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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-06-25 NKCDP Minutes Final NORTH KOHALA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE MINUTES MEETING DATE June 25, 2012 TIME 5:00 pm PLACE Kohala Senior Center, 54-3900 Akoni Pule Highway, Kapaau, Hawaii 96755 ATTENDANCE 1. Members Present: Hermann Fernandez, Susan Fischer, Frank Cipriani, Giovanna Gherardi, John Winter, Collin Kaholo, and Christopher MacKillop 2. Members absent: Joe Carvalho and Marlene Ching Also present was Project Manager Rosalind Newlon from the Office of the Hawai’i County Planning Department. 3. Public Attendance: Bette Green, Bob Green, Anthony Williamson, Collin Danforth, Faye Yates, Margaret Wille, Toni Withington, Megan Solis, Gail Byrne, Jesse C. Wells, and April K. Lee. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC: Toni Withington said that the Infrastructure B Subcommittee had four new members and that they discussed the differences between the Infrastructure A and B subcommittees and recommended changing the names to better identify what they do. Margaret Wille suggested that the affordable housing next to the Church be discussed at one of the next AC meetings, and would also like an update on affordable housing projects. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS: 1. Minutes of the meeting were reviewed and discussed by the AC. It was requested rd by Giovanna Gherardi that a sentence referring to a meeting on May 3 be deleted in the Subcommittee report section for Infrastructure A. All in favor of the minutes was unanimous and the minutes were approved with the changes. 2. Collin Kaholo nominated John Winter as Chair and Giovanna Gherardi seconded the motion, which was unanimously approved. Giovanna Gherardi nominated Frank Cipriani as Vice Chair and Hermann Fernandez seconded the motion, which was unanimously approved. REPORTS 1. LAND USE PERMIT ACTIVITY REPORT – Rosalind Newlon, NKCDP Project Manager reported on Planning Dept. permits received in the previous month for the North Kohala district. Rosalind mentioned that there was one new subdivision application, the Sargent subdivision application and said that the Bartsch variance application was still pending. 1 2. Investigative Committee Report. Giovanna Gherardi reported that there was a draft program available for the proposed community meeting and that a date and time th had been confirmed for September 12 at 5:30-7:30pm. Giovanna said that they are still working on effective communication and compiling an email list. NEW BUSINESS: 3. Public Access, Open Space & Natural Resources Preservation Commission (PONC) – Gail Byrne Baber provided a brief overview of the PONC and the process for submitting open space nominations. She explained how the PONC makes recommendations and reports to the Mayor at the end of the year. Gail said that the NKCDP has identified parcels for open space and that that has helped the PONC and that usually the 2% fund is leveraged with other funds. Gail went over some of the parcels that have been purchased in the North Kohala District and said she brought copies of the annual report which included parcels purchased in other districts. There was a discussion on how the PONC ranks the parcels. Gail said that there is a strong grass roots effort in Kohala. Gail said there is information on the PONC on the Finance Department website. OLD BUSINESS: 4. NKCDP AC SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS a. Growth Management: Hermann Fernandez reported that their next meeting will go over their procedures for obtaining information. He said they reviewed the Sargent subdivision application and found it to be consistent with the NKCDP since according to the NKCDP, the growth/density should be near the town centers. He said that the main issue is the water availability and that one parcel has a well and that they are trying to see if that well can serve the other four parcels. b. Public Access: Toni Withington gave the report and said that there was a nice celebration at Kauholo Point which was the beginning of more community owned and stewarded land. She said that the Upolu restoration was moving forward and that the right of entry was approved by BLNR. Toni said that the public access easements on Upolu agriculture leases are being working on by DLNR. Toni said that the subcommittee is trying to convince the DOT to change the location of the parking at Kohala Kai to move it closer to the mauka-makai access. c. Infrastructure A: John Winter said that at Mahukona Beach Park they are working on revitalization and that new soil has been spread. John said that there are two groups working at Mahukona; Mahukona Cat Colony Caregivers and Friends of Mahukona. The first group focuses on the cat issues, and the second group focuses on the landscape and maintenance. Both groups have submitted proposals to the Parks and Recreation Department stating what