investigating the climate change narrative and proving that any additional technology is safe for the human life.) Social Equity Engage communities in planning and decision-making processes to ensure that adaptation measures are socially inclusive (Remove. This is woke language.) and culturally appropriate. Increasing equitable resilience to climate hazards will benefit historically marginalized and frontline Engage communities (What does this mean?) and those that are vulnerable to climate change impacts. Energy & • Transportation Invest in renewable energy sources that are proven safe and affordable to the public to reduce GHG emissions and increase energy resilience. Promote energy efficiency in buildings and transportation that are proven safe and affordable to the public to reduce overall energy consumption and without increasing regulations or fines Biodiversity & Ecosystems Managed retreat strategies and new shoreline setback regulations would expand open space along the shoreline to support coastal ecosystems such as anchialine pools without hindering public access. Supporting conservation programs that are proven safe for the people and the environment can help protect native species and habitats from climate change impacts without hindering public access and without increasing regulations and fines. Strengthening measures to control and eradicate invasive species can help protect local ecosystems. Enhance habitat connectivity to allow species to migrate in response to changing environmental conditions without hindering public access and without increasing regulations and fines. Education & Capacity Building Build capacity for local government agencies by providing training and resources that improve their ability to plan and implement climate adaptation initiatives without increasing regulations and fines. Collaborate and coordinate with the County's Office of Sustainability, Climate, Equity, and Resilience (OSCER). This is woke language and should be removed. Support research and monitoring efforts to better understand climate impacts and the effectiveness of adaptation measures. (Please educate yourself on this false narrative) Develop and implement educational programs to raise awareness about climate change and adaptation strategies. REMOVE (This is a FALSE narrative that you would be perpetuating.) Page 68 3 . 2 Climate Change Goal , Objectives, Policies, and Actions This ENTIRE section should be removed. Rosa Korie WARNED that what is planned for this country through the planning departments "is an erasure ofjurisdictional boundaries. It is a loss of private property rights, a loss of sovereignty- both personal physical sovereignty and physical sovereignty in terms of*our nation- and it's a loss of*our freedom." From Rosa Koire's special presentation to the New Hampshire Legislature. hops://voutu.be/350IbVtpzvw?si=u NNsNoL9XtGxDEA Page 71 8.3 Collaborate with farmers, government,private and nonprofit agencies, communities, and other stakeholders REMOVE Who are they?What do they have stake in?to monitor impacts that may be specific to Hawaii County due to its unique exposure to climate change and sea level rise impacts. (Please educate yourself on this false narrative. Is Kona or Hilo or any Hawaiian town close to being underwater?NO!) 8.11 Partner with government(e.g., State Office of Planning and Sustainable Development OPSD]),private and nonprofit agencies, communities, and other stakeholders REMOVE Who are they'? What do they have stake in'?to analyze conservation buffers to accommodate shifting native habitats impacted by climate change,particularly wetlands and high-elevation forests. Remove this ENTIRE section! We do NOT want"buffer"zones! You want to take away the ability for people to be in nature. That is NOT pono!) 8.b Support and partner with government,private and nonprofit agencies, communities, and other stakeholders REMOVE Who are they'?What do they have stake in'? on research for adaptive policies and technology that includes safety studies to the public and environment,that increase resilience without further regulations and fines on the public.. 8.d Adopt a land acquisition program with potential leaseback options for the purchase of hazard-prone locations or those with beneficial attributes for climate adaptation and mitigation. REMOVE. THIS 1S GOVERNMENT OVERREACH! THIS 1S NOT A COMMUNIST COUNTRY! YOU CANNOT TAKE PEOPLE'S PROPERTY! 8.e Collaborate with government,private and nonprofit agencies, communities, and other stakeholders REMOVE Who are they'?What do they have stake in'?to implement environmentally beneficial upgrades for wastewater, irrigation, and/or landscaping, including sea level rise, storm, and other climate change considerations. (Remove). Getting at least three bids for contracts from different companies. Pg 74 4.1.1 Introduction 1st para: "achieve sustainable development and" (Remove) change "resilient" to safe 2nd para: "Sustainable development is a key objective of land use planning for the County. By strategically" and in the sentence "Land use planning is essential. (Remove) change "resilient" to safe. 3rd para: - change "resilience" to safety. "and the impacts of climate change" (Remove) Better prepared for and protected against potential disasters. Change: "sustainable" to diversified. desirable" to fair, equitable. Last para 5th line down: Change: "should" to may Pg 75 Economic Opportunity Planning: "other growth sectors." Need to be specific, identify other growth sectors. Last sentence: "muck like the weave of sustainability," (Remove) Pg. 76 Table 16: Land Use Key Trends Changing &Aging Population: "Over the next 25 years .....0.9% per annum" decline in population already seen and projected needs to addressed as to why the population is in decline. How you do Planning if you don't address reasons for population decline. This is crucial. Housing Affordability & Choice: "In 2010..." down to "However, on average, Hawaii County's overcrowding....." Shifting Visitor Accommodation Types: - Change "With the upward trend...." to "rentals." & There is also a shift.." Revise that entire sentence. Job Availability & Growth: - Revise last sentence "In 2020, 14% of the....." Pg. 77 Table 17: Land Use Challenges Revise: Infrastructure section Regulations section Funding & Financing entire section Land Use Compatibility entire section Public Engagement entire section My note is What is NIMBYism?) Pg. 78 Table 18: Land Use Opportunities Infrastructure:: last sentence "County departments can provide....." Regulations: Red: "Collaborate across State and County agencies to....." (Need more public input and ideas); The most direct role the County plays..,..property tax policy." (Need much more research on property tax rates, regulations, policies & scrutinized by the public who are affected by paying property taxes. This should be the most glaring concern so that we do not leave tax burden for future generations who may lose their properties to taxes paid to the government). Funding & Financing: "Partner with the State and other counties to create a capacity building plan.....stakeholders." (Remove) Market Conditions: "Seek to acquire land for affordable housing developments...." Add: without violating people's right to own property or take this out. Revise it. This is government overreach! Land Use Compatibility: "Demonstrate smart growth developments." (Remove) Public Engagement: "Encourage affordable housing projects to meet the needs of neighborhoods (YIMBY) without further regulations and fines." (What is YIMBY?) and next line Apply strategies to...." "stakeholder". Who are these stakeholders? What do they have stake in? Pg. 79 4.1.2 Land Use Goal, Objectives, Policies, and Actions Item 9.7 - Red: "Encourage" change to Mandate developers Item 9.8 - Red: "Route selection for ....." that entire sentence. (This is a high priority revision as it pertains directly to 5G dangers. Here is where the people/public need to have direct input/approval/changes. Item 9.a - Red: "Develop a process for County....." this is crucial for public scrutiny & opportunity for the public to get transparency. Transparency can only be realized if we, the public include ourselves into all governmental processes. If not, we will not get transparency, period! Pg 80 Land Use Goal, Objectives, Policies, and Actions - continued Item 9.e - "Conduct a review and re-evaluation.... entire sentence to be revised. Item 10.3 "Proposed discretionary permits for large developments.....Ka'u Districts" -Not clear needs revision. Item 10.b "Amend.......allow CPDs to be applied to all zoning districts..." - Why amend the Zoning Code? We need to compare current Zoning Codes to what they propose to amend to see if the people or the developers have the advantage. What are CPDs? Item 10.c- Red: "Collaborate with the State Office of Planning.....Native Hawaiian customary and traditional.." Need to revise to ensure that Hawaiian cultural experts, NOT the State government or its agencies have any input for preserving, protecting, educating, safeguarding, sharing, marketing, ..every aspect of utilizing our native Hawaiian (kanaka maoli) heritage of language, practices, traditions, religion & more belong exclusively to the kanaka maoli elders, experts, kupuna, kahuna, healers NEVER the government or its agencies...NEVER!!! Pg 81 continue Item 11.4 "Concurrency reviews should incorporate..... (Remove)" entire sentence absolutely NO! Actions 11.a - Red: "Collaborate with the SHPD to create..... entire sentence - Need experts. 11.d - Red: "Amend Zoning Code...." do not give the Planning Director more power, it's time to decrease power for that position, we need to humble these government workers/servants. Now is that time as history has shown us, when they have power, they want more; when they have more power, it's not enough &the cycle continues while the people suffer. STOP giving away the power from the people. 11.f- "Update traffic impact....." (Remove) entire sentence. Travel should not be the Planning Board's power to take away from me or you, ever. Objective 12 Reduce the threat to life and property from natural hazards and disasters. Policies The above sentence - Red: add "unnatural & natural hazards" - It is important to identify the reality that unnatural hazards have always existed, therefore, why is that omitted? 12.3 Red: "Consider natural ... Again add in unnatural & force the Planning Board to address DE disasters, weather machine disasters which are human created disasters, which is criminal. Why shouldn't the Planning Board include these disasters as they certainly affect the health & safety of the people & our environment. 12.8 Red: "Encourage the development...." entire sentence. Again, must address DE/Weather machines/human initiated disasters. Pg 82 Actions Item 12.a - Red: "Update the Building Code....." entire sentence need extreme revisions, I initially wanted to delete, but it is necessary to revise to include unnatural/man made disasters & address "carbon footprint". These are areas to not hide by deleting, but rather talk about them through revisions. Item 12.g - "Amend the Zoning Code...." (Remove) Until they can prove climate change is happening, delete this section that refers to climate change as that is a false narrative that we the people/public should not allow to continue. I do not want to tell a lie over& over again until everyone believes it. That's breaking the 10 commandments. Pg. 83 4.1.3 Overview of Land Use Designations and Maps No changes. Pg. 84 Table 19: General Plan Land Use Designations and Maps No Changes Pg. 85 Agriculture and Natural Land Use No Changes Pg 86 4.1.4 Urban Growth Areas 2nd para: Red: "Smart Growth" change to something safer, know what it represents not hidden meanings. Black out: the word "sustainable" and from "More specifically, urban centers have been designed to create.... Driving." - The government or its agencies should not impede or alter the rights of citizens to travel it's call our right to travel, which is constitutional. Pg 87 Objective 13 Increase the use of Smart Growth principles to focus development within designated urban centers. Policies Red: change "Smart Growth" to Evaluate and analyze development within designated urban centers. Item 13.3 Red: "Incentivize" what is that& how does it benefit the public? 13.6 Red: "may include additional acreages to account for....." must revise section to make it clearer as to how this inclusion will work to the advantage or disadvantage of historic sites, public access, parks, & open spaces. More clarity is necessary because saying ok to unclear PLANNING" should never be accepted. Item #13.12 - Red: Revise entire sentence "Urban renewal, rehabilitation...." need to include people or the public not just communities, businesses, & governmental agencies. Planning Boards should always include the people/public. This will give people the power to make decisions, not just testify for 3 minutes at a Planning Commission hearing. That needs to change. More people/public involvement needs to be promoted. This involvement may be the inspiration or motivation for people to become active in planning for themselves, their future generations. It is time for governments & businesses to take a back seat! Item 13.13 Red: Revise entire sentence. "Support master planning by ....." it's not"Support" it should be to Scrutinize, evaluate, analyze and recommend by experts and the people. Pg. 88 Commercial - Industrial Item 13.28 Red: "Discretionary permit applications.. Entire sentence need revision as it is not fair to have Discretionary permit applications for new commercial developments. Everyone follows the rules, no exceptions by the Planning Board. Resort Item 13.49 - Red: Revise "On-site affordable housing and workforce units shall be excluded from the total permitted visitor unit counts....." Again, how does this exclusion help the people, the visitors, the workforce? How does it affect permitted visitor unit counts? Pg 90 Actions 13.c Red: revise "Amend the Subdivision Code to ensure block sizes are based...." What are the current codes &what are the proposed amendments to compare who will have the advantage or disadvantage of this proposal to Amend Subdivision Code. Pg. 91 Urban Character Guidelines Table 20: Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Character Guidelines No Changes. Pg. 92 Table 21: Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) Character Guidelines No Changes Pg. 93 Table 22: Urban Neighborhood Center Character Guidelines No Changes Pg. 94 Table 23: Industrial Center Character Guidelines No Changes Pg. 95 Table 24: Criteria for Industrial Land Conversion to Commercial/Mixed-Use No Changes Pg. 96 Table 25: Resort Area Character Guidelines No Changes Pg. 97 4.1.5 Rural No Changes Pg. 98 Objective 14 Maximize the use of Rural designated lands to preserve rural character and lifestyle. Policies All items from 14.1, 14.2, 14.3, 14.4, 14.5, 14.6 - Red: Must revise all items as the Planning Board is asking for Support of everything they are doing, which contradicts any changes that the public may be deemed detrimental. Asking for"blind" support is ridiculous. Actions - Items 14.a, 14.b, 14.c, & 14.d Red: Revise all items as it is asking to Amend Zoning Code, zoning districts which is crucial to see current codes compared to amendments. How are these amendments affecting the public to their advantage vs. disadvantages. This is very important to NOT just accept amendments. Thorough research is necessary to protect the public. Pg. 99 Table 26: Rural Neighborhood Character Guidelines No Changes Pg. 100 4.1.6 Agriculture Last para: "The General Plan provides planning tools to incentivize the highest and best use of productive agricultural lands. The Plan's policies... ... entire paragraph need to be revised. I am especially concerned with the word "incentivize the highest and best use... here again what does this mean, how will it be done, who benefits. Pg. 101 Objective 15 Support the active use of Productive Agricultural lands. Actions All items 15.a, 15.b, 15.c. 154 15.e must be revised Not just Amend. Pg. 102 Actions (continue) Item 15.f- Revise "Update the Real Property Tax Code....." need public input for transparency. Item 15.g Revise "Amend the Zoning Code..." again do not just accept Amending Item 15A Revise "Collaborate with USDA and the State.... It's not just collaborate, it's what are the decisions based upon, what are the final decisions, how are these decisions helping farmers. Since, we have passed hundreds of years farming in Hawaii you would think we have identified major problems, why these problems do not get resolved, who are responsible for the non-resolutions. This is just repeating ....USDA, the State who have been in charge of agriculture, I want to see a report card that covers 1950s to 2023. Report cards are transparency mechanisms to identify who &what are creating our farmer's problems. We cannot fix anything without transparency. Politicians say it, but absolutely no actions. This section is entitled ACTION. Let us begin to act. Pg. 104 4.2.1 Introduction Third para: "Resilience...." I don't want the word resilience to be an escape mechanism for the government or its agencies. That word should change. The last para: "The Plan is focused on improving connectivity within ....." this sounds good, but I don't see good results as I am pass 70 yrs old. We should not accept "rinse & repeat'. What did the Planning Board learn from over 100 yrs. Of past failures? They say they focus on improving, yet we cannot determine how they will improve. Stronger language to ensure that the public can know they plan to improve. Pg. 105 Table 27: Transportation Key Trends No Changes Pg. 106 Table 28: Transportation Challenges All items Red: Revisions necessary. It refers to electric cars, Pre-COVID-19 (false narratives that must be stopped) Pg. 107 Table 29: Transportation Opportunities All items Red: Need revisions since they want to establish metrics, improve interagency collaboration, prepare projects, standardize interagency agreements. It contains a multitude of changes that are unclear, very ambiguous, & again, transparency is lacking. Pg. 108 4.2.2 Transportation Goal, Objective, Policies, and Actions All items Red: Requires revisions. Examples: item 16.2 "Encourage safe and convenient use non-polluting" What is non-polluting to the Planning Board? What do they know about pollution as they don't know that EMFs are dangerous pollutants. And example: Item 16.10 Identify and evaluate transportation..... energy and climate issues." We need to stop the false Pg. 109 Actions - continue All items - Red: Revisions necessary. Same reasons as above for Pg. 108. Sorry Michelle - did not complete pages 104 to 118-119. Can do later/Kalei K. completed today, Monday 9-23-24 at 12:01 pm. Pg. 110 4.2.3 Active Living Corridors and Public Access No Changes Pg. 111 Objective 17 Increase transportation connectivity. Policies All items Red: Need revisions. Example: Item 17.1 "Ensure Native Hawaiian access rights are clearly expressed...." This is an area of talk talk talk & no action. Again, what violations have already occurred, how long have these violations been going on, have these violations stopped? Just putting in a sentence in a Plan does not mean it has been adhered to. Therefore, these proposals are weak. As a native Hawaiian it is imperative to get enforcement for these violations, identify violations, how long it's been happening, why &who are responsible to stop violations, protect native Hawaiian access rights. If this item # is weak, which it is - than the others need revisions. Pg. 112 Table 30: Public Access Spacing Standards No Changes Pg. 4.2.4 Mass Transit All paragraphs need revisions Red: revisions necessary. Mass Transit has been proven wrong on Oahu, the Rail. Over budgeted, from hundreds of millions of dollars (budgeted) to billions of dollars, NOT budgeted. Who is paying for this government error?You, me & our visitors. We have an historic example from the City & County of Honolulu. The people protested against this Rail", but years later a Mayor brought back the Rail & all Mayors thereafter continue with this project. Please investigate this "Planning" before Hawaii County repeats history. All words in this section/page are the same words use by the Planning Dept. of the City & County of Honolulu. Absolutely requires total revisions to 4.2.4 Mass Transit Pg. 114 Objective 18 Increase mass transit ridership by 50 percent by 2045 Policies All items are basic objectives. No changes (yet) Pg. 115 4.2.5 Roadways 2nd to last para: What is the County's Vision Zero Action Plan Pink: Concern Pg. 116 Objective 19 Reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) All items Red: Need revisions Concern - What is reduce vehicle miles traveled? Why reduce vehicle miles traveled? What is this agenda for&what will it accomplish? Who will benefit? Again, our right to travel cannot be altered or impeded as that right is protected by the US Constitution & God. Pg. 117 Objective 20 Achieve a transportation system that employs all modes of transportation at a community scale. All items need to be revised Pg. 117 continue: Objective 21 Incorporate green infrastructure to reduce stormwater runoff. Policies All items Red: Concern See item 21.1 "green infrastructure strategies, and pollution prevention procedures...." Again, sine the Planning Board does not understand EMF pollution & its dangerous - what are they talking about here "pollution prevention procedures.." Pg. 118 continue from above. Actions & Objective 22 Increase transportation safety for transportation's most vulnerable users and reduce traffic fatalities.Policies All items Red: revise Pg. 119 Continue from above. All items from 22.7 to 22.9 Red: revise Concern. 22.7 autematedvemeles. This appears to be referencing the very unproven technology of`driverless cars?7 Emerging technology needs to go through rigorous standards of testing before being released onto roadways. This text here, with a clear reference to something that is already proving dangerous on the roadways and the subject of lawsuits does not belong in our County Plan. 22.8 Maintain dedicated roadway standards that are appropriate to roadway type and achieve active transportation and safety goals. 22.9 Engage and collaborate with the owners of private roads and local community groups to help identify and develop road management agreements that mitigate road closures to provide emergency evacuation routes. Actions 22.a Amend the County Code to incorporate Vision Zero safety principles and Complete Street design principles. This is too vague and should be elaborated in detail. These safety principles need to be spelled out or they don't belong in the County Plan. 22.b Develop educational programs promoting traffic safety. Where something is designated an `action' in a County General Plan Document, sufficient detail should be provided. This is too vague and should be elaborated in detail. Objective 23 Adequately maintain public transportation systems. Policies 23.1 Maintain an Asset Management Program aimed at utilizing maintenance plans for pavement, bridges, and other road infrastructure to prolong the life of our transportation system as well as reduce its whole-life cost. 23.2 Maintain the unique features of historic bridges, while balancing safety needs and preserving historic and scenic character. 23.3 Prioritize the replacement of deficient and inadequate bridges and maintain pedestrian/bicycle access across bridges. 23.4 Design new bridges and bridge improvements to accommodate and not negatively impede identified scenic resources. 23.5 Evaluate freight routes identified in the State Freight Master Plan for required improvements to meet roadway standards. 23.6 Encourage the adoption of innovative materials and methods that improve roadway sustainability and resilience. Actions 23.a Create an asset management program. 23.b Continue the bridge inspection program and expand rehab or replacement to include active transportation accommodations. 4.2 Transportation Access and Mobility I County of Hawaii General Plan 119 Roadway Standards The County adheres to several federal and industry standards for roadway design. These include the AASHTO Green Book and Roadside Design Guide, the MUTCD, the NACTO, and the Highway Capacity Manual.5 Examples of topics addressed by these guidelines include road geometry (e.g., curves, sight distance), safety within ROWs adjacent to travel ways, design speeds, level of service, signs/striping/signaling, and urban transit. In addition to these sources, the County adheres to the following locally defined standards. Street Standards Highways shall not be wider than four through travel lanes that accommodate single occupancy vehicles and should be limited to the most populated areas typically connecting residential areas with employment centers. Integrate transportation networks to prioritize the most vulnerable roadways users and the greenest modes of travel through a Multimodal Hierarchy (Figure 7) that prioritizes investments in the following order: 1. Pedestrian 2. Public Transit 3. Bicycle 4. Auto This is a directive for future transportation policy ? It is 4 words and yet it is a giant reach toward a set of ideals and it is not explained at all in detail. OBJECTION : This `policy directive' reflects a radical socialist agenda of forcing people to give up automobiles and give up their autonomy at the same time. This shows contempt for the most basic principles of freedom. . We refer you to : The United States Constitution which protects the freedom to move about within the country, both domestically and internationally. This fundamental right is deeply rooted in American liberty and has been recognized and protected by the Supreme Court. " The priorities established in a General Plan should reflect careful consideration of the island's economy and how to best support our island economy but instead this prioritization of pedestrians `first' and `automobile' transport reflects an obsession with addressing carbon as a cause' for an alleged crisis for our climate. . It's strange to us that in this document that purports to be about a plan for `development' there is barely a focus on the actual economy. Here instead we see a document `prioritizing' Pedestrian travel (on an island with very few densely populated urban centers) without context of what will actually promote agriculture, commerce, industries, jobs and economic activities. This directive would make more sense for an Oahu General Plan because of the size of the land mass and ratio of population. If it is in this document without much explanation then it appears to be a reflection of a `fad' in transportation policy rather than a practical and well thought out policy directive. The minimum roadway width standards to accommodate the County Roadway Classifications were adopted in Resolution 779-20. The following provides an overview of this standard with reference to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Functional Classification system. 4.2.6 Transportation Terminals: Airports and Harbors As a major hub for tourism, commerce, and connectivity, Hawaii County recognizes the importance of effective planning and management of its airports and harbors. These key infrastructure components serve as lifelines that facilitate economic growth, enhance regional connectivity, and provide essential services for residents and visitors. Airports and harbors connect the County to the rest of the world, allowing for the efficient movement of goods, people, and ideas. They are essential nodes within the transportation network, acting as important economic drivers for the region. Efficient airports and harbors directly contribute to the success of various industries, including tourism, agriculture, trade, and logistics. Moreover, they are instrumental in supporting emergency response efforts, disaster management, and ensuring the overall resilience of the region's transportation system. Again, over and over the objection `in general' to this General Plan 2045 is that the document references `economic growth' and yet does not address the actual drivers of the economy in detail. As public servants it is your best service to our island if you would study how you can support the farmers, producers of goods and services to build a great economy together. Unfortunately there are dozens of instances where legislators and public servants have imposed restrictions, fees and taxes on those very `drivers' of our economy. Airport Terminals and Harbors do not `cause' the economy to grow and are not drivers of the economy and yet we see a General Plan with weighted emphasis on `transportation' and urban development without seeing evidence of a study of what will actually support the individuals and households that produce economic value for our actual economy. This is an extremely poor outcome for a document that presents as a `guide' for legislators and policy makers for the next 20 plus years. The principal concerns of planning for transportation terminals involve a comprehensive approach that addresses various aspects, including location, zoning of adjacent land, infrastructure development, capacity management, safety and security measures, environmental sustainability, integration with other modes of transportation, and financing and programming of improvements and services through capital improvement projects. While the State of Hawaii Department of Transportation (DOT) is responsible for the actual design, construction, and operation of terminals and supporting facilities, the General Plan addresses the location of these facilities in relation to the pattern of overall land uses. There are two deep draft harbors on the island, one in Hilo and another in Kawaihae. While improvements continue to be made, both harbor terminals lack adequate docking and Harbor has increased significantly as the population and development in West Hawaii continue to grow. In 2011, the Hawaii Commercial Harbors 2035 Master Plan was developed by the State to accommodate the future needs of facilities CONCERN: THE HARBORS SHOULD NOT BE CONTROLLED BY THE STATE OF HAWAII. THEY ARE HARBORS CRUCIAL TO THE ECONOMY OF OUR ISLAND AND WERE PREVIOUSLY UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE COUNTY. WHAT HAPPENED TO HOME RULE? WHERE WAS THE CONSULTATION OF THE PUBLIC WHEN DECISIONS WERE MADE TO HAND OVER CONTROL OF OUR HARBORS TO THE STATE ?. Air terminals that transportation are in Hilo, Waimea, `Upolu, and Kona. The terminals at Hilo and Kona are overseas facilities. Overseas flights at the Kona International Airport at Keahole will continue to increase with the growth of resort areas in Kona and Kohala. Overseas flights through Hilo International Airport have been important for agriculture in East Hawaii. What is concerning about this County General Plan 2045 is the lack of analysis about our actual economy. WHY DO WE SEE A DOCUMENT THAT STATES `OVERSEAS FLIGHTS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE WITH THE GROWTH OF RESORT AREAS?' THIS PLAN SEEMS FLAWED DUE TO LACKING IN CRITICAL ARGUMENTS' FOR THE PLANNED GROWTH BASED ON ACTUAL NUMBERS AND STUDIES . IF THERE ARE STUDIES AND STATISTICS THAT DO SUPPORT THE ASSERTIONS MADE MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE GENERAL PLAN ABOUT PROJECTED ECONOMIC GROWTH THEN THEY SHOULD BE REFERENCED AND INCLUDED IN THE PLAN. ALSO CITATIONS OF WHERE THIS INFORMATION WAS PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC IN `CONSULTATIONS' STRANGELY THE HILO PLAN IS MISSING FROM THE GENERAL PLAN DOCUMENT AND THIS IS ONE OF TWO URBAN CENTERS AND THE CENTER FROM WHICH TWO OF THE `HARBORS' AND `TERMINALS' OPERATE? THIS SEEMS (AGAIN) A GLARING OMISSION. Since 2011, the DOT has embarked on a $2.3 billion Hawaii Airports Modernization Program to improve the safety, capacity, and efficiency of our major passenger and cargo airports. As the population becomes more mobile and as resident and visitor populations increase, there will be a greater demand for new and expanded transportation facilities that are adjacent to compatible land uses and include alternative and active transportation connections to decrease the demand for cars and reliance on fossil fuels. OBJECTION TO THIS SENTENCE IS THAT IT IS NOT SUPPORTED BY ANY FACTS OR AN ARGUMENT MADE FOR THE CASE BEING PRESENTED. AGAIN THE CONCERN ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT IS THAT IT IS COMMITTING OUR ENTIRE COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND OUR LEGISLATURE TO A RADICAL COURSE OF ACTION BASED ON THE PREMISE THAT FOSSIL FUELS ARE TO BE ERADICATED AND THAT PERSONAL AUTOMOBILE TRANSPORTATION SHOULD ALSO BE ERADICATED AND OR COMPLETELY ELIMINATED. THESE PREMISES ARE PART OF A RADICAL SOCIALIST AGENDA THAT VIOLATES THE CONSTITUTION SINCE IT WILL UNDOUBTEDLY LIMIT THE FREEDOM OF UNITED STATES CITIZENS TO FREELY MOVE ABOUT. service inter-island 4.2 Transportation Access and Mobility I County of Hawaii General Plan 122 Objective 24 Improve accessibility to airports, harbor systems, and support facilities. Policies 24.1 Encourage the programmed improvement of existing terminals, including adequate provisions for control of pollution and appropriate and adequate covered storage facilities for agricultural products. 24.2 The State Department of Transportation should continue to implement its plans for transportation terminals and related facilities to promote and follow desired land use policies. 24.3 Transportation terminals should be developed in conjunction with the different elements of the overall transportation system. 24.4 Encourage maximum use of the island's airport and harbor facilities. 24.5 Encourage the development, maintenance, and enhancement of Hilo and Kawaihae Harbors as detailed within the State's Hawai'i Commercial Harbors 2035 Master Plan. THIS COULDN'T BE MORE VAGUE AS A STATED OBJECTIVE. IT DOESN'T REFERENCE THE VERY PRACTICAL MATTERS OF ECONOMIC DRIVERS AND OVERALL ECONOMIC HEALTH OF OUR ISLAND. WHERE IS DISCUSSION ABOUT THE ACTUAL ECONOMY IN THIS ENTIRE DOCUMENT ? THIS ALSO OMITS MENTION THAT A PROSPEROUS AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY WOULD BE THE RATIONALE FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE AT KAWAIHAII AND HILO HARBORS. AGAIN THERE IS AN OBJECTION TO HANDING OVER HARBORS TO THE STATE OF HAWAII WHERE THEY ARE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO THE ISLAND . 24.6 Support the State's objectives to acquire rights within the runway clear-zones, limit heights within approach zones, and restrict noise-sensitive uses within designated noise contours determined by the State. CONCERN: THIS APPEARS TO REFERENCE PROPERTY ACQUISITION AND SUGGESTS THAT THE COUNTY SHOULD SUPPORT' THE STATE TO RESTRICT USES AND ACTIVITIES IN CERTAIN AREAS NEAR TO AIRPORTS?' THIS AGAIN IS ONE MORE COMMUNIST LAND GRAB PRACTICE. THIS DOESN'T BELONG IN OUR COUNTY PLAN DOCUMENT FOR 2045. 24.7 Future land uses in the vicinity of airports and harbors should have an adequate open space buffer and/or be compatible with the anticipated noise exposure and industrial nature in the vicinity. 24.8 Encourage pedestrian-oriented connectivity around harbors and small boat harbors. 24.9 Encourage master planning of small boat harbors to accommodate commercial and recreational fishing, tour boats, as well as business and recreational ocean activities, that balance economic vitality and environmental sensitivity. CONCERN THERE HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ATTEMPT TO EXCLUDE MANY USERS FROM ACCESS TO HARBORS (SAILING COMMUNITY, FISHING COMMUNITY HAVE EXPERIENCED HIGHER USER FEES AND MORE RESTRICTIONS OF USE IN RECENT YEARS) AND MANY OF THE HARBORS IN THE STATE HAVE BECOME PRIVATIZED. (If privatization occurs, then management controls everything. .) . Actions 24.a Create a strategic improvement plan, including mapping, for County owned and/or managed boat harbors and develop an island-wide needs assessment to better serve regional gaps in ocean accesses. 24.b Ensure collaboration with State agencies to offer a variety of transportation options at airports and harbors. 4.2 Transportation Access and Mobility I County of Hawaii General Plan 123 4.3 PUBLIC UTILITIES 4.3 Public Utilities I County of Hawaii General Plan 124 4.3. 1 Introduction In Hawaii County's pursuit of a prosperous and resilient future, public utilities stand as pillars of essential infrastructure. THERE IS A LOFTY CLAIM MADE BY THIS ENTIRE EXERCISE TO SUGGEST THAT THE DOCUMENT ITSELF REPRESENTS ANY KIND OF PLAN FOR A PROSPEROUS AND RESILIENT FUTURE. THERE ARE MANY BUZZWORDS THAT ARE BEING USED IN THIS DOCUMENT THAT ARE HOLLOW. THESE WORDS THEMSELVES DON'T CONJURE UP A FUNCTIONING ECONOMY BUT THEY DO OFTEN GIVE PUBLIC SERVANTS THE WARM FEELING THAT THESE WORDS CAN `DO ALL THE WORK.' THIS DOCUMENT IS LACKING IN A GROUNDING OF ACTUAL ECONOMIC STUDY AND LACKS THE INSIGHTS INTO THE OBVIOUS WAYS THAT COUNTY GOVERNMENT COULD SUPPORT THE AGRICULTURE AND TOURISM SECTOR AND ENCOURAGE NEW INDUSTRY ON THE ISLAND. These are services regulated by the government and provided in response to existing and prospective patterns of development. Changes in land use, population density, and development usually generate changes in the demand and supply of utilities. As the backbone of modern society, public utilities encompass a wide range of vital services that support the health, safety, and sustainability of our communities. This critical infrastructure allows us to function in many ways, including the ability to maintain healthy living conditions, proper sanitation, and access reliable energy to power our homes and businesses. Public utilities play a key role in forming the foundation upon which social, economic, and environmental progress is built. Such essential services enhance the quality of life for residents, visitors, and businesses while safeguarding the natural resources and cultural heritage of our island. The significance of public utilities can be understood through their contributions in the areas of environmental sustainability, economic prosperity, and social well-being. Public utilities drive environmental stewardship by promoting clean energy generation, efficient water management, waste reduction, and recycling initiatives. AS PART OF GENERAL PLANNING AND GOOD MANAGEMENT PRACTICE, WHY HAS THERE BEEN NO AUDIT OF THE WASTEWATER DIVISION OF THE WASTE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT? NO DOCUMENT PURPORTING TO PLAN AHEAD FOR 20 PLUS YEARS CAN COVER FOR THE FACT THAT MALADMINISTRATION AND POOR LEADERSHIP HAS LEAD TO MULTIPLE `FAILS' OF RAW SEWAGE TREATMENT WHERE LEAKS OCCURRED AND THE PUBLIC WASN'T ADEQUATELY INFORMED. THE PLAN SHOULD START WITH A MORE SERIOUS ASSESSMENT OF THE FAILURES OF THE CURRENT MANAGEMENT STRATEGY IN OUR WASTEWATER SYSTEM. Through the application of sustainable practices and technologies, public utilities protect our fragile ecosystems, mitigate climate change impacts, and preserve the beauty of our island for future generations. HOW DO `PUBLIC UTILITIES' `MITIGATE' `CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ? This is an example of a wild overstatement and is not supported by fact. Additionally, robust and reliable infrastructure attracts investment, supports economic growth, and fosters job creation. From powering local industries to enabling efficient transportation networks, public utilities are catalysts for economic development, making our communities more resilient in the face of challenges. Waste to Energy incinerators have been opposed multiple times in the past in Hawaii County and each time a massive multi million dollar contract for construction of an incinerator was required which the public was going to be financing over many years. We notice that the Incinerator `Waste to Energy' proposal is in this County General Plan 2045 in spite of all the protests in the past. This history of pushing forward unpopular projects that have seen community objection and then forcing the property Access to safe and affordable utilities is a fundamental right of every individual. Really ?? Who wrote this ?As a general comment, it has been pointed out repeatedly that this General Plan' document is poorly written and has many flaws.Here we see misuse of the term fundamental rights' where there is no such `fundamental right.' While `Safe and Affordable utilities' may be considered `essential' for a `standard of living' or to meet the definition of economic prosperity' but use of the phrase `fundamental right' is a confusion of what the legal understanding is concerning `fundamental rights.' The `fundamental rights' of say .. `freedom to move' ARE (as cited elsewhere in the transportation section) the rights that this document happily waives aside (ignoring the Constititution in the process) . Further, there should be statistics included about what proportion of the island currently is `off grid' since that proportion is very high and those numbers would provide a necessary context for all discussion about proposals to provide utilities `affordably' AND `universally.' Public utilities ensure equitable distribution of resources, allowing residents of all socioeconomic backgrounds to enjoy necessities such as clean water, affordable energy, and accessible internet-based services. These services enhance public health, education, and overall quality of life, fostering thriving and inclusive communities. ` As with previous comment, this entire section seems flawed due to lacking in facts. This statement reflects `wishes' rather than a series of steps toward an attainable goal. Given the unique challenges posed by our geography and vulnerable ecosystem, the General Plan aims to effectively guide the development, maintenance, and improvement of these critical services. This section of the Plan is primarily concerned with the planning aspects of our, water, wastewater, stormwater, electricity, and telecommunications systems. Planning for the location of utility facilities such as reservoirs, pumping stations, and sewage treatment plants is an important aspect of the land planning process, as it makes way for development opportunities. Where is the context for this statement? Here we see the notion of`development opportunities' being introduced without context or explanation. This is objectionable since it could be interpreted by future administrations or legislatures as a `mandate' for growth while lacking any parameters. Unintegrated utilities can burden developments with lower levels of service and may limit or even prevent development. The integration and availability of public utilities in priority growth areas are imperative. CONCERN: Why isn't this spelled out more ? Why is there no clear explanation here of what is meant by `priority growth area' . Changes in the intensity of land use greatly influence the quantitative design of utilities and services, particularly their design capacity. There may be distinctions in the type of services offered for each utility as land use intensities vary. These distinctions also depend on local codes and ordinances, health and sanitary considerations, and practices followed by utility companies. 4.3 Public Utilities I County of Hawaii General Plan 125 Table 33: Public Utilities Challenges General Funding and financing the development, conversion, repair, operations, and maintenance of public utilities are central challenges for communities, developers, and county government. WHAT IS MISSING HERE IS REFERENCE TO THE IDEA THAT HOMEOWNERS WILL ALL BE ASKED TO PAY FOR CONVERSION FROM CESSPOOL/SEPTIC OVER TO ACTUAL COUNTY SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE. THIS TOPIC DESERVES A FULL DISCUSSION. DITTO WHAT IS CONCERNING IS THAT THE PUBLIC CAN BE REQUIRED TO PAY FOR DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES.. Any large infrastructure expansions are paid for by developers and the costs are not to scale for financing. Geographical variability and obstacles require creative solutions for utility buildout. Aging public utility infrastructure must become more resilient to natural hazards, extreme weather events, and climate change impacts. WHERE ARE THE CITED STUDIES PROVING THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS CAUSING WEATHER EVENTS/CLIMATE WEATHER ? IN THE ENTIRE DOCUMENT WE SEE NONE REFERENCED. Absent, aging, or dilapidated infrastructure limits new development where it is needed, consistent with strategic land use patterns and inhibits existing development. THIS SENTENCE IS POORLY WRITTEN WITH THE RESULT OF CONFUSING THE READER. WHY ARE WE LEFT WONDERING WHAT IS BEING SAID HERE? Outdated utility systems and practices can pose environmental and health concerns and are expensive to change. Disputes over water source capacity can prevent development where it is needed and consistent with desired development patterns. Water commitments have been assigned to parcels that are not being developed or lack development potential. THIS NEEDS TO BE TAKEN OUT OR ELSE EXPLAINED SO THAT THE MEANING IS CLEAR. Guidelines for assigning water units per system need to be updated. Modeling of water demand and potential demand needs to be closely aligned to land use. •The water systems serving, North Kohala, South Kohala, North Kona, and Puna will require additional water source development. On-site wastewater disposal can adversely impact groundwater resources. THIS APPEARS TO BE A REFERENCE TO SEPTIC/CESS POOL SYSTEMS. ELABORATION AND A LOT MORE DETAIL SHOULD BE REQUIRED HERE. Wastewater planning and policy primarily focus on maintaining and servicing existing systems and do not proactively plan for developing new systems to accommodate growth or to extend existing lines to align with urban zoning. County policy has largely relied on private developers to develop commercial and private wastewater systems for new development, which ultimately leaves significant municipal service gaps in urban areas. Many County wastewater systems may not be able to accommodate unserved, existing zoned capacity and projected growth. Landowners and developers may incur the costs of constructing private systems or upgrades due to the insufficiency and lack of wastewater systems in many areas. Wastewater requirements hinder the redevelopment or rehabilitation of existing structures and are often seen as an affordable housing issue. Treated wastewater is typically discharged into ocean waters or injected into the ground and is not generally reused. Wastewater infrastructure improvement and development costs are not fiscally planned for, either in the County budget or through County wastewater fee valuation. Individual wastewater systems (IWS) are associated with limitations and regulations. Currently, the Department of Health's rules do not allow single-family dwellings and additional dwelling units (ADU) on a single IWS system. Reliance on IWS is an impediment to compact development due to minimum lot size requirements for IWS, thereby contributing to sprawl. Coastal residential neighborhoods without centralized wastewater are contaminating near- shore waters with pollution from IWS. ELABORATION AND A LOT MORE DETAIL SHOULD BE REQUIRED HERE. THIS SEEMS TO IMPLY A POLICY DIRECTIVE THAT IS SPECIFIC TO APPLY TO COASTAL NEIGHBORHOODS ? IMPOSING FINES OR HIGH COSTS TO HOME OWNERS TO ADDRESS A NEW REQUIREMENT FOR MAINS SEWER OR EVEN SEPTIC TANK INSTALLATION IN ROCKY TERRAIN WILL LEAD TO DELINQUENCY AND THEN FINES AND POTENTIAL SEIZURE OF PROPERTY. THIS IS A VERY `DANGEROUS' POLICY DIRECTIVE TO LEAVE AMBIGUOUS. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS POLICY DIRECTIVE MUST BE EXPLORED AND CLEARLY STATED. THIS DOCUMENT IS CITING THE HUGE OBSTACLES TO ADDRESSING THE PROBLEMS OF OUR ISLAND WHERE SO MANY HOUSEHOLDS RELY ON CESSPOOLS. WHILE THERE ARE EXAMPLES OF INNOVATIVE BIO-REMEDIATION METHODS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO CONVENTIONAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT' NO STUDIES ARE INCLUDED, NO MENTION OF THESE KINDS OF OPTIONS ARE INCLUDED. BIO REMEDIATION WOULD MOST CERTAINLY BELONG IN A DOCUMENT LIKE THIS SINCE SUCH METHODS SHOULD BE EXPLORED AS A COST SAVING MEASURE AND DATA IS AVAILABLE TO DEMONSTRATE EFFECTIVENESS. FURTHER THE IMPACT TO COASTAL ECO SYSTEMS OF INADEQUATELY TREATED WASTEWATER AND RAW SEWAGE ARE WORTHY OF MENTION HERE IN THIS DOCUMENT. TO CITE A WELL KNOWN EXAMPLE: THE `GENKI BALL' EXPERIMENTS HAVE BEEN DONE IN SEVERAL POLUTED WATERWAYS IN HAWAII. MOST NOTABLY THE `GENKI BALLS' USED AT ALA WAI CANAL IN HONOLULU RESULTED IN BETTER WATER QUALITY AND FISH RETURNING TO THE AREA. WHERE A COMBINATION OF CULTURED `BOKASHI'AND CLAY WERE INTRODUCED TO THE WATERWAYS THUS BILLIONS OF MICROBES WERE RELEASED CAPABLE OF REDUCING ECOLI AND OTHER LEVELS OF BACTERIA IN THE WATER. THIS AND OTHER KINDS OF BIOREMEDIATION BELONGS IN A PLANNING DOCUMENT FOR HAWAII ISLAND. PAGE 126 The looming deadline to convert cesspools to sewer or other IWS may create lack of local expertise to meet demand if not properly planned. The future impacts of climate change on future rainfall volumes are uncertain. WHERE IS THE FACTUAL EVIDENCE THAT THERE IS SUCH A THING AS `MAN MADE CLIMATE CHANGE'? Outdated codes limit the effectiveness of stormwater infrastructure and stormwater-related practices. Water quality changes caused by non-point source pollution, human activities, erosion, and sediment transport can negatively impact environmental systems and processes. A lack of incentives and flexibility exists in the permitting process for stormwater and green infrastructure. There is a lack of a dedicated funding source for public systems. There is a heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels for power generation. The State of Hawaii has the highest electricity rates in the United States. Building codes, design perspectives, and construction practices can increase electrical demand. There is a constant need to update and renovate electrical systems and infrastructure. The adoption of renewable energy practices may offload environmental costs to other distant communities, which can offset positive climate action. POORLY WRITTEN , AMBIGUOUS GENERALIZING STATEMENTS LIKE THIS DO NOT BELONG IN A COUNTY GENERAL PLAN . WHAT EXACTLY IS MEANT BY THE TERM RENEWABLE ENERGY`PRACTICES?' WHAT ENVIRONMENT COSTS ARE REFERRED TO HERE? HOW ARE COSTS `OFFLOADED TO DISTANT COMMUNITIES' HOW ARE THESE OFFSETTING `POSITIVE CLIMATE ACTION?' Renewable energy developments can be controversial, such as geothermal and wind turbines. THIS STATEMENT IS OBJECTIONABLE. THE REASON THESE `ENERGY DEVELOPMENTS'ARE CONTROVERSIAL' IS THAT THEY HAVE INJURED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND ARE KNOWN TO CAUSE HARM. WE NOTE THAT NUCLEAR POWER WAS IN THE ORIGINAL FIRST DRAFT OF THIS DOCUMENT AND IS ALSO CONTROVERSIAL.IF MAKING A CASE FOR GEOTHERMAL OR WIND TURBINES (OR NUCLEAR ENERGY) OPPORTUNITY TO SUBMIT DOCUMENTATION ACKNOWLEDGING THE RISKS SHOULD BE AFFORDED TO THE PUBLIC. Inadequate access disrupts efficiency and productivity and is a barrier to accessing public services and information. INADEQUATE ACCESS TO WHAT?THIS IS A POOR SENTENCE AND IS AMBIGUOUS IN MEANING. Last mile infrastructure is often the most costly and difficult segment to deploy, especially for rural areas where distances from a central distribution point are greater and population density doesn't economically promote the deployment. Consistent and accurate service data is needed to provide a constantly improving network for the island.THE STATEMENT `PROVIDING A CONSTANTLY `IMPROVING NETWORK' CAN BE INTERPRETED TO REFERENCE THE INCREASINGLY INTENSE LEVELS OF SIGNAL BEING ESTABLISHED. 5 G WHILE BRINGING HIGHER SPEED LEVELS OF DATA TRANSFER IS PROVING TO POSE A HEALTH RISK TO HUMAN TISSUE. THE REGULATION OF 5G TOWERS WITH CONSIDERATIONS FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY IS AN URGENT ISSUE. WE NOTE THAT THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING ZENDO KERN HAS RECENTLY RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES THAT WILL NOT STRINGENTLY ENFORCE SAFETY STANDARDS FOR THE COMMUNITY. Providers seeking to deploy broadband infrastructure face multiple layers of permitting and approvals at both the State and County level, in addition to community opposition regarding the installation of telecommunications towers. SEE ABOVE COMMENT. THIS REFLECTS AN INTENTIONAL DISREGARD FOR SAFETY CONCERNS THAT ARE WIDELY DOCUMENTED AND CURRENTLY THE SUBJECT OF LEGISLATION. Limited competition in broadband service providers and transpacific backhaul providers means high consumer rates due to a lack of competition within the market. (??? THIS IS JARGON THAT ISN'T EXPLAINED ) General Pursue creative funding and financing tools such as Community Facilities Districts (CFD) and Improvement Districts, for utility development, conversion, repair, operations, and maintenance. THIS NEEDS BETTER EXPLANATION. `CREATIVE FUNDING' IS AN OBJECTIONABLE TERM AND SOUNDS LIKE A PROCESS FOR SELLING OFF UTILITIES OR FINANCING CONSTRUCTION, REPAIRS OR MAINTENANCE SO EITHER WAY, THE PUBLIC WILL PAY MORE FOR UTILITIES. Ensure that utility development matches desirable development priorities. Streamline the process of utility infrastructure development to achieve the highest possible level of service for our communities. Lead the charge in resource conservation and assess creative solutions to incentivize resource conservation for the public. Prioritize the conversion and modernization of outdated utility systems and practices. Use an integrated approach to value all water as a resource (e.g., drinking water, wastewater, stormwater). Collaborate with asset management (e.g., road resurfacing and utility upgrades). ASSET MANAGEMENT IS A VAGUE TERM THAT IS NOT SUFFICIENTLY DEFINED. Explore public-private partnership opportunities to create circular systems. ANOTHER VAGUE TERM THAT IS NOT SUFFICIENTLY DEFINED. PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS USUALLY IS ANOTHER WORD FOR INCREASING PUBLIC DEBT WHILE GIVING AWAY PUBLIC ASSETS TO PRIVATE CORPORATIONS. THIS IS MORE FROM THE PAGES OF SOCIALISM AND WE REJECT IT. Increase partnerships and enhance collaboration with government, private and nonprofit agencies, and other stakeholders. HERE `OTHER STAKEHOLDERS' IS A VAGUE TERM THAT IS NOT SUFFICIENTLY DEFINED. PLEASE DEFINE IT CLEARLY OR TAKE IT OUT ALTOGETHER. Explore innovative ways to fund water infrastructure improvements to attract development that is consistent with desired density and the land use pattern. AGAIN A REFERENCE TO `DESIRED DENSITY AND LAND USE PATTERNS' THIS HAS NOT BEEN SUFFICIENTLY EXAMINED IN THE PLANNING DOCUMENT AND IS BEING REFERENCE HERE AS A STANDARD Seek creative funding for significant expansion of water systems to reach new customers in non-service areas. Promote and practice water conservation practices to maximize efficient water use. Adopt One Water recommendations to standardize interagency collaboration in planning for and managing water resources. Rainfall collection can provide additional water capacity even where we have Department of Water Supply (DWS) systems. NEEDS CLEAR EXPLANATION. Align the Water Use Development Plan, Master Plan, General Plan, DWS Capital Improvements Program (CIP), DWS guidelines, DWS water commitments, and private improvements to the DWS system. NEEDS CLEAR EXPLANATION. Exercise some controls over the permitted uses within the defined zone of influence for downstream deep well sources. IN THIS GENERAL PLANNING DOCUMENT THERE APPEARS TO BE NO MENTION OF THE IMPACT OF MILITARY ON THE SOIL, WATER AND AIR QUALITY. HERE A REFERENCE TO POLLUTERS UPSTREAM OF WATER SOURCES AND YET MILITARY IS NOT MENTIONED? POHAKULOA MILITARY BASE CONTINUES TO LEASE FOR $1 AND CONDUCTS LIVE FIRE TRAINING DIRECTLY ABOVE THE ISLAND'S VAST AQUIFER. IT HAS BEEN A KNOWN FACT THAT DEPLETED URANIUM HAS BEEN SCATTERED ONTO THE BASE AND CONTINUES TO BE DISTURBED BY MILITARY ACTIVITIES UP THERE. Encourage groundwater recharge from regional scale master planning to on-site best management practices such as low-impact development (LID). Increase opportunities for recycled water. THIS SHOULD BE ELABORATED SINCE IT APPEARS TO BE A DIRECTIVE. THE PUBLIC IS ENTITLED TO BE CONSULTED ON SUCH MATTERS. Prioritize sewer for sensitive urban areas. Proactively seek grant funding to assist with wastewater development. AGAIN STATING THAT REFERENCING OVER AND OVER THE NEED FOR `WASTEWATER DEVELOPMENT' WHILE DEDICATING NO TIME AND EFFORT TO EXPLORING ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF BIO REMEDIATION IS A MAJOR OMMISSION Advocate for expanding cesspool conversion tax credit to all cesspool conversions. THESE ARE MAJOR COSTS BEING PASSED ON TO HOME OWNERS. Explore opportunities for public-private partnerships as well as those for technology upgrades and innovation. THE TERM `PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP' IS A TERM ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED DEBT FOR THE PUBLIC AND A REDUCTION (USUALLY) IN HARD ASSETS THAT ARE HANDED OVER TO CORPORATE PRIVATE INTERESTS. Promote the expanded use of greywater for landscape irrigation and groundwater recharge via rules for new construction and retrofits Advocate to the Department of Health (DOH)to adopt appropriately scaled requirements and standards and develop flexible guidelines for designing and permitting wastewater systems that meet environmental objectives. Low-pressure systems should be prioritized for retrofitting instead of gravity flow. •Higher-density development can contribute more to a centralized system. HERE AGAIN WE SEE AN ASSERTION THAT FUTURE DEVELOPMENT WILL BE HIGHER DENSITY AND THIS LACKS PUBLIC DISCUSSION AND YET Drinking Water Wastewater 4.3 Public Utilities I County of Hawaii General Plan 128 Stormwater Electricity& Energy Telecommunications & Broadband Increase availability and access to information about private wastewater treatment plant capacities or expansion opportunities. Prioritize resiliency measures that support climate change impact scenarios. Regularly amend County codes to be as current and innovative as possible. Be a leader in prioritizing green infrastructure over gray infrastructure. Ensure that stormwater infrastructure decisions align with related plans and the CIP budget. Green infrastructure practices may provide opportunities for creating or expanding industry. Prioritize the use of native plants in landscaping. Promote and support the development of alternative energy production facilities. Be a net power producer with hydrogen and waste management. THIS STATEMENT WARRANTS ELABORATION OR IT DOESN'T BELONG IN THIS DOCUMENT. Hawai`i Island has the highest renewable energy percentage in the State and can continue to support renewable energy projects to decarbonize our energy system and stabilize electricity costs. WHAT DOES `DECARBONIZE OUR ENERGY SYSTEM'ACTUALLY MEAN ? ELECTRIC CARS ON THE ISLAND ARE CHARGED AT STATIONS THAT RELY ON POWER FROM DIESEL FUEL GENERATORS. IN OTHER WORDS ELECTRIC CARS REMAIN DEPENDENT ON THOSE FOSSIL FUELS BUT WE SEE OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT PROMOTING ELECTRIC CARS AS PART OF AN ALTERNATIVE ENERGY STRATEGY. THE NOTION OF `DECARBONIZING OUR ENERGY SYSTEM' IS FEEDING A MYTH ABOUT HOW RAPIDLY `WE' CAN TRANSFORM OUR ENTIRE ECONOMY AND OUR WAY OF LIFE. THE IDEA OF `DECARBONIZING' THE ENERGY SYSTEM IS VERY VERY RADICAL AND IS COMING FROM A SOCIALIST MYTH THAT CARBON (THE BUILDING BLOCK OF LIFE) IS `BAD'AND THAT SOMEHOW `CARBON' IS THE CAUSE OF WEATHER EVENTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE.' THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT SUPPORTS A RADICAL AGENDA TO DECARBONIZE' OUR ENTIRE ENERGY SYSTEM. FURTHER, SINCE THIS WILL REQUIRE COMPLETE DISRUPTION TO THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AND SINCE IT IS IMPLIED THAT PEOPLE WILL BE DISCOURAGED FROM MOVING ABOUT `FREELY' THIS IS A RADICAL OVERHAUL OF OUR ECONOMY WHICH IS LIKELY TO PRODUCE MANY PAINFUL SHOCKS TO INDIVIDUALS, OHANA AND COMMUNITIES. THIS IS ABOUT THE CLEAREST EXAMPLE OF `RECKLESS'ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNMENT THAT ONE COULD POSSIBLY IMAGINE. WHAT IS EXTREMELY DISTURBING ABOUT SEEING THE COUNTY DOCUMENT LINE UP SO CLOSELY WITH DECLARED GOALS OF AN ELITE INSTITUTION REPRESENTING THE WEALTHIEST 1% OF OUR PLANET (`THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM') IS THAT THIS ORGANIZATION APPOINTED ITSELF AS THE CUSTODIANS AND ARBITERS OF A PLAN TO BRING IN THE 4TH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION WHICH IS THE MOST RADICAL OF ALL THE TRANSITIONS AT ANY TIME IN HISTORY AND BROUGHT ABOUT THROUGH A SERIES OF CRISES: PANDEMIC DISEASE, CLIMATE EVENTS' THAT APPEAR AS A CRISIS AND ALSO FOOD SHORTAGES IN PART CAUSED BY INTERFERENCE WITH SUPPLY CHAIN THAT BEGAN WITH LOCKDOWNS IN 2020. THE CATCH PHRASE BY WEF LEADER KLAUS SCHWAB AT THE TIME OF INTRODUCING `THE GREAT RESET' WAS `BY 2030 YOU WILL OWN NOTHING AND YOU WILL BE HAPPY.' WE SPECIFICALLY OBJECT TO TERMS SUCH AS `DECARBONIZING OUR ENERGY SYSTEM' BECAUSE THIS IMPLIES THAT YOU HAVE THE CONSENT OF THE PUBLIC A) TO ASSERT THAT CARBON IS A PROBLEM AS IF THERE IS CONSENSUS ON THIS TOPIC WHEN THERE IS NOT AND B) TO TAKE EXTREMELY RADICAL AND DANGEROUS STEPS TO TRANSITION THE ENTIRE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. Support the County's Broadband Initiative and coordination with the State to facilitate digital equity efforts e.g., establishing broadband as a public utility, infrastructure deployment, providing training support, and coordinating funding strategies for broadband and telecommunication services). AFTER 5G THERE IS 6G COMING . WITH EACH OF THE INCREMENTAL INCREASES IN THE INTENSITY OF THE FREQUENCY ILLNESSES AND TISSUE DAMAGE RESULTS CONSISTENT WITH `RADIATION POISONING' . THERE NEEDS TO BE A COMMITMENT TO REVIEW SAFETY INFORMATION AND TO TAKE AN APPROACH THAT HAS A PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE. THIS IS THE MINIMUM STANDARD OF GOOD GOVERNMENT. Compact development and higher population densities where appropriate are favorable for commercial service providers as they contribute to more economically viable market conditions. WHICH COMMERCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS' IS THIS REFERENCING ? THIS STATEMENT NEEDS TO BE EXPLAINED BETTER OR ELSE REMOVED FROM THIS SECTION. Providing consistent and accurate digital literacy data will promote a desirable level of service for all residents. WHAT IS DIGITAL LITERACY DATA AND HOW WILL THIS PROMOTE A DESIREABLE LEVEL OF SERVICE ? IS `DIGITAL LITERACY DATA'A CLASS OF INFORMATION THAT COMES WITH VIGILANT PROTECTION OF EACH AND EVERY INDIVIDUAL; THEIR PRIVACY AND THEIR 1ST AMENDMENT RIGHTS ? WITHOUT PROTECTION OF THIS KIND, IF OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT IS WAIVING ON THE INVASIVE DATA COLLECTION PRACTICES OF THE DIGITAL INDUSTRY, THEN IT MAY BE ENDANGERING THE PEOPLE OF THIS ISLAND. WE ARE REQUESTING THAT THE PRIMACY OF SAFETY AND DATA PRIVACY ABOVE THE INTERESTS OF INVESTORS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE WRITTEN INTO THIS GENERAL PLAN. THERE IS A LOT OF DATA TO SUPPORT THAT WHEN THE SAFETY AND PRIVACY OF INDIVIDUALS ARE COMPROMISED, THE PUBLIC WILL BE ENDANGERED AND TYRANNY WILL LIKELY RESULT. THESE ARE THE REASONS THE ENTIRE DOCUMENT IS FLAWED: WE DON'T SEE CARE TAKEN BY OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT INDIVIDUALS' HEALTH AND SAFETY. . Increasing digital inclusion efforts, which focus on ensuring both access to and ability to use a range of technologies, will contribute to better outcomes for health, public safety, economic opportunity, and civic participation. THE TERM `digital inclusion' IS BASED ON AN ASSUMPTION THAT MORE ACCESS TO 5G AND HIGHER BANDWIDTH IS A POSITIVE THING. THIS PREMISE IS WIDELY PROMOTED IN THIS POLICY DOCUMENT AND YET NO SAFETY STUDIES ARE CITED. Streamlining permitting and approval processes will improve the efficiency of broadband and telecommunication development and delivery. THIS IS AMBIGUOUS AND MAY BE PROMOTION OF A LOOSE SET OF GUIDELINES FOR TOWER PLACEMENT THAT IS NOT IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST. Pursue partnerships to develop public spaces with broadband access. THIS IS AMBIGUOUS AND MAY BE PROMOTION OF AN OBJECTIVE THAT IS NOT IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST. 4.3 Public Utilities I County of Hawaii General Plan 129 4.3.2 Public Utilities Goal, Objective, Policies, and Actions Our communities are adequately served by sustainable and efficient public infrastructure, utilities, and services based on existing and future growth needs, sound design principles, and effective maintenance practices. Objective 25 Improve the efficiency, reliability, and sustainability of essential infrastructure systems. Policies 25.1 Public utility facilities shall be designed at a scale that meets the needs of future development. IN THIS DOCUMENT SO FAR, THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT AN ACTUAL FOCUS ON THE ECONOMY, ON THE SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY THAT REQUIRE SUPPORT, HAS ACTUALLY BEEN CONSIDERED. WHY IS THERE AN EMPHASIS ON `FUTURE DEVELOPMENT' WITHOUT THE MAIN FOCUS BEING ECONOMIC GROWTH? 25.2 Provide utilities and service facilities that minimize total cost to the public and effectively serve the needs of the community. 25.3 Utility facilities shall be designed to complement adjacent land uses and minimize pollution or disturbance of the natural environment and natural resources. 25.4 Improvement of existing utility services shall be encouraged to meet the needs of users. THIS IS MEANINGLESS. WHY IS THIS SENTENCE NECESSARY ? 25.5 Encourage the clustering of developments to reduce the cost of providing utilities. WE ARE FAMILIAR WITH THIS IDEOLOGY. IT'S NOT GOVERNMENT POLICY DEVELOPMENT IT NEEDS TO BE NAMED FOR WHAT IT IT. `SMART CITY' PROPAGANDA. STACK EM AND PACK EM HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS ARE A PART OF THE PLAN AND THIS IS A RADICAL COMMUNIST AGENDA THAT WE REJECT. IT IS THROUGHOUT THIS DOCUMENT WHICH IS EXTREMELY CONCERNING. THE SMART CITIES THAT ARE BEING DESIGNED GLOBALLY ARE ANOTHER REFLECTION OF WEF STATED GOALS TO CREATE URBAN CENTERS WHERE SURVEILLANCE AND CARBON MONITORING FORM THE JUSTIFICATION FOR CONFINING PEOPLE AND PREVENTING THEM FROM MOVING ABOUT FREELY THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND TRAITOROUS PROPOSAL TO FIND IN A DOCUMENT THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE DELIVERING TO OUR ISLAND A PLAN FOR OUR WELL BEING AS A COMMUNITY, FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH, AND FOR THE CARE OF OUR `AINA. 25.6 Develop short- and long-range capital improvements programs and plans for public utilities within its jurisdiction that are consistent with the General Plan. 25.7 Maintain an Asset Management Program aimed at utilizing maintenance plans to prolong the life of our utilities as well as reduce whole-life costs. Actions 25.a Develop and adopt an Impact Fees Ordinance to aide in the expansion of public utilities. 4.3 Public Utilities I County of Hawaii General Plan 130 4.3.3 Drinking Water Conservation The Hawaii State Constitution provides that all public natural resources, including water, are held in trust by the State for the benefit of the people. The State Constitution further maintains that "the State has an obligation to protect, control, and regulate the use of Hawai`i's water resources for the benefit of its people." Water availability is crucial to any type of development, whether urban, rural, or agricultural. Water availability is based on the sustainable yields of the groundwater hydrologic units established through the State Water Code., Land use allocation must be closely related to water availability, including the quantity and quality of the water, and the adequacy of the transmission and distribution system. The General Plan requires an understanding of water availability and capacity, current demands, and future demands based on planned and anticipated future growth and land uses. ` The County's Department of Water Supply (DWS) is the primary agency that manages, controls, and operates the water supplies of the County and its properties. There are 23 individual water systems distributed throughout the island. Water demand is directly related to population and industry usage and is expressed as gallons per day (gpd) or million gallons per day (mgd). Demand does not represent domestic consumption alone, but also includes all agricultural, industrial, and commercial uses, fire protection, and other uses. In some areas, however, non-domestic users are likely to create the major demand, and careful attention must therefore be given in any study of probable future water needs. In Hawaii, there are a multitude of public agencies that are either actively tasked with regulating water resources or whose policies affect water use. There are also a number of private entities that use and manage water resources. Over the decades, water management has become segregated in a way that has created disjointed, mechanical approaches to a naturally continuous resource. The disconnection has included narrow perspectives that fail to see the larger picture. Hawaii County aspires to achieve water resource management that is free from the limitations and issues of siloed practices, processes, agencies, and government bodies. Achieving a One Water approach in Hawaii County includes actionable steps that can be adapted and adjusted to localize the One Water strategies. QUESTION : WHY IS A PRIVATE COMPANY BEING SOLD THE RIGHTS TO BOTTLE WATER IN HILO ? WHY ISN'T A PLANNING DOCUMENT CONCERNED WITH FUTURE WATER ACCESS CLEAR THAT NO WATER IS TO BE `SOLD' OR COMMERCIALIZED SINCE IT BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE OF HAWAII? One Water One Water is a strategy that integrates the management of stormwater, wastewater, groundwater, sea water, freshwater, graywater, and recycled water to create resource and financial efficiencies. One Water will help the County of Hawaii address climate change impacts by creating cross-agency coordination and advancing the capacity within agencies. ANY PREMISE USED TO CONTROL WATER ACCESS, WATER RIGHTS WHETHER BY A CORPORATION OR A GOVERNMENT MUST BE REJECTED. WATER IS AN INCREASINGLY PRIVATISED COMMODITY ACROSS THE WORLD. THIS SHOULD CONCERN US. IT ALREADY SEEMS EXTREMELY CONCERNING THAT ON THE ONE HAND APPLICANTS HAVE REPEATEDLY ATTEMPTED VIA A COUNTY PERMITTING PROCESS TO PURCHASE THE RIGHTS TO BOTTLE WATER FROM OUR MAUNA KEA AQUIFER AND ON THE OTHER HAND THAT THE COUNTY WOULD BE PROMOTING CONTROL OF WATER MANAGEMENT IN A CENTRALIZED FASHION INVOLVING MULTIPLE `UNDISCLOSED AGENCIES' FURTHER, AGAIN THERE IS AN OBJECTION TO THE SUGGESTION THAT THE COUNTY OF HAWAII WILL ADDRESS `CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS' WHEN THE VERY PREMISE OF CLIMATE CHANGE HAS BEEN CHALLENGED BY MULTIPLE LEADING AUTHORITIES AND IS THE SOURCE OF CONTROVERSY DUE TO THE LACK OF HARD EVIDENCE THAT CARBON' IS THE CAUSE OF `CLIMATE CHANGE' AND `CLIMATE EVENTS' THAT APPEAR TO REPRESENT AN EMERGENCY. Objective 26 Increase the protection of existing and potential sources of drinking water. Policies 26.1 All public water systems shall be designed and built to the DWS dedication standards. All other systems shall meet all relevant health and safety regulations and be designed and constructed by a licensed engineer. 26.2 Water sources shall be protected to prevent depletion and contamination from natural and man- made occurrences or events. 26.3 An effort by County, State, and private interests shall be coordinated to identify sources of additional water supply to be implemented and ensure the development of sufficient quantities of water for existing and future needs of high-growth areas and agricultural production. 26.4 Installation or rehabilitation of water distributions shall be sized to adequately meet fire protection. 26.5 Ensure the highest quality of water is reserved for the most valuable end-use. 26.6 Encourage the design of large development projects (200+ units) in the North Kohala, South Kohala, North Kona, South Kona, and Ka'u Districts to be as water neutral as reasonably possible through water conservation, recharge, and reuse measures to reduce the water footprint. 26.7 Promote best practices in sustainable water collection and use for private water systems. 26.8 Water system improvements, including exploratory wells, shall correlate with the County's desired land use development pattern. 26.9 The DWS shall prioritize infill development and focus source development to serve designated Urban Growth Areas. 26.10 Waterdem and projectionsshalIincludealIconsumptiveandnon-consumptivedemands. 26.11 The DWSandthe Plan ningDepartmentshalIcoordinateprioritiesbeforetheadoptionofanynew water development or County land use plans. 26.12 AIICountypotablewatersystemsshouldhavebackupstandbysources. One Water 26.13 Treat all water as a valuable resource in community design, and integrate designs for drinking water, stormwater, and recreational water needs. CONCERN: AN EXAMPLE OF YET MORE POORLY EXPRESSED LANGUAGE THAT SEEMS INAPPROPRIATE. WHAT IS MEANT BY 'RECREATIONAL WATER NEEDS?' 26.14 Managewater,stormwater,andwastewaterasthesamenatural resourceincollaborationwithth e DWS, DEM, DPW, and DOH. 26.15 New developments should be designed to reduce water demand, retain runoff, decrease flooding, and recharge groundwater. 26.16 Supportlocalized,small-scalesolutionstowaterreuseandon-sitesystems. Actions 26.a In collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), conduct further research on localized rainfall modeling to accurately assess future precipitation trends. 4.3 Public Utilities I County of Hawaii General Plan 132 26.b Expand water conservation programs, primarily aimed at reducing demand, such as leak detection, and rebates for low flow. 26.c Evaluate and amend the fee schedule for water use to take into account high water use and aquifer recharge projections. Use the funds generated to pay for conservation measures and infrastructure. 26.d Improve County water conservation practices to lead by example. 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. 26.f Collaborate with the DOH to develop standards and/or guidelines for the construction and use of rainwater catchment systems to minimize the intrusion of any chemical and microbiological contaminants. 26.g Promote the use of groundwater sources to meet DOH water quality standards. 26.h Seek state and federal funds to assist in financing projects to bring the County into compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act. 26.i Explore the feasibility of incentive methods such as property tax deductions, conservation easements, or transfer of development rights to protect the defined zone of influence of existing or proposed public and private wells. AGAIN THIS SEEMS TO REFER VAGUELY TO THE PRIVATISATION OF WATER AND CONVERSELY TO PROPERTY ACQUISITION WHICH IS NOT CURRENTLY CONSIDERED THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT. UNDER A COMMUNIST GOVERNMENTAL SYSTEM ONE COULD EASILY EXPECT THAT A GOVERNMENT WOULD BE CRAFTING POLICY IN SUCH A WAY THAT TRANSFER OF PROPERTY FROM PRIVATE LANDOWNER TO GOVERNMENT WOULD BE FACILITATED. 26.j Investigate alternative financing options for expanding water systems to support infill growth consistent with the County's desired land use development pattern. AGAIN THIS IS A VAGUE REFERENCE WHEN THAT SHOULD NOT BE LEFT AMBIGUOUS AND THIS IS CONCERNING BECAUSE IT COMPROMISES THE VALUE OF THE ENTIRE DOCUMENT. 26.k Collaborate with government, private and nonprofit agencies, communities, and other stakeholders to develop, improve, and expand agricultural water systems in appropriate areas on the island. 26.1 Continue to participate in the United States Geological Survey (USGS) exploratory well drilling program. 26.m Expand programs to provide agricultural irrigation water. One Water 26.n Develop water conservation and stormwater management guidelines for commercial, industrial, and residential properties. 26.o Codify the administrative structure needed to develop a water resource program and interdepartmental collaboration framework. 26.p Collaborate with government, private and nonprofit agencies, communities, and other stakeholders to develop and facilitate community partnerships between upstream and downstream communities. 26.q Develop public-private partnerships to leverage funding sources. 4.3 Public Utilities I County of Hawaii General Plan 133 Table 35: Water System Standards Domestic Consumption Guidelines Zoning Designation Residential: Single-Family or Duplex Multi-Family Commercial Resort Light Industry Schools and Parks Agriculture Average Daily Demand 400 gals/unit 400 gals/unit 3000 gals/acre 400 gals/unit or 17,000 gal/acre 4000 gals/acre 4000 gals/acre or 60 gals/student 3400 gals/acre 4.3 Public Utilities I County of Hawaii General Plan 134 4.3.4 Wastewater Treatment and Reuse The General Plan recognizes the significance of wastewater treatment and reuse as essential components of the County's comprehensive water management strategy. Adequate sewer systems are vital to maintain public health and protect the environment. As communities generate wastewater through various sources such as residential, commercial, and industrial activities, effective treatment is necessary to remove harmful pollutants and contaminants before the water is discharged back into the environment. Improperly treated wastewater can have detrimental effects on marine ecosystems, coastal waters, and freshwater resources, jeopardizing both human and ecological health. An adequate system minimizes contamination of both the groundwater supply and coastal waters, beaches, and waterborne recreational areas and is not a visual and odor nuisance. Land development plans for resort-residential complexes located in shoreline areas pose a potential water quality problem for adjacent near-shore waters. Adequate treatment facilities are essential prerequisites for development. HERE IN THIS DOCUMENT WITH NO REFERENCE TO BIO REMEDIATION AND WITH THE SHEER VOLUME OF HOUSEHOLDS OPERATING OFF GRID, THIS DOCUMENT IS CREATING `CRIME' OUT OF REGULAR HOUSEHOLD OPERATIONS. THE FACT THAT THIS COUNTY ADMINISTRATION IS PROPOSING A POLICY DIRECTIVE TO MANDATE/ FORCE HOUSEHOLDS TO ADDRESS THE LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE ON OUR RURAL ISLAND IS A VERY RECKLESS DIRECTION TO TAKE. REFER PREVIOUS COMMENTS 1) AN AUDIT SHOULD BE DONE OF THE CURRENT WASTEWATER DIVISION 2) ALTERNATIVE BIOREMEDIATION METHODS MUST BE INVESTIGATED AND FINDINGS PUBLISHED. MORE PUBLIC DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC AWARENESS IS NEEDED BEFORE THIS POLICY DIRECTIVE WOULD BE ADOPTED SINCE IT WILL LIKELY BRING GREAT FINANCIAL STRAIN TO MANY HOUSEHOLDS AND REQUIRE ONEROUS LEVELS OF `ENFORCEMENT.' Wastewater reuse, also known as water recycling or reclaimed water, involves treating wastewater to a level suitable for non-potable uses. Reusing treated wastewater provides an opportunity to conserve precious freshwater resources and reduce the strain on existing water supplies. For Hawaii Island, where freshwater resources are limited and vulnerable to climate change impacts, the implementation of wastewater reuse projects becomes vital for ensuring water sustainability. By implementing appropriate treatment processes, treated wastewater can be used for a range of purposes, including irrigation of agricultural lands, landscape irrigation, industrial processes, and groundwater recharge. This practice helps meet non-drinking water needs, reducing the reliance on freshwater sources for non-potable purposes and leaving more available for essential uses like drinking water. THERE IS NO MENTION HERE OF THE SAFETY CONCERNS THAT MUST ACCOMPANY SUCH USES OF TREATED WASTEWATER. The County operates municipal sewerage in Hilo, Papa`ikou, Kapehu, Pepe`ekeo, Honoka`a, Kealakehe, and Kaloko. The remaining communities are served by private wastewater treatment facilities or individual facilities, such as cesspools or septic tanks. In 2017, the Hawaii State Legislature passed Act 125, mandating that all Hawai`i's cesspools be replaced by 2050. Cesspools are substandard sewage disposal systems as they do not treat wastewater. According to the latest report on the Hawaii Cesspool Hazard Assessment and Prioritization Tool, Hawaii Island contains an estimated 48,596 cesspools. Sewerage disposal system designs must be examined with the particular region in mind. Of critical importance in an examination of sewerage disposal for a community is the cost of the system, including construction and operation costs. These costs vary with the characteristics of each area. The Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 legislated the protection of all aquifers or portions of aquifers currently serving as drinking water sources and any other aquifer capable of yielding consumable water. This mandate was based on a national concern for the quality of the groundwater and the increasing evidence of contamination of this valuable resource. In 1976, the State Legislature enacted Act 84, relating to safe drinking water, which requires the State Department of Health (DOH) to establish an underground injection control program to protect the quality of the State's underground sources of drinking water. Because of the importance ofgroundwater as a source of municipal water supplies, the underground injection control program is considered a beneficial approach in the identification of aquifers that should be protected from subsurface disposal of wastewater through injection wells. HERE AGAIN THERE IS NO MENTION OF THE PRIMARY POLLUTER OF THE AQUIFER : THE MILITARY BASE ON POHAKULOA. THERE IS ALSO NO MENTION OF TESTING WATER QUALITY AND TESTING FOR CONTAMINANTS. THIS IS ANOTHER DIVISION OF OUR COUNTY THAT SHOULD BE AUDITED. WHY IS NOTHING DONE ABOUT A MILITARY POTENTIAL `SUPER FUND SITE' OPERATING ABOVE A PRISTINE AQUIFER? The protection of these aquifers is established by designating areas currently being used or will be used in the future for drinking water supply. The Underground Sources of Drinking Water USDW) will be protected from pollution by prohibiting the construction of new injection wells that may pollute the USDW. Injection wells are allowed in exempted areas. The boundary lines between the USDW and the exempted areas have been developed. ** PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION OR ELSE TAKE OUT THIS EXEMPTION REFERENCE. THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE BETTER INFORMED UPON READING THIS PLAN, NOT LEFT IN THE DARK TO WONDER . Under Chapter 62, Wastewater Systems, the DOH adopted a 1,000-foot setback of wastewater systems from all public drinking water wells and springs. In compliance with the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 (Public Law 92- 500), the DOH and the County jointly prepared the Water Quality Management Plan for Hawaii County in 1978 and subsequently updated the plan in 1980. In 1979, the County Council adopted the plan through a resolution to serve as the planning guide for the development of regional waste treatment systems and the control of non- point sources of pollution. To implement the management plan, the County has prepared facility plans for various areas on the island. Facility plans are developed by the County to satisfy a requirement for the application of loans from the State to develop wastewater treatment facilities. The facility plans identify problems, potential solutions, and costs. In 1985, the State Legislature enacted Act 282, Relating to Environmental Quality, which reassigns the County, effective July 1, 1987, or upon receipt of State funds, to assume complete administration and implementation for the regulation of sewerage and wastewater treatment system programs. Source: Hawaii News Now(2022). 4.3 Public Utilities I County of Hawaii General Plan 136 Objective 27 Planned and developed municipal sewer capacity is expanded to serve our Urban Growth Areas and reduce sewage-related impacts on water quality. Policies 27.1 A Sewerage Study for All Urban Areas, including appropriate water quality management strategies, shall be completed and used as guides for the general planning of sewerage disposal systems. 27.2 Private treatment systems shall be installed by land developers for major resorts and other developments along shorelines and sensitive higher inland areas, except where connection to nearby treatment facilities is feasible and compatible with the County's long-range plans, and in conformance with State and County requirements. 27.3 Immediate steps shall be taken to designate treatment plant sites, sewerage pump station sites, and sewer easements according to the facility plans to facilitate their acquisition. 27.4 The County shall obtain State and Federal funds to finance the construction of proposed sewer systems and improve existing systems. 27.5 Plans for wastewater reclamation and reuse for irrigation and biosolids composting remaining solids from the treatment of wastewater are processed into a reusable organic material) shall be utilized where topographically feasible and needed for landscaping, agricultural purposes, or fire protection. Wastewater and Environmental Quality Prioritization 27.6 Pollution shall be prevented, abated, and controlled at levels that will protect and preserve public health and well-being through the enforcement of appropriate Federal, State, and County standards. 27.7 Ensure municipal wastewater systems serve designated Urban Growth Areas UGA) with the capacity to accommodate projected population growth. 27.8 The Department of Environmental Management and the Planning Department shall coordinate priorities before the adoption of any new wastewater development or land use plans. 27.9 Prioritize developing a multipronged approach to wastewater infrastructure funding, including proactively seeking grant funding for wastewater system expansion, improvements, and new development. 27.10 Ensurewastewaterfeesreflectactualcostsforservice,maintenance,andfutureimprovements. 27.11 Ensure that wastewater systems and improvements are designed and functioning to maximize system efficiencies, prevent accidental leaks or spills, and provide sanitary, reliable wastewater treatment that is not negatively impacting natural resources. One Water-Recycled Water Expansion 27.12 Striveforani nteg rated app roachtostormwate ran dwastewate r,andwaterresou rcemanageme nt that is comprehensive and as efficient as possible. 27.13 Encourageon-sitewaterreusesolutionsforlargedevelopments. 4.3 Public Utilities I County of Hawaii General Plan 137 27.14 Encourageandincentivizethecollectionofrainfallfornon-potableuse. 27.15 PrioritizetheuseofgraywaterinareasconnectedtoCountywaterandnotconnectedtoCounty wastewater. Actions Wastewater and Environmental Quality Prioritization 27.a Prioritize areas where on-site wastewater treatment should be converted to sewer and establish financial tools such as improvement districts to aid in implementation. 27.b Prioritize areas where wastewater treatment facilities are necessary to facilitate future growth and utilize financing tools such as community facilities district (CFD) or tax increment financing (TIF) to aid in implementation. 27.c Review, assess, and amend Codes relating to sewer connection requirements to ensure wastewater issues and requirements are addressed in a consistent, sustainable, and socially equitable way. 27.d Develop a wastewater master plan with a clear prioritization method for wastewater system expansions and improvements based on criteria involving land use, projected growth, social equity, and environmental factors. 27.e Develop plans to improve, connect, or develop new wastewater systems in unsewered urban coastal communities. 27.f Perform a study to assess individual wastewater systems (IWS) in unsewered urban growth areas to assess the rate of failures/negative impacts, determine rates of large capacity cesspools still in use, and develop plans to improve, connect, or develop new wastewater systems for unsewered urban communities. 27.g Proactively seek opportunities for public-private partnerships for wastewater collection and treatment development. 27.h Facilitate the use of infrastructure improvement districts and other types of localized funding mechanisms to fund improvements. 27.i Streamline the sewer connection loan program. 27.j Develop wastewater cost valuation in service fees (similar to the water model fee structure). 27.k Develop a criteria-based infrastructure prioritization tool to develop new or expand existing municipal wastewater systems. Base these priority areas on designated urban growth boundaries, urban zoning and density, population trends and anticipated growth, health/safety, and environmental factors. 27.1 Implement innovative wastewater systems at a cost-effective scale for small communities. 27.m Amend the County Code, Section 21-26-1(a) requiring "all sewer extensions shall be approved by resolution of the County council" to read, "all sewer extensions outside of Urban Growth Areas shall be approved by resolution of the County council." REFERRING AGAIN TO CONCERNS THAT THIS IS AN UNFEASIBLE COST TO REGULAR HOUSEHOLDS. THIS IS A VERY CONCERNING POLICY DIRECTIVE AND AS ACKNOWLEDGED HERE, MORE STUDIES WOULD BE REQUIRED PRIOR TO ADMINISTERING SUCH POLICIES.. SO WHY ARE WE SEEING THIS EMPHASIS IN THE GENERAL PLAN ? 4.3 Public Utilities I County of Hawaii General Plan 138 27.n In collaboration with the DOH Wastewater Branch, reevaluate and clarify the requirements set forth in Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR), Section 11-62-31.1(a) (1) B) and amend County sewer requirements accordingly to accommodate needed housing units. 27.o Collaborate with the DOH to advance progressive wastewater technology and regulations. One Water-Recycled Water Expansion 27.p In collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, develop a water resource strategy for efficient agricultural water use and reuse. 27.q Install non-potable systems, such as reclaimed wastewater, brackish groundwater, and untreated surface water in proximity to priority UGAs for non-potable water uses. 27.r Conduct supply and demand studies to determine a level of service for non-potable water needs. 27.s Facilitate greywater reuse systems through code amendments and through partnering with DOH for regulatory changes and incentives. 4.3 Public Utilities I County of Hawaii General Plan 139 4.3.5 Stormwater Infiltration and Green Infrastructure Stormwater management and the implementation of green infrastructure are critical elements of the General Plan for their vital role in sustainability on Hawaii Island. As an island ecosystem with limited freshwater resources and vulnerable coastal areas, managing stormwater effectively and integrating green infrastructure practices are essential for preserving our water resources and ensuring environmental sustainability. Stormwater refers to the runoff from precipitation that flows over land surfaces, eventually entering water bodies such as streams, rivers, and oceans. Stormwater is a crucial element of the island's overall water landscape. While precipitation may be an obvious contributor to stormwater, all the phases of the hydrologic cycle are related to stormwater and are influenced by public utility decisions made in the built environment. Precipitation and surface runoff are often the phases of the hydrologic cycle that people recognize as stormwater, whereas evaporation, transpiration, and condensation are not as easily observed processes. Uncontrolled stormwater runoff can lead to various detrimental effects on water resources and ecosystems. Polluted runoff, also known as nonpoint source pollution, from agriculture, urban development, forestry, recreational boating, marinas, and hydromodification activities is the leading cause of water pollution in waters across the country and in Hawaii. Uncontrolled stormwater runoff can also lead to localized flooding, causing damage to infrastructure, property, and even loss of life. Implementing stormwater management strategies helps to control the flow of stormwater, reducing the risk of flooding and associated hazards. Moreover, excessive stormwater runoff can cause soil erosion, leading to the loss of fertile topsoil, sedimentation in water bodies, and degradation of natural habitats. Proper stormwater management practices, including erosion control measures, help minimize erosion and preserve the island's natural resources. Stormwater is a prime example of the unavoidable connections that exist between the built environment and the natural environment. Increasing the opportunities for infiltration and transpiration can reduce the amount of evaporation that surface runoff requires. The social, environmental, and economic impacts of stormwater infrastructure have meaningful implications for our overall island sustainability as water is one of the most precious resources. Point and Nonpoint Source Pollution Engineering efficiency in conveying stormwater runoff using impervious surfaces (e.g., paved swales, channelized streams) must be balanced against environmental considerations. If the drainage is directed to streams, excessive freshwater volumes and sediment loads may impact coastal water resources (e.g., degrade water quality and smother coral reefs). If the drainage is directed to injection wells, more studies are needed to determine the impact of storm runoff on groundwater quality. Sediment basins, wetlands, or less impervious methods of conveyance e.g., grass swales) should be considered where feasible to reduce nonpoint source pollution of the coastal waters from stormwater runoff and filter infiltrating water. Green infrastructure refers to the network of natural or engineered features that manage stormwater while providing additional benefits to the environment and community. Such features may include rain gardens, permeable pavement, bioswales, and vegetated buffers. Green infrastructure is crucial for stormwater management, as it captures and absorbs runoff, reducing the volume and rate of runoff. By mimicking natural hydrological processes like sediment filtration and bioremediation, it helps to recharge groundwater, replenish streams, and 4.3 Public Utilities I County of Hawaii General Plan 140 reduce stress on our water resources during periods of heavy rainfall. CONCERN: HERE AT LEAST WE SEE REFERENCES TO BIOREMEDIATION. WHY IS THIS ACCEPTABLE' AS A STRATEGY WHERE TREATMENT OF WATER RUN OFF IS CONCERNED BUT NEVER ENTERTAINED IN THE MATTER OF RAW SEWAGE TREATMENT (A `SOLUTION' AND POLICY DIRECTIVE HERE WHICH THREATENS TO BE COST PROHIBITIVE TO MANY HOUSEHOLDS? ) By retaining and infiltrating stormwater, green infrastructure reduces the reliance on freshwater sources for irrigation, thus conserving water resources. This is particularly important for our island communities where freshwater availability is limited. Green infrastructure features may also provide habitats for native plants and wildlife. They contribute to biodiversity conservation and help restore and enhance Hawaii Island's natural ecosystems. Green infrastructure plays a key part in mitigating the impacts of climate change by reducing the urban heat island effect, moderating temperatures, and increasing resilience to extreme weather events. These measures align with the County's sustainability goals and efforts to adapt to climate change. 4.3 Public Utilities I County of Hawaii General Plan 141 Page 166 34.15 Encourage the expansion of digital access and equity through the resilient buildout of broadband infrastructure and facilities. Does this take into account the safety of 5G+? Is this to facilitate surveillance of citizens in the future? Page167 34.a Implement a Safe Route to School (SR2S) program for all schools. Will surveillance be implemented to ensure safety? Page169 4.4.6 Recreation Housing developers should not bear a disproportionate burden, or be forced to contribute more than their fair share, as inequitable requirements could deter needed housing development. This proviso seems to favor developers. Page171 35.a Provide funding for planning and acquisition,if necessary, of key corridor segments after corridor-zone plans are adopted. Does this preclude the rezoning and acquisition ofprivate property? 35.k Maintain an on-going program of identification, designation, and acquisition of areas with existing or potential recreational resources, such as land with sandy beaches and other prime areas for shoreline recreation in collaboration with government, private and non profit agencies, and other stakeholders. Please include private property owners in your definition of stakeholders. Page 175 4.4.7 Encouraging the establishment of farmers' markets, community gardens, and a range of agricultural activities can promote local food production and improve access to fresh nutritious food. Please include home gardens. Page 177 36.g Support the distribution of telehealth support services, particularly to unserved and underserved communities. Encourage instead person to person contact. 36.j Amend the County Code to designate a lead agency for coordinating and responding to outbreaks of life-threatening, highly communicable diseases pursuant to the DOH direction. While ensuring the statues of the Nuremberg Code are observed. Page 179 4.5.1 Blueprint for the creation of a 15 minute island, clustering us together in "a centralized, higher-density urban infill, supported by nearby, accessible public and private services and facilities." Page 181 Under Housing Challenges Targets: "Homeownership for investment purposes that are kept vacant or used for transient accommodation rentals reduces available stock for long term resident ownership and rental opportunities." Prohibits and discourages the rights of private ownership. Page182 37.6 Vacant lands in the urban growth boundary (UBG) should be prioritized for residential and supportive uses before additional agricultural lands outside the UBG are converted into urban uses. With the consent of property owner should be included. Page183 38.1 Enable data-driven research to support and maintain a housing inventory program that monitors existing housing. 38.a Perform existing housing inventory data analysis to identify structural conditions and needs for rehabilitation or demotion. Both justify the necessity of more surveillance of the community. 38.a also precludes the private property owner's rights and opinions. Take this out or revise. Page184 39.5 Allow for and apply property tax and land use regulations to incentivize private property owners to provide affordable housing units in mix-use and urban areas and to discentivize the land banking of unimproved properties. In other words land use regulations and property tax hikes will be weaponized against the private property owner. TAke this out or revise/ Page185 Table 40: Additional Infrastructure - Provide adequate broadband without invading people's privacy. Ensuring future surveillance capabilities? Page188 40.8 Require all County Departments to collaborate with the County Office of Sustainability, Climate, Equity, and Resilience (OSCER) as the lead agency to ensure the integration of the County's goals of sustainability, climate resilience, and equity into all county operations and planning initiatives. To whom does OSCER answer? Who's watching the watchdog? THIS ORGANIZATION WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2023. IT WAS PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC AS AN AGENCY THAT COULD ACCEPT GRANT FUNDS FROM GOVERNMENT AND NON GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS. IT WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO BE GRANTED EXTRA POWERS AS AN ADMUNISTRATIVE ARM OF THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT. WE SPECIFICALLY OBJECT TO THE LANGUAGE REQUIRING' `ALL COUNTY DEPARTMENTS' TO COLLABORATE WITH THE OSCER. THE COUNTY'S `GOALS' OF sustainability, climate resilience, and equity HAVE NOT BEEN ADEQUATELY DEBATED IN OUR COMMUNITY . WE CHALLENGE THE SUGGESTION THAT THERE IS CONSENSUS ON THIS MATTER AND WE SPECIFICALLY CHALLENGE THE OSCER `AGENCY' TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF THE ABOVE. WE SPECIFICALLY CHALLENGE THE PLANNING DIRECTOR AND THE LEGISLATURE TO STAGE A FULL PUBLIC REVIEW OF BOTH SETS OF DATA AND BOTH ARGUMENTS THAT THERE IS A CLIMATE CRISIS CAUSED BY CARBON THE `Office of Sustainability, Climate, Equity, and Resilience (OSCER)' BEGINS WITH A FLAWED AND DISPUTED PREMISE THAT THERE IS A CLIMATE `CRISIS' AND THAT THE OTHER 3 `PILLARS' OF THE ORGANIZATION (SUSTAINABILITY, EQUITY AND RESILLIENCE) BELONG TOGETHER AS PART OF A `SOLUTION.' WHAT IS FLAWED ABOUT THE BUZZ WORD `SUSTAINABILITY' IS THAT THIS WORD LEADS THE IDENTICAL AGENDAS OF CONTROLLING LAND USE, WATER RIGHTS, ACCESS TO PUBLIC SPACE, THE RIGHT TO TRAVEL, FARMING AND PASTURING OF ANIMALS AND FOOD SECURITY. THESE BUZZWORDS ARE COMING FROM WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM AND THE UNITED NATIONS. ALL OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS PLUS THE BILL AND MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION AND `NET ZERO' PROMOTE A DANGEROUS AGENDA OF OVERRIDING SOVEREIGN HOME RULE LOCAL COUNTIES AND STATES AND REPLACING WITH `GLOBAL AGENDAS' WHICH ARE BRINGING IN COMMUNIST' VALUES AND SYSTEMS OF PROPERTY ACQUISITION AND DESTRUCTION OF SMALL BUSINESS AND THE CORPORATIZATION OF PUBLIC ASSETS. WHAT IS FLAWED ABOUT THE BUZZ WORD `EQUITY' IS THAT IT IS QUICKLY BECOMING A WAY OF WAVING ON A COMMUNIST STYLE OF ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS WHICH PROMOTES LARGER PORTION OF THE POPULATION BEING ON WELFARE AND DIVERSITY HIRE PRACTICES THAT PROMOTE MEDIOCRITY AND NOT MERITOCRACY. THE WORD `RESILIENCE' ALSO HAS COME TO BE ANOTHER `BUZZ WORD' THAT IS A RATIONALE FOR THE CATCH PHRASE `BUILD BACK BETTER' AND THE IDEA THAT MORE RIGOROUS BUILDING CODES, MORE RESTRICTIONS AND MORE BUILDING COSTS AND INSURANCE COSTS WILL FOLLOW IN THE AFTERMATH OF EACH `DISASTER.' ELSEWHERE IN THIS DOCUMENT THERE WAS A CHALLENGE TO THE PREMISE THAT THE RECENT FIRE IN LAHAINA WAS `NORMAL' AND THAT THE RESULTING LOCKDOWNS AND FAILURE OF GREEN ADMINISTRATION TO SUPPORT HOUSEHOLDS TO REBUILD ARE ALSO `NORMAL.' TO THE CONTRARY, WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN LAHAINA FOR THE PAST 13 MONTHS EXEMPLIFIES THE WAY THAT THE WORD `RESILIENCE' HAS COME TO MEAN `CONTROL OF A POPULATION AFTER A DISASTER TO THE POINT THAT MANY WILL BE DISPLACED AND WILL BE FORCED TO LEAVE THE AREA, FINDING NO WAY TO REBUILD AND RESTORE THEIR LIVES AND LIVELIHOOODS.' Page194 Resulting in Longer Commutes: There are notable mismatches between locations of high population and job centers. Furtherjustification for clustering in population centers. Further policy directive to justify curtailing personal independent transportation options. This again is objectionable and shows contempt for a fundamental constitutional right and as such has no place in a policy document published by this County Administration. Page196 Table 43:Economic Opportunities /General Increase broadband infrastructure to provide opportunities for participation in the digital economy while allowing for other economic alternatives. CBDC's here we come/ Page 206 46.i Partner with government, private and non profit agencies, communities, and other stakeholders for carrying capacity studies of fisheries and the establishment of State community-based subsistence fishing areas. More restrictions on fishing rights. Oddly in 5.3 Agriculture and Food Systems there is no mention at all of hunting and gathering. Page 210 Wahi Pana Need assurances our wahi pana and other natural assets will be protected from commodification and collateralization. Page 213 49.1 [Encourage the] [i]ntegrat[ion] [of] `aina- place-based values 49.2 [Encourage] the accessibility 49.3 [Promote] a visitor industry 49.5 [Encourage] regenerative tourism efforts 49.6 [Foster] initiatives and improve[d] efforts 49.h and farmers, homeowners, and other residents to develop and support place-based educational programs COMMENT: FINALLY HERE IS A DIRECTIVE THAT SPEAKS TO SUPPORTING THE EXISTING ECONOMY AND THE PEOPLE WHO ALREADY LIVE ON THIS ISLAND. THE FACT THAT THIS IS SHOWING UP ON PAGE 214 SHOULD BE CONCERNING TO ANYONE UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS DOCUMENT IS SUPPOSED TO GUIDE THE PRIORITIES OF OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATURE. THE OPENING SECTION OF THE DOCUMENT SHOULD BE ABOUT SUPPORTING THE EXISTING CULTURE AND ECONOMY OF THE ISLAND. THE CAPACITY TO SUPPORT AND HELP GROW IN THIS AREA WOULD BE ALL Page 215 6.1 para 2 presenting [residents a true voice] for the future of Hawaii Island. 1 [where citizens collaborate with the County to effect change consistent with plans developed under this chapter.] 3 Ensure consistency among the General Plan and respective regional plans [What are regional plans?] 4 set forth in the General Plan's [Should this be plural or possessive?] 5 Establish an implementation system that is based on county-wide, regional, and agency levels What are regional and agency levels?] Page 216 Top para by promoting [economic] growth, 2nd para collaboration among various [residents] Key areas of focus include fostering [understanding of the role of government in] ensuring community engagement and input, securing funding, and coordinating priorities. Page217 6.2.1 Para 1 Community Development Plan Framework During the General Plan Comprehensive Review process, existing community plans were used to guide the CDP framework. From the adoption of the Kona, Puna, North and South Kohala CDPs in 2008, Ka`u CDP in 2017, and Hamakua CDP in 2018, there has been much to learn and grow from as we look to the future. The General Plan also benefited from years of collective participation in CDP implementation efforts through regional committees that implement their respective CDP. [NOTE: Hilo was not included in this CFP framework. Although there had been Hilo meetings in the past that dealt with some issues contained in the General Plan, no mechanism was put in place that paralleled the multi-year single-purpose work that was undertaken in the other six districts.] Para 2 To build on these lessons learned, future CDPs[, which it is hoped will include a CDP for Hilo,] shall be drafted The purpose of a CDP is threefold: 3. Provide a process for citizens to engage in civic dialogue [through open-forum townhalls where vigorous question-answer format is primary, eliciting the priorities of the community.] Page 218 6. Social Capital and Community Network Mapping During the process of reviewing a Community Development Plan, instances where community needs are not met may be identified. Examples of this may include a need for community gathering spaces such as parks or recreation hubs. Community Development Plans may identify such needs and outline a plan of action for community members and other [Hawaii Island residents] to coordinate efforts, combine and collect resources, and connect public and private sector agents to advocate for such enhancements to their community. [In the case of Hilo, where a CDP was never initiated by the Planning Department, an examination of why this was neglected must be addressed, for the purpose of getting input from this district even though the General Plan may have been already implemented. This could be accomplished through addendums to the General Plan at future dates.] Page 224 6.4.3 Para 1 The General Plan is a comprehensive framework designed to guide [innovative] development patterns, [and provide assistance toward] future opportunities and public investments. Para 3 The tables are intended to provide a clear and concise reference for agencies, policymakers, communities, farmers, homeowners, and other residents Page 225 Table 45 Climate change, carbon footprint, net zero,GHG emissions, green infrastructure projects, climate adaptation The above terms, taken from Table 45, derive from the United Nations Agenda 21 Sustainable Development, inaugurated in 1992 at the United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Residents of Hawaii Island have never had the opportunity to engage in discussions in every town, using every venue, to discuss the entire subject of climate change. It is a foundational subject, as it is the substrate upon which so much of the General Plan is predicated. It is un-Democratic to simply take ideas from other places and cement them into the plans we make for our own people, our own land, our own island, without engaging in an unhurried, full-blown examination of this agenda, neighbor with neighbor. Until such time as this takes place, we must place this draft of a General Plan on hold. Table 46 Objectives 13. Increase the use of Smart Growth principles to focus development within designated urban centers. As above, SMART is an acronym taken from the World Economic Forum that pertains to Internet-Of-Things technology. Its purpose is linkage of devices for the purpose of control and monitoring. No island-wide discussion has taken place as to the merits of SMART GROWTH. Again, it is a concept from far away, irreversible once implemented, without so much as a real attempt to inform residents. How can a General Plan proceed on concepts alien to the people? Table 47 21. [Engineer infrastructure] to reduce stormwater runoff. Page 227 Table 48 25. Improve the efficiency and reliability, and sustainability of essential infrastructure systems. 28. Increase green infrastructure practices. Example Indicators Annual funding allocated for [efficient] infrastructure initiatives Percentage of new development projects including [efficient] infrastructure elements Table 49 Our communities are adequately served by sustainable and efficient public infrastructure P232 6.4.4 1.a Seek [procedure] to support wetland identification and assessments. 1.j Identify partners and [S]upport a public awareness and education campaign to elevate recognition of the value of urban trees as essential infrastructure. 3.b Create special (business) improvement districts to engage in environmental research, restoration and maintenance, natural resource management, climate change or sea level rise adaptation or other purposes to improve environmental conditions and provide community benefit. 4.a [Seek Hawaii Island residents and groups] to maintain and steward the preservation of sites, buildings, objects, and landscapes of significant cultural and historical importance. 4.c Support the identification of Heritage Landscapes, Corridors, Areas, and Centers. Heritage designation is UNESCO. It is crucial that Hawaii Island maintain control of its lands and natural resources, free of encumbrances of global organizations 4.h [Foment discussion among] government, private and nonprofit agencies, communities, and other stakeholders farmers, homeowners, and other residents 4.i private and nonprofit agencies, communities, and other stakeholders farmers, homeowners, and other residents Table 54: Climate Change Delete Table 54: Climate Change has not been debated across Hawaii County in a systematic way. Such a debate would entail townhall presentations by each side, allowing all the time necessary to absorb the decades of information circulating through media and academia. At some later time, these information-gathering events could then be followed by public open debates. Hawaii Island residents at that juncture would then be ready to decide whether they wished to premise all future growth on the notion of Climate Change, or reject it as unscientific.] 240 Table 56 Transportation Access and Mobility 20.e Adopt a Complete Streets ordinance. [Complete Streets derives from Agenda 21's SMART Cities designation. It has nothing to do with residents of Hawaii Island, until such time as they can be apprised of the overall design of Agenda 21, as it entails constricting traffic, expanding bike lanes and bus routes, installing islands - many changes that may or may not be workable. Hilo and Kona have very different requirements, and a cookie-cutter approach levels differences. Just because it is recommended by a national or international association does not mean it is suitable here. Again, it must be thoroughly discussed across the island before a decision can be made.] 22.a Amend the County Code to incorporate Vision Zero safety principles and Complete Street design principles. [Vision Zero, as stated above with Complete Streets, is an internationally utilized approach to pedestrian safety that first needs a full discussion here to see to what extent it is workable, if at all.] 243-255 27.d social equity, [No relevance to this category] 27.g Proactively seek opportunities for [strategies] for wastewater collection and treatment development. 28.c Update the DPW Storm Drainage Standards to reflect current data and to incorporate strategies and standards of green infrastructure and low impact development. 28.f Create a green infrastructure dedication standard. 28.1 Identify County parks and recreation, rights-of-way, and other County owned sites for green infrastructure demonstration projects 29.a Partner with government, private and nonprofit agencies, communities, farmers, homeowners, and other residents for the research and development of alternative/renewable energy resources. 30.d Collaborate with government, private and nonprofit agencies, communities and other Hawaii Island residents] 30.i [Encourage private] funding for broadband initiatives and deployments. 30.m Foster [private investments] to support the development and expansion of broadband infrastructure, 32.c Review county lighting and landscaping ordinances to implement CPTED. CPTED is a component of a SMART City that watches, listens, announces, tracks, records. It is a creation of Agenda 21 and the WEF and the UN. It must be rejected by the residents of Hawaii Island unless/until it is thoroughly discussed and debated. 32.p This point to be deleted In light of the controversy in the aftermath of the Lahaina fire, to be formulating a redevelopment plan, IN ADVANCE of an incident, creates a climate of distrust and anger. This subject must be handled very carefully in discussions with groups and individuals across the island.] 35.c Partner with government, private and nonprofit agencies, farmers, homeowners, and other residents 35.d Partner with government, private and nonprofit agencies, farmers, homeowners, and other residents 35.i government, private and nonprofit agencies, farmers, homeowners, and other residents 35.k private and nonprofit agencies, farmers, homeowners, and other residents 36.d communities, and other farmers, homeowners, and other residents 36.f communities, and other farmers, homeowners, and other residents Page 254 45A Partner with government (e.g., DOT, DBEDT, etc.), private and nonprofit agencies, communities, farmers, homeowners, and other residents to monitor 45.1 Partner with government, private and nonprofit agencies (e.g., business associations, realtors, chambers of commerce, etc.), communities, farmers, homeowners, and other residents 45.m expand the research and development industry for [innovative] economic development. 46.i private and nonprofit agencies, communities, farmers, homeowners, and other residents From: Adam Roberts To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv Subject: General Plan Date:Thursday,December 5, 2024 11:06:04 AM Aloha, I wanted to comment on the transportation and reducing miles traveled portion of this plan. I attended a general plan meeting on November 4th in Hilo. It was raining that day. I drove 77 miles from Ocean View to be there. I called the police line before I headed for home because I am aware that the highway floods near Punaluu and the road can be shut down. I was told that it was open and that I should go. They would not tell me if the road would be closing soon. I drove 57 miles in rain only to arrive at Punaluu and it was closed with no ETA on opening. I waited there with my 3 keiki for 2 hours. I then found out from a friend that it would likely be closed overnight. at 7:45 pm I headed out the long way around the island to get home. After driving 182 miles, we arrived home at midnight. This was 239 EXTRA miles driven by just me. Imagine how many other people had to do this. This road flooding issue has been a known issue for as long as I can remember. There has been no solution, and there is not a good updating system. Had I known it would close, I would have just left over saddle road at 4:15 pm and avoided all the extra night driving in the rain and getting home so late, not to mention miles traveled. This is the second time in this semester I have had to do this. The first was after hurricane Hone. The rain had stopped but the road was still closed with no ETA on opening. I drove my daughter all the way around the island there and back just to get her to her college classes. Please address these important issues. It extend more than just the flooded road. When an accident happens and the highway closes, there are no updates. People end up driving many miles around to get home, where if they had an update, maybe they would not have. Please also address the issue of dogs. Our town has become unsafe. It is unsafe to walk, it is unsafe to own animals. A man was killed last year by dogs. People are attacked constantly by dogs. My neighbors, myself, and countless others have lost beloved pets (on our own property) to dogs. Please do something drastic about this problem! Please do not change land zoning and do anything that would hinder landowners rights in this plan. Mahalo for your time, Adam Roberts From: hevhewame.com To: WPCtestimonv;LPCtestimonv Subject: The Big Island General Plan Date: Thursday,December 5,2024 2:29:10 PM The Big island Plan is inherently violent toward local people and cannot go through as designed. It is hard to believe any local helped design this plan. Here are some concerns: If you're serious about addressing a changing climate,you will BAN the two biggest polluters on the climate: the US military and private jet travel. Leave the taxpayer out of this grift by putting the onus where it belongs--on the actual polluters. So-called "Stakeholders" are who collapsed the Soviet Union. Are you really trying to collapse the government?If so,why?As public servants,you should be serving the public, not private equity firms and corporations that are raping the public. Choose local communities over corporations. What in the hell will be left when there are no local Big Island farmers,homeowners,renters, organizations,businesses, or individuals left?Is Gaza- style extermination the plan?That's what this sounds like. Effective local community engagement and management are crucial for the success and"sustainability" of any initiative, as it helps ensure that diverse perspectives and interests are considered. Unelected officials making decisions that affect the general public are NOT AN OPTION! Abolish all thoughts ofThe OSCER Department mentioned on page 199,40.9. It would seem to me that while the local government has been levying taxes on farmers and other residents,while allowing billionaires to buy up all the affordable housing,the move to change zoning from residential to recreational is designed to collapse property values so they can be bought up for pennies on the dollar. Is that correct?If not,please explain. It breaks the Aloha Spirit law § 5-7.5. To reduce someone's property value is not okay. This must be made pono again. There is a huge section on climate change and things that will be affected. This needs to be further 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.h!Ws://clintel.org/wl2- content/ul2loads/2024/10/WCD-241023.12df 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. Hilo is 22%of the island,but somehow does not have a Community Development Plan. This demonstrates the Mal-intent ofthis entire initiative on its face. Do better. 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 oflands for the protection ofnatural resources." 'Incentives" mean more taxes. "Protection" means more rules. Who's "values" is this plan referring too because it's not the locals? "Pursue the acquisition of lands" does this say they are going to pursing taking people's private property?Again with "protection of natural resources". This plan should be focused on people growing more food and it is doing the exact opposite! We need to turn land into Ag Villages and grow more food,not nebulous"conservation"! Steve Shropshire, a resident of Papaikou,has created an Ag Villages plan. Ag Village to add to the General Plan: Papaikou Ag Village Objectives: hUs://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_2cb l cc6d604f4cdd971 ad40831 c745bc.42df Papaikou Site Plan: hhUs://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_5e4cdb02efeb46a5ae949a3579affOOd.pdf Papaikou Development: hUs://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_c2af52c8b3c645bla6868a724eee8304.pdf A Hawaiian born Kanaka revised the Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship that is in the plan. You can see it in the pdf below: Part One: hUs://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_Oald5be8fldl40069415f7b691725786.pdf Part Two:https://86fcOcbd-8207-4076-85fa- 5a62e4e933b4.usrfiles.com/ugd/86fcOc_ecc498bal92d4a7689ebf3 lc368lc2ec.pdf Here is a longer revised version ofthe plan from locals: hUs://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc b34739e4c99c461685de4c0207bf286e.pdf The way this plan is written is very far from what will support our island. Try again. Thank you, Adrienne Hew From: Donald To: W PCtesti mono Cc: LPCtestimonv Subject: The Big Island General Plan 2045 Date:Thursday, December 5, 2024 11:08:42 AM Aloha Commissioners, The Big island Plan cannot go through the way it is designed. It is hard to believe any local helped design this plan. Here are some concerns: There is a huge part of the plan dedicated to "Climate Change". However, why do most experts state there is NO climate danger? Climate Experts Speak Out Against Climate Danger Click Here! The word "Stakeholder," defined in the plan, is written 86 times and literally means anyone in the entire world can have input on this 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 and management are crucial for the success and sustainability of any initiative, as it helps ensure that diverse perspectives and interests are considered. 