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Home My WebLink About2025-08-28 PCDP Minutes Draft PUNA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 1 ACTION COMMITTEE 2 3 COUNTY OF HAWAIʻI 4 DRAFT MINUTES 5 AUGUST 28, 2025 6 7 8 CALL TO ORDER 9 Chair Leilani DeMello called the Puna Community Development Plan (CDP) Action 10 Committee (AC) to order at 5:01 p.m. This meeting was held in person at the Pāhoa 11 Community Center and online via the Zoom platform. 12 The full YouTube video of this meeting can be found here: 13 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fn3ARNAbdU&t=890s 14 ROLL CALL 15 Members Present (in person): Stephanie Bath, Franny Brewer, Leilani DeMello, Martha 16 Morishige 17 Members Present (via Zoom): Gregory Henkel and Susan Osborne 18 Members Absent: Kanoe Wilson, Jennifer Scheffel, Leila Kealoha 19 County Staff Present (in person): Maryam Palma, Janice Hata, Kim Tanaka 20 There were approximately 12 members of the public in attendance, 12 in person and 2 21 via Zoom. 22 APPROVAL OF MINUTES 23 Committee Member Henkel moved to approve the minutes of the June 26, 2025, meeting 24 as drafted. Committee Member Osborne seconded the motion. The motion passed 25 unanimously. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP: 3:50] 26 PUBLIC TESTIMONY 27 There was no public testimony at this time. 28 BUSINESS: 29 1. Downtown Pāhoa Special District & PVD Guidelines – Council District 4 30 Council Member Ashley Kierkiewicz will present on three proposed items: (1) 31 draft legislation to designate Downtown Pāhoa as a Special Commercial District 32 to expand permitted uses for property owners; (2) a discussion of the Pāhoa 33 Village Design Guidelines, which the County Code requires the Action Committee 34 to review every ten years; and (3) proposed legislation to clarify how the PVD 35 PUNA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of June 26, 2025 2 Guidelines Committee is convened and collaborates with the Planning 36 Department. Council Member Kierkiewicz is requesting feedback from the Action 37 Committee on all proposed items. 38 This item was called to order at 5:07 p.m. 39 Council Member Ashley Kierkiewicz presented three proposed bills related to the 40 Downtown Pāhoa Special District and Pāhoa Village Design (PVD) Guidelines. The first 41 bill would designate Downtown Pāhoa as a Special Commercial District, Downtown 42 Pāhoa Special District (DPC), to expand permitted uses such as light industrial, 43 agricultural processing, and creative studios supporting local economic growth and 44 cultural identity without imposing new taxes or obligations on property owners. 45 The second bill involves a district reclassification to establish the boundaries of the 46 special district, focusing on properties fronting Pāhoa Village Road between Post Office 47 Road and Akeakamai Loop, with rezoning intended to provide flexibility while 48 maintaining existing tax rates. 49 The third bill clarifies the role and selection process of the PVD Design Review 50 Committee, proposing that the Action Committee review and confirm its members every 51 two years to increase transparency and connection with the Planning Department. 52 Additional discussion included potential tax incentives, enterprise zone benefits, and a 53 revitalization fund supported by Transient Accommodation Tax revenues to aid small 54 businesses and downtown improvements. Community meetings are scheduled for 55 September 10, with a September 19 filing deadline and potential Council introduction on 56 October 7, aiming for adoption by summer 2026. 57 Committee Member Bath asked how the proposal would affect home occupancy, and 58 Council Member Kierkiewicz explained that home-based businesses currently require a 59 special permit but will confirm details with the Planning Director. 60 Committee member Brewer requested clarification on the bills, and Council Member 61 Kierkiewicz noted they would be submitted as a package, with the Pāhoa Village District 62 and revitalization fund handled separately. A pre-bill addressing the metes and bounds 63 section of Chapter 25 was already sent to the Council to establish this foundation. 64 Committee Member Osborne suggested agendizing the PVD design guidelines and 65 reviewing the Waikīkī guidelines and asked if the AC could provide a letter of support to 66 the Planning Commission or Department. Council Member Kierkiewicz confirmed that a 67 letter of support would be helpful but not necessary by the October deadline. 68 RJ Parker provided testimony regarding whether it would be beneficial to have meets-69 and-bounds surveying for the perimeter of the special district to avoid future boundary 70 disputes or confusion among property owners, whether the proposed special districts 71 are limited only to portions of downtown Hilo, Pāhoa, and Kailua-Kona and not extended 72 to other areas like Volcano, why these particular bills were not mentioned in the Puna 73 Community Development Plan, whether the landscaping requirements could include 74 PUNA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of June 26, 2025 3 native and traditional food-producing trees and plants such as ʻulu, mango, and green 75 tea to support sustainability and local food sources, and whether there could be 76 consideration for affordable or tiny home villages, like the one once located in Pāhoa 77 near Sacred Hearts, to help economically challenged residents be included rather than 78 marginalized. