HomeMy WebLinkAboutAC-PD 2015-11 ltr req Pahoa Plan Consultant
William P. Kenoi Duane Kanuha
MayorDirector
Bobby Command
Deputy Director
County of Hawai‘i
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
PUNA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE
Aupuni Center 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720
Phone (808) 961-8288 Fax (808) 961-8742
March 10, 2015
Duane Kanuha
Planning Director
Planning Department
101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3
Hilo, HI 96720
Aloha Director Kanuha,
RE: Planning Consultant for the Pāhoa Regional Town Center Plan & Wastewater Treatment Study
The Action Committee of the Puna CDP urges the Planning Department to move forward on the hiring
of a consultant for the Pāhoa Plan and the Wastewater Treatment Study. The Pāhoa Regional Town
Center Steering Committee, a sub-committee of the Action Committee, voted unanimously at their
meeting on February 16, 2015 for action to resume on the hiring of a consultant.
The progress of hiring this consultant was stalled when the threat of lava led us to believe that Pāhoa
was about to be overrun. As we know, the flow and direction of the lava is unpredictable and may not
ever, or may take years to do whatever it will ultimately do. In the meantime, Pāhoa is still here, and
developers, residents and area community members still want to sustain and develop businesses in the
Village.
The issues that were present before the lava emergency remain and the businesses are returning.
In order to support intelligent growth and to preserve the character of Pāhoa we need to have a
Regional Town Center Plan. Our Design Guidelines and supporting ordinances are moving swiftly
through the County Council. We urge you to move without delay to complete the process of hiring a
planning consultant. As this will be on our next Action Committee Agenda please inform us as to the
status of your deliberations by March 31, 2015.
Sincerely,
Patti Pinto
Chair, PCDP Action Committee
cc: Greggor Ilagan, Danny Paleka
Hawai‘i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer