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05/11/16 Aina & Coastal
Comments
■ LUPAG in Hakalau
■ *Enforcement provisions in SMA
■ Verify that the ag policies and preserving sweeping views are not in conflict
■ When did State Land Use Urban Designation occur and when did County Industrial Zoning
happen?
■ Proposed LUPAG in Hakalau
■ Is a moratorium on coastal development possible until the studies have been done?
■ How do we ensure unpermitted developments are not continued to be allowed (Enforcement of
Laws)?
05/18/16 Waipi`o
Comments
■ Waipi`o taro farmers, Paola o Waipi'o, Waipi`o Circle (Waipi`o Valley Stakeholders Alliance)
■ Collaborative efforts for an action plan
■ State Legislature introduced resolution legislation naming the Alliance as the group to work with
Bishop Museum HCR 162.
■ Does Policy 60 restrict structures in Public Open Space?
■ What can be done if using PONC funds?
■ Waipi`o Valley Heritage Center is a good idea
o Maybe as orientation to visitors (half an hour or so)
o PONC funds might restrict the use of property
o Buildings might need to be located elsewhere
■ How will the infrastructure be addressed to accommodate Heritage Center?
■ We have been discussing the infrastructure needs for many years.
■ Outside information might conflict with the information being shared through the ranger
program.
■ There is congestion at the top for parking and the facilities at the look -out.
■ Tourists don't necessarily want to go down; we may be able to entertain them and provide
information.
■ Different groups have provided funding for the brochures that are handed out by rangers.
■ Discussion about toll booth to recover costs.
■ Consider a look -out being moved farther up where the buildings cannot be viewed from the
Valley.
■ Hamakua District Development Council considered a scenic route along the rim of the valley
part of Mud Lane Road.
■ When plantations closed and a resort development was proposed for Kukuihaele, there was a
setback discussed so that buildings would not be seen.
■ Waipi`o Road hugs the cliff and maybe impacted from mauka development causing debris and
runoff.
■ Large trees in front of bathroom facility blocking view.
■ Trees also stabilize the pali.
■ Scenic route may benefit workers commuting to hotels.
■ Alliance has been discussing using the viewing site for the Heritage Center as well — might not be
limited like the Rice Property.
■ Scenic route might improve business to Honoka`a.
■ Gate at the top to assure that people that do go down have had an orientation of "do's and
don'ts".
■ Heritage Center to educate visitors and house museum contents.
■ Buses have a hard time navigating.
■ Alliance discussed traffic management with other property owners.
■ Heritage Center should be at the old look -out site.
■ Hamakua sugar created the old look -out site.
■ Ha 'Ola funding to purchase equipment for stream maintenance at final stages.
■ Ongoing funding for equipment maintenance and other costs for stream maintenance is
needed.
■ Permitting process for standardized stream maintenance has been challenging.
■ Not all of the problems with the stream are flood -related.
■ Access to the water is as important to taro farms as access to the land.
■ Importance of taro to sustaining culture and families.
■ Lands should be set aside for taro growing as a priority over other types of agriculture.
■ Department of Agriculture manages the ditch, measure water that is wasted and divert it to
Waipi`o.
■ Waipi`o is a place where we can grow wet land taro.
■ Debris comes down if the ditch is not maintained.
■ If museum is supported by County and State, they might not have to sell.
■ Hard to farm with higher land value prices.
■ Farmers have been working to purchase equipment.
■ Museum holds the "footprints."
■ Farmers are continuing to support their families and perpetuate the value — not only sustenance
but LIFE!
■ Plan for road repair is ready to go out to bid.
■ Traffic not familiar with the road; education is part of it. How do we enforce things?
■ Can we put something in about the safety of the access?
■ People are renting cars; not all the information is provided in other languages.
■ If not enough funds for road improvements, prioritize bad spots, place signage for how many
cars can pass.
■ Potential turn outs on the road.
■ Shouldn't be any access to Hi`ilawe Falls.
■ Public access ends at end of County Road.
■ Gate at end of County Road, not just signage.
■ Beach access goes through private property.
■ Road to beach drives over significant cultural sites.
■ Maintenance to the beach road by community and have parking not on the beach.
■ How can we empower KS to protect the resources?
■ Are there considerations for limiting access during heavy rains? Any liability issues?
■ When residents are trying to evacuate, the top is crowded and blocking evacuation.
■ During last tsunami, they did stop people further down the road to prevent blockage.
■ No public restrooms in the valley, no running water, no facilities.
■ County Ordinance to restrict road to farmers and residents only?
■ Carrying capacity to the valley
o Hanauma Bay example of legally restricting access
■ Possibility of groups acquiring the road or portion of the road.
■ Has a geological survey been done to look at the stability of the road?
