HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-08-28 KCDP Minutes Final
1 Kona Community Development Plan Action Committee
2 County of Hawaii
3 Minutes
4 Meeting Date: August 28, 2013
5 Call to Order 2:00 p.m.
nd
6 Place: Kona Planning Conference Room. Bldg. E, 2 Floor
7 West Hawaii Civic Center
8 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway
9 Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740
10 Roll Call:
11 1. Members Present: George (Keoki) Schattauer Jr.,
12 Aaron Nagata, Hiram Rivera, Bo Kahui, Greg Ogin, Elaine Fukushima,
13 Chauncey Wong Yuen, Douglas Payne and Ken Melrose
14 2. Planning Department: Bennett Mark, Terry Dunlap
15 3. Corporation Counsel: Margaret Masunaga
16 4. Public in attendance: Marnie Herkes, Janice Palma-Glennie, Charles Flaherty,
17 Jeff Zimpfer, Paul Strauss and Laura Dierenfield
18
STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC REGARDING ITEMS ON AGENDA
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21 Janice Palma-Glennie commented on concurrency and the problems of developer generated
22 roads and who is responsible for the road way improvements. There is a problem that there is no
23 vision to provide infrastructure first. She stated that a blueprint is necessary to plan the future
24 infrastructure projects so that development would not place such a burden on the existing
25 community. Janice is hoping that the Action Committee will not water it down too much
26 when making future comments on concurrency. Janice thought it would destroy the plan if
27 concurrency was relaxed. A second item mentioned deals with open space network plan which
28 is the second most important concept of the plan.
29
30 Charles Flaherty, second speaker, confirmed what Janice mentioned previously about
31 concurrency issues. He offered the use of his background files for reviewing the history of
32 concurrency with the County. He also mentioned open space concerns including critical habitat
33 and the problems of cutting up individual parcels for this habitat. Also mentioned is the need to
34 place notices in the newspapers announcing these action committee meetings. These meetings
35 are to be public meetings and a better attempt to notify the public should occur.
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37 Greg Ogin and Janice noted that Aaron Nagata, outreach subcommittee, should coordinate with
38 Planning Department to get notices into West Hawaii Today newspaper to announce the meeting.
39
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
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41
42 Minutes of the Meeting of July 24, 2013. Correct spelling Charles Flahertys name and
43 correction to the date of the next meeting were made. Douglas Payne noted that he will not vote
44 on the approval of the minutes as he did not attend that meeting. Motion to approve the minutes
45 was made by and approved as noted.
46
47 No amendments to the Agenda.
48
BUSINESS OF COMMITTEE
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50
51 On the subject of concurrency, Hiram stated that at the last meeting of the action committee, a
52 sub-committee was formed to discuss concurrency. Information concerning the meeting of the
53 sub-committee was passed around to members of the action committee and the public by Hiram.
54 The sub-committee is to understand concurrency as it applies to the Kona CDP and they have
55 compiled a simple spread sheet. The sub-committee understands that there are two basic
56 concepts today: the first is that no development in North Kona can receive certificate of
57 occupancy until Queen Kaahumanu Highway is completed to the airport and no development in
58 South Kona can receive certificates of occupancy until the Mamalahoa Bypass road is
59 completed.
60
61 The CDP also has road priority for areas within the Urban Area. Chauncey Wong Yuen also has
62 information on State sponsored projects. Hiram stated that a clear understanding of the proposed
63 concurrency items and how they relate to ongoing projects needs to be understood before any
64 recommendations can be offered. An understanding is needed first to help the action committee
65 with any possible recommendations. Discussion followed about level of completion such as
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66 number of lanes and the number of new dwelling units. Projects may only be complete only for
67 the first phase or two lanes out of the four lanes.
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69 Hiram said that looking at each concurrency zone and the schedule for any and all improvements
70 be reviewed and listed to better analyze the real situation of each district. This would help
71 determine whether individual concurrency zones were moving ahead or were stalled.
72 Identify which projects are currently being held back from developing because of concurrency.
73 Understanding the current situation for each concurrency will assist the action committee in
74 better understanding the situation. Discussion continued. Planning asked the action committee
75 to look at the current situation concerning concurrency and to advise the Planning Director as to
76 any improvements that might be reviewed.
77
78 Ken Melrose stated that he is disappointed in the interpretation by the Planning Department as
79 the CDP was never the intended to be a moratorium. Individual words or policies are being
80 interpreted outside of the context of the balance of the plan. Since the existing roads do not
81 connect, it became a priority to get connectivity. The overall strategy for transportation section
82 indicates widening, improving and extending major arterials as well as increasing connectivity
83 between existing and new developments. Single items should not be taken out of context; rather
84 the decisions should be based on the entire document. The intent was to put projects towards
85 connectivity as individual developers are responsible only for areas within their control.
86 Ken encourages the sub-committee to keep recommendations in context of the entire document.
87
88 Bennett Mark stated that this is the role of the action committee to advise the Planning Director.
89 There is disagreement within the Planning Department as to how these concurrency items are to
90 be interpreted.
