HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOR-16-107528 September 10, 2016 ?1116 SEP 14 Af9 1 1 08
PLANN N ( ,)1-"'/V-;TPM./1ENT
PO Box 199 COUNTY Of- HAWAII
Hakalau, HI 96710
Brad Kurokawa, Chair
Hamakua CDP Steering Committee
do Hawaii County Planning Department
Aupuni Center, 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3
Hilo, HI 96720
RE: Hakalau Point
Aloha, Hamakua CDP Steering Committee. I'm Ken Forbes from Hakalau. I'd like to give some
input on the 2 Options for Hakalau Point outlined in Review Packet Document 4, under#3 d.
First, a word about my background. I was born in Honokaa and grew up on the Hamakua Coast
and Hilo. After a work life on Oahu, I moved back and now live in Hakalau where I actually had
lived for 5 years growing up. My dad spent his Work life at Plantations on the Hamakua Coast
and Hilo. I mention this so you might appreciate that I have a particular interest in the future of
this coast and in the future of Hakalau.
Regarding the 2 Options you've asked us to consider:
Option 1, with its Low Density Urban designation, invites the coastal bluff development so many
of us living in Hakalau and surrounding communities do not want for the future of Hakalau or for
Hamakua in general. As you know, this perspective is quite evident from the community input to
the CDP. I would also like to add a note about the results of a petition including about 600
signatures done in May-June of this year advocating preservation of Hakalau Point from
development. The Hakalau community itself was nearly unanimously in favor and the petition
was well represented by the nearby communities that comprised the former Hakalau Plantation
and by other Hamakua communities as well. If it helps you,we can supply all details about this
petition.
Option 2,with its Open designation for a large part of the 2 parcels, is definitely heading in the
right direction. As a practical matter, it would mean simply keeping the current 2005 GP LUPAG
map as is, no amendments. Simple is good but we would still have the problem of the
remaining Industrial LUPAG designation within the one parcel. As with others, my view is that
the land beside the bluff beside Hakalau Bay should remain undeveloped for posterity. So an
Open designation for all the land in both Hakalau Point parcels is what I would like the Steering
Committee to consider for the CDP-proposed LUPAG map. That, I think, would be most
consistent with the community input. As needed, however, the next best choice would be to
accept Option 2 as stated.
Thank you for your consideration.
Aloha,
Ken Forbes
107528