they are going to do at the Park. John said there is also the Friends of Keokea group. John said that another project is to work on the water lines and help people identify the spaghetti lines that go from the water meter to the person’s house and are offering assistance in identifying those lines to those who request it. Giovanna said that it has been suggested that the 2 Mahukona Cat Colony Caregivers and the Friends of Mahukona work with the community and organizations and organize public meetings. d. Infrastructure B : Susan Fischer reported that the Subcommittee is growing and that they are working on electric reliability and looking at planned transmission lines through Kohala for geothermal power to Oahu as well as view plane protection and rural infrastructure. Susan reported on the Kawaihae Local Resource Council meeting that she attended where Ron Thiel of the County Traffic Division discussed street lights and the update to the Lighting ordinance by the Department of Public Works to provide better lighting and reduce energy demands. One thousand fully shielded LED streetlights were purchased by the County with stimulus funds. The first 50 were installed in Waimea, in part to keep the skies darker for the Mauna Kea observatories. Low pressure sodium, even shielded, will produce a halo of light below. Once switched to LED, bulbs are not visible from the side and produce less glare. Susan said that she will present more information on this subject at future meetings. Susan also reported on a cost comparison provided by HELCO on underground vs. overhead utilities and said that HELCO provided four different links for information. According to HELCO, underground cables in general cost more to maintain over the long term and ten times more to install than overhead utilities. Susan said the next meeting will be at 5:30pm and that the meeting dates will be changed and will be posted on the CDP website and on bulletin boards around Kohala. e. Affordable Housing: Collin Kaholo said that he has had two Subcommittee meetings since the last AC meeting. He said that they had an open discussion on what was their plan. Collin said that they are planning a community educational meeting and have been asked to give an idea of what the homes would look like. He st said that there will be an Open House on July 1 at 3pm. He said if they get a good response that they will do another informational meeting. Collin said they also want to have a discussion on Habitat projects and Hawaiian Homes. He said the goal is to get twenty applicants. He said the biggest question is how to put finances in order to th apply for a loan. Collin said that the next meeting is July 16 at 4:30pm. f. Agriculture : Frank Cipriani said that their next meeting is tomorrow and that they th have made progress since their May 29 meeting. He said that the merits of Important Agricultural Land (IAL) registration vs. doing it through the County is being discussed and that they would like to start the program themselves and combine this with strategic agricultural development planning in North Kohala. He said that his company wants to find a strategic agricultural site that is designated IAL. Frank said that he also wants to give landowners advice and help with their agricultural lands. Frank spoke about the Kohala citrus crop and the possibility of forming a cooperative for juicing the fruit. Frank spoke of the need for soil reconditioning and putting people in touch with soil testers. Frank said that his company has submitted a proposal to the high school and middle school for an aquaponics program that is cutting edge. He said that anyone interested in agriculture or aquaculture is invited to attend his subcommittee meetings which meet the last Tuesday of the month. 3 ANNOUNCEMENTS: Giovanna Gherardi thanked Megan Solis of the Kohala Mountain News for her recent article about the NKCDP AC. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC: Toni Withington said that there are five community groups that have been recommending properties to the PONC and that within the top five on the list, three parcels are identified in the NKCDP for public purchase. Toni said that the new parcel is Halelua near Kauhola Point and is next to Hapu’u to Kapanaia Cultural Corridor which is currently on the priority list. Gail Byrne Baber said that North Kohala gives the most thorough reports to the PONC. AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING: Investigative Committee on Community Meeting and Communications – Discussion item Rename Infrastructure A and B Subcommittees Land Use Report Administrative Matters Approval of minutes NEXT MEETING: Date: Monday, August 13, 2012 Place: North Kohala Senior Center Time: 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, Giovanna Gherardi made a motion and John Winter seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting which was unanimously approved. The meeting adjourned at 6:18pm. 4