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. The Planning Department has sent out letters too many homeowners telling them their land use will be changed from resident to recreation due to the General Plan 2045. This will drastically lower 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. There is a huge section on climate change and things that will be affected. This needs to be further 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://clinte1.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. Hilo does not have a Community Development Plan. How can a Big Island General Plan move forward without that? Hilo is 22% of the island. 1.13 under "Increase the biodiversity and resilience of native habitats" reads, '7ncentivize 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 too because it's not the locals? "Pursue the acquisition of lands" does this say they are going to pursing taking people's private property?Again with "protection of natural resources". This plan should be focused on people growing more food and it is doing the exact opposite! 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 of Papaikou, 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 2cb1cc6d604f4cdd971ad408 31c745bc.12df Papaikou Site Plan: https://www.standtoget.herhawaii.com/ files/ugd/86fc0c 5e4cdb02efeb46a5ae9 49a3579aff00d.pdf Papaikou Development: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/ files/ugd/86fc0c c2af52c8b3c645b1 a6868a72 4eee8304.pdf A Hawaiian born Kanaka revised the Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship that is in the plan. You can see it in the pdf below: Pa rt One: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/ files/ugd/86fc0c 0a1 d5be8f1 d140069415 f7b691725786.pdf Part Two: https://86fcOcbd-8207-4076-85fa- 5a62e4e933b4.usrfiles.com/ugd/86fc0c ecc498ba192d4a7689ebf31 c3681 c2ec.pdf Here is a longer revised version of the plan from locals: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/ files/ugd/86fc0c b34739e4c99c461685de4cO2 07bf286e.pdf The way this plan is written is very far from what will support our island. Don Noguchi From: Juhl Rayne To: LPCtestimony Subject: general plan Date:Thursday, December 5, 2024 2:18:45 PM looks like a communist plan to me no thank you, Juhl rayne From: Linda To: LPCtestimonv;WPCtestimonv Subject: Testimony for General Plan. Date: Thursday,December 5,2024 11:55:36 AM Aloha Commissioners, The Big island Plan cannot go through the way it is designed. It is hard to believe any local helped design this plan. Here are some concerns: There is a huge part of the plan dedicated to "Climate Change". However,why do most experts state there is NO climate danger? Climate Experts Speak Out Against Climate Danger Click Here! The word "Stakeholder," defined in the plan,is written 86 times and literally means anyone in the entire world can have input on this 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 and management are crucial for the success and sustainability of any initiative, as it helps ensure that diverse perspectives and interests are considered. 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. The Planning Department has sent out letters too many homeowners telling them their land use will be changed from resident to recreation due to the General Plan 2045. This will drastically lower 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. There is a huge section on climate change and things that will be affected. This needs to be further 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.ht1ps://clintel.orgL)YP- content/uploads/2024/10/WCD-241023.12df 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. Many Hawaii residents will not believe a climate change narrative especially since 8/8/2023 when Governor Joshua Green,told the United Nations and the world that the weird winds that fueled the Lahaina fire was caused from a passing hurricane. Residents came forward just after the fires which contradict that narrative. Lahaina Fire 2023 Never Forget htips://rumble.com/v4n6nui-lahaina-fire-2023-never-forget.html A 5 minute version of the main point of the above video is in the lyrics in the song below. Hawaii 23 htips://rumble.com/v4mq,q,q,o-hawail-23.html Hilo does not have a Community Development Plan. How can a Big Island General Plan move forward without that?Hilo is 22% of the island. 1.13 under"Increase the biodiversity and resilience of native habitats" reads, "Incentivize private land management practices thatprotect and enhance natural resource values and, when appropriate,pursue the acquisition oflands for the protection ofnatural resources." 'Incentives" mean more taxes. Protection" means more rules. Who's "values" is this plan referring too because it's not the locals? Pursue the acquisition of lands" does this say they are going to pursing taking people's private property?Again with "protection of natural resources". This plan should be focused on people growing more food and it is doing the exact opposite! 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 of Papaikou, has created an Ag Villages plan. Ag Village to add to the General Plan: Papaikou Ag Village Objectives: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_2cb 1 cc6d604f4cdd971 ad40831 c745bc.12df Papaikou Site Plan: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fc0c_5e4cdb02efeb46a5ae949a3579aff00d.pdf Papaikou Development: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_c2af52c8b3c645bla6868a724eee8304.pdf Hawaiian born Kanaka revised the Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship that is in the plan.You can see it in the pdf below: Part One: htips://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_OaId5be8fld140069415f7b691725786.pdf Part Two:https://86fcOcbd-8207-4076-85fa- 5a62e4e933b4.usrfiles.com/ugd/86fcOc_ecc498bal92d4a7689ebf3 l c368l c2ec.pdf Here is a longer revised version of the plan from locals: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fc0c b34739e4c99c461685de4c0207bf286e.12df The way this plan is written is very far from what will support our island. Linda Kroll Hawaii Island Inhabitant lindafayenaturallaw(&,amail.com From: Mary W Maxwell To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv Subject: For meeting today.I already sent it to"Planning.Hawaiicountry.gov" Date:Thursday,December 5,2024 11:08:42 AM Attachments: To Planners,for dec 5.2024 meetino.docx Thank you for reading this. I mean it seriously and respectfully. Mary Maxwell, PhD, LLB To: Plan ning.HawaiiCounty.gov Dated and emailed on December 4, 2024 In regard to the General Plan, I offer this different way of looking at Big Island: Every human wants three things. 1. He wants nice things and security for himself. 2. He wants to share his time and effort for the good of the community. 3. He wants to follow an authority. That's theoretical. In reality, some people on Big Island own their home and therefore have a greater desire than others to see "home ownership" maintained. Also, some people are dissuaded from helping others if they feel the system is unfair or that they are being conned. Let's ask, who is doing the conning? When I see key words on the Plan, such as Equality and Climate Change, I reckon it comes from the mainland or, still worse, from the UN. Hawaiians can think for themselves. They have exceptionally good values: aloha, pono, and Nature. The aforementioned 'key words' seem to be driving the thought processes of the Planners. Pardon me, but I smell a fish market. From my experience (I have a PhD in Politics), there is usually a core group, or even just one strong boss, who DOES NOT SPEAK FOR THE INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE. She speaks for a set of individuals (outsiders) who are basically destructive. Because it is generally considered impolite, or mean, for me to say such an outrageous thing, it's unlikely to get aired. (Maybe you have already thrown this piece of paper on the floor?) How about holding a meeting where you don't say "Everyone here wants what is best for all." It is better to recognize our selfishness and our pathetic fears and our habit of groveling to a boss. But an even more sweeping statement should be made by the Planners. You should say: "We have been tasked with doing a Land Grab and this is just an early stage. Our leaders (unnamed) have instructed us to use a gentle method of bringing this about -- by disguising it." -- Whew! A million apologies for my bluntness but I see these going on, all around the world. Humans are devalued. Humans are being treated as "pests." Actually, the Big Guys in charge are the really stupid pests. I honestly think they don't see how their destructiveness will work against THEM. They live in a fantasy. So, we can actually feel sorry for billionaires. By the way, some billionaires bought land on Maui just before the 2023 fire. Apparently, we are supposed to believe that this has no significance. What! This goes to show how far we have turned off our brain. It's like when everybody believed the Emperor was wearing beautiful clothes, until a child asked "Why is he naked?" Oops. Good luck. I do know that you are trying valiantly. Please make a wild show of courage. It will invigorate all others. So many lives are at stake. Mahalo for the opportunity to participate. Very sincerely yours, Mary Maxwell. Still alive at age 77. (1 don't know how to do the scan-a-signature thing. Sorry.) My email is: MaxwellMaryLLB@gmail.com From: Mele Akua To:WPCtestimonv;LPCtestimonv Subject: Revise Hawaii General Plan Testimony Here Date: Thursday,December 5,2024 11:07:41 AM Aloha Commissioners, We've heard you are volunteers and just regular citizens like the rest of us—you represent us. Thank you for volunteering your time. Please consider all the testimonies you have received, and do your own research to examine the evidence you have been presented with. Do not rely on "Fact Checkers" as who checks the fact checkers? And all main stream media are owned by just 6 corporations, including "Fact Checkers". Here is an article: https://www.webfx.com/blog/internet/the-6-companies-that-own- almost-all-media-infographic/There is no unbiased media. I remember learning in school that in China and Russia, propaganda is used on the people, to control them, to influence what they think... so we would think it isn't used on us here, when it is: "Operation Mockingbird" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/y3aCtdwFqRw I have read the Hawaii County General Plan 2045, and it does not represent the people of Hawaii. My impression is that the General Plan from 2005 was changed after Hawaii County joined ICLEI in 2018. ICLEI is UN affiliated and stands for International Council of Local Environmental Initiatives. General Plan 2045 is filled with United Nations Agenda 21 or Agenda 2030 propaganda. On September 22, 2024, the UN just passed their"Pact for the Future" to transform Global Governance, as a solution to the Climate Change crisis. You have already heard numerous testimonies that there is no Climate Change and there is technology that can control the weather. Climate Change is an engineered or designed crisis as a reason to take away national sovereignty as a solution. Here is another website with information on weather manipulation or Geoengineering: https://climateviewer.com/ UN Agenda 21 is a plan to bring about Totalitarian Technocracy over all nations, and take away our rights and freedoms. Technocracy information here: https://www.technocracy.news/ The World Economic Forum, in a post from 2016 said basically, "By 2030, you will own nothing, rent everything, and be happy." Here is the post: World Economic Forum: By 2030, "You will own nothing. And you'll be happy!" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omAklaMyw7E I disagree - whoever ends up owning everything will be happy. It is extremely concerning that the Hawaii County General Plan 2045 never mentions "home owner" and that there are several mentions that the County or State will seek to acquire private land. As it is based on a scam, please remove the Climate Change section and any references to it in the Plan. Please add stewardship for the land, and that our island will be protected from "chem trailing" or"stratospheric aerosol injections" and other weather manipulation technologies. The state of Tennessee has banned chemtrails and other states are working on similar legislation. Also please remove "reduce miles traveled". Please remove any wording that will result in more taxes and restrictions imposed on the people, and change to strategies will be implemented that will lower the cost of living, lower taxes, encourage everyone to grow their own food, leading to food sustainability, just as the Native Hawaiians were self-sufficient when there were no supply ships coming here. Also add that the rights of the people to own private property, to participate in government and give public testimonies that are heard and acknowledged will be guaranteed. Here are some other concerns I have with General Plan 2045: Please change "Stakeholder" to "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 and management are crucial for the success and sustainability of any initiative, as it helps ensure that diverse perspectives and interests are considered. 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. The Planning Department has sent out letters to many homeowners telling them their land use will be changed from resident to recreation due to the General Plan 2045. This will drastically lower 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. Hilo does not have a Community Development Plan. How can a Big Island General Plan move forward without that? Hilo is 22% of the island. 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 too because it's not the locals? "Pursue the acquisition of lands" does this say they are going to pursing taking people's private property? Again with "protection of natural resources". This plan should be focused on people growing more food and it is doing the exact opposite! 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 of Papaikou, has created an Ag Villages plan. Ag Village to add to the General Plan: Papaikou Ag Village Objectives: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_2cbl cc6d604f4cdd971 ad40831 c745bc.pdf Papaikou Site Plan: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_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 can see it in the pdf below: Part One: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/files/ugd/86fc0c Oa1d5be8f1d140069415f7b691725786.pdf Part Two: https://86fcOcbd-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 Mahalo, Mele Akua From: Sarahlee Kittons To: LPCtestimonv Cc: WPCtestimonv Subject: Testimony to General Plan Date:Thursday,December 5,2024 7:30:32 PM How this General Plan mimics the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom. How is it much different, than stripping away peoples rights and eroding the invisible forces that give life to the people, their connection, community and self susaainability, and their stewardship to the aina that provides for life here on the island. Clear and simple purpose gives rise to intelligent action and successful outcomes. Complex rules and regulations create stupid and limited behavior. On Jan 17, 1946 on the 53 anniversary of the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, Senator Alice Kamokila Campbell, descendant of chiefs from the lineage of Queen Kapi'olani wife to King Kalakaua and one of the few voices who opposed the statehood for Hawaii gave her testimony to the joint- congressional committee on statehood was quoted by John Whitehead in saying I do not feel...we should forfeit the traditional rights and privileges of the natives of our islands for a mere thimbleful of votes in Congress, that we, the lovers of hawaii from long association with it should sacrifice our birthright for th greed of alien desires to remain on our shores, that we should satisfy the thirst for power and control of some inflated industrialists and politicians who hide under the guise of friends of Hawaii, yet still keeping an eagle eye on the financial and political pressure button of subjugation over the people in general of these islands. I like the word"general". It has a commanding presence doesn't it. As in the General Plan. There is noting general about it as it is specifically designed to strip away the life of the people and their connection to the Island. Where are you getting your decision making power? Are you being indoctrinated by information being handed down by unelected corporations, individuals or people in financially empowered positions? This is directed to the Climate concerns. Examples of such modification and behaviors of officials in the Maui disaster, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Technology was created for the good of supply better weather where needed. Once the powers found out about took it and our now capitalizing the weaponization against the people for monetary gain by those who demonstrate it's use in death and destruction of life and property. They are evil doers that are allowing the transition and acquisition of property from long time local individuals. This seems relevant to what is termed as stakeholders. hM2s://youtu.be/82T30O1LBz0?si=5OZ6NfgUpTcku-mW This is a video regarding Nick Begich US Representative for the State of Alaska coauthored the book—Angels don't play this HAARP of which the HAARP facility sits in Alaska. Whereas there are many antenna, towers etc located around the planet that are utilized in weather technology Weather modification his://www.technologyreview.com/2022/03/28/1048275/scientists-advance- cloud-seeding-capabilities-with-nanotechnology Here's a weather modification website with a plethora of information. https://weathermodificationhi story,com/climate-global-control-trading-llc- steering-hurricanes-ionospheric-technology/ Monetization of water control through weather modification is now at hand. The next oil of the world is water manipulation. The concept of monetization of global market of water resources by means of cryptocurrency climate CORN. A lot of money to be made by controlling the water. You can see this at Climate Global Control Trading h!W://www.climateglobal.net In his article, "to command the hurricanes," Ross Hoffman (Ross N. Hoffman) - a leading expert and vice president of the Massachusetts company, "Studies of the atmosphere and the environment" (AER), describes similar experiments carried out to order NASA. The conclusion that makes a scientist, a very revealing: "Who knows, maybe after 10-20 years, many countries will become our regular customers at the establishment of national centers of large-scale climate control in their territory with our technology." How It Works For the management of weather processes in the atmosphere is used a special kind of electromagnetic waves of different frequencies. Creation and safely management of the atmospheric flows, thermal lens, and also controlled and managed anomalies. Safely management of weather processes on the border of the ocean— atmosphere. Imagine the force fields, atmospheric wall with modified parameters, as in science fiction films. With their safely use, our specialists can create and safely manage different atmospheric tunnels in the that safely affect the current weather processes. We have special technology and equipment that allow literally in the smallest detail .....consider various natural atmospheric and weather processes in real time, if clicked on the Stop button in the movie player(frame by frame). Therefore, our specialists can see the impact that these processes, and to understand how and what to do for the effective management of that particular case. This does not exist anywhere in the world, because the weak changes in the energy field of the earth for area up to 10 million square kilometres, our our specialists and experts can detect and track and correct. The energy equivalent of this planned action may be tens of megatons, only distributed in time and space. And it may be comparable to the solar energy flowing into the territory (5 to 30%). hApS://climateviewer,com/2018/09/22/climate-global-control-trading-llc-creates- steers-hurricanes-with-ionospheric-modification-cloud-ionization/ Detailed information showing all the sites of technology to control the weather worldwide. Videos of admitted weather storms. They bragging about controlling the weather. Legal global deployment. Modern solutions for the global market of water resources. WATER Primary Water—Pal Pauer Was the worlds leading authority on primary water. (also called earth-generated, juvenile, or magmatic) forms within the earth's crust or mantle and is found in crystalline rock systems at depths of only 100 ft or more. This water is the source of all water on the earth and eventually reaches the groundwater, soil water, and surface through vents and unconfined aquifers to become part of the hydrological cycle when extracted. article about the earth making water from the mantle hs://www.newscientist.com/article/2119475-planet-earth-makes-its-own-water- from-scratch-deep-in-the-mantle/ Other researchers said it was plausible that this water caused deep quakes. "These results provide important insights into the reactions between quartz and hydrogen at high pressures," says John Ludden, executive director of the British Geological Survey. "The formation and release of overpressured water may be a significant trigger in the deep lithosphere for ultra-deep earthquakes, sometimes located well below the crust and in the more rigid parts of deep continental plates." The findings may also inform how our planet got its water to start with. Studies over the past few years have found evidence of several oceans'worth of water locked up in rock, as far down as 1000 kilometres, questioning the assumption that water arrived from space after Earth's formation.A study published this week, for example, based on isotopes from meteorites and Earth's mantle, also found that water is unlikely to have arrived on icy comets after Earth formed, as has long been assumed. Instead, all this research seems to suggest that much of our planet's water may have come from within—although no one yet knows exactly how much https://en.wiki edpia.org wiki/Magmatic water Magmatic water, also known as juvenile water, is an aqueous phase in equilibrium with minerals that have been dissolved by magma deep within the Earth's crust and is released to the atmosphere during a volcanic eruption. It plays a key role in assessing the crystallization of igneous rocks, particularly silicates, as well as the rheology and evolution of magma chambers. https:Hprimerywater.com/images/Primary%20Water%20I ntrod uction%20E N.pdf primary water is a unique form of water that is created deep in the Earths mantle. Unlike the traditional hydrological cycle that relies on precipitation,primary water is created inside the Earth by the synthesis of hydrogen and oxygen under high pressure and heat. Primary wate rthen rises to the surface through cracks in the Earth's crust, where it can be accessed using specialized location techniques developed by us. From: Silvah N Gould To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv Subject: Revise Hawaii General Plan Testimony Here Date:Thursday, December 5,2024 11:59:56 AM Aloha Commissioners, This Hawaii General Plan 2045 is not Pono for Hawaii. This is an Invasive Species and should be eradicated for the islands to thrive and live. Whiie you are skippin-and-a-hoppin about in your Wonderland, somebody in the dark had been scheming and plotting to take ALL the Wonder and the Land! Agenda 21 is the agenda for the 21st century. It has been re-branded in many names. Case in point: Hawaii General Plan 2045! 2045 is a milestone within the 100 year century) plan. Agenda 21 is on a global scale: There's a worldwide movement to control you, believe it or not, by seizing your private property and resources and is taking root at a local level. This is a United Nations agenda to establish global government through radical environmentalism. It's a global plan and is being implemented locally. Agenda 21 Sustainable Development Plan (or Goals - SDGs) is the action plan to INVENTORY and CONTROL ALL: Land Water Minerals Plants Animals Construction Means of Production Education Energy Law Enforcement Healthcare Information Means of Transportation HUMAN BEINGS IN THE WORLD It's a comprehensive plan of action for total world domination. American Planning Association's - 12-week long communications boot camp: where they re-indoctrinate, re-propagandize planners and they told them that they need to inoculate elected officials against their constituents for speaking the truth about the Agenda 21 SDGs. If people are aware, people will reject regionalizing their government by an outside unelected entity. We ALL live here and have families; we should not be selling our GOD given rights and freedoms to the few that would only want to take control and monetize ...and leaving the rest of us outside of DEI ( Diversity, Equity and Inclusion)! United Nation Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) posted online: https://sdgs.un.org/goals Abaul c Tdls Ar.I rn F•, a:; d,,.r;., X.[ SUSTAINABLE ^ DEVELOPMENT , 1 Mogan i WWYYL. 1 1 I1 mo Hawaii (Website) - Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) - the same goals as the United Nation's https://planning.hawaii.gov/sustainability/sustainable-development-goals/ Rufr J A•.we ii11 IFj Mld S11Sfi lYi! I LJ TAINAOLE OR4'6LONA MGOALS 95 u , w, ew -*aAau 0lamp*orBr. nxK..-•:r.,.rr°..., :..,t.y,,,+er,,.. .,.. .aar.:arx.rt.,.,+.Rx,wu,.,,,w,.ri,raegru i UP41 r,rr""",II h.a wa ame ro,.,.a:.r c.„e e• r.nm r.,r ,-a wows i„ , ,.,"„ ryiw. ;!.,u"w°aaWCk-0'-0dr`l'x;Mm`rtRw NV2d9FF'tfyr+'+'Rk!lrt.+a,•.WvrlsA'd ,,.i.e.`IiAr%:SW'° m n. V r+•.f+.,Ya}.n,u:r`..'+.rvl awes lroa.Ev lre,lrp'rl i.sar=tlfrn-.-+f'. .wV°r xir.-y 6 _. ua'+ran.rr'in!°a++rf Jw....ri amf+,-i^mur'y, Irr ry.,•r;,w.,r 1an Fs vlri RhSer'n 1»mrrvGe_m.owe.iw,YSL Ar++.+w.,'TStYW Asrci wtifC`.x:°,. mr; a ..,... dM w•...w h per.'^I^9 rr If Agenda 21 is a "conspiracy theory", then why are the UN's sustainable development goals on the Hawaii website? You probably think, "What's wrong with the UN? They're working towards protecting the Earth and world peace. Why would they plan the Totalitarian take over of the world?" Most of us don't know the religious beliefs of the people who founded and influenced the UN. Alice Bailey started UN affiliated Lucifer Publishing Company in 1922. The name was changed to Lucis Trust after criticism that they named their company after the Devil. In her books, Bailey wrote that Christ is Lucifer. She was a student of Helena Blavatsky, who started the Theosophical Society, and also wrote in her books that Lucifer is the god of this world. There are several verses in the Holy Bible that tell us Satan is the god of this world, but we rarely hear this in churches, and few of us read the Bible any more. It doesn't matter if you don't believe in Lucifer, they do, and they have all the power to lead the world. Here is a video about the UN's ties to Luciferianism: The United Nations' Luciferian Connections I Truth Matters Ep. 4 (Amazing Discoveries YouTube Channel) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qF9-sViMHTk Most people would not think to Google "The UN is Luciferian". I hope you will research this for yourself and conclude that no one should be taking advise or orders from the United Nations. Make General Plan 2045 for, of and by the people of the island of Hawaii. Mahalo! From: Michelle Melendez To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv Subject: EV"s are dangerous Piz take them out of General Plan 2045 Date:Saturday, December 7,2024 10:52:18 AM Attachments: EV House.odf EBus on Fire.ona Amazon EV Van Fire-ono Fire Cheif and EV Fires.ona Aloha Commissioners, Mahalo for reading my testimony on Electric vehicles. They must be removed from the plan from pages: 66, 70, and 106, Electric Vehicle Batteries Are A Toxic Hazard Waste From: science.ora on MAY 20, 2021 it reads: Materials expert Dana Thompson stated, "Recycling Electric Car batteries is a hazard." "Cut too deep into a Tesla cell, or in the wrong place, and it can short-circuit, combust, and release flammable toxic fumes." https://www.science.org/content/article/millions-electric-cars-are-coming= what-happens-al I-dead-batteries# We cannot put these batteries in our landfill or down a lava tube. If they break toxic fumes will be released. Electric vehicles (EVs) are expected to last 100,000 to 200,000 miles, or about 15 to 20 years. What will we do with the batteries in 15-20 years? They are hazardous waste. Where will we put them? Electric Vehicles Are a Fire Hazard Fire Chief Jeff Baumunk said, "Electric Vehicle fires can take more than 2 hours to put out and between 2,500 to 25,000 gallons of water. https://youtu.be/K5vDWhMHTwE? si=jqOsHNmFCC63U2Sn July 20, 2023 Electric Vehicle caught fire in a garage on the mainland and couldn't be put out in time to save the house. https://youtu.be/SlpXkQhgl ps?si=dNE- 8kY -98FDdDc Aug 29, 2024 50+ Electric Vehicles caught fire in Illinoi at an automotive plant. https://youtu.be/aKFaudtDkOc?si=pPkAH7mGNWAgvnpv Some electric vehicle fires have been from the charging station and not the battery. They even put out fire jet streams. An Amazon electric van, and a fully electric bus fire have had fire jets coming out of them. I've attached the images. An expert said one reason for long jet flames could be from a 12 volt ion battery failing or from holes in the battery box allowing gases to vent out. There is gas not liquid in the battery. MAY 10, 2022 A shipping expert says there have been about 70 fires reported in the last five years on container ships. The problem with EVs, is that lithium-ion batteries can actually propagate the fire, igniting more vigorously as compared to conventional cell batteries. https://www.autoweek.com/news/industry-news/a39951439/is-it-safe-to- ship-thousands-of-electric-cars-on-big-ships/ These vehicles will stress our already strained electric grid. How is that sustainable? The range on an electric bus is 300 miles. The range of a gas bus is 750 miles. More than twice as many miles. Without the risk of burning people alive! Electric buses take a ton of energy, as much, or more than an average home. Semi Trucks even more. The buses and semi trucks could take up the entire electric grid! Plus, 2-3 more electric grids! Hawaii has the highest electric rates in the country. This plan will increase that per household by hundreds of dollars per month, if people have electric cars. What happens if and when the power grid goes down? How will people get to work or go to the hospital if there is an emergency? It's an illusion that we're burning less oil to fuel electric cars. We are actually using more oil to make the electricity to fuel the cars. Our electric power plants run on oil and will need to be expanded to supply the amount of electricity we'll need for EV's on the island. Mining Cobalt for Electric Vehicles Poisons People The people that mine the cobalt used in electric vehicles work in toxic and dangerous conditions. Do we want to be a part of that problem? People can't get out if the battery turns off! On Mar 13, 2024 Businesswoman Angela Chao lost her life after backing her Tesla into a pond and the car turned off. There are many examples of people not being able to get out of the car if the battery turns off. If the car catches fire and the battery turns off, they are dead. Hawaii is already supporting the planet! We don't use more carbon than we make oxygen. Our island sequesters more carbon than we produce because of the plants. We're already saving the planet with all our plants. To be more sustainable do not bring these dangerous, poisonous cars, buses and trucks to this island that further impact our electric grid. These electric vehicles must be removed from the general plan. Kind Regards, Michelle Melendez-Freedom Activist Fitness and Wellness Expert Since 1996 Author Of The Best Selling and 4x Award Winning Book, End Dieting Hell:How to find peace in your body and release the weight Order your copy of End Dieting Hell Click Here Great Maui Land Grab"NOW Available here i \ k y a,. . TRW y\\? l <: yw Messages . 8:48 AM f f Iwo rr mar- II T app instagram.com 7> ^a y . I IIIV IIIII IU!I Ipl L II III I III ll!!ii,p,ui mm t AM DURATION. 2+ HRS WATER NEEDED: Z500-25,000 GAL x From: alicia oalmvallevfarm.com To: LPCtestimonv;WPCtestimonv Subject: Revise Hawaii General Plan Testimony Here Date: Wednesday,December 18,2024 5:38:24 PM Aloha Commissioners, The Big island Plan cannot go through the way it is designed. It is hard to believe any local helped design this plan. Please do not send this forward to the County Council as it is. Here are some concerns: A huge part of the plan is dedicated to"Climate Change". However,why do most experts state there is NO climate danger?Climate Experts Speak Out Against Climate Danger Click Here! The word "Stakeholder,"defined in the plan,is written 86 times and means anyone worldwide can have input on this 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 and management are crucial for the success and sustainability of any initiative,as it helps ensure that diverse perspectives and interests are considered. 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.Our voices will be silenced by OSCER. The Planning Department has sent out letters to many homeowners telling them their land use will be changed from resident to recreation due to the General Plan 2045.This drastically lowers their property value and opens the door to rezoning the area. This is not Pono. It breaks the Aloha Spirit law§5-7.5.To reduce someone's propertyvalue is not okay.This must be made pono again. There is a significant section on climate change and things that will be affected.This needs to be further researched.There are over 1900 credentialed scientists who say there is no climate danger. Here is the pdf showing the scientists and what country they are from. https://clintel.or /g_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 chan es. Hilo needs a Community Development Plan. How can a Big Island General Plan move forward without that?Hilo is 22%of the island. 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 too because it's not the locals? Pursue the acquisition of lands." Does this say they are going to pursue taking people's private property? Again,with"protection of natural resources".This plan should be focused on people growing more food, and it is doing the exact opposite! 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 of Papaikou, 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 Site Plan: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/ files/ugd/86fc0c 5e4cdb02efeb46a5ae949a3579affOOd.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 can see it in the pdf below: Pa rt One: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/ files/ugd/86fc0c Oa1d5be8f1d140069415f7b691725786.pdf Part Two: https://86fcOcbd-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. Mahalo, Alicia Wills Palm Valley Farm LLC From: Barbara Garcia To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv Subject: Testimony/request to revise Hawaii General Plan Date:Wednesday, December 18,2024 9:16:06 PM Aloha, I'm writing to request that the Big island General Plan be revised. It's not in the best interest of the island or its people the way it is written now. For one thing, why would anyone want to change the land use from resident to recreation? It doesn't make sense. It will lower our property values. The way this plan is written currently does not support our island or its people. To support it, we need to grow more food, and be less dependent on importing it. Please reconsider. Mahalo, Barbara Garcia From: caskw To: LPCtestimony Subject: Concerning the General Plan Date:Wednesday, December 18,2024 7:23:29 PM Attachments: Big Island General Plan 2045 Testimony(1).odf Sent with Proton Mail secure email. Greetings, Attached is a PDF outlining our concerns about he General Plan and the language it uses to cover up it's true agenda. Under the guise of"sustainability", "green", "renewable" this plan is nothing more than a land grab. It is designed to remove people who are working hard on actual organic, green, sustainable and an abundant life for the Big Island, from their land they bought and rightfully own. And force those who stay into "workforce housing. Property owners and their rights are not considered in this plan. The only parties considered in this plan are "share holders". Which means wealthy corporate investors on Wall Street. These are the same people with the same policies and plans who turned C.A. from a once beautiful state into a unhealthy, unsuitable, unaffordable, inorganic, overcrowded stressful place to live. It made investors extremely wealthy while taking away a really good life from everyone else. This General Plan will do the same to the Big Island. Bret Dixon. Legend: Black: Directly out of General Plan Red: Edit Yellow Highlighted is requesting text to be Removed Pink Highlighted is a Concern/Comments Page: 27 Implementation Strategies Zoning & Land Use Regulations Update regulations to align with the goals of the General Plan." Please change to: "Update regulations" to "align with the goals of local Communities and the General Plan." Public-Private Partnerships Collaborate with private entities and homeowners to achieve mutual development and conservation objectives." CONCERN: The word "Homeowner" is not written anywhere in the entire plan. That is VERY concerning. Why are you leaving homeowners out of the general plan that will affect them and their future generations? Please include "homeowner' wherever"stakeholder" is and where suggested in this document. Also, please be clear about who these private entities are that you want to collaborate with so this is more transparent. Community Engagement Continuously engage residents and stakeholders in the decision- making process." CONCERN: The community deserves to know who "Stakeholders" are and EXACTLY what they have stake in. Please define. Page: 28 1.1 The purposes of the General Plan are to: Provide the framework for regulatory decisions, capital improvement priorities, acquisition strategies, and other pertinent government programs within the County organization and coordinated with State and Federal programs. This sounds like you want to take people's property through acquisition and regulate the heck out of locals. Please change to the following: Provide framework that supports local farmers and communities without further regulations, capital improvement priorities, and other pertinent local and government programs within the County organization and coordinate with State and Federal programs to support thriving communities. Promote and safeguard the public interest and the interest of the County as a whole." Please change to the following: ""Promote and safeguard the public interest and the interest of the County as a whole without violating personal freedoms, the Constitution or further regulating the public." Effect political and technical coordination in community improvement and development." CONCERN: This sounds like you will bring politics into community living. That is not pono. Please change to: "Effect strategies that support community improvements and development for locals." The 2045 General Plan is the primary policy document for county agencies, planning commissions, elected officials, landowners, developers, and citizens to guide land use policy decisions for the Island of Hawai`i." Please change to: The 2045 General Plan is the primary policy document for county agencies, planning commissions, elected officials, landowners, homeowners, developers, and locals to guide land use policy decisions for the Island of Hawaii. Please add: (a) The general plan shall contain a statement of development objectives, standards and principles with respect to the most desirable use of land within the county for residential, recreational, agricultural, commercial, industrial and other purposes which shall be consistent with proper conservation of natural resources without violating personal rights and freedoms, and supporting local communities to prosper, and the preservation of our natural beauty and historical sites, while still giving access to the public; the most desirable density of population in the several parts of the county (Remove) b) The council shall enact zoning, subdivision, and such other ordinances which shall contain the necessary provisions to support thriving communities, farmers and homeowners. The way it is currently written describes zoning people out of their homes with more regulations and fines. Page 29: d) Amendments to the general plan may be initiated by the council or the planning director giving adequate notice to the public for needed testimony. Page 32: CONCERN WITH THE THREE CIRCLE "SUSTAINABILITY" DIAGRAM: The words: Sustainability and Equity are part of a political woke vocabulary and should not be in the Hawaii General Plan. Also, "Social and Culture Equity" should be removed. It is not the responsibility of the planning department to control the behavior of people. That again is a "woke" agenda. Nor does this language reflect a thriving community. "Environmental Protection" gives the impression of more regulations and a reduction of people's rights. Please remove it. Instead call it: INNOVATION with these 3 circles: Economic Alternatives, Environmental Support, Thriving Communities The goal of the planning department should be to create an environment of prosperity and not one of over regulation and constraints on locals. We can do those through new innovations and not sustainability. Sustainability moves Big Island backwards not forward! 1.4 Innovation Principles and Practices CONCERN: Big Island needs to move toward free energy, which is available and not more regulations on what we have. Change: Integrating innovation into the General Plan is crucial for fostering long-term resilience and thriving communities. Change: "This includes increasing the effectiveness of new technologies to support local communities, improving coordination among various agencies and levels of government, and finding new and innovative ways to support our natural and cultural resources. for better development that supports a thriving environment, economic alternatives (sharing without taxes, trading without regulation), and flourishing communities. The General Plan recognizes this need and aligns with the Hawaii 2050 Sustainability Plan,, which sets a strategic framework for achieving a sustainable future. By embedding sustainability principles into its core, this Plan sets forth a cohesive and forward- thinking strategy that addresses key challenges and anticipates future needs." Please remove what is highlighted! CONCERN: By using the word "Sustainable" you are not supporting Hawaii to move forward. You are creating more control of the environment, and communities. That is not Pono and violates the HS [§5-7.5] "Aloha Spirit": "Aloha"means mutual regard and affection and extends warmth in caring with no obligation in return. If the planning department creates a general plan that adds more regulations and constraints on locals, they violate the Aloha Spirit law. The Hawaii 2050 Innovation Plan "created the State's first definition of sustainability" (remove): A Hawaii that achieves the following: 1. Respects the culture, character, beauty, and history of our state's island communities; 2. Support a thriving community both socially and economically as we support our environment to heal and prosper; and 3. Meets the needs of the present without violating freedoms or compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Page 33: In the diagram: Regulatory Measures" County Code Administrative Rules Permits This shows that this general plan will increase restrictions and fees on farmers and other locals. This is not Pono. The plan should reflect innovation not constraints against the population. Please change to CHANGE TO: Innovation Practices" Implement new resources Administration support Economic Alternatives Remove "permits". Stop trying to permit the population to death! CURRENTLY: The Plan also incorporates guidelines to serve as strategic directions and standards to inform decisions regarding topics such as land use, infrastructure, housing, and resource management. These guidelines help to ensure consistency in planning and implementation, promoting sustainable growth, environmental stewardship, and community well-being. (This is a complete overreach of the government. You cannot tell people what to do with their property! It is NOT the responsibility of the planning department to ensure people's well-being! This should be revised to support environment, innovations, and thriving communities.) Vision: The ability to plan for the future with creativity and innovation in support of thriving communities. Goal: To see Hawaii Island become self-sustaining as communities and the environment prosper Objective: Measurable, achievable, and time-bound milestones toward achieving a goal. Guideline: A stated course of action that shall take precedence when addressing areas of concern and should be followed, unless a determination is made that it is not the most desirable in a particular case; thus, a guideline may be deviated from without penalty or sanction as long2 as it supports thriving communities, economic alternatives and supporting the environment. Page 34 Regulatory Implementing Actions (Locals DO NOT need more regulations and hoops to jump through. That will not support thriving communities.) Regulatory implementing actions are one of two types of approaches used in the General Plan to pursue the vision, goals, and objectives. Regulatory actions are controlling in that they define boundaries, development parameters, and measures intended to implement goals or objectives. The three regulatory implementing actions in the Plan include: Please change the last paragraph to: Work with local communities to pursue the vision, goals, and objectives. Find fair and supportive directions to define boundaries, development parameters, and measures intended to implement goals or objectives. Three actions in the Plan include: General Plan Land Use Map: A map that graphically delineates the areas of intended future land use types that support thriving communities and environmental support and do not hinder personal freedoms. Policy: A general rule for action focused on a specific issue, derived from more general goals3that also support thriving communities and supporting the environment. Standard: A supportive measure that defines the meaning, quality, or quantity of a policy by providing a way to measure its attainment. In the General Plan, future land use maps, policies, and standards are specific to the actions through which zoning ordinances, subdivisions, and public improvements or projects are initiated or adopted through innovations and are flexible to support thriving communities. because, as they must conform to and implement the general plan in accordance with the County Charter, Section 3-15." Remove! The word "conform" is concerning. We are not in Communist China. Please revise to support thriving communities. Non-regulatory implementing actions typically involve community engagement, education and outreach, partnership development, and resource allocation to encourage support from the community (remove "compliance") and proactive efforts. This approach allows for flexibility and innovation in achieving the Plan's vision. Throughout the General Plan, the objectives and policies are followed by a set of implementing actions. There are three types: Add: Community Support: Taking testimony and revisions from the community seriously and implementing where possible. Page 35: 1 . 6 Grounded Vision and Goals As we navigate our future, maintaining a balance between economic alternatives, environmental support, and thriving communities is paramount. By integrating those established values and principles, the General Plan ensures continuity and reflects the collective vision of Hawaii Island residents, guiding new innovation developments while honoring our unique cultural and environmental heritage. The four primary chapters of the Plan encompass the innovation pillars of environment, community, and economy, as outlined in the Hawaii State Planning Act Goals. General Plan Vision Statement Hawaii Island is an exemplary leader with healthy and resilient communities that are built by innovative developments, a thriving and diversified local economy, and collaborative biocultural stewardship with locals. Goal General Plan Chapter Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship Natural and cultural resources are thriving and sustainably managed, preserved, and restored to maintain our unique and diverse environment and use innovative techniques if and when appropriate to support future growth. Addressing Climate Change for Ensure the science is followed and Island-Wide Health investigate credentialed scientists and the Milankovitch cycles of which both have CONCERN: Please realize there is no shown the earth is cooling. Since humans climate change emergency. 1944 have less than 1% impact on climate, start supporting ways that we can maintain a credentialed scientists from around the healthy island by incorporating policies, world have signed a "No Climate Change programs, infrastructure, and decision-making that support the environment Emergency Declaration". You can find it and thriving communities. And NOT policies here: that take away more freedoms and regulate locals to death! https:Hcli ntel.ora/world-climate-declaration/ Humans have less than 1% affect on climate. Hawaii Island will not believe in false narratives with political agendas. Please do your own research on this. Innovative Development & Thriving We strategically apply innovative land use Communities strategies incorporating indigenous and contemporary knowledge and place-based practices to direct and manage growth for thriving communities. It is NOT the responsibility of the planning department to manage the health and safety Each community is connected by a of communities. That is an overreach of the multimodal and modernized transportation government! network that provides a system for safe, efficient, and comfortable movement of people and goods. Our communities are adequately served by innovation and efficient public infrastructure, utilities, and services based on existing and future growth needs, sound design principles, and effective maintenance practices. Our communities are thriving and supported and have access to integrative health, education, and social services to support a high quality of life for all residents. Residents have access to adequate (change to: comfortable) and affordable housing to meet the needs of the population and provide equitable (remove) opportunities for household flexibility and mobility. We employ integrated systems that are efficient, equitable (remove), fair, and organized to facilitate coordination and collaboration. Thriving, Diversified, Competitive with Our economy is competitive, innovative, and Economic Alternatives supportive. It helps our communities thrive and increases local economic opportunities. Agriculture is a robust sector that supports local farmers and includes a broad range of agricultural-based businesses that highlight value, organic and good health practices. A high quality of life for locals is maintained when a supportive visitor industry balances economic growth with natural and cultural responsibility. Page: 38 2 . 1 Introduction Collaborative biocultural (remove) stewardship is an approach to innovation development that emphasizes collaboration and partnership building among stakeholders (Who are they and what do they have stake in?), and homeowners and integrates natural and cultural resource management strategies to promote thriving communities. conservation, sustainability, and resilience (remove). Cooperative efforts aimed at achieving innovative development sustainable management remove) of ecological systems are crucial for protecting our natural and built environments. Land use planning and management should be holistic, inclusive (remove), and adaptive to reflect thriving communities values, knowledge, and aspirations (remove). The General Plan provides key strategies to achieve biocultural (remove) supportive stewardship, including community engagement, partnership building, collaborative decision-making, and collective action. Environmental and social systems are complex and dynamic. These systems will require adaptive management and continuous learning as we navigate the future. The policies presented in this section seek to foster partnerships that are based on mutual respect, trust, and shared values. The community engagement process must be inclusive to incorporate diverse perspectives and knowledge systems into conservation and development strategies. Following such practices can promote the co-creation of knowledge, the sharing of resources, and the empowerment of communities. By leveraging the strengths and resources of different stakeholders REMOVE (Who are they and what do they have stake in?), and homeowners we can enhance the capacity of communities to manage natural and cultural resources sustainably remove). We can also facilitate the creation of new networks and alliances, promoting social cohesion and resilience. Ultimately, the collaborative biocultural stewardship approach can foster a more integrated, inclusive, and equitable approach to conservation and development that reflects the aspirations and needs of local communities. (REMOVE THIS IS LANGUAGE IT IS DESIGNED TO REDUCE FREEDOMS INCREASE GOVERNMENT AND STAKEHOLDER OVERREACH AND BRING IN MORE GOVERNMENT CONTROL) CHANGE TO: We can also facilitate the creation of new innovative programs that support and reflect the aspirations of thriving local communities. This fundamental element of the Plan strives to cultivate a sense of place and connection to the environment and recognizes that the management of natural and cultural resources requires the participation of local communities, government, homeowners and other agencies diverse actors, including communities, governments, non-governmental organizations, and private sector entities. By promoting collaborative decision-making and collective action, we can enhance the effectiveness, equity, and legitimacy of conservation and development and innovative policies. By promoting community-based conservation and restoration strategies, we can enhance ecological integrity, promote biodiversity, and preserve cultural heritage and scenic landscapes.(Redundant Remove) Biocultural stewardship acknowledges the role of cultural diversity in shaping environmental perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors (Remove. People do not want to be manipulated). [It recognizes that cultural practices arising from traditional ecological knowledge are integral to maintaining ecosystem services and biological diversity.] remove) Change to: Cultural practices arising from traditional ecological knowledge are integral to supporting the growth of thriving communities that wish to improve their environment. Page 39: Table 1 : Biocultural (change to Land) Stewardship Challenges The word "Bioculture" is reflective of both biological and cultural factors that affect human behavior. Locals do not want the planning department to affect our behavior. Your job is to support the land, environment, and thriving communities. Native Habitat Hawai`i has been known as the extinction capital of the world. Climate change and sea level rise pose threats to existing habitats for native flora and fauna. REMOVE (Again, according to 1944 credential scientists from around the world, there is no climate danger. This is a narrative created by the "stakeholders" to move their agenda forward. htti)s:Hclintel.ora/world-climate-declaration/) Has the water level risen in any of the towns in Hawaii? Longer and/or more severe weather and climate change may increase the likelihood of wildfires. REMOVE (The Maui fire was NOT normal. A fire where trees do not burn but glass is melted out of cars, where animals and humans are left recognizable, and where plastic doesn't burn or even melt is not normal. That was an attack and murder of our Lahaina ohana. That is why only 20 building permits have been issued after a year! AND why Lahahina is STILL locked down!) Invasive species continue to pose a threat to native and endemic species as well economic, environmental, and human health. (Reminder: It is not the responsibility of the planning department to protect people's health.) The carrying capacity of our resources is not comprehensively modeled and monitored. Modeled and monitored should be for government agencies.) The County lacks specific regulations for wetlands, riparian ecosystems, or other valuable habitats. Stewardship The County has a limited budget for its large-scale geographic responsibility for the protection of public trust natural and cultural resources. (Revise. This doesn't make sense. What are you trying to say? What responsibility are you talking about? What does the protection of public trust mean?) Hawai`i Island has a large variation of unique biomes and ecosystems. The difference between traditional and modern practices along with varying mauka to makai ownership makes it difficult to comprehensively steward natural resources. Page 40 Native Habitat The County can collaborate with the State Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to create models for monitoring the carrying capacity of natural resources that will support farmers and thriving communities. Ongoing conservation work can continue to evolve from species-specific conservation (e.g., Albizia eradication) to focus on ecosystem restoration across multiple land ownership to protect Hawai`i's biodiversity and support local farms. Maintaining healthy, native-dominant forests offers immense savings of land biocultural Remove) and water resources that might otherwise be lost to the impacts of climate change Remove) and invasive species. Conservation lands hold significant value in the water resources they represent. Incentivizing and developing regenerative land uses without further regulations or fines, such as agroforestry, can provide sustainable opportunities to ecosystems and communities. Hawai`i can become a statewide adaptation and resiliency leader by focusing on its unique strengths and diversity to evolve with changing realities. Urban forestry can be prioritized or incentivized in the County Code. This means more regulations and possible fines. No thank you! Change to: Support the further growth of current urban forestry Watersheds Establish more place-based watershed partnerships to create unique management plans that incorporate the generational knowledge of those water systems and protect our island's watersheds and local farms. Strengthen the integration of Hawaiian biocultural remove resource management and traditional ecological knowledge across County government to support local farms. Practice an integrated approach to ecosystem-based collaborative management that considers the entire ecosystem and local communities. Watershed protection and management require collaboration and coordination across all levels of government and must include effective community engagement. Revise to: Support Watershed and management coordination which integrates local communities. Stewardship Hawai`i Island has a large variation of its unique natural biomes and ecosystems. Ongoing interagency coordination, including consultation with place-based land stewards,cultural and historical advisory groups, land and homeowners, and other stakeholders being transparent of what they hold stake in. The County can take a more proactive role in exercising its protective public trust role for natural and cultural resources. This sounds like government overreach. Again, the planning department is NOT responsible for protecting the public. That is a byproduct of what you do but it is NOT the main part of your job! Revise to: The County can take a more proactive role in supporting thriving communities and their natural and cultural resources. Maintain and increase involvement with existing partnerships and identify new partners that help promote and enhance biocultural (remove) Land stewardship. Collaborate to complete additional EPA-approved watershed plans to increase eligibility for future conservation funding. Page 41 2 . 2 Biocultural Stewardship Goal , Objectives, Policies, and Actions Objective 1 Increase the biodiversity and resilience of native habitats. Policies 1.4 Maintain the shoreline for recreational, cultural, educational, and/or scientific uses in a manner that is protective of nature, respectful of resources, and is of the maximum benefit to the general public. 1.8 Prioritize native landscaping for all County projects while allowing communities to enjoy it at their leisure. 1.11 Encourage and incentivize green belts, tree plantings, and landscape plans and designs in urban areas without further regulations or fines. 1.13 Incentivize private land management practices that protect and enhance natural resource and values without further regulations or fines. and, when appropriate, pursue the acquisition of lands for the protection of natural resources (Remove! This is a 110% overreach of the government.) 1.14 Partner with government, private and nonprofit agencies, communities, farmers, homeowners, and other stakeholders (What do they have a stake in? Who are they?) to: Page 42: a) Implement the Hawaii State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) (What is this plan? Where can it be found?) b) Better understand and model carrying capacities of the island's habitats and resources c) Improve the inventory of forested lands and associated ecosystem services d) Encourage the continued identification and inclusion of unique wildlife habitat areas of Native Hawaiian habitat within the Natural Area Reserve System e) Anticipate future habitat migration, especially wetlands and coastal ecosystems f) Prioritize quantitative wetland assessment to identify wetlands g) Expand native and/or endemic forest cover h) Improve enforcement for illegal activities that harm or degrade endemic habitats Who is defining endemic habitats and how is it defined? I MUST be defined by Hawaii citizen commission and not anyone outside Hawaii. Mainland people should NOT be able to define this.) 1.18 Public landscaping and irrigation shall be designed to maximize water use efficiency and native plants. Actions 1.b Review tree survey requirements and amend the Code to incorporate as part of site planning for public use. 1.h Develop buffer policies to protect native forests, wildlife, rivers, streams, coastal waters, and other native habitats without. This is too vague. What policies are you considering and will that come with penalties? If so, remove this. Page 43 1.i Create incentives for landowners to retain and re-establish forest cover in upland watershed areas with an emphasis on native forest species without further regulations or 1.k Amend the landscape standards in Rule or Code (Remove) to require the use of native plants for screening or landscaping. Change to: Support local education on the importance of using native plants for screening or landscaping. 1.1 Amend the Code to incentivize (Remove) Replace with Support local education on the importance of the establishment of threatened and endangered endemic plant species within their habitable ranges during development approvals. 1.m Review the Code and consider amendments to encourage site clustering of development in order to avoid critical environmental areas and assets. REMOVE This is more unneeded regulations. This is BIG Island. People do not need to be ontop of each other. You're promoting too many regulations. 1.n Develop and establish Open Space Network Overlay on current unoccupied territory for natural landscape features, such as beaches and dunes, forests, streams, floodplains, wetlands, estuaries, or recharge areas that have the inherent capacity to avoid, minimize, or mitigate the impacts of climate change (Remove) 1.q Develop comprehensive programs and policies and provide resources for enhancing urban forestry canopy cover in unoccupied areas and without further regulations or fines for local farmers 1.0 Partner with government, private and nonprofit agencies, communities, and other stakeholders and local farmers to develop a program for the identification and protection of plant species of special status, including plants significant for cultural practitioners. Page 44: 2.7 Partner with government, private and nonprofit agencies, communities, farmers, and homeowners, and other stakeholders (Remove. Who are these people and what do they have stake in?) to: o a) Implement a comprehensive conservation plan that identifies priority watershed areas for habitat restoration and enhancement without further regulations or fines on locals. o b) Review and designate forest, river corridors, and watershed areas into the conservation district during State land use boundary comprehensive reviews. o c) Monitor nearshore water quality and impacts to reefs and marine environments and address land-based sources of impacts. o d) Protect and restore wetlands and riparian corridors to ensure more pristine water quality, decrease erosion, and increase sediment management, groundwater infiltration, nutrient/pollutant uptake, soil moisture retention, stormwater abatement, and cultural/community connections without further regulations or fines on locals.. o e) Develop reasonable standards to improve stream and coastal water quality monitoring and encourage local communities to develop such projects without further regulations or fines on locals. Page 45 Objective 3 Increase direct community restoration and collaborative efforts to conserve and nourish the island's biocultural resources. Policies 3.1 Encourage an overall conservation ethic in the use of Hawai`i's resources by protecting, preserving, and conserving critical and significant natural resources without further fines and regulation on the population. Pg 47 Actions 4.b Change from: Reassess Certified Local Government status to ensure the support of farmers and homeowners and maximize funding opportunities for self-supporting communities. 4.h Partner with government, private and nonprofit agencies, farmers, homeowners, other local communities, and other stakeholders (remove or let us know what they have stake in) to develop design guidelines for designated communities containing significant historic buildings, sites, or landscapes. 4.i Assess and prioritize County-owned lands for historic site restoration in collaboration with government, private and nonprofit agencies, farmers, homeowners, other local communities, and other stakeholders (remove or let us know what they have stake in). Page 48 Objective 5 Protect, restore, and enhance our communities' unique scenic character. Policies 5.c Develop a process for reviewing and revising guidelines for designating Natural Beauty Sites without invasion of current resident areas or local farms. 5.d Establish a Scenic Resources Protection Program to identify, inventory, and protect areas of significant beauty. The program could include recommendations from the Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project (2016) without invasion of current resident areas or local farms. Page 56 3 . 1 Introduction The climate change section of the General Plan is intended to be used as a policy guide for the coordinated climate mitigation and adaptation efforts on Hawaii Island. This element provides a high-level policy framework, building on the scientific knowledge and government-level strategies and actions developed in the Integrated Action Plan (ICAP) for the island of Hawaii. This is VERY Concerning! As stated earlier the World Climate Declaration was signed currently by 1,944 scientists stating there is no climate danger. Here is what a few more scientists have to say. On the Boston Globe's YouTube channel, on May 14, 2010, MIT Professor of Meteorology Richard Lindzen shared the following: If one asks, "Is the temperature increasing or decreasing?"it's always doing one or the other. I have no concern about that. By asking people to worry about whether it's going up or down, you're immediately establishing dishonesty. The Earth is always changing. Climate change is nothing you have to prove. It always is happening. It always has happened. So, to make that into something alarming seems a little bit weird to me'." Global warming:why you should not worry,"by the Boston Globe,May 14,2010. Dr. David Dilley, a former Meteorologist with the National Weather Service, United States Air Force, Senior Research Meteorologist, and Climatologist at Global Weather Oscillations Inc., has 50 years' experience in meteorology and climatology. He's also a working partner in the International Hurricane Protection Association. This is what he has to say about global warming: Global warming begins in the Arctic and Antarctic. It has about a 230-year cycle. When it comes back, it takes about 20 years for it to hit its peak. It started in the 1990s and hit its peak this past year. With global warming, the Antarctic and higher regions warm up. As it warms up, you have less cold air available to filter south into the middle latitudes, and it warms the middle latitudes. That is global warming2." Dilley explained that the same thing happens with global cooling but in reverse, as the temperature increases and decreases in cycles. Dilley then shared that 2022 was the coldest spring and summer on record, with the winter of 2021 being the coldest winter on record. He also shared that in April 2023, five months before the Lahaina Fire, the Earth was running low-to-normal temperatures, and the Arctic was actually cooling down. Dilley is also an expert of the "Milankovitch Cycle," which illustrates the rotation of the Earth, sun, and the moon, and their effects on global warming. According to Dilley, every 120,000 years, the Earth comes closest to the sun. Then, about 68,000 years later, it's the furthest approach from the sun. He says that our closest approach was 8,000 years ago. Dilley states, "We were warmer 6,000 to 8,000 years ago than we are today. The reason was that we were the closest approach to the sun and we had just come out of an Ice Age. We're 8,000 years off the peak now, and so we're actually cooling down." John Coleman, also an expert on the weather, shares the same thoughts. Coleman was the original weatherman on Good Morning America in the 1970s. He founded The Weather Channel in the 1980s. In 1982, he was voted "Meteorologist of the Year" by the American Meteorology Society. With regards to the Arctic and sea levels, Coleman states: They tell us that we're melting the polar ice caps. The Antarctic polar ice cap is at an all-time high, and the Arctic ice cap is increasing again after diminishing. They tell us that we're flooding the shorelines. Do you live on the coast? How much has the water come up in your lifetime? They manufactured data to make it look like we're increasing the water level of the oceans, but we're not'." Professor Richard Lindzen states: https://voutu.be/pwvVephTIHU?si=XoxAcPc51 JNIOXdeF: z "Signals - Global Cooling Cycle Beginning - Global Warming Ending-Professor David Dilley,"by David Dilley GlobalWeatherCycles,May 10,2023. John Coleman's case against significant man-made global warming,"by Kusi News,June 24,2013. https://voutu.be/K56fins2VZTc'?si=Cn-ApS8z2Y k1176 At any given place, traditionally, sea level is measured by what are called tide gauges: a stick in the water, basically. Two things that change are what a tide gauge shows: the land moving up and down and the sea moving up and down. In most places, it's the land that has the biggest effect, and so you don't have a good measure of sea level rise141 " Let's review the danger of water rising and engulfing coastline towns. Is there one city or town on the shoreline that is in danger of being underwater? Is Venice, a town that lives at sea level, in danger of being lost to the sea? Have home insurance companies stopped giving insurance policies to homeowners who live on the coastline because they'll soon be underwater? The answer would be no! On August 21, 2020, NASA published an article titled "NASA-led Study Reveals the Causes of Sea Level Rise Since 1900." It reads: Sea levels have risen on average 1.6 millimeters (0.063 inches) per year between 1900 and 20184." That means the sea level has risen a little over 7.4 inches in the last 118 years! Does that show the world is in danger of being engulfed by water? No. It shows that it will be a very, very, very long time before humans are in danger. Does that mean documentaries like "An Inconvenient Truth" are telling lies? An article was published in the Seattle Times on October 12, 2007, titled "British judge ruled the Oscar-winning film on global warming, "An Inconvenient Truth," contains "nine errors5.'" Here is the list of inaccuracies found in Court taken from the "Friends Of Science" website6. The inaccuracies in the documentary include: 1. The film claims that melting snow s on Mount Kilimanjaro evidence global warming. The Government's expert was forced to concede that this is not correct. 2. The film suggests that evidence from ice cores proves that rising CO2 levels cause temperature increases over 650,000 years. The Court found that the film was misleading: over that period, the rises in CO2 lagged behind the temperature rises by 800-2,000 years. 4"NASA-led Study Reveals the Causes of Sea Level Rise Since 1900,"by Ian J. O'Neill/ Jane J.Lee,August 21, 2020. https:Hclimate.nasa.gov/news/3012/nasa-led-study-reveals-the-causes-of-sea-level-rise-since-1900/ Truth is, Gore film has 9 errors,British judge rules,"by Mary Jordan,Oct 12,2007. https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/truth-is-gore-film-has-9-errors-british-judge-rules/ 6"Inaccuracies in Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth-A Ruling of the British High Courf' https:Hfriendsofscience.or--/assets/documents/FOS°/`2OEssavBritish High Court Ruling on An Inconvenient Tru ht .html 3. The film uses emotive images of Hurricane Katrina and suggests that this has been caused by global warming. The Government's expert had to accept that it was "not possible" to attribute one-off events to global warming. 4. The film shows the drying up of Lake Chad and claims that this was caused by global warming. The Government's expert had to accept that this was not the case. 5. The film claims that a study showed that polar bears had drowned due to disappearing arctic ice. It turned out that Mr. Gore had misread the study: in fact, four polar bears drowned, and this was because of a particularly violent storm. 6. The film threatens that global warming could stop the Gulf Stream, throwing Europe into an ice age. The Claimant's evidence was that this was a scientific impossibility. 7. The film blames global warming for species losses, including coral reef bleaching. The Government could not find any evidence to support this claim. 8. The film suggests that sea levels could rise by 7 meters, causing the displacement of millions of people. In fact, the evidence is that sea levels are expected to rise by about 40 centimeters over the next 100 years and there is no such threat of massive migration. 9. The film claims that rising sea levels has caused the evacuation of certain Pacific islands to New Zealand. The Government was unable to substantiate this, and the Court observed that this appears to be a false claim. Also, the Court's interim ruling included the following: 1. The film suggests that the Greenland ice covering could melt, causing sea levels to rise dangerously. The evidence is that Greenland will not melt for a millennia. 2. The film suggests that the Antarctic ice covering is melting; the evidence was that it is, in fact, increasing. High Court Judge Michael Burton stated: Former Vice President Al Gore, the documentary's moderator, makes nine statements in the film that are not supported by the current mainstream scientific consensus. For instance, Gore's script implies that Greenland or West Antarctica might melt soon, creating a sea-level rise of up to 20 feet that would cause devastation from San Francisco to the Netherlands to Bangladesh's " The judge called this "distinctly alarmist" and said the consensus view is that if Greenland melted, it would release this amount of water "but only after, and over, a millennia." The climate change narrative will destroy people's freedom and add more regulations, fines and fees. Do not allow this government narrative to continue on the Big Island. The people do NOT want more laws, regulations, and fines based on a false narrative that completely changes community infrastructures from self-reliant to "sustainable" living, with "stakeholders" carrying the purse strings and the power. That is NOT Pono! Gregg Braden is a geologist, five-time New York Times best-selling author, scientist, international educator, and renowned as a pioneer in the emerging paradigm based in science, social policy, and human potential, had this to say about the dangers of carbon on the planet: The idea that carbon dioxide is a poison is a false narrative to begin with. We are carbon-based beings. By demonizing carbon dioxide and carbon life, we're actually demonizing ourselves'." Science 101 shows us that plants take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. If plants die due to lack of carbon dioxide, so do humans for lack of oxygen. During the Cretaceous Period, which began 145 million years ago and ended 66 million years ago, we had a lot more carbon than we do today - tons more! This was the time of the dinosaurs, and everything was huge! Plants were much larger than they are now. The sea levels were also a lot higher during the Cretaceous Period. Was that due to more carbon dioxide? Not according to an article at Britannica.com written by Thor Arthur Hansen, Professor of Invertebrate Paleontology, Paleoecology, and Evolution at Western Washington University, U.S., and Carl Fred Koch, Professor of Geological Sciences at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia. It was fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica and last updated on Feb 7, 2024. The article said that sea level was higher primarily because the water in the ocean basins was displaced by the enlargement of mid-oceanic ridges$. It Was not due t0 carbon! It was due to the Earth's mantle. On January 11, 2023, in an episode titled "Why "THE POWERS THAT BE" are So Desperate to Reduce Carbon Dioxide on OUR Planet?" posted on geologist and scientist Gregg Braden's YouTube channel, John L. Petersen of the Arlington Institute stated: If you could look at the ice cores in Antarctica and Greenland, you would see that the temperature of the Earth increases or decreases around 800 years before the change in carbon dioxide. That means carbon dioxide does not drive the change; it is the response to the temperature changes." In the same interview, Braden stated: Gregg Braden - Why "THE POWERS THAT BE"are So Desperate to Reduce Carbon Dioxide on OUR Planet?" by Gregg Braden Official,January 11,2023. https://voutu.be/7vJ-Qefos8A'?si=BviOKcdznXx6t2SQ 8"Cretaceous Period," by Carl Fre Koch,Thor Arthur Hansen, 9 "Why `THE POWERS THAT B9_` arc So Dcsperaic io Reduce Carbon Dioxide on OUR Planet?" by Gregg Braden,January 11,2023. x w„ We're being led to believe that carbon levels of CO2 have never been higher; that the Earth is going to be destroyed if they are higher; and that CO2 is the driving temperature, both of which are not true147." Gregg showed a graph indicating that during the Cretaceous Period, carbon dioxide levels were over three times higher than they are today. Carbon dioxide levels were between 800-1,000 parts per million. During this period, there was an extreme greening of the Earth. Plants and life thrived! According to Braden: If CO2 drops below 184 parts per million, that seems to be the threshold where we (humans) are in trouble/ If CO2 drops below those levels, we are actually cutting off the very life-force that is providing oxygen on this planet." Is the entire CO2 narrative intended to increase the bankroll of the "stakeholders" around the world invested in renewable energy with no regard for human life? Stakeholders who've invested in progressive and "sustainable energy" have a lot to gain in their pocketbooks by populations living in fear of climate change and believing they will be saving" the Earth by going along with renewable energy and electric vehicles. They'll also be giving up a lot of their freedoms in doing so. Page 59 Transportation The General Plan further discusses strategies for decreasing vehicle reliance and (Remove) improving public Transportation Access and Mobility. You have no right to hinder people's right to travel. Please take ANYTHING out that references decreasing people's use of their vehicle! The County can reduce its footprint by increasing the percentage of renewable fuel used to power public facilities and infrastructure, reducing VMT, (REMOVE). YOU CANNOT LIMIT PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO TRAVEL. THAT VIOLATES THE CONSTITUTION AND IS BEYOND YOUR JURISDICTION Page 61 The General Plan expands on opportunities for climate-conscious land development in the Land Use section without violating people's rights, over regulating or increasing fines. Page 63 The General Plan further expands on strategies to increase resilience in the Transportation Access and Mobility, Public Utilities, and Public Facilities and Services sections without violating the Constitution, or over regulating farmers and homeowners. The General Plan expands on renewable energy in the Public Utilities section with safety studies prior to installation, and without increasing costs to the public. Page 66 Transportation Promoting the use of electric vehicles through expanding charging infrastructure and educating the public on the safety studies done for the use of these vehicles from third parties. Renewable Energy Increasing the use of green technology (including third party safety studies) will increase the energy independence of individuals and businesses on the island. Supporting renewable energy technologies, such as solar, wind, ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC), and geothermal (Remove. This practice is not safe for an island with active volcanoes!) Land Use &the Built Environment Implementing smart growth strategies, without violating people's right to travel can reduce urban sprawl and create more walkable communities. Developing a County building code that balances health and safety, affordability, and carbon footprint (REMOVE! This is more regulations and fines. NOT Pono! It is NOT your responsibility to focus on people's health. That is for each individual! This is an overreach! Encouraging the construction of energy-efficient buildings and retrofitting existing buildings being sure to prove any additional technology is safe for the public.. Promoting regenerative agriculture practices that reduce emissions and enhance carbon sequestration while not further regulating farms or increasing fines. Greening urban areas increases the availability of cool areas for residents to live and recreate. Integrating energy savings and waste management, without more regulations and fines on the population, provides an opportunity to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in new development. Conservation Protecting reefs and marine ecosystems that act as carbon sinks, without hindering public use. Implementing a One Water strategy and other water-saving technologies and practices can reduce the energy required for water treatment and distribution. This is NOT a good idea. If this goes down, where will people get their water? Remove or revise. Conserving natural habitats without hindering public use to preserve biodiversity and enhance ecosystem resilience to climate change. Efforts to expand renewable energy, with third party safety studies and without hindering public can consider the preservation of unique and diverse ecosystems, avoiding negative impacts on wildlife and natural habitats. Additional Measures Improving public engagement about climate change and encouraging sustainable practices. Remove and educate yourself on the fact that scientists from around the world have stated there is no climate danger.) Implementing policies and regulations that support climate mitigation efforts, without further regulations or fines on locals. (Please educate yourself) Supporting research into new technologies and approaches for reducing emissions and enhancing resilience and include third party safety studies while ensuring no further cost to the public. Page 67 Water Resources • Management Promoting a One Water strategy can create cross-agency collaboration to identify and address overlapping challenges in adapting to sea level rise and building more resiliency into infrastructure across water, wastewater and stormwater sectors. How does this promote collaboration? This seems like a monopoly. Agriculture & • Food Security Encouraging the cultivation of climate-resilient and diversified crops to enhance food security without further regulations and fines. Infrastructure & Urban Planning Retrofitting or relocating bridges and roads provides an opportunity to reduce GHG emissions by reducing miles traveled. (REMOVE) THIS VIOLATES THE CONSTITUTION. YOU CANNOT DEPRIVE PEOPLE OF THE RIGHT TO TRAVEL. ALSO, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO RELOCATE" LOCAL BRIDGES. THIS SHOULD BE REMOVED! Implement zoning and land use planning policies that consider climate risks and promote sustainable development after a full investigation of the climate change narrative is examined. (Do not further regulate and fine people without fully investigating the climate change narrative and proving that any additional technology is safe for the human life.) Social Equity Engage communities in planning and decision-making processes to ensure that adaptation measures are socially inclusive (Remove. This is woke language.) and culturally appropriate. Increasing equitable resilience to climate hazards will benefit historically marginalized and frontline Engage communities (What does this mean?) and those that are vulnerable to climate change impacts. Energy & • Transportation Invest in renewable energy sources that are proven safe and affordable to the public to reduce GHG emissions and increase energy resilience. Promote energy efficiency in buildings and transportation that are proven safe and affordable to the public to reduce overall energy consumption and without increasing regulations or fines Biodiversity & Ecosystems Managed retreat strategies and new shoreline setback regulations would expand open space along the shoreline to support coastal ecosystems such as anchialine pools without hindering public access. Supporting conservation programs that are proven safe for the people and the environment can help protect native species and habitats from climate change impacts without hindering public access and without increasing regulations and fines. Strengthening measures to control and eradicate invasive species can help protect local ecosystems. Enhance habitat connectivity to allow species to migrate in response to changing environmental conditions without hindering public access and without increasing regulations and fines. Education & Capacity Building Build capacity for local government agencies by providing training and resources that improve their ability to plan and implement climate adaptation initiatives without increasing regulations and fines. Collaborate and coordinate with the County's Office of Sustainability, Climate, Equity, and Resilience (OSCER). This is woke language and should be removed. Support research and monitoring efforts to better understand climate impacts and the effectiveness of adaptation measures. (Please educate yourself on this false narrative) Develop and implement educational programs to raise awareness about climate change and adaptation strategies. REMOVE (This is a FALSE narrative that you would be perpetuating.) Page 68 3 . 2 Climate Change Goal , Objectives, Policies, and Actions This ENTIRE section should be removed. Rosa Korie WARNED that what is planned for this country through the planning departments "is an erasure ofjurisdictional boundaries. It is a loss of private property rights, a loss of sovereignty- both personal physical sovereignty and physical sovereignty in terms of*our nation- and it's a loss of*our freedom." From Rosa Koire's special presentation to the New Hampshire Legislature. hops://voutu.be/350IbVtpzvw?si=u NNsNoL9XtGxDEA Page 71 8.3 Collaborate with farmers, government,private and nonprofit agencies, communities, and other stakeholders REMOVE Who are they?What do they have stake in?to monitor impacts that may be specific to Hawaii County due to its unique exposure to climate change and sea level rise impacts. (Please educate yourself on this false narrative. Is Kona or Hilo or any Hawaiian town close to being underwater?NO!) 8.11 Partner with government(e.g., State Office of Planning and Sustainable Development OPSD]),private and nonprofit agencies, communities, and other stakeholders REMOVE Who are they'? What do they have stake in'?to analyze conservation buffers to accommodate shifting native habitats impacted by climate change,particularly wetlands and high-elevation forests. Remove this ENTIRE section! We do NOT want"buffer"zones! You want to take away the ability for people to be in nature. That is NOT pono!) 8.b Support and partner with government,private and nonprofit agencies, communities, and other stakeholders REMOVE Who are they'?What do they have stake in'? on research for adaptive policies and technology that includes safety studies to the public and environment,that increase resilience without further regulations and fines on the public.. 8.d Adopt a land acquisition program with potential leaseback options for the purchase of hazard-prone locations or those with beneficial attributes for climate adaptation and mitigation. REMOVE. THIS 1S GOVERNMENT OVERREACH! THIS 1S NOT A COMMUNIST COUNTRY! YOU CANNOT TAKE PEOPLE'S PROPERTY! 8.e Collaborate with government,private and nonprofit agencies, communities, and other stakeholders REMOVE Who are they'?What do they have stake in'?to implement environmentally beneficial upgrades for wastewater, irrigation, and/or landscaping, including sea level rise, storm, and other climate change considerations. (Remove). Getting at least three bids for contracts from different companies. Pg 74 4.1.1 Introduction 1st para: "achieve sustainable development and" (Remove) change "resilient" to safe 2nd para: "Sustainable development is a key objective of land use planning for the County. By strategically" and in the sentence "Land use planning is essential. (Remove) change "resilient" to safe. 3rd para: - change "resilience" to safety. "and the impacts of climate change" (Remove) Better prepared for and protected against potential disasters. Change: "sustainable" to diversified. desirable" to fair, equitable. Last para 5th line down: Change: "should" to may Pg 75 Economic Opportunity Planning: "other growth sectors." Need to be specific, identify other growth sectors. Last sentence: "muck like the weave of sustainability," (Remove) Pg. 76 Table 16: Land Use Key Trends Changing &Aging Population: "Over the next 25 years .....0.9% per annum" decline in population already seen and projected needs to addressed as to why the population is in decline. How you do Planning if you don't address reasons for population decline. This is crucial. Housing Affordability & Choice: "In 2010..." down to "However, on average, Hawaii County's overcrowding....." Shifting Visitor Accommodation Types: - Change "With the upward trend...." to "rentals." & There is also a shift.." Revise that entire sentence. Job Availability & Growth: - Revise last sentence "In 2020, 14% of the....." Pg. 77 Table 17: Land Use Challenges Revise: Infrastructure section Regulations section Funding & Financing entire section Land Use Compatibility entire section Public Engagement entire section My note is What is NIMBYism?) Pg. 78 Table 18: Land Use Opportunities Infrastructure:: last sentence "County departments can provide....." Regulations: Red: "Collaborate across State and County agencies to....." (Need more public input and ideas); The most direct role the County plays..,..property tax policy." (Need much more research on property tax rates, regulations, policies & scrutinized by the public who are affected by paying property taxes. This should be the most glaring concern so that we do not leave tax burden for future generations who may lose their properties to taxes paid to the government). Funding & Financing: "Partner with the State and other counties to create a capacity building plan.....stakeholders." (Remove) Market Conditions: "Seek to acquire land for affordable housing developments...." Add: without violating people's right to own property or take this out. Revise it. This is government overreach! Land Use Compatibility: "Demonstrate smart growth developments." (Remove) Public Engagement: "Encourage affordable housing projects to meet the needs of neighborhoods (YIMBY) without further regulations and fines." (What is YIMBY?) and next line Apply strategies to...." "stakeholder". Who are these stakeholders? What do they have stake in? Pg. 79 4.1.2 Land Use Goal, Objectives, Policies, and Actions Item 9.7 - Red: "Encourage" change to Mandate developers Item 9.8 - Red: "Route selection for ....." that entire sentence. (This is a high priority revision as it pertains directly to 5G dangers. Here is where the people/public need to have direct input/approval/changes. Item 9.a - Red: "Develop a process for County....." this is crucial for public scrutiny & opportunity for the public to get transparency. Transparency can only be realized if we, the public include ourselves into all governmental processes. If not, we will not get transparency, period! Pg 80 Land Use Goal, Objectives, Policies, and Actions - continued Item 9.e - "Conduct a review and re-evaluation.... entire sentence to be revised. Item 10.3 "Proposed discretionary permits for large developments.....Ka'u Districts" -Not clear needs revision. Item 10.b "Amend.......allow CPDs to be applied to all zoning districts..." - Why amend the Zoning Code? We need to compare current Zoning Codes to what they propose to amend to see if the people or the developers have the advantage. What are CPDs? Item 10.c- Red: "Collaborate with the State Office of Planning.....Native Hawaiian customary and traditional.." Need to revise to ensure that Hawaiian cultural experts, NOT the State government or its agencies have any input for preserving, protecting, educating, safeguarding, sharing, marketing, ..every aspect of utilizing our native Hawaiian (kanaka maoli) heritage of language, practices, traditions, religion & more belong exclusively to the kanaka maoli elders, experts, kupuna, kahuna, healers NEVER the government or its agencies...NEVER!!! Pg 81 continue Item 11.4 "Concurrency reviews should incorporate..... (Remove)" entire sentence absolutely NO! Actions 11.a - Red: "Collaborate with the SHPD to create..... entire sentence - Need experts. 11.d - Red: "Amend Zoning Code...." do not give the Planning Director more power, it's time to decrease power for that position, we need to humble these government workers/servants. Now is that time as history has shown us, when they have power, they want more; when they have more power, it's not enough &the cycle continues while the people suffer. STOP giving away the power from the people. 11.f- "Update traffic impact....." (Remove) entire sentence. Travel should not be the Planning Board's power to take away from me or you, ever. Objective 12 Reduce the threat to life and property from natural hazards and disasters. Policies The above sentence - Red: add "unnatural & natural hazards" - It is important to identify the reality that unnatural hazards have always existed, therefore, why is that omitted? 12.3 Red: "Consider natural ... Again add in unnatural & force the Planning Board to address DE disasters, weather machine disasters which are human created disasters, which is criminal. Why shouldn't the Planning Board include these disasters as they certainly affect the health & safety of the people & our environment. 12.8 Red: "Encourage the development...." entire sentence. Again, must address DE/Weather machines/human initiated disasters. Pg 82 Actions Item 12.a - Red: "Update the Building Code....." entire sentence need extreme revisions, I initially wanted to delete, but it is necessary to revise to include unnatural/man made disasters & address "carbon footprint". These are areas to not hide by deleting, but rather talk about them through revisions. Item 12.g - "Amend the Zoning Code...." (Remove) Until they can prove climate change is happening, delete this section that refers to climate change as that is a false narrative that we the people/public should not allow to continue. I do not want to tell a lie over& over again until everyone believes it. That's breaking the 10 commandments. Pg. 83 4.1.3 Overview of Land Use Designations and Maps No changes. Pg. 84 Table 19: General Plan Land Use Designations and Maps No Changes Pg. 85 Agriculture and Natural Land Use No Changes Pg 86 4.1.4 Urban Growth Areas 2nd para: Red: "Smart Growth" change to something safer, know what it represents not hidden meanings. Black out: the word "sustainable" and from "More specifically, urban centers have been designed to create.... Driving." - The government or its agencies should not impede or alter the rights of citizens to travel it's call our right to travel, which is constitutional. Pg 87 Objective 13 Increase the use of Smart Growth principles to focus development within designated urban centers. Policies Red: change "Smart Growth" to Evaluate and analyze development within designated urban centers. Item 13.3 Red: "Incentivize" what is that& how does it benefit the public? 13.6 Red: "may include additional acreages to account for....." must revise section to make it clearer as to how this inclusion will work to the advantage or disadvantage of historic sites, public access, parks, & open spaces. More clarity is necessary because saying ok to unclear PLANNING" should never be accepted. Item #13.12 - Red: Revise entire sentence "Urban renewal, rehabilitation...." need to include people or the public not just communities, businesses, & governmental agencies. Planning Boards should always include the people/public. This will give people the power to make decisions, not just testify for 3 minutes at a Planning Commission hearing. That needs to change. More people/public involvement needs to be promoted. This involvement may be the inspiration or motivation for people to become active in planning for themselves, their future generations. It is time for governments & businesses to take a back seat! Item 13.13 Red: Revise entire sentence. "Support master planning by ....." it's not"Support" it should be to Scrutinize, evaluate, analyze and recommend by experts and the people. Pg. 88 Commercial - Industrial Item 13.28 Red: "Discretionary permit applications.. Entire sentence need revision as it is not fair to have Discretionary permit applications for new commercial developments. Everyone follows the rules, no exceptions by the Planning Board. Resort Item 13.49 - Red: Revise "On-site affordable housing and workforce units shall be excluded from the total permitted visitor unit counts....." Again, how does this exclusion help the people, the visitors, the workforce? How does it affect permitted visitor unit counts? Pg 90 Actions 13.c Red: revise "Amend the Subdivision Code to ensure block sizes are based...." What are the current codes &what are the proposed amendments to compare who will have the advantage or disadvantage of this proposal to Amend Subdivision Code. Pg. 91 Urban Character Guidelines Table 20: Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Character Guidelines No Changes. Pg. 92 Table 21: Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) Character Guidelines No Changes Pg. 93 Table 22: Urban Neighborhood Center Character Guidelines No Changes Pg. 94 Table 23: Industrial Center Character Guidelines No Changes Pg. 95 Table 24: Criteria for Industrial Land Conversion to Commercial/Mixed-Use No Changes Pg. 96 Table 25: Resort Area Character Guidelines No Changes Pg. 97 4.1.5 Rural No Changes Pg. 98 Objective 14 Maximize the use of Rural designated lands to preserve rural character and lifestyle. Policies All items from 14.1, 14.2, 14.3, 14.4, 14.5, 14.6 - Red: Must revise all items as the Planning Board is asking for Support of everything they are doing, which contradicts any changes that the public may be deemed detrimental. Asking for"blind" support is ridiculous. Actions - Items 14.a, 14.b, 14.c, & 14.d Red: Revise all items as it is asking to Amend Zoning Code, zoning districts which is crucial to see current codes compared to amendments. How are these amendments affecting the public to their advantage vs. disadvantages. This is very important to NOT just accept amendments. Thorough research is necessary to protect the public. Pg. 99 Table 26: Rural Neighborhood Character Guidelines No Changes Pg. 100 4.1.6 Agriculture Last para: "The General Plan provides planning tools to incentivize the highest and best use of productive agricultural lands. The Plan's policies... ... entire paragraph need to be revised. I am especially concerned with the word "incentivize the highest and best use... here again what does this mean, how will it be done, who benefits. Pg. 101 Objective 15 Support the active use of Productive Agricultural lands. Actions All items 15.a, 15.b, 15.c. 154 15.e must be revised Not just Amend. Pg. 102 Actions (continue) Item 15.f- Revise "Update the Real Property Tax Code....." need public input for transparency. Item 15.g Revise "Amend the Zoning Code..." again do not just accept Amending Item 15A Revise "Collaborate with USDA and the State.... It's not just collaborate, it's what are the decisions based upon, what are the final decisions, how are these decisions helping farmers. Since, we have passed hundreds of years farming in Hawaii you would think we have identified major problems, why these problems do not get resolved, who are responsible for the non-resolutions. This is just repeating ....USDA, the State who have been in charge of agriculture, I want to see a report card that covers 1950s to 2023. Report cards are transparency mechanisms to identify who &what are creating our farmer's problems. We cannot fix anything without transparency. Politicians say it, but absolutely no actions. This section is entitled ACTION. Let us begin to act. Pg. 104 4.2.1 Introduction Third para: "Resilience...." I don't want the word resilience to be an escape mechanism for the government or its agencies. That word should change. The last para: "The Plan is focused on improving connectivity within ....." this sounds good, but I don't see good results as I am pass 70 yrs old. We should not accept "rinse & repeat'. What did the Planning Board learn from over 100 yrs. Of past failures? They say they focus on improving, yet we cannot determine how they will improve. Stronger language to ensure that the public can know they plan to improve. Pg. 105 Table 27: Transportation Key Trends No Changes Pg. 106 Table 28: Transportation Challenges All items Red: Revisions necessary. It refers to electric cars, Pre-COVID-19 (false narratives that must be stopped) Pg. 107 Table 29: Transportation Opportunities All items Red: Need revisions since they want to establish metrics, improve interagency collaboration, prepare projects, standardize interagency agreements. It contains a multitude of changes that are unclear, very ambiguous, & again, transparency is lacking. Pg. 108 4.2.2 Transportation Goal, Objective, Policies, and Actions All items Red: Requires revisions. Examples: item 16.2 "Encourage safe and convenient use non-polluting" What is non-polluting to the Planning Board? What do they know about pollution as they don't know that EMFs are dangerous pollutants. And example: Item 16.10 Identify and evaluate transportation..... energy and climate issues." We need to stop the false Pg. 109 Actions - continue All items - Red: Revisions necessary. Same reasons as above for Pg. 108. Sorry Michelle - did not complete pages 104 to 118-119. Can do later/Kalei K. completed today, Monday 9-23-24 at 12:01 pm. Pg. 110 4.2.3 Active Living Corridors and Public Access No Changes Pg. 111 Objective 17 Increase transportation connectivity. Policies All items Red: Need revisions. Example: Item 17.1 "Ensure Native Hawaiian access rights are clearly expressed...." This is an area of talk talk talk & no action. Again, what violations have already occurred, how long have these violations been going on, have these violations stopped? Just putting in a sentence in a Plan does not mean it has been adhered to. Therefore, these proposals are weak. As a native Hawaiian it is imperative to get enforcement for these violations, identify violations, how long it's been happening, why &who are responsible to stop violations, protect native Hawaiian access rights. If this item # is weak, which it is - than the others need revisions. Pg. 112 Table 30: Public Access Spacing Standards No Changes Pg. 4.2.4 Mass Transit All paragraphs need revisions Red: revisions necessary. Mass Transit has been proven wrong on Oahu, the Rail. Over budgeted, from hundreds of millions of dollars (budgeted) to billions of dollars, NOT budgeted. Who is paying for this government error?You, me & our visitors. We have an historic example from the City & County of Honolulu. The people protested against this Rail", but years later a Mayor brought back the Rail & all Mayors thereafter continue with this project. Please investigate this "Planning" before Hawaii County repeats history. All words in this section/page are the same words use by the Planning Dept. of the City & County of Honolulu. Absolutely requires total revisions to 4.2.4 Mass Transit Pg. 114 Objective 18 Increase mass transit ridership by 50 percent by 2045 Policies All items are basic objectives. No changes (yet) Pg. 115 4.2.5 Roadways 2nd to last para: What is the County's Vision Zero Action Plan Pink: Concern Pg. 116 Objective 19 Reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) All items Red: Need revisions Concern - What is reduce vehicle miles traveled? Why reduce vehicle miles traveled? What is this agenda for&what will it accomplish? Who will benefit? Again, our right to travel cannot be altered or impeded as that right is protected by the US Constitution & God. Pg. 117 Objective 20 Achieve a transportation system that employs all modes of transportation at a community scale. All items need to be revised Pg. 117 continue: Objective 21 Incorporate green infrastructure to reduce stormwater runoff. Policies All items Red: Concern See item 21.1 "green infrastructure strategies, and pollution prevention procedures...." Again, sine the Planning Board does not understand EMF pollution & its dangerous - what are they talking about here "pollution prevention procedures.." Pg. 118 continue from above. Actions & Objective 22 Increase transportation safety for transportation's most vulnerable users and reduce traffic fatalities.Policies All items Red: revise Pg. 119 Continue from above. All items from 22.7 to 22.9 Red: revise Concern. 22.7 autematedvemeles. This appears to be referencing the very unproven technology of`driverless cars?7 Emerging technology needs to go through rigorous standards of testing before being released onto roadways. This text here, with a clear reference to something that is already proving dangerous on the roadways and the subject of lawsuits does not belong in our County Plan. 22.8 Maintain dedicated roadway standards that are appropriate to roadway type and achieve active transportation and safety goals. 22.9 Engage and collaborate with the owners of private roads and local community groups to help identify and develop road management agreements that mitigate road closures to provide emergency evacuation routes. Actions 22.a Amend the County Code to incorporate Vision Zero safety principles and Complete Street design principles. This is too vague and should be elaborated in detail. These safety principles need to be spelled out or they don't belong in the County Plan. 22.b Develop educational programs promoting traffic safety. Where something is designated an `action' in a County General Plan Document, sufficient detail should be provided. This is too vague and should be elaborated in detail. Objective 23 Adequately maintain public transportation systems. Policies 23.1 Maintain an Asset Management Program aimed at utilizing maintenance plans for pavement, bridges, and other road infrastructure to prolong the life of our transportation system as well as reduce its whole-life cost. 23.2 Maintain the unique features of historic bridges, while balancing safety needs and preserving historic and scenic character. 23.3 Prioritize the replacement of deficient and inadequate bridges and maintain pedestrian/bicycle access across bridges. 23.4 Design new bridges and bridge improvements to accommodate and not negatively impede identified scenic resources. 23.5 Evaluate freight routes identified in the State Freight Master Plan for required improvements to meet roadway standards. 23.6 Encourage the adoption of innovative materials and methods that improve roadway sustainability and resilience. Actions 23.a Create an asset management program. 23.b Continue the bridge inspection program and expand rehab or replacement to include active transportation accommodations. 4.2 Transportation Access and Mobility I County of Hawaii General Plan 119 Roadway Standards The County adheres to several federal and industry standards for roadway design. These include the AASHTO Green Book and Roadside Design Guide, the MUTCD, the NACTO, and the Highway Capacity Manual.5 Examples of topics addressed by these guidelines include road geometry (e.g., curves, sight distance), safety within ROWs adjacent to travel ways, design speeds, level of service, signs/striping/signaling, and urban transit. In addition to these sources, the County adheres to the following locally defined standards. Street Standards Highways shall not be wider than four through travel lanes that accommodate single occupancy vehicles and should be limited to the most populated areas typically connecting residential areas with employment centers. Integrate transportation networks to prioritize the most vulnerable roadways users and the greenest modes of travel through a Multimodal Hierarchy (Figure 7) that prioritizes investments in the following order: 1. Pedestrian 2. Public Transit 3. Bicycle 4. Auto This is a directive for future transportation policy ? It is 4 words and yet it is a giant reach toward a set of ideals and it is not explained at all in detail. OBJECTION : This `policy directive' reflects a radical socialist agenda of forcing people to give up automobiles and give up their autonomy at the same time. This shows contempt for the most basic principles of freedom. . We refer you to : The United States Constitution which protects the freedom to move about within the country, both domestically and internationally. This fundamental right is deeply rooted in American liberty and has been recognized and protected by the Supreme Court. " The priorities established in a General Plan should reflect careful consideration of the island's economy and how to best support our island economy but instead this prioritization of pedestrians `first' and `automobile' transport reflects an obsession with addressing carbon as a cause' for an alleged crisis for our climate. . It's strange to us that in this document that purports to be about a plan for `development' there is barely a focus on the actual economy. Here instead we see a document `prioritizing' Pedestrian travel (on an island with very few densely populated urban centers) without context of what will actually promote agriculture, commerce, industries, jobs and economic activities. This directive would make more sense for an Oahu General Plan because of the size of the land mass and ratio of population. If it is in this document without much explanation then it appears to be a reflection of a `fad' in transportation policy rather than a practical and well thought out policy directive. The minimum roadway width standards to accommodate the County Roadway Classifications were adopted in Resolution 779-20. The following provides an overview of this standard with reference to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Functional Classification system. 4.2.6 Transportation Terminals: Airports and Harbors As a major hub for tourism, commerce, and connectivity, Hawaii County recognizes the importance of effective planning and management of its airports and harbors. These key infrastructure components serve as lifelines that facilitate economic growth, enhance regional connectivity, and provide essential services for residents and visitors. Airports and harbors connect the County to the rest of the world, allowing for the efficient movement of goods, people, and ideas. They are essential nodes within the transportation network, acting as important economic drivers for the region. Efficient airports and harbors directly contribute to the success of various industries, including tourism, agriculture, trade, and logistics. Moreover, they are instrumental in supporting emergency response efforts, disaster management, and ensuring the overall resilience of the region's transportation system. Again, over and over the objection `in general' to this General Plan 2045 is that the document references `economic growth' and yet does not address the actual drivers of the economy in detail. As public servants it is your best service to our island if you would study how you can support the farmers, producers of goods and services to build a great economy together. Unfortunately there are dozens of instances where legislators and public servants have imposed restrictions, fees and taxes on those very `drivers' of our economy. Airport Terminals and Harbors do not `cause' the economy to grow and are not drivers of the economy and yet we see a General Plan with weighted emphasis on `transportation' and urban development without seeing evidence of a study of what will actually support the individuals and households that produce economic value for our actual economy. This is an extremely poor outcome for a document that presents as a `guide' for legislators and policy makers for the next 20 plus years. The principal concerns of planning for transportation terminals involve a comprehensive approach that addresses various aspects, including location, zoning of adjacent land, infrastructure development, capacity management, safety and security measures, environmental sustainability, integration with other modes of transportation, and financing and programming of improvements and services through capital improvement projects. While the State of Hawaii Department of Transportation (DOT) is responsible for the actual design, construction, and operation of terminals and supporting facilities, the General Plan addresses the location of these facilities in relation to the pattern of overall land uses. There are two deep draft harbors on the island, one in Hilo and another in Kawaihae. While improvements continue to be made, both harbor terminals lack adequate docking and Harbor has increased significantly as the population and development in West Hawaii continue to grow. In 2011, the Hawaii Commercial Harbors 2035 Master Plan was developed by the State to accommodate the future needs of facilities CONCERN: THE HARBORS SHOULD NOT BE CONTROLLED BY THE STATE OF HAWAII. THEY ARE HARBORS CRUCIAL TO THE ECONOMY OF OUR ISLAND AND WERE PREVIOUSLY UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE COUNTY. WHAT HAPPENED TO HOME RULE? WHERE WAS THE CONSULTATION OF THE PUBLIC WHEN DECISIONS WERE MADE TO HAND OVER CONTROL OF OUR HARBORS TO THE STATE ?. Air terminals that transportation are in Hilo, Waimea, `Upolu, and Kona. The terminals at Hilo and Kona are overseas facilities. Overseas flights at the Kona International Airport at Keahole will continue to increase with the growth of resort areas in Kona and Kohala. Overseas flights through Hilo International Airport have been important for agriculture in East Hawaii. What is concerning about this County General Plan 2045 is the lack of analysis about our actual economy. WHY DO WE SEE A DOCUMENT THAT STATES `OVERSEAS FLIGHTS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE WITH THE GROWTH OF RESORT AREAS?' THIS PLAN SEEMS FLAWED DUE TO LACKING IN CRITICAL ARGUMENTS' FOR THE PLANNED GROWTH BASED ON ACTUAL NUMBERS AND STUDIES . IF THERE ARE STUDIES AND STATISTICS THAT DO SUPPORT THE ASSERTIONS MADE MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE GENERAL PLAN ABOUT PROJECTED ECONOMIC GROWTH THEN THEY SHOULD BE REFERENCED AND INCLUDED IN THE PLAN. ALSO CITATIONS OF WHERE THIS INFORMATION WAS PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC IN `CONSULTATIONS' STRANGELY THE HILO PLAN IS MISSING FROM THE GENERAL PLAN DOCUMENT AND THIS IS ONE OF TWO URBAN CENTERS AND THE CENTER FROM WHICH TWO OF THE `HARBORS' AND `TERMINALS' OPERATE? THIS SEEMS (AGAIN) A GLARING OMISSION. Since 2011, the DOT has embarked on a $2.3 billion Hawaii Airports Modernization Program to improve the safety, capacity, and efficiency of our major passenger and cargo airports. As the population becomes more mobile and as resident and visitor populations increase, there will be a greater demand for new and expanded transportation facilities that are adjacent to compatible land uses and include alternative and active transportation connections to decrease the demand for cars and reliance on fossil fuels. OBJECTION TO THIS SENTENCE IS THAT IT IS NOT SUPPORTED BY ANY FACTS OR AN ARGUMENT MADE FOR THE CASE BEING PRESENTED. AGAIN THE CONCERN ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT IS THAT IT IS COMMITTING OUR ENTIRE COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND OUR LEGISLATURE TO A RADICAL COURSE OF ACTION BASED ON THE PREMISE THAT FOSSIL FUELS ARE TO BE ERADICATED AND THAT PERSONAL AUTOMOBILE TRANSPORTATION SHOULD ALSO BE ERADICATED AND OR COMPLETELY ELIMINATED. THESE PREMISES ARE PART OF A RADICAL SOCIALIST AGENDA THAT VIOLATES THE CONSTITUTION SINCE IT WILL UNDOUBTEDLY LIMIT THE FREEDOM OF UNITED STATES CITIZENS TO FREELY MOVE ABOUT. service inter-island 4.2 Transportation Access and Mobility I County of Hawaii General Plan 122 Objective 24 Improve accessibility to airports, harbor systems, and support facilities. Policies 24.1 Encourage the programmed improvement of existing terminals, including adequate provisions for control of pollution and appropriate and adequate covered storage facilities for agricultural products. 24.2 The State Department of Transportation should continue to implement its plans for transportation terminals and related facilities to promote and follow desired land use policies. 24.3 Transportation terminals should be developed in conjunction with the different elements of the overall transportation system. 24.4 Encourage maximum use of the island's airport and harbor facilities. 24.5 Encourage the development, maintenance, and enhancement of Hilo and Kawaihae Harbors as detailed within the State's Hawai'i Commercial Harbors 2035 Master Plan. THIS COULDN'T BE MORE VAGUE AS A STATED OBJECTIVE. IT DOESN'T REFERENCE THE VERY PRACTICAL MATTERS OF ECONOMIC DRIVERS AND OVERALL ECONOMIC HEALTH OF OUR ISLAND. WHERE IS DISCUSSION ABOUT THE ACTUAL ECONOMY IN THIS ENTIRE DOCUMENT ? THIS ALSO OMITS MENTION THAT A PROSPEROUS AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY WOULD BE THE RATIONALE FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE AT KAWAIHAII AND HILO HARBORS. AGAIN THERE IS AN OBJECTION TO HANDING OVER HARBORS TO THE STATE OF HAWAII WHERE THEY ARE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO THE ISLAND . 24.6 Support the State's objectives to acquire rights within the runway clear-zones, limit heights within approach zones, and restrict noise-sensitive uses within designated noise contours determined by the State. CONCERN: THIS APPEARS TO REFERENCE PROPERTY ACQUISITION AND SUGGESTS THAT THE COUNTY SHOULD SUPPORT' THE STATE TO RESTRICT USES AND ACTIVITIES IN CERTAIN AREAS NEAR TO AIRPORTS?' THIS AGAIN IS ONE MORE COMMUNIST LAND GRAB PRACTICE. THIS DOESN'T BELONG IN OUR COUNTY PLAN DOCUMENT FOR 2045. 24.7 Future land uses in the vicinity of airports and harbors should have an adequate open space buffer and/or be compatible with the anticipated noise exposure and industrial nature in the vicinity. 24.8 Encourage pedestrian-oriented connectivity around harbors and small boat harbors. 24.9 Encourage master planning of small boat harbors to accommodate commercial and recreational fishing, tour boats, as well as business and recreational ocean activities, that balance economic vitality and environmental sensitivity. CONCERN THERE HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ATTEMPT TO EXCLUDE MANY USERS FROM ACCESS TO HARBORS (SAILING COMMUNITY, FISHING COMMUNITY HAVE EXPERIENCED HIGHER USER FEES AND MORE RESTRICTIONS OF USE IN RECENT YEARS) AND MANY OF THE HARBORS IN THE STATE HAVE BECOME PRIVATIZED. (If privatization occurs, then management controls everything. .) . Actions 24.a Create a strategic improvement plan, including mapping, for County owned and/or managed boat harbors and develop an island-wide needs assessment to better serve regional gaps in ocean accesses. 24.b Ensure collaboration with State agencies to offer a variety of transportation options at airports and harbors. 4.2 Transportation Access and Mobility I County of Hawaii General Plan 123 4.3 PUBLIC UTILITIES 4.3 Public Utilities I County of Hawaii General Plan 124 4.3. 