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 41:23] 79 Councilmember Kierkiewicz responded that while there isn’t a formal meets-and-bounds 80 map, the special district boundaries are clearly shown on a map using TMKs, so there’s 81 no risk of partial property inclusion. They clarified that Enterprise Zones, which offer 82 certain tax benefits, exist in most communities except Waimea, and that creating a 83 Special District requires legislative initiation by a council member. Regarding RJ’s 84 concerns, Kierkiewicz noted that urban forestry isn’t addressed in the zoning bills but is 85 being considered through other ordinances and confirmed that emergency and tiny 86 homes built after the eruption have helped kupuna transition to stable housing, with 87 opportunities for expansion supported by Hope Services Hawaii and the Catholic 88 Church. 89 David Aden provided testimony regarding clarification on the Pahoa Zone Map [SEE 90 YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 50:04] 91 Community member (name unknown) provided testimony regarding whether developers 92 could potentially buy and demolish all buildings on Main Street in Pāhoa, expressing 93 concern about preservation of the town’s character [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 94 54:04] 95 Councilmember Kierkiewicz explained that none of the properties are historically 96 protected, so a developer could theoretically do that, but it’s unlikely. Guidelines can 97 encourage preservation, but they are not binding, and maintaining old buildings can be 98 costly and impractical for the community. 99 Hannah Hendricks provided testimony regarding whether the planned hub-and-spoke 100 transit project with the library in Pāhoa is still moving forward [SEE YOUTUBE 101 TIMESTAMP 1:00:12] 102 Councilmember Kierkiewicz confirmed the project is still in progress despite leadership 103 changes, explaining that planning, funding, and coordination with the state are ongoing, 104 and co-locating the library and bus hub makes the project more feasible. 105 This item concluded at 6:03 p.m. 106 PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON MATTERS NOT ON AGENDA: 107 Patti Pinto reported that planning staff met with the acting DPW Director, Neil Azevedo, 108 and his team, who reviewed connectivity data and supported starting projects. Work will 109 begin on three key connectivity points, Fern Forest/Eden Rock, Puhala extension to 110 Kopua, and a route from top Hawaiian Acres to Olaʻa Road, improving highway access 111 for multiple subdivisions. She also highlighted the Pāhoa Village Design Guidelines, 112 PUNA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of June 26, 2025 4 noting their strong foundation in the Action Committee’s work. Additionally, she 113 discussed a bill that would allow property owners in certain subdivisions to deduct road 114 fees from their property taxes, helping address long-standing road maintenance issues 115 without the county taking ownership or liability [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:03:25] 116 Hannah Hedrick spoke about inter-subdivision connectivity in Puna Mauka, highlighting 117 six priority locations and noting challenges with local road boards resisting the projects. 118 She emphasized the need for ongoing support and visible involvement from the Puna 119 CDP AC to advance these connectivity efforts despite opposition from some landowners 120 [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:08:12] 121 RJ Parker provided testimony on Puna inter-subdivision connectivity, emphasizing that 122 several subdivisions, Eden Rock, Fern Forest, Kopua Farm Lots, lack adequate 123 emergency ingress and egress, which could pose serious safety risks during lava flows 124 or other disasters. They also discussed broader sustainability concerns, including 125 renewable energy opportunities, protection of native trees and agriculture, and the 126 importance of cooperative planning to enhance community resilience [SEE YOUTUBE 127 TIMESTAMP 1:11:27] 128 George Salazaar provided testimony sharing their lifelong experience living in Pāhoa 129 since 1939, noting local amenities like a nine-hole golf course, and offered to provide 130 knowledge about the area. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:19:07] 131 PROPOSED AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING: 132 1. Letter of Support for Special District 133 2. Letter of Support PVD Guidelines 134 3. Federal Lobbyist 135 ADJOURNMENT 136 The meeting was adjourned at 6:32 p.m. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP: 1:01:25] 137 These minutes and all related documents are available in the Planning Department’s 138 Puna Community Development Plan Action Committee folder via the County of Hawaiʻi 139 Public Documents Repository. These documents may also be requested from the 140 Planning Department by calling (808) 961-8288 or emailing cdp@hawaiicounty.gov. 141