HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-02-11 KCDP Minutes Draft
KONA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 1
ACTION COMMITTEE 2
COUNTY OF HAWAIʻI 3
DRAFT MINUTES 4
February 11, 2025 5
CALL TO ORDER 6 Chair Charles Young called the Kona Community Development Plan (CDP) Action Committee 7
(AC) to order at 12:01 p.m. This meeting was held in person at the West Hawai’i Civic Center, B2 8
Conference Room and online via the Zoom platform. 9
The full YouTube video of this meeting can be found here: 10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf7CF8d7b10&t=4557s 11
ROLL CALL 12
Members Present (in person): Charles Young (Chair), Nancy Pisicchio (Vice Chair), John Pelletier, 13
and Charla Thompson 14
Members Present (via Zoom): David Huerta 15
Members Absent: Roselyn Molina 16
County Staff Present (in person): Kawelo Kalili 17
County Staff Present (via Zoom): Maryam Palam, Janice Hata, Jessica Lahip, and Shantel Miller 18
There were approximately 7 members of the public in attendance (2 in person and 5 via Zoom). 19
APPROVAL OF MINUTES 20
Committee member John Pelletier moved to approve the minutes from the January 14, 2025, 21
meeting as drafted. Nancy Pisicchio seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. [SEE 22
YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 5:32] 23
BUSINESS: 24 1. Kealakehe Regional Park Update – Update from Action Committee members and discussion 25 regarding any actions the Committee may pursue. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 6:01] 26
Committee member Pelletier noted that the AC had previously sent a letter to the former Parks and 27
Recreation (P&R) Director but did not receive a response. A new letter has been sent to the current 28
director, but the AC has yet to receive a reply. The Planning Department shared that the County is 29
working on the Capital Improvements Program (CIP), where the Kealakehe Regional Park is 30
expected to be listed. Once the CIP is reviewed by the Council and made public, the AC can 31
advocate for the project. Vice Chair Pisicchio highlighted the need to track past funding allocated 32
to the project, while committee member Thompson discussed water issues at Old A’s and 33
Kealakehe. Planning suggested that the AC designate members to work with CIP staff on park 34
budgets. Vice Chair Pisicchio also raised concerns about the park’s reliance on recycled water and 35
KONA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE
Minutes of February 11, 2025 2
the next steps to address the issue. Committee member Pelletier will follow up with the Hawaiʻi 36
State Archives regarding the park land. 37
This item concluded at 12:33 p.m. 38
2. Leeward Planning Commission Testimony Update – Vice Chair Pisicchio and Committee 39
Member John Pelletier gave an update on the January 16, 2025, Leeward Planning Commission 40
meeting, where they provided oral testimony on behalf of the committee. [SEE YOUTUBE 41
TIMESTAMP 31:43] 42
Vice Chair Pisicchio and committee member Pelletier testified at the January Planning 43
Commission meeting regarding the Hokuliʻa reclassification proposal. They opposed the 44
reclassification from Agricultural to Rural due to concerns that urban sprawl would conflict with 45
the CDP. Planning Director Jeff Darrow confirmed that the change was made under the previous 46
administration, stated he did not support it, and listed it among revisions to be addressed. The 47
Planning Department ultimately recommended keeping the classification as is, aligning with the 48
AC’s position. Vice Chair Pisicchio also highlighted the importance of addressing overlooked 49
issues in the General Plan, emphasizing the need for infrastructure mandates alongside high-50
density zoning. Committee member Pelletier attempted to advocate for TOD classification in 51
North Kona but found limited engagement from the Commission. Despite challenges, the AC saw 52
some success in influencing planning decisions and aims to continue advocating for better 53
community engagement and infrastructure planning. 54
3. State Legislature Testimony – Discussion and potential action on whether the Action 55 Committee should submit testimony to State Legislature on bills relevant to the Kona 56 Community Development Plan. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 41:33] 57
Two bills, Senate Bill 869 and House Bill 869, aim to bring neighborhood boards under the same 58
Sunshine Law requirements. Efforts to gain support included outreach to the South Kohala and 59
Ka’ū CDP Action Committees, both of which responded positively and submitted testimony. The 60
Senate bill was initially deferred but later passed with amendments following clarification from 61
the Office of Information Practices (OIP) and the Public First Law Center. Overall, the response 62
to the bills has been supportive. 63
The discussion centered on concerns about proposed legislation that would weaken state oversight 64
of land reclassification from Agricultural to Rural by removing the State Land Use Commission 65
from the approval process and granting counties greater control. Speakers warned this could lead 66
to unchecked urban expansion, inadequate infrastructure, and environmental harm. They 67
emphasized the importance of state-level scrutiny for responsible development and sustainability. 68
Additionally, concerns were raised about the loss of agricultural land and its effects on rainfall, 69
watershed restoration, and long-term planning. Some participants expressed interest in researching 70
these issues, addressing them through community development efforts, and exploring ways to 71
oppose such legislative changes. 72
PROPOSED AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING: [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 73 1:11:53] 74 1. Kona Watershed and Kealakehe WWTP. 75
KONA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE
Minutes of February 11, 2025 3
2. Kealakehe Regional Park 76 3. SB 869 and HB 686 Update 77
4. Water Issues 78
5. General Plan Update 79
ADJOURNMENT 80
The meeting was adjourned at 1:44pm. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:43:45] 81
These minutes and all related documents are available in the Planning Department’s Kona 82
Community Development Plan Action Committee folder via the County of Hawaiʻi Public 83
Documents Repository. These documents may also be requested from the Planning Department by 84
calling (808) 961-8288 or emailing cdp@hawaiicounty.gov. 85