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Home My WebLink About2025-10-14 KCDP Minutes Draft KONA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 1 ACTION COMMITTEE 2 COUNTY OF HAWAIʻI 3 DRAFT MINUTES 4 October 14, 2025 5 Call to Order 6 Chair Charles Young called the meeting of the Kona Community Development Plan (CDP) Action 7 Committee (AC) to order at 11:56 a.m. This meeting was held in person at the West Hawaiʻi Civic Center, 8 B2 Conference Room and online via the Zoom platform. 9 The full YouTube video of this meeting can be found here: 10 https://youtu.be/J0QDEW87zPQ?si=TxgqVJZxFlOL1HjR 11 Roll Call 12 Members Present (in person): Charles Young (Chair), Nancy Pisicchio (Vice Chair), John Pelletier, 13 Raymond (RJ) Kirchner, and Charla Thompson 14 Members Present (via Zoom): None 15 Members Absent: David Huerta, Roselyn Molina, and Heather Korotie 16 Planning Department Staff Present (in person): Kawelo Kalili and Janice Hata 17 Planning Department Staff Present (via Zoom): Maryam Palma 18 There were approximately 9 members of the public in attendance (3 in person and 6 via Zoom). 19 Approval of Minutes 20 Chair Young called for approval of the July 8, 2025 and September 9, 2025 meeting minutes. Committee 21 Member Pisicchio moved to approve both sets of minutes, and the motion was seconded by Committee 22 Member Pelletier. The motion to approve the July 8 and September 9, 2025 minutes was carried 23 unanimously. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 3:24] 24 Public Testimony on Agenda Items 25 Janice Palma-Glennie testified on Business Item 3, expressing concerns that revising the Kona CDP now 26 would be premature and could undermine the community-based framework created through years of 27 collaboration. She urged the Committee to focus on fully implementing the existing plan, cautioning that 28 reopening it could divert resources and shift priorities away from community needs. [SEE YOUTUBE 29 TIMESTAMP 5:05] 30 Business 31 1. Keauhou Aquifer System Area Groundwater Adaptive Management Plan – Chair Young will 32 provide an update on recent efforts, followed by a Committee discussion. 33 This item was called to order at 12:05 p.m. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 8:46] 34 Chair Young provided an update on recent efforts related to the Keauhou Aquifer System Area 35 Groundwater Adaptive Management Plan (AMP). He reported that the adaptive management team has 36 been meeting regularly over the past two and a half months and has established four expert working 37 groups focused on: 38 1. Hydrology – examining groundwater sources and related hydrological conditions; 39 2. Ecology – identifying biological indicators and key species; 40 3. Contamination and Pollution – assessing water quality concerns; and 41 4. Cultural Issues – gathering input from cultural advisors (meetings still in progress). 42 KONA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of October 14, 2025 2 Chair Young noted that preliminary reports have been developed by the first three groups, while the 43 cultural report is pending completion. The final draft of the AMP will be prepared once all four groups 44 complete their reviews and establish priorities for implementation. Key findings included uncertainty 45 about aquifer behavior, nutrient contamination concerns, and identification of species (limu, ‘ōpae‘ula, 46 damselflies) as ecological indicators. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 11:12] 47 Committee discussion covered integration of new monitoring wells into the AMP, the relationship 48 between the AMP and possible State designation of the aquifer as a critical water use area, and 49 potential future desalination options. Chair Young noted that while current withdrawals remain below 50 sustainable yield, continued monitoring and coordination are essential to prevent overuse. [SEE 51 YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 15:35] 52 Public Testimony: 53 • Keola Childs urged proactive action on water availability to support housing development. [SEE 54 YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 21:19] 55 • Janice Palma-Glennie supported pursuing State designation of the Keauhou Aquifer as a critical 56 water management area and suggested the AC send a letter of support. [SEE YOUTUBE 57 TIMESTAMP 30:18] 58 • Josephine Keliʻipio raised concerns about water use by data centers. [SEE YOUTUBE 59 TIMESTAMP 33:04] 60 • Jeff Zimpfer cautioned that sustainable yield estimates may underestimate localized impacts, 61 emphasizing the need for continued vigilance. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 34:40] 62 This item concluded at 12:32 p.m. 63 2. Proposal to Submit Testimony on Bill 63 Relating to Dwellings – The Hawaiʻi County Council is 64 considering Bill 63, which would allow residential dwellings in the industrial-commercial mixed use 65 (MCX) district. Committee Member Pelletier will present proposed comments for Action Committee 66 consideration. If supported, the Committee will submit testimony to the Council. Link to Bill 63: 67 https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/Weblink/0/doc/1106820/Page1.aspx 68 This item was called to order at 12:32 p.m. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 36:32] 69 Committee Member Pelletier presented an overview of County Council Bill 63, which would allow 70 residential uses in Industrial-Commercial Mixed (MCX) zoning districts to promote workforce housing 71 near jobs. He summarized related discussions at Planning Commissions, noting Civil Defense’s 72 recommendation for setbacks between MCX and general industrial zones for safety. [SEE YOUTUBE 73 TIMESTAMP 37:59] 74 Committee Member Pelletier shared shared a map of Kona’s MCX areas and explained that while the 75 bill’s intent to create “live, work, play” communities is positive, simply permitting housing may not 76 achieve this goal. He suggested the Action Committee provide constructive feedback, including: 77 1. Adding recreational uses to the list of permitted activities in MCX zones, 78 2. Removing single-family residential to encourage higher density, 79 3. Prohibiting short-term vacation rentals, and 80 4. Including conditions for affordable and workforce housing 81 [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 41:17] 82 Committee Member Pelletier moved to draft a letter submitting the Action Committee’s comments on 83 County Council Bill 63. The motion was opened for discussion. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 45:08] 84 KONA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of October 14, 2025 3 Committee Member Kirchner opposed allowing housing in industrial areas due to safety, noise, 85 parking, and infrastructure issues. Committee Member Pisicchio agreed that the bill lacks the 86 comprehensive planning and multimodal design of transit-oriented developments (TODs). 87 Committee Member Pelletier acknowledged these concerns, noting his goal is to prompt the Council 88 to consider safety, infrastructure, and design factors rather than to take a firm position for or against 89 the bill. The Committee agreed the draft letter should be revised to stress caution and include stronger 90 recommendations on safety and infrastructure. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 55:33] 91 Committee Member John Pelletier amended his earlier motion to instead send a letter to the Planning 92 Director, with a copy to the County Council, expressing the Committee’s reservations and caution 93 regarding Bill 63. The letter would request that the bill be deferred until the Committee’s concerns are 94 addressed, specifically regarding infrastructure capacity, and mitigation of sound and air pollution if 95 residential uses are allowed in industrial areas. Vice Chair Pisicchio seconded the amended motion, 96 and the Committee voted unanimously in favor. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:16: 23] 97 Public Testimony: 98 • Janice Palma-Glennie commented on noise impacts and transportation concerns. [SEE 99 YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 47:36] 100 • Keola Childs shared on observation regarding TOD master planning and other considerations 101 for further review. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 49:08] 102 This item concluded at 1:14 p.m. 103 3. Proposal to Begin a Comprehensive Review of the Kona Community Development Plan – 104 Committee Member Kirchner is proposing that the Committee initiate a comprehensive review of the 105 Kona CDP to determine where updates or amendments may be needed. Discussion and potential 106 action regarding next steps. 107 This item was called to order at 1:14 p.m. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:18:29] 108 Committee Member Kirchner presented a proposal to initiate a comprehensive review of the Kona 109 CDP. He noted the County code requires a comprehensive review within 10 years of adoption and 110 emphasized that the mandate is not discretionary. He cited substantial changes since adoption – shifts 111 in demographics, the rise of remote work reducing traditional office demand, development patterns 112 occurring farther north than the plan envisioned, and outdated baselines. Housing pressures were 113 discussed in detail, including increased household size, on-street parking congestion that can impede 114 emergency access, and price/rent escalation driven by constrained supply. Transportation issues 115 centered on long-planned but unbuilt links and the need to revisit concurrency expectations that, in 116 practice, have limited infill housing while pushing growth outward. Utilities and environmental concerns 117 included wastewater treatment capacity, cesspool conversions, and water resource planning, with 118 members stressing that trunk infrastructure should be publicly planned and delivered rather than 119 piecemeal through private development. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:18:53] 120 Members generally agreed that the first step is to update the technical “backbone” studies that 121 underpinned the original plan before launching broad community redrafting. Vice Chair Pisicchio 122 supported initiating the review via a formal letter to the Planning Director and urged that the Committee 123 be involved in scoping/RFPs for consultant work, so priorities are clear and current. [SEE YOUTUBE 124 TIMESTAMP 1:34:14] 125 The Committee unanimously approved a motion by Committee Member Kirchner, seconded by 126 Pisicchio, to undertake a comprehensive review of the Kona CDP as required by code and to request 127 that the Planning Director initiate updates to the backbone studies (including water resources, 128 wastewater strategy, transportation, housing and demographics, gray infrastructure/utilities, 129 parks/public facilities, and financing/implementation). Each update should address current conditions 130 KONA CDP ACTION COMMITTEE Minutes of October 14, 2025 4 and provide 5-, 10-, and 15-year projections. Staff will draft a letter for the Chair’s signature reflecting 131 this action. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:54:46] 132 Public Testimony: 133 • Jeff Zimpfer commented on the petition that was filed to designate the Keauhou Aquifer as a 134 groundwater management area. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:27:28] 135 • Janice Palma-Glennie questioned how the new push differs from past efforts. [SEE YOUTUBE 136 TIMESTAMP 1:38:28] 137 • Keola Childs urged narrowing the request to infrastructure (especially water and wastewater). 138 [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 1:46:27] 139 • Josephine Keliʻipio commented on soaring prices displacing local families. [SEE YOUTUBE 140 TIMESTAMP 2:00:54] 141 This item was closed at 2:00 p.m. 142 Public Testimony on Matters Not on the Agenda 143 None. 144 Third-Party Reports; Government Officials 145 None. 146 Proposed New Business 147 • Update on the AC’s testimony on Bill 63 148 • Update on Tree City USA designation progress 149 • Keauhou Aquifer System Area Groundwater AMP 150 Announcements 151 • Committee Member Pelletier provided an update from the meeting he attended regarding the Kona 152 Airport Master Plan Update. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 2:05:30] 153 • Committee Member Pelletier met with County Parks & Recreation staff regarding the Kealakehe 154 Regional Park Project. [SEE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMP 2:06:49] 155 • The Planning Department is seeking applicants for the Kona CDP Action Committee and requests 156 assistance to get the word out to interested community members. The application can be found on 157 the Mayor’s office website at: 158 https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/our-county/boards-and-commissions/boards-and-commissions-159 application 160 Adjournment 161 Chair Young adjourned this meeting at 2:19 p.m. 162 These minutes and all related documents are available in the Planning Department’s Kona Community 163 Development Plan Action Committee folder via the County of Hawaiʻi Public Documents Repository. These 164 documents may also be requested from the Planning Department by calling (808) 961-8288 or emailing 165 CDP@hawaiicounty.gov. 166