■ Stability of road would require a lot of studies and we don't want it closed because of the
findings.
■ Consideration for cutting the bank and moving road inland and work with land owners along the
route.
■ Consider a maintenance action in CDP
05/25/16 Agriculture
Comments
■ Rules for forming co-ops : future research item
o Would be advantageous; other communities have had success
■ Honey Bee — distance from boundary rule: future research item
■ Swine production — One Thousand Foot Boundary from property that is non-ag or roadway
possibly: future research
■ Big Island Invasive Species Partnership — to be mentioned in plan
■ What category does Rat Lungworm fall under?
o See Community Action #9 and Community Action #44
■ Though County doesn't have direct jurisdiction, County Roads & Highway Division and
Environmental Management Divisions can help stop spread of invasive species.
o Should it be a County responsibility or should it be a community/volunteer responsibility
(i.e. trees in right of way handled by County or volunteers)
■ Aquaculture — more focus on aquaculture on land (not in coastal waters)
o Listed as K6kua Action at this time.
■ Permitted Uses:
o Ensure CDP permitted uses cover some uses that are not commonly identified uses (like
tall tree borders around crops, which may not be popular non-ag)
0 4.5.6 Community Action says Comm. Ed. Residents on windbreak alternatives
o Detrimental to Ag — restricts an Ag practice when it is not supportive of a windbreak,
while windbreaks are an Ag tool.
o Read Zoning Chapter 25.5-72 Permitted Uses of Ag Land (in Appendix of CDP)
o Other conflicts where it states:
■ Convert crop land to native forests (refers to Federal partnership in Appendix)
■ Cites Native forests as assets
o Need to consistently support Ag and be careful not to restrict Ag on Ag Lands with some
of these references
■ Right to Farm Ordinance — notifies residents of Ag production ongoing in area
o State has; County has some
■ Some issues can be discussed between property owners (i.e. Windbreak — County does not need
to dictate it)
■ People who buy into Ag should not plan to change/develop.
■ Steering Committee was challenged with conflict of Ag and Development (or desire for view)
■ Try to develop Community Actions, not policy.
■ Partnership suggestion: Board of Realtors - Could they participate with discussions and
education of new/potential property owners?
■ How do you define sustainable Ag?
o State Language
o Very General
o Does not mean Organic
■ What are rules or ideas on subsistence? (Objective 12 to compliment Ag economy)
o Fresh & Local
o Rather grow it than buy it
■ Was an economic analysis of farms done after 2015 Ag Report came out showing farm lot sizes
are 10 acres or less now, as a new trend.
o Because it is a common size, does it mean it is an optimal size?
■ I.A.L. — Change County IAL name so it is not confused with State IAL
■ Fallow lands — nothing being done with it
o Val: County inherited some; County not land managers; County leases it out
o KSBE and State has a lot
■ County cannot lease parcels if they had oil spills, etc.
■ Kokua Action for State to use Fallow lands
■ DHHL land is lease land
■ Are those lease processes clear?
■ Forestry has lots of benefits for land
o Less run-off
o Native Habitat
o Producing Carbon
o But add a cow and get equal (or greater) tax benefit
o Consider carbon sequestration as a tool
■ Agrovillages/hoods: Policy 13 & 14
■ If it's zoned AG20 now, would zone change?
o Need to clarify in CDP
■ Clusters closer to towns not out in middle of an Ag area
■ Homesteads in Laupahoehoe are defacto rural; but rural designation doesn't match
o How do we follow this conversation before the draft is finalized?
■ What is County's role in delivering clean water and a way for people who grow produce to
access clean water?
o There are known incidents of water diversion to produce
■ Who do we contact if there is a pollutant in stream that impacts available animals/plants (i.e.
opae, hiiwa, etc.) in stream?
■ Who do we contact?
o Kokua Action item = State
■ Stream diversion not County jurisdiction; it's State
■ People who are doing least impactful subsistence activities are not represented in plan at
County level
■ Coral bleaching in reef due to round -up sprayed on land affects subsistence food sources
■ USDA-NRCS Board — Contact Mayor Kenoi
o Some capacity issue with some of those organizations
■ Section on Coastal Management —Special Management Area
o Does not cover Mauka and streams
■ Infrastructure:
o Community Kitchens
o Use sugar cane infrastructure for Community-based efforts
o Integrate local area Ag plan into the CDP
■ Like Hamakua's; Co-ops, Hamakua Harvest, Incubator Kitchens
o Responsible development in Ag
o Look into Aging In Place in Zoning
■ Roads or County Roads that Private Property Owners have gated
o Restrictions on access to public land
o Sign says "End of County Road" —Can we get more County Policing in Ag Lands?
o Does plan reference Community Partnership with Neighborhood Watch b Farm Watch?
■ Food Safety Modernization Act = Federally Mandated Food Safety Act
■ Water quality very important
o Will impact Hamakua Ag
o Can County provide water? EPA can give funds to help this. Have we looked into it?
o Maybe County viewpoint on who provides water needs to change
■ Value added will be important
■ Promote private enterprise to build infrastructure
■ Housing Crisis
o Where will affordable housing take place if no zoning changes?
■ How is Ag cluster going to work?
o Who determines where it could go?
o What is the center of a town?
o How does that impact traffic?
■ Potable water and commercial kitchens
o Honoka`a: Mac Nut Factory in Haina is for sale
o Where will co-op go to wash produce/goods?
■ What are rules for building traditional Hawaiian Hale on lots for WOOFERS, etc.?
o Research building codes
■ County Ag Advisory Committee submitted to Mayor's office on non -conforming housing
■ Need to think into future on what direction CDP takes Ag in (i.e. back in 1900's or forward
w/outside of box idea)
■ We didn't need to travel far to get our food back in the day
■ Came to Hawaii to get away from development
■ Hawaii has been one of a few successful sustainable cultures
■ Highlight need for commercial/certified kitchens and similar set up for cleaning and processing
fresh produce.
o Ensure they do not become personal -one -business runs and uses
o Assign a lead role to County in any partnerships to provide potable water for washing.
o Ask DHHL to manage or actively use fallow land.
o DPW, please manage HWY easements and stop moving mulch.
o Dept. of Environmental Management needs to stop moving mulch!
■ When referring to Community or K6kua Action for farm to schedule programs, need to
reference Board of Education, not just DOE so that both Charters and DOE schools are included.
LCPCS is a charter in the middle of our coast so we want to be included.
06/01/16 Strong Towns
Comments
• Sharing mana`o to also focus on: Medical facilities, health clinics, pharmacies available in the
Hamakua District.
o Hilo & Waimea is located (for some) too far outside this district, restricting/limiting
appropriate access to important health care, especially in the developing towns with an
aging population.
• Require Planning Department and Planning Commission express their rationale if actions taken
are not consistent with the CDP before a decision is finalized to allow public comment in
advance of decision.
• 5.1.3 Policy 62: Lacks mention of sidewalk along Lehua Street from Mamane to health center.
• Plan for lifeguards at beaches with heavy use.
• Create a special district & special improvement area for Honomu, along with plan for sewer
system.
• Can we restore the Hamakua Heritage Corridor along the Highway: plant/encourage sugar cane
under the HELCO lines (mauka side) wherever feasible to retain character and prevent spread of
fiddlewood and albizia?
• How is the CDP enforced during review of development permits? County Code or Rule that
speaks to that?
• Does the CDP encourage businesses like small pharmacies to stay in towns?
• No recognition of historic areas in the land use policies.
• Safety, such as another crosswalk in Honoka`a is another factor to consider
• County to takeover jurisdiction of Mamane Street.
• Hamakua is an "Eco -Destination," in addition to branding products, the natural beauty and sites
could be part of a branding of the whole coast.
• Where does the Hamakua coast begin and end when considering a "branding of the coast"?
• Promoting more visitor stays within agriculture lands helps to promote a symbiotic relationship.
• Relationships between small towns, eco -tourism, and industry might have been in a previous
plan.
• Western Week for Paniolo Culture for the area.
• Are other State plans tracking on the CDP for economic actions?
• Use of Pepe'ekeo substation
• No sewer system in Honomu
o Waste water treatment plants needed for many commercial facilities, maybe also for
public restrooms.
• The water meter should be an indication of the amount of waste water needed.
• 2005 Clean Water Act— Update coming soon
• Infrastructure for waste water is the biggest impediment to the affordable housing crisis.
• Urban Zones with existing infrastructure need to stay Urban.
• Acknowledge the assets of Honoka`a system to implement things like public restrooms.
• Infrastructure in Kapehu camp was way ahead of its time with HUD and Dept. of Housing
o Might serve as a template.
• Waste water is something that County can get done!
• Waste water and the way that we do waste water may not be the best
o Other smaller systems, decentralized for our areas
• Walking Trail along Hamakua Ditch?
• Healthy initiative as part of trail development
o "Wellness"
• Asset of K-12, also have college available in Honoka`a
• Working with Council Members of getting Wi-Fi
• Rural areas also need connections to broadband/Wi-Fi
• County's responsibility is to provide the zoning to let private enterprise help to provide jobs
• How does County tie in to DHHL infrastructure?
• Cannot put in a laundry facility because of waste water requirements
• Are gates allowed on Roads in Limbo if you own both sides of the road and all owners agree?
• Ag Theft Inspector may have been funded for Prosecutor's Office