1 Introduction In Hawaii County's pursuit of a prosperous and resilient future, public utilities stand as pillars of essential infrastructure. THERE IS A LOFTY CLAIM MADE BY THIS ENTIRE EXERCISE TO SUGGEST THAT THE DOCUMENT ITSELF REPRESENTS ANY KIND OF PLAN FOR A PROSPEROUS AND RESILIENT FUTURE. THERE ARE MANY BUZZWORDS THAT ARE BEING USED IN THIS DOCUMENT THAT ARE HOLLOW. THESE WORDS THEMSELVES DON'T CONJURE UP A FUNCTIONING ECONOMY BUT THEY DO OFTEN GIVE PUBLIC SERVANTS THE WARM FEELING THAT THESE WORDS CAN `DO ALL THE WORK.' THIS DOCUMENT IS LACKING IN A GROUNDING OF ACTUAL ECONOMIC STUDY AND LACKS THE INSIGHTS INTO THE OBVIOUS WAYS THAT COUNTY GOVERNMENT COULD SUPPORT THE AGRICULTURE AND TOURISM SECTOR AND ENCOURAGE NEW INDUSTRY ON THE ISLAND. These are services regulated by the government and provided in response to existing and prospective patterns of development. Changes in land use, population density, and development usually generate changes in the demand and supply of utilities. As the backbone of modern society, public utilities encompass a wide range of vital services that support the health, safety, and sustainability of our communities. This critical infrastructure allows us to function in many ways, including the ability to maintain healthy living conditions, proper sanitation, and access reliable energy to power our homes and businesses. Public utilities play a key role in forming the foundation upon which social, economic, and environmental progress is built. Such essential services enhance the quality of life for residents, visitors, and businesses while safeguarding the natural resources and cultural heritage of our island. The significance of public utilities can be understood through their contributions in the areas of environmental sustainability, economic prosperity, and social well-being. Public utilities drive environmental stewardship by promoting clean energy generation, efficient water management, waste reduction, and recycling initiatives. AS PART OF GENERAL PLANNING AND GOOD MANAGEMENT PRACTICE, WHY HAS THERE BEEN NO AUDIT OF THE WASTEWATER DIVISION OF THE WASTE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT? NO DOCUMENT PURPORTING TO PLAN AHEAD FOR 20 PLUS YEARS CAN COVER FOR THE FACT THAT MALADMINISTRATION AND POOR LEADERSHIP HAS LEAD TO MULTIPLE `FAILS' OF RAW SEWAGE TREATMENT WHERE LEAKS OCCURRED AND THE PUBLIC WASN'T ADEQUATELY INFORMED. THE PLAN SHOULD START WITH A MORE SERIOUS ASSESSMENT OF THE FAILURES OF THE CURRENT MANAGEMENT STRATEGY IN OUR WASTEWATER SYSTEM. Through the application of sustainable practices and technologies, public utilities protect our fragile ecosystems, mitigate climate change impacts, and preserve the beauty of our island for future generations. HOW DO `PUBLIC UTILITIES' `MITIGATE' `CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ? This is an example of a wild overstatement and is not supported by fact. Additionally, robust and reliable infrastructure attracts investment, supports economic growth, and fosters job creation. From powering local industries to enabling efficient transportation networks, public utilities are catalysts for economic development, making our communities more resilient in the face of challenges. Waste to Energy incinerators have been opposed multiple times in the past in Hawaii County and each time a massive multi million dollar contract for construction of an incinerator was required which the public was going to be financing over many years. We notice that the Incinerator `Waste to Energy' proposal is in this County General Plan 2045 in spite of all the protests in the past. This history of pushing forward unpopular projects that have seen community objection and then forcing the property Access to safe and affordable utilities is a fundamental right of every individual. Really ?? Who wrote this ?As a general comment, it has been pointed out repeatedly that this General Plan' document is poorly written and has many flaws.Here we see misuse of the term fundamental rights' where there is no such `fundamental right.' While `Safe and Affordable utilities' may be considered `essential' for a `standard of living' or to meet the definition of economic prosperity' but use of the phrase `fundamental right' is a confusion of what the legal understanding is concerning `fundamental rights.' The `fundamental rights' of say .. `freedom to move' ARE (as cited elsewhere in the transportation section) the rights that this document happily waives aside (ignoring the Constititution in the process) . Further, there should be statistics included about what proportion of the island currently is `off grid' since that proportion is very high and those numbers would provide a necessary context for all discussion about proposals to provide utilities `affordably' AND `universally.' Public utilities ensure equitable distribution of resources, allowing residents of all socioeconomic backgrounds to enjoy necessities such as clean water, affordable energy, and accessible internet-based services. These services enhance public health, education, and overall quality of life, fostering thriving and inclusive communities. ` As with previous comment, this entire section seems flawed due to lacking in facts. This statement reflects `wishes' rather than a series of steps toward an attainable goal. Given the unique challenges posed by our geography and vulnerable ecosystem, the General Plan aims to effectively guide the development, maintenance, and improvement of these critical services. This section of the Plan is primarily concerned with the planning aspects of our, water, wastewater, stormwater, electricity, and telecommunications systems. Planning for the location of utility facilities such as reservoirs, pumping stations, and sewage treatment plants is an important aspect of the land planning process, as it makes way for development opportunities. Where is the context for this statement? Here we see the notion of`development opportunities' being introduced without context or explanation. This is objectionable since it could be interpreted by future administrations or legislatures as a `mandate' for growth while lacking any parameters. Unintegrated utilities can burden developments with lower levels of service and may limit or even prevent development. The integration and availability of public utilities in priority growth areas are imperative. CONCERN: Why isn't this spelled out more ? Why is there no clear explanation here of what is meant by `priority growth area' . Changes in the intensity of land use greatly influence the quantitative design of utilities and services, particularly their design capacity. There may be distinctions in the type of services offered for each utility as land use intensities vary. These distinctions also depend on local codes and ordinances, health and sanitary considerations, and practices followed by utility companies. 4.3 Public Utilities I County of Hawaii General Plan 125 Table 33: Public Utilities Challenges General Funding and financing the development, conversion, repair, operations, and maintenance of public utilities are central challenges for communities, developers, and county government. WHAT IS MISSING HERE IS REFERENCE TO THE IDEA THAT HOMEOWNERS WILL ALL BE ASKED TO PAY FOR CONVERSION FROM CESSPOOL/SEPTIC OVER TO ACTUAL COUNTY SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE. THIS TOPIC DESERVES A FULL DISCUSSION. DITTO WHAT IS CONCERNING IS THAT THE PUBLIC CAN BE REQUIRED TO PAY FOR DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES.. Any large infrastructure expansions are paid for by developers and the costs are not to scale for financing. Geographical variability and obstacles require creative solutions for utility buildout. Aging public utility infrastructure must become more resilient to natural hazards, extreme weather events, and climate change impacts. WHERE ARE THE CITED STUDIES PROVING THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS CAUSING WEATHER EVENTS/CLIMATE WEATHER ? IN THE ENTIRE DOCUMENT WE SEE NONE REFERENCED. Absent, aging, or dilapidated infrastructure limits new development where it is needed, consistent with strategic land use patterns and inhibits existing development. THIS SENTENCE IS POORLY WRITTEN WITH THE RESULT OF CONFUSING THE READER. WHY ARE WE LEFT WONDERING WHAT IS BEING SAID HERE? Outdated utility systems and practices can pose environmental and health concerns and are expensive to change. Disputes over water source capacity can prevent development where it is needed and consistent with desired development patterns. Water commitments have been assigned to parcels that are not being developed or lack development potential. THIS NEEDS TO BE TAKEN OUT OR ELSE EXPLAINED SO THAT THE MEANING IS CLEAR. Guidelines for assigning water units per system need to be updated. Modeling of water demand and potential demand needs to be closely aligned to land use. •The water systems serving, North Kohala, South Kohala, North Kona, and Puna will require additional water source development. On-site wastewater disposal can adversely impact groundwater resources. THIS APPEARS TO BE A REFERENCE TO SEPTIC/CESS POOL SYSTEMS. ELABORATION AND A LOT MORE DETAIL SHOULD BE REQUIRED HERE. Wastewater planning and policy primarily focus on maintaining and servicing existing systems and do not proactively plan for developing new systems to accommodate growth or to extend existing lines to align with urban zoning. County policy has largely relied on private developers to develop commercial and private wastewater systems for new development, which ultimately leaves significant municipal service gaps in urban areas. Many County wastewater systems may not be able to accommodate unserved, existing zoned capacity and projected growth. Landowners and developers may incur the costs of constructing private systems or upgrades due to the insufficiency and lack of wastewater systems in many areas. Wastewater requirements hinder the redevelopment or rehabilitation of existing structures and are often seen as an affordable housing issue. Treated wastewater is typically discharged into ocean waters or injected into the ground and is not generally reused. Wastewater infrastructure improvement and development costs are not fiscally planned for, either in the County budget or through County wastewater fee valuation. Individual wastewater systems (IWS) are associated with limitations and regulations. Currently, the Department of Health's rules do not allow single-family dwellings and additional dwelling units (ADU) on a single IWS system. Reliance on IWS is an impediment to compact development due to minimum lot size requirements for IWS, thereby contributing to sprawl. Coastal residential neighborhoods without centralized wastewater are contaminating near- shore waters with pollution from IWS. ELABORATION AND A LOT MORE DETAIL SHOULD BE REQUIRED HERE. THIS SEEMS TO IMPLY A POLICY DIRECTIVE THAT IS SPECIFIC TO APPLY TO COASTAL NEIGHBORHOODS ? IMPOSING FINES OR HIGH COSTS TO HOME OWNERS TO ADDRESS A NEW REQUIREMENT FOR MAINS SEWER OR EVEN SEPTIC TANK INSTALLATION IN ROCKY TERRAIN WILL LEAD TO DELINQUENCY AND THEN FINES AND POTENTIAL SEIZURE OF PROPERTY. THIS IS A VERY `DANGEROUS' POLICY DIRECTIVE TO LEAVE AMBIGUOUS. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS POLICY DIRECTIVE MUST BE EXPLORED AND CLEARLY STATED. THIS DOCUMENT IS CITING THE HUGE OBSTACLES TO ADDRESSING THE PROBLEMS OF OUR ISLAND WHERE SO MANY HOUSEHOLDS RELY ON CESSPOOLS. WHILE THERE ARE EXAMPLES OF INNOVATIVE BIO-REMEDIATION METHODS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO CONVENTIONAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT' NO STUDIES ARE INCLUDED, NO MENTION OF THESE KINDS OF OPTIONS ARE INCLUDED. BIO REMEDIATION WOULD MOST CERTAINLY BELONG IN A DOCUMENT LIKE THIS SINCE SUCH METHODS SHOULD BE EXPLORED AS A COST SAVING MEASURE AND DATA IS AVAILABLE TO DEMONSTRATE EFFECTIVENESS. FURTHER THE IMPACT TO COASTAL ECO SYSTEMS OF INADEQUATELY TREATED WASTEWATER AND RAW SEWAGE ARE WORTHY OF MENTION HERE IN THIS DOCUMENT. TO CITE A WELL KNOWN EXAMPLE: THE `GENKI BALL' EXPERIMENTS HAVE BEEN DONE IN SEVERAL POLUTED WATERWAYS IN HAWAII. MOST NOTABLY THE `GENKI BALLS' USED AT ALA WAI CANAL IN HONOLULU RESULTED IN BETTER WATER QUALITY AND FISH RETURNING TO THE AREA. WHERE A COMBINATION OF CULTURED `BOKASHI'AND CLAY WERE INTRODUCED TO THE WATERWAYS THUS BILLIONS OF MICROBES WERE RELEASED CAPABLE OF REDUCING ECOLI AND OTHER LEVELS OF BACTERIA IN THE WATER. THIS AND OTHER KINDS OF BIOREMEDIATION BELONGS IN A PLANNING DOCUMENT FOR HAWAII ISLAND. PAGE 126 The looming deadline to convert cesspools to sewer or other IWS may create lack of local expertise to meet demand if not properly planned. The future impacts of climate change on future rainfall volumes are uncertain. WHERE IS THE FACTUAL EVIDENCE THAT THERE IS SUCH A THING AS `MAN MADE CLIMATE CHANGE'? Outdated codes limit the effectiveness of stormwater infrastructure and stormwater-related practices. Water quality changes caused by non-point source pollution, human activities, erosion, and sediment transport can negatively impact environmental systems and processes. A lack of incentives and flexibility exists in the permitting process for stormwater and green infrastructure. There is a lack of a dedicated funding source for public systems. There is a heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels for power generation. The State of Hawaii has the highest electricity rates in the United States. Building codes, design perspectives, and construction practices can increase electrical demand. There is a constant need to update and renovate electrical systems and infrastructure. The adoption of renewable energy practices may offload environmental costs to other distant communities, which can offset positive climate action. POORLY WRITTEN , AMBIGUOUS GENERALIZING STATEMENTS LIKE THIS DO NOT BELONG IN A COUNTY GENERAL PLAN . WHAT EXACTLY IS MEANT BY THE TERM RENEWABLE ENERGY`PRACTICES?' WHAT ENVIRONMENT COSTS ARE REFERRED TO HERE? HOW ARE COSTS `OFFLOADED TO DISTANT COMMUNITIES' HOW ARE THESE OFFSETTING `POSITIVE CLIMATE ACTION?' Renewable energy developments can be controversial, such as geothermal and wind turbines. THIS STATEMENT IS OBJECTIONABLE. THE REASON THESE `ENERGY DEVELOPMENTS'ARE CONTROVERSIAL' IS THAT THEY HAVE INJURED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND ARE KNOWN TO CAUSE HARM. WE NOTE THAT NUCLEAR POWER WAS IN THE ORIGINAL FIRST DRAFT OF THIS DOCUMENT AND IS ALSO CONTROVERSIAL.IF MAKING A CASE FOR GEOTHERMAL OR WIND TURBINES (OR NUCLEAR ENERGY) OPPORTUNITY TO SUBMIT DOCUMENTATION ACKNOWLEDGING THE RISKS SHOULD BE AFFORDED TO THE PUBLIC. Inadequate access disrupts efficiency and productivity and is a barrier to accessing public services and information. INADEQUATE ACCESS TO WHAT?THIS IS A POOR SENTENCE AND IS AMBIGUOUS IN MEANING. Last mile infrastructure is often the most costly and difficult segment to deploy, especially for rural areas where distances from a central distribution point are greater and population density doesn't economically promote the deployment. Consistent and accurate service data is needed to provide a constantly improving network for the island.THE STATEMENT `PROVIDING A CONSTANTLY `IMPROVING NETWORK' CAN BE INTERPRETED TO REFERENCE THE INCREASINGLY INTENSE LEVELS OF SIGNAL BEING ESTABLISHED. 5 G WHILE BRINGING HIGHER SPEED LEVELS OF DATA TRANSFER IS PROVING TO POSE A HEALTH RISK TO HUMAN TISSUE. THE REGULATION OF 5G TOWERS WITH CONSIDERATIONS FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY IS AN URGENT ISSUE. WE NOTE THAT THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING ZENDO KERN HAS RECENTLY RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES THAT WILL NOT STRINGENTLY ENFORCE SAFETY STANDARDS FOR THE COMMUNITY. Providers seeking to deploy broadband infrastructure face multiple layers of permitting and approvals at both the State and County level, in addition to community opposition regarding the installation of telecommunications towers. SEE ABOVE COMMENT. THIS REFLECTS AN INTENTIONAL DISREGARD FOR SAFETY CONCERNS THAT ARE WIDELY DOCUMENTED AND CURRENTLY THE SUBJECT OF LEGISLATION. Limited competition in broadband service providers and transpacific backhaul providers means high consumer rates due to a lack of competition within the market. (??? THIS IS JARGON THAT ISN'T EXPLAINED ) General Pursue creative funding and financing tools such as Community Facilities Districts (CFD) and Improvement Districts, for utility development, conversion, repair, operations, and maintenance. THIS NEEDS BETTER EXPLANATION. `CREATIVE FUNDING' IS AN OBJECTIONABLE TERM AND SOUNDS LIKE A PROCESS FOR SELLING OFF UTILITIES OR FINANCING CONSTRUCTION, REPAIRS OR MAINTENANCE SO EITHER WAY, THE PUBLIC WILL PAY MORE FOR UTILITIES. Ensure that utility development matches desirable development priorities. Streamline the process of utility infrastructure development to achieve the highest possible level of service for our communities. Lead the charge in resource conservation and assess creative solutions to incentivize resource conservation for the public. Prioritize the conversion and modernization of outdated utility systems and practices. Use an integrated approach to value all water as a resource (e.g., drinking water, wastewater, stormwater). Collaborate with asset management (e.g., road resurfacing and utility upgrades). ASSET MANAGEMENT IS A VAGUE TERM THAT IS NOT SUFFICIENTLY DEFINED. Explore public-private partnership opportunities to create circular systems. ANOTHER VAGUE TERM THAT IS NOT SUFFICIENTLY DEFINED. PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS USUALLY IS ANOTHER WORD FOR INCREASING PUBLIC DEBT WHILE GIVING AWAY PUBLIC ASSETS TO PRIVATE CORPORATIONS. THIS IS MORE FROM THE PAGES OF SOCIALISM AND WE REJECT IT. Increase partnerships and enhance collaboration with government, private and nonprofit agencies, and other stakeholders. HERE `OTHER STAKEHOLDERS' IS A VAGUE TERM THAT IS NOT SUFFICIENTLY DEFINED. PLEASE DEFINE IT CLEARLY OR TAKE IT OUT ALTOGETHER. Explore innovative ways to fund water infrastructure improvements to attract development that is consistent with desired density and the land use pattern. AGAIN A REFERENCE TO `DESIRED DENSITY AND LAND USE PATTERNS' THIS HAS NOT BEEN SUFFICIENTLY EXAMINED IN THE PLANNING DOCUMENT AND IS BEING REFERENCE HERE AS A STANDARD Seek creative funding for significant expansion of water systems to reach new customers in non-service areas. Promote and practice water conservation practices to maximize efficient water use. Adopt One Water recommendations to standardize interagency collaboration in planning for and managing water resources. Rainfall collection can provide additional water capacity even where we have Department of Water Supply (DWS) systems. NEEDS CLEAR EXPLANATION. Align the Water Use Development Plan, Master Plan, General Plan, DWS Capital Improvements Program (CIP), DWS guidelines, DWS water commitments, and private improvements to the DWS system. NEEDS CLEAR EXPLANATION. Exercise some controls over the permitted uses within the defined zone of influence for downstream deep well sources. IN THIS GENERAL PLANNING DOCUMENT THERE APPEARS TO BE NO MENTION OF THE IMPACT OF MILITARY ON THE SOIL, WATER AND AIR QUALITY. HERE A REFERENCE TO POLLUTERS UPSTREAM OF WATER SOURCES AND YET MILITARY IS NOT MENTIONED? POHAKULOA MILITARY BASE CONTINUES TO LEASE FOR $1 AND CONDUCTS LIVE FIRE TRAINING DIRECTLY ABOVE THE ISLAND'S VAST AQUIFER. IT HAS BEEN A KNOWN FACT THAT DEPLETED URANIUM HAS BEEN SCATTERED ONTO THE BASE AND CONTINUES TO BE DISTURBED BY MILITARY ACTIVITIES UP THERE. Encourage groundwater recharge from regional scale master planning to on-site best management practices such as low-impact development (LID). Increase opportunities for recycled water. THIS SHOULD BE ELABORATED SINCE IT APPEARS TO BE A DIRECTIVE. THE PUBLIC IS ENTITLED TO BE CONSULTED ON SUCH MATTERS. Prioritize sewer for sensitive urban areas. Proactively seek grant funding to assist with wastewater development. AGAIN STATING THAT REFERENCING OVER AND OVER THE NEED FOR `WASTEWATER DEVELOPMENT' WHILE DEDICATING NO TIME AND EFFORT TO EXPLORING ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF BIO REMEDIATION IS A MAJOR OMMISSION Advocate for expanding cesspool conversion tax credit to all cesspool conversions. THESE ARE MAJOR COSTS BEING PASSED ON TO HOME OWNERS. Explore opportunities for public-private partnerships as well as those for technology upgrades and innovation. THE TERM `PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP' IS A TERM ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED DEBT FOR THE PUBLIC AND A REDUCTION (USUALLY) IN HARD ASSETS THAT ARE HANDED OVER TO CORPORATE PRIVATE INTERESTS. Promote the expanded use of greywater for landscape irrigation and groundwater recharge via rules for new construction and retrofits Advocate to the Department of Health (DOH)to adopt appropriately scaled requirements and standards and develop flexible guidelines for designing and permitting wastewater systems that meet environmental objectives. Low-pressure systems should be prioritized for retrofitting instead of gravity flow. •Higher-density development can contribute more to a centralized system. HERE AGAIN WE SEE AN ASSERTION THAT FUTURE DEVELOPMENT WILL BE HIGHER DENSITY AND THIS LACKS PUBLIC DISCUSSION AND YET Drinking Water Wastewater 4.3 Public Utilities I County of Hawaii General Plan 128 Stormwater Electricity& Energy Telecommunications & Broadband Increase availability and access to information about private wastewater treatment plant capacities or expansion opportunities. Prioritize resiliency measures that support climate change impact scenarios. Regularly amend County codes to be as current and innovative as possible. Be a leader in prioritizing green infrastructure over gray infrastructure. Ensure that stormwater infrastructure decisions align with related plans and the CIP budget. Green infrastructure practices may provide opportunities for creating or expanding industry. Prioritize the use of native plants in landscaping. Promote and support the development of alternative energy production facilities. Be a net power producer with hydrogen and waste management. THIS STATEMENT WARRANTS ELABORATION OR IT DOESN'T BELONG IN THIS DOCUMENT. Hawai`i Island has the highest renewable energy percentage in the State and can continue to support renewable energy projects to decarbonize our energy system and stabilize electricity costs. WHAT DOES `DECARBONIZE OUR ENERGY SYSTEM'ACTUALLY MEAN ? ELECTRIC CARS ON THE ISLAND ARE CHARGED AT STATIONS THAT RELY ON POWER FROM DIESEL FUEL GENERATORS. IN OTHER WORDS ELECTRIC CARS REMAIN DEPENDENT ON THOSE FOSSIL FUELS BUT WE SEE OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT PROMOTING ELECTRIC CARS AS PART OF AN ALTERNATIVE ENERGY STRATEGY. THE NOTION OF `DECARBONIZING OUR ENERGY SYSTEM' IS FEEDING A MYTH ABOUT HOW RAPIDLY `WE' CAN TRANSFORM OUR ENTIRE ECONOMY AND OUR WAY OF LIFE. THE IDEA OF `DECARBONIZING' THE ENERGY SYSTEM IS VERY VERY RADICAL AND IS COMING FROM A SOCIALIST MYTH THAT CARBON (THE BUILDING BLOCK OF LIFE) IS `BAD'AND THAT SOMEHOW `CARBON' IS THE CAUSE OF WEATHER EVENTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE.' THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT SUPPORTS A RADICAL AGENDA TO DECARBONIZE' OUR ENTIRE ENERGY SYSTEM. FURTHER, SINCE THIS WILL REQUIRE COMPLETE DISRUPTION TO THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AND SINCE IT IS IMPLIED THAT PEOPLE WILL BE DISCOURAGED FROM MOVING ABOUT `FREELY' THIS IS A RADICAL OVERHAUL OF OUR ECONOMY WHICH IS LIKELY TO PRODUCE MANY PAINFUL SHOCKS TO INDIVIDUALS, OHANA AND COMMUNITIES. THIS IS ABOUT THE CLEAREST EXAMPLE OF `RECKLESS'ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNMENT THAT ONE COULD POSSIBLY IMAGINE. WHAT IS EXTREMELY DISTURBING ABOUT SEEING THE COUNTY DOCUMENT LINE UP SO CLOSELY WITH DECLARED GOALS OF AN ELITE INSTITUTION REPRESENTING THE WEALTHIEST 1% OF OUR PLANET (`THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM') IS THAT THIS ORGANIZATION APPOINTED ITSELF AS THE CUSTODIANS AND ARBITERS OF A PLAN TO BRING IN THE 4TH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION WHICH IS THE MOST RADICAL OF ALL THE TRANSITIONS AT ANY TIME IN HISTORY AND BROUGHT ABOUT THROUGH A SERIES OF CRISES: PANDEMIC DISEASE, CLIMATE EVENTS' THAT APPEAR AS A CRISIS AND ALSO FOOD SHORTAGES IN PART CAUSED BY INTERFERENCE WITH SUPPLY CHAIN THAT BEGAN WITH LOCKDOWNS IN 2020. THE CATCH PHRASE BY WEF LEADER KLAUS SCHWAB AT THE TIME OF INTRODUCING `THE GREAT RESET' WAS `BY 2030 YOU WILL OWN NOTHING AND YOU WILL BE HAPPY.' WE SPECIFICALLY OBJECT TO TERMS SUCH AS `DECARBONIZING OUR ENERGY SYSTEM' BECAUSE THIS IMPLIES THAT YOU HAVE THE CONSENT OF THE PUBLIC A) TO ASSERT THAT CARBON IS A PROBLEM AS IF THERE IS CONSENSUS ON THIS TOPIC WHEN THERE IS NOT AND B) TO TAKE EXTREMELY RADICAL AND DANGEROUS STEPS TO TRANSITION THE ENTIRE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. Support the County's Broadband Initiative and coordination with the State to facilitate digital equity efforts e.g., establishing broadband as a public utility, infrastructure deployment, providing training support, and coordinating funding strategies for broadband and telecommunication services). AFTER 5G THERE IS 6G COMING . WITH EACH OF THE INCREMENTAL INCREASES IN THE INTENSITY OF THE FREQUENCY ILLNESSES AND TISSUE DAMAGE RESULTS CONSISTENT WITH `RADIATION POISONING' . THERE NEEDS TO BE A COMMITMENT TO REVIEW SAFETY INFORMATION AND TO TAKE AN APPROACH THAT HAS A PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE. THIS IS THE MINIMUM STANDARD OF GOOD GOVERNMENT. Compact development and higher population densities where appropriate are favorable for commercial service providers as they contribute to more economically viable market conditions. WHICH COMMERCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS' IS THIS REFERENCING ? THIS STATEMENT NEEDS TO BE EXPLAINED BETTER OR ELSE REMOVED FROM THIS SECTION. Providing consistent and accurate digital literacy data will promote a desirable level of service for all residents. WHAT IS DIGITAL LITERACY DATA AND HOW WILL THIS PROMOTE A DESIREABLE LEVEL OF SERVICE ? IS `DIGITAL LITERACY DATA'A CLASS OF INFORMATION THAT COMES WITH VIGILANT PROTECTION OF EACH AND EVERY INDIVIDUAL; THEIR PRIVACY AND THEIR 1ST AMENDMENT RIGHTS ? WITHOUT PROTECTION OF THIS KIND, IF OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT IS WAIVING ON THE INVASIVE DATA COLLECTION PRACTICES OF THE DIGITAL INDUSTRY, THEN IT MAY BE ENDANGERING THE PEOPLE OF THIS ISLAND. WE ARE REQUESTING THAT THE PRIMACY OF SAFETY AND DATA PRIVACY ABOVE THE INTERESTS OF INVESTORS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE WRITTEN INTO THIS GENERAL PLAN. THERE IS A LOT OF DATA TO SUPPORT THAT WHEN THE SAFETY AND PRIVACY OF INDIVIDUALS ARE COMPROMISED, THE PUBLIC WILL BE ENDANGERED AND TYRANNY WILL LIKELY RESULT. THESE ARE THE REASONS THE ENTIRE DOCUMENT IS FLAWED: WE DON'T SEE CARE TAKEN BY OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT INDIVIDUALS' HEALTH AND SAFETY. . Increasing digital inclusion efforts, which focus on ensuring both access to and ability to use a range of technologies, will contribute to better outcomes for health, public safety, economic opportunity, and civic participation. THE TERM `digital inclusion' IS BASED ON AN ASSUMPTION THAT MORE ACCESS TO 5G AND HIGHER BANDWIDTH IS A POSITIVE THING. THIS PREMISE IS WIDELY PROMOTED IN THIS POLICY DOCUMENT AND YET NO SAFETY STUDIES ARE CITED. Streamlining permitting and approval processes will improve the efficiency of broadband and telecommunication development and delivery. THIS IS AMBIGUOUS AND MAY BE PROMOTION OF A LOOSE SET OF GUIDELINES FOR TOWER PLACEMENT THAT IS NOT IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST. Pursue partnerships to develop public spaces with broadband access. THIS IS AMBIGUOUS AND MAY BE PROMOTION OF AN OBJECTIVE THAT IS NOT IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST. 4.3 Public Utilities I County of Hawaii General Plan 129 4.3.2 Public Utilities Goal, Objective, Policies, and Actions Our communities are adequately served by sustainable and efficient public infrastructure, utilities, and services based on existing and future growth needs, sound design principles, and effective maintenance practices. Objective 25 Improve the efficiency, reliability, and sustainability of essential infrastructure systems. Policies 25.1 Public utility facilities shall be designed at a scale that meets the needs of future development. IN THIS DOCUMENT SO FAR, THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT AN ACTUAL FOCUS ON THE ECONOMY, ON THE SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY THAT REQUIRE SUPPORT, HAS ACTUALLY BEEN CONSIDERED. WHY IS THERE AN EMPHASIS ON `FUTURE DEVELOPMENT' WITHOUT THE MAIN FOCUS BEING ECONOMIC GROWTH? 25.2 Provide utilities and service facilities that minimize total cost to the public and effectively serve the needs of the community. 25.3 Utility facilities shall be designed to complement adjacent land uses and minimize pollution or disturbance of the natural environment and natural resources. 25.4 Improvement of existing utility services shall be encouraged to meet the needs of users. THIS IS MEANINGLESS. WHY IS THIS SENTENCE NECESSARY ? 25.5 Encourage the clustering of developments to reduce the cost of providing utilities. WE ARE FAMILIAR WITH THIS IDEOLOGY. IT'S NOT GOVERNMENT POLICY DEVELOPMENT IT NEEDS TO BE NAMED FOR WHAT IT IT. `SMART CITY' PROPAGANDA. STACK EM AND PACK EM HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS ARE A PART OF THE PLAN AND THIS IS A RADICAL COMMUNIST AGENDA THAT WE REJECT. IT IS THROUGHOUT THIS DOCUMENT WHICH IS EXTREMELY CONCERNING. THE SMART CITIES THAT ARE BEING DESIGNED GLOBALLY ARE ANOTHER REFLECTION OF WEF STATED GOALS TO CREATE URBAN CENTERS WHERE SURVEILLANCE AND CARBON MONITORING FORM THE JUSTIFICATION FOR CONFINING PEOPLE AND PREVENTING THEM FROM MOVING ABOUT FREELY THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND TRAITOROUS PROPOSAL TO FIND IN A DOCUMENT THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE DELIVERING TO OUR ISLAND A PLAN FOR OUR WELL BEING AS A COMMUNITY, FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH, AND FOR THE CARE OF OUR `AINA. 25.6 Develop short- and long-range capital improvements programs and plans for public utilities within its jurisdiction that are consistent with the General Plan. 25.7 Maintain an Asset Management Program aimed at utilizing maintenance plans to prolong the life of our utilities as well as reduce whole-life costs. Actions 25.a Develop and adopt an Impact Fees Ordinance to aide in the expansion of public utilities. 4.3 Public Utilities I County of Hawaii General Plan 130 4.3.3 Drinking Water Conservation The Hawaii State Constitution provides that all public natural resources, including water, are held in trust by the State for the benefit of the people. The State Constitution further maintains that "the State has an obligation to protect, control, and regulate the use of Hawai`i's water resources for the benefit of its people." Water availability is crucial to any type of development, whether urban, rural, or agricultural. Water availability is based on the sustainable yields of the groundwater hydrologic units established through the State Water Code., Land use allocation must be closely related to water availability, including the quantity and quality of the water, and the adequacy of the transmission and distribution system. The General Plan requires an understanding of water availability and capacity, current demands, and future demands based on planned and anticipated future growth and land uses. ` The County's Department of Water Supply (DWS) is the primary agency that manages, controls, and operates the water supplies of the County and its properties. There are 23 individual water systems distributed throughout the island. Water demand is directly related to population and industry usage and is expressed as gallons per day (gpd) or million gallons per day (mgd). Demand does not represent domestic consumption alone, but also includes all agricultural, industrial, and commercial uses, fire protection, and other uses. In some areas, however, non-domestic users are likely to create the major demand, and careful attention must therefore be given in any study of probable future water needs. In Hawaii, there are a multitude of public agencies that are either actively tasked with regulating water resources or whose policies affect water use. There are also a number of private entities that use and manage water resources. Over the decades, water management has become segregated in a way that has created disjointed, mechanical approaches to a naturally continuous resource. The disconnection has included narrow perspectives that fail to see the larger picture. Hawaii County aspires to achieve water resource management that is free from the limitations and issues of siloed practices, processes, agencies, and government bodies. Achieving a One Water approach in Hawaii County includes actionable steps that can be adapted and adjusted to localize the One Water strategies. QUESTION : WHY IS A PRIVATE COMPANY BEING SOLD THE RIGHTS TO BOTTLE WATER IN HILO ? WHY ISN'T A PLANNING DOCUMENT CONCERNED WITH FUTURE WATER ACCESS CLEAR THAT NO WATER IS TO BE `SOLD' OR COMMERCIALIZED SINCE IT BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE OF HAWAII? One Water One Water is a strategy that integrates the management of stormwater, wastewater, groundwater, sea water, freshwater, graywater, and recycled water to create resource and financial efficiencies. One Water will help the County of Hawaii address climate change impacts by creating cross-agency coordination and advancing the capacity within agencies. ANY PREMISE USED TO CONTROL WATER ACCESS, WATER RIGHTS WHETHER BY A CORPORATION OR A GOVERNMENT MUST BE REJECTED. WATER IS AN INCREASINGLY PRIVATISED COMMODITY ACROSS THE WORLD. THIS SHOULD CONCERN US. IT ALREADY SEEMS EXTREMELY CONCERNING THAT ON THE ONE HAND APPLICANTS HAVE REPEATEDLY ATTEMPTED VIA A COUNTY PERMITTING PROCESS TO PURCHASE THE RIGHTS TO BOTTLE WATER FROM OUR MAUNA KEA AQUIFER AND ON THE OTHER HAND THAT THE COUNTY WOULD BE PROMOTING CONTROL OF WATER MANAGEMENT IN A CENTRALIZED FASHION INVOLVING MULTIPLE `UNDISCLOSED AGENCIES' FURTHER, AGAIN THERE IS AN OBJECTION TO THE SUGGESTION THAT THE COUNTY OF HAWAII WILL ADDRESS `CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS' WHEN THE VERY PREMISE OF CLIMATE CHANGE HAS BEEN CHALLENGED BY MULTIPLE LEADING AUTHORITIES AND IS THE SOURCE OF CONTROVERSY DUE TO THE LACK OF HARD EVIDENCE THAT CARBON' IS THE CAUSE OF `CLIMATE CHANGE' AND `CLIMATE EVENTS' THAT APPEAR TO REPRESENT AN EMERGENCY. Objective 26 Increase the protection of existing and potential sources of drinking water. Policies 26.1 All public water systems shall be designed and built to the DWS dedication standards. All other systems shall meet all relevant health and safety regulations and be designed and constructed by a licensed engineer. 26.2 Water sources shall be protected to prevent depletion and contamination from natural and man- made occurrences or events. 26.3 An effort by County, State, and private interests shall be coordinated to identify sources of additional water supply to be implemented and ensure the development of sufficient quantities of water for existing and future needs of high-growth areas and agricultural production. 26.4 Installation or rehabilitation of water distributions shall be sized to adequately meet fire protection. 26.5 Ensure the highest quality of water is reserved for the most valuable end-use. 26.6 Encourage the design of large development projects (200+ units) in the North Kohala, South Kohala, North Kona, South Kona, and Ka'u Districts to be as water neutral as reasonably possible through water conservation, recharge, and reuse measures to reduce the water footprint. 26.7 Promote best practices in sustainable water collection and use for private water systems. 26.8 Water system improvements, including exploratory wells, shall correlate with the County's desired land use development pattern. 26.9 The DWS shall prioritize infill development and focus source development to serve designated Urban Growth Areas. 26.10 Waterdem and projectionsshalIincludealIconsumptiveandnon-consumptivedemands. 26.11 The DWSandthe Plan ningDepartmentshalIcoordinateprioritiesbeforetheadoptionofanynew water development or County land use plans. 26.12 AIICountypotablewatersystemsshouldhavebackupstandbysources. One Water 26.13 Treat all water as a valuable resource in community design, and integrate designs for drinking water, stormwater, and recreational water needs. CONCERN: AN EXAMPLE OF YET MORE POORLY EXPRESSED LANGUAGE THAT SEEMS INAPPROPRIATE. WHAT IS MEANT BY 'RECREATIONAL WATER NEEDS?' 26.14 Managewater,stormwater,andwastewaterasthesamenatural resourceincollaborationwithth e DWS, DEM, DPW, and DOH. 26.15 New developments should be designed to reduce water demand, retain runoff, decrease flooding, and recharge groundwater. 26.16 Supportlocalized,small-scalesolutionstowaterreuseandon-sitesystems. Actions 26.a In collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), conduct further research on localized rainfall modeling to accurately assess future precipitation trends. 4.3 Public Utilities I County of Hawaii General Plan 132 26.b Expand water conservation programs, primarily aimed at reducing demand, such as leak detection, and rebates for low flow. 26.c Evaluate and amend the fee schedule for water use to take into account high water use and aquifer recharge projections. Use the funds generated to pay for conservation measures and infrastructure. 26.d Improve County water conservation practices to lead by example. 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. 26.f Collaborate with the DOH to develop standards and/or guidelines for the construction and use of rainwater catchment systems to minimize the intrusion of any chemical and microbiological contaminants. 26.g Promote the use of groundwater sources to meet DOH water quality standards. 26.h Seek state and federal funds to assist in financing projects to bring the County into compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act. 26.i Explore the feasibility of incentive methods such as property tax deductions, conservation easements, or transfer of development rights to protect the defined zone of influence of existing or proposed public and private wells. AGAIN THIS SEEMS TO REFER VAGUELY TO THE PRIVATISATION OF WATER AND CONVERSELY TO PROPERTY ACQUISITION WHICH IS NOT CURRENTLY CONSIDERED THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT. UNDER A COMMUNIST GOVERNMENTAL SYSTEM ONE COULD EASILY EXPECT THAT A GOVERNMENT WOULD BE CRAFTING POLICY IN SUCH A WAY THAT TRANSFER OF PROPERTY FROM PRIVATE LANDOWNER TO GOVERNMENT WOULD BE FACILITATED. 26.j Investigate alternative financing options for expanding water systems to support infill growth consistent with the County's desired land use development pattern. AGAIN THIS IS A VAGUE REFERENCE WHEN THAT SHOULD NOT BE LEFT AMBIGUOUS AND THIS IS CONCERNING BECAUSE IT COMPROMISES THE VALUE OF THE ENTIRE DOCUMENT. 26.k Collaborate with government, private and nonprofit agencies, communities, and other stakeholders to develop, improve, and expand agricultural water systems in appropriate areas on the island. 26.1 Continue to participate in the United States Geological Survey (USGS) exploratory well drilling program. 26.m Expand programs to provide agricultural irrigation water. One Water 26.n Develop water conservation and stormwater management guidelines for commercial, industrial, and residential properties. 26.o Codify the administrative structure needed to develop a water resource program and interdepartmental collaboration framework. 26.p Collaborate with government, private and nonprofit agencies, communities, and other stakeholders to develop and facilitate community partnerships between upstream and downstream communities. 26.q Develop public-private partnerships to leverage funding sources. 4.3 Public Utilities I County of Hawaii General Plan 133 Table 35: Water System Standards Domestic Consumption Guidelines Zoning Designation Residential: Single-Family or Duplex Multi-Family Commercial Resort Light Industry Schools and Parks Agriculture Average Daily Demand 400 gals/unit 400 gals/unit 3000 gals/acre 400 gals/unit or 17,000 gal/acre 4000 gals/acre 4000 gals/acre or 60 gals/student 3400 gals/acre 4.3 Public Utilities I County of Hawaii General Plan 134 4.3.4 Wastewater Treatment and Reuse The General Plan recognizes the significance of wastewater treatment and reuse as essential components of the County's comprehensive water management strategy. Adequate sewer systems are vital to maintain public health and protect the environment. As communities generate wastewater through various sources such as residential, commercial, and industrial activities, effective treatment is necessary to remove harmful pollutants and contaminants before the water is discharged back into the environment. Improperly treated wastewater can have detrimental effects on marine ecosystems, coastal waters, and freshwater resources, jeopardizing both human and ecological health. An adequate system minimizes contamination of both the groundwater supply and coastal waters, beaches, and waterborne recreational areas and is not a visual and odor nuisance. Land development plans for resort-residential complexes located in shoreline areas pose a potential water quality problem for adjacent near-shore waters. Adequate treatment facilities are essential prerequisites for development. HERE IN THIS DOCUMENT WITH NO REFERENCE TO BIO REMEDIATION AND WITH THE SHEER VOLUME OF HOUSEHOLDS OPERATING OFF GRID, THIS DOCUMENT IS CREATING `CRIME' OUT OF REGULAR HOUSEHOLD OPERATIONS. THE FACT THAT THIS COUNTY ADMINISTRATION IS PROPOSING A POLICY DIRECTIVE TO MANDATE/ FORCE HOUSEHOLDS TO ADDRESS THE LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE ON OUR RURAL ISLAND IS A VERY RECKLESS DIRECTION TO TAKE. REFER PREVIOUS COMMENTS 1) AN AUDIT SHOULD BE DONE OF THE CURRENT WASTEWATER DIVISION 2) ALTERNATIVE BIOREMEDIATION METHODS MUST BE INVESTIGATED AND FINDINGS PUBLISHED. MORE PUBLIC DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC AWARENESS IS NEEDED BEFORE THIS POLICY DIRECTIVE WOULD BE ADOPTED SINCE IT WILL LIKELY BRING GREAT FINANCIAL STRAIN TO MANY HOUSEHOLDS AND REQUIRE ONEROUS LEVELS OF `ENFORCEMENT.' Wastewater reuse, also known as water recycling or reclaimed water, involves treating wastewater to a level suitable for non-potable uses. Reusing treated wastewater provides an opportunity to conserve precious freshwater resources and reduce the strain on existing water supplies. For Hawaii Island, where freshwater resources are limited and vulnerable to climate change impacts, the implementation of wastewater reuse projects becomes vital for ensuring water sustainability. By implementing appropriate treatment processes, treated wastewater can be used for a range of purposes, including irrigation of agricultural lands, landscape irrigation, industrial processes, and groundwater recharge. This practice helps meet non-drinking water needs, reducing the reliance on freshwater sources for non-potable purposes and leaving more available for essential uses like drinking water. THERE IS NO MENTION HERE OF THE SAFETY CONCERNS THAT MUST ACCOMPANY SUCH USES OF TREATED WASTEWATER. The County operates municipal sewerage in Hilo, Papa`ikou, Kapehu, Pepe`ekeo, Honoka`a, Kealakehe, and Kaloko. The remaining communities are served by private wastewater treatment facilities or individual facilities, such as cesspools or septic tanks. In 2017, the Hawaii State Legislature passed Act 125, mandating that all Hawai`i's cesspools be replaced by 2050. Cesspools are substandard sewage disposal systems as they do not treat wastewater. According to the latest report on the Hawaii Cesspool Hazard Assessment and Prioritization Tool, Hawaii Island contains an estimated 48,596 cesspools. Sewerage disposal system designs must be examined with the particular region in mind. Of critical importance in an examination of sewerage disposal for a community is the cost of the system, including construction and operation costs. These costs vary with the characteristics of each area. The Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 legislated the protection of all aquifers or portions of aquifers currently serving as drinking water sources and any other aquifer capable of yielding consumable water. This mandate was based on a national concern for the quality of the groundwater and the increasing evidence of contamination of this valuable resource. In 1976, the State Legislature enacted Act 84, relating to safe drinking water, which requires the State Department of Health (DOH) to establish an underground injection control program to protect the quality of the State's underground sources of drinking water. Because of the importance ofgroundwater as a source of municipal water supplies, the underground injection control program is considered a beneficial approach in the identification of aquifers that should be protected from subsurface disposal of wastewater through injection wells. HERE AGAIN THERE IS NO MENTION OF THE PRIMARY POLLUTER OF THE AQUIFER : THE MILITARY BASE ON POHAKULOA. THERE IS ALSO NO MENTION OF TESTING WATER QUALITY AND TESTING FOR CONTAMINANTS. THIS IS ANOTHER DIVISION OF OUR COUNTY THAT SHOULD BE AUDITED. WHY IS NOTHING DONE ABOUT A MILITARY POTENTIAL `SUPER FUND SITE' OPERATING ABOVE A PRISTINE AQUIFER? The protection of these aquifers is established by designating areas currently being used or will be used in the future for drinking water supply. The Underground Sources of Drinking Water USDW) will be protected from pollution by prohibiting the construction of new injection wells that may pollute the USDW. Injection wells are allowed in exempted areas. The boundary lines between the USDW and the exempted areas have been developed. ** PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION OR ELSE TAKE OUT THIS EXEMPTION REFERENCE. THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE BETTER INFORMED UPON READING THIS PLAN, NOT LEFT IN THE DARK TO WONDER . Under Chapter 62, Wastewater Systems, the DOH adopted a 1,000-foot setback of wastewater systems from all public drinking water wells and springs. In compliance with the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 (Public Law 92- 500), the DOH and the County jointly prepared the Water Quality Management Plan for Hawaii County in 1978 and subsequently updated the plan in 1980. In 1979, the County Council adopted the plan through a resolution to serve as the planning guide for the development of regional waste treatment systems and the control of non- point sources of pollution. To implement the management plan, the County has prepared facility plans for various areas on the island. Facility plans are developed by the County to satisfy a requirement for the application of loans from the State to develop wastewater treatment facilities. The facility plans identify problems, potential solutions, and costs. In 1985, the State Legislature enacted Act 282, Relating to Environmental Quality, which reassigns the County, effective July 1, 1987, or upon receipt of State funds, to assume complete administration and implementation for the regulation of sewerage and wastewater treatment system programs. Source: Hawaii News Now(2022). 4.3 Public Utilities I County of Hawaii General Plan 136 Objective 27 Planned and developed municipal sewer capacity is expanded to serve our Urban Growth Areas and reduce sewage-related impacts on water quality. Policies 27.1 A Sewerage Study for All Urban Areas, including appropriate water quality management strategies, shall be completed and used as guides for the general planning of sewerage disposal systems. 27.2 Private treatment systems shall be installed by land developers for major resorts and other developments along shorelines and sensitive higher inland areas, except where connection to nearby treatment facilities is feasible and compatible with the County's long-range plans, and in conformance with State and County requirements. 27.3 Immediate steps shall be taken to designate treatment plant sites, sewerage pump station sites, and sewer easements according to the facility plans to facilitate their acquisition. 27.4 The County shall obtain State and Federal funds to finance the construction of proposed sewer systems and improve existing systems. 27.5 Plans for wastewater reclamation and reuse for irrigation and biosolids composting remaining solids from the treatment of wastewater are processed into a reusable organic material) shall be utilized where topographically feasible and needed for landscaping, agricultural purposes, or fire protection. Wastewater and Environmental Quality Prioritization 27.6 Pollution shall be prevented, abated, and controlled at levels that will protect and preserve public health and well-being through the enforcement of appropriate Federal, State, and County standards. 27.7 Ensure municipal wastewater systems serve designated Urban Growth Areas UGA) with the capacity to accommodate projected population growth. 27.8 The Department of Environmental Management and the Planning Department shall coordinate priorities before the adoption of any new wastewater development or land use plans. 27.9 Prioritize developing a multipronged approach to wastewater infrastructure funding, including proactively seeking grant funding for wastewater system expansion, improvements, and new development. 27.10 Ensurewastewaterfeesreflectactualcostsforservice,maintenance,andfutureimprovements. 27.11 Ensure that wastewater systems and improvements are designed and functioning to maximize system efficiencies, prevent accidental leaks or spills, and provide sanitary, reliable wastewater treatment that is not negatively impacting natural resources. One Water-Recycled Water Expansion 27.12 Striveforani nteg rated app roachtostormwate ran dwastewate r,andwaterresou rcemanageme nt that is comprehensive and as efficient as possible. 27.13 Encourageon-sitewaterreusesolutionsforlargedevelopments. 4.3 Public Utilities I County of Hawaii General Plan 137 27.14 Encourageandincentivizethecollectionofrainfallfornon-potableuse. 27.15 PrioritizetheuseofgraywaterinareasconnectedtoCountywaterandnotconnectedtoCounty wastewater. Actions Wastewater and Environmental Quality Prioritization 27.a Prioritize areas where on-site wastewater treatment should be converted to sewer and establish financial tools such as improvement districts to aid in implementation. 27.b Prioritize areas where wastewater treatment facilities are necessary to facilitate future growth and utilize financing tools such as community facilities district (CFD) or tax increment financing (TIF) to aid in implementation. 27.c Review, assess, and amend Codes relating to sewer connection requirements to ensure wastewater issues and requirements are addressed in a consistent, sustainable, and socially equitable way. 27.d Develop a wastewater master plan with a clear prioritization method for wastewater system expansions and improvements based on criteria involving land use, projected growth, social equity, and environmental factors. 27.e Develop plans to improve, connect, or develop new wastewater systems in unsewered urban coastal communities. 27.f Perform a study to assess individual wastewater systems (IWS) in unsewered urban growth areas to assess the rate of failures/negative impacts, determine rates of large capacity cesspools still in use, and develop plans to improve, connect, or develop new wastewater systems for unsewered urban communities. 27.g Proactively seek opportunities for public-private partnerships for wastewater collection and treatment development. 27.h Facilitate the use of infrastructure improvement districts and other types of localized funding mechanisms to fund improvements. 27.i Streamline the sewer connection loan program. 27.j Develop wastewater cost valuation in service fees (similar to the water model fee structure). 27.k Develop a criteria-based infrastructure prioritization tool to develop new or expand existing municipal wastewater systems. Base these priority areas on designated urban growth boundaries, urban zoning and density, population trends and anticipated growth, health/safety, and environmental factors. 27.1 Implement innovative wastewater systems at a cost-effective scale for small communities. 27.m Amend the County Code, Section 21-26-1(a) requiring "all sewer extensions shall be approved by resolution of the County council" to read, "all sewer extensions outside of Urban Growth Areas shall be approved by resolution of the County council." REFERRING AGAIN TO CONCERNS THAT THIS IS AN UNFEASIBLE COST TO REGULAR HOUSEHOLDS. THIS IS A VERY CONCERNING POLICY DIRECTIVE AND AS ACKNOWLEDGED HERE, MORE STUDIES WOULD BE REQUIRED PRIOR TO ADMINISTERING SUCH POLICIES.. SO WHY ARE WE SEEING THIS EMPHASIS IN THE GENERAL PLAN ? 4.3 Public Utilities I County of Hawaii General Plan 138 27.n In collaboration with the DOH Wastewater Branch, reevaluate and clarify the requirements set forth in Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR), Section 11-62-31.1(a) (1) B) and amend County sewer requirements accordingly to accommodate needed housing units. 27.o Collaborate with the DOH to advance progressive wastewater technology and regulations. One Water-Recycled Water Expansion 27.p In collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, develop a water resource strategy for efficient agricultural water use and reuse. 27.q Install non-potable systems, such as reclaimed wastewater, brackish groundwater, and untreated surface water in proximity to priority UGAs for non-potable water uses. 27.r Conduct supply and demand studies to determine a level of service for non-potable water needs. 27.s Facilitate greywater reuse systems through code amendments and through partnering with DOH for regulatory changes and incentives. 4.3 Public Utilities I County of Hawaii General Plan 139 4.3.5 Stormwater Infiltration and Green Infrastructure Stormwater management and the implementation of green infrastructure are critical elements of the General Plan for their vital role in sustainability on Hawaii Island. As an island ecosystem with limited freshwater resources and vulnerable coastal areas, managing stormwater effectively and integrating green infrastructure practices are essential for preserving our water resources and ensuring environmental sustainability. Stormwater refers to the runoff from precipitation that flows over land surfaces, eventually entering water bodies such as streams, rivers, and oceans. Stormwater is a crucial element of the island's overall water landscape. While precipitation may be an obvious contributor to stormwater, all the phases of the hydrologic cycle are related to stormwater and are influenced by public utility decisions made in the built environment. Precipitation and surface runoff are often the phases of the hydrologic cycle that people recognize as stormwater, whereas evaporation, transpiration, and condensation are not as easily observed processes. Uncontrolled stormwater runoff can lead to various detrimental effects on water resources and ecosystems. Polluted runoff, also known as nonpoint source pollution, from agriculture, urban development, forestry, recreational boating, marinas, and hydromodification activities is the leading cause of water pollution in waters across the country and in Hawaii. Uncontrolled stormwater runoff can also lead to localized flooding, causing damage to infrastructure, property, and even loss of life. Implementing stormwater management strategies helps to control the flow of stormwater, reducing the risk of flooding and associated hazards. Moreover, excessive stormwater runoff can cause soil erosion, leading to the loss of fertile topsoil, sedimentation in water bodies, and degradation of natural habitats. Proper stormwater management practices, including erosion control measures, help minimize erosion and preserve the island's natural resources. Stormwater is a prime example of the unavoidable connections that exist between the built environment and the natural environment. Increasing the opportunities for infiltration and transpiration can reduce the amount of evaporation that surface runoff requires. The social, environmental, and economic impacts of stormwater infrastructure have meaningful implications for our overall island sustainability as water is one of the most precious resources. Point and Nonpoint Source Pollution Engineering efficiency in conveying stormwater runoff using impervious surfaces (e.g., paved swales, channelized streams) must be balanced against environmental considerations. If the drainage is directed to streams, excessive freshwater volumes and sediment loads may impact coastal water resources (e.g., degrade water quality and smother coral reefs). If the drainage is directed to injection wells, more studies are needed to determine the impact of storm runoff on groundwater quality. Sediment basins, wetlands, or less impervious methods of conveyance e.g., grass swales) should be considered where feasible to reduce nonpoint source pollution of the coastal waters from stormwater runoff and filter infiltrating water. Green infrastructure refers to the network of natural or engineered features that manage stormwater while providing additional benefits to the environment and community. Such features may include rain gardens, permeable pavement, bioswales, and vegetated buffers. Green infrastructure is crucial for stormwater management, as it captures and absorbs runoff, reducing the volume and rate of runoff. By mimicking natural hydrological processes like sediment filtration and bioremediation, it helps to recharge groundwater, replenish streams, and 4.3 Public Utilities I County of Hawaii General Plan 140 reduce stress on our water resources during periods of heavy rainfall. CONCERN: HERE AT LEAST WE SEE REFERENCES TO BIOREMEDIATION. WHY IS THIS ACCEPTABLE' AS A STRATEGY WHERE TREATMENT OF WATER RUN OFF IS CONCERNED BUT NEVER ENTERTAINED IN THE MATTER OF RAW SEWAGE TREATMENT (A `SOLUTION' AND POLICY DIRECTIVE HERE WHICH THREATENS TO BE COST PROHIBITIVE TO MANY HOUSEHOLDS? ) By retaining and infiltrating stormwater, green infrastructure reduces the reliance on freshwater sources for irrigation, thus conserving water resources. This is particularly important for our island communities where freshwater availability is limited. Green infrastructure features may also provide habitats for native plants and wildlife. They contribute to biodiversity conservation and help restore and enhance Hawaii Island's natural ecosystems. Green infrastructure plays a key part in mitigating the impacts of climate change by reducing the urban heat island effect, moderating temperatures, and increasing resilience to extreme weather events. These measures align with the County's sustainability goals and efforts to adapt to climate change. 4.3 Public Utilities I County of Hawaii General Plan 141 Page 166 34.15 Encourage the expansion of digital access and equity through the resilient buildout of broadband infrastructure and facilities. Does this take into account the safety of 5G+? Is this to facilitate surveillance of citizens in the future? Page167 34.a Implement a Safe Route to School (SR2S) program for all schools. Will surveillance be implemented to ensure safety? Page169 4.4.6 Recreation Housing developers should not bear a disproportionate burden, or be forced to contribute more than their fair share, as inequitable requirements could deter needed housing development. This proviso seems to favor developers. Page171 35.a Provide funding for planning and acquisition,if necessary, of key corridor segments after corridor-zone plans are adopted. Does this preclude the rezoning and acquisition ofprivate property? 35.k Maintain an on-going program of identification, designation, and acquisition of areas with existing or potential recreational resources, such as land with sandy beaches and other prime areas for shoreline recreation in collaboration with government, private and non profit agencies, and other stakeholders. Please include private property owners in your definition of stakeholders. Page 175 4.4.7 Encouraging the establishment of farmers' markets, community gardens, and a range of agricultural activities can promote local food production and improve access to fresh nutritious food. Please include home gardens. Page 177 36.g Support the distribution of telehealth support services, particularly to unserved and underserved communities. Encourage instead person to person contact. 36.j Amend the County Code to designate a lead agency for coordinating and responding to outbreaks of life-threatening, highly communicable diseases pursuant to the DOH direction. While ensuring the statues of the Nuremberg Code are observed. Page 179 4.5.1 Blueprint for the creation of a 15 minute island, clustering us together in "a centralized, higher-density urban infill, supported by nearby, accessible public and private services and facilities." Page 181 Under Housing Challenges Targets: "Homeownership for investment purposes that are kept vacant or used for transient accommodation rentals reduces available stock for long term resident ownership and rental opportunities." Prohibits and discourages the rights of private ownership. Page182 37.6 Vacant lands in the urban growth boundary (UBG) should be prioritized for residential and supportive uses before additional agricultural lands outside the UBG are converted into urban uses. With the consent of property owner should be included. Page183 38.1 Enable data-driven research to support and maintain a housing inventory program that monitors existing housing. 38.a Perform existing housing inventory data analysis to identify structural conditions and needs for rehabilitation or demotion. Both justify the necessity of more surveillance of the community. 38.a also precludes the private property owner's rights and opinions. Take this out or revise. Page184 39.5 Allow for and apply property tax and land use regulations to incentivize private property owners to provide affordable housing units in mix-use and urban areas and to discentivize the land banking of unimproved properties. In other words land use regulations and property tax hikes will be weaponized against the private property owner. TAke this out or revise/ Page185 Table 40: Additional Infrastructure - Provide adequate broadband without invading people's privacy. Ensuring future surveillance capabilities? Page188 40.8 Require all County Departments to collaborate with the County Office of Sustainability, Climate, Equity, and Resilience (OSCER) as the lead agency to ensure the integration of the County's goals of sustainability, climate resilience, and equity into all county operations and planning initiatives. To whom does OSCER answer? Who's watching the watchdog? THIS ORGANIZATION WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2023. IT WAS PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC AS AN AGENCY THAT COULD ACCEPT GRANT FUNDS FROM GOVERNMENT AND NON GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS. IT WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO BE GRANTED EXTRA POWERS AS AN ADMUNISTRATIVE ARM OF THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT. WE SPECIFICALLY OBJECT TO THE LANGUAGE REQUIRING' `ALL COUNTY DEPARTMENTS' TO COLLABORATE WITH THE OSCER. THE COUNTY'S `GOALS' OF sustainability, climate resilience, and equity HAVE NOT BEEN ADEQUATELY DEBATED IN OUR COMMUNITY . WE CHALLENGE THE SUGGESTION THAT THERE IS CONSENSUS ON THIS MATTER AND WE SPECIFICALLY CHALLENGE THE OSCER `AGENCY' TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF THE ABOVE. WE SPECIFICALLY CHALLENGE THE PLANNING DIRECTOR AND THE LEGISLATURE TO STAGE A FULL PUBLIC REVIEW OF BOTH SETS OF DATA AND BOTH ARGUMENTS THAT THERE IS A CLIMATE CRISIS CAUSED BY CARBON THE `Office of Sustainability, Climate, Equity, and Resilience (OSCER)' BEGINS WITH A FLAWED AND DISPUTED PREMISE THAT THERE IS A CLIMATE `CRISIS' AND THAT THE OTHER 3 `PILLARS' OF THE ORGANIZATION (SUSTAINABILITY, EQUITY AND RESILLIENCE) BELONG TOGETHER AS PART OF A `SOLUTION.' WHAT IS FLAWED ABOUT THE BUZZ WORD `SUSTAINABILITY' IS THAT THIS WORD LEADS THE IDENTICAL AGENDAS OF CONTROLLING LAND USE, WATER RIGHTS, ACCESS TO PUBLIC SPACE, THE RIGHT TO TRAVEL, FARMING AND PASTURING OF ANIMALS AND FOOD SECURITY. THESE BUZZWORDS ARE COMING FROM WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM AND THE UNITED NATIONS. ALL OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS PLUS THE BILL AND MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION AND `NET ZERO' PROMOTE A DANGEROUS AGENDA OF OVERRIDING SOVEREIGN HOME RULE LOCAL COUNTIES AND STATES AND REPLACING WITH `GLOBAL AGENDAS' WHICH ARE BRINGING IN COMMUNIST' VALUES AND SYSTEMS OF PROPERTY ACQUISITION AND DESTRUCTION OF SMALL BUSINESS AND THE CORPORATIZATION OF PUBLIC ASSETS. WHAT IS FLAWED ABOUT THE BUZZ WORD `EQUITY' IS THAT IT IS QUICKLY BECOMING A WAY OF WAVING ON A COMMUNIST STYLE OF ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS WHICH PROMOTES LARGER PORTION OF THE POPULATION BEING ON WELFARE AND DIVERSITY HIRE PRACTICES THAT PROMOTE MEDIOCRITY AND NOT MERITOCRACY. THE WORD `RESILIENCE' ALSO HAS COME TO BE ANOTHER `BUZZ WORD' THAT IS A RATIONALE FOR THE CATCH PHRASE `BUILD BACK BETTER' AND THE IDEA THAT MORE RIGOROUS BUILDING CODES, MORE RESTRICTIONS AND MORE BUILDING COSTS AND INSURANCE COSTS WILL FOLLOW IN THE AFTERMATH OF EACH `DISASTER.' ELSEWHERE IN THIS DOCUMENT THERE WAS A CHALLENGE TO THE PREMISE THAT THE RECENT FIRE IN LAHAINA WAS `NORMAL' AND THAT THE RESULTING LOCKDOWNS AND FAILURE OF GREEN ADMINISTRATION TO SUPPORT HOUSEHOLDS TO REBUILD ARE ALSO `NORMAL.' TO THE CONTRARY, WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN LAHAINA FOR THE PAST 13 MONTHS EXEMPLIFIES THE WAY THAT THE WORD `RESILIENCE' HAS COME TO MEAN `CONTROL OF A POPULATION AFTER A DISASTER TO THE POINT THAT MANY WILL BE DISPLACED AND WILL BE FORCED TO LEAVE THE AREA, FINDING NO WAY TO REBUILD AND RESTORE THEIR LIVES AND LIVELIHOOODS.' Page194 Resulting in Longer Commutes: There are notable mismatches between locations of high population and job centers. Furtherjustification for clustering in population centers. Further policy directive to justify curtailing personal independent transportation options. This again is objectionable and shows contempt for a fundamental constitutional right and as such has no place in a policy document published by this County Administration. Page196 Table 43:Economic Opportunities /General Increase broadband infrastructure to provide opportunities for participation in the digital economy while allowing for other economic alternatives. CBDC's here we come/ Page 206 46.i Partner with government, private and non profit agencies, communities, and other stakeholders for carrying capacity studies of fisheries and the establishment of State community-based subsistence fishing areas. More restrictions on fishing rights. Oddly in 5.3 Agriculture and Food Systems there is no mention at all of hunting and gathering. Page 210 Wahi Pana Need assurances our wahi pana and other natural assets will be protected from commodification and collateralization. Page 213 49.1 [Encourage the] [i]ntegrat[ion] [of] `aina- place-based values 49.2 [Encourage] the accessibility 49.3 [Promote] a visitor industry 49.5 [Encourage] regenerative tourism efforts 49.6 [Foster] initiatives and improve[d] efforts 49.h and farmers, homeowners, and other residents to develop and support place-based educational programs COMMENT: FINALLY HERE IS A DIRECTIVE THAT SPEAKS TO SUPPORTING THE EXISTING ECONOMY AND THE PEOPLE WHO ALREADY LIVE ON THIS ISLAND. THE FACT THAT THIS IS SHOWING UP ON PAGE 214 SHOULD BE CONCERNING TO ANYONE UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS DOCUMENT IS SUPPOSED TO GUIDE THE PRIORITIES OF OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATURE. THE OPENING SECTION OF THE DOCUMENT SHOULD BE ABOUT SUPPORTING THE EXISTING CULTURE AND ECONOMY OF THE ISLAND. THE CAPACITY TO SUPPORT AND HELP GROW IN THIS AREA WOULD BE ALL Page 215 6.1 para 2 presenting [residents a true voice] for the future of Hawaii Island. 1 [where citizens collaborate with the County to effect change consistent with plans developed under this chapter.] 3 Ensure consistency among the General Plan and respective regional plans [What are regional plans?] 4 set forth in the General Plan's [Should this be plural or possessive?] 5 Establish an implementation system that is based on county-wide, regional, and agency levels What are regional and agency levels?] Page 216 Top para by promoting [economic] growth, 2nd para collaboration among various [residents] Key areas of focus include fostering [understanding of the role of government in] ensuring community engagement and input, securing funding, and coordinating priorities. Page217 6.2.1 Para 1 Community Development Plan Framework During the General Plan Comprehensive Review process, existing community plans were used to guide the CDP framework. From the adoption of the Kona, Puna, North and South Kohala CDPs in 2008, Ka`u CDP in 2017, and Hamakua CDP in 2018, there has been much to learn and grow from as we look to the future. The General Plan also benefited from years of collective participation in CDP implementation efforts through regional committees that implement their respective CDP. [NOTE: Hilo was not included in this CFP framework. Although there had been Hilo meetings in the past that dealt with some issues contained in the General Plan, no mechanism was put in place that paralleled the multi-year single-purpose work that was undertaken in the other six districts.] Para 2 To build on these lessons learned, future CDPs[, which it is hoped will include a CDP for Hilo,] shall be drafted The purpose of a CDP is threefold: 3. Provide a process for citizens to engage in civic dialogue [through open-forum townhalls where vigorous question-answer format is primary, eliciting the priorities of the community.] Page 218 6. Social Capital and Community Network Mapping During the process of reviewing a Community Development Plan, instances where community needs are not met may be identified. Examples of this may include a need for community gathering spaces such as parks or recreation hubs. Community Development Plans may identify such needs and outline a plan of action for community members and other [Hawaii Island residents] to coordinate efforts, combine and collect resources, and connect public and private sector agents to advocate for such enhancements to their community. [In the case of Hilo, where a CDP was never initiated by the Planning Department, an examination of why this was neglected must be addressed, for the purpose of getting input from this district even though the General Plan may have been already implemented. This could be accomplished through addendums to the General Plan at future dates.] Page 224 6.4.3 Para 1 The General Plan is a comprehensive framework designed to guide [innovative] development patterns, [and provide assistance toward] future opportunities and public investments. Para 3 The tables are intended to provide a clear and concise reference for agencies, policymakers, communities, farmers, homeowners, and other residents Page 225 Table 45 Climate change, carbon footprint, net zero,GHG emissions, green infrastructure projects, climate adaptation The above terms, taken from Table 45, derive from the United Nations Agenda 21 Sustainable Development, inaugurated in 1992 at the United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Residents of Hawaii Island have never had the opportunity to engage in discussions in every town, using every venue, to discuss the entire subject of climate change. It is a foundational subject, as it is the substrate upon which so much of the General Plan is predicated. It is un-Democratic to simply take ideas from other places and cement them into the plans we make for our own people, our own land, our own island, without engaging in an unhurried, full-blown examination of this agenda, neighbor with neighbor. Until such time as this takes place, we must place this draft of a General Plan on hold. Table 46 Objectives 13. Increase the use of Smart Growth principles to focus development within designated urban centers. As above, SMART is an acronym taken from the World Economic Forum that pertains to Internet-Of-Things technology. Its purpose is linkage of devices for the purpose of control and monitoring. No island-wide discussion has taken place as to the merits of SMART GROWTH. Again, it is a concept from far away, irreversible once implemented, without so much as a real attempt to inform residents. How can a General Plan proceed on concepts alien to the people? Table 47 21. [Engineer infrastructure] to reduce stormwater runoff. Page 227 Table 48 25. Improve the efficiency and reliability, and sustainability of essential infrastructure systems. 28. Increase green infrastructure practices. Example Indicators Annual funding allocated for [efficient] infrastructure initiatives Percentage of new development projects including [efficient] infrastructure elements Table 49 Our communities are adequately served by sustainable and efficient public infrastructure P232 6.4.4 1.a Seek [procedure] to support wetland identification and assessments. 1.j Identify partners and [S]upport a public awareness and education campaign to elevate recognition of the value of urban trees as essential infrastructure. 3.b Create special (business) improvement districts to engage in environmental research, restoration and maintenance, natural resource management, climate change or sea level rise adaptation or other purposes to improve environmental conditions and provide community benefit. 4.a [Seek Hawaii Island residents and groups] to maintain and steward the preservation of sites, buildings, objects, and landscapes of significant cultural and historical importance. 4.c Support the identification of Heritage Landscapes, Corridors, Areas, and Centers. Heritage designation is UNESCO. It is crucial that Hawaii Island maintain control of its lands and natural resources, free of encumbrances of global organizations 4.h [Foment discussion among] government, private and nonprofit agencies, communities, and other stakeholders farmers, homeowners, and other residents 4.i private and nonprofit agencies, communities, and other stakeholders farmers, homeowners, and other residents Table 54: Climate Change Delete Table 54: Climate Change has not been debated across Hawaii County in a systematic way. Such a debate would entail townhall presentations by each side, allowing all the time necessary to absorb the decades of information circulating through media and academia. At some later time, these information-gathering events could then be followed by public open debates. Hawaii Island residents at that juncture would then be ready to decide whether they wished to premise all future growth on the notion of Climate Change, or reject it as unscientific.] 240 Table 56 Transportation Access and Mobility 20.e Adopt a Complete Streets ordinance. [Complete Streets derives from Agenda 21's SMART Cities designation. It has nothing to do with residents of Hawaii Island, until such time as they can be apprised of the overall design of Agenda 21, as it entails constricting traffic, expanding bike lanes and bus routes, installing islands - many changes that may or may not be workable. Hilo and Kona have very different requirements, and a cookie-cutter approach levels differences. Just because it is recommended by a national or international association does not mean it is suitable here. Again, it must be thoroughly discussed across the island before a decision can be made.] 22.a Amend the County Code to incorporate Vision Zero safety principles and Complete Street design principles. [Vision Zero, as stated above with Complete Streets, is an internationally utilized approach to pedestrian safety that first needs a full discussion here to see to what extent it is workable, if at all.] 243-255 27.d social equity, [No relevance to this category] 27.g Proactively seek opportunities for [strategies] for wastewater collection and treatment development. 28.c Update the DPW Storm Drainage Standards to reflect current data and to incorporate strategies and standards of green infrastructure and low impact development. 28.f Create a green infrastructure dedication standard. 28.1 Identify County parks and recreation, rights-of-way, and other County owned sites for green infrastructure demonstration projects 29.a Partner with government, private and nonprofit agencies, communities, farmers, homeowners, and other residents for the research and development of alternative/renewable energy resources. 30.d Collaborate with government, private and nonprofit agencies, communities and other Hawaii Island residents] 30.i [Encourage private] funding for broadband initiatives and deployments. 30.m Foster [private investments] to support the development and expansion of broadband infrastructure, 32.c Review county lighting and landscaping ordinances to implement CPTED. CPTED is a component of a SMART City that watches, listens, announces, tracks, records. It is a creation of Agenda 21 and the WEF and the UN. It must be rejected by the residents of Hawaii Island unless/until it is thoroughly discussed and debated. 32.p This point to be deleted In light of the controversy in the aftermath of the Lahaina fire, to be formulating a redevelopment plan, IN ADVANCE of an incident, creates a climate of distrust and anger. This subject must be handled very carefully in discussions with groups and individuals across the island.] 35.c Partner with government, private and nonprofit agencies, farmers, homeowners, and other residents 35.d Partner with government, private and nonprofit agencies, farmers, homeowners, and other residents 35.i government, private and nonprofit agencies, farmers, homeowners, and other residents 35.k private and nonprofit agencies, farmers, homeowners, and other residents 36.d communities, and other farmers, homeowners, and other residents 36.f communities, and other farmers, homeowners, and other residents Page 254 45A Partner with government (e.g., DOT, DBEDT, etc.), private and nonprofit agencies, communities, farmers, homeowners, and other residents to monitor 45.1 Partner with government, private and nonprofit agencies (e.g., business associations, realtors, chambers of commerce, etc.), communities, farmers, homeowners, and other residents 45.m expand the research and development industry for [innovative] economic development. 46.i private and nonprofit agencies, communities, farmers, homeowners, and other residents C. Kimo Alameda,PhD.10. John Pelletier Mayor a:' Vacant Heather Korotie Vacant Charles Young,Chair rE Wop;o Nancy Pisicchio,Vice-Chair Charla Thompson Da County of Hawai Roselyn MolinaHawaiiRoselynHa KONA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE Aupuni Center• 101 Pauahi Street,Suite 3 • Hilo,Hawai'i 96720 808)961-8288•Fax(808)961-8742 December 18, 2024 Leeward Planning Commission West Hawaii Civic Center 74-5044 Ane Keohokdlole Highway, Building E, 2nd Floor Kailua-Kona, Hawaii Subject: Kona Community Development Plan Action Committee Written Testimony Re2ardin2 the Final Recommended Draft General Plan 2045 Aloha Chair Defranco: The Kona CDP Action Committee(AC) met on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, at the West Hawaii Civic Center. Included on the agenda was a discussion regarding the Final Recommended Draft General Plan. The AC voted unanimously to provide their written testimony collectively, identified as Communication 2024-13, attached. Sincerely, Charles Young, Chair Kona Community Development Plan Action Committee MP:kk V:\PL\PL\planning\public\wpwin60\CDP\CDP-Kona\Action Committee\Meetings\2024\2024-12- 17\Communications\Communication No.2024-35 KCDP General Plan Testimony.pdf Attachment: Communication No. 2024-13 Communication No. 2024-13 1 2045 General Plan Draft, proposed amendments by Nancy Pisicchio General Plan Land Use Maps and Designations Table 6: Urban Land Use GP Pg. 32 GP DESIGNATION DESCRIPTION OPTIMAL POSSIBLE RESIDENTIAL ZONING DENSITY DESIGNATIONS DU/ACRE) High-Density General commercial, multiple-family residential, and related 36-60 RM, RCX, V. CG, Urban services. Confined to Urban Growth Areas.CDH, MCX, ML Medium- Density Village and neighborhood commercial and single-family and 13-35 RM, RD, RCX, V. Urban multiple-family residential and related functions. Confined to CN, CV, CG, Urban Growth Areas. MCX, ML Low-Density Residential, with ancillary community and public uses, and 3-12 RS, RM, RCX, Urban neighborhood and convenience-type commercial uses. ML, V, CV, CN Urban Expansion Allows for a mix of high density, medium density, low RS, RM, RCX, Reserve density, industrial-commercial mix, and/or natural CV, CN, CG, designations in areas where growth may be desirable, but MCX, ML, UNV, V where specific settlement and infrastructure have not yet been determined. Light/Service Uses include but are not limited to business parks, research MCX, ML Industrial and development centers, product assembly, distribution centers, laboratories, cottage industries, and light service industrial uses. Heavy Industrial Uses include but are not limited to landfills, quarries, MG chemical plants, heavy equipment base yards, towing yards, and other uses with the potential to create public nuisance conditions (e.g., noise, environmental impacts). University Public university, including ancillary public uses, residential, UNV. CG, CN, RM and support commercial uses. Resort Uses include a mix of visitor-related uses such as hotels, V, PD, RS, RM, condominium hotels (condominiums developed and/or CV, CN, MCX operated as hotels), single-family and multiple-family residential units, golf courses and other typical resort recreational facilities, resort commercial complexes, and other support services. Transit-Oriented Transit-Oriented Development Floating Zone (TOD) - Mixed- Minimum land High-Density Development use developments located at strategic points along a area. The Villacie Design TOD regional transit system. TODs consist of moderate and high- minimum land area Guidelines density housing, along with complementing public uses,for a new jobs, retail, and services. community shall be consistent with Traditional the zoning code's Medium-Density Neiahborhood requirements for Village Design Development project districts, Guidelines TND which corresponds to the urban and secondary core. KCDP Pa. 4-41 z 1 Proposed amendment to Table 6: Urban Land Use by adding TOD and TND to the list of"GP Designation" in column 1 (see above) since it is the stated intent of the General Plan (see page 46) to adopt policies to Include both TODs and TNDs. Sustainable Development and Resilient Communities Draft GP Pg. 37 Land Use Map 3 94 1 tz 1 yL 2 Proposed amendment to Land Use Map 3 Land Use Map 3 should indicate the TOD's that have been identified on Kona CDP Figure 4-7, Pg. 4-36. See map below. 3 Fiaure 4-7 0*f6al <ona Land Use Maa w yLl' Kw» LEGEND a,,m Tc rrx rasoa+a frs+r+e w s csrwrn IC1{I Ih W r i 7 enrol rr.wM. r 0 05 a 7 1 Inch iegj ni I Mli±9 L+' r cotpw /Mawser Pbmwrp 3 Proposed Map 3 Amendment: Regarding Draft GP Map 3, it is suggested that the property that now appears as the newly proposed High- Density Urban and Medium Density boundaries located mauka of the Old Airport and makai of Queen Ka'ahumanu Hwy be instead designated as a Regional Center and Neighborhood TODs as designated in the Kona CDP Official Land Use Map, Figure 4.7. This is important to ensure that proper mixed-use master planning is carried out for the area. See the recommendation from KCDP below: 4 itMakaeo Village (Regional Center) A major retail center is planned near the Old Airport Park. As a mixed-use village, the plan is to introduce residential uses into the mix, design a complementary relationship to the Old Airport Park, and integrate a transit hub or major park and ride facility for commuters". Source KCDP Pg. 4-40 Land Use Goal 1.2: Urban Growth Areas The Urban Growth Areas include high-density Transit Oriented Development (TOD), medium- density Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND), and low-density Urban Neighborhood Centers. These centers provide physical, social, governmental, and economic concentrations and easier access to services, recreation, and employment activities. Draft GP Pg. 46 4 Proposed amendment to Pg 46: Following the above language, amend the text to include these general definitions: Transit-Oriented Development (TOD). The development of compact, mixed-use villages which would integrate housing, employment, shopping, and recreation opportunities. Villages would be designed around transit stations/stops which would reduce the need for daily trips and financially support the expanded transit system. Source KCDP Pg. 4.6 Village Types Defined—Transit-Oriented Developments (TODs) vs. Traditional Neighborhood Developments (TNDs). Both TODs and TNDs are compact mixed-use villages, characterized by a village center within a higher-density urban core, roughly equivalent to a 5-minute walking radius (1/4 mile), surrounded by a secondary mixed- use, mixed-density area with an outer boundary roughly equivalent to a 10-minute walking radius from the village center (1/2 mile). The distinction between a TOD and TND is that the approximate location of a TOD is currently designated on the Official Kona Land Use Map (Figure 4-7) along the trunk or secondary transit route and contains a transit station, while TND locations have not been designated and may be located off of the trunk or secondary transit route at a location approved by a rezoning action. Source KCDP Pg. 4-28 From: Dawn Barnett To: LPCtestimony Subject: Please reschedule the GP public testimony meetings in January. Date:Wednesday, December 18,2024 12:30:27 PM Please reschedule the GP public testimony meetings in January. Thank you Dawn PO Box 1078 Kapaau, Hi 96755 From: Donald To: W PCtesti mono Cc: LPCtestimonv Subject: Revise Hawaii General Plan Testimony Here Date:Wednesday, December 18,2024 7:24:27 PM Aloha Commissioners, The Big island Plan cannot go through the way it is designed. It is hard to believe any local helped design this plan. Here are some concerns: There is a huge part of the plan dedicated to "Climate Change". However, why do most experts state there is NO climate danger? Climate Experts Speak Out Against Climate Danger Click Here! The word "Stakeholder," defined in the plan, is written 86 times and literally means anyone in the entire world can have input on this 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 and management are crucial for the success and sustainability of any initiative, as it helps ensure that diverse perspectives and interests are considered. 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. The Planning Department has sent out letters too many homeowners telling them their land use will be changed from resident to recreation due to the General Plan 2045. This will drastically lower 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. There is a huge section on climate change and things that will be affected. This needs to be further 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://clinte1.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/WCD- 241023.pdf John Coleman,the first weatherman for Good MorningAmerica 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. Hilo does not have a Community Development Plan. How can a Big Island General Plan move forward without that? Hilo is 22% of the island. 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 too because it's not the locals? "Pursue the acquisition of lands" does this say they are going to pursing taking people's private property?Again with "protection of natural resources". This plan should be focused on people growing more food and it is doing the exact opposite! 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 of Papaikou, 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 2cb1cc6d604f4cdd971ad408 31c745bc.pdf Papaikou Site Plan: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/ files/ugd/86fc0c 5e4cdb02efeb46a5ae9 49a3579aff00d.pdf Papaikou Development: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/ files/ugd/86fc0c c2af52c8b3c645b1 a6868a72 4eee8304.pdf A Hawaiian born Kanaka revised the Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship that is in the plan. You can see it in the pdf below: Part One: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/ files/ugd/86fc0c Oa1 d5be8f1 d140069415 f7b691725786.pdf Part Two: https://86fcOcbd-8207-4076-85fa- 5a62e4e933b4.usrfiles.com/ugd/86fc0c ecc498ba192d4a7689ebf31 c3681 c2ec.pdf Here is a longer revised version of the plan from locals: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/ files/ugd/86fcOc b34739e4c99c461685de4c02 07.bf286e.Ddf The way this plan is written is very far from what will support our island. Don Noguchi From: shams To: WPCtestimonv;LPCtestimonv Cc: Kimball.Heather Subject:Testimony for General Plan 2045 for 19 December-NEEDS FULL OVERHAUL due to serious unaddressed issues Date: Wednesday,December 18,2024 7:29:20 PM Aloha, I have provided extensive written testimony numerous times and commented on the general plan online along with many othersthat have emphasized this plan needs a complete overhaul to meet the needs of the community. This plan is based off a template handed down thru the United Nations Agenda 21. This document is a good overview to educate county planning and legislative officials on AGENDA 21 and should be mandatory reading.httos:Hnwri.org/wo- content/uploads/2011/07/How-Public-Officials-can-Recognize-Age nda-21.pddf The original version in 2005 plan contains the words"homeowner"and"farmer"while the 2045 plan is written by and for"stakeholders!"This is outrageous and the words"homeowner"and"farmer"do not appear anywhere! "Farmer"is in the 2005 General Plan fourteen(14)times and"homeowner" appears four(4)times.Below are just a few things that need addressing: 1. The State and County ARE corporations and have no right to acquire land.The proposed re-zoning is excessive overreach for the benefit of stakeholders and will affect landowners tremendously.This will open up the county for massive legal recourse that will tie up county resources for many years. 2. Remove reference to climate change caused by humans,this is unproven and junk science(see additional resources below).This includes removing references to"carbon footprint","net zero","greenhouse gas","green infrastructure" and/or"climate adaptation".Carbon dioxide sequestration is a really really stupid idea,waste of tax payer funds and energy,and will further degrade our flora and fauna. 3. Remove the section 2.2 Biocultural Stewardship Goal(1.13)because State and County corporations are not acting on behalf of its residents and clearly acting on behalf of stakeholders. 4. Remove the word"stakeholder"from everywhere it appears,and instead use the words"land owner"or"farmer/rancher". 5. REMOVE 32c and 32p and 20e because all have to do with the egregious concept of"smart'cities. 6. Remove ANY use of the word"resilience"This is a psychological term that has NO PLACE in a government document. 7. Close down the County Office of Sustainability,Climate,Equity,and Resilience(OSCER)as NOBODY VOTED FOR THIS OFFICE TO BE STARTED and it is a waste of resources. Remove ANY reference to such office from the proposed General Plan the citizens can work directly with the county. 8. The governments intention for"inspection"or"surveillance"or"inventory"of land and water catchment is in direct violation of privacy rights. 9. Add language for safeguarding against the danger of emerging technology,including 5G.Language needs to be drafted regarding technology easements based on health studies conducted by 3rd party with no conflict of interest. 10. Remove the phrase"circular systems". This is a concept only vaguely defined and certainly without any solid demonstration of its use. 11. Remove the phrase'Vision Zero"as it has NO RELEVANCE for our island. 12. Remove the phrase"One Water"as it refers to a North America group and has NO RELEVANCE for our island. 13. There is no clear plan for strengthening infrastructure and power grid against space weather. 14. The document contains no explanation how the county will handle a breakdown of critical infrastructure(supply chain,energy, communications)due to impending space weather/solar events in which the Federal Government has been diligently preparing for due to weakening magnetosphere(see additional resources below). 15. Include language to ban"man made"weather modification,spraying of nano particulate in the atmosphere,and geoengineering activities that have a significant impact on health,property,and the environment. 16. Include language against harmful chemicals,pesticides such as glyphosate,and genetically altered organisms(including vectors of disease)from being released into the environment. 17. Implement severe restrictions for artificial intelligence data centers proposed by"stakeholders"that will drain the power grid. 18. Implement provisions regarding military training and operations that are transparent and safe for the environment.Depleted uranium dropped in the Saddle Region next to an active Volcano is NOT acceptable whatsoever,nor is excessive underground explosions that have been going on for years that parallel training operations at Pohakuloa Training Area(PTA). 19. Developers should not be granted relief from requirements for sidewalks,bike lanes,etc...a dedicated bike lane should be implemented on all major roads. 20. Include information on the drawbacks of electric vehicles to include draw on the grid,disposal of batteries,and fire dangers. Climate Mitigation Basis for Plan is Unfounded A great deal of content is based on Climate Mitigation from human activity which has a minuscule effect on the earth's overall climate.Over 99% of the climate affects are driven by solar activity,cycles,and space weather.The document completely fails to mention the threat of space weather and is almost entirely focused on carbon emissions promoted by the United Nations Climate Agenda.Our Federal Government has been preparing for space weather threats for many years,yet the Hawai'i island GP lacks any reference to this even though critical infrastructure(energy,communications, transportation,and supply chain)is at risk due to increased solar radiation from our weakening magnetosphere.In 2015 the magnetosphere was down by 40%according to this Federal Doc. httos:Ha pps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/AD 1040918#:-:text=The%20research%20evaluates%20the%20impacts,reversals%20and%20adverse%20space%20weather In October of 2016 President Obama issued the following executive order Coordinating Efforts To Prepare the Nation for Space Weather Events-Executive order 13744(https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/DCPD-201600692) Section 1.Policy.Space weather events,in the form of solar flares,solar energetic particles,and geomagnetic disturbances,occur regularly, some with measurable effects on critical infrastructure systems and technologies,such as the Global Positioning System(GPS),satellite operations and communication,aviation,and the electrical power grid.Extreme space weather events—those that could significantly degrade critical infrastructure—could disable large portions of the electrical power grid,resulting in cascading failures that would affect key services such as water supply,healthcare,and transportation.Space weather has the potential to simultaneously affect and disrupt health and safety across entire continents.Successfully preparing for space weather events is an all-of-nation endeavor that requires partnerships across governments, emergency managers,academia,the media,the insurance industry,non-profits,and the private sector. It is the policy of the United States to prepare for space weather events to minimize the extent of economic loss and human hardship.The Federal Government must have(1)the capability to predict and detect a space weather event,(2)the plans and programs necessary to alert the public and private sectors to enable mitigating actions for an impending space weather event,(3)the protection and mitigation plans,protocols,and standards required to reduce risks to critical infrastructure prior to and during a credible threat,and(4)the ability to respond to and recover from the effects of space weather.Executive departments and agencies(agencies)must coordinate their efforts to prepare for the effects of space weather events. Sec.2.Objectives.This order defines agency roles and responsibilities and directs agencies to take specific actions to prepare the Nation for the hazardous effects of space weather.These activities are to be implemented in conjunction with those identified in the 2015 National Space Weather Action Plan and any subsequent updates.Implementing this order and the Action Plan will require the Federal Government to work across agencies and to develop,as appropriate,enhanced and innovative partnerships with State,tribal,and local governments;academia;non- profits;the private sector;and international partners.These efforts will enhance national preparedness and speed the creation of a space- weather-ready Nation. https://www.fede ra iregoste r.gov/documents/2016/10/18/2016-25290/coordi nati ng-efforts-to-pre pa re-the-nation-fo r-space-weather-events In October 2016(about 10 days before the above executive order was signed)the Russian Government hosted a training event of 40 million civilians,200,000 emergency rescuers and 50,000 units of equipment from October 4 to October 7,2016.It took 3 days to do a mock evacuation of 40 million civilians into 5000 bunkers.This was a massive exercise carried out for the first time in modern history.A spokesman said in a statement:"The main goal of the drill is to practice organization of management during civil defense events and emergency and fire management, to check preparedness of management bodies and forces of civil defense on all levels to respond to natural and man-made disasters and to take civil defense measures." https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/717446/russia-evacuate-40-million-people-emergency-drill-vladimir-putin-ww3 Resources Weather Mod ification/Geoeng ineering Man made geoengineering is an operation primarily used to block out solar radiation and create,distribute,and deflect weather systems.Its use over many decades is outside the scope of public knowledge and having significant impacts on our environment/weather to include increased super storms,fires,flooding,droughts,and causing very high levels of aluminum in the soil and tissue samples of all mammals.I personally have tested hundreds of humans and animals and seen very high levels in all hair analysis tests.This is why Monsanto developed aluminum resistant seeds,soil in North America is testing 40,000 times higher rates of aluminum in the last 2 decades. https://www.aeoe nginee rinawatch.org/Iinks-to-aeoenai nee ri ng-pate nts/ Tennessee and New Hampshire have recently introduced bills to ban this practice. https://www.ten nessea n.co m/story/news/local/2024/03/20/te nnessee-senate-passes-bill-ban ni ng-che mtrai Is-what-to-know/73027586007/ Maui county council passed a bill in 2010 to ban geoengineering and this link explains how it is being used to lessen the effects of solar radiation. There has been no public oversight or consent to these projects. http:Hma uiskMatch.org/info-official-reports/ It is clear based on the above information the governments of the world are preparing for space weather effects due to the weakening magnetic field,therefore it is critical that the county review and adopt their own contingency plan.Hawaii county should implement a ban on geoengineering before soil is too toxic with aluminum and when combined with glyphosate it can cross the blood brain barrier and render our soils inert due. These issues are being brought to your attention as a big picture,there are many other concerns that need addressing that have been provided in previous testimony.The GP is a disaster for our environment since it fails to address some of the most critical issues,instead it is abundantly clear it is being used a control mechanism over free men and women designed to consolidate power to the hands ofthe stakeholders.GP as it stands has no place in Hawaii or anywhere else in the world and will ultimately fail. Mahalo for your service, Donna Thompson Kamuela,HI Sent with Proton Mail secure email. From: Jill Burbary To: Chana. Kelsie Cc: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv; michelleCai)blossominnerwellness.com; Eric S.West Subject: Re: 12/19/24 LPC General Plan Review Meeting—Zoom Testimony Confirmation Date:Wednesday, December 18,2024 3:20:39 PM Attachments: imaae001.ona Hi Kelsie - I was hoping to testify tomorrow to ask that you reinstate the General Plan GP) 2045 public testimony meetings for January. The cancelation of those meetings does not support the voice of the people. Ideally, we want the Planning Commission to put those meetings back on the calendar/agenda for January, so we can share public testimony. Those affected have suffered far too long. Without politics, hidden agendas, and red tape, the affected residents and businesses would be in the building stage at this point in time. Please help them by putting the GP 2045 back on the agenda. Since I am unable to attend the meeting, can you share this email at the meeting so it is on record? Kind regards, Jill Burbary 303-810-3207 On Wednesday, December 18, 2024 at 05:43:50 PM MST, Chang, Kelsie kelsie.chang@hawaiicounty.gov>wrote: Hi — Thank you for registering for the upcoming Continued LPC General Plan Review Meeting. According to the registration report, I have you listed as a participant who has registered to watch the meeting and not provide any testimony. I'd would like to confirm if you plan to provide testimony during the meeting. If you do intend to speak, please let me know for which agenda item. Thank you, Kelsie Chang Leeward Planning Commission County of Hawai'i Planning Department 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 Hilo, Hawai'i 96720 Direct: (808) 961-8157IMain: (808) 961-8288 Email: a 11 16. Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and/or privileged information. Any review, use, disclosure, or distribution by unintended recipients is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message. Hawaii County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. From: Joanna Weber To: WPCtestimony; LPCtestimony Subject: Big Island General Plan(GP)2045 public testimony Date:Wednesday, December 18,2024 12:56:22 PM ALOHA Here are my concerns as follows. ALOHA, JOANNA WEBER STOP GP from going to County Council until further investigation on: Climate Change" being the foundation of the entire plan Turning private land into recreation, dropping property value, and the right of the State to do so. (No local would want that.) The Safety of electric vehicles on the island, the problem with recycling the lithium batteries which are a hazard waste, and the increased expense to locals' electricity bills! (The current electric grid can't handle more!) Taking most of the island and giving it to the State under the guise of "Conservation", "Natural" and "Rural" MORE Concerns Include: Land Use changing "Residential" to "Recreation" drops property value! Plan could set up many opportunities for the State to take your land & Rezone! Plan turns most of Big Island into "Conservation", "Natural" or Rural", meaning no farming, living, or building! ! Plan could regulate off-grid living! Plan will further stress electric grid increasing prices! And many more concerns! Please, also, reschedule the GP meetings in January. From: Ken Honma To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv Cc: Stand Toaether Hawaii Subject: General plan 2045 comments Date:Wednesday,December 18,2024 12:25:13 PM The Hawaii County General Plan 2045 is missing critical elements that need to be included in order to ensure that you the planning commissioners, and the people of Hawaii County can evaluate what this planning document is about. As this document stands, no one will be able to determine how any of the elements described in this plan what this plan is to accomplish. Cause and effect is the basis for this document, but these basic relationships are not clearly defined and explained anywhere in this plan. Manmade Climate Change Using man-made climate change as a justification for unleashing any proposed powers to government for general planning is making policy based on an opinion, not any scientific fact. To the contrary there is no proof that normal human activity is causing dangerously high levels of temperature increases that would warrant this kind of powers to be used in the general plan. Exclude any references to manmade climate change. Geoengineering If this document were even-handed, it would also have a section on geo-engineering, which is scientifically proven to effect weather. Aerial activities that influence weather have been ongoing for many decades. What effects do these human activities have on the climate? Geoengineering should be included in the plan Societal Controls There is the assumption that it is necessary to confine and control societal development by limiting activities to what is and will be considered acceptable development such as where to develop, where to farm, where people can live, etc. What is the basis, and where is the discussion that these controls are needed, warranted, wanted or legal? Where is the ideal, model development example in real life Hawaii that demonstrates that any of these "development" ideas actually result in whatever is to be achieved? Eliminate social control planning until these important questions are expounded on in writing in the plan. Definitions of terms The lack of a detailed discussion of what exactly is meant by such words as "thrive", "resilience", security", "economy', leads to much misinterpretations and confusion. What exactly is the meaning of"economy" in terms of Hawaii County?What are the metrics that will be used to determine what the current state of our economy is, and for the future, how progress is being made or not made? How will success be measured? In other words what will success look like? Defining success by measuring it against well-defined success-or-failure metrics will make it clear to all, what the plan intends. Define all terms. Intent With a firm understanding of the intent of the general plan, we the people can more readily vote for or against the plan. For eample: it "looks like" the intent is to sequester the most possible amount of land away from human developement into conversation land (out of circulation for meeting human needs).This is a formula for 15 minute cities. It should be clearly stated that the the primary intent is to raise the standard of living for all residents, and support the means for all people to achieve home ownership, land ownership, and business ownership. Meeting growing energy needs. More transportation options and full maintanance of existing roads and bridges and public transportation. Better travel connectivity throughout the island. Support systems for new and innovative businesses. Support small, independent farmers and food growers. We do not want 15 minute cities. Milestones Milestones need to be established from start to completion with the specific elements to be completed. It can be seen that in order for this plan to work, a detailed and specific vision on what success looks like, and how to measure it is not included, but, necessary in order to take the first steps in the as of yet, not envisioned success description. Establish milestones for all elements of the plan. The success metric It is a waste of time and our money if there is no measure of success like or how to get there. Without the goals clearly stated, and steps to reach the goals, any legislative actions; taxes, incentives, fines, fees, or capital allocations toward any of the plan's elements would be fiscally, and legislatively irresponsible. There is too much room for other hidden agendas to be persued as it is written. The plan is after all, for the people; so the major success metric must be the success and happiness metric of the people. At present there is no section that discusses this metric. Include a clear and usable success metric. Accountability There needs to be a person responsible for the completion of this plan. The Mayor could be evaluated on how successful or not their administration is in accomplishing the general plan. The people could be responsible for the mayor's evaluation. Heads of departments likewise could be responsible for carrying out the initiatives and would also be evaluated for success or failures. An accountability structure needs to be written into the plan. Define and include the accountability structure. Sincerely, Ken Honma From: L Pasco To: LPCtestimonv Subject: LPC testimony BI GP 2045 Date:Wednesday,December 18,2024 1:56:37 PM To: Hawaii County Planning Commission Normal human activity Climate Change Using man-made climate change as a justification for unleashing any proposed powers to government for general planning is making policy based on an opinion, not any scientific fact.To the contrary there is no proof that normal human activity is causing dangerously high levels of temperature increases that would warrant this kind of powers to be used in the general plan. Exclude any references to normal human activity climate change. Geoengineering If this document were even-handed, it would also have a section on geo-engineering,which is scientifically proven to effect weather.Aerial activities that influence weather have been ongoing for many decades.What effects do these human activities have on the climate? Geoengineering should be included in the plan. Societal Controls There is the assumption that it is necessary to confine and control societal development by limiting activities to what is and will be considered acceptable development such as where to develop,where to farm,where people can live, etc. What is the basis,and where is the discussion that these controls are needed,warranted,wanted or legal? Where is the ideal, model development example in real life Hawaii that demonstrates that any of these"development'ideas actually result in whatever is to be achieved? Eliminate social control planning until these important questions are expounded on in writing in the plan. Electric vehicles Do not encourage or require electric vehicles to be used on the island. Rezoning Do not rezone any more land for Conservation or Recreation. Do not rezone any land to Rural. Do not rezone Residential land to Rural. Do not rezone any more land to the State government. From: Mary W Maxwell To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv Subject: Please accept this testimony for meeting on December 19,2024. Mahalo. Date:Wednesday, December 18,2024 5:40:42 PM Attachments: WPCtestimonv.docx two pages attached. WPCtestimony(a-)hawaiicounty.gov, LPCtestimony(a-)-hawaiicounty.gov, from Mary W Maxwell, LLB (two pages, humbly submitted for Dec 19 meeting, 2024. Dear HawaiiCounty.gov: I have written to you before and appeared in person twice this year. I love Hawaii (heaven). I came on negatively saying you shouldn't do this and shouldn't do that. But today I change my tune. Please hear me out. I'll be brief and am NOT trying to make fun. This is the way my brain solves issues, by looking at all possibilities. The issue in question is whether the state takes over more land for public use, and whether we throw away the Fifth Amendment clause about land. My New View (based on a feeling of hopelessness, I suppose): 1. Take all the land you can take. Maximize the grab. 2. That is what our World Government wants us to do, and it instructs all nations to do likewise. 3. In Australia, they tried to "rename" all land as public land, using a really offensive trick to the Aboriginal peoples. I guess it is too embarrassing to mention, so I'll mention it: Some folks, a year or two ago, came up with a new archaeological discovery. Something sacred, perhaps? Not exactly. It was a ... um... turd. From an ancient human, thus proving the Native Aussies' right to claim the land. When that did not grab everyone, they changed the focus to giving the Aborigines a special "Voice to Parliament." Josephine Cashman and others with a clear view put a stop to that item which was an insult to every person's intelligence. (Or a correct reading of the intelligence of today's citizenry, as the case may be.) 4. But go ahead, announce that your land grab will avert, say, Climate Change. It's bound to fool at least some Hawaiians. 5. At the same time, you could agree to a major Transmigrasie, with foreigners coming in to settle the new land. The World Government is virtually insisting on mixing up all cultures. The goal, a clever one, is to prevent the formation of societies whose members trust each other. It is surely easier to govern, or even enslave, a divided group. That's just basic math. 6. Last time I looked, the "National Guard Bureau" [unconstitutional in its very name] had a thing called Love and Roses. Oops, got that wrong: the propaganda name is "Partners for Peace" which really and truly welcomes foreign troops to our shore [so we can learn those boys some democracy and apple pie, hear?]. 7. Hawaii has two partners for peace: the Philippines and Indonesia. Why not? I quote: The Philippine and U.S. members said they were eager to continue tight-knit cooperation in areas vital to national security. These include counterterrorism, maritime security, cyber- security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief." No, seriously, they said that. And [we] collaborate on a wide range of initiatives, including disaster response, humanitarian assist- ance, and peacekeeping operations," said U.S Army Col. John Udani, director of military support." 8. When people see soldiers on streets, they start to think their position as a participant in The Great Republic has been thrown out with both the baby and the bathwater. As indeed it has, no? 9. Everything now seems heartbreaking, especially the removal of traditional values. It may be wise to just speed this up, and save a sort of interim period in which the elders still go around acting like the situation can be salvaged. No, it cannot. The die is cast. The Lahaina fire is proof. 10. Why even hold meetings where people can state their preferences? It would be better to phone Elon Musk and ask for his Artificial Intelligence ideas as to what we should do. Cyber stuff is superior to Homo sapiens stuff. Mahalo for letting me speak. It still amazes me that I can send such emails as this. God help us all. Yours sincerely (despite what appears to be sarcasm above, it IS NOT), Mary Maxwell, age 77 Aloha. From: Michael5ofranko To: LPCtestimony Date:Wednesday,December 18,2024 12:42:15 PM The cancellation of general Planning meetings is completely unacceptable. Who is in charge of this cancellation and why are they doing this? Keeping the public uninformed is NOT the way we do business here. Your response is needed please Thank you From: Michelle Melendez To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv Subject: Plz RESCHEDULE GP Public Testimony In January Date:Wednesday, December 18,2024 12:23:16 PM Aloha Commissioners, Mahalo for your service. I know you do this on your own time and I appreciate your hard work. Please reschedule the public testimony on the Hawaii General Plan 2045 in January. We need those meetings. This plan should be stopped from going to County Council until the following can be investigated: Climate Change" the foundation of the entire plan Turning private land into recreation, dropping property value, and the right of the State to do that. (No local would want this.) The Safety of electric vehicles on the island, the problem with recycling the lithium batteries which are a hazard waste, and the increased expense to locals electricity bills! (The current electric grid can't handle more!) Taking most of the island and giving it to the State under the guise of Conservation", "Natural" and "Rural" Not one person has been in support of this plan in the nearly 10 meetings I've gone to. How can they say that the public helped with this plan? Please reschedule, or BETTER someone motion to STOP this plan from moving forward. You CAN do that! Just because it is on schedule to go through doesn't mean it has to. It's more important to have a plan that supports the Big Island and doesn't harm it. Please someone be brave enough to stop this madness from moving forward. Kind Regards, Michelle Melendez Fitness and Wellness Expert Since 1996 Author Of The Best Selling and 4x Award Winning Book, End Dieting Hell:How to find peace in your body and release the weight Order your copy of End Dieting Hell Click Here Great Maui Land Grab"NOW Available here Eld at LP mtS by S"r d wow— FI . 1-e---- r 1, C./Z)J- 1-7 t C< < `1 Gam Cut l y, 4 1a rL)G f-- c fvr-e- C V-d e,;4 a-/TA U q Ji k j-----ah I L i f UO s W\-,ro f In— Z,7-, ou dk-u (tj\o L/i Y2,,"L) A-bi o 6 66H +KL tm-k, CA YA PL c._-Pv W-P bvi- JLJ7 From: Dan and Shannon Fisher To: LPCtestimonv Subject: reschedule County Counsel meetings regarding the General Plan,Jan 2025 Date:Thursday,December 19,2024 9:30:03 AM Aloha, We are contacting you in regards to the cancelled General Plan meetings for January, 2025. We need more of these meetings to hear the testimonies of the people of the Big Island as well as why such changes are being implemented by our county. These changes proposed are not only unnecessary but dangerous for the future of our Ohana and our well being. We believe it is the job of the County Counsel to notify every resident of such life changing plans. The people of Hawaii require full disclosure on what the County Counsel is doing. Dan and Shannon Fisher 808-345-4449 From: Planning General Plan To: LPCtestimonv;WPCtestimonv Subject: FW: General Plan Draft Land Use Designation Date:Thursday, December 19,2024 12:35:05 PM Public Comment From: Dan Berg<dan.berg@dlbandassoc.com> Sent: Thursday, December 19, 2024 12:02 PM To: Planning General Plan <generaIplan@hawaiicounty.gov> Subject: General Plan Draft Land Use Designation Regarding General Plan Draft affecting Tax Map Key (3) 2-1-006-023 We are having difficulty with the General Plan website portal. Attempting to comment but the site is in a redundant loop. Please insert into the public comments the following statement: As owners of the above property we are concerned with the proposed designation of the property as Recreation on the General Plan. The current GP Draft includes these properties incorporated into Reeds Park. While we understand this does not immediately change the Land Use Zone from current V- 0.75, it is the first step to facilitate such a change via an emanate domain process. We have plans to develop our parcel for residential use and do not want to be compelled to negotiate appraisals, purchase and develop anther property. Dan Berg 966-4206 dlbandassoc,com[ General Plan Land Use Final u Recommended Draft 4' High-Density Urban Medium-Density Urban f Low-Density Urban iUrban Expansion Light Industrial Heavy Industrial University Resort Rural Productive Agriculture Extensive Agriculture bk Natural Recreation Conservation From: Davina To: W PCtesti mono Cc: LPCtestimonv Subject: GP public testimony meetings Date:Thursday,December 19,2024 3:34:24 PM By Aloha, By this email, I am asking that you reschedule the GP public testimony meetings in January. Many of us seek to speak and be heard at these important meetings in first month if 2025. With Aloha& Gratitude, Davina Mar Live Aloha Love Now From: Dawn Singleton To: LPCtestimonv;WPCtestimonv Subject: Testimony December 19th at five Date:Thursday, December 19, 2024 2:59:36 PM STOP GP from going to the County Council until further investigation is done... Climate Change" the foundation of the entire plan Turning private land into recreation, dropping property value, and the right of the State to do so. (No local would want that.) The Safety of electric vehicles on the island, the problem with recycling the lithium batteries, which are hazardous waste, and the increased expense to locals electricity bills! (The current electric grid can't handle more!) Taking most of the island and giving it to the State under the guise of Conservation", "Natural," and "Rural." Thank-you Dawn Eshelman Singleton, PhD, DHS, CTP, DNM Board Certified Quantum Biofeedback Specialist & Author FEEL BETTER THE NATURAL WAY" www.guantumhealthhawaii.com From: Dawn Sinaleton To: WPRestimonv;-Ktestimonv Cc: Dawn Sinaleton Subject:Revise Hawaii General Plan Testimony Date: Thursday,December 19,2024 2:53:43 PM Aloha Commissioners, The Big Island Plan cannot be implemented as designed.It is hard to believe that any locals helped create this plan. Here are some concerns: A considerable part of the plan is dedicated to"Climate Change".However,why do most experts state there is NO climate danger?Climate Experts Speak Out Against Climate Danger Click Here! The word"Stakeholder,"defined in the plan,is written 86 times and literally means anyone in the world can have input on this 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 and management are crucial for the success and sustainability of any initiative,as it helps ensure that diverse perspectives and interests are considered. 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. The Planning Department has sent out letters too many homeowners telling them their land use will be changed from resident to recreation due to the General Plan 2045.This will drastically lower 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. There is a huge section on climate change and things that will be affected.This needs to be further 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.httos://clintel.orghwp-content/uploads/2024/10/WCD- 241023.pdf John Coleman_the first weatherman 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 explains the reason for this narrative is the investors in renewable enerev want to make these changes. Hilo does not have a Community Development Plan.How can a Big Island General Plan move forward withoutthat?Hilo is 22%of the island. 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 oflands for the protection ofnatural resources.""Incentives"mean more taxes."Protection" means more rules.Who's"values"is this plan referring too because it's not the locals?"Pursue the acquisition of lands."Does this say they are going to take people's private property?Again with"protection of natural resources".This plan should be focused on people growing more food and it is doing the exact opposite! 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 of Papaikou,has created an Ag Villages plan. Ag Village to add to the General Plan: Papaikou Ag Village Objectives: httos://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/ files/ugd/86fc0c 2cblcc6d604f4cdd971ad4083lc745bc.pdf Papaikou Site Plan: httos://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/ files/ugd/86fc0c_5e4edb02efeb46a5ae949a3579affOOd.pdf Papaikou Development: httos://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/ files/ugd/86fc0c c2af52c8b3c645bla6868a724eee8304.pdf A Hawaiian born Kanaka revised the Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship that is in the plan.You can see it in the pdf below: Part One:hLtps://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fc0c_Oald5be8fldl40069415f7b691725786.pdf Part Two:httns://86fcOcbd-8207-4076-85fa- 5a62e4e933b4.usrfiles.com/ugd/86fe0c_ecc498ba l92d4a7689ebf3 lc3681c2ec.pdf Here is a longer revised version of the plan from locals: httos://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/ files/ugd/86fc0c b34739e4c99c461685de4c0207bf286e.pdf Thank-you Dawn Dawn Eshelman Singleton,PhD,DHS,CTP,DNM Board C,,tfied' Quantum Biofeedback Specialist&Author FEEL BETTER THE NATURAL WAY" www.auantu mhealthhawa iixom filLoJ 19, From: donna zacharski To: LPCtestimonv Subject: Reschedule January Date:Thursday, December 19, 2024 8:23:40 AM To whom it may concern, Why are the Big Island General Plan (GP) 2045 public testimony meetings for January cancelled . This is NOT okay! The people have a right to be heard. Please reschedule the public testimony meetings for people to be heard. We are on this earth for such a short time. Why make life difficult for people. Doesn't get you anywhere. We all end up in the same place. Think about that. Merry Christmas Sent from Yahoo Mail for Wad From: Eileen Downino To:WPCtestimonv;LPCtestimonv Subject: Revise Hawaii General Plan Testimony Here Date: Thursday,December 19,2024 3:49:49 AM Aloha Commissioners, The Big island Plan cannot go through the way it is designed. It is hard to believe any local helped design this plan. Here are some concerns: There is a huge part of the plan dedicated to "Climate Change". However, why do most experts state there is NO climate danger? Climate Experts Speak Out Against Climate Danger Click Here! The word "Stakeholder," defined in the plan, is written 86 times and literally means anyone in the entire world can have input on this 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 and management are crucial for the success and sustainability of any initiative, as it helps ensure that diverse perspectives and interests are considered. 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. The Planning Department has sent out letters too many homeowners telling them their land use will be changed from resident to recreation due to the General Plan 2045. This will drastically lower 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. There is a huge section on climate change and things that will be affected. This needs to be further 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.ora/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. Hilo does not have a Community Development Plan. How can a Big Island General Plan move forward without that? Hilo is 22% of the island. 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 too because it's not the locals? "Pursue the acquisition of lands" does this say they are going to pursing taking people's private property? Again with "protection of natural resources". This plan should be focused on people growing more food and it is doing the exact opposite! 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 of Papaikou, has created an Ag Villages plan. Ag Village to add to the General Plan: Papaikou Ag Village Objectives: https://www.standtoaetherhawaii.com/ files/ugd/86fc0c 2cb1cc6d604f4cdd971ad40831c745bc.pdf Papaikou Site Plan: https://www.standtoaetherhawaii.com/files/ugd/86fc0c 5e4cdb02efeb46a5ae949a3579aff00d.pdf Papaikou Development: https://www.standtoaetherhawaii.com/files/ugd/86fc0c c2af52c8b3c645b1a6868a724eee8304.pdf A Hawaiian born Kanaka revised the Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship that is in the plan. You can see it in the pdf below: Part One: https://www.standtoaetherhawaii.com/files/ugd/86fc0c Oa1d5be8f1d140069415f7b691725786.pdf Part Two: https://86fcOcbd-8207-4076-85fa- 5a62e4e933b4.usrfiles.com/ugd/86fc0c ecc498ba192d4a7689ebf31c3681c2ec.pdf Here is a longer revised version of the plan from locals: https://www.standtoaetherhawaii.com/ files/ugd/86fc0c_b34739e4c99c461685de4c0207bf286e.pdf The way this plan is written is very far from what will support our island. Mahalo Eileen Downing From: Doctor Jack To: LPCtestimonv Subject: Reschedule GP Meeting in January Date:Thursday, December 19, 2024 10:42:23 AM Thankyou, Jack Ebner From: Ken Honma To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv;Stand Together Hawaii Subject: Reschedule the January General Plan public testimony Date:Thursday,December 19, 2024 12:53:33 PM Public testimony for the general plan needs to be rescheduled for January . I just found out that the scheduled public testimony has been cancelled, this is a breach of trust. The general plan 2045 is very important and at this point needs more input from the people of this county, so reschedule the public hearing so that we can be heard. Sincerely, Ken Honma Kurtistown Hi. 96760 From: Lahilahi Heen To: LPCtestimonv Subject: Hawai"i General Plan Meeting Date:Thursday, December 19, 2024 10:17:04 PM Regarding the meetings that are cancelled in January for the Gen Plan, this is NOT okay. The message with this action is Communistic. A nefarious plan is taking place and you all don't want to be disturbed. If this is not the case, then set new dates in January and pay attention to the people you are expected to serve, not the people who manipulate to serve them. P. O. POPULATION INSECT-BASED UNSUSTAINABLE 1 REDUCTION DIET mill a wwo,,o,w,"vA LG S DEVELOPMENT FORCED MASS DESTRUCTION OF WATER VACCINATION 4 INDOCTRINATION THE FAMILY UNIT PRIVATIZATION 4 EXPLI)ITATION BY BAN ON PRIVATE TOP 000001°l0 V MULiiNATIONALS TRANSPORTATION 10 OWNS EVERYTHING ., CORPORATIONS I TOTAL RATIONING CLIMATIC APPROPRIATION SURVEILLANCE 12 THROUGH DIGITAL 13 TYRANNY 14 OF MARINE IN 15M CITIES CURRENCY RESOURCES kkI ocnllsrnN BAN ON PLICE ONE WORLD trN v 5AGRICULTURE 16 STATES 17 GOVERNMENT AND LIVESTOCK o j ,V 0 0 i 0 BlackRock Vanguard TOP TEN BUZZWORDS 1. Sustainable-centralized management and rationingof all 6. Collaboration-a model of collective systems alignment, resources, especially through 41R technologies,the collective impact(using shared language,metrics, goals, prioritization of"future-use"and "future benefits"over etc.), especially concerned with public-private the present partnerships(P3s) and Community 2. Resilient- predictive profilingand risk management 7.Transparency/Accountability-Track,trace, report,esp. policies,especially through automation,digital using blockchain technology to create a permanent digital transformation,and standardization(gig-work) record of all activity,open-data policies 3. Equity-standardization of outcomes, rationingand 8. Diversity-deliberate disruption of organic patterns of redistribution of resources, a justification for data capture association,an emphasis on identity politics in order to and measurement divide and conquer,a justification for human capital scoring 4. Inclusive-forced homogenization and access (e.g. a girls' team to accept boys);quotas;subordinating individual 9. Leadership-commitment to corporate purpose, adoption rights to the community,stakeholders'interests trump of marketing firm language,following the playbook or individual concerns toolkit;group think 5. Innovative-conforming to Fourth Industrial Revolution 10. Impact-any measurable change that can serve as proof technologies(fintech blockchain,automation,etc.)and of social engineering(for purposes of validating impact the digital transformation of all activities investments and pay for success contracts) AGENDA 2030 The Great Reset One World men Fourth, to ustri. l Revolution Technocractic Cotporitocracy Total deeendencN on the stme Social CreditsNstem Car m Footprint Survaillance system n verso Rel it Income for compliant citizen Programmable Central Banking, Digital Currency Depopulation Mandatory Vaccines for all age Controlled fertility and reproduction Radical assiSted suicide and abortion la% , 100 "'gin Genetically manipulated fond and soil Ban on all natural remedies and treatments Robot workforce Internet of Thin el; & Internet of Bodice Microchipsps implanta a brain interface technolo , e Constant exposure to non-native EMFs and M (5 , Destruction of senders Destruction of motherhood and fatherhood Rationing of energy and all natural resources Restri Lion oti "non-essent aPl it travel omiiryt Cities Dronies, facia rv( +r ndioti ( amvras, mmentent sensors rrNlishment (4 ptiv ate properIv Control . n tjry viliam a of na tury .rr1rl wildlife Restricted access to wilderness thuman tree zorml Swtainable development" oi the New World Order IS THIS THE FOR OUR CHILDREN ? 41 Data is the lifeblood of SMART ES AM aWORLD VA ECONOMIC FORUM I J DATA +CONTROL -* DIGITAL PRISON From: Michelle Melendez To: LPCtestimonv;WPCtestimonv Subject: We appreciate you(apology here) Date:Friday, December 20,2024 2:26:58 PM Aloha Commissioners, I want to apologize for my intensity during testimony. It's not personal or an attack on any of you. I really appreciate you and your time. I know you're volunteers. My intensity is due to this plan and my huge concern of the possibilities that it will move forward. There was a commissioner that asked what would happen if it didn't go through, which it should not. Mahalo for the question. This plan should not be rushed just because it's over the time limit when it should have been adopted. If it will harm the island and the people here, which it will, it must be recommended that it not go through. I pray that you do that. The general plan manager said they took input from locals to create this plan. I don't know one local that would want a plan like this, and not one has shown up to speak on behalf of the plan in the 10 meetings I've attended. She also stated the source for climate change is from the "authority of the State". The State is not an expert on weather. The State and the electric companies will prosper if this plan goes through, not the people. If they are the source for the foundation of a plan where they prosper, that is a conflict of interest. I want to say a big mahalo to the commissioner who asked for them to talk about the Hawaii land trusts in the plan. That was a wonderful request. I haven't seen any info on it so I'm curious to hear what they say. I know that you are all volunteers and I cannot express how much I really do appreciate you and your time. I'm very sorry if my intensity has come across as an attack. That was never my intention. Without you, this plan goes through to people who are paid and may not have the public's best interest at heart. You do, and I really appreciate that. Have a wonderful holiday. Mele Kalikimaka, Michelle Melendez-Freedom Activist Fitness and Wellness Expert Since 1996 Author Of The Best Selling and 4x Award Winning Book, End Dieting Hell:How to find peace in your body and release the weight Order your copy of End Dieting Hell Click Here Great Maid Land Grab"NOW Available here From: Seraph D"Alerta To: WPCtestimonv Cc: LPCtestimonv Subject: Revise Hawaii general plan testimony Date: Thursday,December 19,2024 8:34:52 AM Aloha Commissioners, The Big island Plan cannot go through the way it is designed. It is hard to believe any local helped design this plan. Here are some concerns: There is a huge part of the plan dedicated to "Climate Change".However,why do most experts state there is NO climate danger? Climate Experts Speak Out Against Climate Danger Click Here! The word "Stakeholder," defined in the plan,is written 86 times and literally means anyone in the entire world can have input on this 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 and management are crucial for the success and sustainability of any initiative, as it helps ensure that diverse perspectives and interests are considered. 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. The Planning Department has sent out letters too many homeowners telling them their land use will be changed from resident to recreation due to the General Plan 2045. This will drastically lower 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. There is a huge section on climate change and things that will be affected. This needs to be further 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. hUs:Hclintel.org/VLP- content/uDloads/2024/10/WCD-241023.12df 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. Hilo does not have a Community Development Plan. How can a Big Island General Plan move forward without that?Hilo is 22%of the island. 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 oflands for the protection ofnatural resources." 'Incentives" mean more taxes. Protection" means more rules. Who's "values" is this plan referring too because it's not the locals? Pursue the acquisition of lands" does this say they are going to pursing taking people's private property?Again with "protection of natural resources". This plan should be focused on people growing more food and it is doing the exact opposite! 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 of Papaikou, has created an Ag Villages plan. Ag Village to add to the General Plan: Papaikou Ag Village Objectives: hops://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_2cb 1cc6d604f4cdd971 ad40831 c745bc.12df Papaikou Site Plan: hhaps://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_5e4cdb02efeb46a5ae949a3579aff00d.12df Papaikou Development: his://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_c2af52c8b3c645bla6868a724eee8304.pdf A Hawaiian born Kanaka revised the Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship that is in the plan.You can see it in the pdf below: Part One:hops://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fc0c_0aId5be8f1d140069415f7b691725786.pdf Part Two: hUs://86fcOcbd-8207-4076-85fa- 5a62e4e933b4.usrfiles.com/ugd/86fcOc_ecc498bal92d4a7689ebf31 c368lc2ec.pdf Here is a longer revised version of the plan from locals: hops://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc b34739e4c99c461685de4c0207bf286e.pdf The way this plan is written is very far from what will support our island. Aloha Seraph D'Alerta From: Sloan Brockman To: WPCtestimonv Cc: LPCtestimonv Subject: Revise Hawaii general plan testimony Date: Thursday,December 19,2024 8:33:01 AM Aloha Commissioners, The Big island Plan cannot go through the way it is designed. It is hard to believe any local helped design this plan. Here are some concerns: There is a huge part of the plan dedicated to "Climate Change".However,why do most experts state there is NO climate danger? Climate Experts Speak Out Against Climate Danger Click Here! The word "Stakeholder," defined in the plan,is written 86 times and literally means anyone in the entire world can have input on this 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 and management are crucial for the success and sustainability of any initiative, as it helps ensure that diverse perspectives and interests are considered. 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. The Planning Department has sent out letters too many homeowners telling them their land use will be changed from resident to recreation due to the General Plan 2045. This will drastically lower 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. There is a huge section on climate change and things that will be affected. This needs to be further 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. hUs:Hclintel.org/VLP- content/uDloads/2024/10/WCD-241023.12df 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. Hilo does not have a Community Development Plan. How can a Big Island General Plan move forward without that?Hilo is 22%of the island. 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 oflands for the protection ofnatural resources." 'Incentives" mean more taxes. Protection" means more rules. Who's "values" is this plan referring too because it's not the locals? Pursue the acquisition of lands" does this say they are going to pursing taking people's private property?Again with "protection of natural resources". This plan should be focused on people growing more food and it is doing the exact opposite! 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 of Papaikou, has created an Ag Villages plan. Ag Village to add to the General Plan: Papaikou Ag Village Objectives: hops://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_2cb 1cc6d604f4cdd971 ad40831 c745bc.12df Papaikou Site Plan: hhaps://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_5e4cdb02efeb46a5ae949a3579aff00d.12df Papaikou Development: his://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_c2af52c8b3c645bla6868a724eee8304.pdf A Hawaiian born Kanaka revised the Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship that is in the plan.You can see it in the pdf below: Part One:hops://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fc0c_0aId5be8f1d140069415f7b691725786.pdf Part Two: hUs://86fcOcbd-8207-4076-85fa- 5a62e4e933b4.usrfiles.com/ugd/86fcOc_ecc498bal92d4a7689ebf31 c368lc2ec.pdf Here is a longer revised version of the plan from locals: hops://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc b34739e4c99c461685de4c0207bf286e.pdf The way this plan is written is very far from what will support our island. Aloha Sloan From: Utah Valley Permaculture To: LPCtestimony Subject: Don"t cancel January 2025 Testimony meeting.World is watching. Date: Thursday,December 19,2024 6:46:59 AM Land Use changing Residential to Recreation DROPS property value! Plan could set up MANY opportunities for State to take your land & Rezone! Plan turns most of Big Island into"Conservation", "Natural"or"Rural" meaning no farming, living or building!! Plan could regulate OFF-GRID living! Plan will further STRESS electric grid increasing prices! AND MORE! Denise Devynck BSW, PDC Utah Valley Permaculture Classroom Gardens&Greenhouse www.12ermaculturedesignschool.org 801 8084424 utahvalleypermaculture(agmail.com Facebook free research and education group Utah Valley Permaculture Classroom Gardens&Greenhouse under Featured tab hops://youtu.be/176P2o-DeRd4 Examples around the World and back to Utah of Climate Regeneration by Ecosystem restoration. Come learn how at www.permaculturedesignschool.org nonprofit charity school Demonstration Food Forest. Now over 5 years old and withstanding"rising temperatures 2x faster in Utah than rest of world, "per UCAIR member, Salt Lake County Environmental and Health director, by cooling up to 20 degrees. Cleaning CO2,smoke and other pollutants in the forest. Stopping Soil erosion and reducing use ofwater. Examples of Climate Change reparation by Ecosystem restoration all over the world now bttJ2S7//Youtu.be/4lk5efQLu8to https://youtu.be/NgbwDTSZyJM https://youtu.be/bLdNhZ6kAzo https://youtu.be/tLRWrw45 Ewo Let's fix the damage deforestation has caused by replanting the forests.And vegetation! Our 60 second PSA by the most famous Climate Change personalities: hops://youtu.be/ea5dok4z1T0 KBYU worldwide Interview on Permaculture. hM://www.byuradio.org/episode/a3ca8d9l-adee-42 8b-b ee8-69226504bOb0/constant-wonder-animals-robotic s-surgerv- models-ic e-music-permaculture? playhead=4339&autoplay=hue&fbclid=IwAR3JP1NFuhjETb6WAhAgRBRsfarmqu87rzh3pXVHVTpH6CwzN NrDHGLrig From: Michelle Melendez To: LPCtestimonv;WPCtestimonv Subject: My verbal Testimony in written form(mahalo) Date:Saturday, December 21,2024 2:42:31 PM Aloha Commissions, Here is my written testimony of my verbal testimony: I believe this is my tenth time speaking at these meetings about the GP and have yet to see one local in support of this plan. Yet, we're meant to believe locals helped create this plan. This plan has so many things that indicate the State, and electric companies are the ones who will prosper, not locals and not our future keiki. We were told the land for Conservation is already State land. Yet, land allocated for Conservation runs nearly the entire coast of Big Island. There are private land owners who own coast land so that cannot be true that all current Conservation land is owned by the State. Where are Hawaiian Homelands in this plan? When I do a word search I get "not found". What I'm concerned with most: Land that will be "acquired" for Conservation, Natural, and Rural land. It even says that they'll "lease" it back to the farmer. This land should be used to grow more food, not be taken away from people and conserved. The wording of the plan is confusing: For example: "Immediate steps shall be taken to designate treatment plant sites, sewerage pump station sites, and sewer easements according to the facility plans to facilitate their acquisition." pg. 137 (27.3) Does this mean they want to immediately acquire people's land for sewage sites? It shows that it wants to move people into clustered housing. Page 10 Cluster Plan Development(CPD) refers to a land use planning strategy where residential or commercial development is concentrated in specific areas while preserving larger portions of the land as open space or natural areas. In this approach, buildings are grouped closely together, often in a compact or clustered manner, rather than being evenly dispersed across a site. This will not benefit Big Island people and should be removed. Electric cars are extremely dangerous and are a hazard waste that we cannot put in our landfills. A commission asked what if we just have EVs for the government and not public and another commission said we must have zero emissions. Why? Whose policy is that? Why can't it just be for the State? People do not want electric vehicles. They are a hazard waste that we cannot put in or landfills so what will we do with them when they die? VERY Concerning: Page 11: "Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a multidisciplinary approach of crime prevention that uses urban and architectural design and the management of built and natural environments." This sounds like Big Brother and surveillance. What does this mean? This looks like the creation of a police State. Please motion to stop this plan from moving forward. Big Island will never be the same. It will not support Hawaiians coming back to live here. It will do the exact opposite. Please reschedule both January meetings for testimony on the GP. More people will want to be heard and this plan is the foundation for the future of Big Island. All meetings should be honored. Mahalo nui loa for your time. I know you are volunteers and we really do appreciate you. Aloha, Michelle Melendez Fitness and Wellness Expert Since 1996 Author Of The Best Selling and 4x Award Winning Book, End Dieting Hell:How to find peace in your body and release the weight Order your copy of End Dieting Hell Click Here Great Maid Land Grab"NOW Available here On Fri, Dec 20, 2024 at 2:25 PM Michelle Melendez <michelIe(j4blossominnerwel Ines s.com> wrote: Aloha Commissioners, I want to apologize for my intensity during testimony. It's not personal or an attack on any of you. I really appreciate you and your time. I know you're volunteers. My intensity is due to this plan and my huge concern of the possibilities that it will move forward. There was a commissioner that asked what would happen if it didn't go through, which it should not. Mahalo for the question. This plan should not be rushed just because it's over the time limit when it should have been adopted. If it will harm the island and the people here, which it will, it must be recommended that it not go through. I pray that you do that. The general plan manager said they took input from locals to create this plan. I don't know one local that would want a plan like this, and not one has shown up to speak on behalf of the plan in the 10 meetings I've attended. She also stated the source for climate change is from the "authority of the State". The State is not an expert on weather. The State and the electric companies will prosper if this plan goes through, not the people. If they are the source for the foundation of a plan where they prosper, that is a conflict of interest. I want to say a big mahalo to the commissioner who asked for them to talk about the Hawaii land trusts in the plan. That was a wonderful request. I haven't seen any info on it so I'm curious to hear what they say. I know that you are all volunteers and I cannot express how much I really do appreciate you and your time. I'm very sorry if my intensity has come across as an attack. That was never my intention. Without you, this plan goes through to people who are paid and may not have the public's best interest at heart. You do, and I really appreciate that. Have a wonderful holiday. Mele Kalikimaka, Michelle Melendez-Freedom Activist Fitness and Wellness Expert Since 1996 Author Of The Best Selling and 4x Award Winning Book, End Dieting Hell:How to find peace in your body and release the weight Order your copy of End Dieting Hell Click Here Great Maui Land Grab"NOW Available here From: alicia oalmvallevfarm.com To: LPCtestimonv;WPCtestimonv Subject: Revise Hawaii General Plan Testimony or postpone until a Hilo CDP may be established. Date: Sunday,December 22,2024 1:00:32 AM 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 on this 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 and management are crucial for the success and sustainability of any initiative, as it helps ensure that diverse 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 use will be changed from resident to recreation due to the General Plan 2045. This will drastically lower 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 be further 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:Hclintel.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 move forward 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 too because it's not the locals? "Pursue the acquisition of lands" does this say they are going to pursing taking people's private property?Again with "protection of natural resources". This plan should 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 of Papaikou, has created an Ag Villages plan. Ag Village to add to the General Plan: Papaikou Ag Village Objectives: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_2cbl cc6d604f4cdd971 ad40831 c745bc.pdf Papaikou Site Plan: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_5e4cdb02efeb46a5ae949a3579aff00d.pdf Papaikou Development: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_c2af52c8b3c645bl a6868a724eee8304.pdf A Hawaiian born Kanaka revised the Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship that is in the plan. You can see it in the pdf below: Part One: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fc0c_Oald5be8fldl40069415f7b691725786.pdf Part Two: https://86fcOcbd-8207-4076-85fa- 5a62e4e933b4.usrfiles.com/ugd/86fcOc_ecc498bal92d4a7689ebf31 c3681 c2ec.pdf Here is a longer revised version of the plan from locals: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_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. Preferably, we would like to see this plan addressed and rewritten after establishing a new CDP. There is no reason to rush this plan given the amount of concerns our community would like to further investigate. We are able to continue with the 2005 plan until a satisfactory plan is rewritten. Mahalo, Alicia Wills Palm Valley Farm LLC Land Owner From: Oda, Michelle To: Plannina General Plan;WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv Subject: FW: Reschedule General Plan 2045 Meetings in January 2025 Date:Monday, December 23,2024 11:35:02 AM Attachments: imaae001.pna Hi, Forwarding email for your attention and use. Thank you, Michelle Oda County of Hawaii, Planning Department 101 Pauahi Street,Suite 3 1 Hilo, HI 96720 Direct: (808)961-8129 Michel le.Oda(a hawaiicounty.2ov E From: Sakai, Kimberly<Kimberly.Sakai@hawaiicounty.gov> Sent: Monday, December 23, 2024 10:54 AM To: Planning Internet Mail <planning@hawaiicounty.gov> Subject: FW: Reschedule General Plan 2045 Meetings in January 2025 From: Mele Akua <mele_akuana yahoo.com> Sent: Monday, December 23, 2024 10:49 AM Subject: Reschedule General Plan 2045 Meetings in January 2025 To Hawaii County Planning Department and Windward Planning Commission: Please reschedule the Windward Planning Commission General Plan meetings in January 2025 for public testimony. There is practically no knowledge of the GP 2045 among Big Island locals, yet it will change how we ALL live here. As someone already testified, we all get a property tax bill in the mail, so why weren't we sent a letter about the General Plan Meetings, encouraging public participation? Whenever I ask someone if they heard about the General Plan 2045, they ALWAYS - 100% of the time answer "No, what is that?" The public, who you claim to serve, deserves the right to learn about the GP 2045 and give their public testimonies on it, yet you've taken one opportunity away by cancelling the January 2 & 3 meetings. If you really work for us, then show us by rescheduling the January meetings. Do what is right for the benefit of the people not to the benefit of the few. Mahalo! From: Kim Magoon To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv Subject: RESCHEDULE the Big Island General Plan(GP)2045 public testimony January meeting Date:Friday, December 27,2024 5:48:31 PM Aloha, I'm wondering why the Big Island General Plan (GP) 2045 public testimony meetings were canceled for January. I along with many others would like to request that they be rescheduled and accessible for us in January. It is important for the community to be able to learn more about these proposed items and be able to have input on things that will greatly affect us. PLEASE RESCHEDULE THE JANUARY MEETINGS. Mahalo Kim Magoon Magoon808@gmaiLcom From: tina Baugh Garber To: LPCtestimonv Subject: I vote no to general plan,twenty forty five.Hawaii big island. Date:Sunday,December 29,2024 3:58:50 PM Public declaration of opting out Absolutely NO General Plan 2045 Hawaii Big Island. I VOTE NO THIS IS MY PUBLIC NOTIFICATION THAT I AM OPTING OUT AND WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN THIS PLAN AT ALL, OTHER THAN TO VOTE, NO AND TO OPT OUT. I am making a public declaration. I will not be party to this in any form, fashion shape or how. I vote NO on General Plan 2045. Furthermore, I will absolutely not have anything to do with this bill, and this bill will not have anything to do with me any property or any livelihoods or possessions that I have OR anything my children A and Z have. You are not allowed to touch anything or to take or control anything I own. Everything I have I've worked for. This is my public declaration. This is my world declaration. You are not implementing this in any way on me, or any of my family. This island should revolt against you, and this bill. This is not right. This is a deception telling us that they can fix a problem of tomorrow when they cannot even fix anything today. Nor have they fixed yesterday. It's a joke. I will not be party to this ugly ugly horrible plan of General plan 2045 Hawaii Big Island. You will have three days to respond to my declaration. If not, this is a legal and binding contract. You have five business days to respond in writing via mail usps, from today. Dec 29, 2024 at 3:43 p.m. Hawaii time You've been served. Tina M. Garber 3**-**-7434 Sent from my T-Mobile 5G Device Get Outlook for Android From: tina Baugh Garber To: LPCtestimonv Subject: Reject Date:Monday, December 30,2024 7:01:32 AM Reject this plan. I reject this plan. The future generations REJECT this plan. NO to General Plan 2045 NO to stealing lands and land rights. NO to stealing any Hawaiian land. NO to the stealing any native or privately owned land. NO NO NO STOP. From: Jill Burbary To: LPCtestimonv;Chang. Kelsie Cc: Stand Toaether Hawaii; Eric S.West;J Burbary Subject: Written/Email Testimony Re: 121924 LPC General Plan Review Meeting from Jill B. Date:Thursday, December 19, 2024 2:40:56 AM Dear LPCtestimony Email Mailbox, December 19, 2024 Please find my personal testimony I would like included in the upcoming meeting. Subject: Re 121924 LPC General Plan Review Meeting—Email Testimony I am testifying via email regarding the General Plan (GP) 2045 public testimony meetings for January. The cancellation of those meetings does not support the voice of the people, and I am testifying (via email) to request that you reinstate the meetings for January 2025. Ideally, we want the Planning Commission to put those meetings back on the calendar/agenda for January 2025, so we can share public testimony. Those affected have suffered far too long. Without politics, hidden agendas, and red tape, the affected residents and businesses would be in the building stage at this point in time. Please help them by putting the GP 2045 back on the agenda/calendar. Since I am unable to attend the meeting, and per your guidelines, please treat this email as my testimony for the record. Kind regards, Jill Burbary 303-810-3207 C. Kimo Alameda, PhD.V;°.`.;y John Pelletier Mayor Vacant Heather Korotie Vacant o«,Charles Young,Chair o;•,;i Nancy Pisicchio,Vice-Chair Charla Thompson David Huerta Roselyn Molina County of Hawaii KONA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE Aupuni Center• 101 Pauahi Street,Suite 3• Hilo,Hawaii 96720 808)961-8288• Fax(808)961-8742 January 7,2025 Leeward Planning Commission County of Hawaii 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway Kailua-Kona,Hawaii 96740 Subject: Kona Community Development Plan Action Committee Testimony to the Leeward Planning Commission Special General Plan Meeting on January 16,2025 Aloha Chair Barbara DeFranco: The Kona Community Development Plan Action Committee(AC)met on December 17,2024,at the West Hawaii Civic Center. Included on the agenda was discussion and decision-making on whether to submit testimony to the Leeward Planning Commission regarding the General Plan. Following deliberation,the committee voted unanimously to submit the letter collectively, identified as Communication 2025-01. Sincerely, dtt 4* 81Jani,10t511:l1 NSi7 Charles Young, Chair Kona Community Development Plan Action Committee KK: V:`,PL PL\planning\public\wpwin60`CDP'CDP-Kona`Action Committee'Meetings12025'2025-01-141Communications'.Communication No.2025-01 KCDP AC Testimony for LPC 1-16-25.pdf Communication No. 2025-01 To: Leeward Planning Commission of the County of Hawai'i, Barbara DeFranco, Chair From: Kona Community Development Plan Action Committee, Charles Young, Chair RE: Special General Plan Meeting 1/16/2025 Aloha Chair DeFranco, Vice-Chair Paishon-Duarte and other Commissioners, On the December 17, 2024, meeting of the Kona Community Development Plan Action Committee, the following Motion was unanimously approved: The Kona CDP Action Committee would like to share our concern that the remapping of the 1200-acre Hokuli'a property from Agricultural to Rural proposed in the 2045 General Plan (Map 8) would facilitate the upzoning of land for a residential resort with a potential buildout of over 1,000 homes along the coast north of Kealakekua Bay outside of the Kona Urban Growth Area. We feel this proposal conflicts with the Kona Community Development Plan as well as the 2045 General Plan, both of which discourage urban sprawl outside of the Kona Urban Growth Area or existing rural towns and villages. The 2045 General Plan wisely states that: The value of establishing Urban Growth Areas lies in the ability to manage growth effectively, preserve natural and cultural resources, plan infrastructure efficiently, stimulate economic development, and foster strong, cohesive communities. Urban Growth Areas present a strategic approach to urban planning that balances the needs of a growing population with the preservation of Hawaii Island's unique character and heritage. However, the County's recommendation to convert the Hokuli'a property from Agricultural to Rural seems to contradict the above recognition of the importance of that strategic approach". Therefore, Kona CDP Action Committee recommends removing the 2045 General Plan's proposed remapping of the Hokuli'a property from Agricultural to Rural. This would not prevent the developer from filing a petition with the State Land Use Commission to request a Boundary Amendment as provided in Chapter 205, HRS." Respectively yours, cn,-r,xn—,. Charles Young, Chair. Kona CDP Action Committee 2\ 9 y 5 Draft General Man Land Use:Detailed Map F 14106-Densft Urban «. : ®fty M&nbW b1mul"Apiculb" Urban Areas/Towns Medim,OaMyUrbats Unh"ft MANm 0 I-V Low Density Urban Ream Recreation S Urban Upw4lon ConservationRural s hwumW AVkWtur*d/} Urbm Corowth Somodaty Ma a 270 Communication No. 2025-01 KCDP AC Testimony for LPC 1 -16-25 Final Audit Report 2025-01-07 Created: 2025-01-07 By: Kawelo Kalili(kawelo.kalili@hawaiicounty.gov) Status: Signed Transaction ID: CBJCHBCAABAAi6wdRvs0a-a-Z3datyz2bb8W__U-essd- Communication No. 2025-01 KCDP AC Testimony for LPC 1 -16 25" History Document created by Kawelo Kalili (kawelo.kalili@hawaiicounty.gov) 2025-01-07-7:26:27 PM GMT Document emailed to Charles Young (youngc042@hawaii.rr.com)for signature 2025-01-07-7:28:57 PM GMT Email viewed by Charles Young (youngc042@hawaii.rr.com) 2025-01-07-10:30:13 PM GMT Document e-signed by Charles Young (youngc042@hawaii.rr.com) Signature Date:2025-01-07-10:31:28 PM GMT-Time Source:server Agreement completed. 2025-01-07-10:31:28 PM GMT A Adobe Acrobat Sign From: Mike Reimer To: LPCtestimony Subject: testimony for Hawaii General Plan 2045 Date:Tuesday,January 7,2025 5:56:29 AM Attachments: TESTIMONY Hawaii General Plan 2025 to be sent January 7 with cover letter.docx Leeward Planning Commission West Hawaii Civic Center Building E Second Floor 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96720 Sirs: I am submitting testimony as an attachment for the Leeward Planning Commission January 16-17, 2025 Special General Plan Meeting. Respectfully yours, s/ Michael Reimer, Ph.D. Geologist Denver, CO GeoM ike5na att.net January 7, 2025 Leeward Planning Commission West Hawaii Civic Center Building E Second Floor 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96720 Sirs: I am submitting testimony as an attachment for the Leeward Planning Commission January 16-17, 2025 Special General Plan Meeting. Respectfully yours, s/ Michael Reimer, Ph.D. Geologist Denver, CO GeoMike5(a)att.net January 7, 2025 TESTIMONY: Hawaii County General Plan 2045: Leeward Planning Commission January 16-17, 2025 P. 1 The concern that the Hawaii County 2045 General Plan does not include sufficient discussion of subsurface issues has been presented in public forums and has considerable merit because, in Hawaii, there is a strong connection of subsurface environment and the surface ecosystem. Perhaps the best way to state concern about this omission is to mention a statement by Dr. Nicole Deziel, lead author of an article addressing subsurface environmental manipulation. In an overview of her article, she cautioned, "Researchers and policymakers tend to focus on only one domain, when they really are interconnected." Synergies and Trade-Offs in Reducing Impacts of Unconventional Oil and Gas Development on Wildlife and Human Health in Bioscience 72: 472-480, March 2022). Because of this robust surface and subsurface domain connection on Hawaii Island, I strongly concur with the concern to have the 2045 General Plan include subsurface issues and I provide commentary on some issues that have been previously mentioned. The issue of the subsurface environment with emphasis on hydraulic fracturing (or fracking) has been addressed as a need for inclusion in the 2045 Hawaii County General Plan (Brenda Ford, Letter to Editor, West Hawaii Today, December 6, 2024). When fracking is mentioned, most people think of it being employed for enhanced oil and gas extraction from tight rock formations underground. That may not seem to have any application in Hawaii but fracking can be used for much more than oil and gas extraction and for situations that are common in Hawaii. For example, hydraulic fracturing can be used for: Stimulating groundwater wells; Mining; Waste remediation and disposal; Measuring Earth stress; Electricity generation for geothermal resources; Geological sequestration of CO2; Pumped storage hydroelectricity (for non oil and gas issues, see ittps:/ien.wikipedia.orgiwikiiFracking). Because the impact of fracking extends beyond underground rocks and fluids, and influences both surface and atmospheric characteristics, fracking, and indeed, other subsurface activities that may be implemented, are reasonable items for discussion and inclusion in the General Plan. Fracking exclusion was added in 2013 to the Hawaii County Code (Chapter 14), Article 21, Section 14-120 through 14-127. There will most likely be requests for exceptions to this exclusion. There was a plan in 2015 to evaluate the possibility of a geothermal resource on Hualalai but it was canceled. https-//www.thinkgeoenergy.com/university-of-Hawai'i-cancels-planned-geothermal- exploration-work-at-h ualalai/). TESTIMONY: Hawaii County General Plan 2045: Leeward Planning Commission January 16-17, 2025 p. 2 In 2023, Hawaiian Home Lands was seeking to evaluate the development of geothermal resources under its lands. (https-//www.higp.Hawai'i.edu/hggrc/Hawai'ian- home-lands-seeks-6m-to-test-for-geothermal-power/). Therefore, including a discussion of subsurface development in the County Plan is merited. There is a long history of fracturing rock as a means to increase its permeability. Increasing permeability was first used in the 1860s to increase the amount of water available to wells. Explosives were lowered into the drilled or dug well. This practice was given a name and called "shooting the well," and had a very localized effect. This practice of increasing permeability of rocks on a large scale was then applied to oil recovery and recently to gas recovery as a means of extracting more energy resources from underground areas where rock permeability is so low as to prevent free flow of those fluids. Perhaps the largest use of fracking was a project to use atomic bombs to cause "fracking" over vast areas. This was done in the 1950s as part of Project Plowshare, when the concept of using atomic weapons to create great canals was proposed, perhaps to form competition to the Panama Canal. It was also thought to be applicable to enhance the flow of natural gas by increasing permeability of tight rock. In 1969, an atomic bomb was set off underground near Rulison, Colorado to see if it could enhance flow in natural gas by fracturing the fine-grained, low-permeability sandstone of the Williams Fork Formation of the Mesaverde Group. It did, but the gas was radioactive and not really useful for commercial use. https-//www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2020/04/f74/RulisonFactSheet.pdf). Although this seemed an extreme fracking approach, today's hydraulic fracking activities are not without their own pollution problems. Hawaii government agencies are no stranger to pollution effects from various activities in the state, including disposal of public sewage wastewater and pollution created by military activities, the most recent of the latter being the Red Hill fuel releases into potable groundwater supplies and the use of radioactive materials in training exercises on Oahu and Hawaii Island. Hydraulic fracturing (fracking) is a drilling technology that involves pumping large quantities of fluids at high pressure into a wellbore and into the target rock formation. The fluid typically contains water, a proppant (a material like spherical sand particles to keep the fractures open), and chemical additives. A large fracking operation can require millions of gallons of water pumped underground. The chemicals, in large part used to reduce the viscosity of water so the proppant flows readily into the fractures, are often stored in surface holding ponds that are unlined and can leach into the ground and become part of the natural groundwater. The hydraulic fracturing operation itself, with TESTIMONY: Hawaii County General Plan 2045: Leeward Planning Commission January 16-17, 2025 p. 3 its above ground equipment and chemical mixing ponds, is a major source of pollution and, it is not necessarily the fracturing of rock that causes large-scale introduction of pollutants into the groundwater, but the leaching from the surface chemical holding ponds into the subsurface that pollutes potable water sources. https-Hwww.nrdc.org/stories/fracking-101#worG'). One point I will make is that the impacts of hydraulic fracturing are still being studied. Many of the chemicals injected to force fracture have not been evaluated to know their potential toxicity. They have no EPA guidelines for a level of concern. It is a complex system and pros and cons can be found to argue any individual point. It is not sufficient to say that analyses for contaminants only for which EPA has guidelines have been conducted and none are above the EPA thresholds levels of concern. There are thousands of chemicals that EPA has not studied for their toxicity that end up in potable groundwater supplies. But a rule of thumb can be applied. Those chemicals at any level used in fracking should not be there. There is little doubt that fracking operations do pose risks to human health and not just for oil and gas resource enhancement https://wv. :.urmc.rochester.edu/news/story/study-lin ks-fracking-d rin king-water- pollution-and-infant-heath: see Hill, Elaine L. and Lala Ma, 2022, Drinking water, fracking, and infant health, J. Health Econ., 102595). 1 note that there had been some discussion in the public forum (Bobby Camara, Letter to Editor, West Hawaii Today, December 21, 2024) about the issue of fracking and contamination of the main island system of freshwater lying above the oceanic salt water in the same aquifer of the island. The letter postulated that there would be no mixing of the two waters (i.e., contamination) because the lower density of the freshwater would always keep it above the denser saline water. The Ghyben-Herzberg groundwater system was referenced. That model is useful only in static conditions, and not the real-world dynamic system where stacked aquifer systems are always forced into a mixing scenario. Tidal forces, differential concentration diffusion, recharge of freshwater, removal of the freshwater through well pumping are some examples of how the system is constantly mixed. (Wentworth, C.K., 1947. Factors in the behavior of groundwater in a Ghyben-Herzberg system. Pac Sci 1(3): 172-184). Fracking can increase the interchange between those two systems. On Hawaii Island, there are occurrences of perched water reservoirs where there is an impermeable layer between that perched freshwater reservoir and lower freshwater/saline water reservoir. An example of one such perched reservoir was found from drilling at Pohakuloa Training Area Training Area (PTA) as the Army was trying to find a local potable water source so they did not have to transport water. TESTIMONY: Hawaii County General Plan 2045: Leeward Planning Commission January 16-17, 2025 p. 4 Freshwater is provided to PTA by trucking, a major operation that requires about 4,000 trucks a year with 5,000 gallons each of potable water. The cost is over three million dollars a year. The Army entered into a cooperative project in 2013 to drill at PTA to see if freshwater could be found to provide supply for PTA. The plan was to drill a hole over 6,000 feet deep to encounter the saline level at sea level and hope that freshwater reservoirs were found above this saline level. Surprisingly, the drill hole encountered a perched freshwater reservoir at a 600-foot depth. https://www.dvidsf,ub.net/news/22964 ny-taps-consortium-find-water-training-area- high-up-hawaiian-volcano). Any near-surface reservoir could easily become contaminated from the toxins used during training exercises, just as the unlined ponds for fracking development have leached through the porous overburden into groundwater. The freshwater perched reservoir found was never developed. This drilling occurred in 2013 and it is unknown if the contamination from the PTA surface operations contaminated that shallow freshwater reservoir. Such a potential pollution source is described below but it is not the only one that could provide contaminants for underground water sources. A major concern of groundwater pollution today is "forever chemicals", those per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly used in fire-fighting foams, which do not breakdown in the environment contribute greatly to health risks. The U.S. Army has been analyzing for those "forever chemicals" that have been part of the releases into the environment from their training activities at PTA and Kilauea Military Reservation. https://aec.army.m il/aeci6616/9869/7418/PTA-KM R-P FAS_PAS 1.pdf). The analyses so far seem to have been only conducted in soils and not groundwater. This 2023 report states that, for PTA, historical reports place ground water levels several hundred to 1,000 feet or more below the surface and so they were not sampled. It is incongruous that this 2023 report ignored the perched groundwater table found at 600 feet below the surface as it was being considered for a potable water source. Testing it would have provided important information on the rate of movement of contaminants below the surface. The Army has established their own risk-based screening concentration levels above which they would conduct further studies for remedial action. That level was set at 70 parts per trillion. In a report of July 2023, concentrations in soils were found at PTA above those levels (Table ES-1 in https://aec.army.mil/aec/6616/9869/7418/PTA-KMR PFAS PASI.pdf). TESTIMONY: Hawaii County General Plan 2045: Leeward Planning Commission January 16-17, 2025 p. 5 The Army states "While not an enforceable regulatory standard, this represents a concentration in drinking water that is not expected to produce adverse health effects if the water is consumed over an entire lifetime." (https-//aec.army.miI/PFAS/HI/PTA). No reference to support that claim is given in that notice. However, this is now in conflict with recent U.S. EPA levels. In April of 2024, the U.S. EPA set levels for drinking water, depending on the type of forever chemical, at 4-10 parts per trillion. (https-//www.epa.gov/sdwa/and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas). EPA expects that over many years the final rule will prevent PFAS exposure in drinking water for approximately 100 million people, prevent thousands of deaths, and reduce tens of thousands of serious PFAS-attributable illnesses." Ibid.) This statement from EPA about PFAS contamination foretells a tremendous health benefit with the elimination of this toxin in the environment. Why would fracking be done at PTA? Perhaps for several reasons, not only to increase water flow from the perched water reservoir but to include underground waste disposal and energy production. It was noted that when this perched water was found at PTA, lower levels of that groundwater were found to be at higher temperatures, up to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. It was suggested at the time of that finding, the warmer water could be used as a source of steam to run electricity-generating turbines. iittps://eos.org/articles/underground-water-reserves-found-hawaiis-high-country). The contamination risk could be exacerbated with fracking operations, opening flow paths from a larger volume for water migration. Another potential source of contamination is injecting waste underground. In 2005, when the EPA began enforcing elimination of cesspools containing human excreta, it provided the U.S. Army at PTA with minimum regulations to prevent the contamination of groundwater that could be used for drinking purposes by underground injections of that waste. Fracking is a means to increase underground storage reservoirs for fluids and gases. The U.S. Army operated six large capacity cesspools at that time. https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-09/documents/cafo-pohakuloa05.pdf). A study conducted by the University of Hawaii showed how injecting wastewater into a saline underlying reservoir would contaminate a freshwater reservoir above it (Duane L. Heutmaker, Frank L. Peterson, and Stephen W. Wheatcraft, March 1977, Technical Report No. 107, A laboratory study of waste injection into a Ghyben-Herzberg groundwater system under dynamic conditions). Fracking would increase the pollution potential. TESTIMONY: Hawaii County General Plan 2045: Leeward Planning Commission January 16-17, 2025 p. 6 The larger picture is one of critical interest. Because fracking and other technologies that impact the subsurface can influence the surface and atmospheric environment it is worthwhile to address it as a concern in the General Plan. Hawaii's social, cultural, economic, health, safety, and quality of life domains among others depend on sustainability of the environment. There is a chance to minimize additional negative impacts in the future. And that needs to be addressed now. Respectfully submitted, Michael Reimer, Ph.D. Geologist Denver, CO GeoMike5@att.net January 7, 2025 From: Ken Honma To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv Cc: Stand Toaether Hawaii Subject: Comments to Hawaii County General Plan 2045 Date:Thursday,January 9,2025 4:35:51 AM January 9, 2024 Dear Hawaii County Planning Commission members, Michelle Melendez and her associates have more than adequately critiqued the General Plan 2045. They have spent countless uncompensated hours in studying the words and concepts in the Plan. I concur with their conclusion that this plan must not be forwarded to the Hawaii County Council without a severely needed re-write. Otherwise it should just be declined. The main problem is that there appears to be a lack of sound and proven scientifically based hypotheses, and, much less scientific laws, on which the recommendations made throughout this document are based on. As a substitute for this lack, an attempt at the use of mind-control language, similar to a technique called a hypnotic jump, described in some neurolinguistics programming training, is used. I will cite one example of a hypnotic jump so that you can see how it works. For example, making policy decisions based on ideas rather than proven scientific facts; such as the idea that man-made carbon dioxide is the cause of global warming; is a hypnotic jump. Here the idea that man-made green-house gas ( co2 ) causes climate change, is an idea only, not a proven fact! But because of mind control, the mind jumps over and ignores this critical fact and goes to and focuses on the provided solutions such as; we need electric cars, or we need to control how many miles you can drive your car, or cluster planning for people so that they do not move around so much, or incentivizing people rezoning their land to conservation so no people can live there. This is just one example, but as Michelle's written edits show, there are many such hypnotic jumps. They are everywhere in this document, especially pay attention to where there is a lack of data, or lack of detailed citations of proven scientific facts. If you read carefully, you will see that associated with an idea without facts, there is also a hypnotic jump that proposes what the mind interprets as a reasonable response to ameliorate each issue. The language in this general plan is actually hypnotic language. In essence, a "spell" is cast on the people who read this document and who may not be able to identify these jumps, and believe that the proposed solutions are actually solving the implied problem, while the goals of the authors are something else completely. My concern is that the commissioners are not recognizing that they are being put under a spell and therefore are not able to objectively assess this proposed general plan accurately. Now that you know this technique is being used, look carefully at the edits and recommendations that Michelle and her associates have provided to you and you will see that the hypnotic jumps are there. Michelle and her associates have also provided citations and links to credible scientific sources to help the commissioners conduct the necessary discussions in order to get the facts straightened out and to help the commissioners understand how misleading this document is. This document should not be sent to the County Council for approval without a severely needed rewrite, or if a rewrite is not timely, then, you must decline to approve it. Sincerely, Ken Honma, Kurtistown Hi. 96760 From: CATHERINE GARCIA To: LPCtestimonv Subject: hello Date:Saturday,January 11,2025 3:37:28 PM NO 15 minute cities From: Joanna Weber To: WPCtestimony; LPCtestimony Subject: Tell the County Council to REJECT the Big Island General Plan 2045 Date:Saturday,January 11,2025 4:01:38 PM ALOHA HAWAII COMMISSIONERS Request: Please, tell the County Council to REJECT the Big Island General Plan 2045. Problem: The Big Island General Plan 2045 does not entirely appear to have the interests of the residents in mind, and it is already reducing the value of people's properties. Concerns Include: Land Use changing "Residential" to "Recreation" drops property value! Plan could set up many opportunities for State to take the land & Re- Zone! Plan could regulate off-grid living! Plan will further stress electric grid increasing prices! AND MORE! The PDF below explains our concerns with the Big Island General Plan 2045: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/ files/ugd/86fc0c_b34739e4c99c46 1685de4c0207bf286e.pddf ALOHA, JOANNA WEBER From: Lahilahi Heen To: LPCtestimony Subject: Big Island General Plan Date:Saturday,January 11,2025 2:58:50 PM REJECT the Nefariously written document that reads "Stakeholder" rather than 'Homeowner', along with other sketchy dialog!! REJECT REJECT REJECT REJECT REJECT REJECT REJECT REJECT Mahalo: Assumed) Home/Property Owner Fmm: RPbPrr.MPIPnAPa To:NPL@Nmo v,LPL@Nmo Aibje¢: General PlannTeslimony Dew: Sa ,day,]anuary 11,2025 9'.30'.48 AM Big Island General Plan This General Plan is highly vague at times.In some of their explanations,they do not use the exact title but abbreviations,which takes time to research what they want to implement.They should have these abbreviations in the glossary. They need to be a lot clearer about what they want to do because it looks like they want to"cluster"us in living and take some of our rights away. Page 43 1.m Review the Code and consider amendments to encourage site clustering of development in order to avoid critical environmental areas and assets. What do they mean by"encourage site clustering"?What does"site clustering"even mean?How will this affect community living? Page 80 9.f Study the feasibility,issues,and opportunities related to the development of a TDR program to strategically preserve open space and achieve density to remain consistent with the land use pattern in accordance with the General Plan Land Use Maps. TDR is the Transfer of Development Rights Itseems the TDR program allows the county full rights to say where homes can and cannot be built and whether private land is restricted.This restricts the right to build houses on private lands.If the county decides that property shouldn't be developed,we will lose our rights to build on privately owned land. A TDR program seeks to preserve landowners'asset value by moving the right to build a house from a location where development is prohibited(e.g.,for environmental reasons)to a location where development is encouraged." In the place where development is encouraged under TDR,zoning is changed to permit more units to be built." This sentence explains a TDR program talks about building"more units"not houses,and gives the county full rights to tell people where they can and can not build homes,even if they and that they can only build"units". httos://nmaes.rutaers.ed u/highlandsitransferdeve lopment-rights.phhp Page 82 They mention TDR program again 12.fStudy the feasibility,issues,and opportunities ofa TDR program to incentivize development away from high-risk hazard areas. Page 87 The General Plan talks many times about"high-density.Prioritize an increase indensity"for multi-families 13.2.13.4.13.8.itseems this goes with the TDR program.To"cluster"us up into housings. 13.10 Development of TODs and TNDs are encouraged within locations of the urban centers shown on the General Plan Land Use Map.These locations are approximate and become fixed during rezoning. They don't give any ideas of how they will increase public transportation.The bus system has been breaking down for years and is very rarely on time.They are not clear on whatthey mean by this at all.They just say"are encouraged." Big Island's public transportation needs to be addressed.How can the island create better public transportation?They don't explain how they want to help public transportation. Big Island's infrastructure also needs to be seriously addressed because traffic is increasing monthly without any sign of helping the infrastructure to accommodate the increase in traffic. How can they help the infrastructure with a mountain on one side and a cliff on the other,with many of our roads?They don't offer any ideas. TNDs-Traditional Neighborhood Development TOD-Transit-Orientated Development httos://fifthave.ca/benefits-and-drawbacks-of-transit-oriented-develo mpents/ Drawbacks and Challenges of Transit-Oriented Development 1. Decreased Affordability and Property Values:The increased demand for housing in TOD areas may lead to rising property values and rental costs,potentially displacing existing low-income residents. 2. Displacement of Marginalized Communities:Gentrification can occur in TOD neighborhoods,pushing out long-time residents and causing social and economic disruptions. 3.Social and Cultural Homogenization:The emphasis on mixed-use developments might inadvertently lead to the homogenization of local cultures and businesses, eroding the unique character of the community. 4. Increased Pressure on Infrastructure:High-density developments can strain existing infrastructure,such as transportation networks,water,and sanitation systems, necessitating costly upgrades. i Unequal Distribution of Benefits:Without inclusive planning and involvement of all stakeholders,the benefits of TOD might disproportionately favor certain segments of the population. 13.13 Support master planning by public and private institutions and landowners which emphasize TOD,affordable housing,and mixed-use development. What is their"Master Plan"?Why should it be supported? Page 89 13.44 The development or designation ofnew resort areas should complement the character ofthe area:protect the environment and natural beauty:respect existing lifestyles. cultural practices,and cultural resources:and provide shoreline public access. The Big Island needs homes for its residents.It does not need more resorts because the island is having resource issues with the developments here now,and many more years of already-approved developments have not been completed yet. Please see this petition:httos://www.change.orgp/help-big-island-resources-and-infrastructure-stay-safe-for-all-who-live-here-and-visit The West Hawai'i Sanitary Landfill,the only remaining landfill on the Big Island,is forecast to reach capacity within the next 20 to25 years."httos://bigIslandnow.com/2023109117/boa-0sland-now-poll-no-27-results-more-tha n-one-solutoon-needed-to-help-extend-lofe-of-west-hawaii-landfill/ Hawai'i Water Supply Closely Monitored As Severe DroughtContinues by Big Island Video Newson Nov 6,2023 at 3:28 pm STORY SUMMARY HAWAI'I COUNTY- Officials say a special focus will be placed on the South Kohala Water System,which is more susceptible to drought conditions."httos://www.blaislandvideonews.com/2023111106/water-supply-closely-monitored-as-hawai/CA%BBi-under-severe-drought/ 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 large generators became unavailable and reduced output Tuesday night." httos://www.k hon2.com/loca I-news/heco-re lea ses-conserva tion-a lert-for-big-island/ Page 90 13.eAmend 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 zonedlandswithin identified residential and commercial zoning districts. iii.Allow for residential uses in NIL and MCX zoning districts. iv.Support umovative uses ofalternative energy,agriculture,aquaculture,and others,inMCX zoning district What does the i.sentance mean,exactly? What does ME and MCX stand for?These are not in their glossary,and I can't find them online. Page 98 14.1 Support the StateLandUse reclassification to Rural in alignment withthe General Plan Runal designation. What is the General Plan Rural Designation? 14.2 Support reclassification/rezoning ofappropriate General Plan Rural designated areas where an intermediate land use and a well-defined buffer between Urban and Productive Agricultural areas are consistentwith the surrounding uses andrural character. What is the"reclassification/rezoning of appropriate General Plan Rural designated..."? Why does it need to be supported? How willtheysupport it? 4.4 Rural-styleresidential-agricultural developments,such as newsmall-scale rural communities or extensions ofexisting rural communities,shouldbeincentivizedtocluster in appropriate locations. Theywant to"cluster"residents because theword"cluster"isused a manytimes in this GeneralPlan.How willthis affect community living,exactly? 14.b Amend the zoning districts currently listed as Family Agricultural District(FA)andthe Residential and Agricultural Districts(RA)to be consistent with the Rural designation and to allow forhome occupations thatdo not negatively impact rural character. Wouldthis mean the countywould have the right nottoapprove homes on"Rural Designated"lands? Page 102 15_fUpdatethe Real Property Tax Code for agricultural landuses thatresult in actual production or other publicbenefits,such asnative forestry andthe ecosystem services thatresult fromwell managed rangelands. What does this mean?Will they increase taxes?We need farmers to wanttowork and afford fifewithout increased taxes. 15.g Amendthe Zoning Code to requirePlan Approval for commercial open area recreational usesin the Agricultural District. How do they wantto Amendthe Zoning Code? 15.iDevelop standards and guidelines for buffer areas located adjacent to agricultural lands. What does this mean?What kind of guidelines? Page 108 16.6 Provide for present traffic and future demands,including the development ofmass transit programs for high-growth areas by both the private and public sectors. How willtheydo this?Traffic keeps increasing monthly,and theroads are incrediblynarrow,with a cliffon onesideand a mountain on the other in many different areas all over the island. How willtheydevelop mass transit programs?What would this look like? Page 111 17.4 Land use applications shall identify as earlyas possible any existing or potential active living corridors thatshould be incorporated intothe Couny's open space network. Who decides what a living corridor is?Is this the county's way of taking private land areas? 17.5 Ensure that existing active living corridors that are publicly owned or available by easement are properly identified and that their access elements are secured and documented. b)"Acceptance"bythe County ofthe responsibilities detailedinthe grant ofeasements should require County Council action and a dedicated funding source. What does b)mean exactly? Page 116 9.2 Increasearterial capacity through prioritization ofalternativemeans oftransportation,suchas mass transit,bicycle,andpedestrian systems. What does this mean?What is their plan?How willthey make"prioritization ofalternative means oftransportation"? 19.6 Use traffic demand management to aid inreducing traffic congestion by targeting an increase of active transportation mode share to 10 percent(bicycling,walking,micro-mobility) What do they mean by"Use traffic demand management to aid in reducingtraffic congestion"?Will they somehow limit cars and usebuses,bikes,or walking? 19.7 Concurrency reviews should incorporate reduction in vehicle miles traveledto mitigatetraffic impacts(e.g.the level ofservice)and achieve sustainability and demandmanagement goals. What does this mean,"Concurrency reviews should incorporate reduction in vehicle miles traveled._"?Do they wantto limitourdrivingand vehiclemiles?Do theywant to take away our right to travel?How will they do this?This doesn't seem legal,if this is what they want to do. 19.aContinue to adopt the County Street design manual as the County's complete street design program/policy. 19.b Amend the County Code to incorporate complete street design. What is the CountyStreetdesign manual?I don't see this information in the General Plan. 19.d Identify all roles for interdepartmental collaboration in delivering a truly mulfimodal transportation system. A multimodal transportation system consists of more than one source of transportation to get to the destination.So,do they mean we will have to take a bus and our car to get to where we want to go?What do they mean exactly? Page 117 20.e Adopt a Complete Streets ordinance. What is a"Complete Streets ordinance"? Page 119 22.7 Develop roadway standards to accommodate emerging technology for connected and automated vehicles. TheBig Island has power issues and cannot handle all its currentpower needs.It does not haveextra power to connect manyelectricvehicles,which will only add to its powerissues.Plus,if there is a bigstorm andwe lose power,those electric carscannot run,their batteries do not decomposewell,and the island needs a new wayto take careof rubbish because there is only one landfill on the island.These can will only add to the many issues the island already has. Hawaii Island is in theenviable position ofhaving alandfill with anywherefrom 20 to 100 years ofcapacity left to take in trash.But the island stillwrestles with significantissues like plastic products that are no longer being recycled."httns://www.waste360.com/landfill/Hawaii-deals-with-burgeoning-waste-management-problem Hawaiian Electric is reportingthat several large generators on the Big Island are experiencing a range of issues and may lead to the need for rolling outages if supply does not meet demand." https://www.reddit.com/r/Biaisland/comments/lbnuar3/hawaiian electric is reporting that several large/?rdt=52660 Page 130 25.5 Encourage the clustering ofdevelopments to reducethe cost ofprovidingutilities. How will"clustering developments"reduce thecostofutilities?We all usethe same powerwhether we live clustered up,like thecounty wants,or not. Thesolution to help power the island is not"clustering"everyone.It is askinghomeowners/resorts/vacation rentals to purchase solar panels,use wind turbines,or use othernatural ways to create their ownpower.Ifeveryone tries to step up,we can all makegood chances together. This petition offers other solutions https,//www.change.ora/helli-big-island-resourcesand-infrastructure-stay-safe-for-all-who4ive-here-and-visit 25.6 Develop short-and long-range capital improvements programs and plans for publicutilities withinits jurisdiction that are consistent with theGeneralPlan. What are"capital improvement programs"? 25.7 Maintain anAsset Management Program aimed at utilizing maintenance plans to prolong the life ofour utilities as well as reduce whole-life costs. What is their Asset Management Program? 25.aDevelop and adopt an Impact Fees Ordinance to aide in the expansion ofpublic utilities. What is an"Impact Fees Ordinance"? Page 132 26.5 Ensurethe highest quality ofwater is reserved for themost valuable end-use. What do they consider"the most valuable end-use"for water? TheRosewood Resortwaters its white coralroad to keep thedustdown.Theyuse hundreds,if not thousands,of gallons to water their road,evenwhen there are signs to conserve water.Has the county looked attheresort's wastefulwater use?Aretheresort's wateruse more`valuable"than residence use? 26.6 Encourage the design of large development projects(200+units)in the North Kohala,South Kohala,North Kona,South Kona,and Ka`u Districts tobe aswater neutral as reasonably possible through water conservation,recharge,and reusemeasures to reducethe water footprint. How can 200+units be water-neutral?Do theywant to develop moreresorts that seem to usewater as theywant,even when it's incrediblywasteful,and thecounty doesn'tlook at this? 26.7 Promote bestpractices in sustainable water collection anduseforprivatewater systems. What does this mean,`for private water systems"?Are they planning private water systems used only by private communities or resorts? Why hasn'tthecounty considered newinventions to help the island's waterissues? Inventions thatcapture grey water to use in toilets httns://mofrimd.com/innovative-products-desineedcapture-rmse-gray-water.html I'm sure thereare many newinventions that could help theisland ifthey only start to look for them. Page 133 26.eMaintainthe water masterplan to consider wateryield,present and future demand,alternative sources ofwater,guidelines,and policies for the issuing ofwater commitments. What is their"water masterplan"? 26.n Develop water conservation and stormwater management guidelines for commercial,industrial,and residential properties. What would"management guidelines"look like?Would resorts be prioritized over residences? Page 137 27.6 Pollution shall be prevented,abated,and controlled at levels that will protect and preserve public health and well-being through the enforcement ofappropriate Federal,State,and County standards 27.7 Ensuremunicipal wastewater systems servedesignated Urban Growth Areas(UGA)with the capacitytoaccommodate projected population growth. 27.9 Prioritizedeveloping a multiprouged approachtowastewater infrastructure funding,includingproactively seeking grant funding for wastewater systemexpansion,improvements,andnew development 27.11 Ensure that wastewater systems and improvements are designedand functioning to maximize system efficiencies,prevent accidental leaks or spills,and provide sanitary,reliablewastewater treatment that is notnegatively impacting natural resources. They don't mention the pollution that cesspools are causing daily.People can use many kinds of toilets to stop using cesspools today. Why hasn'tthecounty considered newinventive toilets to use to help thewastewater system?Like the Cinderella Incinerator Toilet to help stop pollution from cesspools and help with the wastewater system?httns J/cinderellaec om/en-us There are many new inventive toilets these days thatcan help theisland'swastewatersystem,and the Cinderella Incinerator Toilet can also help conserve water. Page 138 27.15 Prioritize the use ofgraywater in areas connectedto County waterand not connectedtoCountywastewater. Why doesn't the county start looking for new inventions to help the island instead of traditional sources when the island's population is steadily growing and needs new ideas to help?They could start considering usinginventions like these: httns://ecofriend.cnm/innovative-products-desineedcapture-reuse-gray-water.html httns://newsmom.ucla.edu/stories/gray-water-clean-up-yomm-cohen-271642 https://www.greenprophet.com/2OlM4/10-inventions-to-save-earths-water/ 27.a Prioritize areas where on-site wastewater treatment should be converted to sewer and establish financial tools such as improvement districts to aid in implementation. 27.b Prioritize areas where wastewater treatment facilities are necessary to facilitate future growth and utilize financing tools such as community facilities district(CFD)or tax increment financing(TIF) toaid in implementation. Big Island Acute Problems'PlaguingBigIsland's Wastewater Treatment Systems Prompt EPA Crackdown httns://www.civiibmt-org/2024/04/acute-pmhlems-pfagninv-hiv-islands-wastewater- tmatm mt-systmm s-prom pt-ena-crackdown/ Why doesn't the county start considering theCinderella Incinerator toilet or other inventions to help with thewastewater treatment issues?h so//cinderellaecn om/en-us 27.i Streamline the sewer connection loan program. What is this loan program?Is the island goinginto more debt because ofit? 27.jDevelopwastewater costvaluation in servicefees(similar to the watermodel feestructure). 271 Develop a criteria-based infrastructure prioritization toolto develop newor expand existingmunicipal wastewater systems.Basethese priority areas ondesignated urban growth boundaries,urban zoning and density,population trends and anticipated growth,health/safety,and environmental factors 27.1 Implement innovative wastewater systems ata cost-effective scale for smallcommunities. If the county starts considering new inventions and types of waste treatment toilets,like the Cinderella Incinerator Toilet,wastewater treatment costs would be considerably lowered. Page 139 27.p In collaboration with the Department ofAgriculture,develop awater resource strategy for efficient agricultural water use and reuse. Why doesn't the county start to consider usinggreywater inventions?httns://www.envirn ental-ex-nertcom/articles/the-power-of-grgywater-recycling-a-susminahle-solution-for-the- future-1138822 Page 142 28.11 The County shall ensure that golf course developments develop and implement grading and sitepreparation plans to: Why is the county still considering more golf courses when theisland has water issues,power issues,landfill issues...? Page 143 28.b Conduct a feasibility study to createa County Stomrwater Utility beforetheCountyreaches MST requirements. 28.c Update the DPW Storm Drainage Standards toreflect=cut data and to incorporate strategies and standards of green infrastructure and low-impact development. 28.d Develop drainage master plans from a watershed perspective that considers non-structural alternatives,minimizes channelization,protects wetlands that serve drainage functions,coordinates the regulation ofconstruction and agricultural operation,and encourages the establishment offloodplains as public groommys. Why doesn't the county start looking at new,innovative drainage solutions forthe island?https,//www.randrmagonlinecom/articles/90645-innovative-solutions-for-effective-storm-water- management-in-urhan—Jrotunents Page 149 30.4 Continuously improve the use ofbroadband communications and digital technology to educate and provide public services with a focus on digital access. 30.5 Siting ofnewcommunications facilities shall comply with performance standards andsite colocation as stated in the Code. 30.6 Support projects that address service gaps inHawai`i'sbroadband infrastructure. 30.9 Alleviate barriers and assist broadband projects with navigating through the regulatory permitting process. Does this mean an increase in cell towers?Have they researched health issues because of cell towers? Cell towers point straight to roads,homes,and commercial areas...Becausethe island is mountainous,thetops of cell towers can be only a fewfeet from these areas. On Palani Rd.and Queen KHWY,there are two cell towers whose tops are only a few feet from the HWY. On Hualalai Rd.,there is a cell tower facinga retirement home and it'sless than 100 It away. In Hawi town,there is a cell towerat a gas station.Thetop of the tower is directly across from residential homes. Has the county checkedtheseplacesto do anyresearch on whether people arebeingaffected by cell tower radiation before they keep allowing and agreeing to more cell towers? https,//mdsafetech.org/cell-tower-health-effects/ Overallresults ofthis review show three types ofeffects by base station antennas on the health ofpeople:radiofrequency sickness(RS),cancer(C)and changes in biochemical parameters CBP).Considering all the studies reviewed globally(n=38),73.6%(28/38)showed effects:73.9%(17/23)for radiofrequency sickness,76.9%(10113)for cancer and 75.0%(6/8)for changes in biochemical parameters...Ofspecial importanceare the studies performed on animals ortrees near base station antennas that cannot be aware oftheirproximity and to which psychosomatic effects can never be attributed." 30.12 Plan for broadband infrastructure to support smart grid development What is a Smart Grid?How is it good for the community? Page 150 30.b Develop standards for the siting and construction ofwireless telecommunication facilities. Willthere be any health and safety research and studies on what a safe distance and asafenumber of cell towers shouldbefor human bodies,trees,and animals? 30.iPursue partnerships andfunding for broadband initiatives and deployments 30.j Support the coordination ofinfrastructure projects between the public and private sectors to create areas for the deployment ofbroadband zones 301 Seekfederal and other opportunities for the funding ofbroadband infrastructure. What is the broadband initiative? What are broadband zones?Have they researched health and safety before seekingfederal funding and wanting to support this? 30.1 Support the State to develop a broadband dashboard to track progress and gaps that will inform decision-making in economic development on Hawaii Island. 30.mFoster public-private partnerships to support the development and expansion ofbroadbandinfrastructure,including communitynetworks. Does this mean that they want to know wherethe gaps areto keep adding more celltowers? Does this mean they wantthe public to support thedevelopment ofcell tower expansion? Whereis the health and safety research for cell towers? Page 155 31.a Create an asset management program. 31.cDevelop and adopt an Impact Fees Ordinance to aide in the expansion ofCounty services and facilities. What would be an assetmanagement program? What is an Impact Fees Ordinance? Page 162 33.2 Implement waste stream technology,such as recycling and upcycling and waste-to-energy to reduce the flow ofrefuse deposited in landfills. 33.9 Ensurethatredesign plans for landfill and transfer stations provide adequate space forResource Recovery(RR)Stations. 33.11 Site new solidwaste/resourcerecovery facilities in appropriate areas that serve theneeds ofpopulation centers andminimizeand mitigate negative impacts on the environment or surrounding neighborhood.33.12 Reduce illegal dumping and littering. 33.13 Minimize the amountofwaste generatedby County facilities. 33.aEvaluate and amend the County Code to integrate strategies tomaximize landfill diversion and handle materials: Has the county everlooked into new innovative ways todeal with rubbish: Benefits of waste-to-energy Waste-to-energy technology offers an alternative to landfills,providinga cleaner,more efficientway ofdisposingofwastewhile reducing greenhouse gas emissions. https,//biotrux.com/what-can-we-use-instead-of-landfills/ DifferentAlternative to landfill httns://bettermeetsrealily.com/the-different-alternatives-to-landfill-waste-management-options/ Top 29 countries that have been efficient in minimizing waste https://www.openaccessgovernmmt.org2 vhich-countries-are-the-most-efficient-at-minimising- waste/96037H1:—:text=Switzerland%20have%20100%25%20wasto%20recovery%2C%20despite%20being%20m_while%20the%20other%2047%25%20is%20incmerated%20for%20en-r .. Page 171 35_fUpdatethe County ofHawaii RecreationPlan to reflect newly identifiedrecreational priorities. Thecounty has sentoutletters changing privateLand UseTitles to recreational land.Whyis it legalfor thecounty to take private lands awayfrom peopleto give their lands to recreation? I heard these people would stillhaveto pay the property tax on theirland,which thecounty wants to turn into recreational land,is this going to happen? 35.iDevelopbest managementpractices forthe development andmaintenance ofgolfcourses in collaboration with government,private and nonprofit agencies,and other stakeholders. Golf courses usea lotof poisons to keep theirlands weed-free,and these poisons runoff into theocean,causing algae blooms and other pollutions.Will the county be addressing this? 35.r Develop and implement a cemeteries master plan for the siting of future cemeteries. What is their"cemeterymaster plan"? Pag 176 36.b Develop amedical center TOD master plan and rezone itas a Regional Center TOD. What is the TOD master plan? Page 182 37.3 Prioritize new housing including the missing middle in or near mixed-use developments,urban growth areas with infrastructure,and near existing and proposed transit centers. 37.6 Vacant lands inthe urban growth boundary(UGB)should be prioritized for residential and supportive uses before additional agricultural lands outside the UGB are converted into urban uses 37.cAssess and amend the landuseand buildingregulations and explore fiscal opportunities to supportuniversal design principles andADAaccessibility for more physically accessible housing. Theisland's resources need to be addressed because manyyears in the making,developments have been approved to build more homes,and all of theisland's resources arehavingserious issues today. Before prioritizingmore homes,the island's resources need to beaddressed. httns://www.change.orv/n/help-big-island-reounce nd-infrastructure-stay-safe-for-all-who4ve-here-and-visit Page 183 38.1 Enabledata-driven research to supportand maintainahousing inventory program that monitors existing housing. What are they going to monitor,and why? Page 184 39.8 Encourage the development ofworkforce housing withinornear urban growth areas and employment centers and require largenew developments that create ademand for housing to provide affordable workforce housing. Resorts on the island hire and bringin people from outsideof thecountry.Then theyhouse them.This takes away homes andjobsfrom locals.Why doesn't the county prioritize these jobs and homes for locals?Why don'tthe resorts on the island hirelocals who are already hereand house them? Page 190 42.cDevelop and adopt an impact fees ordinancethatconsiders district specific needs and excludes urban coreareas where infill is encouraged. What exactly does this mean?What are"impact fees ordinance"and"mfill is encouraged"mean? 42.d Develop a framework for a transition plan for changes in administrative leadership to ensure a smooth transition and continuity of operations. Why does the county need a"transition plan for changes in administrative leadership"? Page 199 44.fPartnerwith business associations,realtors,and the chamber ofcommerce to recruit small-scalemanufacturers to establish retail locations in village andtown centers to support reinvestment and match potential tenants withlocal landowners. Theshops in Kailua Kona town have trouble staying open because all the private parking lots are overcharging.Why isn't the county addressing this issueinstead ofwanting to bringin more businesses thatwon't be able to survive because private parking is taking alotof money away from businesses? I do not understand how to usetheirmap that shows allthe changes they want to make on the island. I have heard thevoices of people in person atthemeetings who have received letters that state thecounty wants to change their Land Use Titles in this General Plan.How is changing people's privateLand UseTitles legal?Thisis not right. Please look attheirmap because Iwas told thatthecountyis changinghigh-enddevelopers'LandUse Titles so they can develop easily. Zendo Kern has helped high-end developers manytimes on the island.This planning director favorsdevelopers rather than thepreservation of the land and community voices. For example,15,554 people signed apetition to Save Punalu'u from development.Hundreds ofHawaiian residents protested the housing project in Punalu'u,and still,"Planning Director Zendo Kern has recommended that the commission greentight the development,writing in his 17-pane r port to the panel thatthe project will not haveany substantial adverse environmental orecological effect"provided that best management practices areused to mitigateany impacts. Kern recommended movingahead without making thedevelopers prepare an updated environmental impact statement orenvironmental assessmentbecause the projectdid notmeetthe criteria set out in state law for such a requirement." This man is not for conserving the land,nor does he support community voices. Please look at the map he is a part of because this man favors high-end developers.If this map changes high-end developers'Land Use Titles to help them develop their land easily,it could be one hugeway thathe supports these developers,and this is not rightfor theisland and the community. https,//www.civilb mt.oW2024/03/hundreds-of-hawaii-island-residen ts-protest-proposed-housing-pro iect-in-pu nalu u/ https://www.thepetitionsite.com/S54/0S6/S9S/residents-who-oppose-the-resort-in-punaluu-kaO/,CS%Alt/ Thankyou, Rebecca Melendu From: Susie Jenkins To: LPCtestimonv;WPCtestimonv Subject: Revise Hawaii General Plan Testimony Here Date: Saturday,January 11,2025 2:56:59 PM Aloha Commissioners, The Big island Plan cannot go through the way it is designed. It is hard to believe any local helped design this plan. I believe that this plan has been based on the Agenda 2030 plan to control everything& everyone. Whoever put this together should be subjected to see if they are part of pushing this world order plan. Here are some concerns: There is a huge part of the plan dedicated to "Climate Change".However,why do most experts state there is NO climate danger? Climate Ex eprtsSpeakOutAgainstClimateDangerClickHere! The word "Stakeholder," defined in the plan,is written 86 times and literally means anyone in the entire world can have input on this 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 and management are crucial for the success and sustainability of any initiative, as it helps ensure that diverse perspectives and interests are considered. 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. The Planning Department has sent out letters too many homeowners telling them their land use will be changed from resident to recreation due to the General Plan 2045. This will drastically lower 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. There is a huge section on climate change and things that will be affected. This needs to be further 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. hUs:Hclintel.org/VLP- content/uDloads/2024/10/WCD-241023.12df 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. Hilo does not have a Community Development Plan. How can a Big Island General Plan move forward without that?Hilo is 22%of the island. 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 oflands for the protection ofnatural resources." 'Incentives" mean more taxes. Protection" means more rules. Who's "values" is this plan referring too because it's not the locals? Pursue the acquisition of lands" does this say they are going to pursing taking people's private property?Again with "protection of natural resources". This plan should be focused on people growing more food and it is doing the exact opposite! 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 of Papaikou, has created an Ag Villages plan. Ag Village to add to the General Plan: Papaikou Ag Village Objectives: hops://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_2cb 1 cc6d604f4cdd97l ad40831 c745bc.12df Papaikou Site Plan: hops://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fc0c_5e4cdb02efeb46a5 ae949a3579aff00d.12df Papaikou Development: hops://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_c2af52c8b3 c645b 1 a6868a724eee8304.12df A Hawaiian born Kanaka revised the Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship that is in the plan. You can see it in the pdf below: Part One:hops://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fc0c_0aId5be8f1d140069415f7b691725786.pdf Part Two: hUps://86fc0cbd-8207-4076-85fa- 5a62e4e933b4.usrfiles.com/ugd/86fcOc_ecc498bal92d4a7689ebf31 c368lc2ec.pdf Here is a longer revised version of the plan from locals: hops://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc b34739e4c99c461685de4c0207bf286e.pdf The way this plan is written is very far from what will support our island. C.S. Jenkins From: Deborah Sew To: LPCtestimony Subject: Reject Hawaii County General plan Date:Sunday,January 12,2025 9:40:18 AM To whom this may concem, Please tell the county council to reject the Hawaii County general plan.It is to vague and has the potential to take away freedom and rights of landowners.It needs a total re-haul.Government is hear to serve the people not the other way around. Mahalo for your kokual Aloha, Deborah Sevy Hawaii county resident since 1978 From: Donald To: W PCtesti mono Cc: LPCtestimonv Subject: Revise Hawaii General Plan Testimony Here Date:Sunday,January 12,2025 5:08:38 AM Aloha Commissioners, The Big island Plan cannot go through the way it is designed. It is hard to believe any local helped design this plan. Here are some concerns: There is a huge part of the plan dedicated to "Climate Change". However, why do most experts state there is NO climate danger? Climate Experts Speak Out Against Climate Danger Click Here! The word "Stakeholder," defined in the plan, is written 86 times and literally means anyone in the entire world can have input on this 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 and management are crucial for the success and sustainability of any initiative, as it helps ensure that diverse perspectives and interests are considered. 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. The Planning Department has sent out letters too many homeowners telling them their land use will be changed from resident to recreation due to the General Plan 2045. This will drastically lower 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. There is a huge section on climate change and things that will be affected. This needs to be further 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://clinte1.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. Hilo does not have a Community Development Plan. How can a Big Island General Plan move forward without that? Hilo is 22% of the island. 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 too because it's not the locals? "Pursue the acquisition of lands" does this say they are going to pursing taking people's private property?Again with "protection of natural resources". This plan should be focused on people growing more food and it is doing the exact opposite! 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 of Papaikou, 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 2cb1cc6d604f4cdd971ad408 31c745bc.pdf Papaikou Site Plan: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/ files/ugd/86fc0c 5e4cdb02efeb46a5ae9 49a3579aff00d.pdf Papaikou Development: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/ files/ugd/86fc0c c2af52c8b3c645b1 a6868a72 4eee8304.pdf A Hawaiian born Kanaka revised the Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship that is in the plan. You can see it in the pdf below: Pa rt One: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/ files/ugd/86fc0c 0a1 d5be8f1 d140069415 f7b691725786.pdf Part Two: https://86fcOcbd-8207-4076-85fa- 5a62e4e933b4.usrfiles.com/ugd/86fc0c ecc498ba192d4a7689ebf31 c3681 c2ec.pdf Here is a longer revised version of the plan from locals: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/ files/ugd/86fc0c b34739e4c99c461685de4cO2 07bf286e.pdf The way this plan is written is very far from what will support our island. Kona Hawaii From: Rebecca Melendez To: LPCtestimonv;WPCtestimonv;Planning General Plan Subject: Oppose General Plan TDR Program,Broadband,Smart Grid... Date: Sunday,January 12,2025 7:53:06 AM I am furious that the county uses confusing sentences in their General Plan and does not fully explain their true intentions. Please read my proof below. I am extremely angry that the county is trying to control where and how we live through the TDR program: 2045 General Plan Page 80 hUs://www.planning.hawaiicouniy.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/308136/63 8597487229830000 9.f Study the feasibility, issues, and opportunities related to the development of a TDR program to strategically preserve open space and achieve density to remain consistent with the land use pattern in accordance with the General Plan Land Use Maps. TDR is the Transfer of Development Rights (they do not let us know this. I had to research to find out what TDR meant) As I understand it,the TDR program allows the county full rights to say where homes can and cannot be built and whether private land is restricted. This restricts the right to build houses on private lands. If the county decides that property shouldn't be developed,we will lose our rights to build on privately owned land. A TDR program seeks to preserve landowners' asset value by moving the right to build a house from a location where development is prohibited(e.g., for environmental reasons)to a location where development is encouraged." The county will decide the environmental reasons for incorporating land into the TDR program, which aims to give them full control over all the lands on Big Island and tell us where we can live. In the place where development is encouraged under TDR, zoning is changed to permit more units to be built." This sentence explains that a TDR program builds "units," not houses, and gives the county full rights to tell people where they can and cannot build homes, and they will only be able to build units"through the TDR program.htips://njaes.rutgers.edu/highlands/transfer-development- rights.phn I am outraged that the county is not trying to help solve problems on the Big Island but rather trying to create a 5G Smart City through their`Broadband and Smart Grid"that will cost billions to create and add years of serious traffic when we already have serious traffic issues. It's because their fibre cables(which they never mention in their GP) for their`Broadband/Smart Grid"have to go underground and require a lot of power, and Hawaii Electric already has power issues. Hawai'i Electric does NOT have the kind of power a Smart Grid needs, and this WILL add more issues to the island's already-existing power problems. hUs://www.hawaiianelectric.com/safeiy-and-outages/an-update-on-hawaii-island-power-generation An update on Hawaii Island power generation—how you can help there's no one to call on for backup-we're on our own. That's why we will need everyone to work together over the next month, and possibly longer,to conserve electricity. We are extremely tight on what we call our generation margin, the margin between the demand for electricity and our ability to supply it. This demand typically peaks on weekdays between 5 and 9 p.m. and that's when the margin is most critical." 2045 General Plan Page 149 s 30.1 Treat broadband access as a basic utility that is available to all communities. The county doesn't mention that"broadband"is 5G. hUs://advantageslist.com/advantages-and- disadvantages-of-broadband/ 30.12 Plan for broadband infrastructure to support smart grid development The county doesn't mention they want to turn the Big Island into a Smart City because the Smart Grid is the first thing to implement to do this. hUs://smartgrid.ieee.org/resources?cafid=O&ld=223 A smart grid alone does three things. First, it modernizes power systems through self-healing designs, automation,remote monitoring and control... Thus, a smart grid sits at the heart of the smart city,which cannot fully exist without it". Smart Grid Info: hUs://minnovation.com.au/smart-cities-2/disadvantages-of-smart-cities-potential-challenges-and- concerns/ Privacy and Data Security: Smart cities rely heavily on the collection and analysis of vast amounts of data from sensors, cameras, and connected devices. This data is crucial for optimizing city operations and services. However,the extensive data gathering raises concerns about privacy infringement and data security. Citizens worry about their personal information being accessed or misused." What are Smart Grids and Smart Cities? The county does not explain this in the General Plan. It looks like they are hoping no one will research it.hUs://www.rfwireless- world.com/Terminology/Advantages-and-Disadvantages-of-Smart-Grid.html 30.3 Collaborate with utility companies to incentivize the underground siting of electrical and telecommunications facilities within public rights-of-way This sentence is confusing because the county doesn't want us to fully understand that in order to create"telecommunications facilities,"they must put Fibre Cable underground;hence,they use the wording"underground siting." Fibre overbuilds in the 21st century are becoming a widespread problem,with more fibre cable being laid on streets than can ever be utilised by the residents.Not only does this often cause mayhem on the roads,with closures and roadworks slowing traffic,but Fibre overbuilds can lead to countless negative effects on the environment, and the eventual rise in cost to the consumer and developer." Ws://pulsefibre.co.uk/2023/06/15/when-more-is-less-the-risks-and-downsides-of-overbuild/ The county is not focusing on the island's issues,like the fact we already have serious traffic issues. They want to create more traffic problems by laying down fibre cable that will create a Broadband/Smart Grid," hence a Smart City, and they are explaining this to us by using minimal wording to confuse and obscure their true intentions. This General Plan NEEDS TO BE OPPOSED because they want full control to be able to tell us how and where to live,in"unites"that are explained from the link I found above explaining the TDR program on page 80 and other pages throughout the GP. They want to create a 5G"Broadband/ Smart Grid" on the Big Island without trying to solve the island's traffic issues but rather spend a lot of time and money creating more traffic by laying out Fibre Cable all over the Big Island to create their Smart City, and they are not even mentioning the health risks or are even trying to acknowledge them. hUs://electronics360.globalsi2ec.com/article/I I 104/the-dangers-that-come-with-a-smart-grid Re: The Dangers That Come with a Smart Grid 41 John Endres 2018-Feb-23 2:31 PM One very critical danger that comes with a"smart grid"was not mentioned: the adverse health effects from electromagnetic fields. Current estimates of people experiencing adverse health effects from wireless technology hover at around 5%--I am one of them. After the installation of a water utility smart meter at my place ofwork,I experienced an escalation of symptoms (over time)that started with headaches and ultimately culminated in a seizure(I lost control of my legs). One month prior to the smart meter installation I had a complete annual physical and was given a clean bill of health. I underwent a barrage of medical tests after a week of experiencing health symptoms(thyroid, EEG,MRI, etc.) and everything was normal. I did begin to feel some of the painful head and eye sensations (that I would feel near wireless sources) at the end of the MRI". The county does not acknowledge the health risks associated with their`Broadband/Smart Grid" plan, all the associated issues due to putting the fibre cables underground, or the fact that it will cost billions to create. They worded everything in their General Plan to sound like it would benefit everyone, and it wouldn't! The county NEEDS to answer ALL of my questions in my last email I sent because they are NOT clear in what they are saying they want to do in their 2045 GP, and this plan CAN NOT go any further UNLESS WE ALL FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR PLAN IS! The county NEEDS to TAKE OUT ALL MENTION OF THE TDR Program because it violates our rights to live how and where we want. The county NEEDS TO TAKE OUT ALL MENTION OF "Broadband/Smart Grid" and start solving traffic issues, and other island issues because this will cost billions, and add a lot more problems to the Big Island. Thank you, Rebecca Melendez From: alicia palmvallevfarm.com To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv Cc: alicia palmvallevfarm.com Subject: Testimony requesting the County Council reject the 2045 General Plan. Date:Monday,January 13, 2025 11:58:22 AM Attachments: IJREAM AMET 0006.pdf Aloha, I appreciate your consideration of our testimony opposing the 2045 General Plan.While our elected officials reap their salaries, our volunteer commissioners are left to bear the brunt of the backlash.As President Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, "nothing happens in politics by accident." If something occurs, it is because it was planned that way. We are under siege from attacks that provide their perpetrators with as much plausible deniability as possible, often attributing these events to natural disasters or climate change. While these factors play a role,they are being exploited with manufactured weather to target specific areas. The edges and outskirts are being demolished. The results are devastating: dry climates,floods,wildfires,water shortages, and homelessness. Our leaders and department heads offer only apologies,failing to take meaningful and protective action. Conspirators succeed because we struggle to accept that some may wish to harm their fellow citizens.We must look around and plan ahead to protect ourselves. Lawsuits have already shown that smart meters cause fires,yet they are ubiquitous across our islands.Who benefits from these technologies:the public or the "shareholders", as hinted at in the 2045 General Plan?There's a push to force us out of our homes and off our lands.We must investigate weather modification programs,smart meters, lithium batteries, and 5G cell towers, along with the bills and laws promoting a global agenda at the expense of local communities. Notably, low sound frequencies can extinguish fires.A blast of 30 to 60Hz bass can effectively put out fires, leaving no environmental trace. Drones equipped with such capabilities could be invaluable in hard-to-reach areas.Why aren't they being used if water is truly scarce? What harm would come from pausing the 2045 plan to allow further investigation and input from the local community? Most testifiers are happy to operate under the 2005 plan until further discovery. If we find value in our discoveries,we can promote positive change. It's about staying informed and making wise decisions, not blindly accepting potentially harmful technologies, land grabs, and mandates that ultimately cause the people great harm. Mahalo, Alicia Wills Palm Valley Farm LLC, Papaikou & Hakalau, Hawaii Fires Extinguished with Sound Waves Several demonstrations and experiments have shown the potential of extinguishing fires using specific sound frequencies. Here are a few notable examples: Charles Kellogg(1926):A naturalist demonstrated extinguishing a gas flame using tonal vibrations produced by a large bow across an aluminum tuning fork.This method produced a screeching sound that could extinguish flames, suggesting that specific sound frequencies could disrupt combustion processes. DARPA's Instant Fire Suppression (IFS) Program (2012):The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) showcased a system capable of extinguishing flames using sound waves.This project aimed to understand the potential of sound waves in military applications and demonstrated the effectiveness of low-frequency sound waves in suppressing fires. George Mason University Students (2015): Seth Robertson and Viet Tran, engineering students at George Mason University, developed a handheld extinguisher that uses low-frequency sound waves to put out fires.Their prototype, costing around$600, uses an amplifier and a cardboard collimator to focus the sound waves, effectively extinguishing small, alcohol-fueled fires. These demonstrations underscore the immense potential of sound frequencies, particularly low frequencies, in extinguishing fires by disrupting the combustion process and separating fuel from oxygen.This is not just a theory, but a tangible possibility that could revolutionize fire safety. https://youtu.be/uPVOMZ4ikvM?si=x6biMJ2UNhYo2kVV George Mason University students extinguish fire with sound frequency. International Journal for Research in Engineering Application&Mana ement JREAM0ISSN:2454-9150 Study of Acoustic Waves for Fire Extinguishment: A Review Prof.S.R.Gore,Jay Uday Panchpor,Sumedh Mandar Vaidya and Kaivalya Sunil Patkar t Department of Mechanical Engineering,MIT College of Engineering,Pone,Maharashtra,India Department of Mechanical Engineering,MIT College of Engineering,Pone,Maharashtra,India Department of Mechanical Engineering,MIT College of Engineering,Pone,Maharashtra,India Department of Mechanical Engineering,MIT College of Engineering,Pone,Maharashtra,India Abstract- The need for innovation and modernization in fire extinguishing techniques is extremely necessary.Accidents caused due tofire are disastrous and can lead to irreversible losses. With the rising amount of dangers to the environment in various aspects, it is essential to avoid as much damage as possible. The existing techniques have been created considering only their efficiency in extinguishing fires and not considering the harms they can cause to the environment. Another area of concern is the disasters caused by fire accidents in space. The use of traditional chemical extinguishers in space is necessary to be avoided as much as possible.Study shows that sound waves could be one of the potential alternatives for extinguishing fires. Research is necessary in the development of a similar practical method of fire extinguishing and analyzing which frequency of sound waves gives optimum results. A possible reason for the flame extinguishment due to sound waves can be that the continuously altering high and low pressure waves when coupled with high airflow velocity cause disruptions in the air fuel ratio at the flame boundary which leads to diminishing ofthe boundary. Keywords:Fire Extinguishment,Sound Waves,Frequency,Environment Safety,Space Introduction- opposite direction to, the direction of propagation of the wave.They produce compressions and rarefactions Current extinguishers contain different kinds of as they propagate through any medium. Acoustic chemicals depending upon their application. Generally, (longitudinal) waves interact with each other. This they are pressurized with Nitrogen or Carbon-dioxide interaction can be expressed in two different CO2) and when this pressure released on the fire, it categories: constructive and destructive interference. extinguishes the fire. There are many such When these waves are superimposed on each other, asphyxiating and extinguishing agents like water, the total resultant amplitude gives the soundpressure potassium bicarbonate,foam etc.All these agents have or particle displacement at the point of interaction.The a common property of leaving by-products (for dry resultant phase of the wave cancels or amplifies points chemical-based fire extinguishers)behind it.The waste along the wave. Sound waves consist of a recurring materials generated by these methods can be toxic and pattern of high-pressure and low-pressure regions their harmful effects are something that were never moving through a medium. The compressions are given a thought to. Innovative methods are necessary regions of high air pressure while the rarefactions are to minimize the generation of this waste. To deal with regions of low air pressure. fire,we need to have extensive information about fire and its working on the Earth and in space. Effect of Sound Waves on Fire- Fire- The idea of fire being affected by sound waves was Fire is basically a chemical reaction which has discovered as early as in 1858 by the American fluctuating degrees of heat and light. It can sustain scientist, John LeConte. In 1900, a German physicist, itself until it is deprived of any of its source Heinrich Rubens demonstrated the effect of sound materials.Fires need a combustible, inflammable waves on fire through his experiment known as the material source and a sufficient amount of oxidizing Ruben's Tube. It is necessary to understand first that agentto start.When this mixture comes in contact with acoustic or sound waves are basically longitudinal a source of heat, a chain reaction takes place due to pressure waves.They tend to move in a back-and-forth rapid oxidation. Fire consists of four elements: fuel, (vibrating) motion so as to propagate.This motion can oxygen and a heating element in a proper mixture and thus be utilized to drive away oxygen molecules from a chemical chain reaction. These four elements are the fuel, thus extinguishing the flame. Secondly, as we collectively referred to as the Flame Tetrahedron.Fire know the Ideal Gas Law states that the change in can be extinguished when it isdeprived of any one of pressure is directly proportional to the change in these elements. Asphyxiating agents deprive fire of temperature (PV= nRT),when the pressure waves are oxygen,thus extinguishing it. directed at the source of the fire,they will decrease the pressure at the source and in turn decrease the Application of Acoustic Waves- temperature ofthe fire.Promising research and studies Longitudinal waves are the waves in which in this field were first carried out by DARPA (Defense displacement occurs in the same direction as, or in the Advanced Research Projects Agency) in USA. They 221 AMET_0006 @ MIT College of Engineering,Pune,Vol.04,Special Issue AMET-2018 DOI:10.18231/2454-9150.2018.1391 International Journal for Research in Engineering Application&Mana ement JREAM ISSN:2454-91506 concluded from their research that "a threshold is a device which converts electronic signals into acoustic velocity must be applied to the flame in order sound frequencies. Source of the electronic signal to achieve extinction, rather than a specific frequency is a DC current modified using integrated circuits. or acoustic pressure." However, it has been identified This signal passes through a coil located near a that this is not always the case. Frequencies between permanent magnet and connected to a flexible OHz to 10Hz do not prove to be effective in membrane. The signal causes rapid fluctuations in extinguishing flames,but frequencies between 30Hz to the surrounding magnetic field causing attraction 60Hz show promising signs in the same.Combustion is or repulsion from the fixed magnet, thus inducing a chemical process in which the substance rapidly vibrations in the membrane to generate sound. reacts with oxygen and gives out energy in the form of 2) The sound waves are further directed towards a heat and light. Acoustic fields have a significant effect subwoofer. The subwoofer is essentially a system on this process of combustion. When acoustic designed to play the lowest bass frequencies. It oscillations are combined with the vibrations of heat also has a built-in (active subwoofer) or an released from the fire, it alters the transportation external (passive subwoofer) amplifier. The process of combustion. subwoofer particularly amplifies the low frequency signals (30 Hz to 40 Hz) which are The light emitted by fire exhibits dual nature.Light can necessary for this experiment. act as a wave as well as a particle. This wave-particle 3) The low frequency sound waves are further duality of light is the focus of our consideration. The directed towards the vortex tube.A vortex tube is pressure waves emitted in the form of sound affect the basically a cylindrical object which has a air particles by pushing and pulling them away from stretchable membrane on one side and is open on the source of the flame.Also,at the proper frequencies, the other side. When sound waves are focused on the acoustic waves produced by the wave extinguisher this membrane, the membrane snaps forward and are going through a process of destructive interference collidesdirectly with the air molecules. This to interrupt the natural behaviour of the flame. accelerates the air molecules towards the other open end and sets off a continuous series of high- Fire in Space-speed collisions of air molecules. This rapid In outer space, fire reacts differently to that on the movement forms a stream or jet of air which is Earth. The fire formed in space has different shapes directed towards the fire. When the jet of air and properties due to presence of zero gravity. In escapes the opening of the vortex tube into the still space,fire flames are in the form of semi-circles with a air outside,it forms a`stable donut-shaped gaseous blue colour flame. Fire spreads from one air molecule projectile'.This is called a toroidal vortex or vortex to the other. These air molecules act as heat ring, hence the name vortex tube. The toroidal propagation elements. This process of convection is vortex is caused by the friction of the jet of air with done by ventilation fans in the space station. In space, the edges of the tube's opening and the slow- the smoke caused by these fires is not directed towards moving air outside the tube. smoke detectors and thus there is less chance of 4) The stream of air escaping from the vortex tube detection of fire at space stations. Being able to thus proves useful in extinguishing fires as extinguish fires in space without the use of water or explained in the previous sections. any other chemicals is a real boon, but on the other hand generating sound waves would require electricity Tone Generator:Generates and astronauts would need to see the flames to aim the sound frequencies from sound waves at the exact point of source.electronic signals. Ultrasound- Subwoofer:Seperates and It has been seen that ultrasonic frequencies have an amplifies the low frequency effect on the chemical kinetics of any chemical reaction. sound waves. This high frequency(above 20000 Hz) is seen to cause excitation which will prove to aid combustion. It might also delay and perturb the chemical reaction which Vortex Tube:Generates stream of air using the low frequencydependsonthebondingforthechemicalcompoundforsoundwaves. the frequency under consideration. Actual effects of iultrasoundforextinguishingflameshavenotbeen studied yet as optimum results were obtained for a frequency range of 60 Hz. Fire:Stream of air directed extinguishes the fire. Experimental Procedure- Fig.1 illustrates the experimental procedure using a block diagram as shown- 1) A tone generator is used for producing sound frequencies. Tone generator or a signal generator 231 AMET_0006 @ MIT College of Engineering,Pune,Vol.04,Special Issue AMET-2018 DOI:10.18231/2454-9150.2018.1391 TW International Journal for Research in Engineering Application&Mana ement JREAM ISSN:2454-9150 Experimental Results- 30 Sound waves significantly affect the fire extinguishing 25 process. To evaluate the results, fire was exposed to 26 various sound frequencies: OHz, 10Hz, 30Hz, 35Hz and 40 Hz. Variation of pressure, sound and acoustic a, 24 velocity were evaluated with respect to the above chosen frequencies.Sound travels in the form of waves, which are simply variations of pressure in a medium. 2tj The energy from vibrating objects, such as speaker membranes, moves from particle to particle in the air in a repeating pattern of high and low pressure zones lt' that is perceived as sound. It is found that the effective 14 range was between 30 Hz and 40 Hz,within the range of human hearing. The effect of variation of pressure 1' with frequency is shown in Graph.1. 0.916 1t] 15 " 2r' 30 3' I5 Frequency (Hz) tl,tJ-'1 71 41.444 Graph.3Variation ofAcoustic Velocity with Frequency1.1113 tl'{ The research has also revealed the effects of important 1.1.147 parameters such as the length to diameter ratio of the vortex tube on the acoustic velocity and pressure of L II'{13R waves which has also been used in this 31- experiment.Experimentally,the geometry of the vortex tube was optimized considering important parameters. The chosen variations were 100 to 400 mm for length U.°135 and 50 to 100 mm for diameter. It was found that the 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 4' length of 300 mm and diameter of 100 mm show the Frequency(Hx) optimum pressure, velocity and sound for extinguishing fires. The effect of geometry of the vortex tube on the Graph.lVariation of Pressure with Frequency pressure has been illustrated by Graph.4. The effect of variation of decibels of sound with the o.94(-) frequency is shown in Gra h.2. 11.94 q Y p L t}(J L 11,'111 Hf1 11 ill j11111.riU1UUZii]:tHJ:!"I.M-}Ptl-}rii] a Ire length(mni) 70 50 I171t1 cll:r - 1Ut1 flue ilia it 40 Graph.4Effect of Vortex Geometry on Pressure 6 1Q 1S "10 2; .30 .3; 40 4! The effect of geometry of the vortex tube on the Frequency (H2) acoustic velocity has been illustrated by Graph.5. Graph.2Variation of Sound with Frequency The effect of variation of acoustic velocity with the frequency is shown in Graph.3. 241 AMET_0006 @ MIT College of Engineering,Pune,Vol.04,Special Issue AMET-2018 DOI:10.18231/2454-9150.2018.1391 International Journal for Research in Engineering Application&Mana ement JREAM ISSN:2454-9150 I"RF:kLI 30 8) In space,the use of sound waves for extinguishing 2N fires can prove to be very efficient. Avoiding the use of traditional fire extinguishers reduces the t chance of addition of more space debris as sound l waves will produce no waste by-products. 9) Sound waves can play a very important role in s 20 extinguishing fires in areas which are difficult for 18 humans to approach.Sound waves can be aimed at 16 the source of fire from a long distance and thus the 1 14 spread can be avoided. 12 c I p Conclusions- i(1 161) [710 204) IGO :3 in • 110 4i[Y Ungdi(mm) From the above experimentation and research, we have thus reached the following conclusions: 50 arnt dia 101)111111(ha 1) Sound waves between the range of frequencies 30 Hz to 40 Hz have shown to have effect on flames and thus possess the ability to extinguish fires. Graph.5Effect of Vortex Geometry on Acoustic Velocity 2) The vortex tube necessary to be included in the construction of this experiment has the following The effect of geometry of the vortex tube on the dimensions for optimization of extinguishing decibels of sound has been illustrated by Graph.6. effect:Length is 300 mm and diameter is 100 mm. q'i 3) Use of sound waves for extinguishing fires is an environment-friendly process as it doesn't include the use of chemicals which are traditionally used in fire extinguishers across the world. It also helps conserve the resources like water for their use in yother applications. 