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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-04-13 NKCDP Minutes Final 1 NORTH KOHALA NORTH KOHALA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2 ACTION COMMITTEE MINUTES 3 4 Monday, April 13th, 2015 at 5:00 pm 5 North Kohala Senior Center, 54-3900 Akoni Pule Hwy., Kohala, HI 96755 6 7 ATTENDANCE 8 1.Members Present: John Winter, Jon Adams, Lani Eugenio, Joe Carvalho and 9 Faye Yates. 10 2.Public Attendance: Susan Fischer, Carter Collins, Margaret Wille, Jesse C. 11 Wells, Lynda Wallach, Toni Withington, and David Fuertes. 12 3.Planning Department Present: Rosalind Newlon and Ali Catalano. 13 14 I.CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 5:10 PM by John 15 Winter. 16 17 II.ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS: 18 a.Minutes of the Meeting on March 9, 2015 meeting were reviewed th 19 and discussed by the AC members. Susan Fischer brought up that one 20 line 38 the word estate should be “Estates” for Kohala Estates. Jon 21 Adams made a motion to approve the minutes as amended, and Joe 22 Carvalho seconded that motion. The motion as carried unanimously. 23 24 III.STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS: 25 26 Margaret Wille spoke in regard to item #4 under Business of Committee 27 on the agenda. She brought up the idea of simplifying the General Plan 28 with the key concepts of sustainability and looking at the big picture 29 items. She explained that it might be worthwhile to spend the time and 30 money focusing on the CDPs. 31 32 Margaret also brought up that there would be public testimony on April 33 22, 23, and 24 at 9 am and that this is a time for public input on what they 34 want to see. 35 36 IV.BUSINESS OF COMMITTEE 37 38 a.The Action Committee discussed the following agenda item: 39 40 “The investigatory subcommittee created by the Action Committee on 41 March 9, 2015 will provide their report to the AC on their th 42 recommendations to amend the Hawaii County General Plan during 43 the comprehensive review of the General Plan initiated by the 44 Planning Director, with comments due by June 6, 2015.” th 45 46 John Winter clarified that this is a time period to answer any 47 questions, and discussion will have to be done next month due to 48 Sunshine Law. He asked that the AC members digest this very fully 49 between now and next month, and that there will also be a letter 50 written out that will be on the agenda for approval at the next meeting 51 as well. 52 53 John Winter also brought up what Margaret Wille spoke about, and 54 that he feels they’ve covered what they’ve been asked to do with a 55 broad perspective, and then more in detail. 56 57 V.SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS 58 59 a.Growth Management: Jon Adams reported that are no updates 60 because the meeting was cancelled and there are no applications at 61 this time. 62 63 b.Public Access: Report by Joe Carvalho 64  65 Hapu’u Kapanaia – Joe briefly discussed purchasing properties.  66 Halelua – There is no update from the county. There was a list 67 made out for information on seven sites requested from the 68 Planning Department.  69 Kauhola Lighthouse – No updates.  70 Halaula Mill Road – No update (this item is on the list for 71 information requested that was sent to the Planning 72 Department).  73 Pahoa Beach – There are a few issues happening in regard to 74 access and there is an upcoming meeting with the owners.  75 Upolu Airport – No update (this item is on the list for 76 information that was requested and sent to the Planning 77 Department).  78 Restoration at Upolu Airport – Everything looks beautiful, and 79 the rain has been helping all the plants. There is also going to 80 be an autographed tree at the entrance. Rosalind suggested 81 possibly another type of tree due to its invasive nature.  82 Kaiholena Lot F – The last lot is closed, and it was acquired by 83 the trail association. 84 Latitude 20 – This is still up for sale. The property manager for 85 Kohala Shoreline did a presentation with Greg Morse. The Old 86 Jeep Road trail will remain public access in addition to another 87 Oceanside trail. There is an issue with a cultural site that goes 88 right through the trail, and they are in the process of trying to 89 decide whether to go mauka or makai of the site.  90 Kohala Shoreline – This item was talked about in depth at the 91 subcommittee meeting and there will be a letter drafted up to 92 clearly detail concerns on a few different items.  93 Kohala Kai – This is not completed.  