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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAC-PD Pahoa Plan 10May16-DRAFTCounty of Hawai‘i PLANNING DEPARTMENT PUNA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN – ACTION COMMITTEE William P. Kenoi Mayor Duane Kanuha Director Joaquin Gamiao-Kunkel Deputy Director East Hawai‘i Office 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 Phone (808) 961-8288 Fax (808) 961-8742 West Hawai‘i Office 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i 96740 Phone (808) 323-4770 Fax (808) 327-3563 May 10, 2016 Duane Kanuha Planning Director Planning Department 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 SUBJECT: Planning Consultant for the Pāhoa Regional Town Center Plan & Wastewater Treatment Study Aloha Director Kanuha, Thank you for your letter dated June 6, 2015 responding to our previous requests to reconsider your decision to not move forward with the hiring of a consultant for the Pahoa Regional Town Center Master Plan and Wastewater Treatment Study. While we can appreciate the challenges the Planning Department would face taking on additional planning projects concurrent with the process of updating the General Plan at a time when critical staffing positions are vacant, we note that it has been more than a year since these vacancies came about and still they remain unfilled_ Further, we do not believe that it is reasonable to expect the residents of Puna to wait another two or more years for the updates to the General Plan to be completed and adopted before efforts are resumed in the implementation of critical actions key to village /town cen4O development in those communities where years of grass roots effort have made them ripe for fulfillment. Therefore, we respectfully urge you to redouble efforts to fill the existing vacancies and to seriously consider requesting and budgeting for additional positions in the Long Range Division as may be necessary to satisfy current planning responsibilities as well as those anticipated with the adoption of additional Community Development Plans. We further note that, if the lava flow had not occurred just as the consultant contract for the Pahoa Plan was being executed, we could be roughly half way completed with the plan by now. We are also aware of the fact that the staffing vacancies in the Planning Department's Long Range Division cited as being "foremost" among your concerns as to the plausibility of www.cohplanningdept.com Hawaii County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer planningghawaiicounty.Qov Mr. Duane Kanuha May 10, 2016 Page 2 developing the plan were not unforeseen within the Planning Department even as the consultant contract was being signed. Admittedly, the lava flow has brought to light a potential danger and risk of developing Pahoa as a regional town center not adequately considered at the time the Pahoa contract was being drafted. Clearly adjustments to the project description and consultant's contract may be necessary to determine a more appropriate planning area or other measures that may be required to reasonably safeguard any public investment. However, as we have previously stated, the Puna population continues to grow at an accelerated pace, which is driving an increased demand for greater access to goods and services within the Pahoa area. In response to this demand, commercial activity in the Pahoa area also continues to grow, albeit without the appropriate infrastructure, or any plan for its development necessary for growth to occur in a safe, livable and economically viable manner. The Puna CDP Action Committee feels that it has been more than patient with the Planning Department, not only with regards to our request to move forward with the Pahoa Plan, but with implementation of those critical county government led actions of the Puna CDP necessary to allow for the creation of village centers in Puna as called for in the CDP. As the 8t' anniversary of the adoption of the Puna CDP approaches, we must express our disappointment with just how little substantive progress has been made with implementing the actions of the Puna CDP, especially with regards to the establishment of regional town centers and village centers in the district. The AC appreciates the adoption of the Pahoa Design District and Design Guidelines that are important to help preserve the sense of place which is cherished by Puna /Pahoa residents. However, these are really just the first baby steps in the larger process of addressing the increasingly unacceptable conditions existing in Puna that are the result of the ill- considered land use policies and actions of the past and the decades of denial by the County and State of any responsibility to identify and implement appropriate strategies for managing growth in the district in a responsible and sustainable manner. Mahalo for your time and consideration of our requests. The Puna CDP Action Committee looks forward to your timely response and stands ready to assist the Planning Department in any way we can to keep vital Puna planning projects moving forward. Sincerely, Larry Brown PCDP Chair Cc: William P. Kenoi, Mayor Dennis "Fresh" Onishi, District 3 Council Member Greggor Ilagan, District 4 Council Member Daniel K. Paleka, Jr., District 5 Council Member Maile Davis, District 6 Council Member Hawai`i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer www.cohplanningdept.com planning@hawaiicounty.gov