4) This application of sound waves could prove to be a massive breakthrough and could make extinguishing fires very much safer for humans. I References- 5() JO[Y Iso .'i.11l 25U Milli ail) ;(Ili i"o Length(tnm) 1) Seth Robertson, Viet Tran, (2014-2015). Wave Extinguisher. so aun dia 0 100 mm dia 2) Yano, T., Takahashi, K., Kuwahara, T., and M. Tanabe(2010).Influence of Acoustic Perturbations and Acoustically Induced Thermal Convection on Graph.5Effect of Vortex Geometry on Sound Premixed Flame Propagation. Microgravity Science Suggested Applications- and Technology(22),pp.155-161. 3) Snyder, A. (2008, January 24). When Fire Strikes, A few practical applications of fire extinguishing using Stop, Drop and... Sing? (Scientific American) sound waves have been suggested as follows. Further Retrieved March 16,2015. research is essential for their implementation: 4) Hood, C., & Frendi, A. (2005, June). On the 5) Sound waves can be used for extinguishing fires Interaction of a Premixed Flame with an Acoustic with the help of drones. Sources of sound Disturbance. In 41st AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint generation can be attached to the drones which Propulsion Conference&Exhibit(pp. 1-10). can thus cover a large area in a small period of 5) Akanksh Sarji, Mohan Ram R K, Uttunga H R. time and can also maintain their distance from 2015-2016) Development of portable fire fires for safety. This avoids the actual contact extinguisher using acoustic waves. between humans and fires.6) Shaik Salauddin, Paparao Nalajala, Bhavana 6) Installation of permanent automatic systems of fire Godavarthi. (2016) Sound Fire Extinguishers in detection and extinguishing using sound waves can Space. International Journal ofAdvanced Trends in result into quick response to fires and avoid their Computer Science and Engineering, Vol.5, No.1, spread. Pages:85-87. 7) Traditional extinguishing agents like Nitrogen gas 7) Sonochemistry. (n.d.). Ultrasound in Organic Carbon-dioxide gas (CO2) can be coupled with the Chemistry.Retrieved October 19,2014. sound waves to increase the efficiency of fire 8) Fire Safety,Part 1:About Fires and Fire Types.(n.d.). extinguishing. About Fires,Part 1.Retrieved October 16,2014 251 AMET_0006 @ MIT College of Engineering,Pune,Vol.04,Special Issue AMET-2018 DOI:10.18231/2454-9150.2018.1391 International Journal for Research in Engineering Application&Mana ement JREAM ISSN:2454-91506 9) Simon DM, Wagner P., (1956) Characteristics of removal derivatives, "Security and fire engines Turbulence by Flame Combustion Space and Space Technique"„27,107. Heating, "Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry",1, 12 10) Wilczkowski S.,Szec6wka L.,Radomiak H.,Moszoro K., How to extinguish the flames waves acoustic, national patent No. 177,792. 11) Poisot T.,Yip B,Veynante P.,A.Trouve,Sa-Mani JM, S. Candel, (1992) Zero-g acoustic fire suppression system,"Journal de Phisique III"2,1331. 12) plaksa D., Nelson E. Hyatt N., Espinosa J. Coley Z., Tran, C., Mayo, B. (2005), "Journal of the AcousticalSociety ofAmerica",118,1945. 13) Mikedi, K., Stavrakakis, P., Agapiou, A., ... (2013). Chemical, acoustic and optical response profiling for analyzing burning patterns. Sensors and Actuators(176),pp.290-298. 14) Dattarajan, S., et al.: (2006) Acoustic excitation of droplet combustion inmicrogravity andnormal gravity.Combust.Flame 144,299-317 15) Tanabe, M., et al.: (2000) Influence of standing sound waves on droplet combustion. Proc. Combust.InsL 28, 1007-1013 16) Prasad, K., (1994) "Interaction of Pressure Perturbations with Premixed Flarnes," Combustion and Flame,Vol.97„pp. 173-200. 17) Peters, N. and Ludford, G.S.S., "The effect of pressure variations on premixed flames," Combustion Science Technology,34,33 1. 18) Ledder,G., and Kapila,A.K., (1991) "The Response of Premixed Flames to Pressure Perturbations," Combustion Science and Technology, Vo1.76, pp. 2 1-44. 19) Frendi,A.,(2003) "On the role of Acoustic Coupling on Combustion Instabilities," AIAA-2003-3181, Hilton Head,South Carolina, 20) Wu,X.,Wang,M.,and Moin,P.,(2001) "Combustion instability due to the nonlinear interaction between sound and flame," Center for Turbulence Research,Annual Research Briefs. 21) Umurhan, O.M.,(1999) "Exploration of fundamental matters of acoustic instabilities in combustion chambers" Center for Turbulence Research. 22) Lee, D.H., and Lieuwen, T.C., (2001) "Premixed Flame Kinematics in a Longitudinal Acoustic Field", AIM-01-385 1,Joint Propulsion Conference. 23) Harper, J., Johnson, C., Neumeier, Y., Lieuwen, T., and Zinn, B.T., "Experimental Investigation of the Nonlinear Flame Response to Flow Disturbance in a Gas Turbine Combustor,"AIA-0 1-0486. 24) Kumagai, S., Isoda, H.: (1955) Combustion of fuel droplets in a vibrating air field. Proc. Combust. Inst.5, 129-132 25) Wnek W., Kubica P., Basiak M., (2012) pro Standards designing sprinkler extinguishing systems- A comparison of the main parameters, Safety Fire&Protection and Technology",27,83. 26) Radwan K., Slosorz Z., Rakowska J. (2012) Effects environ-petroleum- environmental contaminant 261 AMET-0006 @ MIT College of Engineering,Pune,Vol.04,Special Issue AMET-2018 DOI:10.18231/2454-9150.2018.1391 From: Dan and Shannon Fisher To: LPCtestimonv Subject: Revise Hawaii island General plan,2045 testimony Date: Monday,January 13,2025 7:51:24 PM Aloha Commissioners, We reject this County of Hawaii General Plan, 2045 that has been submitted. Please vote to reject this plan from moving on. Some reasons this plan needs to be changed; 1. Climate change agenda or more specifically, climate crisis. There are many,thousands of scientists who do not believe the world and especially Hawaii is in a climate crisis and the 2045 plan should not revolve around these issues when planning for our families future. There is no absolute proof that we are in crisis. In fact there is evidence of weather manipulation all over the world especially when it pertains to these "climate crisis" events. htti2s:Hclintel.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/WCD-241023.pdf 2. The County Office of Sustainability, Climate, Equity and Resilience is DEI and is dangerous to our sovereignty as citizens of the United States of America and in Hawaii. On page 188, 40.8 Require all County departments to collaborate with the County Office of Sustainability, Climate, Equity, and Resilience (OSCER) as the lead agency to ensure the integration of the County's goals of Sustainability, climate resilience, and equity into all county operations and planning initiatives. Has this agency helped Hawaii citizens to get faster,more streamlined approvals on building permits? This would be an important agenda above climate resilience and equity. The OSCER department can null and void all public input and leave decisions to unelected officials. I do not think this department acts in the Hawaiian pono way as is described in this HI General Plan 2045 glossary. Please consider more community input that can help Big Island continue to grow in beauty and in grace considering our future keiki. Our children are unable to purchase land or house in this horrible economy. Consider ways we can streamline the building process, allowing the Ohanas again will help. We need to promote more farming. Give incentives to those who can produce and in so doing sustain our communities. Having access to fresh foods and implementing ways to feed the island more than importing. Improving the infrastructure on Big Island including the public transportation system. Creating jobs by building recycling centers that truly break down and recycle the electronic components and or automobiles/parts similarly instead of filling up a container and shipping these things to the mainland. Also, "green" batteries are not recyclable and dangerous to everyone. The "green scam" is not good anywhere. We have a shortage of doctors and specialists on the island. We can improve in these areas,not making more green spaces for people to walk in circles and be limited to their 15 minute smart city. Please see the link below and it's contents referring to revisions; https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fc0c b34739e4c99c461685de4c0207bf286e.pdf Mahalo for your attention to our concerns and for your understanding to the many concerned citizens who reject this plan. Dan and Shannon Fisher 808-345-4449 From: iason klahr To: WPCtestimonv;LPCtestimonv Date: Monday,January 13,2025 7:53:09 PM Aloha Commissioners, The Big island Plan cannot go through the way it is designed. It is hard to believe any local helped design this plan. Here are some concerns: There is a huge part of the plan dedicated to "Climate Change". However, why do most experts state there is NO climate danger? Climate Experts Speak Out Against Climate Danger Click Here! The word "Stakeholder," defined in the plan, is written 86 times and literally means anyone in the entire world can have input on this 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 and management are crucial for the success and sustainability of any initiative, as it helps ensure that diverse perspectives and interests are considered. 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. The Planning Department has sent out letters to many homeowners telling them their land use will be changed from resident to recreation due to the General Plan 2045. This will drastically lower their property value and open 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. There is a huge section on climate change and things that will be affected. This needs to be further researched. There are over 1900 credentialed scientists 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 weatherman 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 explains the reason for this narrative is the investors, in renewable energy, want to make these changes. Hilo does not have a Community Development Plan. How can a Big Island General Plan move forward without that? Hilo is 22% of the island. 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 to because it's not the locals? Pursue the acquisition of lands" does this say they are going to pursue taking people's private property? Again with "protection of natural resources". This plan should be focused on people growing more food and it is doing the exact opposite! 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 of Papaikou, 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 2cbl cc6d604f4cdd971 ad40831 c745bc.pdf Papaikou Site Plan: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fc0c 5e4cdb02efeb46a5ae949a3579aff00d.pdf Papaikou Development: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fc0c c2af52c8b3c645bla6868a724eee8304.pdf A Hawaiian born Kanaka revised the Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship that is in the plan. You can see it in the pdf below: Part One:https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc Oa1d5be8f1d140069415f7b691725786.pdf Part Two: https://86fcOcbd-8207-4076-85fa- 5a62e4e933b4.usrfiles.com/ugd/86fcOc_ecc498bal 92d4a7689ebf31 c3681 c2ec.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. Please implement changes in this email before moving forward. Mahalo, Jason Klahr From: Jileen Russell To: LPCtestimonv Subject: County Plan Revision Opposition Date:Monday,January 13,2025 9:16:04 AM To Whom it concems: I am a resident of the State and County of Hawaii I oppose the entire County plan and it revisions in favor of development of the land and exploitation of the resources of our island. I am a Farmer and a Rancher and a business owner in the State and County of Hawaii and in the District of North Kohala. I opposed so many aspects of the proposed County plan that it becomes an overwhelming amount of confusion and sheer wonder as to who it is that is dreaming up these ideas for the future of Hawaii County. We need to look toward the future with ideas of conservation of land,strong agricultural practices and preservation of the culture it maintains and allows more of our Children to stay and work in Hawaii. If COVID taught us anything it taught us that the economy of Hawaii can not exist on tourism and becoming a retirement colony for mainlanders.We need to feed and provide healthcare for the people who live here and if the boats stop because of any catastrophic event or economic collapse as they have 2-3 times in the last 25 years we are in need of a County that can respond to the needs of the Residents of Hawaii and Hawaii County. Go back to your table and figure this out because this plan might work for the Mainland Counties of the Continental USA but it is not for us. If you are relying on the advice and control of the Businesses of Contractors and HELCO and US Federal Government to tell you how do make this plan then you are sorely mistaken and need to ask the people of Hawaii to vote in an election on the sweeping changes you propose to the land and the livelihoods of the people of Hawaii.You do work for us,we pay your salary. With the respect to the difficulty of the job you have signed up for, Jileen Russell Pu'u O Kumau Ranch From: kanaloaleohano To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv; Kimball. Heather;Council Testimony; Planning General Plan; Planning Internet Mail; Roy.Alex Subject: TESTIMONY regarding PROPOSED general plan for HAWAI'I County/Island Date:Monday,January 13, 2025 5:52:49 PM 1. The entire thing needs to be re-done by people who love people -- not profit, that is by people who work from the SPIRIT of the State Constitution section 5-7.5 regarding ALOHA SPIRIT. To quote: "Aloha" means mutual regard and affection and extends warmth in caring with no obligation in return. The current draft involves people in power who are seeking to line their own pockets. Stop. Seriously, dump the whole thing. IT IS OBVIOUSLY WRITTEN BY SOMEONE IN THE PAY OF Blackrock, Vanguard, Gates, Soros, or any number of other disgusting, money-printing entities. The core of the document is: "The County`s desired land use development pattern." THIS IS NOT FOR THE COUNTY TO DECIDE !!!! As noted in 411 below: Our micro- climates are so vast and varied there is NO CHANCE that anyone at the County level would know what needs to go where. THAT CAN ONLY BE LEARNED BY LIVING ON, BY WALKING, THE LAND. Leave people to make their OWN DECISIONS about what to do with their own land. 2. The State, and the County, have NO RI HT TO ACQUIRE LAND !! and any reference to such in this proposed document should be removed!!! And, the State has NO RIGHT to any County property, and none should be handed over without agreement of ancestral owners and local residents, and NO HARBOR SHOULD BE HANDED TO THE STATE. Remove any reference to "Hawai`i State Wildlife Action Plan" as it has NO RELEVANCE for our island and the State should NOT BE MANAGING our island. 3. There is no such thing as "climate change" caused by humans, and anything referring to such should be entirely removed. https://clintel.org/world-climate, declaration/ Remove ANY reference to "carbon footprint", "net zero", greenhouse gas", "green infrastructure" and / or "climate adaptation". Remove ANY reference to "decarbonizing." 4. Remove the section 2.2 Biocultural Stewardship Goal (1 .13) because Maui has shown the pain, suffering and financial loss such government over-reach leads to. 5. Remove the section 17.4, Page 111 , because a person applying for land use clearance should not involve the government attempting to grab their land. 6. Remove the word "stakeholder" from everywhere it appears, and instead use the words "homeowner" or "farmer". 7. Leave the zoning alone. Leave it alone. 8. Remove ANY reference to "digital literacy" and its related "5G"-type insanity. BETTER TO PUT SOMETHING ABOUT "FARMING LITERACY" OR "FISHING LITERACY" OR "HUNTING LITERACY". Remove ANY reference to prioritizing digital above actual. There is nothing in this proposed document about PRIORITIZING FARMING, FISHPOND CARE AND MAINTENANCE, and ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT and THERE SHOULD BE !!!!! 9. Remove the words "equity" and "equitable" from everywhere they appear. We need EQUALITY of opportunity, NOT equity of results !!!! People need to work for what they get, and people who have worked and succeeded need to keep the fruits of their labors. THERE WILL NEVER BE EQUITY, LEGISLATED OR NOT!!!! "Safe and affordable utilities" are NOT a right! People need to work for what they get! 10. Remove the word "sustainability" from everywhere it appears. This is NOT something that can be regulated into existence!!! It is a loosey-goosey term that has NO SCIENTIFIC PARAMETERS, NO EFFECTIVE DEFINITION for anything to do with lawmaking !! 11. Remove ANY proposed regulation that would increase restriction or result in ANY fee to a farmer. We need food !! 12. Remove ANY proposed requirement for a permit. We have too many of these already. 13. Remove ANY reference to "incinerator" -- "waste-to-energy" or ANY other use. NO resident wants such, and we have stated such in the past UNEQUIVOCALLY. 14. Remove ANY proposed map of land use. Our micro-climates are so vast and varied there is NO CHANCE that anyone making a map would know what needs to go where. THAT CAN ONLY BE LEARNED BY LIVING ON, BY WALKING, THE LAND. Leave people to make their OWN DECISIONS about what to do with their own land. Remove the word "conform" any time it has ANYTHING to do with private land use. 15. REMOVE 32c and 32p and 20e because all have to do with the heinous, despicable, insane, terrible, egregious concept of "smart" cities. In fact, remove EVERYTHING that has ANYTHING to do with the "SMART" acronym and / or idea. 16. Remove ANY reference to digital currencies. 17. Remove ANY reference to clusters of population, or "site clustering of development". This island is NOT THE PLACE for such ideas. We are farmers. REMOVE section 4.5.1 . Remove ANY reference to population density or clusters". This island is NOT THE PLACE for such ideas. ALSO, IT IS INSANE TO PRIORITIZE WALKING AND BICYCLING OVER CARS ON THIS ISLAND. No farmer is going to walk or bicycle to get his / her produce to market !!!! 18. Remove ANY use of the word "resilience." This is a psychological term that has NO PLACE in a government document. 19. Close down the County Office of Sustainability, Climate, Equity, and Resilience OSCER) as NOBODY VOTED FOR THIS OFFICE TO BE STARTED. Remove ANY reference to such office from the proposed general plan. 20. Remove ANY reference to "incentive" in regard to taxes on people's land, such as to "incentivize" them to build "affordable" housing. This is a COMPLETELY WRONG way to get "affordable" housing built. MUCH MORE IMPORTANT would be to "incentivize" clean industries to move to our island, where people would be able to get employment to AFFORD good housing. In fact, THERE IS NOTHING IN THE DOCUMENT TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC GROWTH !!! WHY NOT? 21. Remove ANY concept that would involve "inspection" or "surveillance" or inventory" of land. 22. Housing developers should not be released from requirements to build infrastructure and should have to post a bond, so we stop having them "get away with" never completing promised roads, etc. 23. Prohibit 5G, or 6G, or whatever they come up with that is similar. 24. All current use of septic or cesspool should be grandfathered-in, with only changes made at a market-rate sale of a property. There are VERY FEW areas where household waste water affects the ocean or inland water. Take care of those few places, leave everything else alone. And this has NOTHING to do with centralized wastewater -- not on our lava-rock island!!! In fact, there should be an AUDIT of CURRENT centralized wastewater facilities, as there are problems with some of them!!! 25. Get Pohakuloa Military Base to stop polluting. NO "TREATED" WASTEWATER for any food or farming use. 26. Pohakuloa Military Base gets its land for a dollar a year and shoots weapons directly above our island's largest aquifer. Get them to stop! 27. Remove ANY reference to incentivizing or regulating water use. THIS IS NOT THE PLACE FOR SUCH. We have water-use people already taking care of this. Water commitments" are something the DWS should take care of -- or individual bills introduced to remedy any problem. 28. Remove the phrase "circular systems". This is a concept only vaguely defined and certainly without any solid demonstration of its use. 29. Remove the phrase "Vision Zero" as it has NO RELEVANCE for our island. 30. Remove the phrase "One Water" as it refers to a North America group and has NO RELEVANCE for our island. WHAT ALREADY HAS BEEN SAID, AND I REPEAT: General Plan 2045 references `economic growth` but does not discuss in any way the drivers of the economy. It SHOULD be a study and plan, on how best to support: Farmers Producers of Goods Providers of Services so we can build a great economy together. Rather, it seeks to: restrict, impose fees, place taxes ... pays attention to airport terminals and harbors, transportation and urban development -- nothing that is alive and producing value for our economy, but tools that are needed by people who ARE alive and producing, so should not be used as a way to rake in money for civil servant salaries. Supposedly a plan about development, it barely mentions the Farmers, Producers of Goods, Providers of Services, barely mentions: Agriculture Commerce Industries Jobs Economic Activities It wants to make everyone walk, ride a bike or take a bus. Nuts. Dump the whole thing. From: mardi strong To: LPCtestimonv Subject: The general plan is a flop Date:Monday,January 13, 2025 9:27:12 AM My name is Mardi Strong And I'm hereto tell you that your general plan sucks it is ridiculous to think that you were trying to trample over human rights telling humans how to live on their own properties but you're trying to take away their constitutional rights as well that's not going to work.Why the government whoever the talking heads are committee you know who they are they're your friends to people on the committee are you happy about what you're doing pretending to care that all the thousands of people who got torched up in the Lahaina kill zone are you happy that you're sitting up here accepting the money you do for your job knowing that you helped facilitate the murdering of thousands of innocent people how do you sleep at night knowing that you were just here to push their agenda does this make you happy does this pay your rent why are you on the committee what kind of perks do you get because you guys need to be blamed for a lot of things like what is being done about the pigs there who were blocking the roads to keep people from exiting the fire zone what's being done about that are those pigs fired do those pigs keep theirjob for help facilitating the murder of thousands of people during a crisis at that now if I would have had my truck I would have bulldozed right through those cars so everyone else could get out behind me that's just kind of person I am but I wasn't there and you're trying to make Hawaiians just accept the fact that this is how it's going no they don't have to just accept it they can stand up and fight against it because what you're doing in this little general plan is trying to take away the Hawaiian out of the people you're trying to erase Hawaii out of Hawaii turning it into a corporate funhouse for who people with money what about the people who live there you expect them to just be hospitality people smile to the people that's a bunch of BS more Hawaiians need to get to these meetings and speak up let the committee and their stakeholders hear what you have to say because I'm going to say I want to know who all the stakeholders are I want their names their corporations and what part of this agenda are they pushing because murder was part of the plan and there should be some kind of consequence for murdering thousands of people for new housing oh dear committee you are not off the hook you are part of the problem along with some other government officials from Hawaii they are corrupt and they need to be dealt with swiftly and let them never be in public arenas again so dear committee you people sitting up here is yourjob worth sitting there pretending like you care because if you did care you would be sticking up for the people not pretending to care but I'm going to say it karma knows who you guys are,And Karma knows where you live and Karma is gonna come back and come after you for doing harm to the humans and animals on Earth you will have a price to pay karma will see to that are you ready for karma.And I do hope you read this out loud because the people need to know what people are thinking I'm not afraid to speak no one should be afraid to speak anything at this point the government should be very afraid to speak and they are that's why we got crickets From: Mele Akua To: LPCtestimonv;WPCtestimonv Subject: POSTPONE&REVISE GENERAL PLAN 2045 TESTIMONY Date:Monday,January 13, 2025 2:30:28 PM Aloha Leeward Planning Commission, and Windward Planning Commission: Please postpone the General Plan 2045 going to the County Council this year, and advise the Hawai'i County Planning Department to increase their efforts to let everyone on the Big Island know about the Plan. They said they tried hard to get the word out, but their efforts have FAILED. When we ask people if they know about the General Plan, they ALWAYS say "No, what's that?" This General Plan 2045 development process has lacked transparency; therefore, Big Island residents deserve more time to learn about and comment on the Plan. This Plan will result in new regulations, laws and taxes ALL of us will have to live under, including you Commissioners, and it is NOT FAIR that practically no one knows about it. The new Laws and Taxes based on General Plan 2045 as it is, could further increase the cost of living here. No one would want that! The Plan needs to be revised! And please reschedule a WPC General Plan meeting in January for Hilo. It is not Pono to take away an opportunity to learn about General Plan 2045 and to testify from the people of Hilo and on the Windward side. Government is supposed to work for we the people, not the other way around. I pray that you are considering our testimonies, and hear our requests to postpone General Plan 2045 going to County Council, or stick with the 2005 General Plan. Commissioners, you say you represent us - please make decisions that protect our RIGHTS and FREEDOMS! Mahalo! From: Mele Akua To: LPCtestimonv;WPCtestimonv Subject: General Plan 2045 Testimony-Geoengineering Date:Monday,January 13, 2025 2:46:24 PM Aloha Leeward Planning Commission and Windward Planning Commission: Hawai'i County General Plan 2045 is based on reducing the effects of "Climate Change". Yes, it is man made, but not in the way we're told (that there are too many people) as you've heard in multiple testimonies. It's the result of weather modification through the covert use of technologies, or Geoengineering, which has resulted in severe harm to our climate. Please consider the information below from http://www.Geoen2ineerin2Watch.or2 It provides numerous references. The basis of General Plan 2045 is a scam, please postpone and revise it based on the suggestions you've been given in public testimonies. Mahalo! GEOENGINEERING What if there were a monumental environmental threat that you didn't even know was happening? What if you found out it is affecting your health and that of people you know and love? What if you knew it was such an enormous problem that it has the potential to destroy our crops and trees, the soil they are grown in, our entire water supply, and whole ecosystems — and that if you didn't act, we could never turn back? We are not talking about fracking, nuclear energy, or the oil industry. We're not even talking about climate change. What if it came into use in an insidious way,just as GMO foods have come into our food supply without our knowledge? What if it appeared to be harmless, but it wasn't? And what if it were so cleverly woven into our culture that we didn't even see it anymore? What if it were so masterfully stigmatized and wrapped in controversy that if you thought it strange or concerning, you'd be scorned or ignored? It sounds like science fiction, but it's not. It's happening right above you, and it's called "geoengineering". You can find articles and debates in which scientists are proposing to "dim" the sun to slow down climate change, using a technique called "Solar Radiation Management" (SRM). Their concept is to mimic the dimming and cooling effects of a volcanic eruption and existing particulate pollution made by human activity. However, it has been out of the proposal stage for quite some time, and even though officials will not admit it, SRM is already in full-scale operation. SRM sounds like a viable solution to slowing climate change, and scientists have repeated how "cheap" it is over and over again. But it comes with a price. In fact, it comes with many. Global climate engineering/geoengineering programs are radically disrupting weather patterns, disrupting the hydrological cycle (causing drought in some areas, flooding others), destroying the ozone layer, and contaminating the entire planet with the toxic fallout from these atmospheric spraying operations. Climate engineering programs have been fully deployed for many years. There is a mountain of hard science data and film footage to back up this statement of fact. If you're concerned, take a few minutes to view the trailer to "Look Up", a newly released, award winning documentary, narrated by William Baldwin. It is an excellent introduction to the issue of ongoing climate engineering / geoengineering. We have included articles and information that will shine more light on this extremely important issue, one that is radically affecting our planet's life support systems, and every one of us. Our only goal is that you will review what we have included, and we hope it will motivate your continued investigation of the completely illegal, unregulated, and incredibly devastating climate modification programs that are being conducted on a global scale. YOU CAN LEARN MORE AT: WWW.GEOENGINEERINGWATCH.ORG Climate Engineering, Weather Warfare..." httn://www.youtube.com/watch? v=5vZhh2leRJA The Most Important Topic of Our Time" httn://www.youtube.com/watch? v=a2x6TEeknfo You can find more documents and many pictures on these links: Wonderfest 2010, discussing Solar Radiation Management. Select 08 below video htt :/n /tinyurl.com/oyd84v3 Global Research article: htt yurl.com/bx 45 4qy Monsanto Buys Climate Corporation httn://rt.com/news/monsanto-buy- cl imate-corporation-6 87/ Council on Foreign Relations article: The Truth About Geoengineering htt :/n /tinvurl.com/n6x8va6 But is it really sulphurs they're talking about using? What about aluminum? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmGRy_cCiZw Why would aluminum be a problem? httn://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/al.htm (and it can never be removed from our soil.) Still not convinced weather modification is taking place or has been used in the past? Click on the links below. httn://www.globalsecurity,org/military/ol)s ye.htm 93rd Annual American Meteorological Conference, January 2013 See page 6, Section 2.6 "Seeding of Cirrus Clouds to Reduce Global Warming" htt :/n /tinyurl.com/lghu7al Weather Modification Inc. www.weathennodification.com (They see potential". We're concerned about that.) North American Weather Modification Council www.nawmc.org (We're concerned about this, too.) WHAT CAN YOU DO? PLEASE, FORWARD THIS LETTER TO EVERYONE YOUKNOW. WE ARE FAR BEYOND THE POINT WHERE WE CAN WORRY ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE THINK OF US. OUR PLANET HAS NO CHANCE IF WE DO NOT RAISE AWARENESS AND SPEAK OUT. This General Plan is highly vagueattimes.In som a oftheir eaplana[ions,[hey do no[use[he ease[title but ob—ilt—,which takes time to research what they wool ton.ple.eol.They should have these abbreviationsmthegl....7v Big 1sland Coolly 204s General No.hills://www.planning.hawaiicnun fygnv/.../63R5974R7229R30000 Pages80,82&87 menlion the TDR Program 9.fSmdy the feasibility,issues,and opportunities related to the development of a TDR program to strategically preserve open space..d ehi—density to remain c—udeot with the land use pattern in accordance with the General Plan Laod Use Maps. MR is the Transfer of Developmeot Rights(the county GP does not 1.as know this.I had to research to b.d om what TDR meant) A TDR program seeks to preserve land—cm'—value by moving the right to build a house from a Ioeation where development is prohibited(e.g.,for—1...menlal reasons)to a Ioeatnoo where developmeot is eocouraged." The county will decide the"covi...mental reasons"for incorporating Iand into the TDR p,ogra.,whieh aims to give them fall control over all the hl&to Big Island and tell us where we coo live by"prohibiting"areas from developmeot. I.the place where development k eotlo l ed under TDR,zoning is changed to permit more units to be buih."This sentence eapho-that a TDR program builds"units"and gives the county full rights[otell people where they coo and coo not build homes through their TDR program. Bee—,the money from this ehaage to zoning is a windfall to c.rrlot homowners no the developmeot zone,the state isjustified to laying elaim to this money and turning it over to people whose developmeot rights were taken away as a esolt of the envnr—cold reg.ladoa:' httns://niae rutgers.edn/hjghlands/transferalevelopment-rivhts.nhn2 fbclid=iwZXhOhgNhZWO('MTAAAR2oM9RMwZPEYeOr6caNxtRRgf.cBN3sJxRga_EBt7g06Vr.R_wnGkm CnSWreE_a m_1ZCug_WZHvR2MvkRkln,3nw Page/9 93 Zoo to g,wbd mmoo,and other ap pncab It ordinances shall provide for sad to ot-open space m ens. What does the county mean by"other applicable ldt....es"?B,m...to O,dinanceis"aIa],orrj&madebyagnv ent oranthori "What other rules does the countywant toput-ALL of-? httns://dictionarv.cam hridge.nrP/dictionary/envlish/ordinance 9.4 6opport mechanisms,such as PUD(Planned Uni[Developmen[;[he coolly doesa'[mea[io.what[his stands[or;I had[o research i[)and Closter Plan Development(CPD),[ha[group parcel deosdy to preserve opeo space, eei eatiooal areas,oe—be vtewsbeds. Forbes.co."A planned unit development oe PUD,k a community of single-family homes,and so.Mimes condos or lowoho.es,where every blow er belongs to a homeowners association(HOA)." https,//www.forbes.com/advisor/mortgage/ivhat-is-a-planned-unit-development/ This Geo..1 Plan seems to be trying to incorporate HOAs.The HOA fees would then go to the county,right? Geo..1 Plan Page 87 E-7vthmg below is to eoforce their TDR program. 13.1 Encourage flestbility to the design of restdeotial sates,to d imp,and related faMlities to achieve a diversity ofsocio-economic housing mix sad mlovative mesas of meeting the market mqutremeats. 13.2 Prioritize increase to density,rehabilitation,and redevciop.eol within e.M.g zoned urban areas.heady served by basic mf mtmetom,or dose to such areas. 13.4E-lo g,the rehabilitation and/or uflulto.of meat...density to mufti-family—filcotud areas. 13.8 Focus to medium-and high-density restdeotud and commercial uses to commuaittes that to.s.slat.ahigher intensity of uses and where consnsteot with General Plan Land Use Map and eatsttog town charade, 13.9Supportthe running of Iand tomultiple IClulcotud.earplacesofemploy-eat nail,utilities,sad educational,recreational,cultural,and publicfacilities. TheGP band Use Map hasalready sentIMterstoprivate Iaodowoers sayingthey have"Rezoned"theirLaod UseTitles.SomeLand UseTitlesare low recreation Ieads that theIa.dow..ca..ot pass o.to then,family or sell. Who gives the county thus right to change Land Use Tines?How is this Iega1? PLEASE OPPOSE THIS FOR THE SAKE OF OUR COMMUNITY RIGHTS TO OWN LAND. 2045 Genecal Mo.Page 149 s 30.1 Treat broadband access as a basic utility Out is available to all commu.ifies. The coump doesn't me.non Out"broadband"isSG 22 Advanmges And Disadvantages Of Bmadband Connection. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki[Bmadban Intelecommun*cations,broadband or high speed is thewide-bandwidth data trancm*Scion that esplons signalsata widespread offrequencies or severalditere.[simultaneous frequencies,and isused in fast Internet asccss-The/ran medium run be coaxial cable,optical fiber,wirel—Internet(xafllo,twisted pA ruble,or cafe itg. The term`Troadba.d"refers to high-speed and high-bandwidth communication loft Snmrture. Broadband is the transmission of high-quality data of wide bandwidth.In its simplest form,it is a high-speed internet ro—tioo that is always to.Broadband ro—fi-I include Wi-Fi,DSLs fiber,hurt satellites." httns://www.investopedia.com/term s/b/broadband.asp Broadband will always be to.The county has NOT researched the health risks of this. 30.2 Develop and support aprogram of free,public-use broadband I—ices at appropriate C...ty-owned facilities,mass b—it f-fifties,and other rommuoity nrhor iosfitutioos. What do they mean by"community aorhor iosfitutioos'^What kind of muftofio.do they wool to ereate? 30.12 Pit,for broadband lofiasnm,Mre to support,net grid development The county doesn't mrotio,wanting to taro the Big Island lot,a Smart City because impleme.fi.g a Smmt Grid is the first step I.this process. his://smartgrid.ieeeorg/ms cafid=O&id=223 A,net grid alone does three things.First,it modernizes power systems through self-healing designs,automafio.,remote mo.itori.g a.d ronfrol...Thus,a smmt grid sits at the heart of the smart efty,whict,cannot fully exist without it". A Smmt Grid will allow them to have more cool through"remote mooitoriog,"which will fully take our privacy away. Smm l Grid I.fo: https,//minnovation.com.an/smart-cities-2/disadvantages-of-smart-cities-potentialchallmges-and-concems/ Privacy a.d Data Seunli.N, Smart,ifi,,rely heavily on the coll,e io,and analysis ofv,A amounts of data from sensors,cameras,a.d to....I devices.This data is ce-W for optimizing city op—fio-and services.However,the--tve data gathu tog rat— coocerosabout privacy i.fri.geme.l a.d data security.Citizens worry about their personal mformafio,being ace—M or misused." whatare Smmt Gridsand smartcities?The county does not e.plot.this to the GeneralPlan.It lookslikethey arehopingnoonewillresearchit.https://www.rfwireless-world.com/Terminology/Advantages-and- Disadvantaxes-of-Cm art-tlrW-fitm 30.3 Collaborate with nudity companies to i.ce.fiyize the nude,grou.d slang of 11—imland[etetemmu.ica[ious facdhfies within public right—f-why 30.4 Continuously Improve the use of broadband rommunteafions and digital tttlo—Ingy to educate and provide public services with a focus on digital access. 30.5 Siting of new rommuniafio.s facilities shall comply with performance standards and sate coloenfi-as stated in the Code. The above sentences are confusing because it looks like the county doesn'twool.s to understand that to create`kelee—en"tcsfions fwilfti s fully,"they must put Fibre Cable nod,ground;hence,they use the wording"Suing."So,we don'tfully understand the consequences of laying cable under streets. Ifeel that they wool to confuse us because"shtthng"soup ds better than causingsertoustruth,to dig up all the roads to lay down this kind of cable all over the Big I nod,which will cost billions. Page 150 30.b Develop standards for the shh.g and co,,t,u,fio,of wireless odre—munheafion facdifim Fibre ova builds to the 21s1 r—on,are breomhng a widespread problem,with more fibre cable being land on streets than can ever be ufilised by the reshde.B.Not only does this often—I.mayhem on the roads,with elosures hurt roadworks slowing traf,,,but Fibre overbuilds can lead to countless negative effet,on the eoviro—ut,and the eventual rk,I.cost to the consumer and developer:"https://pulsefibre .uk/2023/06/15hvhen s-lea the-risks-and-downsides-of-overbuild/ General Plan Page 149 30.8 Promote and meenfivhze the landing of b..T.dfir submm toe fiber optic cables The rounty is out focusing on the Wood',issues,like the fart we already have serious fraffic issues.They wool to create more naffir problems by laying down fibre cable that will create a"Broadband/Smm l GN,k"hence a Smm l City, and they are eapl.m.g this to usby using mh.hmal wording to confuse hurt obscure their true intentions. The rounty is out art—,wI,dgu,g Out Hawai'i Eleetri,does not have the kind of power a Smart Grid needs,which will add to the island'salready-e tIt.g power issues. httns://www.hawaiianelectricmm/safely-and-ontages/an-update-on-haws -island-power-genera6nn An update on Hawafi Island power ge.. fion-how you can help there's no one to earl on for ba,kup-we're on our own. That's why we will need everyone to work together over the Wert month,and possibly longer,to conserve el—kchy.We are ertremely fight on what we earl our generafioo go,the margin between the demand for electricity hurt our ability to supply it.This demand typically peaks on weekdays between 5 and 9 p.m.and that'swhen the margin is most uitiml." The county has out provided buy h.formafio.on the health risks to people,animals,and the envno—ot from`Broadband"whieh will always be on hurt everywhere. https://electronics360.globalgpec-com/article/11104/the-dangers-that<ome-with-a-smart-grid Rr.The Doug—That Come with a Smmt Grid N1Sob.Endres 201&Feb-23 2:31 PM Ouevecp critical danger[hat comes with a"smart grid"was not mentioned:the adv,n,health effects from eI,dro,,g,,fi,fields.C.....Iestimates of people eaperherd,gadverse health effecis from wireless technology hover of nod 5%-I am one ofthem.After the i.slallafion of a water nudity smmt meter at my place ofwork,I experienced a.a—lofi..of symptoms(over time)that started with headaches and ultimately,ulmh.ated in a seizure(I lost coonrol of mp legs).One month prior to the smart meter i.s[allafion I had a complete annual physical hurt was given a clean bill of health.I.oderwent a barrage ofmedial tests after a week of experiencing health symptoms(thyroid,EEG,MRI, etc)hurt everything was.c m.LI did begin to feel some of the pah.ful head and eye s—tio-(that I would feel near witeless sourtes)at the end of the MU". The eouoty doev not aclmowledg,the health risks associated with their"Broadband/Smart Grid"pit.,all the associated Issues due to putting the fibre cables undecg—n d,or the hwi that it will cost billions to create They worded everything to their General Pit,to souod like itwould benefit everyone,and itwouldn't! 30.9 Alleviate barriers and assist broadband proj ecls with Iovigafi.g through the repo 1-0 perm itfi.gp or,.. They sap"Alleviate barriers a.d assist broadb a.d proj—"are the bonI.I health regu lafio.s because the broadb a.d will be on all the fime?What are the barriers the county Is wanting to alleviate to create their broadband projeeW The on,ty me.fio.s Broadband and a Sm rut Grid is the county also pit.Ihog for a.to r—e to cell towers?If so have they researched health Issues because of cell towers? Cell towers point straight to roads,homes,and commercial oreas...Because the island is mou.t.i.ou,,the tops oftell towers can be only a few feet from these areas. O.Pala.h Rd.and Queen K 11 Y,there are two cell towers whose tops a re only a few feet from the 11 Y. O.Hualalai Rd.,there is acell tower facing a r,fi—ut home a.d it's less than 100 ft away. I.Howe tow.,there k a cell tower at a gas dodo..The top of the tower k directly across from residential homes. Has the c mmy thttkM these places to do any research to wh Rher people are bee.g affected by Milo—radiafoo before they keep allowi.g a.d agt,6.g to more cell towers? his://mdsafetech.org/cell-tower-health-effects/ Overall res.It,of this review show th—types of effects by base station hole....o.the health of people.radeofreq.e,ty siclmess(RS),rase,(C)a.d tha.ges I.biochemical parameters(CBP).C—idere.g all the stale,.reviewed globally(.=38),73.6%(28/38)showed effects:'/3.mM,(17/23)for radiofreq...cy siRmess,76.9%(IQ 0)for cancer aod'/5.0%(6/8)for tha.ges to bmthemital pommel,...Of special itopmta...are the studies performed to a.imals or bees Dear base station..te„as that ca..ot be aware of thee,proaimity a.d to which psychosomatic off cis to.Dever be attributed." Will there be my health and safety research aotl studies on what a safe dud......d a safe number of cell towers should be for human bodies,bees,mod a.e—W 30.e Pursue partnerships mod fu.dmg for b...dba,d initiatives aotl deployme.ls 30.j Support the coordi.ado,of i,Irashu Rure proj,,ls between the public mod private senors to create areas for the deplm-cot of b...dba.d zo.es 30.k Seekfederal mod other opp—miti.for the fu.dmg ofbt..db..d mf-Shmt.— The t...ty seriously roams Broadba.d to this isla.d mod it would cause a lot more haffit,mod they say.othi.g about d.mg toy research to the health risks to people,a d—N,mod the e.vi—tocot. 30.1 Support the State to develop a b,,db,,d dashboard to hack progress mod gaps that will imm—de,i,m,-make,g e......mi,developmeot to Howai'tIslaod. Do they wool to hack gaps so they to.keep I.p.g out more cable mod maki.gmore halfec?Thus es what itseems lake to me. 30.m Foster public private partnerships to support the developmeot mod eap..sto,ofb...dba,d lot,A,,Rure,mcbm1mgcmommily.Rwo, The people that would support thus are the people who would make money from this. Where esthe health mod safety research for this? General Pia.Page 87 13.0 Suppmt master pl...mg by public mod prevate noditnttoos mod lmdow.ers which emphasize TOD,affordable h—mg,mod mined-use d,,dopme.l. TOD-Tra,set-Orteotated D,,dopme.l(I had to research what TOD meat because I did.'t see it the GP) Wba[k their"Master Plmmi.g"they wool to support?I don't see toy i.formateo,0o thus. General Pia.Page 82 Page 116 19.d Identify all roles for interdepartmental collaborated,to ddrcrtog a h.ly m.ltemodal I...sp.rtffiio.system. A multimodal tra.V.tt.fedn system cdnsests of more tha.Doe source of ha.sportndo.to the d.thmtio..So,do they men.we we11 have to take a bus mod oar car to get where we want to go?Will they force ns to do this through their Ottlumm s"? Page 11/ 20.e Adopt a Complete Streets d,di,mm". What es Met,"Cc mplee St—,Ordu,mmm'^Thep seem to be m dmg more rules,laws,mod regolafoos for evmry'o,e. Ge.eral Pia.Page 87 13.10 Developmem ofTOM aotl TNDs are encouraged w1thi.1-oltoos ofthe rb..ceoters show.to the G...to[Pit.La.dUse Map.These hwhfi.s meapproximata mod become fined dot mg r md.g. TN -Tradttt...I Neighborhood Development TOD-Traostt-Orteotated D,,dopme.l TOD goes with the TDR program this eswhy they wa.tto"cl—tt".s,"Reduced Traffc Cdngesfd,With more people living close to tra.stt options,there's less Deed for cars,which eau reduce hmffc co,g,,tio,—1 took,roads of,,for evervo,e." httns-//pu6licinput-com/Customer/FSIe/Full/2e2df935-0117-426b-9753-1bd0776574d7 While the fi—ti,behe.d the TOP map be to create a more tra.stt-ftumdly city,its curreot form es over-constructed,overly broad,gives too much pow,,to developers,neglects the mt,,ests of e,isd,gb.si.esses,..d imposes u„e .OsTODe.areas where it simply es,'t warra.hd.The pia.requires dg.ifit—re vacm to,.sire it supports thoughtful,bala.ted growth that huly be,efets the community:" httns-//wwwsaspeakup.com/tod#tab-54195 What k the toa.ly's TOD phm?W,—d more buses.They do.'t meofo,theh pia.mod their"ordt...ces"for it,of any. General Pia.Page M The Urban Growth Areas(UGA)mRude higlol—ty It—itOtt—ttl Development(TOD),medium-de.sety ITadedo..INaghb-Imml Developme.t(TND),aotl low d...ity Urban Neighborhood Ccoters.These ceohrs provttle physical,social,gdver,memal,mod eco.otoo,cooccot,afoos a.d east,,access to s,,vices,re,,eado.,a.d employme.t activities." They,ever men it,,Ott,exact phm for noplem eothm a TOD plan to page 86. They don'tglue any ideas of how they will uwtt a pub lit ha.sportado,.The bus system has bee.bo chl,mg dow.for years and es rarely to ttm e.They are.,[Rear to what they men,by this at all.They say,"are e.couraged." Big Isla.d's pub tic ha.sportdfim, eds to be addressed.How ch.the Wood create better pub lit ha.spot tndo,?They don'te.ptat.how they wool to help pu blit ha.sportndo.. Big IAt.d'se.frashvcture also.eetls to be seriously addt,.M betause haffit es I.creasi.g moo th ly withou t mysig,of help I,g the i,f,,A,,M re to accom toodah th ae,crease e,traits. How ch,they help haffic to f,,A,,dure with a moum tat.to Doe side and a tleff to the other,with many ofour roads?They don't offer a.y id— Drawbatks a.d Chane.ges of Tra,set-0rie.ted Developme.l httns,//fifthaveca/henefitc-and-drawbacks-of-transit-oriented-d—lopm en[s/ 1.Decreased Affordability mod Prop,,ty Vol—The lot...sM dema.d for housing I.TOD areas may lead to tumor properly values mod...tat costs,podcofi lly displati.g e.u.mg 1ow=m—,reside.B. 2.Displacemeot of Marge.muct!Commu.eti—G tot fitmhm ch.ottu,I.TOD.eighborhoods,pushmg out 1o.g-time resede.lsmod ch-mg social mod eco.otoo,desrupdo.s. 3.S-ml mod Cultural Homogeoumfi :The emphases to muted-use developmeots might t.adverte.tly lead to the hotooge.iza[io.oftotal cultures mod lm,m sex,erodum the u.ique th...—of th ecom mu.ity. 4.lot...sM Pressure o.I.Iraslru Rure:High-de.sityd,,Ropme.ls to.shoe.eaesd.g i.I.—c1ure,su th Sha.sPoo tatom ctw,,k,water,mod smdtmfi,systems,.ecessi[ad.g tostly upgrades. 5.U,equal Deshibudo,c flkmtfet,:Without i.tluseve plmmi.g mod i.volvemeot of all stakeholders,the be.efets of TOD might despropordo..tdy favor mAm,s,g.,,t,of the populate,.. General Pia.Page 87 13.13 Support master pl...mg by public..d private mAtimious and la.dow.,rs which emphasize TOD,.fordable housf,g,.ud mtaed-use develop meu I. What fs their"Master Pill"?Why should it be supported?Why aren't they clem o,all their plans..d mdf...ces? Page 89 13.44 The development or dcsgmmfo,If,ew resort areas should complement the chmad,r of the area;protcet th,—ft umcma.d ummal beau ty;respect eaistiug lifed}1es,-It ural practices,and wit...I resources;..d provide sh...Im,public.access. The Big Island needs homes for fts residents.It does NOT need more resorts because the island is having resource issues with the developments here now,and m..y more years of.I—dy-approved developments have not been completed yd. Please seethispdItI—httns://www.changenrv/./help-hiv-island-recnurcec-and-infrastructure-stay-safe-for-all-who-live-here-and-visit TheWest HawaffSlIftaryLandfill,theonlyremaining landfill on the Big Island,is forecasttoreach,ap.dl,withfo[he nest20 to 25years."h Tps-//6lgisIandnow.com2023/09/17/blg-island-now-poll-no-27-resultc- more-than-one-solution-needed-to-help-extend-life-of-west-hawaii-landfill/ Hawaf`f Water Supply Closely Monitored As Severe Drought C..i,.es by Big Island Vtueo Newsom Nov 6,2023 at 3:M pm STORY SUMMARY HAWAPI COUNTY-Off dais sap a spedal focus will be placed o,the Somh Kohala Water System,which k more—tti fibl,Io drought...dinoms."httns-//Www.blgislandvideonews.com2023/11/06/water-supply-closely-monitored-as-hawai%CA%BBi-under-severe-drouvht/ DECO Issues rollfmg power outages aroumd Big Islaud by:Emily C,rva,tes Posted:Feb 13,2024/05:11 PM HST Updated:Feb 13,2024/M.12 PM HST H.mum El,drf,initiated r,Ili,g outages for Big Island after several large gemerators became„available and reduced output Tuesday might." httfs://www.khof2.com/local-fews/heco-releases-conservation-alert-for-big-islafd/ Page 90 13.e Amc,d Zcm mg Code to: I.Establish a TOD overlay zo„project district with a minimum size of 15 acres. if.Create aTND overlay zo„for c,,M.gzo,ed lands withfo id,.dfi,d reside.dal and commercial zoning districts. if.Allow for—u1"dal uses f,XM and MCA zoning districts. w.Support m—tiv,uses of.I--fiv,energy,agriculture,aqu,mltu,,,and others,f,MCX...img district Wbat eaadly does"Establish a TOD overlay zone project district with a minimum size of 15 acres"mea,? Wbat does ML a,d MCX s[and for?These are not f,thdr gloss ,,.ud I can't find them f,the GP or 111m,. Page 98 14.1 Support the State Land Use rcelassificathm to Rural f.aIig..,.twith the General Plan Rm al d,sgpmfio,. Wbat fs the General Plan Rural D,sig,.do,? 14.2 Support r,dassiffcado,/ru-mg of appropriate General Plan Rural designated areas where an mt,rmedim,land use and a well-defi,ed bufer bdw,eu Urba,a,d Productive Agricultural area.......siAcut with the surrou,dimg I_a,d rural character. Wbat k the"reclassifi,ado,/rezo,i.g of appropriate General Plan Rural designated..."? They are changing Land Use Tftl,s I.the GP mud that NEEDS TO BE OPPOSED! 4.4 Rural-style r,sf1cmml-agrfmltm al d,v,loput—,such as,ew small-scale rural com m u.ftw,or,.[,.sins Ifc,,M.g rural communities,should be i.c,utivuttl to cluster I.appropriate 1— do-They wa,t to"cluster"resfd„ts bceaus,the word"cluster"k used many Imes I.thus General Plan.They want to take away our rights to It—o,private lands and make us live where[hey choose. 14.b Amend the zoning districts cur.„By listed as Family Agricultural Disrict(FA)and the R,sid,.dal and Agricultural Districts(RA)to be co,siAcut with the Rural desig..do.and to allow for home oceup.do.sthat do.o[negatively impact rmal chm.d,r. Would this mean the county would have the right not to approve homes o,"Rural Designated"lands ifthey fed it can"„gadv,ly imp.d rural character"? Page 102 15.fUpdate the Real Properly Taa Cale for agricultural laud uses that result f,.dual productum or other public benefits,such.s..five for—y and the ceosyst,m services that result from wdl managed rmgd.ud, What does this me..?Will they I.......t.a.s?W,.md farmers to wa,tto wmk..d afford life without I......M tries. 15.g Am,.d the Z..mg Cale to require Pla.Approval for commercial up.area r,cre.d...I uses I.the Agricultm al District. How do they wa.t to Am,ud the Z-mg Code? 15.f D,vdop sm.d.,&..d guiddi.,s for bufer areas located adj.—t to agricultural lads. What does this me..?What kind of stad.rds ad guiddi.es do they wat to impl,m,.t? Page 108 16.6 Provide for pres,.ttr.If,ad future demads,mtIudmg the d,v,lopm,.tof mass tra.sit program s for high-growth areas by both the private ud public s,dm s. How will they do this?Traffic keeps f.cr—mg mo.thly.ad the roads It,m—dibly.arrow,with a cliff o,o,e side ad a m-mm.o.the other f,mauv difere.t m e.sall over the islad.Where fs their pla,for this? Page III 1/.4 Laud use applitmum,shall tu,.tffy as early as possible ay enAmg or pot mml active livf.g corridors that should be i-mp...t,d im.the Cmmt,'s op,.space.,[work. Who dcefdes what a hvmg corridor W Is thus the coumy's way of tm,mg prfva[e lad areas away? 1/.5 E,sur,that,afsd.g active hvfmg corridors that are publicly ow.,d or available by ease,,.[are properly fde.tificd ad that their access,l,mems are secured ad docume.ted. b)"Accept..11"by the Co„ty of the respc mabilfti,a d8aflcd I.the gr..t of—cm—should require C...ty Cou,cil..I....d a dedicated humbug source. What does b)me..,sadly? Page 116 9.2 I.crease,[,rill,.platy through prim itizImum ofalterative me..s of trasporta[io,,such as mass tra,sft,bicycle,a,dp,d,strf..systems. What does this me..?What is their pl..?How will they make"prforidz.do,of aIt—mfiv,me..s of t...spmmfio,"?Will we be hued m—cthmg If—do,'t follow their".R.m dv,mc—of tra.sp—ti..'^ 19.6 Use t-ff,dema.d ma..g—t to aid I.redutmg[raft,congestion by tmgctmg a.I--of active tt-Tcrtafo,mode share to 10 p,rc,.t(bicyclfmg,w.Ikmg,mI.—bilfly) Wbat do they mch.by"Use h.If,demad ma.ageme.[to aid I.redutmg[raft,co.gesti-"?Will they somehow limit ears? 19.7 Ccmt-t,ucy reviews should fi-cupm—mductum I.vehicle miles traveled to midge[,traffic Impacts(,g.the level of serafce)and achieve sus m-bility ad d,mad maag,meut goals. How are[hey gofmg to"reduce vehicle miles traveled to mitigate traffic impala"? 19..C.mmu,to adopt the Co„ty Sit-dtsgp ma...I m the Cmmty'scomplete sired desig.program/policy. 19.b Amend the C-My Cale to mcm porate complete Amd d,sig,. What k the"Co„ty Stred design m..ual"?I don't ace thus im-umdo,I.the G,ueral Pl.,. 19.d Id„tiny all roles for i,[erdepmtme.[al collaborado.I.ddiv,ri.g a truly multfmalal t...spcttumk,system. A multimodal tra.T c,mtio,system....I-of more th a.o„source of tra.Tcumfio.to gd to the destm a[I...S.,do they mch.we will have to take a bus and our ear to get to where we wam to go?What do they m...,sadly? Page 117 20.e Adapt a Complete St—ordf...ce. What fs a"Complete St—ordi—m"? Page 119 22.7 Develop roadway shmdards to accomm M m,,m,rgmg tceh.olog for co..cetm ad automated vchides. This.eels to be opposed b„aus,the Big Islam has power Issues ad ca...t hall,all its cu....tpower aced,.It does not have Mt,power to.....d m..y dedri,vehicles,which will only add to its power issues. Plus,Bib—k abig storm a.d we lose power,those clecMc,ars,a..ot run,thm batteries do not decompose wdl,and the khmd aced,a new way to take,are of rubbish b„muse there fs only o,,hmdfll om the idled.These cars will only add to the many Issues the island already has. Hawaff Island k I.th,—mbl,posftfo.of having a la,dffll with a.ywh,r,from 20 to IN years of,ap.,ity left to take I.hush.But the id.ml still wrestles with s4pif...t Issues Ilk,plasm,vu,luds that are.o longer Mug rocyded."httns://www.waste360.com/landfill/hawaii-deals-with-burgeoning-waste-managem ent-problem Hawaiian Elecrtic is reporfimg[ha[several large ge.era[ors oo[he Big Island are eaperie.cilg a sage of issues and may lead to the need for rolling outages if,...ly does Ile meet demand." httns://www.redditcnm/r/Rjgisland/cnmmtots/1hnuar3/hawaiian_electric_is_reporting_that_Several_large/2rr1t=i2660 Page IM 25.5 Emeam,.ethetust mg of developments to reduce the cost ofproviding milities. How will"clustering developments"reduce the cost ofutilities?We all use the same power whether we live clustered up,like the county wants,or at. The Ad fin.to help power the island is not"dusteemg"everyone.It is asking hmomwaers—onw,"hat"rentals to purchase solar plods,use wild turbmla,or use Other mamral ways to create their own power.If everyone steps up,we can all make goal chances together. This petmoo offers other sotofioos httns://www.change_nrP/n/help-hiv-island-recnurcec-and-infrastructure-staff-safe-for-all-who-live-here-and-visit 25.6 Develop short-aad loop,age capital improvements programs aad pleas for publie.utilities withu,its jurisdiefioo that at e consistent with the General Plain. What are"short-old loop-range capital improvement programs"? 25.7 Matotato am Asset Mllagemeat Program aimed at ufi[Ui.g mamte0 mle pleas to prolong the life of our utilities as well as reduce whole-life costs. What is their"Asset MIllgemeat Program"? 25.a Develop aatl adopt a.Impact Fees Ordtoaoce to aide to the espaosboo of public.mifies. What is a."Impact Fees Ordi0 mee"? Page 132 26.5 Ensure the highest pualfy ofwater is reserved for the most valuable ead-use. What do they cooside,`the most valuable ead-use"for water? The Rosewood Resort waters its white coral road to keep the dust down.They use hundreds,ifDot thousands,of gallons to water thet,road,even wheat there are signs to conserve water. Has the county looked at the resort'swasteful watt,use?Are the resort's water use more"valuable"than resideale use? Shouldn't the c,,all have some regulafioo against wasteful water to the resorts beeause weare oo a.Wood?Why um'tthis to thm General Pill? 26.6 Encourage the design of large development projects(200t units)to the North Kohala,South Kohala,North Kooa,South Kooa,and Ka'0 Districts to be as water.em,m as reasooably possible through water ee.seelati-,recharge, had reuse measures to reduce the water footprint. How can 200t units be water-.eumal? 26.7 Promote best practices to sustainable water eadleelioa and use for private water systems. What does this mean,"for private water systems'^Are they planning private water systems used lady by private communities or resorts? Why hasn't the county eamsiderc l am inventions to help the ideal's water issues? F.,esamplemle.fio.s that capture grey waterto useto toilets https,//ecofriend.com/innovative-products-designed-captf m-rmsbray ter.htm I.I'm sina mIly newmet,fills could help thaideal iftheyooly start looking to,them. Page 133 26.e Mat.tam the water master plan to eeosbder water yield,preseat aad future dell.],mter.afive sources ofwater,gm lch.es,aad policies for the issmmg of water commitments. What is thm"water master pill"? 26..Develop water coo servatim,aad A,,mwate,mmmgemeat guidelines for commercial,industrial,aad resi]eafi,lproperties. What would"ma.agemeat gm lch.es"be?Would resorts be priorbfized Over residences? Page 13/ 27.6 Pollufiom shall be prevented,abated,aad controlled at levels that will proteet aad preserve public health aad well-being through the eamo lemeat of appropriate Federal,State,aad Coolly standards What pollufioo?What are the Federal,State,and County standards,and how would they enforce them? Developments pollute.e eby water;will aewdevelopments be subjected to this?Beeause deeclopmeots shouldn't pollute nearby water and it's seietoifically proveat that they do.httns-//hlgislandsup_port-com/khayMo This would beKamehameha Schools Bungalow Resort Developmeat,aad ifit goes through,it will pollute Ke0uhou Bay.Will the coumy enforce pollmm,standards oat them?They should. 27.7 Ensure m.mictiod wastewate,systems seeve designated Urban Growth Areas(UGA)with the cap.dty to accommodate projected population growth. 27.9 Prborbfize developi.g a mulfip...ged app...th to wastewater mfrashvcmre funding,meludmg p....fively seekb.g g...I funding for wastewater system eapaosbom,improvements,aad new deeelopmeot 27.11 Ensure that wastewater systems and improvements are designed aad fnurtmm.g to maabmue system efteie.eies,p—eat aludeat.1 leaks or spills,mod provide sanitary,reliable wastewater treatmem that is too[oegmively impacfi.g.atoral resources. They don'tmeatiou the pollufio.that cesspools are c..stog daily.People catm use many kinds of toilets to stop usmg cesspools tally if ooly the you.ty would approve this. Why hasn't the c...ty coosidered am inventive toilets to help the wastewater system? LiketheCmde,ella met.era[or Toilet tohelp stop pcllmhm om cesspools aatl help with the wastewme,system?ht[ns://yin derellaecn.cnm/en-its There are many am mve.five toilets these days that cat.help the islet l'swastewater system,aad the Cinderella mci.era[or Toilet cat,also help coo se,le water. Page 138 27.15 Priorifize the use of gray water to areas c,,aected to County water aad not coo.elted to County wastewater. Why doesn't the county start looking for am mvemioos to help the Islam]instead of hadmooal sources wheat the islet l's populatoo is steadily growing aad.eels new ideas to help?They could sell...siderim;using mve.fims like mere: https,//ecofriend.com/innovative-products-designed-capture-rcuse-gray-water.html httns-//newsroom.ucla.edu/stories/gmy-water-clean-gnp-_voram-cohen-271642 httns://www.gremprophet-com/2015/04/10-inven6nns-to-save-earths-water/ 27.aPrto fti..areaswhereoat-sitew,Am,ter I...tmeat should beco.l—A to sewer a.]establish financial tools sueh as improvement disliels to aid to implem atmic'. 27.b Priortfiz areas where wastewater heato,lot meilities are.ce—ey to faeilimte toto re growtha.d.blue ri...th,g—Is such as tom mu.by facilities district(CFD)or ma I....memt f...d,g(TIF)to aid to impleme.mfi0o. Biglsla.d AcuteProblems'Plaguing Big Mood's W,Am,te,Tr..,at Systems Prompt EPA Cracl.lowm httDS://WWW.civilbeat.om/2024/04/acutbDmblem S-DlaAnin±-bit±-islands- astmater-trmtment-systems- prom pt-ena-crackdown/ Why does.'¢the county sell coosbde,i.g theCmd...11,met.eramr toilet o,othermve.fio.sto help with thewastewater Deatmeatissues,especiallywheat thishas beel aserious issueforpears?ht[ns://yinderellaecn.cnm/en-us 27.b Smeamfi.e the sewer e...cefioo I...program. What is this I...program?Is the island gomg bolo more debt because of bt? 27.j Deeclop wastewater cost vmm,dioo to service fees(similar to th—te,model fee structure). 27.kDevelop ac,ftc,m-based mfemal Rure priorbfizatiomtool to deed,p am o,eap,,d essfimg municipal wastewater systems.Base these priority areas oat designated urban growth bound-ws,urba.lmom;aad density,population t—ds aad a,ficip,tM growth,health/safety,aad emvbroomeothl factors 27.1lmplemeae I...vafive wastewater systems at a cosLe f dive scale for small communities. If the eeu.ty starts coo side,mg am ut—fins aad types of waste mea[meat toilets,like the Cinderella Iota....to,Toilet,wastewater neatmeat,As would be considerably lowered.Why don't they do this? Page 139 27.p Io collaborado.with the Depmtme.d of Agriculture,develop—ter restoo, st—gy for efhtiend agri-l—Awater use..d tease. Why does.'[thecountyA—to[..side,usinggreywateriove.doos?https://www.mvironmental-eapert.com/articles/the-power-of-g>Qmater-recycling-a-sustainable-solution-for-the-future-1138822 Page 142 28.11 The County shall ensure that golf course developments develop and implement grading and site prep...boo plans[o: Why is the county still coosid,rt.g more golf courses when the islaod has water,power,a.d landfill issues...? Page 143 28.b Conduct a feasibility study to treat,aC.uoty Stormwater Utility before the County r,athes MS4 mph meots. 28.c Update the DPW Storm Drainage Sa.dards to reflect—cot data and to i....p...t,strategies aotl sta.da tls of p m.mh Sth-tom a.d lo—impact tlevclopmeot. 28.d Develop drainage master pl...from a watershed perspective that considers non-shmctural alternatives,minimizes th....lizadio.,protects wetla.dsthat sett',drainage ft.ttioos,coordinates the regulation of to..truttiu.aotl agritu1tura1 operadoo,a.d cot—ges th....blishmeot of Buolpl.msas publt,V m.ways. Why do,..'t the county stmt lookt.gat.ew,i...vadv,drai.ag,solutions for the islaod?httns://www.randrmagonlin m/articles/90645-in vative-solutions-for-effective-storm-water-management-in- urhan-environments Page 11, 31.a Create to ass.ma.agemeut program. 31.c Develop and adopt to Impa,t Fees 0,di.....to aide to the tap...too of Couoty services aotl facilities. What would be an"old mauagem,m program'^ Wbot is to"Imp..Fees Otdt...W'?A.other regulation? Page 162 33.2 Implement waste stream technology,such as recycling and upq li,g and waste-to,—gy to reduce the flow of refuse deposited to la.tlfills. Why dwm't the,ou.dy start loold.g of how coumrtes who have a high p.pulado.—dchh.g with their rubbish,to get other ideas[hat could help the Wood? 33.9 Ensure[ha[redesigv plans for landfill and haosfer.tali...provide adequate space for Resource Rxovery(RR)Stations. 33.11 Ste new solid waste/resource recovery faulities to apptopri.t.areas that serve dh,.,Ms of population centers a.d tomot z,a.d mitigad,.egadv,imparts to the eoviroomeot o,snrrooudiug.,ighbo,h,,d.M.12 Reduce illegal dumpi.g a.d littering. 33.13 Milhoul the amount ofwaste generated by Couoty facilities. 33.a Evaluate a.d amend the Couoty Code to t.tegrate strategies to maxtmtze landfill th—stoo a.d haodle materials: Dos the to—y ever looked tot.new i...vative ways to deal with rubbish: Benefits ofwaste-to-energy Wast,-to-eoergy technology offers an alternative to la.dfills,pt-fit.gacleaner,moreeffictcot way of diTosi.gofwastewhilerM,d,g greenhouse gas emisslo.s."ht[ns://hin[ru m/what-c nstead-of-landfills/ DifferentAft—fiv,to landfill httns-//hetterm eetsrealily.cnm/the.liPPerent-alternaNvec-tn-landfill-waste-management-options/ Top 29 co—tics that It aye beenelUtien t to minim izt.g waste hHps://www.open essgov ent-orghvh ich-cnun[riec-are-the-mns4efficien t-at-m inim 6in9-- waste/96037/#:—:text-cSwilzerland%20have%201000/625%20waste%20recovery%2C%20de pile%20being,2(lin,whae%20the%20other%2047%25%2(As/20l ncinerated%20for%20me— Page 171 35.fUpdate the C...ty of Hawaii Rccreatt,,Plan to ,R,d newly ideodhed recreational ptiorities. The tounty has scot oott letters cha.gmg private Laod Use Tiles to r—do.alla.d.Does this mean they will be lookt.gfor more lands to cha.g,their La.dUse TilesInto....chit...I lauds,thereby tatting[het,property away by not allowing them to pass it down to faintly or sell it? Why is it legal for the county to take private lads away from people to give their lads to re,r,adoo? I heard these people would still have to pay the properly tax oo their laod,which the tco o y woods to tar.Into recreadoual laod,is this got.gto happen? 35.t Develop best ma..gemeut prartim for the development and mat—....of golf courses to tollaborattoo with go-mm—,private aotl opt fit ap.a.,aotl other stakeholders. Golf coms,s use a lot of potso..to keep their lands weed-h,,,a.d these poisons runoff Into the ocean,causing algae blooms and other pollud.os.Will the county be addb.si.g this? 35.r Develop and implement a cemeteries master plan for the siting of Imm,cemeteries. Wbot is their"cemedmry'master pla.'^ Pag 176 36.b Develop a medical tco-TOD master pit.a.d rezone it as a R,giooal Cco-TOD. What is the TOD"master plan"a.d how will they"tezuoe"it? Page 182 37.3 Priorittze new housing i.,ludi.gthe mtssmg middle to or near mtacd-use developmeots,urba.growth areas with t.Ira.d,.—,a.d near extsn.g aotl proposed transit ccoters. 37.6 V.ch.dlads to the urba.growth boa.dory(UGB)should be prioritized for restd,.dal and supportive uses before additio..[agNt.lt.t.l lands outside the UGB are tooterted Into urba.uses 37.c Assess a.d amend the la.d use a.d butldt.g regulations and explore fiscal opportunities to support universal desig,pri.,ipl,.and ADA accessibility for more phystcally accessible housing. Has the cou.ty st.t.dy looked at Big Isla.d,,.names? The island's resources need to be addressed bmaus,many years to the making,developmeots have been approved to build more homes,a.d all of the island's resources are h-mg.ertous issues today. Before priorittzmg even more homes,before the years'worth of homes that have already been approved have been developed,the Wood'sresources.,ed to be addressed. Please reatl[his pMitloo[ha[eaplai.s Big Isla.tl resources: httos://www.change.org/p/help-hie-.stun d-resou rces-and-infrastru ctu re-stay-safe-for-all-who-hve-h ere-an d-vis it Page DO 38.1 E.abl,data-drtveo research to support a.d maintain a ho"mg iovcotory program that monitors ext.ft.g huu".g What are thec got.g to moon.,,a.d why?Are they daki.g our privacy away? Page Im 39.8 E.to.o g,the developme.t of workforce housing withn,o.ear urba.growth.—Sa.d employmcottcot.sa.d require large new devel.pm,.ds that mcad,a dema.d for housing to provide affordable workforce h.ust.g. Resorts o.the islaod hire a.d brtog to people from outside of the ton.h'y.Theo thec house them.This takes away homes aotl jobs from locals.Why does.'tthe to-my prtorttu,these jobs a.d homes for locals?Why don'tthe resorts to h,islaod hire locals who are already here a.d.,ed jobs a.d homes? Page IN 42.c Develop a.d adopt to impact it.o dn, c,that to.sid,rs dtstritt sped([,s eeds a.d e.tl.d,s o boo tore areas where mfill is encouraged. Wbot...My does this meat?What are"impact fees ordt....c"a.d"t.hll is cot—agcd"mea.? 42.d Develop a fram,wm k fin a h.a.sitio.pit.for tha.g,s to admi,iA,,f,,leadership to......a smooth h.a..Bit,a.d to,dfi-ty ofoperattoos. Why does the coumy.eed a"tea.std..pit.for tha.ges to admn,ud,,fvc leadership"?What does this have to do with the GP.Should.'dthey already have a plat? Page I" 4Qf Parm,r with buses a,o,i,tio,,,,,alto,.,a.d the thumbs of commerce to recruit small-scale m...fartur,r.to establish ..it l.,ad...to village a.d tow,moom to support a—cstmeut and math pod,.dal teoa.ts with local Imdowvers. The shops iv Kmlua Kom town have trouble sta}ing open because all the private pm king lots are overcharging for parking.Why isn'tthe county addressing this issue instead ofwanting to bring iv more businesses that won't be able to survive because private parking is taking a lot ofmoney away from businesses? The county NEEDS to answer ALL ofthese questions bxause they are NOT clear iv what they are saying they want to do iv their 2045 GP,and this plan CANNOT go my further UNLESS WE ALL FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIRPLANIS The county NEEDS to TAKE OUT ALL MENTION OF THE MR Program because itviolates our rights to live how and where we want. The county NEEDS TO TAKE OUT ALL MENTION OF"13-mil m i/Smm4 Grid"and At.solving traffic issues,water,power,landfill issues,and bxause this will cost billions,and add a lot more problems to the Big Island. I do no[understand how to use their map that shows all the changes they wmt to make on the id.ml and all the Lmd Use Titles they have clanged to private lands.Can you figure out their map and see all[heir changes? I have heard the voices of people iv person at the meeting who h....ffd,,d letters that state the county wants to change their Lmd Use Titles iv this General Play.How is chmgmg people's private Lmd Use Titles legal?This is no[ right. Please look at their map bxause I was told that the comfy is chmgi,g high-end developers'Land Use Titles so they can develop easily. Zendo Kem has helped high-end developers many times ov the island.This planning director favors developers rather thin the presen'atim,of the Imd and community voices. For eaam pie,18,554 p lev eople signed apcIitioo to Save Punalu'u from development.Hundreds of Hawaiian residents protested the housing projxt iv Punalu'.,and still,"Planning Dirertor Zendo Kery has rxommended that the on g—light the development,writing iv his 17 p.ge r meporttothepd that the ctproje will not have any substantial adverse evvironmen[al orecological effect"provided that best mavagev imp.— emt practices m e—A to mitigate Kery rxommevdM moving ahead without making the developers prepare av updated environmental impart statement m evviroo mental assessment bxause the project did not m-the criteria se[out iv state law for such a requt ement." This man is not for conserving the Imd,nor does he support community vmm. Please look at the map he is a part of because this mm favors high-end developers.If this map changes high-end developers'Land Use Titles to help them develop their land easily,it cmld be one hnge way that he supports these developers,and this is not right for the tA.ml and the community. httns-//www.civilheat.nrg/2024/03/hundreds-of-haw -island-residents-protect-pmnnsed-hnnsing_proiect-in-punalun/ https,//www.thepetitionsite.com/854/086/898/msidents-who-oppose-the-resort-m-punaluu-ka%C5%AB/ Thmkyon Rebecca Melevdez From: Riley Eisenberg To: WPCtestimonv;LPCtestimonv Subject: Revise Hawaii General Plan Testimony Date: Monday,January 13,2025 7:56:34 PM Aloha Commissioners, The Big island Plan cannot go through the way it is designed. It is hard to believe any local helped design this plan. Here are some concerns: There is a huge part of the plan dedicated to "Climate Change".However,why do most experts state there is NO climate danger? Climate Experts Speak Out Against Climate Danger Click Here! The word "Stakeholder," defined in the plan,is written 86 times and literally means anyone in the entire world can have input on this 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 and management are crucial for the success and sustainability of any initiative, as it helps ensure that diverse perspectives and interests are considered. 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. The Planning Department has sent out letters too many homeowners telling them their land use will be changed from resident to recreation due to the General Plan 2045. This will drastically lower 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. There is a huge section on climate change and things that will be affected. This needs to be further 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. hUs:Hclintel.org/VL]2- contenidWloads/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. Hilo does not have a Community Development Plan. How can a Big Island General Plan move forward without that?Hilo is 22%of the island. 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 oflands for the protection ofnatural resources." 'Incentives" mean more taxes. Protection" means more rules. Who's "values" is this plan referring too because it's not the locals? Pursue the acquisition of lands" does this say they are going to pursing taking people's private property?Again with "protection of natural resources". This plan should be focused on people growing more food and it is doing the exact opposite! 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 of Papaikou, has created an Ag Villages plan. Ag Village to add to the General Plan: Papaikou Ag Village Objectives: hops://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_2cb 1cc6d604f4cdd971 ad4083 I c745bc.pdf Papaikou Site Plan: hops://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fc0c_5e4cdb02efeb46a5ae949a3579aff00d.pdf Papaikou Development: hops://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_c2af52c8b3 c645b 1 a6868a724eee8304.12df A Hawaiian born Kanaka revised the Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship that is in the plan.You can see it in the pdf below: Part One:hnps://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_Oald5be8fld140069415f7b691725786,pdf Part Two: hUs://86fc0cbd-8207-4076-85fa- 5a62e4e933b4.usrfiles.com/ugd/86fcOc_ecc498bal92d4a7689ebf31 c3681c2ec,pdf Here is a longer revised version of the plan from locals: hips://www_standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc b34739e4c99c461685de4c0207bf286e.pd The way this plan is written is very far from what will support our island. Big Island resident and farmer, Riley Eisenberg From: Sara Steiner To: LPCtestimony;WPCtestimony Subject: Hawaii 2054 Plan IS JUNK AND JUST A LAND AND WATER GRAB Date:Monday,January 13,2025 9:30:12 AM Dear Planning Departments and Kona Development Committee: Why can't you have some meetings in the evening or on the weekend for the people who work constantly to afford to live here. The Smart City and 2045 General Plan plans must not be adopted. The 2045 plan steals land from everyone who is not in an existing census cluster. The county plans on only spending money for infrastructure in the census cluster areas and going to ignore the rest of the island. You don't get to take my AG10 land and unilaterally change it to "Natural" WITHOUT COMPENSATION. You don't get to tell me how much water I can use, or that the County owns my water! You don't get to ignore all the substandard subdivisions you approved in the "good of boy days" because we arn't an urban cluster- we need our taxpayer public roads for economic and safety reasons and we need priority because you in the cities already have multiple roads going everywhere.. You don't get to tax me more because I happen to live in a rural area and therefore drive more than you think I should. Sara Steiner 13-430 Pohoiki Road Pahoa, HI 96778 From: shavlene fahev To: LPCtestimonv Subject: New Hawaii General Plan Date:Monday,January 13,2025 6:25:53 PM To whom it may concern, Please let it be known that I highly oppose this plan as written,just a few points of interest are, is this plan really in the best interest of the population of Hawaii, it appears that the future plan will take away our rights as home and property owners and also it appears that the plan will create more financial hardships on the citizens. Also, this Big Island of Hawaii already has 80% or more of land owned by the state, county and federal governments so why is more and more land going to be deemed as Land Preservation and will be off limits to the general population?! Thank you for your time. Shaylene Fahey Volcano Hawaii Resident Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone From: Silvah N Gould To: LPCtestimonv;WPCtestimonv Subject: GENERAL PLAN 2045 TESTIMONY Date:Monday,January 13, 2025 2:09:32 PM Aloha Leeward Planning Commission, and Windward Planning Commission, You've heard many passionate testimonies against General Plan 2045, as it is based on the "Climate Change" hoax, and pleas that it be postponed and revised, or discarded altogether. We've heard replies that it can't be thrown out because a lot of work went into it. But it is NOT PONO to hold onto something that is in ERROR and defective. Please seriously consider the evidence you've been given that "Climate Change" due to too many humans and cows farting is a scam by Globalist Elites and the United Nations, to justify a New World Order or Communist One World Government. Here is a good documentary on weather modification already in deployment, and the harm it has caused by Michael J. Murphy: UNconventional Grey • Geoengineering Climate Change & Chemtrails Documentary" https://rumble.com/v4ddw3o-unconventional-grey-aeoengineering-climate-change- and-chemtrails-documentar.html It is "secretive" as we don't hear "New World Order" explained in the main stream media nightly news. But this is what a few "Elites" have said (found at https://www.azquotes.com/): Some even believe we (the Rockefeller family) are part of a secret cabal working against the best interests of the United States, characterizing my family and me as 'internationalists' and of conspiring with others around the world to build a more integrated global political and economic structure - one world, if you will. If that's the charge, I stand guilty, and I am proud of it." David Rockefeller (2011) "Memoirs", p.368, Random House American Investment Banker The drive of the Rockefellers and their allies is to create a one-world government combining super capitalism and Communism under the same tent, all under their control.... Do I mean conspiracy? Yes I do. I am convinced there is such a plot, international in scope, generations old in planning, and incredibly evil in intent." Larry McDonald, Physician and Georgia Congressman 1975 — 83, Anti- Communist Today, America would be outraged if U.N. troops entered Los Angeles to restore order. Tomorrow they will be grateful! This is especially true if they were told that there were an outside threat from beyond, whether real or promulgated, that threatened our very existence. It is then that all peoples of the world will plead to deliver them from this evil. The one thing every man fears is the unknown. When presented with this scenario, individual rights will be willingly relinquished for the guarantee of their well-being granted to them by the World Government." Henry Kissinger, U.S. Secretary of State 1975-77 (in an address to the Bilderberger organization meeting at Evian, France, on May 21, 1991. As transcribed from a tape recording made by one of the Swiss delegates.) All "General Plans" across the U.S. and the World are based on United Nations SDGs Sustainable Development Goals). They are a Trojan Horse designed to bring about a Communist Totalitarian One World Government under the UN at local levels, thus abolishing national sovereignty. The General Plan 2045 and policies regarding Climate Change in it, are not for the best interests of the people of Hawaii island, but are for the benefit and profits of "Stakeholders" or outside corporations and investors. We should not place our trust in the UN. They have failed thus far at preventing poverty, hunger, and war. Maybe that was never the UN's true purpose as we've been told, but has been in reality to encourage corruption and conflict = Chaos, and they will offer us "Order out of Chaos". They practice the Hegelian Dialectic of Problem — Reaction — Solution". Through covert weather manipulation, they create the PROBLEM of "Climate Change", and blame Humanity for it. Our REACTION to Extreme Weather Disasters" is fear, and thus we demand Government solve the problem; we give them our permission to solve the Problem. The SOLUTION is Government monitoring and control of everything — all humans, all resources we use - goods and food, energy and water, or rationing of them, and our behavior, such as restricting how far we can travel ("Reduced Miles Traveled", as written in GP 2045). For more about the Hegelian Dialectic, and how the "Climate Change Crisis" is an example of it, please see this article: https://colindixon.substack.com/p/the-problem-reaction-solution-paradigm Mahalo! From: Hello To: WPCtestimonv;LPCtestimonv Subject: RE:Revise Hawaii General Plan Testimony Here Date: Monday,January 13,2025 7:29:43 PM Aloha Commissioners, The Big island Plan cannot go through the way it is designed. It is hard to believe any local helped design this plan. Here are some concerns: There is a huge part of the plan dedicated to "Climate Change".However,why do most experts state there is NO climate danger? Climate Experts Speak Out Against Climate Danger Click Here! The word "Stakeholder," defined in the plan,is written 86 times and literally means anyone in the entire world can have input on this 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 and management are crucial for the success and sustainability of any initiative, as it helps ensure that diverse perspectives and interests are considered. 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. The Planning Department has sent out letters to many homeowners telling them their land use will be changed from resident to recreation due to the General Plan 2045. This will drastically lower their property value and open 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. There is a huge section on climate change and things that will be affected. This needs to be further researched. There are over 1900 credentialed scientists that say there is no climate danger. Here is the pdf showing the scientist and what country they are from. hhUps://clintel.org/wn- content/uploads/2024/10/WCD-241023.12df John Coleman,the first weatherman 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 explains the reason for this narrative is the investors,in renewable energy,want to make these changes. Hilo does not have a Community Development Plan. How can a Big Island General Plan move forward without that?Hilo is 22%of the island. 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 oflands for the protection ofnatural resources." 'Incentives" mean more taxes. Protection" means more rules. Who's "values" is this plan referring to because it's not the locals? Pursue the acquisition of lands" does this say they are going to pursue taking people's private property? Again with "protection of natural resources". This plan should be focused on people growing more food and it is doing the exact opposite! 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 of Papaikou, has created an Ag Villages plan. Ag Village to add to the General Plan: Papaikou Ag Village Objectives: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_2cb l cc6d604f4cdd971 ad40831 c745bc.42df Papaikou Site Plan: haps://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_5e4cdb02efeb46a5 ae949a3579aff00d.pdf Papaikou Development: hUs://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_c2af52c8b3c645b 1 a6868a724eee8304.12df A Hawaiian born Kanaka revised the Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship that is in the plan.You can see it in the pdf below: Part One:hUs://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_OaId5be8fld 140069415f7b691725786.pdf Part Two:https://86fcOcbd-8207-4076-85fa- 5a62e4e933b4.usrfiles.com/ugd/86fc0c_ecc498bal92d4a7689ebf31 c3681c2ec.pdf Here is a longer revised version of the plan from locals: hUs://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fc0c_b34739e4c99c461685de4c0207bf286e.pdf The way this plan is written is very far from what will support our island. Please implement changes in this email before moving forward. Mahalo, Yuki Klahr From: Jennifer Strait To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv Subject: Vote Against Big Island General Plan 2045 Date:Tuesday,January 14,2025 9:56:59 PM West Hawai'i Civic Center 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy. Kailua-Koa, HI 96740 ATTN: County Planning Dept. January 14, 2025 To Whom It May Concern, I am writing as a concerned local to testify against some of the alarming items being proposed in the Big Island General Plan 2045, scheduled to go before City Council in February 2025. The specifics I am against are as follows: Against the laying of fiber cable in order to construct a Smart City. Against rezoning land from residential to recreational, nature, and or otherwise. Against deed alteration from original homeowner, even after transfer of property and or sale. Against the State buying up locals property and or forced sale. Against restriction of home development from buyers who already purchased land and forcing them to build in city center zoning. Against forced driving electric vehicle by 2030 as proposed. Therefore, also against forced restriction of gas vehicles. Thank you once again for your time, consideration and actively listening to the voices of the community. Mahalo, Jennifer Strait From: cvd shiroma To: LPCtestimony Subject: COH general plan 2045 Date:Tuesday,January 14,2025 8:38:50 AM Attachments: GP 2045.odf 1/14/2025 Regarding: COH Hawaii General Plan 2045 Dear: Planning Director, Planning Commissioners, and others whom this may concern, Our founding fathers wrote the "Declaration of Independence" to protect "We the People" from over reaching government control. They stated that "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,... Therefore, the government are in place to serve the People and Not to rule over them. If the County passes this General Plan and things do not work out, can we go back to how things were? Will the government relinquish its power? No! Government never steps back. This reminds me of the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893 and the taking of the Hawaiian Islands. This would be the 2nd taking. Thus, what I see in this General Plan is nothing more than government control! Control our right to own property, control our water usage, control our freedom to travel, control our pursuit of happiness. When, private partnership (i.e. public/private partnership) owns the water, its usage can be shut off, like in the case of Lahina and in the California wild fires. Firefighters in both Maui and California had no water to fight fires with, the hydrants were dry. Also, why would residents be required to put smart meters on catchment systems? Isn't this an invasion of privacy? Shouldn't I be able to use what ever water I have, as I see fit? All proposed plans, will cost a significant amount of money, possibly costing billions of dollars which the County doesn't have). Where would the County get these funds from? The only alternative would be for the government to increase our taxes, which will cause most people to decrease in their standards of living. This would slow down our economy. Shops and restaurants would close their doors because there would be less patrons supporting them. This also reminds me of the Honolulu Rail project. Cost billions of dollars and still failing. You give government something to do and it goes to shit. Therefore, I vote No on this General Plan 2045. Government should leave well enough alone! Mahalo Cyd Shiroma From: Megan Isaac To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv Subject: SMART CITY AGENDA Date:Wednesday,January 15,2025 12:02:59 PM Attachments: AFFIDAVIT) Mitch Roth.pdf Aloha Planning Commissioners. My name is Megan Isaac I live in Hilo and run a business in Hilo. I am not a professional researcher but myself and several others wanted to look into a matter where I had heard many people saying that they didn't feel that Mayor was being truthful in his briefing of the public at a meeting in Volcano. What we have found is a trove of documents that seem significant to the General Plan. The results of the findings are attached in the form of an affadavit that was cosigned by 8 other residents of the island. This affidavit of fact was delivered to Mayor Mitch Roth and to Frecia Cevallos and no response has come to refute any of the facts. I was prevented from speaking by Chairwoman Barbara De Franco. It was my intention to enter into the record the facts surrounding our partnership with Fortaleza Smart City in Brazil and to bring attention to the concealment of these agreements and partnerships and to bring attention to the matter of Planning Department officials April Surpanant continuing to deny that a Smart City Agenda exists where many are able to see the premise of urban development and infrastructure that would facilitate 'Smart City.' Most importantly, because of the decision of the previous Mayor to conceal these agreements from the public and no subsequent disclosures about them in the public, we are left to conclude that there is something covert going on and a lack of transparency about the degree to which Hawaii County is being connected to Smart City planning and construction. It is noted that the information about Fortaleza being a Smart City is freely accessible on the web. Also the Agenda of Brazil to promote Smart Cities and the fact of a international company Planet Smart City having constructed two Smart Cities on the outskirts of Forteleza are easily searched on the internet and verified. When there is no transparency and disclosure it breaks public trust and it's also likely that violations are occuring since it is not in the public interest that there are secrets and non disclosures at the same time a Planning Document is being presented to the public as representing the public 'good'. Yours sincerely Megan Isaac Hilo Resident STATE OF HAWAII COUNTY OF HAWAII AFFIDAVIT OF THE FOLLOWING AFFIANTS Title AfFiant Name Signature Date Signed We, the undersigned, declare under oath the following Affidavit of Facts Relating to Public Consultation, ICLEI Involvement, and General Plan 2045: Introduction We submit this affidavit to present facts and evidence concerning the conduct of Mayor Mitch Roth and Deputy Frecia Cevallos, focusing on their roles in the County of Hawaii's partnerships with external entities—such as Fortaleza, Brazil, through the ICLEI Cities Forward program—and their involvement in the development of the General Plan 2045. Central to the claims are concerns over deception, lack of transparency, and potential breaches of the public trust. Under Article I, Section 1 of the Hawaii State Constitution, "all political power of this State is inherent in the people." The Public Trust Doctrine further mandates that gov- ernment decisions must be made transparently and in alignment with the public's inter- ests. Every public official has an obligation to uphold these principles. Mayor Mitch Roth, in assuming office, took an oath to "support and defend the Con- stitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Hawaii." This oath binds him to exercise his authority with transparency, accountability, and fidelity to pub- lic interest. The evidence presented herein raises significant questions about whether Roth upheld these duties. Specifically, public statements made on August 24, 2023, about the importance of community involvement in the General Plan may have misrep- resented the true extent of external influence already shaping the plan (See Section D). While Frecia Cevallos, as Deputy Director of the Department of Research and Devel- opment, may not have taken a formal oath of office, this does not exempt her from ac- countability under the law. If she knowingly concealed material facts—such as agree- ments or commitments related to ICLEI's SMART Cities initiative—this constitutes a se- rious violation of public trust. Public officials are bound by their duty to act lawfully, transparently, and in good faith. The potential concealment of such agreements prior to or during the August 24 meeting demands scrutiny, as any deliberate deception un- dermines the integrity of government operations. This affidavit will demonstrate that: Official denials regarding SMART Cities during the August 24 meeting were in- consistent with subsequent revelations (See Section B). Public consultation on the General Plan was portrayed as open and community- driven, while external agreements influencing the plan remained undisclosed See Section D). The County's participation in ICLEI's programs aligns with SMART City objec- tives, raising questions about undisclosed commitments (See Section F). These actions suggest a pattern of intentional obfuscation that compromised the transparency of the General Plan 2045 process and eroded public trust. The cumulative impact of these breaches calls into question the legitimacy of the plan itself. Both May- or Roth and Frecia Cevallos must be held to account—Roth for his constitutional oath and Cevallos for her duty to uphold the law and act in the public's best interest. Given the gravity of these concerns, this affidavit seeks the release of all records related to the County's partnerships and agreements and calls for an independent investiga- tion into the decision-making processes behind the General Plan 2045. These actions are essential to restore public trust and ensure accountability. Factual Background A. Public Meeting of August 24, 2023 At a public meeting on August 24, 2023, residents asked Mayor Mitch Roth and Ms. Frecia Cevallos directly about the County's involvement with SMART Cities and re- lated initiatives. Both Mayor Roth and Deputy Head of Research and Development The following dialogue took place during the meeting: Public Participant 1: Aloha, my question is, what exactly is a 15-minute SMART City?And what, if anything, does that have to do with our Hawaii Island?And what does the planning department have in the... or what...? Bring us up to date on that, please." (sounds of clapping and cheering in the audience) Mayor Mitch Roth: Actually, I'm not really sure what you're talking about...? 15-minute city he said...? Hang on, Frecia, are you around? Hopefully, she didn't leave. Frecia? Frecia? Okay... Maybe "R&D" knows a little bit about this... 15-minute SMART City, do you know anything about that?" Ms. Frecia Cevallos: I don't actually, but I can find out. I'm so sorry." Mayor Mitch Roth: Right so there's a conference in Maui, is what you're saying? In Maui? Okay... you know I know, 'you know, "SMART city." .. there's a whole bunch of stuff that they talk about there, with information and stuff like that. I can tell you, I don't know specifically about what you're talking about. We know what the SMART City is... we'll find out. We'II take a look for that, okay?" Public Participant 2: (another member of the audience handed the mic and commented): The SMART Cities are where they want us contained within a 15-minute area, and you know all about it. It's all over the news, it's all over social media, it's all over everything. And also, it goes hand in hand with your sustainability plan that you started your speech off with, and it's in lockstep with the World Economic Forum and the World Health Organization. We know all about it. You should know all about it if you're our mayor." Mayor Mitch Roth: I will take a look and see. I mean, I gotta tell you this—I'm your mayor, but I don't know everything." Mayor Mitch Roth I have as a notes to myself on one of the things to do is find out what the hell this 15 minute uh thing is smart city is uh and learn about it. So I will learn about it and I'm not sure what is. " Although Mayor Roth and Ms. Frecia Cevallos explicitly denied familiarity with the con- cept of "SMART Cities," a press release issued two days later contradicted these statements. Refer Appendix page 9 & 10. Exhibit 12: Partial Transcript extracted from Public Meeting 8/24/2023 Video source: NaLeo.ty: /channel: governmental 55 /keyword search: 'volcano') B. Announcement of ICLEI Partnership with Hawaii County: 'Cities Forward' Pro- gram Two days after the town hall meeting in Volcano, on August 26, 2023, the Office of the Mayor released a press statement announcing a partnership with ICLEI (International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives) and a partnership between the County of Hawaii and Fortaleza, Brazil. The information about the partnership with the 'Cities Forward' program was not disclosed at the August 24, 2023 meeting. Refer: Exhibits 2 & 3 Press release about Cities Forward program. C. Mayor Roth's Statements on Community Engagement Presenting to the public on August 24, 2023, Mayor Mitch Roth emphasized the impor- tance of community engagement in the General Plan process and made these remarks: As we're looking at our general plan where, you know, the community is kind of giving us the direction there, we hope that you come out. We hope that all of you come out to be a part of this. You know, the worst thing is if nobody comes out or very few people come out and dic- tates what that plan is." Mayor Roth also stated: We do want to hear your voice. You know, we make a difference when we're here participat- ing as a community." Recent discoveries reveal not only a lack of transparency but also potential deception regarding external influences affecting the General Plan. These findings raise serious questions about the integrity of the planning process and whether officials genuinely prioritized community input, or if they were aware of plans and agreements made in secrecy. It appears that a perceived commitment to community involvement may have been used to mask external influences and agreements related to the SMART Cities initiative. Refer: Appendix pages 6 & 7 Exhibit 11 Transcript From Volcano Town Hall, August 24, 2023 meeting.) D. Research and Development Based on a review of County records, it appears that the Research and Development Department of Hawaii County plays a crucial role in actively submitting grant proposals and program applications, as well as reviewing and drafting contracts for various coun- ty initiatives. This raises further questions about potential concealment of information regarding the partnership with Fortaleza and the SMART Cities initiative. Additionally, it casts doubt on whether Deputy Head of Research and Development Frecia Cevallos and Mayor Roth were truthful when they stated they couldn't define SMART Cities dur- ing the public meeting on August 24, 2023. Refer Exhibit 8 Hawaii County Research and Development Department website. display of function re:"Funding and Grant Resources." Hawaii County R&D. Note: Information is indicative of the department's role in funding and grant ap- plications but may not encompass all responsibilities related to contracts. E. Fortaleza: A City with population of 2.2 Million is paired with Hawaii County, a rural island: Fortaleza, Brazil, is the capital of the Ceara district and the fifth-largest city in Brazil, with a population of over 2.2 million people. Fortaleza has over 120 high rise buildings. By contrast Hawaii Island is predominantly rural and has a population of 200,000. Since it appears difficult to explain another reason that these 'partners' are a match, the ob- jective of concealing the ICLEI sponsored partnership at the public meeting on August 24 appears to be a motivation to conceal a SMART Cities and urban development agenda. Refer exhibit 3, page 2: image of city of Fortaleza ) F. Reference to Brazil's 'push' for SMART Cities as part of a National Strategy. Brazilian media outlet Brazillian Report reported on August 9, 2019, that the Brazilian government has a stated objective to "push" for the development of Smart Cities. Giv- en this context, it is reasonable to infer that Hawaii County officials involved in the partnership with Fortaleza were likely aware that SMART Cities are a major objective for Fortaleza, aligning with these national objectives. This raises significant concerns re- garding the transparency of their communications about the agreement. Refer Exhibits 4a & 4b page 2 SMART Cities in Fortaleza and Exhibit 5 page 3 excerpt from The Brazilian Report) G. ICLEI's Association with SMART City Initiatives Prior to 2023 Evidence of ICLEI's promotion of SMART Cities prior to 2023 is found through website pages that were publicly available. This association suggests that the County's partner- ship may involve similar objectives, raising further questions about transparency and intent. Refer Exhibit 7 page 5 ICLEI 'Intelligent Cities program is referenced ) H. The County of Hawaii Has Entered into a Charter with the City of Fortaleza, Brazil In June 2024, Frecia Cevallos attended another Cities Forward conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil, representing the County of Hawaii. In a video recorded there and posted on the County of Hawaii Department of Research and Development website, Frecia Cevallos states, "We just entered into a Charter with the City of Fortaleza." Given the context of previous engagements and the alignment of objectives, it is troubling that these developments were not transparently communicated to the public.Refer Ex- hibit 9 page 5 image taken from video posted on County of Hawaii website ) Conclusion and Supporting Concerns Regarding Transparency, Sovereignty, and Governance The cumulative evidence presented in this affidavit points to a consistent lack of trans- parency and potential deception by officials of the County of Hawaii. The agreements and partnerships with international organizations, particularly ICLEI's Cities Forward program and the sister-city relationship with Fortaleza, Brazil, appear to align with in- ternational agendas, such as the promotion of SMART Cities. This alignment was not fully disclosed to the public, despite reassurances from officials about the community- driven nature of the General Plan. Furthermore, recent insights provided by international law expert Francis A. Boyle high- light additional concerns. In a public statement, Boyle warns that the "Pact for the Fu- ture"—set to be adopted by heads of state—constitutes a treaty-level agreement with binding legal obligations under the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties. Boyle argues that this pact would bypass formal procedures for amending the UN Charter and consolidate power within the office of the UN Secretary-General, posing a threat to the sovereignty of member states. (reference Exhibit 12 page 8 of appendix) This warning underscores the need for extreme caution in engaging with international initiatives like ICLEI and similar external partnerships, as they may involve commitments to global governance structures that bypass local oversight. It is increasingly clear that partnerships like the one between Hawaii County and Fortaleza may not simply be co- operative exchanges but could potentially embed external policy frameworks within local planning processes without public consent. In light of these developments, it is imperative to seek clarity and accountability re- garding the true scope of these agreements. The concerns raised by Boyle, when viewed alongside the evidence of deception by County officials, suggest that the community has not been adequately informed about the potential impacts of these arrangements. The possibility that SMART Cities-related objectives were deliberately concealed raises serious questions about the legitimacy of the General Plan 2045 and its alignment with the interests of the people of Hawaii County. Given the stakes involved, further actions are essential, including: 1. Formal inquiries into all contracts, agreements, and communications with ICLEI and Fortaleza. 2. Immediate FOIA requests to obtain records related to the Cities Forward program and other relevant partnerships. 3. Consideration of resignations or disciplinary actions if officials are found to have engaged in deliberate deception. This affidavit serves as a formal request for transparency and accountability. If these concerns are not addressed promptly, the integrity of the County's governance will re- main in question, and further public action will be necessary to restore trust. Legal Breaches Violation of Public Trust (Hawaii County Charter, Section 13-10) The Hawaii County Charter mandates that public officers and employees act in a manner that upholds public trust. The failure to disclose significant information re- garding the County's involvement with ICLEI and SMART City projects undermines public trust and violates the principles of transparency. Breach of Hawaii's Sunshine Law (HRS §92-1 et seq.) Hawaii's Sunshine Law requires open access to government processes. The nondis- closure of the ICLEI partnership constitutes a breach of the Sunshine Law's trans- parency requirements. Deceptive Practices in Government Planning (HRS §91-7) Under Hawaii Revised Statutes, deceptive practices during public consultations are prohibited. Denying knowledge of SMART Cities while actively engaging in related international partnerships constitutes a violation of this provision, as it misleads the public about the county's plans. Right of Reply Hawaii County Mayor Mitch Roth and Deputy Head of Hawaii County Research and Development Department Frecia Cevallos are hereby given the opportunity to respond to these claims. If any of the facts presented in this affidavit are incorrect, they are in- vited to provide evidence or information to the contrary within 10 business days from the date of receipt of this affidavit. Failure to respond within this timeframe will result in the assumption that the facts stated herein are correct and will serve as the basis for further action. Demand for Suspension of The General Plan 2045 and full public disclosure: In light of the facts presented, we formally demand that the Office of the Mayor and the Department of Research and Development and The Planning Department an- nounce the suspension of The General Plan as a County Document until comprehen- sive disclosure of all contracts, charters, agreements, financial arrangements, communi- cations, and other documentation connected to ICLEI, the Cities Forward program, and any associated initiatives is provided. This disclosure is necessary to ensure that all government actions have been conducted in good faith, in alignment with public inter- ests, and with full accountability to the community. Transparency in these matters is not only expected but required to uphold public trust and the principles of good gover- nance. Mahalo, We, the undersigned, declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. Signatures of Affiants: Title Affiant Name Signature Date State of Hawaii County of Hawaii On this day of_, 20, before me, the undersigned notary public, personally appeared known to me to be the persons whose names are subscribed to this affidavit, and acknowledged that they executed the same. Signature of Notary Public Print Name of Notary My Commission Expires: Title Signature Date State of Hawaii County of Hawaii On this day of_, 20, before me, the undersigned notary public, personally appeared known to me to be the persons whose names are subscribed to this affidavit, and acknowledged that they executed the same. Signature of Notary Public Print Name of Notary My Commission Expires: // Signatures of Affiants: Title Affiant Name Signature Date State of Hawaii County of Hawaii On this day of_, 20, before me, the undersigned notary public, personally appeared known to me to be the persons whose names are subscribed to this affidavit, and acknowledged that they executed the same. Signature of Notary Public Print Name of Notary My Commission Expires: Title Signature Date State of Hawaii County of Hawaii On this day of_, 20, before me, the undersigned notary public, personally appeared known to me to be the persons whose names are subscribed to this affidavit, and acknowledged that they executed the same. Signature of Notary Public Print Name of Notary My Commission Expires: // INDEX OFAPPENDIX page 1 ________ image Town Hall Meeting image Press release Cities Forward page 2 _______ Image Fortaleza 2 images of 2 sateltite page 3-------Brazillian media citing major'SMART City agenda page 4--------image of pdf of Smart City village promotion page 5 ________ 2022 ICLEI website mentions smart cities initiatives screenshot of Ri_r D ssuggesting grant and contracts function page 6________ Cities Forward 'fact sheet' showing timeline for project page 7 -----------------image of Mexico city Cities Forward event 2023 image of San Paolo Brazil Cities Forward event 2024 page 8----------Substack entry of Francis Boyle page 9&10----Transcript from Volcano Village Town Hall 2023 UPDATENEWS Hawaii County To Participate In Cities Exhibit 1. Forward Program Mayor Mitch Roth at Town Hall in Volcano where he denied O®O© knowing about SMART cities. Exhibit 2. Volcano Community Center on Press Release for'Cities Forward' August 24, 2023. program ICLEI Partnership 8/26/23 Naleo.ty governmental 55 search volcano' INN 1 . 4- 1 Appendix to Affidavit Exhibits attached to affidavit document page 2 Exhibit 3 Fortaleza Brazil is a large coastal city with population of 2.2 million. r.. . , It is Brazil's 5th largest city and considered important to the Brazillian economy By contrast The County of Hawaii is a rural island ynotacity) with a population of 200, 000.. Exhibit 4a & 4b 2 SMART Cities in proximity to Fortaleza Brazil: F r F J LAt , Smart City Aquiraz-Praia Bela Exhibit 4a O51P"°g°"a'de°a'°pma°` SMART City Aquiraz Fortaleza,om,w.,. o,..ma,t•aa.. o sm k...•=o.,>.dmom..,a.=e.t....m, smart city Aquiraz is located in near proximity°f downtown Fortaleza,close to Beach Park,the largest water park in Latin Americawithmore[han80kinhabitants,Aquiraz isoneoftheareaswiththehighest GDP inthe scare Brazil's second largez tounst center and also the city mort chosen by Ceara residents as their second home. PLANET Real E—ii,DevNopment Digital Pro i— Pdvizoryurvkez 5uzumablity8tn—ii, Portfolio our Company Carrers c-1- Exhibit 4b SMART City Laguna near to Fortaleza Smart City Laguna T The world's first affordable smart city Jfrom150to30zqmQfrom50to80sqmQIrvingroom,kitchen,2or 3 bedm,ms,1or 2 bathrooms Located in Sao Gor4alo do Amarante,gravitating near the city ofFortaleza,the capital city of the Brazilian state of Ceara Its location is ideal for local workers looking for high-quality,affordable housing close to the port of Pecem,an industrial ea providing thousands ofjobs to the region Laguna's proximity to the BR-222 highway also offers easy access to one ofBrazil'sfastest-growing regions. Appendix to Affidavit Exhibits attached to affidavit document page 3 Exhibit 5: Brazillian media 'Brazilian Report' 8/9/19 referencing national Brazillian agenda to 'push' SMART Cities THE BY fiaNew R wre BRAZILIAN REP RT 5yaziianpli9rs.g5omi antlsoia,,as.B Brazilians,in En I h. ABOUTUS + ARTICLES - NEWSLETTERS - POOCAST Aug 99,2o191517 6min reaa IUptlatetl.Oct 15.20 29 ..1 II Brazil's push fear smart cities The Brazilian government launched the National Strategy for U) Sustainable Smart Cities, which will create indicators and goals to faster innovation in Brazil's major urban centers. The National Secretary of Telernnzrnunications and Digital Policies,Vitor Mer czcs-,CIO E said a smart city is,defined by "the use of innovative infrastructure to I U) promote the well-being of local communities through four pillars: social,crivironnlcntal, cultural, and economic."' N CIO rn During the plan"s presentation, government officials laid out their 0 oo first priorities,: the installation of security cameras with facial 0 rn recognition software, crap monitoring technology, systems to reuse No rainwater, and urban mobility projects. "Brazil has an infrastructure U plr b1cmr So we can't talk about sirnart cities before having the basics Q)d I I ne," s aid the secret ary. 0 a a) Smart cities in Brazil CU Italian-British company Plarict has announced bold plans to build ten N CIO smart cities in Brazil by 2022 (it is more accurate to call them `smart N ncighborho-ods', however). The pilot pro'ect (Laguna Smart pity) was a built in Sao Gonzalo do Amarante, in the northeastern state of Ceara. The project cast USD 5,0 million can a land spanning 330 hectares. So far, 50 hectares have been built, with the first farnilies moving Ln in January Appendix to Affidavit Exhibits attached to affidavit document page 4 Exhibit 6 PDF dated May 26, 2020 announcement of Planet Smart City construction of SMART City in proximity to Fortaleza 00 _- PLANET ee smart city Places that matter Planet Smart City expands further in Brazil with new Smart City launch Smart City Aquiraz,Planet's fourth development in the country,will be home to 113,000 residents 26th May 2020-Planet Smart City,the global leader in smart affordable housing,has expanded its presence in Brazil with the launch of its fourth smart project in the country: Smart City Aquiraz. The 200-hectare site,which is located just 29km from Ceara's capital Fortaleza and 6km from the popular tourist beach of Praia Bela,will be home to more than 18,000 residents and easily accessible by public transport. Through its unique proptech approach, Planet applies its expertise in smart solutions integration, digital technologies, services and social innovation to enhance quality of life. Embracing digital transformation,the company places its residents at the heart of its activities. Its smart, sustainable and socially inclusive communities are supported by the unrivalled services of the Planet App, Planet Smart City's proprietary digital platform which enables residents to engage with each other and the neighbourhood around them. Following the successful launch of Smart City Laguna, also in Ceara, Smart City Natal, in Rio Grande do Norte, and Viva!Smart in Sao Paulo, Planet Smart City will invest a total of U$ 40 million to design and develop the new city. Smart City Aquiraz will incorporate Planet's expertise in bringing together superior infrastructure, urban planning, sustainability, digital services and social innovation programmes to deliver affordable high quality,low cost homes which is transforming the way affordable housing is delivered worldwide. Smart City Aquiraz will feature a host of social and digital solutions including a free library, cinema, outdoor fitness areas, cycle lanes, urban gardens, a football pitch, shared kitchen facilities for residents as well as technological features such as free Wi-Fi across communal areas. The impressive offering is underpinned by the unrivalled services of the Planet App, Planet Smart City's proprietary digital platform which enables residents to engage with each other and the neighbourhood around them. Construction of infrastructure in the first phase of the development has already been delivered. The city features two-bedroom houses, which will start to be built as soon as lockdown in the state of Ceara is lifted. First residents are expected to move in by the end of 2020. Located on the CE-040 highway, with daily public transport available, Smart City Aquiraz provides affordable homes for those who work in the capital as well as Fortaleza's buzzing tourism industry.Close by is the state's second-largest hotel park and many beautiful beaches as well as Beach Park—the largest water park in South America. Susanna Marchionni,CEO of Planet Smart City in Brazil said:"We are excited to further extend our presence in Brazil with the addition of Smart City Aquiraz. Brazil is one of the top five r countries with the largest housing deficits worldwide,and through our projects we are able to tackle this issue.Aquiraz's smart affordable homes,valuable services and convenient location near Fortaleza's tourist hotspots will create a buzzing community for years to come." Giovanni Savio,Global CEO of Planet Smart City added:'We are delighted to launch Smart City j Aquiraz and have seen great demand from potential new residents.As with all our cities it is 16 designed to be inclusive, connected and vibrant, supported by a range of services that v encourage shared economics and a new way of community living! Exhibits attached to affidavit document page 5 c 1 Dur Work Members Resources News&Media Events About r Back ICC Intelligent Cities Challenge O Duration:2020-2022 As a unique smart city initiative from the European Commission.the Intelligent Cities Challenge(ICC)has entered its second phase with a focus on the green and digital transition-It will provide its participants with technical support and knowledge-sharing opportunities to develop and implement Local Green Deals in 5 sectors,especially in energy,mobility,and construction The goal is to accelerate the step from strategy to action and address the implementation gap of EU and global sustainability goals.namely the European Green Deal.Local Green Deals within the ICC focus on agreements hetween the cities and their local economy,with a focus on small-to medium-sized enterprises. Contact: Niklas Mischkowski ICC cities will receive high quality and tailored guidance and expert support,access to advisory and city 0 niklas.mischkowskiou iclei.org peer networks(European and international)and receive training and coaching.ICLEI`s main task is in supporting all participating cities through a Local Green Deal training&coaching programme- Exhibit 7 ICEEI website referencing SMART cities intitiatives between 2020 & 2022 0 0 r i r' rhttps://icIei-europe.org/projects/?c=search&uid=4Mi1DXBq r`.