94 Access Interface – No update (this item is on the list that was 95 sent to the Planning Department). 96 97 Toni Withington went into discussion about a walkthrough at 98 Kaiholena on Saturday, April 18, 2015. th 99 100 John Winter asked what ramifications were for public access in 101 North Kohala. 102 103 Toni explained that there are a number of public access 104 lawsuits that have gone through the courts that have granted 105 public access over specific pieces of land. The one that has 106 been discussed the most is called Ahoi vs. Kohala Corp. The 107 case ended up with a stipulated agreement with Kohala Corp 108 and Ahoi to provide public open access and vehicular access. 109 The second part of that case involved mountain access at 110 Waihena Bridge. 111 112 John Winter asked if that decision applies to those two roads 113 and areas only, not to general public access at all? And Toni 114 agreed. She explained there were other cases near Upolu and 115 Mahukona, all of which provided public access. 116 117 They went on to discuss prescriptive access – meaning that 118 you’ve been using an area for generations. Toni explained that 119 it was a very important case and that there were no access 120 laws like there are today. But now there is precedent for the 121 public as having legal rights. 122 123 c.Water, Parks, and Roads: Report by John Winter 124 125 John Winter reported that the last meeting was held at 126 Mahukona, and the next meeting will be held with Jason 127 Armstrong at Mahukona to speak directly with Parks and 128 Recreation to enhance Mahukona. Similar things happening 129 with Kapaa. He also reported that they are still working with 130 Pratt Road residents for their input. The chair will be gone for 131 a month, so after she gets back, there will be another gathering 132 for input and they will proceed to a public meeting. 133 134 John reported that the gym roof is in the process of being 135 repaired. He has an upcoming meeting with the water 136 department and Toni Withington on the green waste issue. 137 138 Jesse Wells asked if the new Banyan Tree Park falls into this 139 subcommittee. John confirmed that, and explained that the 140 county owns the property. Lani Eugenio was concerned that 141 there is no access to the public, but John Winter confirmed that 142 the park fronts the highway. 143 144 d.Power, View Planes, and Erosion Control: Report from Susan Fischer 145 146 Carter Collins reported that he and Toni had lunch with 147 Paniolo Power, Jonathan Mitchell, and the General Manager 148 Jose Dizon and they got into a conversation about how they are 149 moving forward with their plans. 150 151 Toni added that the subcommittee had two goals. The first was 152 to make sure that Paniolo Power understands the CDP and 153 where the people from North Kohala are coming from. 154 Particularly in energy, rural infrastructure, and agriculture. 155 The second was to find out what Paniolo Power had done in 156 relation to Next Era’s purchase of HELCO. Next Era Research 157 has the funds to support the plans similar to Paniolo Power in 158 regards to reaching its goal of creating a mini grid. 159 160 Toni also reported that there will be an open house on 161 Tuesday, April 14 at HPA School, in the dining room from 5-8. th 162 This is for anybody with an interest in the purchase of HELCO 163 by Next Era, to come and talk and they’ll answer questions. 164 Paniolo Power will be there as well. 165 166 e.Affordable Housing: No updates, there is no chair. 167 168 f.Agricultural Updates: Report by Lani Eugenio 169 170 Lani Eugenio reported that there was a meeting on March 17, 171 2015 with no report. 172 173 VI.STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS: 174 175 Margaret Wille spoke about the energy conference in Honolulu that she 176 attended, and she said that they had a lot of HELCO and Paniolo Power 177 people in attendance. She explained that Next Era Research doesn’t have 178 a good reputation of alternative energy. She went on to discuss the cost 179 for alternative energy, and what the community wants to see. 180 181 She also brought up the upcoming democratic convention which will 182 include a big section on energy and one of agriculture. 183 184 VII.ANNOUNCEMENTS: 185 186 NEXT MEETING: 187 Date: May 11, 2015 188 Time: 5 PM 189 190 VIII.There being no further business, a motion was made by Jon Adams to 191 adjourn, and Faye Yates seconded that motion. The meeting was 192 adjourned at 6:20 PM. 193 194 Minutes submitted by Ali Catalano, Community Planning Assistant.