91
92 Ken Melrose mentioned the financing plan prepared for these infrastructure improvements was
93 prepared and never acted upon by the County government. Bennett said that the action
94 committee could help guide the Planning Director to ask the Mayor how this can go forward to
95 implement parts if not all of these proposed improvements.
96
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97 Greg Ogin summarized by indicating that the problem is not whether concurrency is needed
98 rather the problem seems to be how it is being interpreted. Greg thinks that maybe its time to
99 issue a letter to the Planning Department to basically reanalysis the implementation of
100 concurrency as it was intended. This should be introduced to the public for their input as well.
101 Hopefully a plan can be accomplished on concurrency.
102
103 Ken Melrose mentioned that some pieces of highway can never be built. Keep this in context.
104 Ken offered to assist in the forming of a motion to deal with concurrency. Bennett offered
105 planning personnel to assist with any questions or to help the sub-committee. The sub-
106 committee which was formed at the last meeting consists of: Hiram Rivera, Elaine Fukushima,
107 Marnie Herkes and Ken Melrose are offering to join the sub-committee as of this meeting.
108
109 Greg Ogin stated that the letter is to the Planning Director indicating what was intended by the
110 CDP on concurrency. Douglas Payne suggests that we go to the original source and determine
111 what was intended by the CDP. Discussion followed on policy and segments as it pertains to
112 certain policy statements.
113
114 Recommend that the draft letter be distributed to the action committee as soon as possible so that
115 members of the action committee can be prepared to discuss the letter at the following meeting.
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117 Discussion about the draft letter to the Chief Justice was led by Bo Kahui with an explanation of
118 the purpose of the letter. Additional sites are also being considered by the Judiciary. Bo
119 recommends that process take its course. Greg Ogin questioned why the action committee is
120 recommending action to the Chief Justice. Greg will give a copy of the letter to Hiram to review
121 under the land use sub-committee. Greg asked that a copy of the draft letter be sent to each
122 member of the action committee for review and comment.. Bo asked that this item remain on the
123 agenda for next meeting.
124
125 Chapters 23 & 25 are still under review by the Planning Department.
126
127 Discussion of mission statement goals and objectives of each sub-committee with the approval
128 of the action committee was also addressed. Action items from the rear of the CDP were
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129 distributed to each member of the action committee for each member to review and be ready to
130 discuss. Greg is challenging each member of the action committee to review the current status of
131 their sub-committee and determine where we are and where we are going. How will these
132 elements be implemented?
133 Ken Melrose recommended that the committees look at the top two or three items and focus on
134 those rather than be overwhelmed. Work on CIP projects and focus on those elements.
135
136 Street tree policies are still on the list. Greg recommends that the action committee start
137 communication with DPW. Action committee sent a letter to the Planning Director supporting
138 street trees. Complete street tree standards are still under consideration by DPW. Ken
139 recommends that the action committee work with DPW to help include these requirements to be
140 included in DPW manuals.
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142 Discussion about sub-committee members meeting with various departments to discuss CIP
143 projects to keep the potential projects alive and moving towards implementation.
144
COMMITTEE REPORTS
145
146
Outreach
147 - Aaron, need to establish perimeters, area and projects with additional knowledge
148 of areas.
149
Economic Development & Housing
150 - Elaine: seeking members to be active in this sub-
151 committee. Planning Department members can not be part of the sub-committee,
152 but we can help the sub-committees.
153
TOD-
154 Ken & Bo: Will discuss Kailua Kona redevelopment TOD in September. Will speak
155 with Dru Kanuha when the sub-committee is ready to seek his assistance.
156 Work with Planning to better calibrate CDP elements that are challenging.
157
Land Use & Environmental/Cultural
158 - Hiram & Keoki: They are working on concurrency.
159 Set up priorities and carry them forward when terms are complete.
160
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Open Space Network
161 - Ken Melrose and Bo discussed the urban areas surrounded by open
162 space. This needs to be pursued for funding.
163
Transportation & Public Facilities
164 - Chauncey Wong Yuen: two committees in one,
165 Chauncey is attempting to combine highway projects on line with public
166 facilities and transportation projects between 2011 and 2014. The is trying to
167 provide a road map of existing conditions and where we are going.
168
169 Report on meeting with the Hawaii Island Economic Development Board by Keoki, Hiram and
170 Greg. A long list of projects and the funding dominated the meeting. The meeting addressed
171 water and sewer projects as well as concurrency. The sub-committees need to establish
172 relationships with these project managers to help keep CIP projects current.
173
174 Bo reported that the regional park is still moving ahead. Meetings for the park generally meet on
175 the first Tuesday of each month. The meeting for September has been changed and it will be
176 held on the second Tuesday.
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STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC:
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179 Charles Flaherty offered to provide information for each of the 109 public meetings. Greg asked
180 if they have the names of the persons who served on these committees. As to concurrency, it is
181 more than just roads. How many units have already approved and it comes to 16,000 where the
182 current infrastructure is not in place. Now new projects are submitting and items not ready for
183 expansion include: roads, water, sewage, fire, police, parks, schools, and street trees need to be
184 addressed.
185
186 Next meeting is September 25, 2013
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188 Motion to adjourn
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