- JL lL COUNTY(), HAWAI'I RESEARCH&DEVELOPMENT Homo RD About R&D Economic Development Data&Information Funding&Grant Resources Immigration Information 6 do L Impact Grants RZD Innovation Grants RBDIH'am i'I Island Visitor Promotions Grant Government Grant Opportunities Foundation Grant Sources 1 .,J. Wra11—1 QSha:c&BUu nark roil Sice:OQ Amencan Ras—Plan New County of Hawall'! State and Local FiscalIrtrastructureInvestmentandJobs L A Recovery Funds Grant ProgramsInflationIRedu[tion A[[(INiAi Announ[ements Food Security and Agricultural Initiative Programs 1 i Grant Training&Nonprofit Resources 5[halarships EarLy ChiLdcare Initiatives Programs. Exhibit 8 County of Hawaii Research & Development website referencing grant and contracts function https://www.rd.hawaiicounty.gov/funding-grant-resources/government-grant-opportunities Exhibits attached to affidavit document page 6 CITI ES CITIES FORWARD: FORWARD COMMITMENT TO ACTION L On April 27, 2023, the U.S. Department of State officially launched its flagship urban sustainability initiative— Cities Forward—at the Cities Summit of the Americas, fulfilling a U.S. government commitment made at the Ninth Summit of the Americas in June of 2022. The State Department selected a hemisphere-wide consortium led by ICLEI USA, ICLEI Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, ICLEI South America and their partners Resilient Cities Catalyst, and the Institute of Americas to implement this transformative program which aims to help cities create the sustainable, inclusive, and resilient future they want. OUR MISSION The goal of the Cities Forward initiative is to help participating cities implement solutions that advance investments in urban services that promote sustainability, inclusivity, and resilience in neighborhoods and communities. Cities Forward advances this mission with our Western Hemisphere neighbors through collaboration that builds stronger and oil more equitable economic foundations, strengthens sustainability, and promotes a healthy environment for all. Through Cities Forward, local 6• leaders will build capacity through shared knowledge to address common challenges. Participating cities in Latin America and the Caribbean will I If 1.' develop local sustainability action plans, reflecting their citizen's highest 1' •"f. priorities, particularly from underserved communities. Cities Forward will EhelpbuildpartnershipswithlocalleadersandexpertsintheUnited States. In addition, the initiative will facilitate opportunities for cities to seek investments and financing to help implement their plans. Scan the QR code to learn more. ICLE'C TIESENT INSTITUTE F'F 1` F F AMERICASnullifCATALYSTLocalGovernmentsVforSustainahility 1 f 9..... YI I till Exhibit 9 showing promotion and value for urban development urban development that has not been disclosed to community. link to this page is currently posted on County R & D website 10/16/24 but link is blocked' and not viewable from site Appendix to Affidavit Exhibits attached to affidavit document page 7 photo from Hawaii County R& D webiste Exhibit 10 Frecia Cevallos representing Hawaii County at ICLEI 'Forward Cities' event Mexico City 9/26/23 10 Lr video posted on Hawaii County R&D website titled 'Cities Forward Cooperation Charter Fortaleza Brazil and Hawaii County, Hawaii Exhibit 11 Frecia Cevallos at 'Cities Forward ' Conference in Sao Paolo Brazil next to her mentor/partner Luciana Lobo, ''Secretary of Planning and Environment' of Fortaleza, Brazil.The Charter agreement between The County of Hawaii and Fortaleza Brazil was announced. Page 8 Exhibit 12 Substack of Francis Boyle referencing violation of United Nations Charter Demarche against UN Pact for the Future 4 L Dear Excellencies: Please accept my Compliments.This Pact for the Future will be concluded by Heads of State and Heads of Government who presumptively have Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Powers to unilaterally bind their respective States under International Law.As such this Pact will constitute a Treaty as defined by the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties with all the legal obligations that attach to and flow from a Treaty under both International Law and the domestic Constitutional Laws of the respective States. This Pact will constitute an end-run around the established procedures for amending the United Nations Charter that are set forth therein.This Pact will set up the United Nations Secretary General as the Dictator of the entire Uniting Nations Organization upon his mere ipse dixit that there exists an "emergency" as defined by him. To the contrary there are six Independent Organs of the United Nations: The Security Council; the General Assembly; The Trusteeship Council; The Economic and Social Council; The International Court of Justice; and the Secretariat.That is precisely why he is called Secretary General, a mere Secretary, and not Director General. These 6 U.N. Organs were deliberately set up at the San Francisco Conference to be independent of each other,with no one Organ having supervisory jurisdiction over any other Organ. But under this Pact,the UN Secretary General will in violation of the terms of the United Nations Charter arrogate to himself all the powers of the General Assembly,the Trusteeship Council,the Economic and Social Council, and the Secretariat, as well as over all U.N. Specialized Agencies and U.N.Affiliated Organizations. He will thus become the Dictator General of the United Nations Organization,not its Secretary in charge of only the Secretariat as originally designed at the San Francisco Conference.This totalitarian arrangement will constitute a grave,dire, and immediate threat to the Sovereignty and Independence of all United Nations Member States.For these reasons,I implore you to vigorously oppose this Pact for the Future. Please accept the assurance of my highest consideration. Francis A. Boyle Professor of International Law. Pg 9 Exhibit 13: Partial transcript extracted from public meeting August 24, 2023. Volcano Village Town Hall with Mayor Mitch Roth and multiple Heads of Department in County of Hawaii ) Video source: NaLeo.ty: channel: governmental 55 keyword (search: 'volcano' @ 25:04 Mayor Roth states As we're looking at our general plan where, you know, the community is kind of giving us the direction there, we hope that you come out. We hope that all of you come out to be a part of this. You know, the worst thing is if nobody comes out or very few people come out and dictates what that plan is. @ 55:42 mins members of the public discuss the term 'SMART CITY' Public Participant 1: Aloha, my question is, what exactly is a 15-minute SMART City?And what, if anything, does that have to do with our Hawaii Island? And what does the planning department have in the... or what...? Bring us up to date on that, please." (sounds of clapping and cheering in the audience) Mayor Mitch Roth: Actually, I'm not really sure what you're talking about... 15-minute city, he said... Hang on, Frecia, are you around? Hopefully, she didn't leave. Frecia? Frecia? Okay... Maybe "R&D" knows a little bit about this... 15- minute SMART City, do you know anything about that?" Ms. Frecia Cevallos: I don't actually, but I can find out. I'm so sorry." Mayor Mitch Roth: There's a conference in Maui, is what you're saying? In Maui? Okay... I know, 'you know, "SMART city." .. there's a whole bunch of stuff that they talk about there, with information and stuff like that. I can tell you, I don't know specifically about what you're talking about. We know what the SMART City is... we'll find out. We'II take a look for that, okay?" Public Participant 2: another member of the audience was handed the mic and interjected): The SMART Cities are where they want us contained within a 15-minute area, and you know all about it. It's all over the news, it's all over social media, it's all over everything. And also, it goes hand in hand with your sustainability plan that you started your speech off with, and it's in lockstep with the World Economic Forum and the World Health Organization. We know all about it. You should know all about it if you're our mayor." Mayor Mitch Roth: I will take a look and see. I mean, I gotta tell you this—I'm your mayor, but I don't know everything." Although Mayor Roth and Ms. Frecia Cevallos explicitly denied familiarity with the concept of"SMART Cities," a press release issued two days later contradicted these statements. @ 55:42 mins 3rd member of public asks about potential for urban redevelopment: Hi, thank you guys so much for coming up. I have a question, or really, I think,just a concern that's probably shared by a lot of the community, and it pertains to Big Island, but I'll start with where we just saw it happen. On Maui, there are policies that were in place that could have incentivized some Pg 10 of the behavior that we saw from, like, big real estate conglomerates that wanted to swoop in and purchase a bunch of the land and all of that. We're really concerned that similar provisions might be brought into an urban development plan that's being implemented out here.We want to make sure that the urban development plan is truly community-led and not being forced on the community. And there's a lot of goals that I don't think the community is in enough agreement that we can just put down the gas on this thing and make it go forward. And that's what drew me here today, and I just wanted to raise that. Zendo Kern, Planning Director : Sure, to speak to that, part of what we have is within the general plan is we have the future land use maps, or currently the land use pattern allocation guide maps. And that basically shows the areas where the urban growth would occur, where ag would be, where your rural would be. That pretty much sets where the growth should occur. That's just the beginning. So anybody that would be coming in to actually try to get a change of zone has to go through a very challenging process, requires a lot of studies, et cetera.Then that goes through the planning department for us to look at and reference that against the general plan, the community development plans, and then the area plan before we can give a recommendation whether we support it or don't support it. From there, it moves to a planning commission, and that's a public hearing process. And from there, it goes to the county council for a minimum of three hearings, and those are all public hearing processes as well. So in order to do that, it's at least a year, if not longer. There's a lot of public awareness and a lot of public engagement within that, and that's a time for the community to come out, speak to things, share concerns, and then adjustments are generally made to that. So the fear of somebody coming in and having it green-lit tomorrow to be able to do urban unless it's already zoned isn't going to happen. If the land's currently zoned and they have their entitlements that they can work with up here, I'm not aware of any large scale. @128 minutes 4th member of the public expresses concern about SMART Cities: That Governor Green recently gave a speech to the United Nations where he was talking about his plans for the 15 minute cities in the smart islands and how Hawaii is a perfect test case for such things. Now, apparently you haven't heard of this.Uh So my request to you is find out what the governor meant and what his plans for this island may be to implement that. And then my request is don't do it. Mayor Mitch Ross replies: I have as a notes to myself one of the things to do is find out what the hell this 15 minute uh thing is smart city is uh and learn about it. So I will learn about it and I'm not sure what is. I did not listen to his speech to the United Nations. Uh You know, I apologize but didn't do it.Uh I missed that one. Thank you. From: Sherilvn Wells To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv Subject: Comments on proposed changes to General Plan Date:Wednesday,January 15,2025 11:31:51 PM Attachments: Hawaii General Plan Proposed Chances 2025 comments by Sherilvn Wells January 2025.doc This is my first submission. Please see attached document. Opening observation: Hawai'i General Plan re Proposed Changes in 2025 —Submission Number One (January 2025) Need to study plan's foundational topic(s) more inclusively—review scientific dissent/dialogue for a more scientific approach and better informed choices 1 , Need to broaden the range of future scenario assumptions to include inventions already in existence and patents that will no longer remain suppressed, Preconceived (but unstated) alliances and their premises apparently exist in this plan, thus immediately narrowing the field of options under consideration: Is this plan on the verge of becoming a WEF Great Reset clone, based/focused on, for one example, prevalent terms like STAKEHOLDER, while neglecting to mention the essential, fundamental notion of HOMEOWNER? If our Plan is going to ally itself with an entity, let's make that choice transparent and let's choose one that values humanity and freedom, not one that seeks to dominate and control. 1 htU2s://judithciLrii.-y.com/blog-rules-and-netiquette/ Mahalo, Sherilyn Wells Sent with Proton Mail secure email. 1 Hawai'i General Plan re Proposed Changes in 2025— Submission Number One (January 2025) Need to study plan's foundational topic(s) more inclusively—review scientific dissent/dialogue for a more scientific approach and better informed choices Need to broaden the range of future scenario assumptions to include inventions already in existence and patents that will no longer remain suppressed, Preconceived(but unstated) alliances and their premises apparently exist in this plan, thus immediately narrowing the field of options under consideration: Is this plan on the verge of becoming a WEF Great Reset clone, based/focused on, for one example,prevalent terms like STAKEHOLDER, while neglecting to mention the essential, fundamental notion of HOMEOWNER? If our Plan is going to ally itself with an entity, let's make that choice transparent and let's choose one that values humanity and freedom, not one that seeks to dominate and control. Sherilyn Wells Waikoloa Village Submission Number One January 2025 Climate change (natural climate variation) is and has always been real (reflect on the mini Ice Age of a few centuries ago; reflect on the warning in the 1970's that another such ice age was almost upon us2). Recently,the term was narrowed by a small group of researchers to refer ONLY to the human factor,based on these underlying assumptions - that there is a high level of anthropogenic/human influence on climate due to burning fossil fuels, that that influence is uniformly negative, that global climate modeling can predict the future complexities of climate, that a continuation down that fossil fuel energy path is leading to disaster. The narrow and politicized framing of the climate change debate has resulted in an oversimplification of the scientific problem and its solutions." The three incontrovertible facts about global warming, as listed by Prof. Emeritus Judith Curry: Average global surface temperatures have overall increased since about 1860. hops://judithcM.com/blog-rules-and-netiguette/ 2 On April 28, 1975,Newsweek published a provocative article,"The Cooling World,"in which writer and science editor Peter Gwynne described a significant chilling of the world's climate,with evidence accumulating"so massively that meteorologists are hard-pressed to keep up with it."He raised the possibility of shorter growing seasons and poor crop yields,famine,and shipping lanes blocked by ice, perhaps to begin as soon as the mid-1980s.Meteorologists,he wrote,were"almost unanimous"in the opinion that our planet was getting colder.Over the years that followed,Gwynne's article became one of the most-cited stories in Newsweek's history.... Scores of similar articles,some with even more dire predictions of a"little ice age"to come,appeared during the 1970s in such mainstream publications as Time, Science Digest, The Los Angeles Times,Fortune, The Chicago Tribune,New York Magazine, The New York Times, The Christian Science Monitor,Popular Science, and National Geographic. 2 Carbon dioxide has infrared emission spectra and thus acts to warm the planet. Humans have been adding CO2 to the atmosphere by the emissions from burning of fossil fuels.' BUT.... 1. De2ree of human influence on climate is not settled, however 4, despite dire pronouncements prematurely posted(a)by a highly controlled media owned by agenda- driven, vastly reduced (concentrated) ownership and(b) by editors ofjournals who curate publications to favor only those studies expressing one particular viewpoint. Judith Curry's five minutes of testimony to Commerce/Science/Transportation subcommittee re SR253 — https://x.com/TakingoutTrash7/status/1682911250437611521 This restriction on information via"official channels" is why a scientist who co-authored the Hurricane Katrina study that was a major accelerant for the Climate Change movement in 2005 now suggests publishing online, bypassing those journal-gatekeepers. Publishing online allows for much broader peer review, often far superior in depth of analysis and more nuanced observations, along with much greater transparency regarding data sets and methodology. Science is a process of continuously evaluating the evidence, challenging our assumptions, and critically reassessing our conclusions, rather than a collective of decreed truths."Dr. Judith Curry Rather than dismiss critics of her Hurricane Katrina study, which the Climate Change community adored, Prof. Judith Curry took a deeper look at their criticisms and published a thoughtful review entitled"Mixing Politics and Science in Testing the Hypothesis That Greenhouse Warming Is Causing a Global Increase in Hurricane Intensity."' hLtps://www.youtube.com/results?search guea=stem-talk+podcast+ihmc+Judith+curry 4 https://youtu.be/_2Bw52FjYi4 s https://joumals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/bams/87/8/bams-87-8-1025.xml The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was the most active and costly season on record.Recent publications linking an increase in hurricane intensity to increasing tropical sea surface temperatures have fueled the debate on whether or not global warming is causing an increase in hurricane intensity.Because of the substantial implications of the hurricane—global warming issue for society and the immediate policy relevance associated with decision making related to Hurricane Katrina,attacks and rebuttals related to this research are being made in the media and on the World Wide Web without the rigor or accountability expected of scientific discourse.In this paper,we aim to promote a balanced and thoughtful examination of this subject by clarifying the debate surrounding the subject as to whether or not global warming is causing an increase in global hurricane intensity, illustrating a methodology of hypothesis testing to address multiple criticisms of a complex hypothesis that involves a causal chain,and providing a case study of the impact of politics,the media,and the World Wide Web on the scientific process. 3 2. But then the shock of CLIMATEGATE, circa 2009, reverberated throughout the climate change community. The revelation, due to an unauthorized release of HADCRU emails from the Climate Research Unit at the University of East Anglia(part of the IPCC), that some researchers were manipulating climate data to make it appear the earth was heating up dangerously, was a game-changer for ethical scientists who had previously trusted the IPCC to present honest and accurate reports. The emails revealed that a number of IPCC authors (1) had evaded FOIA requests for data, (2) had cherry-picked data, (3) had manipulated the peer review process, (4) had downplayed uncertainty, and(5) had otherwise attempted to squash and discredit skeptics. The IPCC had been funded to study/discover only negative, anthropogenic influences on climate change, thus avoiding a comprehensive look at all influences and all results, both positive and negative, which would have been the most scientific approach to the topic. And Climategate was, apparently, one result of this narrow directive. In the aftermath of Climategate, one scientist—Judith Curry—posted this commentary6 ON THE CREDIBILITY OF CLIMATE RESEARCH" on Climate Audit, an award- winning skeptics blog'. The Climate Audit site is worth reviewing, to read alternate professional viewpoints on issues (the essence of what science is supposed to do— discuss/debate in an arena where all information is welcomed, where all voices may be heard). I@K rd winner Prof. Curry points to the need for the climate scientists to do better at making data publicly available, to be completely transparent about their methods, to be honest about uncertainties, and to be more respectful to scientists critical of the research. two broader issues raised by these emails that are impeding the public credibility of climate research: lack of transparency in climate data, and tribalism"in some segments of the climate research community that is impeding peer review and the assessment process." School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences,Georgia Institute of Technology,Atlanta,Georgia;National Center for Atmospheric Research,Boulder,Colorado CORRESPONDING AUTHOR:Judith A.Curry,School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences,Georgia Institute of Technology,311 Ferst Drive,Atlanta.,GA 30332-0340,E-mail:curryjaneas.gatech.edu 6 hops://climateaudit.org/2009/11/22/curry-on-the-credibility-of-climate-research/ hLtps://climateaudit.org/author/stevemciptyre/re/ 4 Dr. Curry's entire commentary on the aftermath of CLIMATEGATE is posted at the end of my testimony. 3. What global climate models can and can't do well: Global climate models create a coarse grained simulation of earth's climate system using computers. These models simulate atmosphere, ocean, land surface, sea ice, and glaciers. Models use complex mathematical equations that can only be approximately solved on computers. Some of the equations and climate models are based on laws of physics.. However, there are key processes in climate models that are approximated and not based on physical laws. Hence, there are a LOT of"tunable parameters" in these climate models, including solar direct effects and CLOUDS. Climate models can't tell us anything about climate sensitivity to CO21, but recent studies may be shedding more light on CO2 saturation dynamics — Two recently-published papers found that doubling CO2 in the atmosphere led to minimal temperature increases. The calculated figures can be considered to be in margin of error territory and on past observational evidence they pose no threat to the climate on Earth. They also destroy the shaky scientific foundation upon which Net Zero rests. Eight Taiwanese scientists led by Professor Peng-Sheng Wei found that the sensitivity of the climate to a rise in CO2 atmospheric levels from 100 to 400 parts per million(ppm)was "negligibly small" at 0.3°C. The paper is complex and examines heat transfers as a function of longitude, latitude and altitude "as well as diffuse radiation determined by absorption bands based on wavelength,temperature and the concentration or pressure of carbon dioxide vapour." The rest of the article above is posted at the end of this testimony. And there is still a factor of 3 uncertainty in these models, as per Dr. Curry. In addition, the effect of our solar system transiting through a highly magnetized interstellar cloud(which appears to be a factor in changes observed on ALL the planets, as per extensive David Wilcock references on Gaiam to scientific articles)is not included in these models - https://web.archive.org/web/20230604143301/https://science.nasa.gov/science- news/science-at-nasa/2009/23dec_voyager Global models are exceedingly complex .. and are amazing tools for trying to understand how global climate works, but are NOT fit for making future predictions, simulating regional climates or extreme weather or climate events. 8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHhV_RY ac https://mindandmatter.substack.coli p/udith-curry-climatology-climate https://www.nickiikomes.com post/Judith-curry-climatology-climate-change-computer-modelinggreen- energy-greenhouse-gasses-84-1 5 The Global Warming Policy Foundation— Climate Models For The Layman https://www.thegwpf.org > content> uploads > 2017 > 02 > Curry-2017.pdf Global Warming Policy Foundation —2024 Annual GWTF Lecture (with transcript) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icisZV8i3OlE The most important gaps in current understanding of climate change Climate Uncertainty and Risk by Judith A. Curry,page 8): Solar impacts on climate,including indirect effects beyond solar heating Multi-decadal and century-scale natural internal variability associated with large-scale ocean circulations Mechanisms of vertical heat transfer in the ocean Fast thermodynamic feedbacks (water vapor, clouds, atmospheric lapse rate) that determine the climate sensitivity to increases in atmospheric greenhouse gases Earth's carbon budget and carbon cycle Ice sheet dynamics Geothermal heat transfer under the oceans and ice sheets Disagreement— Causes of Recent Climate Change Climate is generally stable/Change caused by external inputs VERSUS Climate is dynamic/Change primarily occurs naturally E.G. Chart shows global sea level rise began around 1860,well before fossil carbon emissions became significant https://Youtu.be/ 2Bw52FiYi4 6 rchange QMY) temperaturesshiftsin 0 E t>O G OM W 100 u 1 SOU J ai41 1 1900 1960 Y"r Global sea level rise started-1860, well before fossil carbon emissions became significant. a a i a "` it i i r Clir1-'ate is generally stableClimate is dynamic 7 Chanee caused by external inputs Change primarily occurs naturally CO. . i', *'ht: prii iary c.lirnate H ghly complex cis 7,.,r°r_,.il sy,ttr r control knob' 4 No i:r,~_PIS CO. warmin,g is amplii'ied by Clirnate shifts naturally in knownw+n factors unexpected ways. Key driver- large-scale ocean circulations and changes in cloudiness There remains a factor of 3 uncertainty in the sensitivity of the climate to increasing CO2. For radically reducing CO2 emissions to make any sense in terms of the climate, the climate sensitivity of CO2 would need to be on the high end and natural climate variability would need to be discounted. On the other hand,if the climate 7 sensitivity to increasing CO2 is on the low end and natural variability is dominant, then decreasing CO2 emissions won't have much of a noticeable effect. Further,we are unable to predict SOLAR VARIATIONS,volcanic eruptions, and multidecadal oscillations, so there's a great deal of uncertainty in the model. There's a key difference between a scientific consensus and a consensus of scientists: Scientific consensus reflects our longstanding knowledge base about a topic about which there is, essentially, no scientific disagreement(e.g., earth orbits the sun). On the other hand, a consensus of scientists represents a deliberate expression of collective judgment by a group of scientists on a poorly understood topic. This is often at the official request of a government or organization, ergo will have political overtones and pressures. See Dr.Judith Curry testimony to Congressional subcommittee (link on page 1). NEW ENERGY SOURCES The Plan fails to account for emergence of energy systems that have nothing to do with fossil fuels, that will moot the basis for the assertion of anthropogenic climate change. Working models of patents (such as anti-gravity vehicles) already exist, according to U.S. Navy, in confirming Patent Office inquiries re whether to approve the patents submitted by Salvatore Cezar Pais, a Romanian-American scientist. In addition to the U.S. Navy/Salvatore Pais patents, there are thousands of suppressed patents,including clean (free, anti-gravity,zero point, etc.) energy production and propulsion systems and medical technology, many of which President Trump is committed to releasing, as first indicated in his 2017 inaugural address9. Although administrative agencies resisted his executive order and slowed the release of such patents to a mere trickle during his first term, there is every reason to believe THIS time the administrative response will be much livelier, far more in the public interest. President Trump had better luck in his first term with the category of"mysteries of space," as referenced in that address, when he oversaw the creation of Space Force. See quote in footnote and the following screenshot. 9"We stand at the birth of a new millennium,ready to unlock the mysteries of space,to free the earth from the miseries of disease,and to harness the energies,industries,and technologies of tomorrow." 8 i i %rri PC %P404 WAPI b1*1 1 N1 0 A S' IL 661 qWCWWwWMTC13" I POPMW MWKM MWJM-M,C6111ift I10 Md,NO Azti w:Pi"Y 4wrkm (-- Rmrn tmrffararr i.pm47nducII y.:Iwi I II 4 FrwencfJ3 -Jachpnk C14 (— GM-AAMW Skipat4#41,14 PT 1 4M-11 i(AME1 IhM[Ile ljeclt-'I`A9'fl I '1 "71.'. 1 S'k WO.,C'or':&A,r ri.c,,+L,_LI:t t k t c. W,--F;c d"eAwj LM'-M JWv"WM11h#owtm Opfidirt"b'd-iftift Regarding patents for new energy options, propulsion, etc., with some working models already in existence. Listen to inventor Salvatore Cezar Pais (affiliated with U.S.Navy) on Curt Jaimungal's Theory of Everything. hLtps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5E6QyAhTB3o tti)s://www.voutube.com/watch?v=PE4C7017Frg&t--Os P oi lTHE PHYSICS OF UFOs Salvatore Pais on Quantum Gravity, UAP Patents,Pais-0 1 153K wiews 6 mr,`- J 9 AY 0 Ad- Oda'. r 1 F NEW STUDIES ON SATURATION OF CO2 AND ITS PLANETARY BENEFITS Dramatic evidence has been published in a number of recent science papers that carbon dioxide levels are already saturated', meaning little or no further warming is to be expected and rising CO2 levels are all beneficial. Half of human emissions are being quickly pushed back into the biosphere,the scientists say, causing substantial, famine-busting plant growth, while the rest is entering a 'saturated' atmosphere and having a minimal effect on global temperatures. One of the papers accepting the human involvement in rising CO2 is published by the CO2 Coalition,which notes: "We like CO2,so should you." None of this work will be reported in the mainstream since it disrupts a'settled' climate science narrative tied to the political Net Zero fantasy. But the opinion that humans control the climate thermostat by releasing CO2, leading to runaway temperatures, belongs to a dark period in science when it was captured to promote political aims. 10 However, work continues in skeptical climate circles to understand how a number of gases with warming properties behave in a chaotic, non-linear atmosphere. Two recently-published papers found that doubling CO2 in the atmosphere led to minimal temperature increases. The calculated figures can be considered to be in margin of error territory and on past observational evidence they pose no threat to the climate on Earth. They also destroy the shaky scientific foundation upon which Net Zero rests. Eight Taiwanese scientists led by Professor Peng-Sheng Wei found that the sensitivity of the climate to a rise in CO2 atmospheric levels from 100 to 400 parts per million (ppm)was "negligibly small" at 0.3°C. The paper is complex and examines heat transfers as a function of longitude, latitude and altitude "as well as diffuse radiation determined by absorption bands based on wavelength, temperature and the concentration or pressure of carbon dioxide vapour." What the scientists are looking at here is the narrow absorption bands within the infrared (IR) spectrum that allow `greenhouse' gases to trap heat and warm the planet. Many argue that after a certain level the gases `saturate' and lose most of their warming properties. One simple way to understand this is to observe that doubling insulation in a loft will not trap twice as much heat. The saturation hypothesis would appear to explain how CO2 has been 10-15 times higher in the past without runaway temperatures,while the anthropogenic warming opinion does little more than provide scientific cover for a dodgy but fashionable extreme eco scare. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change claims a climate sensitivity number based on doubling CO2 levels of around 3°C. But many climate models ramp up mass public hysteria by using 'pathways'with much larger and highly improbable estimates. The latter form the basis of numerous'scientists say'stories faithfully reported by unquestioning mainstream media. The Taiwanese scientists found that ground temperature warming of 0.3°C was associated with the increase from 100 ppm to 350 ppm and there was no additional warming at all as CO2 rose further from 350 ppm to 400 ppm. The current level of CO2 in the atmosphere is 420 ppm. Seven Austrian scientists have also recently concentrated on CO2 and the infrared spectrum, noting that a future doubling of the gas up to 800 ppm "shows no increase in the IR absorption for the 15 u-central peak". It is concluded that this can lead to 0.5°C warming at most. The scientists argue that climate models and their CO2 influences should be revised. Much more experimental evidence about IR radiation should be collected "before appointing current warming trends and climate change mechanisms monocausal to greenhouse gas theories." The recent papers on CO2 saturation are not the only ones to have been published lately. Earlier this year a group of Polish scientists led by Dr. Jan Kubicki supplied three papers arguing that above 400 ppm, "the CO2 concentration can no longer cause any increase in temperature." In 2023, three scientists including Atmospheric Professor Yi Huang of McGill University stated that: "in the CO2 band centre is unchanged by increased CO2 as the absorption is already saturated." In Chen et al. 2023, it is reported that CO2 had a severely reduced warming effect past pre-industrial concentrations. It was also noted that water vapour and cloud influences overlap and thus dominate absorption in the CO2 IR band. In 2022, the German Physics Professor Dieter Schildnecht set the CO2 saturation level at lust 300 ppm. The CO2 Coalition is an educational foundation that says it provides facts, resources and information about the vital role" CO2 plays in the environment. It recently published a detailed paper that accepted humans had contributed most of the CO2 that has entered the atmosphere in industrial times. The paper is sub-titled: "How 11 human emissions are restoring vital atmospheric CO2." The coalition has long promoted the role that saturation plays in tempering the effect of a number of gases with warming properties.Attention is often drawn in its work to the part played by water vapour that makes up around 4% of the atmosphere and contributes as much as 80%of the Earth's vital warming. It saturates over large parts of the IR spectrum, reducing the effect of other gases in their own specific bands. The coalition's board includes the distinguished Professor William Happer, who has long argued the merits of the saturation hypothesis, and it was recently joined by the 2022 Nobel Physics Laureate Dr. John Clauser. Levels of CO2 have been much higher in the past, with evidence of vibrant animal and plant life. Many plants evolved to thrive with higher levels than they feed on today, a period some scientists argue is one of CO2 denudation. In its recently published paper, the coalition observes that the higher the CO2 content in the atmosphere,the greater the pressure from physical processes to drive CO2 into the oceans and vegetation. This is borne out by considerable evidence, although the recent substantial 'greening' of the planet is largely hidden from readers reliant on mainstream media. In fact the new 'green revolution' is feeding the world. The authors of a recent science paper, Charles Taylor and Wolfram Schlenker, state: "We consistently find a large fertilisation effect; a 1 ppm increase in CO2 equates to a 0.4%, 0.6%, 1% yield increase for corn, soybean and wheat respectively." The heavy greening of the Earth can be seen in a map first published in Donohue/CSIRO 2015 and republished in another recent paper from the CO2 Coalition. This examined the nutritive value of plants growing in enhanced CO2 concentrations. Deserts 'greening' from rising CO2 r 20% 10% s 4r 10% 20% The map was produced from satellite leaf data and shows that greening between 1982-2012 grew by 20-30% in India, West Australia, the Sahel and the Anatolian highlands. A more recent paper Chen et al. 2024 found that greening had actually accelerated in the last two decades. The increase in CO2 was found to be the dominant driver of the positive trend of the Leaf Area Index over most of the global land surface. Article author: Chris Morrison Curry —On The Credibility Of Climate Research Nov. 22, 2009 Having been riveted for the last few days by posts in the blogosphere on the HADCRU hack and the increasing attention being given to this by the mainstream media, I would 12 like to provide an"external but insider" assessment and perspective. My perspective is as a climate researcher that is not involved directly in any of the controversies and issues in the purloined HADCRU emails, but as one that is familiar with this research, the surrounding controversies, and many of the individuals who sent these emails. While the blogosphere has identified many emails that allegedly indicate malfeasance, clarifications especially from Gavin Schmidt have been very helpful in providing explanations and the appropriate context for these emails. However, even if the hacked emails from HADCRU end up to be much ado about nothing in the context of any actual misfeasance that impacts the climate data records, the damage to the public credibility of climate research is likely to be significant. In my opinion,there are two broader issues raised by these emails that are impeding the public credibility of climate research: lack of transparency in climate data, and "tribalism"in some segments of the climate research community that is impeding peer review and the assessment process. 1. Transparency. Climate data needs to be publicly available and well documented. This includes metadata that explains how the data were treated and manipulated, what assumptions were made in assembling the data sets, and what data was omitted and why. This would seem to be an obvious and simple requirement, but the need for such transparency has only been voiced recently as the policy relevance of climate data has increased. The HADCRU surface climate dataset and the paleoclimate dataset that has gone into the various "hockeystick" analyses stand out as lacking such transparency. Much of the paleoclimate data and metadata has become available only because of continued public pressure from Steve McIntyre. Datasets that were processed and developed decades ago and that are now regarded as essential elements of the climate data record often contain elements whose raw data or metadata were not preserved (this appears to be the case with HADCRUT). The HADCRU surface climate dataset needs public documentation that details the time period and location of individual station measurements used in the data set, statistical adjustments to the data, how the data were analyzed to produce the climatology, and what measurements were omitted and why. If these data and metadata are unavailable, I would argue that the data set needs to be reprocessed(presumably the original raw data is available from the original sources). Climate data sets should be regularly reprocessed as new data becomes available and analysis methods improve. There are a number of aspects of the surface climate record that need to be understood better. For example, the surface temperature bump ca. 1940 needs to be sorted out, and I am personally lacking confidence in how this period is being treated in the HADCRUT analysis. In summary, given the growing policy relevance of climate data, increasingly higher standards must be applied to the transparency and availability of climate data and metadata. These standards should be clarified, applied and enforced by the relevant national funding agencies and professional societies that publish scientific journals. 2. Climate tribalism. Tribalism is defined here as a strong identity that separates one's group from members of another group, characterized by strong in-group loyalty and regarding other groups differing from the tribe's defining characteristics as inferior. In the context of scientific research, tribes differ from groups of colleagues that collaborate and otherwise associate with each other professionally. As a result of the politicization of climate science, climate tribes (consisting of a small number of climate researchers)were 13 established in response to the politically motivated climate disinformation machine that was associated with e.g. ExxonMobil, CEI, Inhofe/Morano etc. The reaction of the climate tribes to the political assault has been to circle the wagons and point the guns outward in an attempt to discredit misinformation from politicized advocacy groups. The motivation of scientists in the pro AGW tribes appears to be less about politics and more about professional ego and scientific integrity as their research was under assault for nonscientific reasons (I'm sure there are individual exceptions, but this is my overall perception). I became adopted into a"tribe" during Autumn 2005 after publication of the Webster et al. hurricane and global warming paper. I and my colleagues were totally bewildered and overwhelmed by the assault we found ourselves under, and associating with a tribe where others were more experienced and savvy about how to deal with this was a relief and very helpful at the time. After becoming more knowledgeable about the politics of climate change (both the external politics and the internal politics within the climate field),I became concerned about some of the tribes pointing their guns inward at other climate researchers who question their research or don't pass various loyalty tests. I even started spending time at climateaudit, and my public congratulations to Steve McIntyre when climateaudit won the "best science blog award"was greeted with a rather unpleasant email from one of the tribal members. While the "hurricane wars" fizzled out in less than a year as the scientists recovered from the external assault and got back to business as usual in terms of arguing science with their colleagues, the "hockey wars" have continued apparently unabated. With the publication of the IPCC 4th Assessment report, the Nobel Peace Prize, and energy legislation near the top of the national legislative agenda, the"denialists"were becoming increasingly irrelevant(the Heartland Conference and NIPCC are not exactly household words). Hence it is difficult to understand the continued circling of the wagons by some climate researchers with guns pointed at skeptical researchers by apparently trying to withhold data and other information of relevance to published research, thwart the peer review process, and keep papers out of assessment reports. Scientists are of course human, and short-term emotional responses to attacks and adversity are to be expected, but I am particularly concerned by this apparent systematic and continuing behavior from scientists that hold editorial positions, serve on important boards and committees and participate in the major assessment reports. It is these issues revealed in the HADCRU emails that concern me the most, and it seems difficult to spin many of the emails related to FOIA,peer review, and the assessment process. I sincerely hope that these emails do not in actuality reflect what they appear to, and I encourage Gavin Schmidt et al. to continue explaining the individual emails and the broader issues of concern. In summary, the problem seems to be that the circling of the wagons strategy developed by small groups of climate researchers in response to the politically motivated attacks against climate science are now being used against other climate researchers and the more technical blogs (e.g. Climateaudit, Lucia, etc). Particularly on a topic of such great public relevance, scientists need to consider carefully skeptical arguments and either rebut them or learn from them. Trying to suppress them or discredit the skeptical researcher or blogger is not an ethical strategy and one that will backfire in the long run. I have some sympathy for Phil Jones' concern of not wanting to lose control of his personal research agenda by having to take the time to respond to all the queries and 14 requests regarding his dataset, but the receipt of large amounts of public funding pretty much obligates CRU to respond to these requests. The number of such requests would be drastically diminished if all relevant and available data and metadata were made publicly accessible, and if requests from Steve McIntyre were honored(I assume that many spurious requests have been made to support Steve McIntyre's request, and these would all disappear). The HADCRU hack has substantially increased the relevance of Climateaudit, WUWT, etc. The quickest way for HADCRU et al. to put Climateaudit and the rest of this tribe out of business is make all climate data and metadata public and make every effort to improve the datasets based on all feedback that you receive. Do this and they will quickly run out of steam and become irrelevant . Gavin Schmidt's current efforts at realclimate are a good step in the right direction of increasing transparency. But the broader issue is the need to increase the public credibility of climate science. This requires publicly available data and metadata, a rigorous peer review process, and responding to arguments raised by skeptics. The integrity of individual scientists that are in positions of responsibility (e.g. administrators at major research institutions, editorial boards, major committees, and assessments) is particularly important for the public credibility of climate science. The need for public credibility and transparency has dramatically increased in recent years as the policy relevance of climate research has increased. The climate research enterprise has not yet adapted to this need, and our institutions need to strategize to respond to this need. https://climateaudit.org/2009/11/22/curry-on-the-credibility-of-climate-research/ From: Terri Yoshinaoa To:WPCtestimonv;LPCtestimonv Subject: Revise Hawaii General Plan Testimony Here Date: Wednesday,January 15,2025 9:47:14 AM Aloha Commissioners, The Big island Plan cannot go through the way it is designed. It is hard to believe any local helped design this plan. Here are some concerns: There is a huge part of the plan dedicated to "Climate Change". However,why do most experts state there is NO climate danger? Climate Experts Speak Out Against Climate Danger Click Here! The word "Stakeholder," defined in the plan, is written 86 times and literally means anyone in the entire world can have input on this 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 and management are crucial for the success and sustainability of any initiative, as it helps ensure that diverse perspectives and interests are considered. 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. The Planning Department has sent out letters too many homeowners telling them their land use will be changed from resident to recreation due to the General Plan 2045.This will drastically lower 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. There is a huge section on climate change and things that will be affected.This needs to be further 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. httl2s://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. Hilo does not have a Community Development Plan. How can a Big Island General Plan move forward without that? Hilo is 22%of the island. 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 too because it's not the locals? Pursue the acquisition of lands" does this say they are going to pursing taking people's private property? Again with "protection of natural resources".This plan should be focused on people growing more food and it is doing the exact opposite! 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 of Papaikou, 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_2cblcc6d604f4cdd971ad40831c745bc.pdf Papaikou Site Plan: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fc0c_5e4cdb02efeb46a5ae949a3579aff00d.pdf Papaikou Development: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fc0c_c2af52c8b3c645bla6868a724eee8304.pdf A Hawaiian born Kanaka revised the Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship that is in the plan. You can see it in the pdf below: Part One: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fc0c_Oald5be8fld140069415f7b691725786.pdf Part Two: https://86fcOcbd-8207-4076-85fa- 5a62e4e933b4.usrfi les.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. Terri Yoshinaga Mahalo From: Veronigue Leferink To: LPCtestimony Subject: Big Island General Plan Date:Wednesday,January 15,2025 9:14:28 PM Aloha, I request the County Council to REJECT this plan! I don't see this plan is for the benefits of the people living here. Probably most people are not aware of, neither informed about this plan! Sincerely, Veronique Leferink From: Aaron Soule To: LPCtestimonv Subject: General plan Date:Thursday,January 16,2025 7:47:48 PM I am writing to please ask to reject the current plan as it is. It is unfair to many property owner and not good for the future of our keiki. Please reject this plan and get input from more residents. Thank you Aaron Soule Volcano From: Gladys shade To: LPCtestimony Subject: The Hawaii Island General Plan testimony Date:Thursday,January 16,2025 9:59:41 AM This is an absurd plan.Gives too much control to county to take our properties! And what about the Hawaiian Homelands? I loudly oppose this plan as a resident in Kurtistown HI Alex Shade Sent from my Whone From: Christine Peterson To: LPCtestimonv Subject: Please don"t vote to change residential land to recreational land Date:Thursday,January 16,2025 9:53:21 AM This will not be good for any of the residents and owners of this land. It will cause many problems for the residents and the owners of the land before the Maui fire. Thank you in advance for your prompt attention to this matter Sincerely Christine Peterson From: ptanok12(bomail.com on behalf of Moku Loa Hawaii Island Sierra Club To: LPCtestimonv Subject: Written testimony on draft GP2045 Date:Thursday,January 16,2025 11:05:58 AM Attachments: LPC GP2045 01-16-25 testimonv.docx Pu"u Ohau Cultural Preserve-Excerpts from LUC Docket A06-769.1)df Pu"u Ohau Cultural Preserve-Excerpts from SEISPN, Dec. 2007.pdf Pu"u Ohau desecration flver.pdf Hilo WWTP proposed permit renewal,01-12-25 comments FINAL.docx Aloha, Please see attached testimony and supporting documents. Mahalo, Chuck Flaherty, Chairperson Moku Loa (Hawaii Island) Group, Sierra Club We work hard to advance Sierra Club's mission to explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth, to practice and promote the responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources; to educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment; and to use all lawful means to carry out these objectives. SIERRACLUB HAWAII ISLAND GROUP January 16, 2025 Leeward Planning Commission 101 Pauahi St, Ste 103 Hilo HI 96720 Re: Final draft General Plan 2045 Aloha Mr. Chair and members of the Leeward Planning Commission, The Sierra Club of Hawai'i, Hawai'i Island Group would like to request the Commission consider the following recommended amendments to the draft General Plan 2045 (GP2045). Standards HIG would like to correct a statement made by the Planning Department during the Commission's December 19, 2025 meeting in response to public testimony that GP2045 lacked sufficient standards. A statement was made that GP2045 contains 115 Standards. That is not correct. Section 3-15 of the county Charter states, in part, "The general plan shall contain a statement of development objectives, standards and principles with respect to the most desirable use of land within the county..." The current General Plan (cGP) complies with the Charter by stating specific Standards for each of the 13 Elements of the cGP. However, GP2045 does not. A key word search for"standard" in the online version of GP2045 reveals the only Standards are listed in 5 Tables, "Public Access Spacing Standards" (p.112), "Mass Transit Level of Service Standards" (p. 114), "Water System Domestic Consumption Standards" (p.120), Protective Services Level of Service Standards" (p. 134), and"Park Standards" (p. 160). The only other Standards in GP2045 "Roadway Standards" (p. 120, "Street Standards" (p. 120) and the "County Street Design Manual referred to as a Standard on page 118. All other results for the key word search for"standard" are contained in sentences as follows: develop standards", "meet standards", "create standards", "establish standards", "set standards", "maintain standards", "adopt standards". "identify standards", and"prepare P 0 Box 1137 Hilo, HI 96721-1137 1 hawaiiislandsierraclubPgmail.com sierraclubhig.org standards". These are not statements of standards, nor do any of the sentences reference specific standards. This analysis proves that GP2045 does not fully comply with the county Charter's requirement for statements of standards, especially when compared to the Standards currently contained within cGP. In order to comply with the county Charter, HIG recommends the Commission and the Planning Department work to develop recommended amendments to provide comprehensive standards using the existing Standards in the cGP as a basis. GP2045, Section 2. Collaborative Biocultliral Stewardship Goal, Objectives,Policies, and Actions HIG urges the Commission to compare the excepts, as related to public access and trails, provided at the end of this testimony from the draft General Plan 2040 (GP2040)released in 2019 and the language contained in the draft GP2045. As you will see in the excerpts, the extensive and substantive language supporting trails and public access in the draft GP2040 was effective stripped from the draft GP2045. GP2040 contained 15 Policies and 18 Actions under"Public Access and Trails". However, in GP2045, a key word search must be performed for the words "public access" and trails"in order find the Policies or Actions related to these two topics. After doing so, there are only 11 Policies and only 3 actions that contain those words...a shocking and inexplicable result as compared to GP2045. HIG urges the Commission to recommend amendments to include the Policies and Actions from the GP2040 which present both an organized and clear path forward for public access, trails, and recreation in the coming decades. Pu'u Ohau In 1999,the Hawai'i Island Burial Council designated the entirety of Pu'u Ohau from its base to its summit as a burial site and royal mausoleum as a result of the significance of the burials present on this pu'u within 1250 Oceanside Partners' Hokuli'a project(Hokuli'a). Attached to this testimony, the Commission will find excerpts from the 1250 Oceanside Partners' Petition to the state Land Use Commission (Docket A06-179) and a Supplemental Environmental Statement Public Notice, which requested moving two Cultural Preserves comprising 12 acres on and around Pu'u Ohau into the state land use Conservation district. Docket A06-179 contains the following statements: Petitioner is establishing two Cultural Practice and Preservation Areas (Cultural Preserves'), comprising a total of approximately 12 acres, where lineal and cultural descendants may engage in traditional cultural practices." (p. 18) Another significant protective measure concerns the burial site of Kamaeo'kalani, near the summit ofPu'u Ohau, which is a significant historic and cultural site. This site is located within the Conservation District and outside the Petition Area. In order to provide an additional buffer around this site, Petitioner has agreed to abandon the development of five previously subdivided lots presently within the Agricultural District along the current Conservation District boundary. The area included in such lots is part of the area for which the instant Petition seeks reclassification to the Conservation District. Petitioner will also construct a gated wall or other buffer to restrict access to, and to protect and preserve. the burial site of Kamaeo'kalani and other cultural resources within the buffered area." These mitigation measures will ensure that traditional and customary native Hawaiian rights, customs and practices will be preserved and protected in a feasible manner [emphasis added]." (see attached,p. 33) This language reflects the legal elements contained in both the state constitution and state Supreme Court rulings intended to protect kanaka maoli traditional and customary practices and other legal rights. They are explicit statements that these areas contain constitutionally-protected cultural and historic resources and rights. Past protests and vigils in support of Pu'u Ohau and the Hawai'i Island Burial Council (see attached flyer) clearly show there has been extensive community support for a recommended amendment that moves the two Cultural Preserve areas in Conservation as shown in the maps contained within Docket A06-179 and the SEISPN attached to this testimony. HIG urges the Commission avoid a repeat of the pain and suffering that would be caused to the kanaka maoli community and their rights and traditional and customary rights as occurred in the early 2000s. Please recommend an amendment to the GP land use map to protect and preserve these areas in perpetuity. Wastewater Treatment HIG is developing testimony to recommend an amendment to provide timely and orderly funding for and implementation of the three Administrative Orders on Consent that require the county to undertake repairs, retrofitting, upgrades, expansion of both facilities and service areas throughout the county. Meanwhile,please see the attached letter HIG providing comments on the renewal of the Hilo wastewater treatment plant which presents many issues not yet addressed in GP2045. Mahalo for this opportunity to testify. Excerpts from draft General Plan 2040 (released in 2019) PROMOTING ACTIVE LIVING THROUGH RECREATION , TRAILS , & PUBLIC ACCESS Public Access& Trails SUSTAINABILITY OBJECTIVE Number of public access sites created through acquisition or easement or enhanced with assistance from CZM funding or staff. POLICY 404. The County of Hawaii shall establish: public access to and along the shoreline to significant historic sites, public transit along the top of cliff, streams and other natural water courses, mauka trails, facilities, and access to sites for gathering, hunting, and other recreational purposes and in accordance with Hawaii County Code Chapter 34. Rationale: Based on existing County Code 34, General Plan Policy 12.3 (1, m), Ka`u CDP Policy 81, and Hamakua CDP Policy 48] 405. Subdividers of six or more lots,parcels, units, or interests shall be required to dedicate land for public access for pedestrian travel from a public highway or street to the land below the high-water mark on any coastal shoreline or to areas in the mountains where there are existing facilities for hiking, hunting, fruit-picking, ti leaf sliding, and other recreational purposes, and where there are existing mountain trails. Rationale: Based on existing HRS 46-6.5 and HCC 34-4(c)).] 406. Prior to disposing of, leasing, or transferring public lands, including public roads or trails, public access potentials shall be assessed, documented and protected if public access use is in the public's interest. Rationale: Based on existing HRS Section 46-1.5, Hamakua CDP Policy 50, and General Plan 12.3 (n).] 407. Ensure that publicly owned historic trails and roads are properly identified, and consultation occurs to protect the public's interests. Rationale: Based on the Highways Act of 1892, Hamakua CDP Policy 50, and the General Plan 12.3 (n).] 408. Alignment of coastal trails shall consider flexibility for realignment for sea level rise and other dynamic shoreline changes. [Climate Change] Rationale: Based on current status of some impacted coastal areas and research relating to projected sea level rise impacts on coastal assets. See also California Coastal Commission Sea Level Rise Policy Guidance.] 409. Determine the location and ownership of historic trails and roads as early as possible in the land use application process. Rationale: Based on identified challenges with ownership of historic trails and roads and the subsequent legal implications. See also General Plan Policy 13.2.3 (q)] 410. Where a subdivision is traversed by a natural water course, drainage way, channel, or stream, the Planning Director should require a pedestrian, equestrian, and/or bicycle path when the opportunity exists to connect to existing or future drainage or trail corridors. 411. Trails may also be used as emergency access routes, where appropriate. 412. Support the development of a Rails to Trails type program to facilitate the conversion of old railway segments to a public trail network. 413. Seek private-public partnerships to manage and maintain public access to the shoreline, public trails, hunting areas, scenic places and vistas, and significant historic sites, buildings, and objects of public interest. [Public Access] 414. Explore options and collaborate with community groups to increase access to former sugar cane roads to be used as non-motorized trails where feasible and appropriate. ACTION 4.49 Amend code to require bicycle and walking path easements be developed in urban areas to increase walkability and multimodal transportation options. [Code] 4.50 Work with the State and adjacent landowners in establishing old railroad right-of- ways as pedestrian and bicycle trails. 4.51 Identify by GPS coordinates all existing historic trail alignments that(a) have been recommended for preservation by SHPD, (b) appear on historic maps and/or are known by oral tradition, and incorporate these into the County GIS database. 4.52 Actively implement the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail Memorandum of Understanding. 4.53 Appropriate, finance, allot, and encumber Capital Improvement Projects in support of trail development as part of a regional trail system. 4.54 Add public access requirements as listed in Hawaii County Code Chapter 34 Public Access to apply to Chapter 23 Subdivision Code, SMA review, zoning code, special permits, etc. [Code] 4.55 Develop and implement a public-private program to establish and manage specific access points and trails. SUSTAINABILITY OBJECTIVE Develop and maintain a public access program that integrates recreation, subsistence, and cultural access priorities. POLICY 415. Integrate Public Access into County department priorities in the following ways: a) Incorporate public access and development into a program overseen by the Planning Department as per Chapter 34. b) Integrate PONC property management and maintenance into the Parks and Recreation code in Chapter 2: Article 11 and Chapter 15: Parks and Recreation. c) Develop adequate staff to carry out the provisions of Chapter 2 Article 42,relating to the PONC maintenance fund (as per: Section 2-214.2 (b). Pursuant to section 10-16(c) of the Charter, the maintenance fund shall be administered and managed by the department of parks and recreation. Adequate staff to carry out the provisions of this article and section 10-16 of the Charter shall be provided in the department of parks and recreation. Rationale: Based on identified gaps in addressing or applying public access regulations and procedures consistently between the various County Departments. The County lacks capacity to fulfill its existing public access objectives without increasing staff capacity, maintenance capacity, and without having clearer directives between the various departments to implement a cohesive public access program.] 416. Integrate County public access priorities in all aspects of land use decisions and permit reviews. 417. Consistently integrate public access development and maintenance into Parks and Recreation department priorities. 418. Support facility development for access management at access points and along trail corridors. ACTION 4.56 Establish a County of Hawaii Public Access and Trail Program with sufficient staff and resources. Staff will be required to consult/consider recommendations of this program in all permit reviews. Elements of this program may include: a) A comprehensive access inventory; b) A public access rating system to help with prioritization; c) Comprehensive reviews of projects (on public or private lands)that will affect public accesses and trails; d) Inventory of ancient trails, cart roads, and old government roads in coordination with appropriate State agencies. e)Public outreach and coordination element. f) Identify agencies/groups to develop, administer, and maintain public accesses, including developing County capacity for this purpose; g)Identify funding sources to purchase and manage public access easement to priority areas; h) When public access goals will involve several landowners, acquire the public access incrementally as opportunities arise to do so; i)Public accesses that cross private land will be acquired and held until appropriate management of the accesses is in place; j) Collaborate with State and Federal agencies on public accesses that require multi-agency involvement; k) Develop a standardized template to promote consistency and comprehensiveness in the public access plans required by landowners; 1)Partner with community organizations capable of assisting with public access management; m) Work with State agencies (particularly with DOFAW)to coordinate, survey, develop, and manage public trails and roads leading to forest reserves; n) In co-sponsorship with the State when possible, acquire land for public access to historic sites and objects and to the shoreline where safe transit does not already exist; o) Reinstitute a Public Access Wayfinding program managed by the Planning Department to assist interested community groups in maintaining appropriate signage at public access points; p)Provide cultural and safety information at trailheads; q) Provide for substantive community input to the County Planning Department and the County Council in order to finalize and accept priority access. Include community input in program policy. r) Whenever the County assumes the responsibility for posting and maintaining signage and maintaining public accesses and other public infrastructure, a specific County agency will be identified and assigned the aforementioned responsibilities. [Code, Public Access] 4.57 Amend the subdivision code to better address public access issues in the following ways: a) Revise/Develop enforcement protocols for public access violations, including fines for noncompliance and mechanisms to remove private obstructions from public accesses; b) Review Hawaii County Code Chapter 34 requirements for public access standards, including design that fits into surrounding community, environment, and conditions. Establish parameters for requiring appropriate right-of-way,parking, and comfort stations for various types of public accesses/trails and incorporate these into Chapter 34; c) Amend Hawaii County Code Chapter 34 to develop a clear methodology to modify public access routes in order to adapt to sea level rise, landslides and erosion, and other impacts related to environmental impacts and climate change; d) Amend Hawaii County Code Chapter 34, Rule 21, Chapter 23, and Chapter25 CA 1.1.1 to ensure access and trail rights-of-way during subdivision. [Code] 4.58 Complete an inventory and database of significant natural resource areas with recreational and trail connectivity value. 4.59 Adopt an on-going program of identification, designation, and acquisition of areas with existing or potential recreational resources, such as land with sandy beaches and other prime areas for shoreline recreation in cooperation with appropriate governmental agencies. 4.60 Develop procedural rules and templates for public access agreements and Grant of Easement(GOE)to facilitate consistency and to provide mechanisms for tracking, follow-through, and geographic information system (GIS) identification in County of Hawaii systems, etc. 4.61 Develop procedural guidelines for renegotiating access agreements. 4.62 Renegotiate public accesses that were developed prior to Chapter 34 to be consistent with Chapter 34. 4.63 Evaluate and initiate Charter& code amendments related to Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resource Preservation (PONC). These may include: a) Clearly distinguish categories of PONC property, such as active or passive use, conservation,restoration, natural buffer areas, access uses, etc. (for AGENCY ACTION). instance, lands acquired to provide access versus lands acquired to preserve from development that may not be appropriate for public access). b) Amend Charter Section 10-5 c & f to allow PONC funds to be used for the planning, design, development of new buildings, facilities, (including comfort stations) or infrastructure such as roads,paths, bridges, culverts, ramps, or drainage features if such improvements are necessary to meet the objectives of public safety and to meet the purposes outlined in Hawaii County Code 2-214.1. [Code] c) Interpret or amend Charter Section 10-15 (c) 3 and County Code Section 2- 214.1 c) 3 referring to natural resource buffer zones to include buffer zones for natural hazard areas, such as properties facing sea level rise, lava inundation, steep slopes, or identified priority viewsheds. [Code] d) Include assessments of tax revenue implications for lands nominated for PONC consideration. e) Amend Charter section 10-15 (c) and County Code Section 2-214.1 (c) to be consistent with each other. For example, the County Code allows PONC funds to be used for"significant habitat or ecosystems"but the Charter does not include those terms. [Code] 4.64 Amend Chapter 15 to include PONC and trail development as part of the Parks and Recreation Department's priorities to be consistent with Chapter 34 in partnership with the Planning Department.[Code] 4.65 Conduct a performance review of the PONC Maintenance Fund and Stewardship Grant program to identify and implement ways to improve PONC management system. 4.66 Amend Hawaii County Code Section 2-218 Prioritized list of qualifying lands worthy of preservation to establish a means to evaluate the socio-environmental equity of the lands nominated by district. Such as: a) When there are multiple lands under consideration at any one time,priority shall be given to coastal lands and lands where matching funding is available to leverage the County contribution; b) Consideration should be given to lands within districts under-represented by PONC preservation program. [Code] 4.67 Coordinate with State agencies to improve access and access/trail management resources (including policies, conditions, identification, cataloguing, enforcement, maintenance, etc.). 4.68 Consider establishing a working group with surrounding land owners and the user- community to educate users and manage ATV use to ensure that non-pedestrian allowances are not permitted within sections of modern trails that overlap, are congruent, or correspond to ancient or historic trails and its associated features. 4.69 Coordinate with hunting associations and other land stewards, to establish clear hunting policies and disseminate education regarding these policies. 4.70 To facilitate greater public access to and along the shoreline and elsewhere, amend Hawaii Revised Statutes 520, Hawai`i's Recreational Use Statute (RUS), to make it less ambiguous and to discourage frivolous lawsuits. Excerpts from draft General Plan 2045 (released in 2023) 2. Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship Goal, Objectives, Policies, and Actions Objective 2 Preserve and enhance the health and function of watersheds to promote water recharge, improve water quality, and reduce runoff. Policy 2.5 Watershed management planning should recognize the ecosystem service value of watersheds and open space to protect scenic vistas and aesthetic values; water recharge; carbon sequestration; oxygen production; habitat enhancement and preservation; fire suppression and fuel load management; soil conservation; preservation of cultural values; and the potential for additional public access and recreation nal opportunities. Objective 4 The historical integrity, character, scenic assets, and open spaces of our communities are protected, restored, and treated as unique assets with significant social and economic value and managed in perpetuity. Policy 4.2 Increase public access opportunities to scenic places and vistas. Policy 4.3 Public access to significant historic sites and objects should be acquired, where appropriate. 4. Land Use, 1.4 Urban Growth Areas Objective 13 Increase the use of Smart Growth principles to focus development within designated urban centers. Policy 13.6 The establishment of urban types of zoning may include additional acreages to accountfor acreages utilized for public benefits, such as historic sites,public access,parks, and open space. Policy 13.43 Coastal resort developments shall provide public access to and public parking for beach and shoreline areas. Policy 13.44 The development or designation of new resort areas should complement the character of the area; protect the environment and natural beauty; respect existing lifestyles, cultural practices, and cultural resources; and provide shoreline public access. 4.2.3 Active Living Corridors and Public Access Objective 17 Increase transportation connect Policy 17.5 Ensure that existing active living corridors that are publicly owned or available by easement are properly identified and that their access elements are secured and documented. a)Primary examples include but are not limited to historic trails and roads,roads-in-limbo, paper roads', former sugar cane roads,train infrastructure remnants (Rails to Trails), and pedestrian and bicycling paths. b) "Acceptance"by the County of the responsibilities detailed in the grant of easements should require County Council action and a dedicated funding source. Policy 17.6 Provide public pedestrian access opportunities to scenic places and vistas. Policy 17.7 Establish public access to historic and modern active living corridors and facilities that provide an island-wide route and connect to major destinations. Action 17.a Develop and adopt a program to establish public access to historic and modern active living corridors and facilities that provide an island-wide route and connect to major destinations. 4. Public Facilities and Services 4.6 Recreation Objective 35 Park facilities are located within a 10-minute walk in urban areas and a 10-minute drive in rural communities. Policy 35.19 Prioritize park acquisition and improvements that involve under-represented open recreation and healthy living activities (outside the scope of organized sports), such as: a) Walking and biking trails Action 35.d Partner with government,private and nonprofit agencies, and other stakeholders to initiate joint agreements for funding, management, and maintenance for recreation, shared use spaces, hardened shelters, and public access priorities. Action 35.cc Expand active open recreational opportunities at the Pana`ewa Rainforest Zoo and Equestrian Center properties such as bike/walking trails, horse trails, dog-friendly trails, and other outdoor recreation that would complement the Pana`ewa complex. 5.0 Thriving, Diverse, and Regenerative Economy, 4.1 Visitor Industry Goal, Objectives, Policies, and Actions Objective 48 Support the visitor industry investment in its connection with communities,the aina, and our historic and multicultural heritage. Policy 48.6 Support the coordination, collaboration, and improvement of public access to natural and cultural resources with State agencies and landowners while balancing the need for protection of these areas. Petition for Reclassification/Agricultural Land Use District to Rura... https://files.hawaii.gov/luc/dockets/aO6769oceanside/aO6769_1013... Of Counsel: 4601- TSt K-i .AKI YFil &MOORE C. R.BEN TSUKAZAKI 1954 MICHAEL W.MOORE 3234 85 W. Lanikaula St. Hilo, Hawaii 96720 T phone(808)961-0055/fax(808)969-E 531 N i Anomeys for I'ctilioner BEFORE THE LAND USE COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF HAWAI'I In the matter ofthe Petition DOCKET ti0. A06 769 of 1250 OCEANSIDE; PARTNERS To Amend the t.and Use DistriC Boundary ) of'('ertain Lands situate at j Noah and South Kona,Island of Hawaii, ) State of Hawaii; consisting of approximately 1,434.755 acres IrOm the ) Agricultural District to the Rural District ) and the Conservation District 1 PF.TITION FOR LAND USE DIST.R1( I' Ro IINDARY AI IENDNIENT-, VERIFICATI01; PETI-1"]0NVR'S EXIIIR11-S I - 10; 1 of 1040 12/22/2024,2:05 PM Petition for Reclassification/Agricultural Land Use District to Rura... https://files.hawaii.gov/luc/dockets/aO6769occanside/aO6769_1013... BEFORE THE LAND USE COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF HAWAI'I In the matter of the Petition DOCKET NO.A06-769 of 1250 OCEANSIDE PARTNERS To Amend the Land Use District Boundary ) of Certain Lands situate at North and South Kona, Island ofHawai'i, ) State of Hawaii; consisting of approximately 1,434.755 acres from the ) Agricultural District to the Rural District ) and the Conservation District. PETITION FOR LAND USE DISTRICT BOUNDARY AMENDMENT Petitioner, 1250 OCEANSIDE PARTNERS (hereinafter referred to as"Petitioner"), hereby petitions the Land Use Commission(hereinafter"LUC")to amend the land use district classification of certain lands situate at Honuaino 3 and 4,Hokukano 1 and 2,Kanaueue I and 2, Haleki'i, Ke'eke'e, 'Ilikahi, Kanakau,Kalukalu,and Onouli 1,North and South Kona Districts, Island of Hawaii,consisting of approximately 1,434.755 acres,as depicted in Petitioner's Exhibit 1 attached hereto and incorporated herein ("Petition Area"), as follows: 1) 1,418.739 acres of land from the State land use agricultural district("Agricultural District")to the State land use rural district("Rural District"); and 2) 16.016 acres of land from the Agricultural District to the State land use conservation district("Conservation District"). 2 of 1040 12/22/2024,2:05 PM Petition for Reclassification/Agricultural Land Use District to Rura... https://files.hawaii.gov/luc/dockets/aO6769oceanside/aO6769 1013... Among the historic sites and cultural resources identified in the AIS were remnants of a historic trail,referred to as the"Stepping Stone Trail,"which runs north-south through the makai portion of the Petition Area. Petitioner has entered into an agreement with DLNR and others,pursuant to which(i)Petitioner will execute a quitclaim deed conveying its interest in the trail to the State of Hawaii;(ii)DLNR will designate the trail as a preservation site on terms permitting only pedestrian use(other than roadway,cart path and underground crossings related to the Project);(iii)Petitioner will restore and reconstruct the southern section of the trail; (iv)Petitioner will establish a protective buffer zone on both sides of the trail; and(v) Petitioner will establish and maintain in perpetuity two interpretive sites alongside the trail. The Petitioner has also agreed to take additional steps for the protection of historic and cultural resources. These steps include the creation ofa non-profit"Park and Cultural Sites Entity"("PCSF). The PCSE will be responsible for the maintenance of the shoreline park and the preserved cultural and historical sites therein, as well as all other cultural and historic sites to be preserved in perpetuity throughout the Project. The PCSE will also be responsible for the preservation of the Stepping Stone Trail,the Old Government Road and the Old Cart Road. The PCSE will develop educational materials and programs designed to encourage understanding and appreciation of these resources and will develop standards for the proper maintenance and care of the resources.The PCSE will establish an advisory board whose purpose will be to provide advice and guidance to the PCSE regarding the preservation, operation and maintenance of the shoreline park and cultural and historic sites within Hokuli'a. The advisory board will have approximately 20 members and will be comprised of representatives designated by Petitioner,Hokuli'a lot owners,Protect Keopuka Ohana,other The Stepping Stone'frail,as well as sections of a trail referred to as the"Old Cart Road,"and a trail referred to as the"Old Government Road," are excluded from the Petition Area and district reclassification for the area comprising these trails is not being requested under this Petition. r 18 of 1040 12/22/2024,2:13 PM Petition for Reclassification/Agricultural Land Use District to Rura... https://files.hawaii.gov/luc/dockets/a06769oceanside/a06769 1013... descendants of the lands at Hokuli'a,Hawaii County,kuleana owners and other appropriate groups. The PCSE will also take possession of and store all native Hawaiian artifacts and relics discovered by Petitioner or its agents on the Hokuli'a site or in connection with the Project. Funding for the PCSE will be in part by way of a ''14%transfer fee upon all future sales and resales of lots and homes within the Project. In addition, Petitioner is establishing two Cultural Practice and Preservation Areas Cultural Preserves'),comprising a total of approximately 12 acres,where lineal and cultural descendants may engage in traditional cultural practices. 4) Visual Resources The development is not expected to significantly impact visual resources in the area. Views of portions of the Petition Area are presently available from portions of the existing residential neighborhoods that arc directly mauka of the Petition Area,primarily the Kona Scenic Subdivision. The Petition Area is also visible to those approaching the property along the coast. Additional views of the coastline will be available from the Bypass Highway upon its completion. Any potential visual impacts will be mitigated through appropriate landscaping buffers,architectural design standards and the low-density nature of the Project. The shoreline park in the Conservation District makai of the Petition Area and the golf course will provide a significant measure of open space throughout and around the Petition Area. 5) Flora and Fauna No significant impact on floral or faunal resources is anticipated. No threatened, endangered or candidate species as listed by the U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service appear to be present within the Petition Area,nor are there unique or valuable wildlife habitats. No existing or proposed federally designated critical habitat is present within the Petition Area. 18 19 of 1040 12/22/2024,2:13 PM Petition for Reclassification/Agricultural Land Use District to Rura... https://files.hawaii.gov/luc/dockets/aO6769oceanside/aO6769_1013... community. Hokuli'a is consistent with the goals,policies and standards set forth in the General Plan.14 The Petition Area is being served with existing infrastructure and will be served in the future with planned infrastructure and is in balance with the natural,cultural and social environment of the County. The County zoning designation for the Petition Area is Agricultural-1 acre(A-la), which allows a minimum lot size of one acre. The Agricultural zone provides for agricultural and very low density agriculturally-based residential use,encompassing rural areas of good to marginal agricultural and grazing land, forest land,game habitats,and areas where urbanization is not found to be appropriate. Permitted uses within this zoning district include single-family dwellings, farm dwellings,agricultural parks,crop production,parks and other similar open area recreational facilities,and golf courses and related golf course uses(with a Use Permit). The Hokuli'a development is consistent with the purpose and applicability ofthis zoning designation. 20. HAWAIIAN CUSTOMARY AND TRADITIONAL RIGHTS l5-15-50(c)(20):A statement addressing Hawaiian customary and traditional rights under Article XV, section 7 of the Hawai'i State Constitution_ Traditional and customary native Hawaiian rights within or in proximity to the Petition Area include a right of pedestrian access over the Stepping Stone Trail and other recognized trails traversing the property,worshipping at burial sites within the property,and subsistence and cultural activities, including fishing and ocean resource gathering,along the shoreline.The preservation and protection ofthese resources is being effected through archaeological and burial preservation plans,the establishment of the shoreline park which will provide public access to the shoreline area and traditional and cultural resources within the area,the establishment of two 14 A detailed discussion of the conformity of Hokuli'a with the General Plan's goals,policies and standards in set forth in the 1993 FEIS,Section 5.2. i 32 of 1040 12/22/2024,2:17 PM s Petition for Reclassification/Agricultural Land Use District to Rura... https://files.hawaii.gov/luc/dockets/a06769oceanside/a06769 1013... Cultural Preserves within the Petition Area that total approximately 12 acres where lineal and cultural descendants may engage in traditional and cultural practices,and the establishment of three Agricultural Preserves to facilitate traditional and customary native Hawaiian agricultural practices. Petitioner is also forming the PCSE for the purpose of preservation,operation and maintenance of the shoreline park and specified cultural and historical sites within the Petition Area. Petitioner,in coordination with DLNR and the certified lineal and cultural descendants of Hokuli'a, will continue to implement measures to protect,and to provide access to,burial sites, including(i)providing information to lineal and cultural descendants on burial sites within the Petition Area;(ii)implementation of both short-term and long-term protection measures for burial sites;and(iii)providing access for lineal and cultural descendants to such burial sites. Petitioner is also preserving and protecting the Old Government Road and the Stepping Stone Trail. Petitioner will restore portions of the Stepping Stone Trail to create a continuous trail segment varying in width from three to five feet.and will create a five-foot buffer on each side of the trail centerline. Petitioner will maintain and preserve the Old Government Road and the Stepping Stone Trail in coordination with DLNR. Petitioner will also establish and maintain two interpretive areas connecting the existing remnant trail sections to the shoreline park,which interpretive areas will then be available for public access from the shoreline park,and will install warning signs on the golf course advising of the trail and its significance. Petitioner will also work with DLNR to maintain and preserve what is referred to as the Old Cart Road"situated primarily within the shoreline park in the Conservation District as a JG 33 of 1040 12/22/2024,2:17 PM Petition for Reclassification/Agricultural Land Use District to Rura... https://files.hawaii.gov/luc/dockets/aO6769oceanside/aO6769 1013... public pedestrian access trail, and will grant an easement between the Old Cart Road and the Old Government Road for pedestrian trail access purposes in the vicinity of Pu'u Ohau. Another significant protective measure concerns the burial site of Kamaeo'kalani,near the summit ofPu'u Ohau,which is a significant historic and cultural site. This site is located within the Conservation District and outside the Petition Area. In order to provide an additional buffer around this site,Petitioner has agreed to abandon the development of five previously subdivided lots presently within the Agricultural District along the current Conservation District boundary. The area included in such lots is part of the area for which the instant Petition seeks reclassification to the Conservation District. Petitioner will also construct a gated wall or other buffer to restrict access to,and to protect and preserve.the burial site of Kamaeo'kalani and other cultural resources within the buffered area. These mitigation measures will ensure that traditional and customary native Hawaiian rights,customs and practices will be preserved and protected in a feasible manner. 21. WRITTEN COMMENTS 15-15-5(e)(21):Any written comments received by the petitioner from governmental, non governmental agencies, organizations, or individuals in regards to the proposed reciass rcation. Petitioner has not received any written comments from governmental or non- governmental agencies,organizations or individuals concerning the proposed reclassification. Any written comments received in the future shall be submitted for inclusion into the record of this docket. 22. NOTIFICATION OF PETITION FILING A cony of the Notification of Petition Filing to be sent pursuant to 515-15-50(d). LUC Administrative Rules,is attached hereto as Petitioner's Exhibit 10. 34 of 1040 12/22/2024,2:17 PM Petition for Reclassification/Agricultural Land Use District to Rura... https://files.hawaii.gov/luc/dockets/aO6769oceanside/aO6769_1013... PETITIONER' S EXHIBIT I 36 of 1040 12/22/2024,2:22 PM Petition for Reclassification/Agricultural Land Use District to Rura... https://files.hawaii.gov/luc/dockets/aO6769oceanside/aO6769_1013... a E o a 8 i F 1 o rd c W av v o ., n in c v m c o v C o 1 0 1 a 1-7 i Cea a Qj I 1 u V>>YH•.. 37 of 1040 12/22/2024,2:21 PM Petition for Reclassification/Agricultural Land Use District to Rura... https://files.hawaii.gov/luc/dockets/a06769oceanside/aO6769_1013... PETITIONER' S EXHIBIT 7 1032 of 1040 12/22/2024,2:32 PM Petition for Reclassification/Agricultural Land Use District to Rura... https://files.hawaii.gov;luc/dockets/aO6769oceanside/aO6769, 1013... F W W t 2s W H W o w c W Lu u ra=000000000 r 1 1 r 1033 of 1040 12/22/2024,2:32 PM SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT PREPARATION NOTICE Hokuli' a North Kona and-South Kona, Island of Hawaii Accepting Agency: State of Hawaii Land Use Commission Applicant: 1250 Oceanside Partners Agent:Belt Collins Hawail Ltd. December 2007 entity, the Hokuli'a Park and Cultural Sites Association, Inc. (the PCSA"), which will be responsible for the maintenance of the 140-acre public shoreline park makai of the Petition Area and the preserved cultural and historical sites therein, as well as all other cultural and historic sites to be preserved in perpetuity throughout the Petition Area. The PCSA is also seeking permission from DLNR to undertake the long-term maintenance of the Stepping Stone Trail, the Old Government Road and the Old Cart Road, under supervision by DLNR. In addition, the PCSA will develop educational materials and programs designed to encourage understanding and appreciation of these resources and will develop standards for the proper maintenance and care of the resources. The PCSA has established a community and culturally based advisory board whose purpose is to provide advice and guidance to the PCSA regarding the preservation, operation and maintenance of the shoreline park and cultural and historic sites within Hokuli' a. Today the advisory board has 19 members, including representatives of Protect Keopuka Ohana, descendants of the lands at Hokuli' a, owners of kuleana close to the Petition Area, cultural practitioners and other individuals and groups willing to give generously of their time and expertise to this important work. The PCSA will also take possession of and store all native Hawaiian artifacts and relics discovered by Applicant or its agents within the Petition Area. The Lot Owners are the members of the PCSA, which has the authority to assess the Lot Owners to raise funds as needed by the PCSA. In addition, Applicant has agreed to contribute to the PCSA 1/a% of all proceeds received by Applicant from the sale of lots within Hokuli'a. In addition, all Lot Owners who acquire lots within Hokuli'a are required, upon the resale of those lots, to contribute 1/4% of the sales proceeds to the PCSA. In addition, Applicant is establishing two Cultural Practice and Preservation Areas, comprising a total of approximately 12 acres, where lineal and cultural descendants may engage in traditional cultural practices. 9 D x r x O C= s zO r x it 9 ti A 9 D A T 1 4 r' 0 0 0 D 0 0 In z o x g o T zCl 8 3 n 0 C DESECRATION I N KONA 1250 Oceanside is a 1,550 acre golf-course and luxury The Vigil for Pu'u Ohau home development in Kealakekua: On August 29 - 31, 2003, 'ohana from all over the The developer polluted Kona's pristine waters and reefs Hawaiian islands gathered to pay homage to Pu'u Ohau. with muddy, chemical-ladened runoff in violation of A 24-hour peaceful cultural protocol was held, with clean water laws. The court imposed a permanent prayers given every hour. injunction on any further water pollution. A Lei of Protection: Red ti plants were planted around The developer destroyed portions of the 1000-year old the base and a guardian ki'i named Okuahu'ula was Ala Loa trail. erected and consecrated on the Pu'u. Cultural access 1250 Oceanside destroyed and desecrated thousands of and religious practices are protected by the law. graves. The developers illegally placed our ancestors in Desecration and Harassment ziploc bags and improper storage containers.Ki'i Stolen: On September 2, Queen Lili'uokalani's birth- 0 The desecrations were so bad that major investor Japan day, 1250 Oceanside committed deliberate and criminal Airlines pulled out of the project. desecration of the Pu'u.They tore out ti plants, removed Pu'u Ohau: Sacred Burial Ground the Hawaiian flag and stole Okuahu'ula. Desecrations Erecting Okuahu'ula on of cemeteries and places of worship, like the vandalismofOurAncestorsPu'u Ohau.of Punchbowl Cemetery in 1997 and the recent arson of Pu'u Ohau is a very significant r:First Christian Church, are serious criminal offenses. burial site for ali'i. v. t • Throughout the vigil, 1250 Oceanside harassed andKamaeokalani, the grandmother of King Kalakaua and Queen spied upon vigil participants. At one point family mem- Lili'uokalani is buried there. bers confronted a 1250 Oceanside staff and an armed police officer because of their threatening surveillance In 1999, the Hawai'i Island activities which interfered with religious practices. Burial Council determined that KWO Take a Stand to Defend our'Aina and Restore Ea!the entire pu'u is the burial site and recommended building a 6 Call DLNR Chair Peter Young at (808) 587-0400 and foot protective rock wall around demand that he reinstate an immediate cease and desist the base of the Pu'u.The state and the developer agreed. order on 1250 Oceanside Partners from accessing the But four years later, there is no wall. Pu'u and seek aggressive prosecution of these violations. In January 2003, Peter Young, then acting director of the • Call Governor Lingle at (808) 586-0034 and urge her to Department of Land and Natural Resources, reneged on revoke all permits for 1250 Oceanside due to their crim- the previous agreement and allowed the developer to inal conduct in collusion with state and county offices. build up to the 120-foot elevation of the Pu'u. Other direct actions are being planned. 1250 Oceanside has already desecrated the flank of the For More Information contact Protect Keopuka'Ohana: Jim Pu'u with its golf course, and now plans to Madeiros (808) 328-0478; Jack Kelly (808) 328-build multimillion dollar homes on the i = q;ae,•' 8442; PKO Hotline (808) 331-3637. hill itself. Kako'o o Pu'u Ohau: (808) 227-5015 1Oceanside plans tobuild multi- milliondollar homes1 ft elevation 00 mar- of Ohau is down 30 40 ft elevatio 4 a r x ti m " '' n e JaeS 71 tint" SIERRACLUB HAWAII ISLAND GROUP January 13, 2025 Ms. Joanna Seto P.E. Hawaii Department of Health Environmental Management Division cleanwaterbranchghdoh.hawaii.gov Peter Kozelka EPA Region 9 Water Division kozelka.peterkepa.gov Chris Sparber County of Hawaii Wastewater Chief chris.sparberkhawaii.county.gov Re: Proposed renewal, Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant NPDES Permit 9 9021377 Aloha, The Hilo Wastewater Plant has been described as a trainwreck and is now subject of an EPA Administrative Order on Consent. The County of Hawaii is required to replace it and that process is proceeding so the plant is unlikely going to be able to maintain minimum standards for secondary under the Clean Water Act and has already had a history of failures that have badly impacted nearshore coastal water quality. These waters are listed as Class A under HAR section 11-54- for recreational purposes with numerous popular beaches nearby and year round public uses including swimming, kayaking, snorkeling, surfing, and canoe paddling. These uses inherently put users at significant health risk if standards are not consistently met. There are also tide pools and reef ecosystems nearby that are already under climate induced stress. Scientists at UH Hilo like Dr. Steven Colbert and Dr. Tracy Wiegner have done studies and found high levels of pollutants. The current outfall is in relatively shallow waters and the effluent plume rises quickly to the surface where the predominant trade winds bring the discharge plume back towards shore. Merely adding chlorine to wastewater after an event at the plant will not properly kill pathogens and introduces toxic chlorine byproducts to what goes out the outfall. UV is far more effective at killing pathogens and that should be required in the permit going forward. EPA Region 9 has recently added this requirement for the Kailua WWTP under an AOC after a bio tower failure. Hawaii County could bring in leased containerized MBR units with UV disinfection to bring treatment up to standards while the replacement work is completed and the new equipment has gone through testing. That should be required and is well within the authority of EPA and HDOH. P 0 Box 1137 Hilo, HI 96721-1137 1 hawaiiislandsierraclub(cDgmail.com sierraclubhig.org In addition to work at the Hilo WWTP that will occur during the 5 year extension period, other impacts need to be addressed. The plant receives septic loads and doesn't have the specialized handling equipment needed. It has septic receiving equipment, but not what is needed to address this highly concentrated waste that can upset the biological treatment process. With the cesspool closure deadline for new homes, areas that are under active development will be sending flows to Hilo. The County is under a separate EPA AOC for Pretreatment and is not currently in compliance, so septic loads from haulers are not being properly tested to prevent chemical contamination from impacting the biological treatment process. The proposed permit does not address this. It mandates a Pretreatment Program, but doesn't address the lack of specialized septic handling equipment. The City & County of Honolulu, for example, has such equipment at several treatment plants. Currently, large amounts of saltwater infiltration enters the collection system. Again, this is required to be addressed under the Countywide AOC, but during the 5 year period of this permit, infiltration will also impede the biological treatment process. The proposed permit should prioritize actions by the County to do emergency repairs in areas of high saltwater intrusion. Even freshwater intrusion is a significant problem given the high rainfall in Hilo and cracked and broken lines going back to the 60's. It is harder to remove solids with high volumes of infiltration as it impacts removal efficiency. The permit needs to recognize the Countywide AOC requirements to address infiltration and it's impacts on the biological process at the plant. Currently, hundreds of thousands of gallons enter the collection system daily and constitute a sizable portion of the average daily flows. The receiving waters need to see increased monitoring under the proposed permit. Not just testing as the outfall enters Puhi Bay, but testing along the shore and just outside the ZOM where recreational uses are high. This testing should be done by independent studies using UH scientists who know these waters well. Typical culture testing takes 2 days for results to come back and the public can be informed of sewage pollution. More modern testing like PCR give rapid results and can identify viral pathogens that are the primary cause water borne disease. Fecal bacteria like enterococcus are well known to go into VBNC or viable but non-culturable forms that elude detection. The public is not properly protected by testing that is decades out of date. Testing protocols need to recognize the surface micro layer effect. Pathogens associated with with wastewater attach themselves to solids that float at the surface, so testing where samples are grabbed at greater depth miss this. Both EPA and HDOH rely on testing methods mandated in this permit that are scientifically out of date for these reasons. This permit raises significant environmental justice concerns as much of Keaukaha where the outfall is located is native Hawaiian. For decades, the County has failed to maintain the treatment plant and the outfall pipe. While the impacted areas are used by tourists and locals, it is native Hawaiians that have been impacted the most. Leasing of containerized units with UV disinfection should be a requirement given these environmental justice concerns. The County should adopt a public outreach program for this impacted community including social networking options to inform them more quickly of noncompliance events. Mahalo for this opportunity to comment From: Dale Messier To: LPCtestimonv Subject: Not on big island Date:Thursday,January 16,2025 9:10:21 AM West Hawai'i Civic Center 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy. Kailua-Koa, HI 96740 ATTN: County Planning Dept. January 14, 2025 To Whom It May Concern, I am writing as a concerned local to testify against some of the alarming items being proposed in the Big Island General Plan 2045, scheduled to go before City Council in February 2025. The specifics I am against are as follows: Against the laying of fiber cable in order to construct a Smart City. Against rezoning land from residential to recreational, nature, and or otherwise. Against deed alteration from original homeowner, even after transfer of property and or sale. Against the State buying up locals property and or forced sale. Against restriction of home development from buyers who already purchased land and forcing them to build in city center zoning. Against forced driving electric vehicle by 2030 as proposed. Therefore, also against forced restriction of gas vehicles. Thank you once again for your time, consideration and actively listening to the voices of the community. Mahalo, Sent from my iPhone From: Deanna Wentworth To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv Subject: Leeward Planning Commission Meeting 1/16/25 Date:Thursday,January 16,2025 2:13:55 PM Aloha Dear Planning Commission, I am writing as a concerned citizen of Big Island. I have called Opihikao Hawaii on the eastern tip of Big Island my home for the last 35 years. I have raised 4 children here and own a lovely home and worked for DOE for 20 years and am now retired and have 12 grandchildren on island. I am very committed to this place and this culture and would like to express my concerns regarding the general plan. I attended the last meeting the commission had in Pahoa a few months back. That was the first time I had heard of the plan as well as many in our community. At that meeting I was told to either register to testify in the beginning or speak after the council and General Plan team spoke. I chose to speak after I heard what they had to say. Unfortunately I felt rudely ignored and finally at the very end had to jump in and really advocate for myself to be heard. They listened but said they would have to get back to me and closed the meeting with me standing there with my mouth open... Zendo Kern is the head of this team and Pahoa is his hometown. Yet neither myself nor any of the people in my community even knew this General Plan 2045 existed 2 months ago when we were alerted by some friends from Kona about this meeting in Pahoa to review and ask questions. I wish to enter into record the following facts pertaining to the General Plan. It clearly states in this General Plan that any industries considered for particular areas would be carefully vetted to be aligned with the community character. My question to them is I have lived in the shadow of the Puna Geothermal venture for 35 years. I am regularly exposed to toxic fumes from them pumping chemicals into the wells. I was evacuated after a blowout they had for 3 weeks. At the time of that blowout cows were found dead the next day, women had miscarriages, and many were sickened by the exposure to the fumes. This is all documented. Also I have attended 3 large protests put on by many in the local Hawaiian community in Puna to try to bring attention to our thoughts that Puna Geothermal drilling into this sacred land where Pele makes her home and where the Hawaiian people revere and worship her is an act of terrorism in my opinion. The last administration has further given Puna geothermal more licences to drill here. Why? Sincerely Deanna Wentworth From: Donna T To: votetreesCaborotonmail.com Cc: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv Subject: Re:Comments on proposed changes to General Plan Date:Thursday,January 16,2025 2:02:41 AM This is excellent On Thu, Jan 16, 2025, 4:30 AM Sherilyn Wells <votetrees(ct,.arotonmail.com>wrote: This is my first submission. Please see attached document. Opening observation: Hawai'i General Plan re Proposed Changes in 2025 —Submission Number One (January 2025) Need to study plan's foundational topic(s) more inclusively—review scientific dissent/dialogue for a more scientific approach and better informed choices 1 , Need to broaden the range of future scenario assumptions to include inventions already in existence and patents that will no longer remain suppressed, Preconceived (but unstated) alliances and their premises apparently exist in this plan, thus immediately narrowing the field of options under consideration: Is this plan on the verge of becoming a WEF Great Reset clone, based/focused on, for one example, prevalent terms like STAKEHOLDER, while neglecting to mention the essential, fundamental notion of HOMEOWNER? If our Plan is going to ally itself with an entity, let's make that choice transparent and let's choose one that values humanity and freedom, not one that seeks to dominate and control. 1 htt2s://judithcunv.com/blo,g-rules-and-netiquette/ Mahalo, Sherilyn Wells Sent with Proton Mail secure email. From: Eileen Downing To: WPCtestimonv;LPCtestimonv Subject: Please Revise Hawaii General Plan Date: Thursday,January 16,2025 7:46:34 AM Aloha Commissioners, The Big island Plan cannot go through the way it is designed. It is hard to believe any local helped design this plan. Here are some concerns: There is a huge part of the plan dedicated to "Climate Change". However,why do most experts state there is NO climate danger? Climate Experts Speak Out Against Climate Danger Click Here! The word "Stakeholder," defined in the plan, is written 86 times and literally means anyone in the entire world can have input on this 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 and management are crucial for the success and sustainability of any initiative, as it helps ensure that diverse perspectives and interests are considered. 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. The Planning Department has sent out letters too many homeowners telling them their land use will be changed from resident to recreation due to the General Plan 2045. This will drastically lower 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. There is a huge section on climate change and things that will be affected. This needs to be further 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. htti2s:Hclintel.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. Hilo does not have a Community Development Plan. How can a Big Island General Plan move forward without that? Hilo is 22% of the island. 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 ofnatural resources." Incentives" mean more taxes. "Protection" means more rules. Who's "values" is this plan referring too because it's not the locals? "Pursue the acquisition of lands" does this say they are going to pursing taking people's private property? Again with "protection of natural resources". This plan should be focused on people growing more food and it is doing the exact opposite! 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 of Papaikou,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_2cblcc6d604f4cdd971ad4083lc745bc.pdf Papaikou Site Plan: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fc0c_5e4cdb02efeb46a5ae949a3579aff00d.pdf Papaikou Development: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fc0c_c2af52c8b3c645bla6868a724eee8304.pdf A Hawaiian born Kanaka revised the Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship that is in the plan. You can see it in the pdf below: Part One: https://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/ files/ugd/86fcOc_Oald5be8fldl40069415f7b691725786.pdf Part Two: https://86fcOcbd-8207-4076-85fa- 5a62e4e933b4.usrfiles.com/ugd/86fcOc_ecc498bal92d4a7689ebf3 lc3681 c2ec.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. Regards, Eileen Downing From: George Magoon To: W PCtesti mono Cc: LPCtestimonv Subject: County of Hawaii General Plan testimony 1-17-2025 Date:Thursday,January 16,2025 3:29:57 PM County of Hawaii General Plan George Magoon testimony 1-17-2025 My Name is George 'Keoki" Magoon, born and raised in Honolulu Hawaii and familiar with visiting Kona Hawaii as a keiki since 1956 pre State Hood. I would like to provide testimony on the County of Hawaii General Plan. I am very familiar with the lands and ocean of the Big Island from living full time off and on the island since 1970. 1 own a home in Kohala and a farm in Keopu Hawaii. The unique Big Island has some very dynamic concerns because it is made mainly out of volcanic rock, ash and cinder. It's also a very large island with active volcanic activity, quakes, shakes and movement. This factor does create some very serious and different environmental concerns from a development stand point. The fact is that the land is porous, and all liquids/ pollutants quickly drop down into the lower levels below the island and enters or drains into the ocean very quickly. Sewage and other pollutants can quickly affect and kill coral and affect other marine life. Golf course fertilizers, nitrogen, soap and cleansers, house hold and yard cleaners, pesticides, does have a direct impact on the shoreline because of run off either on the surface or underground. An example is high levels of nitrogen or other toxins is killing the coral, or other recent impacts that create algae blooms supporting ciguatera toxin growth have affected the reef fish, poisoning the fish. We never had to worry about eating reef fish before major development took place on the island. There are also the more recent serious concerns from the human sewage entering the oceans and water ways creating new toxins and resistant bacterium that are dangerous to Human health, such as the flesh eating bacteria. Some of the new bacteria can eat bone, plastic and metal. I have personally gotten a scratch from an ophi shell next to the Milolii shoreline and am now dealing with a bacterium eating at my bone next to my knee replacement implant. This is a new serious concern that can affect all of us especially people with implants, including other kinds of implants. I don't want our keiki swimming in pollution. This is not a joke and is a real concern only to get worse! In my opinion, and for the well being of the people on this island, this sewage concern is too important to be left up to the individual home owner or small developer to provide sewage treatment plants , and maintenance . I think that all sewage plants should be built and maintained by the city and county, State and Federal level for all the houses, businesses, development on the Big island so only clean water enters the ocean. We can no longer expect the small developers to provide sewage treatment plants and services. It's not realistic or cost effective for the small guy to provide these multi million dollar services. On the Island of Hawaii, there are cesspools or septic tank scattered around the island that are leaching into the water table. In my opinion, This General Plan and the County of Hawaii plan has not done enough and needs to coordinate a large share of county funds to address the federal clean water act goal of obtaining zero or near zero micro pollutants by 2045. There is also the concern about all the ships, cruise ships, private and navy ships that are not required to pump their sewage into shoreline sewage treatment plants. I believe that this is a major environmental and hazardous concern to all of the people of Hawaii and the marine life because of their minimal requirements dumping their affluent into the ocean. One of our main food sources is swimming in pollution. We need to do more to clean up our oceans, it is one of our most precious resources that has been overlooked for too long! This General Plan needs to address all of the island resources! On a separate note, Water Catchment needs to stay. It reduces the cost of providing power and maintenance to pumps that has to suck water up from the water table to tanks fifteen hundred feet in elevation. It is a readily available resource that benefits a huge number of residents. There are many legal subdivisions that currently depend on catchment. There is not enough capacity to provide the piping and pumps to provide additional water services to all of the houses relying on catchment. There is no money for this and it would be unfair to impose additional, very expensive requirements on catchment users. Thank You for allowing me to voice my concerns about the General Plan. Respectfully Submitted by email, George Magoon 1-17-2025 George Magoon 808-640-0309 From: ilkinkona To: LPCtestimonv Cc: WPCtestimonv Subject: 2045 General Plan Leeward Planning Commission Mtg 01/16/2025 Date:Thursday,January 16,2025 7:10:36 AM Dear Commissioners, At the Leeward Planning Commission meeting held last month I heard that the Kona Community Development Action Committee had submitted their recommendations to you. Nearly 20 years ago when that Committee was formed,many community members,including myself, got involved and were so excited for Kona's future development plans. In the few meetings that I attended back then, terms such as"transit oriented development","walkable","bicycle friendly","mixed use","sustainable development"were all used to promote the"Smart Growth"concept.That was 20 years ago. Since that time,we have more bike lanes but walkability is sketchy,mixed use is not happening,and sustainable development is still 90%dependent on imported goods.And to top that off,we now have more transplants moving into the non urban areas,hiking up the cost of homes,driving EVs all over the place and living an unsustainable westernized lifestyle.Except for a few of us,no one is hanging out their laundry to dry in our hot Kona sun anymore. But where this General Plan really fails us in its refusal to address all the many horrific fires and other supposed natural disasters"that have been happening on the US continent, globally and even here on Maui,that have nothing to do with climate change and more to do with curbing the population and forcing everyone into a"Smart" 15 minute City lifestyle where you are tracked,traced and heavily survielled just like the urban centers in Communist China. We know this to be true about the outcome of these fires,because similar outcomes are planned for other fire- destroyed communites including Los Angeles,California where Gov Newsom speaks of the Olympics in 2028 and even here in Hawaii where Gov Green himself had already designated Maui and Lahaina specifically to become a Smart City example BEFORE August 08,2023 when Lahaina was burnt to white ash and way more than 102 lives were lost. This kind of Smart City set up is not part of our local culture and DOES NOT belong here. If this is where Hawaii County is headed for then you had better fully disclose those plans in this document and get the consent from the public especially the 94%or the 195,000 Hawaii County residents that you failed to reach. Mahalo, Josephine Kehipio Kailua Kona Sent from Proton Mail Android From: Akuakea To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv Subject: General Plan Written Testimony. Comments on"Stakeholder"defention Date:Thursday,January 16,2025 6:25:38 PM January 16, 2025 Aloha planning commissioners—thank you for your service! As a follow up to testimony today I wanted to affirm the vitality of this body and exhort and empower you to see yourselves as the source of the greatest influence, because you are closest to the people. Lawful governance is at the lowest level, not from the CEO down, but from the people up—and you are hearing the people speak loud and clear. The jury in our culture has been weakened by attorneys playing word games; you will hear our courts reference 'Jury Trial' but that is a different structure than 'Trial by Jury'! Sounds the same but in law they are dramatically different. The 7th amendment refers to the latter. A jury, formed by ones peers, not restricted by a judge or opposing attorney for language or information they want to strike —the Jury is tasked, as lay- people -normal every day Peers—to decide on what is TRUE. And to quote the 7th amendment, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the Unites States, than according to the rules of common law'. That means that when we the people speak, the Supreme Court can't over-rule it! I share that simply to illustrate the power of this body, closest to the people and since we are now being sworn in your role as JURY is emphasized. Further, of the hundreds of testifiers; virtually all are saying the same thing. Push PAUSE and give the people REAL say on the document that will affect our next 20 years more than any other. Your task, as Jurists is to uphold the law and represent the people. The LAW is the highest law of the land and the law of conscience— not some statute, code or ordinance—they are NOT laws and only have the force of law with the informed consent of the people. I don't consent to being governed by codes and policies especially when the contradict the highest law of the land, let alone that of the Creator. Your task, as honored volunteers— sincerely I appreciate you, is to discover, beyond a reasonable doubt whether or not this document: 1. Represents the will of those who will be affected by it. 2. Is consistent with the laws of the land and the laws of conscience. Seems pretty self-evident from the couple hundred testimonies I've heard that that answer is a resounding 'NO"! I don't understand the policies that may seem to limit your actions; Mr Darrow inferred that the process cannot be stopped, only 'RECOMMENDATIONS' can given to the County Council. What I want, what I believe the island wants is for you to not make recommendations, that may or may not be honored by our council, but to make systemic changes to the spirit and foundation of the document. Much of the progress in development of this plan happened during a time of government created lock-downs, limitations on meeting, and travel. We are aware now, the public is finally getting to read the document (Only since July!). Its grass roots awakening to the content of this most important document; not the County. Nobody got a direct mailing or a note with their property tax bill -which could have happened for the same postage stamp - so lets give it the time to be a document that represents us and our needs. We're here, maybe later than hoped but let us create the plan we can thrive with! I for one DO NOT want: More regulation, more taxation, more controls of use of land, more conservation land (1.4 million is quite enough!), more top-down governance, certainly not more stake-holders' to have say over land use, absolutely not one driven by a deceptive and false climate change narrative or that sets the stage for a surveillance society! I DO WANT: More freedom, more innovation (people solve problems, not bureaucracies) lower taxes, more accountability and transparency, more righteousness, more justice, more privacy and honoring of the laws of the land and of our creator, more truth and more consequence to those who violate truth and light. I honor you and thank you for showing that the people are heard by decisive action that honors us and honors our Creator. Willing to talk with directors, commissioners, planners about my thoughts. Sincerely, Kevin Hill PS. There are numerous people who could help with the motions to amend. I heard the motion to discuss the stake-holder definition and e-mailed the following comment. Aloha. I'm listening to the deliberation on the motion on the table. the defining of stake holder. The issue is not about just trying to include everybody. The problem is that it is MORE inclusive. Stakeholders includes INVESTORS. There is a move through out the country to quantify items such as water, wildlife, pollination etc These investors... now stakeholders will have a claim on and a voice on use of lands. It's been the homeowner or business and the county... not investors who are now empowered to control land through this redefining of assets. Great information on this movement throughout the country and details of how it was shut down for the moment at the federal level in January of 2023 can be found by searching "the great taking" by David Rogers. Here's one link to a 15-20 minute summary of the documentary. (https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=E XM1Y0uvea) Any motion around this topic MUST be appraised of this movement to understand the numerous objections to the definition of Stakeholders on the GP. It's not to include more people or entities but to restrict them! This is why the well-informed public needs to be a part of the discussion following the testimony. Many testifies know what I've shared here and could give clarity for meaningful change to the gp. There is so much going on under the water line that we need each other to plot a pono course for the future. Aloha Kevin Hill 808-217-6847 Sent with Proton Mail secure email. From: Live Peace Hawaii To: LPCtestimonv;WPCtestimonv Subject: Fwd:Testimony—UA MAU KE"EA O KA AI"NA I KA"PONO The life of the land is perpetuated in Righteousness Date:Thursday,January 16,2025 8:17:27 AM Forwarded message --------- From: Live Peace Hawaii<slwsurfing(a4gmail.com> Date: Thu, Jan 16, 2025 at 7:47 AM Subject: Testimony —UA MAU KE'EA O KA AI'NA I KA'PONO The life of the land is perpetuated in Righteousness To: Council Testimony @Hawaii County.Gov <counciltestimony(4hawaiicounzy gov> IF THERE IS NO 'SMART CITY AGENDA` w 11 FOR HAWAI I ISLAND.. watt erer rresesources centralized under United Nations 'One Water'program? INS *. why are there references to urban development' throughoutthe JEFF ARROW ZENDO KERN APRIL SUPRANANT general plan document? THESE OFFICIALS NEED TO EXPLAIN THIS 90 18 DAYS IN LAHAINA A ir IRES PUBLIC MEETINGS I 0 SCHEDULED NEXT HEARINGS ABOUT OUR GENERAL PLAN lieDURING VVORK TUES JANUARY 14 7a 12 NOONHOURSLIMIT PARTICIPATION& THURS JANUARY 16 @9.30 AM ARE POTENTIALLY IN KONA CHAMBERS OFVIOLATIONS SUNSHINE LAINW OR CALL&REQUEST ZOOM LINKSUNSHINE c G bigislandsupport.Carn 18 a 8) 9 V 1 -8 2 Z J also Standtogetherhawaii.com UA MAU KE'EA O KA AI'NA I KA'PONO The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness My suffering from Organophosphate/Pesticide poisoning disables me from Attendance at these crutial meetings. Choose ye this day whom you will serve." No More , land grabs, genocide, foreign land deals — SMART (Not so much w burning Cars meters) Cities, Etc. KEEP KONA —Country " And all Our Still recoverable Aina ALL MY Aloha, SharOn Willeford Retired DOE 3rd grade teacher) From: lonapepper To: LPCtestimony Date:Thursday,January 16,2025 9:11:10 AM Sent from my iPhone West Hawai'i Civic Center 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy. Kailua-Koa,HI 96740 ATTN: County Planning Dept. January 14,2025 To Whom It May Concern, I am writing as a concerned local to testify against some of the alarming items being proposed in the Big Island General Plan 2045, scheduled to go before City Council in February 2025.The specifics I am against are as follows: Against the laying of fiber cable in order to construct a Smart City. Against rezoning land from residential to recreational,nature,and or otherwise. Against deed alteration from original homeowner,even after transfer of property and or sale. Against the State buying up locals property and or forced sale. Against restriction of home development from buyers who already purchased land and forcing them to build in city center zoning. Against forced driving electric vehicle by 2030 as proposed.Therefore,also against forced restriction of gas vehicles. Thank you once again for your time,consideration and actively listening to the voices of the community. Mahalo, Sent from my iPhone From: Rocklyn Spencer To: LPCtestimony Subject: General plan for Hawaii Island for 2045 Date:Thursday,January 16,2025 11:21:19 PM Attention Big Island planning commission; Please be advised that Iam a resident of Hawaii Island, and Iam against the General Plan for Hawaii Island for 2045. I have a copy of the plan and I have read it. Iam against the plan in its entirety. Please request that the county council reject this plan. as it is not in the best interest of the people who live here. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Rocklyn Spencer-Dicey. From: Roger Christie To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv Subject: Testimony of January 16,2025 for General Plan 2045 Date:Thursday,January 16,2025 9:31:08 AM Attachments: Adobe Scan Nov 27.2023(5).odf Good morning and aloha! It's my opinion that the Hawai'i County General Plan 2045, although supported by many good people with honorable motives, is 'frog in the pot' governance with the heat turned up a lot. Some of us frogs are very uncomfortable with its dominating, controlling details from the U.N. and other globalists and we appreciate the opportunity to voice our concerns in an effort to reject it. By rejecting the plan I support the spirit and the letter of the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights and the Constitution which seem to be lost in the many overreaching details of the current plan. My concerns include: 1. Changing land use definitions and zoning without the full knowledge and approval of property owners 2. Regulating off-grid living 3. Further stressing the electric grid and increasing the costs of electricity 4. Giving outside "stakeholders" undue influence in local affairs I believe that any plan for our future must include the 1993 Apology Bill which clearly exposes the theft of the Kingdom of Hawai'i by the U.S.A. in 1893. his://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-107/pdf/STATUTE-107-Pg 1510.pdf I believe that any plan for our future must include the provable history of our happy days and enormous backyard wealth generated here by a robust Cannabis economy in the 1980's. In 120 days we can have a world famous, multimillion dollar Cannabis hemp harvest for health, wealth, happiness, holiness and renewable ag economy. We simply need more freedom and less oversight, more freedom and fewer grants. The plan must include that Hawai'i County helped to destroy that safe, natural and renewable economy and lifestyle and replaced it with poverty, meth, homelessness and crime which exists to this day. When the marijuana eradication program was proven to be the cause of the troubles the county hid the study and continued the disastrous program until I shut it down with an impeachment lawsuit in 1999. The county government is not to be trusted and needs to listen to the guidance of the citizens and not globalists, not SMART City advocates and other outside "stakeholders". We the people need, want, deserve and demand that our individual rights and freedoms to be strengthened, not reduced by the plan as it exists. P.S. The censorship of my friend Megan Isaac in a recent hearing was unacceptable. Thank you. May unexpected blessings and love keep coming to you and from you, Roger Christie Hilo RogerChri stie.sub stack,com S ndav eta r-'O u I I etin &`Advertiser IMOMM-__ 11=1*097 Aloha Hawaiilosingwar,is Sunday. March 5. 1989 Attorney ofGeneralPricevalues & out Hawaii by air Basketball Daily averages uH — 71 pot crop at $10 billion a year really dried up."he said. p.pA. 70 By Reiter Wright Related editorial,Page B-2 Cargo VV 11GL 9 He proposed immediate crc- lei.&u v.n It'it"Obs.) tanonofajointfederal, state Hawaii's marijuana industry. "We are a major drug supple- and county task force to•devel- 1 out of control and overwhelm- er to the United States,and we op a plan and estimate the 1,821,366" Baseball ing law enforcement, can be should admit it. We don't like costs to implement it.destroyed by tracking down It. but it really got out of con- Specific tactics would proba- H "— growers in the field and their trot very quickly,and we need bly include increased use of Mail couriers and shipments at air help." Price told The Adverts- dogs to Sniff for drugs in lug- (IbS.)and seaports, Attorney General er. gage and other air shipments. Ind. C}. 1 Warren Price said yesterday. Hawaii's isolation as an is surveillance of likely couriers 'jQ 159 J` Green Harvest" eradication land state makes R a likely with searches aulhonzed under see Sports,Page C 1 ' .} efforts alone aren't "reducing, laboratory for a "border inter- warrants.and staking out mari-diction" drug-control program. juana patches to catch or trackiimuchlesseliminating" the he said. marijuana industry.he said.growers"green-handed." Passengers The bulk of the marijuana Similar stake out tactics by High-tech Capitol Price said he is asking Feder- produced(m Hawaii) leaves by' rangers at Hawaii Volcanoes 87,972 t al drug enforcement czar Wil- air....Given sufficient funding National Park on the Big Is- ine Legislature will become a ham Bennett for money to help and/or assistance, Hawaii could land. coupled with stiff sen- rot more'user friendly d a cou- intercept an annual marijuana be'shut down'to drug traffick- tenccs for growers by federal f`,,l pie of nigh-tech oriented state Attorney General Price crop that he valued at up to ing,and the enormous marijua- revreseotatives have their way It remy got out of oonbof' $10 billion. na industry could be econom See Hawaii, Page A-i Page A-7 Ostia Forces County Plan ftw amb Into Cat Cow afHw ck KL Sopim 3WI41X: a wwa Qda prw M r r WWWjr"AW rp, - mm w. 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Ma.w i a-° idd 301,R-4c 34-r11, 1kmW bm berm m vx a%C.'02k Fe b MML&+ffid wwadvEw c•gw c&mw mdhwd 0WWk4AM&KjW WftW -i 27-1.aadd 6 , 1 "FMCUvrkr6Ah, ire m"i.&A way+d'd+ dbut mad"Mod I04:14 dr 4 bad,shahm hoc r mom,mmd d i r a dw y{y m d-rt j" ad IN:.ten•' of a f Sm hnw*+pmmmkm The Yid efMmbGmC yawn m may dwu mbca w dkrAv grAr CLrw ad 1 us- n am dm• -GAmr dr°..dd w dofdyrrrtMlr tL +:m is J4i nhat t 71 C r*'!fm thr I['—*Pf Ihm -L6&,t"6 nr da,art 11 didFoM9 ou hm+v God .*w wry c6v rwmw owk 0grwr r111 Ftt C 't a as rbm*RM aa,awt r u.i 10 CAM Ka 01clo 0 Ko a I•rd i F..3 From: Edward Burdick To: LPCtestimony Subject: General Plan Date:Friday,January 17,2025 3:22:15 PM Dear Council Members, Big Island is a mostly rural County with limited development potential due to topography, expensive energy supplies, and limited infrastructure including roads, water, sewage, power, and healthcare. In fact, Hilo would only make 928 in size compared to a small State of Washington. The General Plan for 2045 reads like a UN Agenda 2030 outline with some local flavor. It is my contention that the UN Agenda applies mostly to metropolitan areas to which Big Island has none. Based on this premise, the plan for Big Island should not adopt UN Agenda speak but be crafted with local input based on Big Island's unique needs and challenges. There is an entire section dealing with climate change. The fact that climate is changing is nothing new to mankind but the thought of attempting to change climate by any action taken by Big Island residents and government is an act of wasteful spending and folly. If Big island were to achieve a so-called net zero target, it would have exactly zero impact on Earth's climate. There are many examples now around the world where attempts to try and achieve net zero are causing energy prices to soar and electric grids to become less sustainable. Germany,UK, and even the State of CA are moving toward unsustainable energy distribution with their current mix of"renewables". The current fire in one of the world's largest battery plants in California spells out the extreme risk and high cost of using solar with battery backups. One of the primary goals for Big Island should be viable, sustainable, lower cost alternatives for electricity production as this alone will open doors for other sustainable development. This means moving away from misinformation on solar and wind and looking at more reliable modular nuclear and natural gas options. Without moving in the direction as a first step, there is no such thing as sustainability. There is no safe way to store solar power at scale and the risks are very high. Please observe what the tech companies are doing in conjunction with their new data centers. Regards, John Burdick 92-8470 King Kamehameha Blvd PO Box 7966 Ocean View, HI 96737 Sent from Yahoo Mail for Whone Frwn: Martha S—hens ro: viol—, LELlc e,aiiaranawa ce: Staad roaethe,Nawao Subject: Definitions d StakeMlder,Natural D.—and Equity Date:Friday,]anuary 17,20258:2—AM Good morning Commission. April as well. The definitions in question yesterday and frankly every part of the General Plan can easily be found by putting UN in front of the word search. I do not think looking at an english dictionary will define them properly for your understanding of the global governance plan. Natural Disaster is not in the plan because: No Natural Disasters No Natural Disasters A hazard can only become a disaster once itimpacts on society or communiry.Ahuzard is natural,disasters are... Stakeholders: https://sustainablect.org/fileadmiii/Random_PDF_Files/Equity Action_PDFs/Developing_an Equity Impact_Statement_1 df Equity: here is a the big glossary https://unsceb.org/sites/default/files/2024-01/DEF/o20Glossary pdf Thank you, Martha Stephens 408-978-0354 From: Michelle Melendez To: WPCtestimony; LPCtestimonv;Council Testimony; Kimball, Heather; Kaaiwada.Jennifer;Onishi. Dennis; Kierkiewicz,Ashley; Kanealii-Kleinfelder, Matt;Villeaas, Rebecca;Galimba. Michelle M.; Inaba. Holeka; Hustace, James; Planning Internet Mail Subject: Testimony against the GP(The gavel was not needed) Date:Saturday,January 18,2025 9:44:35 AM Aloha Planning Commissions, I'm a bit in shock and confused. Every meeting for over 6-months has had everyone, except two in this last meeting, telling you not to put this plan through and you are still moving forward with it and only recommending certain words be added or changed. Do you work for the people or the "State"? Is this only a dog and pony show? Do the people not have power to tell you what we want and it be followed not just heard? This is very concerning. The General Plan Manager said the source of "Climate Change" was given to her by the authority of the State". Nowhere in the General Plan does it say that. She said she has a 3-page document that shows the source of climate change. Again, these 3 pages are not in the General Plan. I could not find them. The following is not a threat. It is a fact. The Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) Chapter 710, outlines criminal offenses related to the use of false statements or entries, including making a false, fictitious, or fraudulent claim, considered a class C felony. Again, not a threat, a fact! You make us raise our right hand and swear to tell the truth. Why don't you do the same for the General Plan manager? Climate change" or really climate danger is the foundation of the entire plan and if it is false, which it is, then the entire plan should NOT be recommended. It cannot go through based on a false premise and could be considered a felony since it is a false claim. That is a fact, not a threat. How does the "State" have more expertise on climate change than experts in the climate field who are saying around the world that there is no climate danger. Where is their source? I've sent this already and here it is again. Experts stating there is no climate danger: Founder of the weather channel and 1st meteorologist on Good Morning America in the 70's, John Coleman https://youtu.be/K56fms2VZTc?si=leus7DhWFbEPHb5c 1971 credential scientists signed world declaration that this is no climate danger https://clintel.ora/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/WCD-250104.pdf National library of medicine says earth is cooling https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.aov/articles/PMC7575229/ 50 year meteorologist says earth is cooling https:Hyoutu.be/sa- tIITPnM? si=r 2mHSKU6LUEzl5n MIT Professor of Meteorology says it's deceptive to worry about the climate changing because it always will and always has. https://youtu.be/pwvVephTIHU?si=- vMhOgAFxgRczmiu I can give more climate expert testimony if needed.) This is a ruse to bring in SMART City and Electric vehicles where the renewable energy and electric companies will prosper and the people's expenses will increase, their right to privacy will be eliminated and many freedoms will be taken away. Plus, the General Plan Manager shared info that only 2 electric vehicles have caught fire in the past 10 years but she didn't say where are the electric vehicles going to be put when they die? They are a hazard waste (they emit toxic fumes if the engine block is cracked) and cannot be put in the landfill. Who is going to pay for them to get shipped off island and who will take them? What about the increased stress on the electric grid that is already over taxed? Who is the State? Hawaii is not a "State". It is a US occupied territory as all locals know. It's important to state that The "County of Hawaii" and the "State of Hawaii" are both corporations, which are verified businesses with a DUNS and Bradstreet number. Which means the State has no authority over us, "We the People". They are not the government, they are a business and in commerce. The Hawaii Planning Department is a department under the "State of Hawaii". This means they are all in commerce, doing business, making money, and not a Government for the people. This is fraud. This also means that to do business with living men and women they MUST have a contract and consent of the people to do so. The Planning Department has sent letters to homeowners stating their land-use will change from residential to recreational per this General Plan, which drops their property value. Show us the superior title where the Planning Department, which is part of the State of Hawaii corporation, has power over someone's land. The General Plan Manager also stated that the land that will be moved into "Conservation" is already "State" owned land. Again, what "State" is she referring to? The only "State" I could find are those that are running as businesses in Hawaii under the false pretense that they are part of the Government for the people. They are corporations and corporations are in commerce doing business. They are not taking action for the people. They are taking action to make money. Show us the property taxes and mortgages where the State owns the land. Did queen Liokalani when she abdicated the throne under duress then give land title over as well? I would like to see those documents. If the "State" owns the land, where is the title with their DUNS and Bradstreet number showing the "State" owns the land? I thought that land was slowly going back to the Hawaiian people through the Hawaiian Home Lands department. Where in the General Plan is it honoring the Planning Departments contract with Hawaii Homelands? The General Plan Manager was asked by you to show where Hawaii Homelands is written in the plan at the next meeting, which was this last meeting. She didn't do it because Hawaii Homelands isn't written in the plan at all, not once. They say people helped with this plan, where are they? I'd like to see documentation that shows what people approved of this plan and their signatures and I would like to see it in an affidavit under penalty of purgee. The Hawaii Planning Department cannot simply decide to do something without the consent of the people and we DO NOT CONSENT! The Hawaii General Plan is a plan against free living men and women under God and is a plan for corporations looking to gain both land, money, and power under the guise of being for the people. You've seen the testimonies against this plan and you must see that this island will forever change and not for the better under this plan. Please do your kuliana and recommend it not go through. I am of "We the people" and I do not consent. You must not recommend this plan not go through. Will you take action for the people or only hear what we say and not follow our wishes? Duns and Bradstreet Business Numbers: State of Hawaii: D-U-N-S number: 077676997 (Active) County of Hawaii: D-U-N-S number: 083899771 (Active) EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII: D-U-N-S number: 949177471 Not in Business) Mahalo, Michelle Melendez From: Monique Lukens To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv Subject: Re: Stop Date:Saturday,January 18,2025 11:38:27 PM Do not take away the right to transfer property to one's offspring. Do not make a Smart City limiting where people can go. Do not force them to drive electric cars. There are better solutions. 5G interferes with oxygen intake. Do not expand this. Stop cloud seeding, so people can breathe and to not start another plasma fire. I was in Hawaii in 1986. I was so sad to leave. Please take care of her and the native residents. They are souls. Monique Lukens Los Angeles, CA From: Martin Dixon To: LPCtestimony Subject: 2045 General Plan Testimony Date:Sunday,January 26,2025 6:07:46 PM To whom this may concern, I am writing as a resident of Hawai'i Island,in complete opposition to this plan. It is overreaching and unnecessary. Sincerely, Martin Dixon Sent from Yahoo Mail for Whone From: Michelle Melendez To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv;Council Testimony;Kimball,Heather;Kaoiwada,Jennifer;Onishi,Dennis;Kierkiewicz, Ashley; Kanealii-Kleinfelder,Matt;Villegas,Rebecca;Galimba,Michelle M.;Inaba.Holeka;Hustace,James Subject: General Plan Direct Edits from 5x award winning author here! Date: Sunday,January 26,2025 4:56:11 PM Aloha Planning Commissioners and County Council Members, I am a 5-time award winning author. I'm not a conspiracy theorist. I'm a professional researcher! That is what I do. I'm sending the exact areas that we the people are concerned with. It seems that you are ignoring our wishes to recommend this plan NOT go through. That is not okay. The Leeward Chair wants the exact pages that we have issues with so here are our concerns again, as I've already sent this once: https://docs.google-com/document/d/16szOUug8iN3zT_MisDzLIW4jBW1tEggPOUrfMPWYpOo/edit? tab=t.0 My question to you is who do you work for? I stated numerous times that not one person in over 6-months has stepped forward saying they worked on this plan and support it in its entirety. That is a problem! Please do what is right and honor the wishes ofthose you've volunteered to serve and recommend this plan not go through. We are literally screwed if you don't. Mahalo nui loa, Michelle Melendez Fitness and Wellness Expert Since 1996 Author Of The Best Selling and U Award Winning Book, End Dieting Hell:How to find peace in your body and release the weight Order your copy of End Dieting Hell Click Here Award winning Book:"Great Maui Land Grab"NOW Available here From: Rebecca Melendez <bigislandtalk@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, January 27, 2025 2:41 PM 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,James Subject: The Big Island General Plan Testimony 100% of the Community has been AGAINST this General Plan at the in person meetings. For one, this plan was NOT written for ordinary citizens to understand. In some of its explanations, it does NOT use the exact title but abbreviations, which it does NOT explain. It does NOT FULLY explain their "Master Plans" or "Impact Ordinances Fees," and it does NOT make many other items clear in this General Plan. This General Plan should be clear, and it's NOT. It feels very SHADY and brings feelings of CORRUPTION, and there are links that show our rights could be taken away if this General Plan is implemented. The 204S General Plan looks to want to do all of this: As you will see below the General Plan talks about "Clustering" us into "PUD" living through their TDR Program that will, "When the Government undertakes compulsory acquisition of individual land parcels for creating infrastructural projects... https://www.hdfc.com/blog//property-and-real- estate/transferable-development-rights-tdr-concept Page 79 9.3 Zoning, subdivision, and other applicable ordinances shall provide for and protect open space areas. What does the county mean by "other applicable ordinances"? Because an Ordinance is "a law °r rule made by a government °r aUthorltY" What rules does the county want to put on ALL of us because they are not explaining this in their GP. The above info was taken from this Site: https:/Ydictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/ordina nce 9.4 Support mechanisms, such as PUD and Cluster Plan DevelopmeAw"Mgroupparceldensitytopreserveopenspace, recreational areas, or The GP DOES NOT explain what a PUD means. Taken from this Site: https://www.forbes.com/advisor/mortgages/what-is-a- planned-unit-development A planned unit development, or PUD, is a community of single-family homes, and sometimes condos or townhomes, where every homeowner belongs to a homeowners association (HOA)." Taken from this site: https://www.zillow.com/learn/what_is_pud/ To most home shoppers, a planned unit development (PUD) may look like a single- family home. But the legal structure for a PUD is more similar to that of a condo and can impact the mortgage process." Again, you'll need to read all these documents to determine whether that specific PUD is right for you. And remember, all PUDs are different, so each one will have its own set of rules and restrictions." 9.6 In the review of discretionary permits, consider land use compatibility to ensure proximate compatible and complementary uses and appropriate mitigation measures. What does the above sentence mean? Why isn't the General Plan written for ordinary citizens to understand? It seems they want to "ensure proximate compatible and complementary uses and appropriate mitigation measures." What is "proximate compatible"? What are the appropriate mitigation measure"? 9.a Develop a process for County-initiated State land use boundary reclassification to best align State Land Use with County long-range plans. The County has given letters to change Land Use Titles all over the Big Island. Does this mean the State wants to align with with the County and wants to "Develop a process for County-initiated State land use boundary reclassification to best align State Land Use with County long-range plans." Is this allowing them to change land use boundaries through their "reclassification" on their maps? 2 Why are they trying to develop a process for the County to reclassify State land use boundaries? What are the County long-range plans? Pages 80, 82 & 87 mention the TDR Program and THEY DO NOT EXPLAIN THIS PROGRAM 9.d Define the types of open space that are sought to be protected and establish standards to be applied to ensure its protection. Will this definition be able to take private lands away? 9.e Conduct a review and re-evaluation of the real property tax structure to simplify and assure compatibility with land use goals and policies What are their "goals and polices"? 9.f Study the feasibility, issues, and opportunities related to the development of a TDR program to strategically preserve open space and achieve density to remain consistent with the land use pattern in accordance with the General Plan Land Use Maps. The General Plan doesn't explain what TDR means. It is the Transfer of Development Rights. Taken from site: https://www.hdfc.com/blog/property-and-real- estate/tra nsfera ble-d eve lopment-rig hts-td r-concept When the Government undertakes compulsory acquisition of individual land parcels for creating infrastructural projects, it is required to compensate the land owners. The compensation provided by the Government is usually lower than the market rate, and hence they introduced the concept of Transferable Development Rights. These rights are obtained in the form of certificates, which the owner can use for himself or can trade in the market for cash." Taken from site: https://njaes.rutgers.edu/highlands/transfer- development- rights.php?fbclid=lwZXhObgN hZWOCMTAAAR2oM9RMwZPEY eQr6caNxt8RgLcBN3sJxBgaEBt7gO6VzR_wnGkmCnSWreE_a em_1ZCug_WZHv82MykEkH L3gw 3 A TDR program seeks to preserve landowners' asset value by moving the right to build a house from a location where development is prohibited (e.g., for environmental reasons) to a location where development is encouraged." The GP looks to give the full rights over Big Island land because it is the county that will decide the "environmental reasons" for incorporating land into the TDR program, which aims to give them full control over all the lands on Big Island and tell us where we can live by "prohibiting" areas from development. In the place where development is encouraged under TDR, zoning is changed to permit more units to be built." This sentence explains that a TDR program builds units" and gives the county full rights to tell people where they can and cannot build homes through their TDR program. Because the money from this change in zoning is a windfall to current landowners in the development zone, the state is justified in laying claim to this money and turning it over to people whose development rights were taken away as a result of the environmental regulation." General Plan Page 87 Everything below is to enforce their TDR program that they are not explaining. 13.1 Encourage flexibility in the design of residential sites, buildings, and related facilities to achieve a diversity of socio-economic housing mix and innovative means of meeting the market requirements. 13.2 Prioritize increase in density, rehabilitation, and redevelopment within existing zoned urban areas already served by basic infrastructure, or close to such areas. 13.4 Encourage the rehabilitation and/or utilization of maximum density in multi- family residential areas. 13.8 Focus on medium- and high-density residential and commercial uses in communities that can sustain a higher intensity of uses and where consistent with General plan Land USE, Map and existing town character 13.9 Support the rezoning of land to multiple residential near places of employment, retail, utilities, and educational, recreational, cultural, and public facilities. This site https:/Irecords.hawaiicounty.goy/weblink/DocView.aspx?dbid 1&id=56156, click on Hawaii Land Use Regulatory System explains that Land Use Boundaries are initially set by the State Land Use Commissioner and 4 can be changed by County Council Ordinances, which is what this General Plan seems to be trying to do to land all over Big Island. The links above also state, "the law also allows the state to conduct a period boundary review." The GP Land Use Map has already sent letters to private landowners saying they have "Rezoned" their Land Use Titles. Some of these people have been at the meetings, saying that their Land Use Titles are now recreation lands that the landowner cannot pass on to their family or sell. Who gives the county this right to change Land Use Titles? How is this legal? PLEASE OPPOSE THIS FOR THE SAKE OF OUR COMMUNITY RIGHTS TO OWN LAND. 2045 General Plan Page 149 s 30.1 Treat broadband access as a basic utility that is available to all communities. The county doesn't explain that "broadband" is 5G 22 Advantages And Disadvantages Of Broadband Connection. Broadband definition: https:Hen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadband In telecommunications, broadband or high speed is the wide- bandwidth data transmission that exploits signals at a wide spread of frequencies or several different simultaneous frequencies, and is used in fast Internet access• The transmission medium can be coaxial cable, optical fiber, wireless Internet (radio), twisted pair cable, or satellite•" The term "broadband" refers to high-speed and high-bandwidth communication infrastructure. s Broadband is the transmission of high-quality data of wide bandwidth. In its simplest form, it is a high-speed internet connection that is always on. Broadband connections include Wi-Fi, DSLs, fiber, and satellites." Taken from this site:https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/broadband.asp Broadband will always be on. The county has NOT researched the health risks of this. 30.2 Develop and support a program of free, public-use broadband services at appropriate County-owned facilities, mass transit facilities, and other community anchor institutions. What do they mean by "community anchor institutions"? What kind of institution do they want to create? 30.12 Plan for broadband infrastructure to support smart grid development The county doesn't mention wanting to turn the Big Island into a Smart City, and implementing a Smart Grid is the first step in this process. https://smartgrid.ieee.org/resources?cafid=O&id=223 A smart grid alone does three things. First, it modernizes power systems through self-healing designs, automation, remote monitoring and control... Thus, a smart grid sits at the heart of the smart city, which cannot fully exist without it". Also, a Smart Grid will allow them to have more control through "remote monitoring," which will fully take our privacy away. Smart Grid Info: https://minnovation.com.au/smart-cities-2/disadvantages-of- smart-cities-potential-chat lenses-and-concerns/ Privacy and Data Security: Smart cities rely heavily on the collection and analysis of vast amounts of data from sensors, cameras, and connected devices. This data is crucial for optimizing city operations and services. However, the extensive data gathering raises concerns about privacy infringement and data security. Citizens worry about their personal information being accessed or misused." What are Smart Grids and Smart Cities? The county does not explain this in the 6 General Plan. It looks like they are hoping no one will research it. https://www.rfwireless- world.com/Terminology/Advantages-and-Disadvantages-of- Smart-Grid.html 30.3 Collaborate with utility companies to incentivize the underground siting of electrical and telecommunications facilities within public rights-of-way 30.4 Continuously improve the use of broadband communications and digital technology to educate and provide public services with a focus on digital access. 30.5 Siting of new communications facilities shall comply with performance standards and site colocation as stated in the Code. 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 " underground siting." 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 down this kind of cable all over the Big Island, which will cost billions. Page 150 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:Hprimex.com/fiber-optic- internet-going-undergroundt, The widespread adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) and smart home technology has internet service providers (ISPs) and integrators 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 withstand contact will be required. Cables buried in clay will also need to be of higher quality because the clay can hold stones and push them 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 and disruptive." The traffic on Big Island has been increasing every month, and they want to dig up our two lane roads to "sit" their "broadband infrastructure'? THEY ARE NOT ADDRESS INFRASTRACTURE ISSUES ON ISLAND. This site explains that laying cable underground https://pulsefibre.co.uk/2023/06/l5/when-more-is- less-the-risks-and-downsides-of-overbuild/ Fibre overbuilds in the 21st century are becoming a widespread problem, with more fibre cable being laid on streets than can ever be utilised by the residents. Not only does this often cause mayhem on the roads, with closures and roadworks slowing traffic, but Fibre overbuilds can lead to countless negative effects on the environment, and the eventual rise in cost to the consumer and developer." The county is not focusing on the island's issues, like the fact we already have serious traffic issues. They want to create more traffic problems by laying down fibre cable that will create a "Broadband/Smart Grid," hence a Smart City, and they are explaining this by using minimal wording to confuse and obscure their true intentions. The county is not acknowledging that Hawai'i Electric does NOT have the kind of power a Smart Grid needs, which will add to the island's already-existing power issues. News Article: https://www.hawaiianelectric.com/safety-and- outa es an-update-on-hawaii-island-power-generation An update on Hawaii Island power generation - how you can help there's no one to call on for backup - we're on our own. That's why we will need everyone to work together over the next month, and possibly longer, to conserve electricity. We are extremely tight on what we call our generation margin, the margin between the demand for electricity and our ability to supply it. This demand typically peaks on weekdays between 5 and 9 p.m. and that's when the margin is most critical." 8 The county has not provided any researched information on the health risks to people, animals, and the environment from "Broadband" which will always be on underground, and all over Big Island. Electronics 360 Article: https://electronics360.globalspec.com/article/l1104/th e-da ngers-that-come-with-a-smart-q rid Re: The Dangers That Come with a Smart Grid 1 John Endres 2018-Feb-23 2:31 PM One very critical danger that comes with a "smart grid" was not mentioned: the adverse health effects from electromagnetic fields. Current estimates of people experiencing adverse health effects from wireless technology hover at around 5%--1 am one of them. After the installation of a water utility smart meter at my place of work, I experienced an escalation of symptoms (over time) that started with headaches and ultimately culminated in a seizure (I lost control of my legs). One month prior to the smart meter installation I had a complete annual physical and was given a clean bill of health. I underwent a barrage of medical tests after a week of experiencing health symptoms (thyroid, EEG, MRI, etc.) and everything was normal. I did begin to feel some of the painful head and eye sensations (that I would feel near wireless sources) at the end of the MRI". The county does not acknowledge the health risks associated with their Broadband/Smart Grid" plan, all the associated issues due to putting the fibre cables underground, or the fact that it will cost billions to create. They worded everything in their General Plan to sound like it would benefit everyone, and it wouldn't! 30.9 Alleviate barriers and assist broadband projects with navigating through the regulatory permitting process. They say "Alleviate barriers and assist broadband projects" are the barriers health regulations because the broadband will be on all the time? What are the barriers the county is wanting to alleviate to create their broadband projects? What is their "regulatory permitting process."? The county mentions Broadband and a Smart Grid is the county also planning for an increase in cell towers? If so have they researched health issues because of cell towers? There are cell towers on island where the top's are pointing straight at HWY's, homes, commercial areas, retirement homes...Because the island is mountainous, the 9 tops of these cell towers are only a few feet from these areas. These areas are getting the full blast of the radiation. Has the county looked into the health risks of this cell towers? Will they be allowing more towers to do this to our community? On Palani Rd. and Queen K HWY, there are two cell towers whose tops are only a few feet from the HWY. On Hualalai Rd., there is a cell tower facing a retirement home and it's less than 100 ft away. In Hawi town, there is a cell tower at a gas station. The top of the tower is directly across from residential homes. Has the county checked these places to do any research on whether people are being affected by cell tower radiation before they keep allowing and agreeing to more cell towers? Physicians For Safe Technology Article: https:Hmdsafetech.org/cell- tower-health-effects/ Overall results of this review show three types of effects by base station antennas on the health of people: radiofrequency sickness (RS), cancer (C) and changes in biochemical parameters (CBP). Considering all the studies reviewed globally (n = 38), 73.6% (28/38) showed effects: 73.90/0 (17/23) for radiofrequency sickness, 76.9% (10/13) for cancer and 75.0% (6/8) for changes in biochemical parameters...Of special importance are the studies performed on animals or trees near base station antennas that cannot be aware of their proximity and to which psychosomatic effects can never be attributed." Will there be any health and safety research and studies on what a safe distance and a safe number of cell towers should be for human bodies, trees, and animals? 30.i Pursue partnerships and funding for broadband initiatives and deployments 30.j Support the coordination of infrastructure projects between the public and private sectors to create areas for the deployment of broadband zones 30.k Seek federal and other opportunities for the funding of broadband infrastructure. The above information from their General Plan shows that the county seriously wants Broadband on this island. It would cause serious traffic because of having to dig up roads to lay "sit" cable, and they say nothing about doing any research on the health 10 risks to people, animals, and the environment because these cables will be on all the time. 30.1 Support the State to develop a broadband dashboard to track progress and gaps that will inform decision-making in economic development on Hawaii Island. Do they want to track gaps so they can keep laying out more cable underground that will cause more traffic? What does the above 30.1 mean? 30.m Foster public-private partnerships to support the development and expansion of broadband infrastructure, including community networks. The people that would support this are the people who would make money from this. Where is the health and safety research for this? It's NOT in their General Plan. General Plan Page 87 13.13 Support master planning by public and private institutions and landowners which emphasize TOD, affordable housing, and mixed-use development. TOD - Transit- Orientated Development (I had to research what TOD meant because I didn't see it the GP) What is their "Master Planning" they want to support? I don't see any information on this. What do they mean by public and private institutions? Page 117 20.e Adopt a Complete Streets ordinance. What is their "Complete Streets Ordinance"? They seem to be adding more rules, laws, and regulations, and are not fully explaining what they want to implement. General Plan Page 87 13.10 Development of TODs and TNDs are encouraged within locations of the urban centers shown on the General Plan Land Use Map. These locations are approximate and become fixed during rezoning. li TNDs - Traditional Neighborhood Development TOD - Transit- Orientated Development They don't explain what these developments are. What would they look like? What are the positives and the negatives of these developments? This is a comment from a TOD policy from San Antonio: https://www.saspeakup.com/tod#tab-54195 Overreaching and Too Vast in Scope: The plan covers an unnecessarily large area, extending far beyond what is reasonable for a transit-oriented development. By attempting to include vast tracts of land, it overreaches, applying policies to areas that are not appropriate or well-suited for the type of development envisioned. This broad application dilutes the effectiveness of the plan and places undue pressure on neighborhoods that may not be prepared for such changes." What is the county's TOD plan? They don't mention their plan and their "ordinances" for it, if any. The island needs reliable buses. Where is their plan for buses? General Plan Page 86 The Urban Growth Areas (UGA) include highdensity Transit Oriented Development TOD), medium-density Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND), and low- density Urban Neighborhood Centers. These centers provide physical, social, governmental, and economic concentrations and easier access to services, recreation, and employment activities." They never mention their exact plan for implementing a TOD plan on page 86. They don't give any ideas of how they will increase public transportation. The bus system has been breaking down for years and is rarely on time. They are not clear on what they mean by this at all. They say, "are encouraged." Big Island's public transportation needs to be addressed. How can the island create better public transportation? They don't explain how they want to help public transportation. Big Island's infrastructure also needs to be seriously addressed because traffic is increasing monthly without any sign of helping the infrastructure to accommodate the increase in traffic. 12 How can they help traffic infrastructure with a mountain on one side and a cliff on the other, with many of our roads? They don't offer any ideas. This is what I found for to try and understand what they want to implement Transit- Oriented Development https://fifthave.ca/benefits-and-drawbacks- of-transit-oriented-developments/ 1. Decreased Affordability and Property Values: The increased demand for housing in TOD areas may lead to rising property values and rental costs, potentially displacing existing low-income residents. 2. Displacement of Marginalized Communities: Gentrification can occur in TOD neighborhoods, pushing out long-time residents and causing social and economic disruptions. 3. Social and Cultural Homogenization: The emphasis on mixed-use developments might inadvertently lead to the homogenization of local cultures and businesses, eroding the unique character of the community. 4. Increased Pressure on Infrastructure: High-density developments can strain existing infrastructure, such as transportation networks, water, and sanitation systems, necessitating costly upgrades. S. Unequal Distribution of Benefits: Without inclusive planning and involvement of all stakeholders, the benefits of TOD might disproportionately favor certain segments of the population. General Plan Page 87 13.13 Support master planning by public and private institutions and landowners which emphasize TOD, affordable housing, and mixed-use development. What is their "Master Plan"? Why should it be supported? Why aren't they clear on all their plans and ordinances? Page 89 13.44 The development or designation of new resort areas Should complement the character of the area; protect the environment and natural beauty; respect existing lifestyles, cultural practices, and cultural resources; and provide shoreline public access. 13 Page 142 28.11 The County shall ensure that golf course developments develop and implement grading and site preparation plans to... There are Notification Signs for development Applications all over the island, and the Big Island needs homes for its residents. It does NOT need more resorts and golf course developments because the island is having resource issues with the developments here now, and many more years of already-approved developments have not been completed yet. Why is the General Plan approving more resorts and golf courses when the island's is having a hard time providing resources for all the developments that are here now, and there are years worth of developments that have already been approved. Please read this petition: https:/)Fwww.change.org/p/help-big-island- resou rces-a nd-i nfrastructu re-stay-safe-for-a I I-who-I ive-here- and-visit The West Hawai'i Sanitary Landfill, the only remaining landfill on the Big Island, is forecast to reach capacity within the next 20 to 25 years." https://bigisl and now.com/2023/09/17/big-island-now- poll-no-27-resu Its-more-than-one-solution-needed-to-help- extend-life-of-west-hawaii-landfil Hawai`i Water Supply Closely Monitored As Severe Drought Continues by Big Island Video Newson Nov 6, 2023 at 3:28 pm STORY SUMMARY HAWAVI COUNTY - Officials say a special focus will be placed on the South Kohala Water System, which is more susceptible to drought conditions." https://www.bigislandvideonews.com/2023/11/06/wa ter-supply-closely-monitored-as-hawai%CA%BBi-under- severe-drought/ HECO issues rolling power outages around Big Island by: Emily Cervantes Posted: Feb 13, 2024 / 05:11 PM HST Updated: Feb 13, 2024 / 09:12 PM HST Hawaiian Electric initiated rolling outages for Big Island after several large generators became unavailable and reduced output Tuesday night." https:/Iwww.khon2.com/local-news/heco-releases- conservation-alert-for-big-island Page 90 13.e Amend Zoning Code to: 14 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 IS NOT CLEAR. Page 98 14.1 Support the State Land Use reclassification to Rural in alignment with the General Plan Rural designation. What is the General Plan Rural Designation? The General Plan changes High-End Land Use Titles, for example Hokulia Lands from Agriculture" to "Rural". This will allow this High-End developer to by pass things such as the Environmental Impact Statement and this is NOT good for the land or the community. Please OPPOSE ALL HIGH-END DEVELOPERS LAND USE TITLE CHANGES THAT THE COUNTY WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE TO "RURAL" ALL WHILE CHANGING PRIVATE LANDS TO RECREATION THAT WILL NOT ALLOW THE PRIVATE LAND OWNER TO PASS THEIR LAND TO FAMILY OR SELL IT IN THE FUTURE. 14.2 Support reclassification/rezoning of appropriate General Plan Rural designated areas where an intermediate land use and a well-defined buffer between Urban and Productive Agricultural areas are consistent with the surrounding uses and rural character. What is the "reclassification/rezoning of appropriate General Plan Rural designated..."? They are changing Land Use Titles in the GP and that NEEDS TO BE OPPOSED! 4.4 Rural-style residential-agricultural developments, such as new small-scale rural communities or extensions of existing rural communities, should be incentivized to cluster in appropriate locations. t5 They want to "cluster" residents because the word "cluster" is used many times in this General Plan. What does this mean exactly? 14.b Amend the zoning districts currently listed as Family Agricultural District (FA) and the Residential and Agricultural Districts (RA) to be consistent with the Rural designation and to allow for home occupations that do not negatively impact rural 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? Page 102 15.f Update the Real Property Tax Code for agricultural land uses that result in actual production or other public benefits, such as native forestry and the ecosystem services that result from well managed rangelands. What does this mean? Will they increase taxes? We need farmers to want to work and afford life without increased taxes. 15.g Amend the Zoning Code to require Plan Approval for commercial open area recreational uses in the Agricultural District. How do they want to Amend the Zoning Code? 15.i Develop standards and guidelines for buffer areas located adjacent to agricultural lands. What does this mean? What kind of standards and guidelines do they want to implement? Page 108 16.6 Provide for present traffic and future demands, including the development of mass transit programs for high-growth areas by both the private and public sectors. How will they do this? Traffic keeps increasing monthly, and the roads are incredibly narrow, with a cliff on one side and a mountain on the other in many different areas all over the island. Where is their plan for this? Page 111 17.4 Land use applications shall identify as early as possible any existing or potential active living corridors that should be incorporated into the County's open space network. i f Who decides what a living corridor is? Is this the county's way of taking private land areas away? 17.5 Ensure that existing active living corridors that are publicly owned or available by easement are properly identified and that their access elements are secured and documented. b) "Acceptance" by the County of the responsibilities detailed in the grant of easements should require County Council action and a dedicated funding source. What does b) mean exactly? What is the "grant of easements"? Page 116 9.2 Increase arterial capacity through prioritization of alternative means of transportation, such as mass transit, bicycle, and pedestrian systems. What does this mean? What is their plan? How will they make "prioritization of alternative means of transportation"? Will we be fined or something if we don't follow their "alternative means of transportation"? 19.6 Use traffic demand management to aid in reducing traffic congestion by targeting an increase of active transportation mode 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 somehow limit cars? 19.7 Concurrency reviews should incorporate reduction in vehicle miles traveled to mitigate traffic impacts (e.g. the level of service) and achieve sustainability and demand management goals. How are they going to "reduce vehicle miles traveled to mitigate traffic impacts"? Will we lose are right to travel? 19.a Continue to adopt the County Street design manual as the County's complete street design program/policy. 19.b Amend the County Code to incorporate complete street design. What is the "County Street design manual"? I don't see this information in the General Plan. 19.d Identify all roles for interdepartmental collaboration in delivering a truly multimodal transportation system. What do they mean exactly? Page 117 17 20.e Adopt a Complete Streets ordinance. What is a "Complete Streets ordinance"? Another regulation? Page 119 22.7 Develop roadway standards to accommodate emerging technology for connected and automated vehicles. This needs to be opposed because the Big Island has power issues and cannot handle all its current power needs. It does not have extra power to connect many electric vehicles, which will only add to its power issues. Plus, if there is a big storm and we lose power, those electric cars cannot run, their batteries do not decompose, and the island needs a new way to take care of rubbish because there is only one landfill on the island. These cars will only add to the many issues the island already has. Hawaii Island is in the enviable position of having a landfill with anywhere from 20 to 100 years of capacity left to take in trash. But the island still wrestles with significant issues like plastic products that are no longer being recycled." https:Hwww.waste360.com/landfill/hawaii-deals-with- burgeoning-waste-management-problem Hawaiian Electric is reporting that several large generators on the Big Island are experiencing a range of issues and may lead to the need for rolling outages if supply does not meet demand." https://www.reddit.com/r/BigIsland/comments/1bnuar3/hawa Han-electric_is_reporting-that_several_large/?rdt=52660 Page 130 25.5 Encourage the clustering of developments to reduce the cost of providing utilities. How will "clustering developments" reduce the cost of utilities? We all use the same power whether we live clustered up, like the county wants, or not. The solution to help power the island is not "clustering" everyone. It is asking homeowners/resorts/vacation rentals to purchase solar panels, use wind turbines, or use other natural ways to create their own power. If everyone steps up, we can all make good chances together. This petition offers other solutions https://WWW.change.org/p/help-big- 18 island-resources-and-infrastructure-stay-safe-for-all-who-live- here-and-visit 25.6 Develop short- and long-range capital improvements programs and plans for public utilities within its jurisdiction that are consistent with the General Plan. What are " short- and long-range capital improvement programs"? 25.7 Maintain an Asset Management Program aimed at utilizing maintenance plans to prolong the life of our utilities as well as reduce 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? Page 132 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 Rosewood Resort waters it's white coral road to keep the dust down. They use hundreds, if not thousands, of gallons to water their road, even when there are signs to conserve water. Has the county looked at the resort's wasteful water use? Are the resort's water use more "valuable" than residence use? Shouldn't the county have some "ordinance" against wasteful water in the resorts because we are on an island? Why isn't this in their General Plan? 26.6 Encourage the design of large development projects (200+ units) in the North Kohala, South Kohala, North Kona, South Kona, and Ka`u Districts to be as water neutral as reasonably possible through water conservation, recharge, and reuse measures 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 are already here? Are they NOT paying attention to island resources? 26.7 Promote best practices in sustainable water collection and use for private water systems. 19 What does this mean, "for private water systems"? Are they planning private water systems used only by private communities or resorts? Why hasn't the county considered new inventions to help the island's water issues? For example, inventions that capture grey water to use in toilets https://ecofriend.com/innovative-products-designed- capture-reuse-yray-water.html• I'm sure many new inventions could help the island if they only start looking for them. Page 133 26.e Maintain the water master plan to consider water yield, present and future demand, alternative sources of wager, guidelines, and policies for the issuing of water commitments. What is their "water master plan"? 26.n Develop water conservation and stormwater management guidelines for commercial, industrial, and residential properties. What would "management guidelines" be? Would resorts be prioritized over residences? Page 137 27.6 Pollution shall be prevented, abated, and controlled at levels that will protect and preserve public health and well-being through the enforcement of appropriate Federal, State, and County standards What pollution? What are the Federal, State, and County standards, and how would they enforce them? Developments pollute nearby water; will new developments be subjected to this? Because developments shouldn't pollute nearby water and it's scientifically proven that they do. htt s: bi_ isqlandsupport.com/kba, iynfo/ This would be Kamehameha Schools Bungalow Resort Development, and if it goes through, it will pollute Keauhou Bay. Will the county enforce pollution standards on them? They should. 27.7 Ensure municipal wastewater systems serve designated Urban Growth Areas UGA) with the capacity to accommodate projected population growth. 27.9 Prioritize developing a multipronged approach to wastewater infrastructure funding, including proactively seeking grant funding for wastewater system 20 expansion, improvements, and new development 27.11 Ensure that wastewater systems and improvements are designed and functioning to maximize system efficiencies, prevent accidental leaks or spills, and provide sanitary, reliable wastewater treatment that is not negatively impacting natural resources. They don't mention the pollution that cesspools are causing daily. People can use many kinds of toilets to stop using cesspools today if only the county would approve this. Why hasn't the county considered new inventive toilets to help the wastewater system? And some of these toilets can also save on water. Like the Cinderella Incinerator Toilet to help stop pollution from cesspools and help with the wastewater system? https://cinderellaeco.com/en-us There are many new inventive toilets these days that can help the island's wastewater system, and the Cinderella Incinerator Toilet can also help conserve water. Page 138 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's population 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-g ray-water.htm I https://newsroom.ucla.edu/stories/gray-water-clean-up- yoram-cohen-271642 https://www. rcenprophet.com/2015/04/10-inventions-to- save-earths-water/ 27.a Prioritize areas where on-site wastewater treatment should be converted to sewer and establish financial tools such as improvement districts to aid in implementation. 27.b Prioritize areas where wastewater treatment facilities are necessary to facilitate 21 future growth and utilize financing tools such as community facilities district (CFD) or tax increment financing (TIF) to aid in implementation. What would be their priority? Resorts over Residence? Big Island Acute Problems' Plaguing Big Island's Wastewater Treatment Systems Prompt EPA Crackdown https://www.civiIbeat.org/2024/04/acute-problems- plaguing-big-islands-wastewater-treatment-systems-prompt- epa-crackdown/ Why doesn't the county start considering the Cinderella Incinerator toilet or other inventions to help with the wastewater treatment issues, especially when this has been a serious issue for years? https://cinderellaeco.com/en-us 27.i Streamline the sewer connection loan program. What is this loan program? Is the island going into more debt because of it? 27 j Develop wastewater cost valuation in service fees (similar to the water model fee structure). 27.k Develop a criteria-based infrastructure prioritization tool to develop new or expand existing municipal wastewater systems. Base these priority areas on designated urban growth boundaries, urban zoning and density, population trends and anticipated growth, health/safety, and environmental factors 27.1 Implement innovative wastewater systems at a cost-effective scale for small communities. If the county starts considering new inventions and types of waste treatment toilets, like the Cinderella Incinerator Toilet, wastewater treatment costs would be considerably lowered. Why don't they do this? Page 139 27.p In collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, develop a water resource strategy for efficient agricultural water use and reuse. Why doesn't the county start to consider using grey water inventions? https://www.environmental-expert.com/articles/the- power-of-greywater-recycling-a-sustainable-solution-for-the- future-1138822 22 Page 142 28.11 The County shall ensure that golf course developments develop and implement grading and site preparation plans to: Why is the county still considering more golf courses when the island has water, power, and landfill issues...? Page 143 28.b Conduct a feasibility study to create a County Stormwater Utility before the County reaches MS4 requirements. 28.c Update the DPW Storm Drainage Standards to reflect current data and to incorporate strategies and standards of green infrastructure and low-impact development. 28.d Develop drainage master plans from a watershed perspective that considers non-structural alternatives, minimizes channelization, protects wetlands that serve drainage functions, coordinates the regulation of construction and agricultural operation, and encourages the establishment of floodplains as public greenways. Why doesn't the county start looking at new, innovative drainage solutions for the island? https://www.randrmagonline.com/articles/90645- innovative-solutions-for-effective-storm-water-manag_ ement- in-urban-environments Page 155 31.a Create an asset management program. 31.c Develop and adopt an Impact Fees Ordinance to aide in the expansion of County services and facilities. What would be an "asset management program"? What is an "Impact Fees Ordinance"? Another regulation? Page 162 33.2 Implement waste stream technology, such as recycling and upcycling and waste-to-energy to reduce the flow of refuse deposited in landfills. 23 Why doesn't the county start looking at how countries who have a high population are dealing with their rubbish, to get other ideas that could help the island? 33.9 Ensure that redesign plans for landfill and transfer stations provide adequate space for Resource Recovery (PP) Stations. How would they do this? 33.11 Site new solid waste/resource recovery facilities in appropriate areas that serve the needs of population centers and minimize and mitigate negative impacts on the environment or surrounding neighborhood. 33.12 Reduce illegal dumping and littering. 33.13 Minimize the amount of waste generated by County facilities. 33.a Evaluate and amend the County Code to integrate strategies to maximize landfill diversion and handle materials: Where is the information for all of the above? How would they do these things? Has the county ever looked into new innovative ways to deal with rubbish: Benefits of waste-to-energy Waste-to-energy technology offers an alternative to landfills, providing a cleaner, more efficient way of disposing of waste while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. https://biotrux.com/what-can-we-use-instead-of-landfills/ Different Alternative to landfill https://bettermeetsreality.com/the- different-alternatives-to-landfill-waste-management-options/ Top 29 countries that have been efficient in minimizing waste https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/which- countries-are-the-most-efficient-at-minimising- waste/96037M:—:text=Switzerland%20have%20100%25%20was te%20recovery%2C%20despite%20being%20in,while%20the% 20other%2047%25%20is%20i nci nerated%20for%20energy Page 171 35.f Update the County of Hawaii Recreation Plan to reflect newly identified 24 recreational priorities. The county has sent out letters changing private Land Use Titles to recreational land. Does this mean they will be looking for more lands to change their Land Use Titles into recreational lands, thereby taking their property away by not 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? heard these people would still have to pay the property tax on their land, which the county wants to turn into recreational land, is this going to happen? From this site https://www.findIaw.com/reaIestate/land-use- laws.html Eminent Domain Eminent domain is the right of a government entity to take private property for public use with payment of compensation for the land. Different government bodies have different criteria. But generally, the government must be able to prove a compelling reason for its planned use..." In the General Plan it states the county will be able to make changes for environmental reasons" and anyone can make up "environmental reasons" to do things. How will this be legal for them to change Private Land Use Titles ALL OVER BIG ISLAND? 35.i Develop best management practices for the development and maintenance of golf courses in collaboration with government, private and nonprofit agencies, and other stakeholders. Golf courses use a lot of poisons to keep their lands weed-free, and these poisons runoff into the ocean, causing algae blooms and other pollutions. Will the county be addressing this? 35.r Develop and implement a cemeteries master plan for the siting of future cemeteries. What is their "cemetery master plan"? Pag 176 25 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? Page 182 37.3 Prioritize new housing including the missing middle in or near mixed-use developments, urban growth areas with infrastructure, and near existing and proposed transit centers. 37.6 Vacant lands in the urban growth boundary (UGB) should be prioritized for residential and supportive uses before additional agricultural lands outside the UGB are converted into urban uses 37.c Assess and amend the land use and building regulations and explore fiscal opportunities to support universal design principles and ADA accessibility for more physically accessible housing. They talk about more and more developing and yet, have they sincerely looked at Big Island resource issues today? Have they sincerely looked at all the development that has already been approved for years to come and incorporated into the island's resources, because the island is having serious resource issues right now. How will all this future development that's in their General Plan affect the island's resources? Where is this researched information? The island's resources need to be addressed because many years in the making, developments have been approved to build more homes, and all of the island's resources are having serious issues today. Before prioritizing even more developments such as resorts, golf courses... that is in their General Plan for future development, and before the years' worth of homes that have already been approved have been developed, the island's resources need to be addressed so that everyone will have power, water, a place to put their rubbish, the traffic needs to be addressed, wastewater needs address... Where is all the research to increase the island's resources for all these new developments that are in the General Plan? Please read this petition that explains Big Island resources: https://www.change.org/p/help-big-island-resources-and- infrastructure-stay-safe-for-all-who-live-here-and-visit Page 183 26 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? Page 184 39.8 Encourage the development of workforce housing within or near urban growth areas and employment centers and require large new developments that create a demand for housing to provide affordable workforce housing. Resorts on the island hire and bring in people from outside of the country. Then they house them. This takes away homes and jobs from locals. Why doesn't the county prioritize these jobs and homes for locals? Why don't the resorts on the island hire locals who are already here and need jobs and homes? Page 190 42.c Develop and adopt an impact fees ordinance that considers district specific needs and excludes urban core areas where infill is encouraged. What exactly does this mean? What are "impact fees ordinance" and "infill is encouraged" mean? 42.d Develop a framework for a transition plan for changes in administrative leadership to ensure a smooth transition and continuity of operations. Why does the county need a "transition plan for changes in administrative leadership"? What does this have to do with the GP. Shouldn't they already have a plan? Page 199 44.f Partner with business associations, realtors, and the chamber of commerce to recruit small-scale manufacturers to establish retail locations in village and town centers to support reinvestment and match potential tenants with local landowners. The shops in Kailua Kona town have trouble staying open because all the private parking lots are overcharging for parking. Why isn't the county addressing this issue instead of wanting to bring in more businesses that won't be able to survive because private parking is taking a lot of money away from businesses? The county NEEDS to answer ALL of these questions because they are NOT clear in what they are saying they want to do in their 2045 GP, and this plan CAN NOT go any further UNLESS WE ALL FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR PLAN IS! 27 The county NEEDS to TAKE OUT ALL MENTION OF THE TDR Program because it violates our rights to live how and where we want. The county NEEDS TO TAKE OUT ALL MENTION OF "Broadband/Smart Grid" and start solving traffic issues, water, power, landfill issues, and because this will cost billions, and add a lot more problems to the Big Island. do not understand how to use their map that shows all the changes they want to make on the island and all the Land Use Titles they have changed to private lands. Can you figure out their map and see all their changes? have heard the voices of people in person at the meetings who have received letters that are changing their Land Use Titles. This is not right because land changed to recreation will make it so the owner cannot pass their land on, or sell it. Please look at their map because there are high-end developers' Land that the county has changed their Land Titles so they can develop their lands easily, without having to do Environmental Impact Studies, and this is not safe for the island, or the community. Zendo Kern has helped high-end developers many times on the island. This planning director favors developers rather than the preservation of the land and community voices. For example, 18,554 people signed a petition to Save Punalu'u from development. Hundreds of Hawaiian residents protested the housing project in Punalu'u, and still, Planning Director Zendo Kern has recommended that the commission greenlight the development, writing in his 17-page report to the panel that the project will not have any substantial adverse environmental or ecological effect" provided that best management practices are used to mitigate any impacts. Kern recommended moving ahead without making the developers prepare an updated environmental impact statement or environmental assessment because the project did not meet the criteria set out in state law for such a requirement." This man is not for conserving the land, nor does he support community voices. Please look at the map he is a part of because this man favors high-end developers. If this map changes high-end developers' Land Use Titles to help them develop their land easily, it could be one huge way that he supports these developers, and this is not right for the island and the community. https://www.civilbeat.org/2024/03/hundreds-of-hawaii-island- residents-protest proposed-housing-project-in-punaIuu/ 28 https://www.thepetitionsite.com/854/086/898/residents-who- oppose-the-resort-in-punaluu-ka%C5%AB/ Thank you, Rebecca Melendez Kailua Kona Resident 29 From: Ken Honma To: Council Testimony; Kimball, Heather; Kagiwada,Jennifer;Onishi. Dennis; Kierkiewicz.Ashley; Kanealii- Kleinfelder, Matt;Villegas, Rebecca;Galimba, Michelle M.; Inaba. Holeka; Hustace.James; Planning Internet Mail;WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv Cc: Stand Together Hawaii Subject: Official Request for and extended presentation Date:Tuesday,January 28,2025 9:15:56 AM 1/28/2025 Planning Commissioners, I would like to request that Michelle Melendez be invited by the Planning Commissioners to have an extended time-period in order to fully provide the Commissioners and the public with pertinent information about the Hawaii County General Plan 2045. After personally providing testimony at a recent public hearing, it is clear to me that three minutes are far too short of time to fully expand on the ramifications of the General Plan. It is also clear that the Commissioners have the ability to ask for extended presentations, as was done when the "staff" of the planning department was asked to make a presentation to the commissioners,the presentation was well over the three minutes allotted to the public and included questions and answers and a slide presentation. I ask that you honor the community members'who have and are very concerned about the full implications of the General Plan, Michelle Melendez has shown honesty, determination, and care in investigation into what the General Plan does and could do. She has the necessary skills to present an accurate, concise, and clear assessment of the Hawaii County General Plan 2045. Give her the opportunity by extending her an invitation to make a presentation before the Commissioners and the public.The present and future people living in the County of Hawaii will respect your efforts in this matter. Sincerely, Ken Honma Kurtistown, Hi, 96760 From: Terri Yoshinaoa To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv Subject: Opposing the General Plan Date:Wednesday,January 29,2025 12:25:25 PM Concerns Include: Land Use changing Residential to Recreation DROPS property value! Plan could set up MANY opportunities for State to take your land & Rezone! Plan could regulate OFF-GRID living! Plan will further STRESS electric grid increasing prices! AND MORE! Rebecca's testimony https://bigislandsul2port.com/2045-gl2-testimonial/ Terri Yoshinaga From: schausiuIieCcbomai1.corn To: Council Testimony;WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv Subject: General plan 2045 Date:Thursday,January 30,2025 6:55:13 AM Dear Hawaii county council, I am a resident and property owner in captain cook,Hawai'i. I have three sons that also live in south Kona,Hawai'i. I am writing this testimony to oppose and reject 1)the nomination of Wesley Segawa and 2)to oppose and reject the proposed general plan 2045 based on the following: Wesley Segawa: is a convicted felon. He is a business owner with county contracts therefore an illegal,conflict of interest Segawa mismanaged his position as chairman of public housing and resigned I appeal to the council to appoint only those people with hawai'i aloha in their heart. General plan 2045: This proposed plan is being discussed behind the peoples backs There has not been any form of information to the general public There was to have been 2 meetings in January and 2 in february. You cancelled a meeting in each month.Very wrong. You made the meetings during business hours limiting peoples access Overall this"plan"removes peoples land and water rights This plan oppresses and suppresses residents and homeowners This plan seeks to deceitfully rezone our properties to conservation This plan reduces our property values This plan seeks for"environmental reasons"to take away/rezone our properties No governmental body should have the right to decide our properties fate Referrals to a master plan&ordinances within the plan are vague and lack description We do not want to live in a smart city controlled by government We do not want untested/unsafe 5g installed under our ground We do not want 5g to surveil us I appeal to the Hawaii county council to not just hear our voices,but to take action. Do something to prevent this God awful plan to proceed in any way, shape or form. This plan should not move forward. Me and my family,oppose and reject general plan 2045. Me and my family oppose and reject the nomination of Wesley Segawa Mahalo nui loa, Julie schaus Captain cook,Hi Sent from my iPad From: Ken Honma To: WPCtestimony;Council Testimony Cc: Stand Toaether Hawaii; Kimball. Heather; Kaaiwada.Jennifer;Onishi. Dennis; Kierkiewicz.Ashley; Kanealii- Kleinfelder, Matt;Villegas, Rebecca;Galimba, Michelle M.; Inaba. Holeka; Hustace,James; Planning Internet Mail; LPCtestimonv Subject: Re: Official Request for and extended presentation Date:Saturday,February 1,2025 11:40:46 PM Dear WPCtestimony, Thank you for clarifying the limitations of public testimony. How can Michelle Melendez be given the necessary time to present very important and pertinent information about this general plan? The venue needs to be viewable such as on Zoom, and recorded and available for the public to see and hear. What is the purpose of taking public testimony if not to provide the commissioners and the public with other pertinent information that is not already included in the proposal? The general plan is easily downloadable for the public to read, there should also be on this website all of the supporting and opposing views available for the public to see, hear and read what their fellow Hawaiians' are thinking about this proposed plan. Please let me know how to make these requests happen. Openness in government is so important today, we are participating at the most basic and local political level and we have the power to bring trust back into government decision making, let's do it show us how! Sincerely, Ken Honma. Kurtistown 96760 On Thu, Jan 30, 2025 at 3:58 PM WPCtestimony <wbctestimony hawaiicoun ov>wrote: Aloha Ken Honma, Thank you for reaching out and for sharing your concerns regarding the H awa i`i County General Plan 2045. We appreciate your engagement and your commitment to ensuring the public and the Planning Commissioners have access to comprehensive information on this important matter. In order to maintain fairness and provide equal opportunities for all public testifiers, we must adhere to the standard time limits established for testimony. While we understand that some topics may require more time to discuss in depth, our process is designed to allow for equitable participation from all members of the community. The Planning Commission may, at its discretion, request additional information from staff or other entities as needed to support its decision- making process. However, public testimony is subject to the same time constraints to ensure that all voices are heard within the allotted time. We encourage Michelle Melendez, as well as any other interested individuals, to submit written testimony if additional details need to be shared beyond the time available for verbal testimony. Written testimony is given full consideration by the Commissioners and provides an opportunity to elaborate on key points in greater detail. Thank you again for your advocacy and engagement. Please let us know if you have any questions or if we can assist you further. Mahalo, WPCtestimony From: Ken Honma <kenh.7553Co gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday,January 28, 2025 9:16 AM To: Council Testimony<counciltestimonyCo)hawaiicount l.gov>; Kimball, Heather Heather.KimbalICbr. hawaiicount j.gov>; Kagiwada,Jennifer Jennifer.Kagiwada Cbr hawaiicountX.gov>; Onishi, Dennis <Dennis.OnishiCor hawaiicount l.gov>; Kierkiewicz, Ashley<Ash ley.KierkiewiczCbr hawaiicount j.gov>; Kanealii-Kleinfelder, Matt Matt.Kanealii-KleinfelderCdr hawaiicount j.gov>; Villegas, Rebecca Rebecca.VillegasCor hawaiicountk.gov>; Galimba, Michelle M. Michelle.GalimbaCbr hawaiicount j.gov>; Inaba, Holeka <Holeka.InabaCor hawaiicount l.gov>; Hustace,James <James.HustaceCd hawaiicount.gov>; Planning Internet Mail planning(d)hawaiicount 1.gov>; WPCtestimony<wpctestimony1(d)hawaiicount l.gov>; LPCtestimony Ipctestimony1(d)hawaiicount l.gov> Cc: Stand Together Hawaii <michelIe(d)blossom inn erwelIness.com> Subject: Official Request for and extended presentation 1/28/2025 Planning Commissioners, I would like to request that Michelle Melendez be invited by the Planning Commissioners to have an extended time-period in order to fully provide the Commissioners and the public with pertinent information about the Hawaii County General Plan 2045. After personally providing testimony at a recent public hearing, it is clear to me that three minutes are far too short of time to fully expand on the ramifications of the General Plan. It is also clear that the Commissioners have the ability to ask for extended presentations, as was done when the "staff" of the planning department was asked to make a presentation to the commissioners, the presentation was well over the three minutes allotted to the public and included questions and answers and a slide presentation. I ask that you honor the community members'who have and are very concerned about the full implications of the General Plan, Michelle Melendez has shown honesty, determination, and care in investigation into what the General Plan does and could do. She has the necessary skills to present an accurate, concise, and clear assessment of the Hawaii County General Plan 2045. Give her the opportunity by extending her an invitation to make a presentation before the Commissioners and the public.The present and future people living in the County of Hawaii will respect your efforts in this matter. Sincerely, Ken Honma Kurtistown, Hi, 96760 From: Michelle Melendez To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv;Council Testimony; Kimball. Heather; Kaaiwada.Jennifer;Onishi. Dennis; Kierkiewicz.Ashley; Kanealii-Kleinfelder. Matt;Villeaas. Rebecca;Galimba. Michelle M.; Inaba. Holeka; Hustace. James;cohmavor(abhawaiicountv.aov Subject: Biz Professional Opposes GP 2045(he wishes to remain anonymous) Date:Tuesday, February 4, 2025 12:53:04 PM Attachments: Oppositioin Possiton to GP 2045.pdf Aloha Planning Commissioners, County Council and Mayor, I received the attached pdf from a prominent business owner here on Big Island who wishes to remain anonymous. He told me to do what I'd like with his comments so I'm sending them to all of you. We the people require the Planning Commissioners to NOT recommend the Hawaii GP 2045 go through. Mahalo, Michelle Melendez-Freedom Activist Fitness and Wellness Expert Since 1996 Author Of The Best Selling and 4x Award Winning Book, End Dieting Hell:How to find peace in your body and release the weight Order your copy of End Dieting Hell Click Here Great Maui Laud Grab"NOW Available here Here's an opposition position to the General Plan 2045, challenging its feasibility,priorities,and potential consequences. Opposition Position to the General Plan 2045 While the General Plan 2045 sets ambitious goals for sustainability,economic growth,and infrastructure development, there are critical flaws in its approach that could hinder its success. The plan lacks feasibility,overestimates resource availability,and places undue burdens on taxpayers and rural communities. 1.Unrealistic Transportation Goals The plan prioritizes multi-modal transit and emerging technologies while neglecting practical infrastructure needs: Mass Transit Limitations: Expanding public transportation is idealistic,but given the low population density,mass transit will remain underutilized and costly. Neglect of Rural Needs: Vision Zero and Complete Streets focus on urban centers,but rural roads remain deteriorating without sufficient funding. Autonomous Vehicles& Smart Roads: Investing in future technology is premature when basic road maintenance remains underfunded. 2.Housing Policies Worsen Affordability The plan's zoning changes and affordable housing policies may exacerbate the housing crisis rather than solve it: Urban Growth Boundaries Increase Prices: Restricting land use in rural areas artificially inflates property values,making housing even less affordable. Overcrowding Solutions Overlook Economic Realities: Policies ignore that overcrowding results from low wages and high living costs,not just housing shortages. Regulatory Burdens on Developers: Strict zoning and sustainability mandates deter private investment,reducing housing supply and increasing costs. 3. Infrastructure and Utility Investments Are Unfunded and Impractical The plan assumes major infrastructure expansions without realistic funding mechanisms: Green Infrastructure &Energy Transition: Renewable energy projects are costly,and residents will bear the financial burden of transitioning away from fossil fuels. Broadband Expansion: While beneficial,the cost of rural broadband investment is unsustainable without private sector buy-in. Water Conservation Mandates: Restrictions and green infrastructure initiatives may increase costs for consumers without clear efficiency benefits. 4. Economic Development Overlooks Local Challenges The plan assumes economic diversification will reduce reliance on tourism but fails to address key barriers: Workforce Shortages in Tech&Healthcare: While the plan emphasizes education and business services,Hawaii struggles to retain talent due to the high cost of living. Tourism Mismanagement: Reducing tourism's footprint is economically dangerous,as it remains Hawai`i's largest industry.Balancing conservation and tourism is unrealistic without clear incentives. Agricultural Growth Is Not Feasible at Scale: Farming expansion requires land,water,and workforce,all of which are limited.Dependence on imports will persist. 5. Climate Resilience Efforts Are Costly and Overreaching Climate change policies in the plan impose expensive regulations without clear economic benefits: Sea Level Rise Restrictions Hurt Property Owners: Over-regulating coastal development diminishes property rights and land values. Renewable Energy Transition Increases Costs: Shifting rapidly to renewables raises electricity prices and risks reliability issues. Disaster Preparedness Funding Is Unclear: Climate adaptation measures require significant public spending without clearly defined funding sources. Conclusion: A More Balanced Approach Needed The General Plan 2045 prioritizes idealistic goals over practical solutions. A more balanced approach should: 1. Focus on essential infrastructure first,ensuring roads,utilities,and housing affordability before investing in speculative technology. 2. Encourage private-sector solutions rather than increasing government intervention in housing and economic development. 3. Make climate policies cost-effective,ensuring that taxpayers are not burdened by aggressive renewable energy mandates. While the plan's vision is commendable,its execution threatens affordability,economic stability,and individual property rights.A more pragmatic approach is necessary to ensure growth without overregulation and excessive public spending. From: Donna Z Grabow To: LPCtestimonv Subject: Aloha,General Plan 2045 Date:Tuesday, February 4, 2025 8:03:48 PM My name is Donna Grabow and there are many reasons to reject the entire General Plan 2045. There are so many homes that are already so many vacant,foreclosed homes because of high interest loans. Yet The Plan promotes relocating people into new cluster housing The Plan has a list of vague rules for smart transportation in smart communities. There is part of the Plan that mentions agricultural growth,but the details of sustainability are not feasible. Farming Expansion needs land,workers and machinery, all of which are limited. Dependence on imported food will still persist. If the mistake is made to implement parts of the Plan,then communities of islands can be turned into controlled, dystopian housing projects. A sterile technocratic culture would replace the friendly Polynesian culture that is so treasured. In the General Plan,it's been discovered that a new map was either tampered with, or mistakenly mislabled an area that is actually Urban land. The new map has somehow been redesignated as 'Conservation land.' This slight of hand would give the State a green light to prohibit homes,farming or building. On the last note-Keep Hawaii the way it is. There are already plenty of Forest Reserves, Hawaiian Public Lands, and lots of well-planned parks,beautiful beaches,waterfalls, a free zoo and botanicial gardens, all which are available to the public. This is a wonderful place to live. I'm so lucky to live on Moku o Keawe. The General Plan is not the ONLY choice. There are much better ideas and clean technology to be considered. Sincerely, Donna Grabow Hilo From: Michelle Melendez To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv Cc: Council Testimony; Kimball. Heather; Kaaiwada.Jennifer;Onishi. Dennis; Kierkiewicz.Ashley; Kanealii- Kleinfelder, Matt;Villeaas, Rebecca;Galimba, Michelle M.; Inaba. Holeka; Hustace.James; cohmavor(abhawaiicountv.aov Subject: MAJOR Mistake In Hawaii GP(Must not recommend it go through) Date:Tuesday, February 4, 2025 1:51:56 PM Aloha Planning Commissioners, I've been attending the GP meetings for over 6 months. NOT one person has shown- up saying they helped create this plan for Hawaii and are in full support of it. The contrary is true. 99.9% of the people are opposing it! They are either angry, crying or stoic, but they are requiring you to not recommend this plan go through. The 3 people in 6-months that have supported this plan have had one personal issue the plan would assist with. Not one person has come to support the plan in its entirety. Your position is to represent the people and they people have been telling you for over 6-months to NOT recommend this plan! Will you honor your seat or has fascism already taken over this government? Here is yet another reason why this plan should not be recommended: At the January 16, Planning Commission meeting, a testifier said there was a mistake" in the designation of a particular parcel of land. The new map showed it was set to be "Conservation" when it was designated "Urban" Land use. This is HUGE since Conservation will only allow a park, no living, farming, or building! The Planning Director acknowledged the mistake and said it would be fixed but how many "mistakes" are in the map we don't know about? This alone should require you to NOT recommend the Hawaii GP NOT go through! Kind Regards, Michelle Melendez-Freedom Activist Fitness and Wellness Expert Since 1996 Author Of The Best Selling and 4x Award Winning Book, End Dieting Hell:How to find peace in your body and release the weight Order your copy of End Dieting Hell Click Here Great Maui Land Grab"NOW Available here From: Adele Henkel To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv;Council Testimony; Kimball. Heather; Kaaiwada.Jennifer;Onishi. Dennis; Kierkiewicz.Ashley; Kanealii-Kleinfelder. Matt;Villeaas. Rebecca;Galimba. Michelle M.; Inaba. Holeka;Hustace. James;cohmavor(d)hawaiicounty.aov Subject: Do NOT recommend GP2045 go through Date:Wednesday,February 5,2025 11:31:49 AM To all concerned, At the January 16,Planning Commission meeting,a testifier said there was a"mistake" in the designation of a particular parcel of land.The new map showed it was set to be"Conservation"when it was designated"Urban" Land use.This is significant since Conservation will only allow a park--no living,farming,or building! The Planning Director acknowledged the mistake and said it would be fixed but how many"mistakes" are in the map we don't know about?This alone should have the Planning Commissioners recommend the Hawaii GP NOT go through! Read the testimony below from a prominent business owner on Big Island sharing more insights why this plan should not be recommended! Here's a position opposed to the General Plan 2045,challenging its feasibility,priorities,and potential consequences. Opposition Position to the General Plan 2045 While the General Plan 2045 sets ambitious goals for sustainability,economic growth,and infrastructure development,there are critical flaws in its approach that could hinder its success.The plan lacks feasibility, overestimates resource availability,and places undue burdens on taxpayers and rural communities. 1.Unrealistic Transportation Goals The plan prioritizes multi-modal transit and emerging technologies while neglecting practical infrastructure needs: Mass Transit Limitations:Expanding public transportation is idealistic,but given the low population density,mass transit will remain underutilized and costly. Neglect of Rural Needs:Vision Zero and Complete Streets focus on urban centers,but rural roads remain deteriorating without sufficient funding. Autonomous Vehicles&Smart Roads: Investing in future technology is premature when basic road maintenance remains underfunded. 2.Housing Policies Worsen Affordability The plan's zoning changes and affordable housing policies may exacerbate the housing crisis rather than solve it: Urban Growth Boundaries Increase Prices:Restricting land use in rural areas artificially inflates property values, making housing even less affordable. Overcrowding Solutions Overlook Economic Realities:Policies ignore that overcrowding results from low wages and high living costs,not just housing shortages. Regulatory Burdens on Developers: Strict zoning and sustainability mandates deter private investment,reducing housing supply and increasing costs. 3.Infrastructure and Utility Investments Are Unfunded and Impractical The plan assumes major infrastructure expansions without realistic funding mechanisms: Green Infrastructure&Energy Transition:Renewable energy projects are costly,and residents will bear the financial burden of transitioning away from fossil fuels. Broadband Expansion: While beneficial,the cost of rural broadband investment is unsustainable without private sector buy-in. Water Conservation Mandates:Restrictions and green infrastructure initiatives may increase costs for consumers without clear efficiency benefits. 4.Economic Development Overlooks Local Challenges The plan assumes economic diversification will reduce reliance on tourism but fails to address key barriers: Workforce Shortages in Tech&Healthcare: While the plan emphasizes education and business services,Hawaii struggles to retain talent due to the high cost of living. Tourism Mismanagement:Reducing tourism's footprint is economically dangerous,as it remains Hawai`i's largest industry.Balancing conservation and tourism is unrealistic without clear incentives. Agricultural Growth Is Not Feasible at Scale:Farming expansion requires land,water,and workforce,all of which are limited.Dependence on imports will persist. 5.Climate Resilience Efforts Are Costly and Overreaching Climate change policies in the plan impose expensive regulations without clear economic benefits: Sea Level Rise Restrictions Hurt Property Owners: Over-regulating coastal development diminishes property rights and land values. Renewable Energy Transition Increases Costs: Shifting rapidly to renewables raises electricity prices and risks reliability issues. Disaster Preparedness Funding Is Unclear:Climate adaptation measures require significant public spending without clearly defined funding sources. Conclusion:A More Balanced Approach Needed The General Plan 2045 prioritizes idealistic goals over practical solutions.A more balanced approach should: 1.Focus on essential infrastructure first,ensuring roads,utilities,and housing affordability before investing in speculative technology. 2.Encourage private-sector solutions rather than increasing government intervention in housing and economic development. 3.Make climate policies cost-effective,ensuring that taxpayers are not burdened by aggressive renewable energy mandates. While the plan's vision is commendable,its execution threatens affordability,economic stability,and individual property rights.A more pragmatic approach is necessary to ensure growth without overregulation and excessive public spending." From: Eileen Downing To:WPCtestimonv;LPCtestimonv;Council Testimony;Kimball,Heather;Kaoiwada,Jennifer;Onishi,Dennis;Kierkiewicz,Ashley;Kanealii- Kleinfelder,Matt;Villeaas,Rebecca;Galimba,Michelle M.;Inaba.Holeka;Hustace.James;cohmavor(alhawaiicountv.aov Subject: DO NOT Recommend the Hawaii GP 2045! Date: Wednesday,February 5,2025 1:10:58 PM Aloha Commissioners, The Big island Plan cannot go through the way it is designed. It is hard to believe any local helped design this plan. Here are some concerns: There is a huge part of the plan dedicated to "Climate Change". However, why do most experts state there is NO climate danger? Climate Experts Speak Out Against Climate Danger Click Here! The word "Stakeholder," defined in the plan, is written 86 times and literally means anyone in the entire world can have input on this 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 and management are crucial for the success and sustainability of any initiative, as it helps ensure that diverse perspectives and interests are considered. 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. The Planning Department has sent out letters too many homeowners telling them their land use will be changed from resident to recreation due to the General Plan 2045. This will drastically lower 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. There is a huge section on climate change and things that will be affected. This needs to be further 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:Hclintel.or_/c/wwp-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. Hilo does not have a Community Development Plan. How can a Big Island General Plan move forward without that? Hilo is 22% of the island. 1.13 under"Increase the biodiversity and resilience of native habitats" reads, '7ncentivize 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 too because it's not the locals? "Pursue the acquisition of lands" does this say they are going to pursing taking people's private property? Again with "protection of natural resources". This plan should be focused on people growing more food and it is doing the exact opposite! 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 of Papaikou, has created an Ag Villages plan. Ag Village to add to the General Plan: Papaikou Ag Village Objectives: https://www.standtoaetherhawaii.com/ files/ugd/86fc0c 2cb1cc6d604f4cdd971ad40831c745bc.pdf Papaikou Site Plan: https://www.standtoaetherhawaii.com/files/ugd/86fc0c 5e4cdb02efeb46a5ae949a3579aff00d.pdf Papaikou Development: https://www.standtoaetherhawaii.com/files/ugd/86fc0c c2af52c8b3c645b1a6868a724eee8304.pdf A Hawaiian born Kanaka revised the Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship that is in the plan. You can see it in the pdf below: Part One: https://www.standtoaetherhawaii.com/files/ugd/86fc0c Oa1d5be8f1d140069415f7b691725786.pdf Part Two: https://86fcOcbd-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/86fcOc_b34739e4c99c461685de4c0207bf286e.pdf The way this plan is written is very far from what will support our island. Respectfully, Eileen Downing From: iulie schaus To: Council Testimony;WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv Subject: General plan 2045-2 Date:Wednesday, February 5,2025 8:49:35 AM Dear Hawaii county council, I am a resident and property owner in captain cook,Hawai'i. I have three sons that also live in south Kona,Hawai'i. I am writing this testimony to oppose and reject 1)the nomination of Wesley Segawa and 2)to oppose and reject the proposed general plan 2045 based on the following: Wesley Segawa: is a convicted felon. He is a business owner with county contracts therefore an illegal,conflict of interest Segawa mismanaged his position as chairman of public housing and resigned I appeal to the council to appoint only those people with hawai'i aloha in their heart. General plan 2045: This proposed plan is being discussed behind the peoples backs There has not been any form of information to the general public There was to have been 2 meetings in January and 2 in february. You cancelled a meeting in each month.Very wrong. You made the meetings during business hours limiting peoples access Overall this"plan"removes peoples land and water rights This plan oppresses and suppresses residents and homeowners This plan seeks to deceitfully rezone our properties to conservation This plan reduces our property values This plan seeks for"environmental reasons"to take away/rezone our properties No governmental body should have the right to decide our properties fate Referrals to a master plan&ordinances within the plan are vague and lack description We do not want to live in a smart city controlled by government We do not want untested/unsafe 5g installed under our ground We do not want 5g to surveil us I appeal to the Hawaii county council to not just hear our voices,but to take action. Do something to prevent this God awful plan to proceed in any way, shape or form. This plan should not move forward. Me and my family,oppose and reject general plan 2045. Me and my family oppose and reject the nomination of Wesley Segawa Mahalo nui loa, Julie schaus Captain cook,Hi Sent from my iPad From: Ken Honma To: WPCtestimony; LPCtestimony;Council Testimony; Kimball, Heather; Kaaiwada.Jennifer;Onishi. Dennis; Kierkiewicz,Ashley; Kanealii-Kleinfelder, Matt;Villeaas, Rebecca;Galimba. Michelle M.; Inaba. Holeka; Hustace. James;cohmayorR hawaiicountv.aov Cc: Stand Toaether Hawaii; Debbie Guanzon; Mark&Ruth Statler; Marie Ruhland Subject: Vote No on Hawaii County General Plan 2045 Date:Wednesday, February 5,2025 10:07:35 AM Dear Planning Commissioners, I fervently oppose any use of this plan for Hawaii County and demand that this commission vote no on behalf of the people of Hawaii County. This plan looks like a take-over of the lands of Hawaii County by rezoning and limiting the development areas. It effectively limits where normal people live, where they can go, where they shop, where and what kinds of recreation they can have and do. There is a reason that there is no projection of what build-out looks like, because it will look bad for what life will be for the normal human being in Hawaii County. The wealthy who are planning this land reallocation do not want you to know: How many people can this plan support per square mile? How does this number compute as to the number of people per square mile in terms of the whole island? How many of the people will own their own property? What is the projected income of the average working class household? How many people will be in this average household? What are the economic drivers and their future projected growth? What is the relationship between these economic drivers and the income of the average working class household? This plan addresses none of these issues that relate to quality of life, so how can we possibly consider this as a plan that benefits "we the people"? How can this commission possibly evaluate the impact that this plan will have on our communities without real quality of life evaluations. You must vote no on this imperial colonialist land reallocation and limitation plan. Sincerely, Ken Honma Kurtistown Hi 96760 From: Dea Rackley To: Kierkiewicz.Ashley; Kanealii-Kleinfelder. Matt;Villeaas. Rebecca;Galimba. Michelle M.; Inaba. Holeka; Hustace. James;cohmavor(aDhawaiicountv.aov;WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv;Council Testimony; Kimball. Heather; Kaaiwada.Jennifer;Onishi. Dennis; Kierkiewicz.Ashley; Kanealii-Kleinfelder. Matt;Villeaas. Rebecca;Galimba. Michelle M.;Inaba. Holeka; Hustace.James;cohmavorCai)hawaiicountv.aov Subject: NO TO HAWAII GENERAL PLAN Date:Thursday,February 6,2025 8:26:39 AM I am not supporting the WEF General plan. The people require them to NOT recommend the Hawaii General Plan 2045 go through to the County Council. Please stand up to this Horrible plan. Dea Rackley 15-2660 Pahoa Village Rd STE 203-654 Pahoa HI 96778 United States Sent from my iPhone From: Deanne Christensen To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv;Council Testimony; Kimball. Heather; Kaaiwada.Jennifer;Onishi. Dennis; Kierkiewicz.Ashley; Kanealii-Kleinfelder. Matt;Villeaas. Rebecca;Galimba. Michelle M.; Inaba. Holeka;Hustace. James;cohmavoolhawaiicountv.aov Subject: Unclear General Plan 2045 from today meeting for tomorrow questions Date:Thursday,February 6,2025 1:58:07 PM Todays meeting: The plan was said that it doesn't need to be specific. Why? This leaves too many loopholes for any new changes to be governed under the plan. Wiggle room so to speak, to fall under a category to have the right to add in additional actions after the plan has been passed. TDR= Transfer Development Rights,(shift)this is said to be voluntary. In other areas that it's said to be "voluntary" it usually means pushed out having to "voluntarily move" which in the real sense it isn't then voluntarily. Such as insurance will not insure you at this location, the rezone of the property (although I feel this is disguised in the language)you can not build here. It was talked about that if you fall under the TDR, that the 1,000 sqft home you wanted to build now you can be directed to a piece of land to be able to build a 2,000 sqft home. We all know nothing is this simple, like the plan in itself is easily misconstrued to be agreeable if not asked the right questions. How much is it going to cost the landowner to transfer over to the designated land that the plan is suggestioning to be provided?Are they going to be limited at that time to use only the people who benefit from the plan to build the construction of the home? Will they own the land or will it be a leasehold as the HOA has been described? Too many nuances that leave people to be imprisoned by the Shift/TDR areas. Transportation was touched on about electric vehicles and how we do not have the infrastructure for it. But,nothing mentioned about the blackouts we already are having on the Big Island. The pull outs for the buses. The route looks as if it will be in front of peoples homes for the buses to pull in to let passengers off and on the bus. Carving into the personal property of an owner, will they be paid to take their property and make their land a smaller parcel than when they purchased it? Will the plan cover the change of the TMK that goes with the property as the property line has changed? Which if the property line is not remapped and it's sold, who's at fault for the non disclosure when this wasn't' by choice of the homeowner? Homeowners compensation was mentioned. But,we know when the state/county wants your land it isn't like selling your land at a profit, It is taking what they will give you. It was said that the home/land that now has been "rezoned" already had a conservation easement of the land but was used as state URBAN land. How can an easement for conservation take over all of your land? Having an easement from a neighbor does not give the neighbor the right to take your land. You can purchase the land but when we are ready to use your land we can take it? Still leaving the homeowner to not be able to use their home as a line of equity,take the price that is offered to move off their property without making the profit of what they have put into the home and the added value to the land. Having to pay taxes on the money given to you at a lesser dollar amount than your home is worth,while being displaced. All of this should not be lumped into one plan. There are too many components that they want to "cluster in" a county plan. Making it too easy once a plan is passed to do the opposite of what has been spoken in the meetings. Twisting the words of their meanings to fit the narrative of the plan. We as a whole will be the ones paying the price if it is passed the way it is now, it is harder to undo than it is to revise before passing. Please do not pass this plan on to all of us. Some sounds minor but history has proven plans like this can crumble a county. Especially with too many components in one plan. Plan Divide Transportation that includes what it looks like,not a vague picture using climate change. Zoning, did the people who purchased the state urban land know that this could be a possibility with the conservation of the easement changing their home to not be state urban but to conservation? If this wasn't known this could lead up to county lawsuits. What constitutes the right of the rezoning of a property although said it isn't rezoning. People will fight back after the fact ones affected by the plan.No one thinks it's a big deal beforehand until the aftermath starts. Mahalo,Dyanne Christensen 808.557.6834 dvannechristensen@gmail.com r From: Deanne Christensen To: LPCtestimonv;Council Testimony; Kimball. Heather; Kaaiwada.Jennifer;Onishi. Dennis; Kierkiewicz.Ashley; Kanealii-Kleinfelder. Matt;Villeaas. Rebecca;Galimba. Michelle M.;Inaba. Holeka; Hustace.James; cohmavor(abhawaiicountv.aov;WPCtestimonv Subject: Clarification on compensation Date:Thursday,February 6,2025 7:07:02 PM Homeowners compensation was mentioned. But, we know when the state/county wants your land it isn't like selling your land at a profit, It is taking what they will give you. It was said that the home/land that now has been "rezoned" already had a conservation easement of the land but was used as state URBAN land. How can an easement for conservation take over all of your land? Having an easement from a neighbor does not give the neighbor the right to take your land. You can purchase the land but when we are ready to use your land we can take it? Still leaving the homeowner to not be able to use their home as a line of equity, take the price that is offered to move off their property without making the profit of what they have put into the home and the added value to the land. Having to pay taxes on the money given to you at a lesser dollar amount than your home is worth, while being displaced. Most compensation in situations like this is not enough to recover what has been put into the property value or possibly not enough to cover the remaining balance of a mortgage but left to pay on the taxes of what was given for the compensation that is seen as income and compensation. Could leave some in debt due to the change of the property usages. There needs to be a clause in the plan to prevent this from being able to happen to the owner of the property. Mahalo,Dyanne Christensen 808.557.6834 dyannechristensemPgrnail.com From: Hope Cermeli To: LPCtestimony Subject: Windward commissioners Date:Thursday,February 6,2025 4:05:40 PM plz take All the testimony as concerned citizens of MOKU O KEAWE From: kanaloaleohano To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv;Council Testimony; Kimball. Heather; Kaaiwada.Jennifer;Onishi. Dennis; Kierkiewicz.Ashley; Kanealii-Kleinfelder. Matt;Villeaas. Rebecca;Galimba. Michelle M.; Inaba. Holeka;Hustace. James;cohmavor(aDhawaiicountv.aov Subject: STOP the proposed 2045 plan,STOP any thought of sending it through Date:Thursday,February 6,2025 9:13:36 PM We The People require you to STOP the Proposed Hawaii General Plan 2045, and it MUST NOT go through to the County Council. We The People of the Island of Hawaii, the County of Hawaii, do NOT CONSENT to such plan! To Hawaii County Government, Aloha -- There are numerous issues with the proposed general plan, and testimony is overwhelmingly opposed to its general concepts which are NOT set up to benefit farmers and homeowners. Mahalo, Kana Leohano See below for additional information. I have provided extensive written testimony and commented on the general plan online, along with many others that have emphasized this plan needs a complete overhaul to meet the needs of the community. This plan is based off a template handed down from the United Nations and their so-called Agenda 21. This link provides an overview to allow county planning and legislative officials to understand this so-called Agenda 21 (or whatever name they are currently calling it--agenda 2030, "you will own nothing and be happy", or whatever) and should be mandatory reading. https:Hnwri.oc"W - content/uploads/2011/07/How-Public-Officials-can-Recognize-Agenda-21.pdf PAGE ONE IS A SHORT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY THAT DESCRIBES THE COMMUNIST AGENDA TO GET RID OF PRIVATE OWNERSHIP. The Hawaii County General Plan of 2005 contains the words "homeowner" (4 times) and farmer" (14 times)while the proposed 2045 plan does not have the words "homeowner" and farmer" anywhere! It therefore is obvious it is not written to help homeowners or farmers. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: 1. The entire thing needs to be re-done by people who love people -- not profit, that is by people who work from the SPIRIT of the State Constitution section 5-7.5 regarding ALOHA SPIRIT. To quote: "Aloha" means mutual regard and affection and extends warmth in caring with no obligation in return. The current draft involves people in power who are seeking to line their own pockets. Stop. Seriously, dump the whole thing. IT IS OBVIOUSLY WRITTEN BY SOMEONE IN THE PAY OF Blackrock, Vanguard, Gates, Soros, or any number of other disgusting, money-printing entities. The core of the document is: "The County`s desired land use development pattern." THIS IS NOT FOR THE COUNTY TO DECIDE ! As noted in 411 below: Our micro- climates are so vast and varied there is NO CHANCE that anyone at the County level would know what needs to go where. THAT CAN ONLY BE LEARNED BY LIVING ON, BY WALKING, THE LAND. Leave people to make their OWN DECISIONS about what to do with their own land. 2. The State, and the County, have NO RI HT TO ACQUIRE LAND !! and any reference to such in this proposed document should be removed!!! And, the State has NO RIGHT to any County property, and none should be handed over without agreement of ancestral owners and local residents, and NO HARBOR SHOULD BE HANDED TO THE STATE. Remove any reference to "Hawai`i State Wildlife Action Plan" as it has NO RELEVANCE for our island and the State should NOT BE MANAGING our island. 3. There is no such thing as "climate change" caused by humans, and anything referring to such should be entirely removed. https://clintel.org/world-climate declaratior Remove ANY reference to "carbon footprint", "net zero", greenhouse gas", "green infrastructure" and / or "climate adaptation". Remove ANY reference to "decarbonizing." 4. Remove the section 2.2 Biocultural Stewardship Goal (1 .13) because Maui has shown the pain, suffering and financial loss such government over-reach leads to. 5. Remove the section 17.4, Page 111 , because a person applying for land use clearance should not involve the government attempting to grab their land. 6. Remove the word "stakeholder" from everywhere it appears, and instead use the words "homeowner" or "farmer". 7. Leave the zoning alone. Leave it alone. 8. Remove ANY reference to "digital literacy" and its related "5G"-type insanity. BETTER TO PUT SOMETHING ABOUT "FARMING LITERACY" OR "FISHING LITERACY" OR "HUNTING LITERACY". Remove ANY reference to prioritizing digital above actual. There is nothing in this proposed document about PRIORITIZING FARMING, FISHPOND CARE AND MAINTENANCE, and ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT and THERE SHOULD BE !!!!! 9. Remove the words "equity" and "equitable" from everywhere they appear. We need EQUALITY of opportunity, NOT equity of results !!!! People need to work for what they get, and people who have worked and succeeded need to keep the fruits of their labors. THERE WILL NEVER BE EQUITY, LEGISLATED OR NOT!!!! "Safe and affordable utilities" are NOT a right! People need to work for what they get! 10. Remove the word "sustainability" from everywhere it appears. This is NOT something that can be regulated into existence!!! It is a loosey-goosey term that has NO SCIENTIFIC PARAMETERS, NO EFFECTIVE DEFINITION for anything to do with lawmaking !! 11. Remove ANY proposed regulation that would increase restriction or result in ANY fee to a farmer. We need food !! 12. Remove ANY proposed requirement for a permit. We have too many of these already. 13. Remove ANY reference to "incinerator" -- "waste-to-energy" or ANY other use. NO resident wants such, and we have stated such in the past UNEQUIVOCALLY. 14. Remove ANY proposed map of land use. Our micro-climates are so vast and varied there is NO CHANCE that anyone making a map would know what needs to go where. THAT CAN ONLY BE LEARNED BY LIVING ON, BY WALKING, THE LAND. Leave people to make their OWN DECISIONS about what to do with their own land. Remove the word "conform" any time it has ANYTHING to do with private land use. 15. REMOVE 32c and 32p and 20e because all have to do with the heinous, despicable, insane, terrible, egregious concept of "smart" cities. In fact, remove EVERYTHING that has ANYTHING to do with the "SMART' acronym and / or idea. 16. Remove ANY reference to digital currencies. 17. Remove ANY reference to clusters of population, or "site clustering of development". This island is NOT THE PLACE for such ideas. We are farmers. REMOVE section 4.5.1 . Remove ANY reference to population density or clusters". This island is NOT THE PLACE for such ideas. ALSO, IT IS INSANE TO PRIORITIZE WALKING AND BICYCLING OVER CARS ON THIS ISLAND. No farmer is going to walk or bicycle to get his / her produce to market !!!! 18. Remove ANY use of the word "resilience." This is a psychological term that has NO PLACE in a government document. 19. Close down the County Office of Sustainability, Climate, Equity, and Resilience OSCER) as NOBODY VOTED FOR THIS OFFICE TO BE STARTED. Remove ANY reference to such office from the proposed general plan. 20. Remove ANY reference to "incentive" in regard to taxes on people's land, such as to "incentivize" them to build "affordable" housing. This is a COMPLETELY WRONG way to get "affordable" housing built. MUCH MORE IMPORTANT would be to "incentivize" clean industries to move to our island, where people would be able to get employment to AFFORD good housing. In fact, THERE IS NOTHING IN THE DOCUMENT TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC GROWTH !!! WHY NOT? 21. Remove ANY concept that would involve "inspection" or "surveillance" or inventory" of land. 22. Housing developers should not be released from requirements to build infrastructure and should have to post a bond, so we stop having them "get away with" never completing promised roads, etc. 23. Prohibit 5G, or 6G, or whatever they come up with that is similar. 24. All current use of septic or cesspool should be grandfathered-in, with only changes made at a market-rate sale of a property. There are VERY FEW areas where household waste water affects the ocean or inland water. Take care of those few places, leave everything else alone. And this has NOTHING to do with centralized wastewater -- not on our lava-rock island!!! In fact, there should be an AUDIT of CURRENT centralized wastewater facilities, as there are problems with some of them!!! 25. Get Pohakuloa Military Base to stop polluting. NO "TREATED" WASTEWATER for any food or farming use. 26. Pohakuloa Military Base gets its land for a dollar a year and shoots weapons directly above our island's largest aquifer. Get them to stop! 27. Remove ANY reference to incentivizing or regulating water use. THIS IS NOT THE PLACE FOR SUCH. We have water-use people already taking care of this. Water commitments" are something the DWS should take care of -- or individual bills introduced to remedy any problem. 28. Remove the phrase "circular systems". This is a concept only vaguely defined and certainly without any solid demonstration of its use. 29. Remove the phrase "Vision Zero" as it has NO RELEVANCE for our island. 30. Remove the phrase "One Water" as it refers to a North America group and has NO RELEVANCE for our island. WHAT ALREADY HAS BEEN SAID, AND I REPEAT: General Plan 2045 references `economic growth` but does not discuss in any way the drivers of the economy. It SHOULD be a study and plan, on how best to support: Farmers Producers of Goods Providers of Services so we can build a great economy together. Rather, it seeks to: restrict, impose fees, place taxes ... pays attention to airport terminals and harbors, transportation and urban development -- nothing that is alive and producing value for our economy, but tools that are needed by people who ARE alive and producing, so should not be used as a way to rake in money for civil servant salaries. Supposedly a plan about development, it barely mentions the Farmers, Producers of Goods, Providers of Services, barely mentions: Agriculture Commerce Industries Jobs Economic Activities It wants to make everyone walk, ride a bike or take a bus. Nuts. Dump the whole thing. From: Ken Honma To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv;Council Testimony; Kimball. Heather; Kaaiwada.Jennifer;Onishi. Dennis; Kierkiewicz.Ashley; Kanealii-Kleinfelder. Matt;Villegas. Rebecca;Galimba. Michelle M.; Inaba. Holeka; Hustace. James;cohmavor(aDhawaiicountv.gov Cc: Marie Ruhland;Stand Together Hawaii; Debbie Guanzon; Mark&Ruth Statler Subject: No confidence in GP2045 Date:Thursday,February 6,2025 6:22:17 PM 2/6/2025 Dear Planning Commission members, Watching part of the dialog between the Windward Planning Commission Chairman and the department staff today showed me that even the planning commissioners have no clear understanding of what this general plan is actually about. We the people have almost unanimously said the same thing; "What exactly is the goal of this general plan?" The staff mentioned other clarifying information that would be forthcoming that would help clarify some issues: Why is pertinent information not already included in the proposed plan? The climate change dogma that is underpinning this document (and that has been shown to be scientifically faulty) is still being used as justification by the staff by invoking past State and County legislative action as a justification. Rather than the staff admitting that the past actions may not comport with the present scientific information, staff used the obsolete legislation to be able to defer and deflect the Chairs' attempt at modernizing and updating the scientific basis of the document. This exchange shows why we the people do not trust our County government and its staff to act in our best interest-the interest of we the inhabitants of the land. The attitude of the staff representative left me with the impression that the people are being railroaded into accepting the ideological basis for this document even to disregard new scientific knowledge on the climate. The Planning Commissioners must vote no confidence in this plan with the justification that the scientific basis is flawed and does not include new and important information. Sincerely, Ken Honma Kurtistown, HI 9676 From: Tina Monteiano To: W PCtesti mony Subject: Against The General Plan Date:Thursday, February 6,2025 5:29:46 PM Aloha, To whom it may concern,I am writing because I am not in favor of the General plan to go through.There are way too many restrictions regarding land and land building on personal property for county or park buildings and home ownership grey areas that this is not constitutional and doe not sit well with the people here in Hawaii! Please put in my testimony as not for this plan. Mahalo, Tina Montejano 808)938-6524 From: M. Lahilahi Heen To: LPCtestimony Subject: GP Opposition Date:Friday,February 7,2025 9:03:11 AM URGENT Opposition Position to the General Plan 2045 While the General Plan 2045 sets ambitious goals for sustainability, economic growth, and infrastructure development, there are critical flaws in its approach that could hinder its success. The plan lacks feasibility, overestimates resource availability, and places undue burdens on taxpayers and rural communities. 1. Unrealistic Transportation Goals The plan prioritizes multi-modal transit and emerging technologies while neglecting practical infrastructure needs: Mass Transit Limitations: Expanding public transportation is idealistic, but given the low population density, mass transit will remain underutilized and costly. Neglect of Rural Needs: Vision Zero and Complete Streets focus on urban centers, but rural roads remain deteriorating without sufficient funding. Autonomous Vehicles & Smart Roads: Investing in future technology is premature when basic road maintenance remains underfunded. 2. Housing Policies Worsen Affordability The plan's zoning changes and affordable housing policies may exacerbate the housing crisis rather than solve it: Urban Growth Boundaries Increase Prices: Restricting land use in rural areas artificially inflates property values, making housing even less affordable. Overcrowding Solutions Overlook Economic Realities: Policies ignore that overcrowding results from low wages and high living costs, not just housing shortages. Regulatory Burdens on Developers: Strict zoning and sustainability mandates deter private investment, reducing housing supply and increasing costs. 3. Infrastructure and Utility Investments Are Unfunded and Impractical The plan assumes major infrastructure expansions without realistic funding mechanisms: Green Infrastructure & Energy Transition: Renewable energy projects are costly, and residents will bear the financial burden of transitioning away from fossil fuels. Broadband Expansion: While beneficial, the cost of rural broadband investment is unsustainable without private sector buy-in. Water Conservation Mandates: Restrictions and green infrastructure initiatives may increase costs for consumers without clear efficiency benefits. 4. Economic Development Overlooks Local Challenges The plan assumes economic diversification will reduce reliance on tourism but fails to address key barriers: Workforce Shortages in Tech & Healthcare: While the plan emphasizes education and business services, Hawaii struggles to retain talent due to the high cost of living. Tourism Mismanagement: Reducing tourism's footprint is economically dangerous, as it remains Hawai`i's largest industry. Balancing conservation and tourism is unrealistic without clear incentives. Agricultural Growth Is Not Feasible at Scale: Farming expansion requires land, water, and workforce, all of which are limited. Dependence on imports will persist. 5. Climate Resilience Efforts Are Costly and Overreaching Climate change policies in the plan impose expensive regulations without clear economic benefits: Sea Level Rise Restrictions Hurt Property Owners: Over-regulating coastal development diminishes property rights and land values. Renewable Energy Transition Increases Costs: Shifting rapidly to renewables raises electricity prices and risks reliability issues. Disaster Preparedness Funding Is Unclear: Climate adaptation measures require significant public spending without clearly defined funding sources. Conclusion: A More Balanced Approach Needed The General Plan 2045 prioritizes idealistic goals over practical solutions. A more balanced approach should: 1. Focus on essential infrastructure first, ensuring roads, utilities, and housing affordability before investing in speculative technology. 2. Encourage private-sector solutions rather than increasing government intervention in housing and economic development. 3. Make climate policies cost-effective, ensuring that taxpayers are not burdened by aggressive renewable energy mandates. While the plan's vision is commendable, its execution threatens affordability, economic stability, and individual property rights.A more pragmatic approach is necessary to ensure growth without overregulation and excessive public spending From: Michelle Melendez To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv;Council Testimonv Subject: re: GP Testimony(Why are you not representing the people?) Date:Friday, February 7,2025 8:41:14 AM Aloha, My testimony yesterday said that you are required, not requested, required to not move this plan forward. Otherwise,the whole public testimony is a farce and you've wasted our time! You've heard for over 6-months people crying and angry telling you reasons, giving you page numbers of why this plan should not go through! Yesterday, I had hoped that the Westward Commission would vote to not recommend this plan as you are required to do. You are sitting in a volunteering seat that is meant to represent the people and the people have told you for over 6-months NOT to put this plan through! Instead all you've done is changed wording. That will not fix the many issues wrong with this plan and the effects it will have on Big Island communities. That is putting a bandaid on a breaking dam! This plan with its zero emissions, electric vehicle mandates, clustered housing, stakeholders meaning anyone in the entire world has a voice in this plan, making Big Island mostly Conservation land (the "mistake" of changing an Urban land use to Conservation should STOP this plan immediately), and so forth is a fascist plan that will destroy this island and you've been told that for over 6-months! When will you do your kuleana and honor your seat as a representative of the people? The message you are sending is that people have no voice and what we say doesn't matter because Big Government will steamroll us and there is no one who will stand up for the people! Regards, Michelle Melendez-Freedom Activist Fitness and Wellness Expert Since 1996 Author Of The Best Selling and 4x Award Winning Book, End Dieting Hell:How to find peace in your body and release the weight Order your copy of End Dieting Hell Click Here Great Maui Land Grab"NOW Available here From: Rebecca Melendez To: LPCtestimonv;WPCtestimonv;ccMdhawaii. v;Plannina General Plan;Villeaas,Rebecca;Kimball,Heather;Kaaiwada.]ennifer;Onishi.Dennis;Kierkiewi-Ashley;Kanealii-Kleinfelder.Matt;Galimba.Michelle M.;Inaba,Holeka;Hustace,James Subject: Please OPPOSE 2045 General Plan Date: Saturday,February 8,2025 7:04:11PM As an off-and-on resident of the Big Island for over thirty years,I have witnessed the gradual erosion of our rights due to the actions of the Hawai'i County Planning Department.The department's proposed 2045 General Plan is beyond comprehension for the average citizen,with complexities that beg for transparency and accountability. Tragically,this plan includes Land Title Changes,which are deeply concerning.When someone in the Hawai'i County Planning meeting opposed a land use title change,the director dismissed it as an"oversight."This raises serious questions about the number of oversights in their final draft.Changing land use titles strips us of our rights to private property and introduces vague,yet potentially harmful, rezoning measures. Furthermore,the plan includes ambitions to create a broadband and smart grid,a lofty goal for an island lacking the necessary resources.This raises significant questions about the feasibility and environmental implications of such projects. It's crucial to ensure that these changes DO NOT proceed.We must continue to push for transparency and accountability in these decisions to protect our land,Island,and future What's more distressing is that the Hawai'i County Planning Department seems to always focus on high-end development initiatives that overtax our resources and infrastructure instead of considering the voices of our community.A clear example was when 18,569 voices opposed development in a petition.Yet,Zendo Kern,the Hawai'i Planning Director at the time,ignored these voices and stated the resort would not hurt the land even with articles like these two: https://www.fisheries,noaa,gov/feature-story/cautionary-tale-2019-coral-bleaching-event- hawaii#:—:text=Coral%20Bleaching%20Is%200ccurring%20more.had%20catastrophic%20i mpacts%20state%2Dwide https:llcoral.org/en/where-we-work/hawa**an-- isla nds/#:—:text=Haws i%CA"/oB Bi's%20reefs%20face%20m ajor%20g loba I.into%20 Hawa i%CA^/o B Bi's%20waterways%20every%20day This is the petition he ignored:https://www.thepet*toonsete.com/l854/086/898/residents-who-oppose-the-resort-in-punaluu- ka%C5%AB/ This is the article showing Kern's opposition over local voices:httns://www.cavalbeat.org/2024/03/hundreds-of-hawaii-asland- residents-protest-proposed-housing-project-in-punaluu/ Additionally,we urge Mayor Kimo Alameda to reappoint a new Hawai'i County Planning Director.Jeff Darrow's 26 years with the Hawai'i Planning Department,supporting Zendo Kern,have demonstrated a lack of commitment to the land and local voices.These voices have consistently opposed high-end developments,advocating instead for the conservation of the land for endangered species and the island's future.Jeff Darrow's support against local voices in the past years shows he is not the right fit for thejob,and we demand that accountability be served. We need a Planning Director who prioritizes island resources and infrastructure over high-end developments,favors land conservation, and listens to and supports local voices.We need someone who will work to ensure the Big Island retains its unique character and doesn't turn into another Oahu. I stand,and OPPOSE Haw!'!County Planning General Plan for the reasons stated: In the General Plan Page 79 9.4 Support mechanisms,such as PUD and Cluster Plan Development(CPD),that group parcel density to preserve open space, recreational areas,or scenic viewsheds. The General Plan DOES NOT explain what a PUD means. Taken from this site:https://www.forbes.com/advisor/mortgages/what-is-a-planned-unit-development/ A planned unit development,or PUD,is a community of single-family homes,and sometimes condos or townhomes,where every homeowner belongs to a homeowners association(HOA)." Taken from this site:https://www.z*llow.com/learn/what is pudl To most home shoppers,a planned unit development(PUD)may look like a single-family home.But the legal structure for a PUD is more similar to that of a condo and can impact the mortgage process." Again,you'll need to read all these documents to determine whether that specific PUD is right for you.And remember,all PUDs are different,so each one will have its own set of rules and restrictions." Page 80 9.f Study the feasibility,issues,and opportunities related to the development of a TDR program to strategically preserve open space and achieve density to remain consistent with the land use pattern in accordance with the General Plan Land Use Maps. It's deeply frustrating that the Hawai'i County Planning Department isn't transparently explaining its Transfer of Development Rights TDR)program.It feels like they're pushing for land use changes that suit their vision without respecting the community's strong,unified opposition over the last six months.In every meeting,100%of the community has voiced their disapproval,yet it seems those concerns aren't acknowledged. General Plan Page 87 Everything below is to enforce their TDR program,which they are not explaining. 13.1 Encourage flexibility in the design of residential sites,buildings,and related facilities to achieve a diversity of socio-economic housing mix and innovative means of meeting the market requirements. 13.2 Prioritize increase in density,rehabilitation,and redevelopment within existing zoned urban areas already served by basic infrastructure,or close to such areas. 13.4 Encourage the rehabilitation and/or utilization of maximum density in multi-family residential areas. 13.8 Focus on medium-and high-density residential and commercial uses in communities that can sustain a higher intensity of uses and where consistent with General Plan Land Use Map and existing town character 13.9 Support the rezoning of land to multiple residential near places of employment,retail,utilities,and educational,recreational, cultural,and public facilities. Their efforts to align with the General Plan Land Use Map are causing significant changes across the island,which is a significant concern.For example,changing the land use title from agricultural to urban for Hokulia would allow developers to bypass the Environmental Impact Statement(EIS)requirements,which are crucial for protecting the land and the community.This move could have profound implications for the environment and local residents. Moreover,they're not considering the island's resources,which are already under considerable strain.Please see these News Articles in this petition that show how the Big Island is dealing with resource and infrastructure issues because Hawaii County Planning is not making it a priority https://www.change.org/p/help-big-island-resources-and-infrastructure-stay-safe-for-all-who-live-here-and- visit Page 149 30.12 Plan for broadband infrastructure to support smart grid development Hawai'i County Planning doesn't talk about the power broadband and a smart grid will need,and Hawaii Electric states,"That's why we will need everyone to work together over the next month,and possibly longer,to conserve electricity.We are extremely tight on what we call our generation margin,the margin between the demand for electricity and our ability to supply it.This demand typically peaks on weekdays between 5 and 9 p.m.and that's when the margin is most critical." fps://www.hawa iea nelectre c.com/safety-a nd-outages/a n-update-on-hawa ii-isla nd-power-generation The island doesn't have the power for broadband or a smart grid. https://smartgrid.ieee.org/resources?cafid=O&id=223: A smart grid alone does three things.First,it modernizes power systems through self-healing designs,automation,remote monitoring and control...Thus,a smart grid sits at the heart of the smart city,which cannot fully exist without it". Also,a Smart Grid will allow them to have more control through"remote monitoring,"which will invade our privacy. https://minnovation.com.auismart-cities-2/disadvantages-of-smart-cities-potential-challenges-and-concerns Privacy and Data Security: Smart cities rely heavily on the collection and analysis of vast amounts of data from sensors,cameras,and connected devices.This data is crucial for optimizing city operations and services.However,extensive data gathering raises concerns about privacy infringement and data security.Citizens worry about their personal information being accessed or misused." https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/articIe/pii/5240584402414011X: Drawbacks or disadvantages of Smart Grid Following are the drawbacks or disadvantages of Smart Grid: Continuous communication network should be available. During emergency situation,network congestion or performance are big challenges in smart grid system. Cellular network providers do not provide guaranteed service in abnormal situations such as wind storm,heavy rain and lightening conditions. Some smart meters can be hacked which can be used to increase or decrease the demand for power. It is expensive to install smart meter compare to traditional old electricity meter. Hawaii County Planning Department does NOT have any research about how a broadband and smart grid will affect the health of the island,its community,animals,and plants.For example,at the bottom of this article,it states https://electronics360.globalspec.com/article/l1104/the-dangers-that-come-with-a-smart-grid: Re:The Dangers That Come with a Smart Grid 1 John Endres 2018-Feb-23 2:31 PM One very critical danger that comes with a"smart grid"was not mentioned:the adverse health effects from electromagnetic fields. Current estimates of people experiencing adverse health effects from wireless technology hover at around 5%--I am one of them.After the installation of a water utility smart meter at my place of work,I experienced an escalation of symptoms(over time)that started with headaches and ultimately culminated in a seizure(I lost control of my legs).One month prior to the smart meter installation I had a complete annual physical and was given a clean bill of health.I underwent a barrage of medical tests after a week of experiencing health symptoms(thyroid,EEG,MRI,etc.)and everything was normal.I did begin to feel some of the painful head and eye sensations(that I would feel near wireless sources)at the end of the MRI." Nor do they have any research on health risks with cell towers that they are allowing to be placed anywhere,and some of these cell tower tops arejust a few feet from residential homes,HWY,and retirement homes...because a lot of the island is a mountain.If you put the base of a cell tower on one street,the top could be directly across from the community. https://mdsafetech.org/celI-tower-health-effects/: Percentage of studies that reported harmful effect of EMR in various groups in MOEF Report Human Effects-62%showed effects,13%no effect and 25%inconclusive Plant Effects-87%showed effects and 13%were inconclusive Wildlife Effects-62%showed effects,4%no effect and 36%inconclusive Bee Effects-85%showed effects and 15%no effect Bird Effects-77%showed effects,10%no effect and 13%inconclusive Overall results of this review show three types of effects by base station antennas on the health of people:radiofrequency sickness(RS), cancer(C)and changes in biochemical parameters(CBP).Considering all the studies reviewed globally(n=38),73.6%(28/38)showed effects:73.9%(17/23)for radiofrequency sickness,76.9%(10/13)for cancer and 75.0%(6/8)for changes in biochemical parameters...Of special importance are the studies performed on animals or trees near base station antennas that cannot be aware of their proximity and to which psychosomatic effects can never be attributed." It's concerning that the Hawai'i County Planning Department isn't providing detailed information about the potential disadvantages of broadband and smart grid projects.They seem to be focusing on the benefits without addressing the possible negative impacts, especially when the island lacks the extra power for it. fps://www.sceenced irect.com/science/a rtic le/pi i/S240584402414011 X: However smart grids,being computerized remote-control systems overseeing electricity distribution,are vulnerable to cyberattacks." 30.5 Siting of new communications facilities shall comply with performance standards and site colocation as stated in the Code. Hawaii Planning does not explain that they use the word"sitting"to mean the laying of cable underground.The term"siting of new communications facilities"is extremely confusing.It generally refers to the process of selecting and preparing locations for new infrastructure,such as towers and cables,needed to support broadband and smart grid projects.This often involves road construction and can lead to increased traffic and disruptions because these cables need to be laid underground. These cables could be laid shallow as this site states https://orimex.com/fiber-optic-internet-going-underground The terrain and the local conditions need to be taken into account when considering underground broadband deployment.In rocky terrain,cable must be laid in a shallow trench." https://oulsefi bre.co,uk/2023/06/15/when-m ore-is-less-the-risks-and-downsides-of-overbuild/: Cost:Fibre optic broadband infrastructure can be an expensive endeavour,especially if it involves duplicating existing networks.This cost can ultimately be passed on to consumers,making broadband services more expensive and potentially reducing the adoption rate of fibre optic services. Inefficiency:As mentioned above,overbuilding can lead to dormant infrastructure,creating wasted resources and increased environmental impact.This is particularly relevant in the case of fibre optic broadband,where installing fibre can be resource intensive. Fragmentation:When different service providers own and operate various parts of the infrastructure,it can make it difficult for consumers to switch between providers and could result in reduced competition. Legal and regulatory issues:Particularly in cases where existing service providers have exclusive rights to operate in certain areas.This can result in lengthy legal battles that delay the deployment of new infrastructure. Maintenance:Increased maintenance costs can occur,especially if there is redundant infrastructure that needs to be maintained.This can ultimately lead to higher costs for consumers or reduced network quality-something we are wholeheartedly against at Pulse Fibre. Technology obsolescence:Expensive upgrades or replacements may be required down the line if new infrastructure is not designed to accommodate future upgrades. Wasted resources:Overbuilding for fibre solutions can result in the waste of valuable resources,including time,money,and materials. Environmental:Overbuilding multiplies CO2 emissions as duplicate workforces are deployed,travelling more miles,digging more holes and creating a piecemeal labour profile.As well as laying more raw materials which may never get used.More information can be found on the journal of Lightwave Technology." It's concerning that the Hawai'i County Planning Department isn't addressing the increasing traffic issues while pushing for broadband and smart grid projects.Infrastructure,especially roadways,is already under significant strain,and these new projects will exacerbate the problem rather than alleviate it. General Plan Page 87 13.13 Support master planning by public and private institutions and landowners which emphasize TOD,affordable housing,and mixed- use development. Page 117 20.e Adopt a Complete Streets ordinance. Hawai'i County Planning Department mentions"Master Planning and Ordinances"but they DO NOT explain what these are in their 2045 General Plan. Page 89 13.44 The development or designation of new resort areas should complement the character of the area;protect the environment and natural beauty;respect existing lifestyles,cultural practices,and cultural resources;and provide shoreline public access. Page 142 28.11 The County shall ensure that golf course developments develop and implement grading and site preparation plans to... It's frustrating to see so many development applications going up all over when the Big Island clearly does not need more resorts and golf courses.The island is already facing resource issues with existing developments,and there are still many years of already-approved projects that haven't even been started yet. The island needs sustainable development that prioritizes the well-being of residents and the conservation of the island's 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 The West Hawai'i Sanitary Landfill,the only remaining landfill on the Big Island,is forecast to reach capacity within the next 20 to 25 years."https://bigislandnow.com/2023/09/17/big-island-now-poll-no-27-results-more-than-one-solution-needed-to-help-extend- 1ife-of-west-hawa ii-Ia nd fi II/ Water issues are notjust happening'somewhere else'.In Hawaii the finite boundaries of each island requires geographically defined water self-sufficiency systems that are reliable,safe,and expandable.On each island there are dozens of micro-climates and varied geologic features that impact the availability,methods,and costs to access safe water.http://www.oneesiand.org/hawamm/cjreen- resources/water HECO issues rolling power outages around Big Island by:Emily Cervantes Posted:Feb 13,2024/05:11 PM HST Updated:Feb 13,2024/ 09:12 PM HST Hawaiian Electric initiated rolling outages for Big Island after several large generators became unavailable and reduced output Tuesday night." https://www.khon2.com/local-news/heco-releases-conservation-alert-for-big-island/ 14.1 Support the State Land Use reclassification to Rural in alignment with the General Plan Rural designation. What is the General Plan Rural Designation?Is this more high-end land use titles changing from agriculture to rural? Page 111 17.4 Land use applications shall identify as early as possible any existing or potential active living corridors that should be incorporated into the County's open space network. Who decides what a living corridor is?Is this the county's way of taking private land areas away through a Land Use Application? I firmly oppose the Hawai'i County Planning Department's 2045 General Plan.I demand the reappointment of the Hawai'i Planning Director to someone who will prioritize addressing Big Island resources,conserving the land,and listening to local voices.We need a leader who will stand with the community,not high-end developers,to preserve the unique character and future of the Big Island. Rebecca Melendez From: Laura Kahulamu To: Martha Stephens Cc: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv;Council Testimony; Kimball,Heather; Kaaiwada.Jennifer;Onishi. Dennis; Kierkiewicz,Ashley;Kanealii-Kleinfelder, Matt;Villeoas,Rebecca;Galimba, Michelle M.; Inaba, Holeka; Hustace, James;cohmavoolhawaiicountv.aov Subject: Re: February 2025 Testimony General Plan 2045 : "Economy and Monitoring" Date:Sunday,February 9,2025 5:17:01 PM Aloha e Martha, Thank you for sending me good information. Great job. I hope this doesn't happen. Hawai'i won't be the same. I hope you have a great evening. Mahalo a Aloha, Laura On Sun, Feb 9, 2025, 10:34 AM Martha Stephens <martha(g4marthafineart.com>wrote: Testimony General Plan 2045 Martha Stephens, Kealia, HI To: Hawaii Island Planning Commission,County Council and Mayor Dear public representatives and elected officials, This is my sworn testimony. I am committed to tell the absolute truth about the goals and intended outcomes of General Plan 2045 and implore you as our representatives to not allow this to be approved for Hawaii Island. I ask you how do you envision the Big Island in the future and does it need high technology? The General Plan 2045 is not a recommendation it is a calculated blue print ofverbiage to create the infrastructure needed for a high tech digital economy. I had prepared to speak Thursday about"Economy and Monitoring",the topic that was given at the last meeting in January,but it obviously changed to Transportation? Which,at this juncture is beating a dead horse and a fraction of the agenda at hand. I was going to speak Friday but the meeting was canceled. I am excited to discuss this Economic Action Plan and point out how most of it is about building high-speed technology that would be needed for the reset control grid of global governance. One must educate ones self on the global goals in the world to see through these recommendations". Table 61: Thriving, Diverse, Regenerative Economy Actions Emerging Industries? Manufacturing?? Economic Diversification???? Ask yourself why it is so important for Hawaii to have such a massive infrastructure and free full spectrum wife internet? The"sustainable/resillient"global agenda has already been occurring for a very long time in Hawaii through millions of dollars of Federal and international funding to our state. This is one recent funding- Hawaii secures over S6M to bridge digital divide Have you taken the time to study the details of what all this new economy is about and the final end game for each and every State? The new economy for the world will be a Quantum everything and everyone. Emphasis on manufacturing and emerging industries and expanded government with a need for 50%more energy to run all the super Al computing. No wonder this big goal has to cut human energy use! In regard to agriculture there is not much content or intention here. Who are the agricultural stakeholders? What do the farmers want and need in this special environment? Major Corporate technology? You can bet Hawaii will need a mini Silicon Valley to run what is planned and food is not high on the list. As with all the"Agenda"planning one must think critically to figure out what it is really being said as there is no thesaurus. In case you have not studied it this is just one small article about the plan that can easily be found. Agenda 21"Think Globally act locally"is the UN Agenda 21 propaganda catch phrase. htT//www.nislowy4ow.or 4/slog--bloc-/ok-what-is-u-n- agcnda-21-and-whv-should-i-care/ok-what-is-u-n-agenda-21- and-whv-should-i-care/ok-what-is-u-n-a 4cnda-21-and-whv- should-i-care What are all these Al Data Centers are needed for: Digital ID's including biometrics Human Health Monitoring(Wireless Internal sensors) Fiscal Control to Central Bankers. Al Governance and the purge of civil servants. Social Credit System. Crypto Push for a cashless society As part of the educated public we all believe that you represent our human rights and financial interests and are not in fear of rejecting this system and can and will say NO to the General Plan 2045. We can only hope the incredible amount of funding coming to Hawaii for this agenda will not sway your decisions. We respect that you are service to others not service to self in these matters. Thank you for doing what the people are requesting. The right thing for us all. Sincerely and respectfully yours, Martha Stephens Kealia, HI 408-978-0354 From: Martha Stephens To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv;Council Testimonv; Kimball. Heather; Kaaiwada.Jennifer;Onishi. Dennis; Kierkiewicz.Ashley; Kanealii-Kleinfelder. Matt;Villeaas. Rebecca;Galimba. Michelle M.; Inaba. Holeka; Hustace. James;cohmavor(d)hawaiicounty.aov Subject: February 2025 Testimony General Plan 2045 : "Economy and Monitoring" Date:Sunday,February 9,2025 10:35:49 AM Attachments: Testimony Feb 7 2025.paoes Total Enslavement of the planet by 2030.paaes END GOAL.ipo Testimony General Plan 2045 Martha Stephens, Kealia, HI To: Hawaii Island Planning Commission,County Council and Mayor Dear public representatives and elected officials, This is my sworn testimony. I am committed to tell the absolute truth about the goals and intended outcomes of General Plan 2045 and implore you as our representatives to not allow this to be approved for Hawaii Island. I ask you how do you envision the Big Island in the future and does it need high technology? The General Plan 2045 is not a recommendation it is a calculated blue print of verbiage to create the infrastructure needed for a high tech digital economy. I had prepared to speak Thursday about"Economy and Monitoring",the topic that was given at the last meeting in January,but it obviously changed to Transportation? Which,at this juncture is beating a dead horse and a fraction of the agenda at hand. I was going to speak Friday but the meeting was canceled. I am excited to discuss this Economic Action Plan and point out how most of it is about building high-speed technology that would be needed for the reset control grid of global governance. One must educate ones self on the global goals in the world to see through these"recommendations". Table 61: Thriving, Diverse, Regenerative Economy Actions Emerging Industries? Manufacturing?? Economic Diversification???? Ask yourself why it is so important for Hawaii to have such a massive infrastructure and free full spectrum wife internet? The"sustainable/resillient"global agenda has already been occurring for a very long time in Hawaii through millions of dollars of Federal and international funding to our state. This is one recent funding- Hawaii Secures Over $6M to brU4e digital divide Have you taken the time to study the details of what all this new economy is about and the final end game for each and every State? The new economy for the world will be a Quantum everything and everyone. Emphasis on manufacturing and emerging industries and expanded government with a need for 50%more energy to run all the super Al computing. No wonder this big goal has to cut human energy use! In regard to agriculture there is not much content or intention here. Who are the agricultural stakeholders? What do the farmers want and need in this special environment? Major Corporate technology? You can bet Hawaii will need a mini Silicon Valley to run what is planned and food is not high on the list. As with all the"Agenda"planning one must think critically to figure out what it is really being said as there is no thesaurus. In case you have not studied it this is just one small article about the plan that can easily be found. Agenda 21"Think Globally act locally"is the UN Agenda 21 propaganda catch phrase. https://www.nislowgrow.org/slog-blog/ok-what-is-u-n- agenda-21-and-why-should-i-care/ok-what-is-u-n-agenda-21- and-why-should-i-care/ok-what-is-u-n-agenda-21-and-why- should-i-care What are all these Al Data Centers are needed for: Digital ID's including biometrics Human Health Monitoring (Wireless Internal sensors) Fiscal Control to Central Bankers. Al Governance and the purge of civil servants. Social Credit System. Crypto Push for a cashless society As part of the educated public we all believe that you represent our human rights and financial interests and are not in fear of rejecting this system and can and will say NO to the General Plan 2045. We can only hope the incredible amount of funding coming to Hawaii for this agenda will not sway your decisions. We respect that you are service to others not service to self in these matters. Thank you for doing what the people are requesting. The right thing for us all. Sincerely and respectfully yours, Martha Stephens Kealia, HI 408-978-0354 Testimony General Plan 2045 Martha Stephens, Kealia, HI To: Hawaii Island Planning Commission, County Council and Mayor Dear public representatives and elected officials, This is my sworn testimony. I am committed to tell the absolute truth about the goals and intended outcomes of General Plan 2045 and implore you as our representatives to not allow this to be approved for Hawaii Island. ask you how do you envision the Big Island in the future and does it need high technology? The General Plan 2045 is not a recommendation it is a calculated blue print of verbiage to create the infrastructure needed for a high tech digital economy. I had prepared to speak Thursday about "Economy and Monitoring", the topic that was given at the last meeting in January, but it obviously changed to Transportation? Which, at this juncture is beating a dead horse and a fraction of the agenda at hand. I was going to speak Friday but the meeting was canceled. am excited to discuss this Economic Action Plan and point out how most of it is about building high-speed technology that would be needed for the reset control grid of global governance. One must educate ones self on the global goals in the world to see through these "recommendations". Table 61 : Thriving, Diverse, Regenerative Economy Actions Emerging Industries? Manufacturing?? Economic Diversification???? Ask yourself why it is so important for Hawaii to have such a massive infrastructure and free full spectrum wifi internet? The "sustainable/resillient" global agenda has already been occurring for a very long time in Hawaii through millions of dollars of Federal and international funding to our state. This is one recent funding- https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/ 2024/12/15/hawaii-news/hawaii-secures-over-6m-to-bridge-digital- divide/ Have you taken the time to study the details of what all this new economy is about and the final end game for each and every State? The new economy for the world will be a Quantum everything and everyone. Emphasis on manufacturing and emerging industries and expanded government with a need for 50% more energy to run all the super Al computing. No wonder this big goal has to cut human energy use! In regard to agriculture there is not much content or intention here. Who are the agricultural stakeholders? What do the farmers want and need in this special environment? Major Corporate technology? You can bet Hawaii will need a mini Silicon Valley to run what is planned and food is not high on the list. As with all the "Agenda" planning one must think critically to figure out what it is really being said as there is no thesaurus. In case you have not studied it this is just one small article about the plan that can easily be found. Agenda 21 " Think Globally act locally" is the UN Agenda 21 propaganda catch phrase. https://www.nislowgrow.org/slog-blog/ok-what-is-u-n-agenda-21 - and-why-should-i-care/ok-what-is-u-n-ag end a-21 -and-why-should-i- care/ok-what-is-u-n-agenda-21 -and-why-should-i-care What are all these Al Data Centers are needed for: Digital ID's including biometrics Human Health Monitoring (Wireless Internal sensors) Fiscal Control to Central Bankers. Al Governance and the purge of civil servants. Social Credit System. Crypto Push for a cashless society As part of the educated public we all believe that you represent our human rights and financial interests and are not in fear of rejecting this system and can and will say NO to the General Plan 2045. We can only hope the incredible amount of funding coming to Hawaii for this agenda will not sway your decisions. We respect that you are service to others not service to self in these matters. Thank you for doing the right thing that the people are requesting. Sincerely and respectfully yours, Martha Stephens Kealia, HI 408-978-0354 The United Nations 2030 Agenda decoded : It ' s a blueprint for the global enslavement of humanity under the boot of corporate masters Friday, September 04, 2015 by Mike Adams, NaturalNews) This week, Michael Snyder published an important article entitled The 2030 Agenda: This Month The UN Launches A Blueprint For A New World Order With The Help Of The Pope. That article references this UN "2030 Agenda" document that pushes a blueprint for so-called "sustainable development" around the world. This document describes nothing less than a global government takeover of every nation across the planet. The "goals" of this document are nothing more than code words for a corporate- government fascist agenda that will imprison humanity in a devastating cycle of poverty while enriching the world's most powerful globalist corporations like Monsanto and DuPont. In the interests of helping wake up humanity, I've decided to translate the 17 points of this 2030 agenda so that readers everywhere can understand what this document is really calling for. To perform this translation, you have to understand how globalists disguise their monopolistic agendas in "feel good" language. Here's the point-by-point translation. Notice carefully that nowhere does this document state that "achieving human freedom" is one of its goals. Nor does it explain HOW these goals are to be achieved. As you'll see here, every single point in this UN agenda is to be achieved through centralized government control and totalitarian mandates that resemble communism. Translation of the U N 's " 2030 Agenda blueprint for globalist government " controlled by corporate interests) Goal 1) End poverty in all its forms everywhere Translation: Put everyone on government welfare, food stamps, housing subsidies and handouts that make them obedient slaves to global government. Never allow people upward mobility to help themselves. Instead, teach mass victimization and obedience to a government that provides monthly "allowance" money for basic essentials like food and medicine. Label it "ending poverty." Goal 2) End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture Translation: Invade the entire planet with GMOs and Monsanto's patented seeds while increasing the use of deadly herbicides under the false claim of "increased output" of food crops. Engineer genetically modified plants to boost specific vitamin chemicals while having no idea of the long-term consequences of genetic pollution or cross-species genetic experiments carried out openly in a fragile ecosystem. Goal 3) Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages Translation: Mandate 100+ vaccines for all children and adults at gunpoint, threatening parents with arrest and imprisonment if they refuse to cooperate. Push heavy medication use on children and teens while rolling out "screening" programs. Call mass medication "prevention" programs and claim they improve the health of citizens. Goal 4) Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all Translation: Push a false history and a dumbed-down education under "Common Core" education standards that produce obedient workers rather than independent thinkers. Never let people learn real history, or else they might realize they don't want to repeat it. Goal 5) Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls Translation: Criminalize Christianity, marginalize heterosexuality, demonize males and promote the LGBT agenda everywhere. The real goal is never "equality" but rather the marginalization and shaming of anyone who expresses any male characteristics whatsoever. The ultimate goal is to feminize society, creating widespread acceptance of "gentle obedience" along with the self- weakening ideas of communal property and "sharing" everything. Because only male energy has the strength to rise up against oppression and fight for human rights, the suppression of male energy is key to keeping the population in a state of eternal acquiescence. Goal 6) Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all Translation: Allow powerful corporations to seize control of the world's water supplies and charge monopoly prices to "build new water delivery infrastructure" that "ensures availability." Goal 7) Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all Translation: Penalize coal, gas and oil while pushing doomed-to- fail "green" energy subsidies to brain-dead startups headed by friends of the White House who all go bankrupt in five years or less. The green startups make for impressive speeches and media coverage, but because these companies are led by corrupt idiots rather than capable entrepreneurs, they always go broke. And the media hopes you don't remember all the fanfare surrounding their original launch.) Goal 8) Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all Translation: Regulate small business out of existence with government-mandated minimum wages that bankrupt entire sectors of the economy. Force employers to meet hiring quotas of LGBT workers while mandating wage tiers under a centrally planned work economy dictated by the government. Destroy free market economics and deny permits and licenses to those companies that don't obey government dictates. Goal 9) Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation Translation: Put nations into extreme debt with the World Bank, spending debt money to hire corrupt American corporations to build large-scale infrastructure projects that trap developing nations in an endless spiral of debt. See the book Confessions of an Economic Hit Man by John Perkins to understand the details of how this scheme has been repeated countless times over the last several decades. Goal 10) Reduce inequality within and among countries Translation: Punish the rich, the entrepreneurs and the innovators, confiscating nearly all gains by those who choose to work and excel. Redistribute the confiscated wealth to the masses of non-working human parasites that feed off a productive economy while contributing nothing to it... all while screaming about "equality!" Goal 11) Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable Translation: Ban all gun ownership by private citizens, concentrating guns into the hands of obedient government enforcers who rule over an unarmed, enslaved class of impoverished workers. Criminalize living in most rural areas by instituting Hunger Games-style "protected areas" which the government will claim are owned by "the People" even though no people are allowed to live there. Force all humans into densely packed, tightly controlled cities where they are under 24/7 surveillance and subject to easy manipulation by government. Goal 12) Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns Translation: Begin levying punitive taxes on the consumption of fossil fuels and electricity, forcing people to live under conditions of worsening standards of living that increasingly resemble Third World conditions. Use social influence campaigns in TV, movies and social media to shame people who use gasoline, water or electricity, establishing a social construct of ninnies and tattlers who rat out their neighbors in exchange for food credit rewards. Goal 13) Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts Translation: Set energy consumption quotas on each human being and start punishing or even criminalizing "lifestyle decisions" that exceed energy usage limits set by governments. Institute total surveillance of individuals in order to track and calculate their energy consumption. Penalize private vehicle ownership and force the masses onto public transit, where TSA grunts and facial recognition cameras can monitor and record the movement of every person in society, like a scene ripped right out of Minority Report. Goal 14) Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development Translation: Ban most ocean fishing, plunging the food supply into an extreme shortage and causing runaway food price inflation that puts even more people into economic desperation. Criminalize the operation of private fishing vessels and place all ocean fishing operations under the control of government central planning. Only allow favored corporations to conduct ocean fishing operations and make this decision based entirely on which corporations give the most campaign contributions to corrupt lawmakers). Goal 15) Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss Translation: Roll out Agenda 21 and force humans off the land and into controlled cities. Criminalize private land ownership, including ranches and agricultural tracts. Tightly control all agriculture through a corporate-corrupted government bureaucracy whose policies are determined almost entirely by Monsanto while being rubber-stamped by the USDA. Ban woodstoves, rainwater collection and home gardening in order to criminalize self-reliance and force total dependence on government. Goal 16) Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels Translation: Grant legal immunity to illegal aliens and "protected" minority groups, which will be free to engage in any illegal activity including openly calling for the mass murder of police officers -- because they are the new protected class in society. "Inclusive institutions" means granting favorable tax structures and government grants to corporations that hire LGBT workers or whatever groups are currently in favor with the central planners in government. Use the IRS and other federal agencies to selectively punish unfavorable groups with punitive audits and regulatory harassment, all while ignoring the criminal activities of favored corporations that are friends of the political elite. Goal 17) Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development Translation: Enact global trade mandates that override national laws while granting unrestricted imperialism powers to companies like Monsanto, Dow Chemical, RJ Reynolds, Coca-Cola and Merck. Pass global trade pacts that bypass a nation's lawmakers and override intellectual property laws to make sure the world's most powerful corporations maintain total monopolies over drugs, seeds, chemicals and technology. Nullify national laws and demand total global obedience to trade agreements authored by powerful corporations and rubber-stamped by the UN. Total enslavement of the planet by 2030 As the UN document says, "We commit ourselves to working tirelessly for the full implementation of this Agenda by 2030." If you read the full document and can read beyond the fluffery and public relations phrases, you'll quickly realize that this UN agenda is going to be forced upon all the citizens of the world through the invocation of government coercion. Nowhere does this document state that the rights of the individual will be protected. Nor does it even acknowledge the existence of human rights granted to individuals by the Creator. Even the so- called "Universal Declaration of Human Rights" utterly denies individuals the right to self defense, the right to medical choice and the right to parental control over their own children. The UN is planning nothing less than a global government tyranny that enslaves all of humanity while calling the scheme sustainable development" and "equality." 1984 has finally arrived. And of course it's all being rolled out under the fraudulent label of "progress." h-Sal ca Nk,,W @saLO69010022845 This is their end goal. A system where everything is doneremotely and eventually controlled by Al . This is why DARPA, ER , NASA, IBM , GOOGLE, BIG PHARIVIA & the Telecommunication Companies all came together. This is ghat they are attempting to d . T HGUG94T .4="V+arW OREGON % -3S5 54 "39 KE&FONr Pam,• ACTIVISTMFnlau vMUAL Trouble-maker Whist#eblo wer a lipJim PAW SUEO ATTACK LETGr : Y VAL SUCK I C NFIRM E ARIPA MW ONTFIDL TwT EL? TMWT€ NAAM From: Kathy Johnson To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv;Council Testimony; Kimball. Heather; Kaaiwada.Jennifer;Onishi. Dennis; Kierkiewicz.Ashley; Kanealii-Kleinfelder. Matt;Villeaas. Rebecca;Galimba. Michelle M.; Inaba. Holeka Cc: Inaba. Holeka; Hustace.James;cohmayor(bhawaiicountv.00v;ashamallick@omail.com Subject: Theodora Mallick Opposition to General Plan 2045 Date:Friday,February 14,2025 8:13:24 PM Sent on Behalf of Theodora Mallick, 808-936-0811 Cell. ashamallick(clgmail.com. She is unable to send from the location she is in and asked me to share the following message on her behalf. She welcomes you to call her to verify if there is any question about the validity of this email. Thankyou. Good Evening, I respectfully request that you please oppose General Plan 2045 in its' current version and form. I have lived in and farmed land all around this beautiful island. My business has provided employment to many people from Kau to Papaikou, including fruit and mac nut orchards as well as cattle, honey, etc. Myself along with my children own several commercial properties in downtown Hilo. We are very invested in Hilo and are happy to be part of this wonderful community. I received steward of the land for my work in conservation and preservation of the neglected sugar cane land I farm in Papaikou so I do understand the need to balance everything. It took me over a decade to restore and create the farms my family owns here. I have been here for just over 30 years and I am proud to call Hilo my home. I am very concerned about what this proposed legislation will do for water rights, which is vital to agriculture and especially for our cattle, what changes will be made to zoning — especially with regards to ag land. There are so many infrastructure issues that need to be addressed and should be of the highest priority over what is proposed here- let's take care of our roadways, bridges, sidewalks, downtown Hilo bayfront. Once all of that is taken care of we can look to putting in more infrastructure that makes the most sense. I am also concerned that the cost for all of this will fall to property owners and residents which would be an unfair burden given all that is going on with the almost elimination of mac nut production and the difficulty we have shipping perishable fruit off the island to customers in the mainland due to issues with weight and having our shipments bumped and therefore not delivered. With the reduction in income from the loss of mac nuts and the other challenges with expenses of exporting, having more expense would be devastating financially to our family run businesses. We need your support and ask that you please oppose this general plan. Thank you, Asha Mallick and family- Maya Mallick, Angela Mallick and Monika Mallick From: Kathy Johnson To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv;Council Testimony; Kimball. Heather; Kaaiwada.Jennifer;Onishi. Dennis; Kierkiewicz.Ashley; Kanealii-Kleinfelder. Matt;Villeaas. Rebecca;Galimba. Michelle M.; Inaba. Holeka Cc: Inaba.Holeka; Hustace.James;cohmavoolhawaiicountv.00v Subject: Opposition to General Plan 2045 Date:Friday,February 14,2025 10:27:22 AM Good Morning, Thank you for taking the time to read our concerns regarding General Plan 2045. Our family currently resides and owns property in Hilo and Papaikou. I have worked for a family with agriculture farming in Papaikou for the past 10 years and we absolutely made the right decision to live here and raise our family here. We love everything about living here and feel blessed to be part of our community and hope that we can someday be able to pass our home on to our family. We are very concerned and oppose many of the proposed changes in the General Plan 2045 being considered. There are many flaws in this plan that I believe will negatively impact both our community and our family directly. We are very concerned about water rights- this should not be privatized— everyone should have access to water without paying for it from a private source. We are also worried about what this plan could allow and the possible effects proposed would have on our ownership and use of our existing land. I work for a family who owns land that they actively farm for over 20 years, they harvest the land responsibly, provides revenue for our County, employment for so many, including myself, and preservation of the beautiful ag land we enjoy on the Big Island. The owner has always told me how special this place is, it is a safe place where you can live off the land and resources we have from farm to sea- but you have to give back to the land and community and not just take. What will happen if the proposed restrictions on land use, property rights and zoning negatively impacts agriculture on this island or for our neighbors? There is so much packed into this general plan and it lacks feasibility, overestimates resource availability and places undue burdens and risks on taxpayers and rural communities. We respectfully request that you oppose the current General Plan 2045 as it is currently written. Focus on resolving what is currently broken, ensuring roads, utilities and housing affordability are being addressed before adding expensive, unproven speculative technology. We fully understand that there is a need for sustainability, economic growth and infrastructure- this plan lacks feasibility, overestimates resource availability and we believe will place undue burdens on taxpayers and rural communities located throughout the island. We thank you for listening to our concerns and hope that you will oppose the General Plan 2045. Mahalo, Kathy & Brennan Johnson along with Bryan Johnson and Linda Smith 109 Panaewa Street, Hilo, HI 96720 From: Elizabeth Cook To: LPCtestimonv;Council Testimony; Kimball. Heather; Kaaiwada.Jennifer;Onishi. Dennis; Kierkiewicz.Ashley; Kanealii-Kleinfelder. Matt;Villeaas. Rebecca;Galimba. Michelle M.;Inaba. Holeka; Hustace.James Subject: Do NOT Approve Hawaii County General Plan 2045 Date:Saturday,February 15,2025 4:30:10 PM Please do not approve this general plan. Elizabeth Cook God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1- From: Dea Racklev To: WPCtestimonv;LPCtestimonv Subject: Subject line:DO NOT Recommend the Hawaii GP 2045 Date: Sunday,February 16,2025 11:57:20 AM Subject line: DO NOT Recommend the Hawaii GP 2045! Email to model is below(optional): Aloha Commissioners, The Big island Plan cannot go through the way it is designed. It is hard to believe any local helped design this plan. Here are some concerns: There is a huge part of the plan dedicated to "Climate Change".However,why do most experts state there is NO climate danger? Climate Experts Speak Out Against Climate Danger Click Here! The word "Stakeholder," defined in the plan,is written 86 times and literally means anyone in the entire world can have input on this 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 and management are crucial for the success and sustainability of any initiative,as it helps ensure that diverse perspectives and interests are considered. 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. The Planning Department has sent out letters too many homeowners telling them their land use will be changed from resident to recreation due to the General Plan 2045. This will drastically lower 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. There is a huge section on climate change and things that will be affected. This needs to be further 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.hUs:Hclintel.org/wp- contenj/=loads/2024/1 O/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. Hilo does not have a Community Development Plan.How can a Big Island General Plan move forward without that?Hilo is 22%of the island. 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 oflands for the protection ofnatural resources." 'Incentives"mean more taxes. Protection"means more rules. Who's "values" is this plan referring too because it's not the locals? Pursue the acquisition of lands" does this say they are going to pursing taking people's private property?Again with "protection of natural resources". This plan should be focused on people growing more food and it is doing the exact opposite! 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 of Papaikou, has created an Ag Villages plan. Ag Village to add to the General Plan: Papaikou Ag Village Objectives: hUs://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/—files/ugd/86fcOc-2cb I cc6d604f4cdd971ad4083Ic745bc.12df Papaikou Site Plan: hops://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_5e4cdb02efeb46a5 ae949a3579aff00d.pdf Papaikou Development: hops://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_c2af52c8b3c645b 1a6868a724eee8304.pdf A Hawaiian born Kanaka revised the Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship that is in the plan.You can see it in the pdf below: Part One:hops://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_Oald5be8fld140069415f7b691725786.pdf Part Two: https://86fcOcbd-8207-4076-85fa- 5a62e4e933b4.usrfiles.com/ugd/86fcOc ecc498ba192d4a7689ebf3lc3681c2ec.pdf Here is a longer revised version ofthe plan from locals: hops://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/ files/ugd/86fcOc b34739e4c99c461685de4c0207bf286e.pdf The way this plan is written is very far from what will support our island. Sent from my iPhone From: Bauer,Jackson M To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv Cc: Terrence Noda;Chuck Flaherty Subject: Testimony for General Plan comprehensive review Date:Tuesday, February 18, 2025 2:33:31 PM Attachments: NAH AC FINAL Letter re General Plan.odf Aloha Windward and Leeward Planning Commissions, On behalf of the Hawaii Island Na Ala Hele Advisory Council, attached please find written testimony in regards to the comprehensive review of the General Plan. Jackson M. Bauer Hawaii Island Na Ala Hele Trails and Access Specialist, Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Department of Land and Natural Resources 19 East Kawili Street Hilo, Hawai?i 96720 808-657-8041 iackson.m.bauerrcDhawaii.gov y ALA E0E Hawail Trail 6 Access System February 18,3O25 To: County ofHavvai'i Windward Planning Commission c/o Hilo Planning Department Office 101 Pauahi Street,Suite 3 Hilo, HI 96720 Leeward Planning Commission c/o Kona Planning Department Office West Havvai'i Civic Center 74-5U44/\neKeohok5|o|eHighway, Building E, 2 u" Floor Kai|ua-Kona, H| 96740 From: Terrence Noda, Chair Haxvai'i Island N5 Ala He|a Advisory Council c/o Division of Forestry and Wildlife 19 E. Kavxi|i5treet Hilo, HI 96720 Re.: Testimony on the Havvai1 County Draft General Plan Aloha Chairs DeFranco and Daniele and members of the Leeward and Windward Planning Commissions, The Hawaii Island N5 Ala Hele Advisory Council (Advisory Council)would like to express its appreciation for the volunteer service each ofthe Commissioners provides toHaxvai'i Island. |n response toLeeward and Windward Planning Commissions request for further public advice and assistance during their General Plan comprehensive review process,the Advisory Council would like to assist the county Planning Commissioners by providing the following comments and recommended amendments. About the N5 Ala Hele Advisory Council The N5 Ala Hele Advisory Councils were established by Hawai'i Revised Statute 198D to provide advice and assistance to the Department of Land and Natural Resources in implementing the N5 Ala Hele Program. In addition, Havvai'i Revised Statutes§198O-9, "Other powers and duties of department [Department of Land and Natural Resources]", provides further guidance: "The department: Division of Forestry and Wildlife phnne:uo*yn4-«2z1 ss.xawm Street,Hilo,*l narzu Department o,Land and Natural Resources pax: 808974-4226 sman:jacksvn.m.uaue,@xawao.co, 4)Shall coordinate its activities under this chapter, including its compilation of the inventories and classifications of trails and accesses,with other public agencies; 5)Shall advise and,when able,assist other public agencies in the development,construction, operation, maintenance,and regulation of trails and accesses under the other agencies'jurisdiction;...... Related Hawaii County Code Chapter 34-4(b): The location ofpublic shoreline and mountain areas and existing shoreline,coastal and public mountain trails shall be determined by the [Planning Department] director in consultation with the State department of land and natural resources and the department of parks and recreation and shall be established by rule pursuant to chapter 91, Hawai'i Revised Statutes.The director shall solicit such information from such agencies upon adoption of the ordinance codified in this chapter and from time to time thereafter.Such rules shall include maps depicting the public-owned areas and the approximate location of the existing public trails, and may provide for supplementation of listed areas and trails upon publication of notice in lieu of rule amendment. Provided,that the rules shall be amended not less than every five years to incorporate any supplemental changes made since prior rule adoption and toallow public comments on practices and procedures established under such rules." The Island N5 Ala Hele Advisory s Review of the Hawail County General Plans At its February 12,2025 meeting,the Advisory.Council reviewed language related to public access,trails, recreation, and scenic resources inthe: 1) current county General Plan adopted in2OO5 (current GP), 2) draft General Plan 2040 released by the county Planning Department in 2019 (dGP2040),and 3> current draft General Plan 2045 released by the Planning Department in 2023 (dGP2045). For your easy reference and comparison,we have excerpted the relevant Objective, Policies,and Actions and provided then in this letter the specific language reviewed in each of these plans as follows: 1) Appendix 4, dGP2D4O 2\ Appendix 8, dGP2O45 3) Appendix C, current GP We have also included excerpts from the Ala Kahakai National Trail Memorandum of Understanding as the MOU directly relates tm the county of Hawaii in Appendix D. During its review,the Advisory Council noted that both the dGP2040 and dGP2045 are complete rewrites of the current GP. Because of this, one focus of our review was to determine the extent to which the dGP2040 and dGP2045 effectively include the Policies and Actions contained within the current GP. The Advisory Council found that the dGP2040 effectively includes all Policies and Actions related to public access, trails, recreation,and scenic resources in the current GP,while the dGP2045 does not. Another focus was to compare the language within dGP2040 and dGP2045 related to public access, trails, recreation, and scenic resources. The Advisory Council found that the dGP2040 contains 23 Policies,26 Actions, and 6 Agency Actions related to public access,trails, recreation, and scenic resources,which are presented in a straight- forward,comprehensive, easy-to-understand,and organized manner. However,the dGP2045 contains only 10 Policies and 3 Actions related to public access,trails, recreation, and scenic resources. Because of the lack of organization of these within the plan,the only practical means to find these was to: 1)go online to access the private contractor Konveio's, online website and software, and 2) learn how to use the software and key word searches. We found the Policies and Actions are scattered throughout dGP2045, making it nearly impossible for a member of the public or professional planner to assess the extent to which public access,trails, recreation, and scenic resources are addressed, much less how to integrate existing laws, rules, regulations, and programs,when compared to the rationale and actions contained in dGP2040." Hawaii Island Na Ala Hele Advisory Councils Recommendations After its review,the Advisory Council finds that the Objectives, Polices and Actions related to public access,trails, recreation,and scenic resources contained within dGP2040 are far more comprehensive, complete,and actionable as compared to the dGP2045. In addition,the Advisory Council finds that the Policies and Actions in dGP2040: 1) better identify relevant laws,rules,regulations,public involvement,and collaboration between the county and other agencies,including the Advisory Council,as they relate to public access,trails, recreation,and scenic resources, 2) better assure implementation of the General Plan as it relates to public access,trails, recreation,and scenic resources,and 3) contain the Scenic Resources Protection Programs and Strategies resulting from the Hawaii County Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project,which was specifically prepared and completed for the General Plan comprehensive review, For instance,the following Actions in dGP2040 are not listed in dGP2045: 1) Action 4.52,"Actively implement the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail Memorandum of Understanding" (document attached), 2) Action 4.56,"Establish a County of Hawaii Public Access and Trail Program with sufficient staff and resources. Staff will be required to consult/consider recommendations of this program in all permit reviews." The dGP2040 further lists the specific recommended elements of this program,and 3) Action 4.93, "Establish a Scenic Resources Protection Program to identify, inventory,and protect areas of significant beauty." The dGP2040 further lists the specific recommended elements of this program. We noted that the Scenic Resources Protection Programs and Strategies are not contained within dGP2045, but are contained within dGP2040. Therefore,dGP2045 is not nearly as actionable as is dGP2040. In Conclusion The Advisory Council believes these recommendations represent a more comprehensive and rational approach to the subject of public access and trails. They are more actionable and better address the serious implementation concerns that members of public continue expressed since dGP3O45was first released in September 3O%3. As such,the Advisory Council urges the Commissions to consider our recommendations for amending dGP2O45 during your decision-making process. Maha|o for this opportunity tocomment. APPENDIX A Recommended Amendments to Draft General Plan 2045 (Released in 2023), as Excerpted from Draft General Plan 2040 (Released in 2019) PROMOTING ACTIVE LIVING THROUGH RECREATION, TRAILS, & PUBLIC ACCESS Public Access& Trails SUSTAINABILITY OBJECTIVE Number of public access sites created through acquisition or easement or enhanced with assistance from CZM funding or staff. POLICY 404. The County of Hawai'i shall establish: public access to and along the shoreline to significant historic sites, public transit along the top of cliff, streams and other natural water courses, mauka trails, facilities, and access to sites for gathering, hunting, and other recreational purposes and in accordance with Hawai'i County Code Chapter 34. Rationale: Based on existing County Code 34, General Plan Policy 12.3 (I, m), Ka'u CDP Policy 81, and Hamakua CDP Policy 48] 405. Subdividers of six or more lots, parcels, units, or interests shall be required to dedicate land for public access for pedestrian travel from a public highway or street to the land below the high-water mark on any coastal shoreline or to areas in the mountains where there are existing facilities for hiking, hunting, fruit-picking, ti leaf sliding, and other recreational purposes, and where there are existing mountain trails. Rationale: Based on existing HRS 46-6.5 and HCC 34-4(c)).] 406. Prior to disposing of, leasing, or transferring public lands, including public roads or trails, public access potentials shall be assessed, documented and protected if public access use is in the public's interest. Rationale: Based on existing HRS Section 46-1.5, Hamakua CDP Policy 50, and General Plan 12.3 (n).] 407. Ensure that publicly owned historic trails and roads are properly identified, and consultation occurs to protect the public's interests. Rationale: Based on the Highways Act of 1892, Hamakua CDP Policy 50, and the General Plan 12.3 (n).] 408. Alignment of coastal trails shall consider flexibility for realignment for sea level rise and other dynamic shoreline changes. [Climate Change] Rationale: Based on current status of some impacted coastal areas and research relating to projected sea level rise impacts on coastal assets. See also California Coastal Commission Sea Level Rise Policy Guidance.] 409. Determine the location and ownership of historic trails and roads as early as possible in the land use application process. Rationale: Based on identified challenges with ownership of historic trails and roads and the subsequent legal implications. See also General Plan Policy 13.2.3 (q)] 410. Where a subdivision is traversed by a natural water course, drainage way, channel, or stream, the Planning Director should require a pedestrian, equestrian, and/or bicycle path when the opportunity exists to connect to existing or future drainage or trail corridors. 411. Trails may also be used as emergency access routes, where appropriate. 412. Support the development of a Rails to Trails type program to facilitate the conversion of old railway segments to a public trail network. 413. Seek private-public partnerships to manage and maintain public access to the shoreline, public trails, hunting areas, scenic places and vistas, and significant historic sites, buildings, and objects of public interest. [Public Access] 414. Explore options and collaborate with community groups to increase access to former sugar cane roads to be used as non-motorized trails where feasible and appropriate. ACTION 4.49 Amend code to require bicycle and walking path easements be developed in urban areas to increase walkability and multimodal transportation options. [Code] 4.50 Work with the State and adjacent landowners in establishing old railroad right-of- ways as pedestrian and bicycle trails. 4.51 Identify by GPS coordinates all existing historic trail alignments that (a) have been recommended for preservation by SHPD, (b) appear on historic maps and/or are known by oral tradition, and incorporate these into the County GIS database. 4.52 Actively implement the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail Memorandum of Understanding. 4.53 Appropriate, finance, allot, and encumber Capital Improvement Projects in support of trail development as part of a regional trail system. 4.54 Add public access requirements as listed in Hawai'i County Code Chapter 34 Public Access to apply to Chapter 23 Subdivision Code, SMA review, zoning code, special permits, etc. [Code] 4.55 Develop and implement a public-private program to establish and manage specific access points and trails. SUSTAINABILITY OBJECTIVE Develop and maintain a public access program that integrates recreation, subsistence, and cultural access priorities. POLICY 415. Integrate Public Access into County department priorities in the following ways: a) Incorporate public access and development into a program overseen by the Planning Department as per Chapter 34. b) Integrate PONC property management and maintenance into the Parks and Recreation code in Chapter 2: Article 11 and Chapter 15: Parks and Recreation. c) Develop adequate staff to carry out the provisions of Chapter 2 Article 42, relating to the PONC maintenance fund (as per: Section 2-214.2 (b). Pursuant to section 10-16(c) of the Charter, the maintenance fund shall be administered and managed by the department of parks and recreation. Adequate staff to carry out the provisions of this article and section 10-16 of the Charter shall be provided in the department of parks and recreation. Rationale: Based on identified gaps in addressing or applying public access regulations and procedures consistently between the various County Departments. The County lacks capacity to fulfill its existing public access objectives without increasing staff capacity, maintenance capacity, and without having clearer directives between the various departments to implement a cohesive public access program.] 416. Integrate County public access priorities in all aspects of land use decisions and permit reviews. 417. Consistently integrate public access development and maintenance into Parks and Recreation department priorities. 418. Support facility development for access management at access points and along trail corridors. ACTION 4.56 Establish a County of Hawai'i Public Access and Trail Program with sufficient staff and resources. Staff will be required to consult/consider recommendations of this program in all permit reviews. Elements of this program may include: a) A comprehensive access inventory; b) A public access rating system to help with prioritization; c) Comprehensive reviews of projects (on public or private lands) that will affect public accesses and trails; d) Inventory of ancient trails, cart roads, and old government roads in coordination with appropriate State agencies. e) Public outreach and coordination element. f) Identify agencies/groups to develop, administer, and maintain public accesses, including developing County capacity for this purpose; g) Identify funding sources to purchase and manage public access easement to priority areas; h) When public access goals will involve several landowners, acquire the public access incrementally as opportunities arise to do so; i) Public accesses that cross private land will be acquired and held until appropriate management of the accesses is in place; j) Collaborate with State and Federal agencies on public accesses that require multi- agency involvement; k) Develop a standardized template to promote consistency and comprehensiveness in the public access plans required by landowners; 1) Partner with community organizations capable of assisting with public access management; m) Work with State agencies (particularly with DOFAW) to coordinate, survey, develop, and manage public trails and roads leading to forest reserves; n) In co-sponsorship with the State when possible, acquire land for public access to historic sites and objects and to the shoreline where safe transit does not already exist; o) Reinstitute a Public Access Wayfinding program managed by the Planning Department to assist interested community groups in maintaining appropriate signage at public access points; p) Provide cultural and safety information at trailheads; q) Provide for substantive community input to the County Planning Department and the County Council in order to finalize and accept priority access. Include community input in program policy. r) Whenever the County assumes the responsibility for posting and maintaining signage and maintaining public accesses and other public infrastructure, a specific County agency will be identified and assigned the aforementioned responsibilities. [Code, Public Access] 4.57 Amend the subdivision code to better address public access issues in the following ways: a) Revise/Develop enforcement protocols for public access violations, including fines for noncompliance and mechanisms to remove private obstructions from public accesses; b) Review Hawai'i County Code Chapter 34 requirements for public access standards, including design that fits into surrounding community, environment, and conditions. Establish parameters for requiring appropriate right-of-way, parking, and comfort stations for various types of public accesses/trails and incorporate these into Chapter 34; c) Amend Hawai'i County Code Chapter 34 to develop a clear methodology to modify public access routes in order to adapt to sea level rise, landslides and erosion, and other impacts related to environmental impacts and climate change; d) Amend Hawai'i County Code Chapter 34, Rule 21, Chapter 23, and Chapter25 CA 1.1.1 to ensure access and trail rights-of-way during subdivision. [County Code] 4.58 Complete an inventory and database of significant natural resource areas with recreational and trail connectivity value. 4.59 Adopt an on-going program of identification, designation, and acquisition of areas with existing or potential recreational resources, such as land with sandy beaches and other prime areas for shoreline recreation in cooperation with appropriate governmental agencies. 4.60 Develop procedural rules and templates for public access agreements and Grant of Easement (GOE) to facilitate consistency and to provide mechanisms for tracking, follow- through, and geographic information system (GIS) identification in County of Hawai'i systems, etc. 4.61 Develop procedural guidelines for renegotiating access agreements. 4.62 Renegotiate public accesses that were developed prior to Chapter 34 to be consistent with Chapter 34. 4.63 Evaluate and initiate Charter & code amendments related to Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resource Preservation (PONC). These may include: a) Clearly distinguish categories of PONC property, such as active or passive use, conservation, restoration, natural buffer areas, access uses, etc. (for AGENCY ACTION 4.67 Coordinate with State agencies to improve access and access/trail management resources (including policies, conditions, identification, cataloguing, enforcement, maintenance, etc.). 4.68 Consider establishing a working group with surrounding land owners and the user- community to educate users and manage ATV use to ensure that non-pedestrian allowances are not permitted within sections of modern trails that overlap, are congruent, or correspond to ancient or historic trails and its associated features. 4.69 Coordinate with hunting associations and other land stewards, to establish clear hunting policies and disseminate education regarding these policies. 4.70 To facilitate greater public access to and along the shoreline and elsewhere, amend Hawai'i Revised Statutes 520, Hawai'i's Recreational Use Statute (RUS), to make it less ambiguous and to discourage frivolous lawsuits. SUSTAINABILITY OBJECTIVE Increase participation in scenic preservation programs (Heritage Corridors, Scenic Byways, Scenic Corridors and Exceptional Trees) POLICY 447. Hawaii County shall use the following place types as guidelines for designating sites and viewsheds that shall be protected: a) Distinctive and identifiable landforms distinguished as landmarks and/or cultural landscapes, e.g. Mauna Kea, Waipi'o Valley. b) Coastline areas of striking contrast, e.g. Laupahoehoe Point c) Vistas of distinctive features d) Natural or native vegetation attractive to a particular area. e) Landscapes that are harmoniously developed, enhanced by man while maintaining their natural appearance, e.g. Pu'ukohola, 'Akaka Falls. f) Lands with a general slope of 20 percent or more that provide open space amenities or possess unusual scenic qualities. Rationale: Based on the Standards from General Plan 7.4 (a-e) and 8.4 (c).] 448. Visual impact assessments shall include photo simulations or balloon tests with views from various vantage points to show visual impact of a proposed project. Rationale: Creating visual modeling through photo simulations or balloon tests are common strategies used in visual impact assessments in other municipalities. These visual impact assessment tools would help achieve General Plan 7.2 Goals and policies 7.3 (b, e, h, i).] 449. Prioritize maintaining the views at scenic overlooks with a frequently maintained vegetation management program which includes eradication of invasive species. Coordinate this work with regular roadway vegetation management maintenance program. Rationale: Based on identified challenges with vegetative management of existing scenic overlook and the prevalence of the views being obstructed by invasive species or other vegetation. See also Hamakua CDP 38, Kokua Action 9, and General Plan 7.2 (b), 7.3 (a, b, c, f).] 450. Maintain a continuing program to identify and inventory exceptional trees, forest areas, or groves/stands of trees. Rationale: Based on Standards from General Plan 7.3 (g) and policies 7.4 (a-e) 8.3 (j, k, m.] 451. Maintain the Exceptional Tree Program for the recognition and protection of trees with significant or unique historical, ecological, cultural and/or aesthetic significance. Rationale: Based on General Plan policy 7.3 (g).] 452. No variance shall be granted unless appropriate conditions are imposed to minimize adverse impacts on public views to, from, and along the shoreline. Rationale: Based on Hamakua CDP Policy 17, General Plan goals 7.2 (a-c), and policies 7.3 (b), 8.3 (c, d). See also HRS 205A. 453. Do not allow incompatible development in areas of natural beauty that have been identified through the Scenic Resources Protection Program. Rationale: Based on an identified need to identify natural beauty areas through a scenic resource protection program and restrict development appropriately to ensure scenic resources are not lost to development. Based also on General Plan policies 7.3 (h, i).] Mapping] 454. Applications for Special Permits and environmental assessment reports for proposed changes of zone on property that may impact open space, viewsheds, and areas of natural beauty shall include visual impact assessments and propose conditions to mitigate scenic impacts. Rationale: Based on identified needs to protect scenic resources, open space and natural beauty in the special permit process. Also based on Hamakua CDP policy 33 and ACTION 4.88 Develop and establish viewshed regulations to preserve and protect from obstruction scenic resources, vistas, viewsheds, open space, prominent landscapes, and areas of natural beauty identified in the General Plan. 4.89 Develop and maintain a program to identify, inventory, preserve, acquire, and develop (where appropriate) viewing sites on the island. [Transportation] 4.90 Collaborate with the State to modify zoning on publicly-owned parcels that have been identified as having special cultural and/or scenic value. [Land Use] 4.91 Identify valued scenic resources in the Coastal Zone Management area. [Land Use, Mapping] 4.92 Identify and develop scenic lookouts along highways to ensure important views coastal, mountain, and waterfall) are preserved from development, create various opportunities to view these scenic resources, and develop a vegetation maintenance program. 4.93 Establish a Scenic Resources Protection Program to identify, inventory, and protect areas of significant beauty. The program would include: a) Rate viewsheds and roadway corridors documented in the Scenic Resources b) Inventory and Mapping Project (June, 2016) c) Develop scenic resource and viewshed corridor maps d) Develop administrative rules to implement Hawai'i County Code section 25-6-60 e) Develop Scenic Corridor Management Plan(s) for specific corridors identified. Scenic Corridor Management Plan(s) should include permit conditions, such as design guidelines, landscaping, screening, or structural setbacks from major thoroughfares and highways, to mitigate any visual impacts from development. f) Prepare Urban Design and Scenic Resource Protection Guidelines g) Staff and Planning Commission Training; h) Set Guidelines for Development Compatibility Standards. [Program] 4.94 Develop, maintain, and implement design standards to protect important viewsheds and ensure structural setbacks from major thoroughfares and highways. 4.95 Develop Scenic Corridor Management Plans. 4.96 Adopt administrative rules to implement Hawai'i County Code for Scenic Corridors. 4.97 Perform a feasibility study on developing a scenic route from Waipi'o Valley Lookout extending mauka to connect Mud Lane at the entrance of Waimea and a scenic park with a viewing area of Hi'ilawe Falls. 4.98 Coordinate with the State to upgrade the viewing site from the rim of Pololu Valley. AGENCY ACTION 4.99 Encourage the State to develop and maintain scenic lookouts along highways where appropriate to ensure ocean, mountain, pastoral, and waterfall views are preserved from development, and coordinate a regular roadway vegetation maintenance program. 4.100 Consider adding/improving viewing locations and interpretive signage near the scenic bridges for safe parking and views of the areas' waterfalls and coastline and along Saddle Road (Route 200) for views of the summit. APPENDIX B Relevant Objectives, Policies, and Actions from Draft General Plan 2045 Note:All Objectives, Policies, and Actions related to public access, trails, recreation, and scenic resources ore included in Appendix 8 in order for the Commissions to easily understand the contrasts between dGP2040 and dG2045. The Advisory Council determined that public access, trails, recreation, and scenic resources ore not presented in on organized manner and that dGP2045 is clearly insufficient os compared to dGP2040. dGP2040 is far more comprehensive and actionable. 2. Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship Goal, Objectives, Policies, and Actions Objective 2 Preserve and enhance the health and function of watersheds to promote water recharge, improve water quality, and reduce runoff. Policy 2.5 Watershed management planning should recognize the ecosystem service value of watersheds and open space to protect scenic vistas and aesthetic values; water recharge; carbon sequestration; oxygen production; habitat enhancement and preservation; fire suppression and fuel load management; soil conservation; preservation of cultural values; and the potential for additional public access and recreational opportunities. Objective 4 The historical integrity, character, scenic assets, and open spaces of our communities are protected, restored, and treated as unique assets with significant social and economic value and managed in perpetuity. Policy4.2 Increase public access opportunities to scenic places and vistas. Policy4.3 Public access to significant historic sites and objects should be acquired, where appropriate. 4. Land Use, 1.4 Urban Growth Areas Objective 13 Increase the use of Smart Growth principles to focus development within designated urban centers. Policy 13.6 The establishment of urban types of zoning may include additional acreages to account for acreages utilized for public benefits, such as historic sites, public access, parks, and open space. Policy 13.43 Coastal resort developments shall provide public access to and public parking for beach and shoreline areas. Policy 13.44 The development or designation of new resort areas should complement the character of the area; protect the environment and natural beauty; respect existing lifestyles, cultural practices, and cultural resources; and provide shoreline public access. 4.2.3 Active Living Corridors and Public Access Objective 17 Increase transportation connectivity. Policy 17.5 Ensure that existing active living corridors that are publicly owned or available by easement are properly identified and that their access elements are secured and documented. a) Primary examples include but are not limited to historic trails and roads, roads-in- limbo, 'paper roads', former sugar cane roads, train infrastructure remnants (Rails to Trails), and pedestrian and bicycling paths. b) "Acceptance" by the County of the responsibilities detailed in the grant of easements should require County Council action and a dedicated funding source. Policy 17.6 Provide public pedestrian access opportunities to scenic places and vistas. Policy 17.7 Establish public access to historic and modern active living corridors and facilities that provide an island-wide route and connect to major destinations. Action 17.a Develop and adopt a program to establish public access to historic and modern active living corridors and facilities that provide an island-wide route and connect to major destinations. 4. Public Facilities and Services;4.6 Recreation Objective 35 Park facilities are located within a 10-minute walk in urban areas and a 10-minute drive in rural communities. Policy 35.19 Prioritize park acquisition and improvements that involve under-represented open recreation and healthy living activities (outside the scope of organized sports), such as: a) Walking and biking trails Action 35.d Partner with government, private and nonprofit agencies, and other stakeholders to initiate joint agreements for funding, management, and maintenance for recreation, shared use spaces, hardened shelters, and public access priorities. Action 35.cc Expand active open recreational opportunities at the Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo and Equestrian Center properties such as bike/walking trails, horse trails, dog- friendly trails, and other outdoor recreation that would complement the Pana'ewa complex. 5.0 Thriving, Diverse, and Regenerative Economy; , 4.1 Visitor Industry Goal, Objectives, Policies, and Actions Objective 48 Support the visitor industry investment in its connection with communities, the 'aina, and our historic and multicultural heritage. Policy48.6 Support the coordination, collaboration, and improvement of public access to natural and cultural resources with State agencies and landowners while balancing the need for protection of these areas. APPENDIX C Relevant Language Excerpts from current General Plan adopted in 2005, as amended Note: The elements,formatting, organization, and language in the current General Plan were completely replaced by dGP2040. dGP2045 has completely replaced the elements,formatting, organization and language ofboth. The Advisory Council determined that dGP2040 was inclusive of the current GP's Objective, Policies, and Action, while dGP2045 does not. We also noted that the county Charter lists standards"in the elements to be contained within any General Plan. However, both dGP2040 and dGP2045 do not contain the Standards in the current GP. The Advisory Council will defer to the Commissions to determine whether or not dGP45 should contain Standards. HISTORIC SITES 6.3 POLICIES a) Agencies and organizations, either public or private, pursuing knowledge about historic sites should keep the public apprised of projects. b) Amend appropriate ordinances to incorporate the stewardship and protection of historic sites, buildings and objects. c) Require both public and private developers of land to provide historical and archaeological surveys and cultural assessments, where appropriate, prior to the clearing or development of land when there are indications that the land under consideration has historical significance. d) Public access to significant historic sites and objects shall be acquired,where appropriate. e) Embark on a program of restoring significant historic sites on County lands. Assure the protection and restoration of sites on other public lands through a joint effort with the State. f) Encourage the restoration of significant sites on private lands. g) Collect and distribute historic sites information of public interest and keep an inventory of sites. h) Aid in the development of a program of public education concerning historic sites. i) Signs explaining historic sites, buildings and objects shall be in keeping with the character of the area or the cultural aspects of the feature. j) Develop a continuing program to evaluate the significance of historic sites. k) Develop policies to protect Hawaiian rights as identified under judicial decisions. 1) Support the establishment of Hawaiian Heritage Corridors. m) All new historic sites placed on the State or Federal Register after the adoption of the general plan shall be included in the General Plan. n) Consider requiring Cultural Assessments for certain developments as part of the rezoning process. o) Recognize the importance of certain natural features in Hawaiian culture by incorporating the concept of"cultural landscapes" in land use planning. 6.4 STANDARDS a) The evaluation of the importance of specific historic sites is necessary for future action.The following standards establish a framework for evaluating sites. b) Importance in the life or activities of a major historic person. c) Associated with a major group or organization in the history of the island or community. d) Associated with a major historic event (cultural, economic, military, social, or political). e) Associated with a major recurring event in the history of the community (such as annual celebrations). f) Associated with a past or continuing institution that has contributed substantially to the life of the community. g) Unique example of a particular style or period. h) One of the few of its age remaining. i) Original materials and/or workmanship that can be valued in themselves. j) Sites with a preponderance of original materials in context and complexes rather than single isolated sites unless they are of great significance. k) Sites of traditional and cultural significance. 6.5 DISTRICTS Note: All Courses for Action in all nine districts include: Support the establishment of Hawaiian Heritage Corridors." Tables 6-1 through 6-8 list "Historic Sites"for each district. NATURAL BEAUTY 7.3 POLICIES a) Increase public pedestrian access opportunities to scenic places and vistas. b) Develop and establish view plane regulations to preserve and enhance views of scenic or prominent landscapes from specific locations, and coastal aesthetic values. c) Maintain a continuing program to identify, acquire and develop viewing sites on the island. d) Access easement to public or private lands that have natural or scenic value shall be provided or acquired for the public. e) Develop standard criteria for natural and scenic beauty as part of design plans. f) Consider structural setback from major thoroughfares and highways and establish development and design guidelines to protect important viewplanes. g) Maintain a continuing program to identify exceptional trees or tree masses. h) Protect the views of areas endowed with natural beauty by carefully considering the effects of proposed construction during all land use reviews. i) Do not allow incompatible construction in areas of natural beauty. 7.4 STANDARDS The following standards provide guidelines for designating sites and vistas of extraordinary natural beauty that shall be protected. a) Distinctive and identifiable landforms distinguished as landmarks, e.g. Mauna Kea, Waipio Valley. b) Coastline areas of striking contrast, e.g. Laupahoehoe Point. c) Vistas of distinctive features. d) Natural or native vegetation attractive to a particular area. e) Areas that are harmoniously developed and enhanced by man to appear natural. Note:Tables 7-1 through 7-16 list"Natural Beauty Sites" and "Exceptional Trees" for each district. NATURAL RESOURCES AND SHORELINE 8.3 POLICIES e) Coordinate programs to protect natural resources with other government agencies. q) Develop policies by which native Hawaiian gathering rights will be protected as identified under judicial decisions. r) Ensure public access is provided to the shoreline, public trails and hunting areas, including free public parking where appropriate. s) Establish a system of pedestrian access trails to places of scenic, historic, cultural, natural, or recreational values. RECREATION 12.3 POLICIES 1) Public access to the shoreline shall be provided in accordance with an adopted program of the County of Hawaii. m) Develop a network of pedestrian access trails to places of scenic, historic, natural or recreational values.This system of trails shall provide, at a minimum, an islandwide route connecting major parks and destinations. n) Establish a program to inventory ancient trails, cart roads and old government roads on the island in coordination with appropriate State agencies. o) Develop facilities and safe pathway systems for walking,jogging, and biking activities. APPENDIX D Excerpted Language from the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail Memorandum of Understanding Note: It is critical that dGP2045 contain specific reference and compliance requirement within the Alo Kohokoi National Historic Troil Memorandum of Understanding. The MOU requires the parties to the MOU to meet in September 2025 to discuss whether or not any terms of the MOU should be updated or amended MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, STATE OF HAWAII,AND THE COUNTY OF HAWAII FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION, MANAGEMENT, PROTECTION AND PUBLIC USE OF ALA KAHAKAI NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL This Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") is entered into, by and between the United States Department ofthe Interior National Park Service, ("NPS") the State of Hawaii,by Its Department of Land and Natural Resources, ("DLNR") and the County of Hawaii ("County")for the purpose of managing the Ala Kahakai Natk:>nal Historic Trail(Trail). ARTICLE II:AUTHORITY A. National Trails System Act of 1968, as amended ("the Act")(16 USC 1241-1252), B. Hawaii Constitution Art. IX, section 8,Art. XI, sections 1, 2 and 9,Art. XII, section 7; Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS)Chapters 6E, 115, 171,183C, 184, 198D, 205A, sections 1-1, 7-1, 46-6.5, 46-12, 226- 11, 264-1; Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR) Chapters 13-130, 13-146, 13-221, 13-275 to 13-284, and 13-360; as may be applicable C. Hawaii County Code, Chapters 25 and 34 ARTICLE III:STATEMENT OF WORK D. The appropriate County Departments agree to: 1. Through the County Planning Department: a. Continue to enforce county and state laws requiring public access to and along the shoreline as a condition of land use approvals and coastal zone management issues. These trails may become official components of the Trail. b. Require that permit applbants identify any historic trails and routes that will be required to be preserved as part of the land use permitting process and that may become part of the Trail. Such geospatial information and supplemental documentation shall be in formats utilizing current industry standards for collection, compilation, processing, analysis and archiving including Federal Geographic Data Committee [FGDC]compliant metadata). This data and information may be made available by the County for incorporation into official Trail records and documentation. c. Encourage private landowners who have publb access requirements as conditions of a land use approval to execute an agreement with the NPS to include these areas in the Trai, where appropriate. d. Work with the NPS to identify public access easements with potential incorporation inthe Trail. e. Work with the NPS to develop a system whereby project applications determined to have potential impacts on historic trails within the Ala Kahakai corridor are sent to the Ala Kahakai NHT administration for review and comment. The notification system will provide approving agencies and applicants clear guidelines on when the Ala Kahakai NHT should be included in the review process. Such applbations include Subdivisions, Special Management Area Assessments and Use Permits, Special Permits, Grading, Project Districts, Rezoning, State Land Use District Boundary Amendments, Leases of State-owned lands, Environmental Assessments, and Environmental Impact Statements. The County agrees to contact the NPS regarding thes reviews i1 a timely manner. 2. Through the County Parks and Recreation Department Upon notification by NPS, allow NPS access to County Beach Parks for the purpose of identifying and documenting existing ancient, historic and contemporary trail routes to be included in Trail design and interpretation; Research, survey, document and assess other cultural and natural resources for preservation, planning, interpretation, and the determination of future potential impacts. a. Work with the NPS to identify traisegments through county parks for incorporation into the Trail. b. Consider feasibility of permitting NPS led community based management of sections of the Trail within County Beach Parks. c. Provide management of the Trail consistent with the NPS Comprehensive Management Planwhere ittraverses County Beach Parks. e. Collaborate onthe design of specific signage that identifies the route ofthe Trail, particularly where ittraverses County Beach Parks. 3. Through the County Department of Finance - Property Management Division a. Upon notification by NPS, allow NPS access to County lands purchased through Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission {PONC)for the purpose of identifying and documenting existing ancient, historic and contemporary trail routes to be included in Trail design and interpretation; Research, survey, document and assess other cultural and natural resources for preservation, planning, interpretation, and the determination of future potential impacts. b. Work with the NPS to identify traH segments through County PONC Lands for incorporation into the Trail. c. Consider feasibility of permitting NPS led community based management of sections of the Trail within County PONC Lands. d. Collaborate on the design of specific signage that identifies the route of the Trail, particularly where it traverses County PONC Lands. e. Provide management of the Trail consistent with the NPS Comprehensive Management Plan where it traverses County PONC Lands. ARTICLE IV: TERM OF MOU This MOU will remain in effect for ten years, beginning on the date of the last signature below. A meeting at five years from the date of the last signature will be conducted to consider whether any of the terms of this agreement need to be updated or amended. This MOU may be renewed upon mutual agreement between the Parties. ARTICLE V: KEY OFFICIALS A . Key officials are essential to ensure maximum coordination and communication between the parties and the work being performed. They are: For the NPS AricArakaki, Superintendent Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail 73-4786 Kanalani Street, 14. Kailua-Kona, HI96740 Telephone: {808)326-6012 e-mail: aric_arakaki@nps.gov For DLNR Moana Rowland Acting Statewide NaAlaHele Program Manager Department of Land and Natural Resources 1151 Punchbowl Street, Kalanimoku Building Honolulu, HI 96813 Telephone: (808) 587-4175 e-mail: Moana.Rowland@hawaii.gov For the County Michael Yee, Planning Director Aupuni Center 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 Hilo, HI 96720 Telephone: (808) 961-8288 e-mail: planning@hawaiicounty.gov Roxcie Waltjen Director of Parks and Recreation Aupuni Center, 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 6 Hilo, HI 96720 Telephone: (808) 961-8311 e-mail: parks recreation@hawaiicounty.gov Deanna Sako Director of Department Of Finance 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2103 Hilo, HI96720 Telephone: (808) 961-8234 e-mail: Deanna.Sako@hawaiicounty.gov From: Adele Henkel To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv;Council Testimony; Kimball. Heather; Kaaiwada.Jennifer;Onishi. Dennis; Kierkiewicz.Ashley; Kanealii-Kleinfelder. Matt;Villeaas. Rebecca;Galimba. Michelle M.; Inaba. Holeka; ames.hustaceCalhawaiicountv.aov;cohmavorCbhawaiicountv.aov Subject: Reject Hawaii Island General Plan 2045 Date:Thursday,February 20,2025 10:02:22 AM People, Over all,here are my objections to this planning: NO destruction of democratic governance and structures to create a TECHNOCRACY(science of social governance by scientism and engineering) NO forced re-organization of human society in the name of track-trace&control systems for national/intemational security',nor advanced wireless'health care'systems,by GLOBALIST entities(who are anti personal-state- national sovereignty) NO uninformed consent to TRANSHUMANISM(i.e.NOT human: augmented via electronic/wireless technology-genetically altered -bio digitally converged into an advanced AI-based computer system of control);i.e.loss of a person's autonomy over mind-body-spirit NO unrepresentative foreign and domestic elite few practicing EUGENICS on populations(practicing'human husbandry'to decide who lives and who dies);a greedy few on this earth seem to want boundless power and property (including Hawaii) We all are facing actions that are unthinkable and unspeakable, And,we must. Don't turn your faces away. Thank you for taking this to heart! AH Kailua Kona From: Davina To: WPCtestimony Cc: LPCtestimony;Council Testimony;Kimball,Heather;Kaoiwada,Jennifer;Onishi,Dennis;Kierkiewicz,Ashley;Kanealii- Kleinfelder,Matt;Villeoas,Rebecca;Galimba,Michelle M.;Inaba,Holeka;ames.hustace(ftawaiicountv.00v; coh mayor(d)hawa iicou ntv.cov Subject: DO NOT Recommend the Hawaii GP 2045! Date: Thursday,February 20,2025 8:33:33 AM Aloha Commissioners,County Council, and Mayor- The Big island Plan cannot go through the way it is designed. It is hard to believe any local helped design this plan. Here are some concerns: There is a huge part of the plan dedicated to "Climate Change".However,why do most experts state there is NO climate danger? Climate Experts Speak Out Against Climate Danger Click Here! The word "Stakeholder," defined in the plan,is written 86 times and literally means anyone in the entire world can have input on this 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 and management are crucial for the success and sustainability of any initiative,as it helps ensure that diverse perspectives and interests are considered. 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. The Planning Department has sent out letters too many homeowners telling them their land use will be changed from resident to recreation due to the General Plan 2045. This will drastically lower 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. There is a huge section on climate change and things that will be affected. This needs to be further 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.hUs:Hclintel.org/wp- content/uDloads/2024/1 O/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. Hilo does not have a Community Development Plan.How can a Big Island General Plan move forward without that?Hilo is 22%of the island. 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 oflands for the protection of natural resources." 'Incentives"mean more taxes. Protection"means more rules. Who's "values" is this plan referring too because it's not the locals? Pursue the acquisition of lands" does this say they are going to pursing taking people's private property?Again with "protection of natural resources". This plan should be focused on people growing more food and it is doing the exact opposite! 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 of Papaikou, has created an Ag Villages plan. Ag Village to add to the General Plan: Papaikou Ag Village Objectives: hUs://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/ files/ugd/86fcOc_2cblcc6d604f4cdd97lad4083lc745bc.pdf Papaikou Site Plan: hUs://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fc0c_5e4cdb02efeb46a5ae949a3579aff00d.pdf Papaikou Development: hUs://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_c2af52c8b3 c645b 1 a6868a724eee8304.pdf A Hawaiian born Kanaka revised the Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship that is in the plan.You can see it in the pdf below: Part One:hnps://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fc0c_0aId5be8fld 140069415f7b691725786.pdf Part Two:https://86fc0cbd-8207-4076-85fa- 5a62e4e933b4.usrfiles.com/ugd/86fcOc_ecc498bal92d4a7689ebf31 c3681c2ec.pdf Here is a longer revised version of the plan from locals: hUs://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc b34739e4c99c461685de4c0207bf286e.pdf The way this plan is written is very far from what will support our island. With Aloha&Gratitude, Donna"Davina"Dufault Live Aloha Love Now From: Heather Masunaca To: WPCtestimonv;LPCtestimonv;Council Testimonv; Kanealii-Kleinfelder,Matt;Villeaas,Rebecca;Galimba,Michelle M.;Inaba, Holeka;Hustace,James;cohmavorCabhawaiicountv.aov; Kierkiewicz,Ashlev;Onishi,Dennis; Kaaiwada,Jennifer; Kimball, Heather Subject: DO NOT Recommend the Hawaii GP 2045! Date: Thursday,February 20,2025 5:46:08 PM Aloha Commissioners, The Big island Plan cannot go through the way it is designed. I find it really hard to believe any TRUE LOCAL helped design this plan!!! The reason I say that is because government transparency has not been displayed to the people of Hawaii. I'm tired of decisions being made behind closed doors and without the consent of THE PEOPLE OF HAWAII when we are directly affected.A lot of times the people are finding out about these decisions after the fact,when it's too late to do anything about it. Enough is enough!! Here are some concerns: There is a huge part of the plan dedicated to "Climate Change".However,why do most experts state there is NO climate danger?Climate Experts Speak Out Against Climate Danger Click Here! The word "Stakeholder," defined in the plan,is written 86 times and literally means anyone in the entire world can have input on this 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 and management are crucial for the success and sustainability of any initiative,as it helps ensure that diverse perspectives and interests are considered. 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. The Planning Department has sent out letters too many homeowners telling them their land use will be changed from resident to recreation due to the General Plan 2045.This will drastically lower 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. There is a huge section on climate change and things that will be affected. This needs to be further 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.hus:Hclintel.org/)Yp- contentLuploads/2024/1 O/WCD-241023-pdf John Coleman,the first weather man for Good Morning America and the Founder ofthe 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. Hilo does not have a Community Development Plan. How can a Big Island General Plan move forward without that?Hilo is 22%of the island. 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 oflands for the protection ofnatural resources." 'Incentives" mean more taxes. "Protection"means more rules. Who's "values" is this plan referring too because it's not the locals? "Pursue the acquisition of lands" does this say they are going to pursing taking people's private property?Again with "protection of natural resources".This plan should be focused on people growing more food and it is doing the exact opposite! 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 of Papaikou,has created an Ag Villages plan. Ag Village to add to the General Plan: Papaikou Ag Village Objectives: hftps://www_standtogetherhawaii.com/_file s/ugd/86fcOc_2cb 1 cc6d604f4cdd97 l ad40831 c745bc_pd Papaikou Site Plan: hUs://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fc0c_5e4cdb02efeb46a5 ae949a3579aff00d.pdf Papaikou Development: his://www_standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc_c2af52c8b3c645bla6868a724eee8304.pdf A Hawaiian born Kanaka revised the Collaborative Biocultural Stewardship that is in the plan.You can see it in the pdf below: Part One:haps://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fc0c_0aId5be8f1d 140069415f7b691725786.pdf Part Two:https://86fcOcbd-8207-4076-85fa- 5a62e4e933b4.usrfiles.com/ugd/86fcOc ecc498bal92d4a7689ebf31c3681c2ec.pdf Here is a longer revised version ofthe plan from locals: hUs://www.standtogetherhawaii.com/_files/ugd/86fcOc b34739e4c99c461685de4c0207bf286e.pdf The way this plan is written is very far from what will support our island!!!!! Heather Masunaga Sent from Proton Mail for 10S From: shams To: LPCtestimonv;WPCtestimonv Subject:TesSmony for General Plan 24FEB2025-DO NOT RECOMMEND TO GO THRU Date: Friday,February 21,2025 2:11:16 PM Aloha Commissioners, This is one of many testimonies regarding the General Plan I have submitted in the previous months,my emphasis is on the bigger picture and I highly recommend as a 33 year Federal security and investigations expert to study the links below to gain familiarity with space weather and geoengineering which are direct threats not referenced anywhere in the plan. I strongly encourage each of you to NOT recommend this plan go thru,reverting to the 2005 plan which is in better alignment with the needs of our county until a satisfactory document can be agreed upon by the people.Revisions on the 2005 document would be a much easier place to start. There are numerous issues with the 2045 Plan itself outlined in hundreds of in person and written testimonies.The public is 100%against it since it is a violation of privacy rights,based on junk science,fails to address critical issues,written for stakeholders,and is an overreach of government. This plan is based off a template handed down thru the United Nations Agenda 21.This document is a good overview to educate county planning and legislative officials on AGENDA 21 and should be mandatory reading.httos:Hnwri.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/How-Public-Officials-can-Recognize- Aaenda-21.pddf 1. The State and County ARE corporations and have no right to acquire land.The proposed re-zoning is excessive overreach for the benefit of stakeholders and will affect landowners tremendously.This will open up the county for massive legal recourse that will tie up county resources for many years. 2. Reference to climate change caused by humans is unproven junk science(see additional resources below).References to"carbon footprint","net zero","greenhouse gas","green infrastructure" and/or"climate adaptation"are not relevant nor is carbon dioxide sequestration which is a really really stupid idea,waste of tax payer funds and energy,and will further degrade our flora and fauna. 3. The State and County corporations are not acting on behalf of its residents and clearly acting on behalf of stakeholders. 4. The word"stakeholder"inserted instead of"land owner"or"farmer/rancher"is highly disturbing. 5. No one on the Big Island wants to live in SMART cities,this is a rural county and the needs of the plan should reflect this to include access to meat processing centers. 6. Close down the County Office of Sustainability,Climate,Equity,and Resilience(OSCER)as NOBODY VOTED FOR THIS OFFICE TO BE STARTED and it is a HUGE waste of resources. 7. The governments intention for"inspection"or"surveillance"or"inventory"of land and water catchment is in direct violation of privacy rights. 8. Plan does not include language for safeguarding against the danger of emerging technology,including 5G.Language needs to be drafted regarding technology easements based on health studies conducted by 3rd party with no conflict of interest. 9. "Vision Zero"has NO RELEVANCE for our island. 10. "One Water"refers to a North America group and has NO RELEVANCE for our island. 11. There is no clear plan for strengthening infrastructure and power grid against space weather. 12. The document contains no explanation how the county will handle a breakdown of critical infrastructure(supply chain,energy, communications)due to impending space weather/solar events in which the Federal Government has been diligently preparing for due to weakening magnetosphere(see additional resources below). 13. Ban"man made"weather modification,spraying of nano particulate in the atmosphere,and geoengineering activities that have a significant impact on health,property,and the environment. 14. Focus on harmful chemicals,pesticides such as glyphosate,and genetically altered organisms(including vectors of disease)from being released into the environment. 15. Implement severe restrictions for artificial intelligence data centers proposed by"stakeholders"that will drain the power grid. 16. Implement provisions regarding military training and operations that are transparent and safe for the environment.Depleted uranium dropped in the Saddle Region next to an active Volcano is NOT acceptable whatsoever,nor is excessive underground explosions that have been going on for years that parallel training operations at P61hakuloa Training Area(PTA). 17. Developers should not be granted relief from requirements for sidewalks,bike lanes,etc...a dedicated bike lane should be implemented on all major roads. 18. Include information on the drawbacks of electric vehicles to include draw on the grid,disposal of batteries,and fire dangers. Climate Mitigation Basis for Plan is Unfounded A great deal of content is based on Climate Mitigation from human activity which has a minuscule effect on the earth's overall climate.Over 99% of the climate affects are driven by solar activity,cycles,and space weather.The document completely fails to mention the threat of space weather and is almost entirely focused on carbon emissions promoted by the United Nations Climate Agenda.Our Federal Government has been preparing for space weather threats for many years,yet the Hawai'i island GP lacks any reference to this even though critical infrastructure(energy,communications, transportation,and supply chain)is at risk due to increased solar radiation from our weakening magnetosphere.In 2015 the magnetosphere was down by 40%according to this Federal Doc. httos:Happs.dtic.mil/sti/citations/AD1040918#-text=The%20research%20eval uates%20the%20i mpacts,reve rsals%20and%20adverse%20space%20weather In October of 2016 President Obama issued the following executive order Coordinating Efforts To Prepare the Nation for Space Weather Events-Executive order 13744(https:llwww.aovinfo.aov/app/details/DCPD-201600692) Section 1.Policy.Space weather events,in the form of solar flares,solar energetic particles,and geomagnetic disturbances,occur regularly, some with measurable effects on critical infrastructure systems and technologies,such as the Global Positioning System(GPS),satellite operations and communication,aviation,and the electrical power grid.Extreme space weather events—those that could significantly degrade critical infrastructure—could disable large portions of the electrical power grid,resulting in cascading failures that would affect key services such as water supply,healthcare,and transportation.Space weather has the potential to simultaneously affect and disrupt health and safety across entire continents.Successfully preparing for space weather events is an all-of-nation endeavor that requires partnerships across governments, emergency managers,academia,the media,the insurance industry,non-profits,and the private sector. It is the policy of the United States to prepare for space weather events to minimize the extent of economic loss and human hardship.The Federal Government must have(1)the capability to predict and detect a space weather event,(2)the plans and programs necessary to alert the public and private sectors to enable mitigating actions for an impending space weather event,(3)the protection and mitigation plans,protocols,and standards required to reduce risks to critical infrastructure prior to and during a credible threat,and(4)the ability to respond to and recover from the effects of space weather.Executive departments and agencies(agencies)must coordinate their efforts to prepare for the effects of space weather events. Sec.2.Objectives.This order defines agency roles and responsibilities and directs agencies to take specific actions to prepare the Nation for the hazardous effects of space weather.These activities are to be implemented in conjunction with those identified in the 2015 National Space Weather Action Plan and any subsequent updates.Implementing this order and the Action Plan will require the Federal Government to work across agencies and to develop,as appropriate,enhanced and innovative partnerships with State,tribal,and local governments;academia;non- profits;the private sector;and international partners.These efforts will enhance national preparedness and speed the creation of a space- weather-ready Nation. httos://www.fede ra lreaiste r.aov/documents/201 6/1 0/1 8/201 6-252 90/coordi nati na-efforts-to-pre oa re-the-nation-fo r-space-weather-events In October 2016(about 10 days before the above executive order was signed)the Russian Government hosted a training event of 40 million civilians,200,000 emergency rescuers and 50,000 units of equipment from October 4 to October 7,2016.It took 3 days to do a mock evacuation of 40 million civilians into 5000 bunkers.This was a massive exercise carried out for the first time in modern history.A spokesman said in a statement:'The main goal of the drill is to practice organization of management during civil defense events and emergency and fire management, to check preparedness of management bodies and forces of civil defense on all levels to respond to natural and man-made disasters and to take civil defense measures." httos://www.express.co.uk/news/world/717446/russia-evacuate-40-million-people-emergency-drill-vladimir-putin-ww3 Resources Weather Mod ification/Geoeng ineering Man made geoengineering is an operation primarily used to block out solar radiation and create,distribute,and deflect weather systems.Its use over many decades is outside the scope of public knowledge and having significant impacts on our environment/weather to include increased super storms,fires,flooding,droughts,and causing very high levels of aluminum in the soil and tissue samples of all mammals.I personally have tested hundreds of humans and animals and seen very high levels in all hair analysis tests.This is why Monsanto developed aluminum resistant seeds,soil in North America is testing 40,000 times higher rates of aluminum in the last 2 decades. httos://www.aeoengineerinawatch.org/Iinks-to-aeoenaineerina patents/ Tennessee,Texas,Iowa and New Hampshire have recently introduced bills to ban this practice. https://www.ten nessea n.co m/story/news/local/2024/03/20/te nnessee-senate-passes-bill-ban ni ng-che mtrai Is-what-to-know/73027586007/ Maui county council passed a bill in 2010 to ban geoengineering and this link explains how it is being used to lessen the effects of solar radiation. There has been no public oversight or consent to these projects. http://mauiskywatch.org/info-official-reports/ It is clear based on the above information the governments of the world are preparing for space weather effects due to the weakening magnetic field,therefore it is critical that the county review and adopt their own contingency plan.Hawaii county should implement a ban on geoengineering before soil is too toxic with aluminum and when combined with glyphosate it can cross the blood brain barrier and render our soils inert. These issues are being brought to your attention as a big picture,there are many other concerns that need addressing that have been provided in previous testimony.The GP is a disasterfor our environment since it fails to address some of the most critical issues,instead it is abundantly clear it is being used a control mechanism over free men and women designed to consolidate power to the hands of the stakeholders.GP as it stands has no place in Hawaii or anywhere else in the world and will ultimately fail. Mahalo for your service, Donna Thompson Kamuela,HI Sent with Proton Mail secure email.