HomeMy WebLinkAboutIndividual Comment - M. Gordon - 8.26.16 County Plan WorkshopFrom: Mark Gordon [mailto:mark.gordon333@gmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, September 04, 2016 12:33 PM
To: Bugado, Deanne <Deanne.Bugado@hawaiicounty.gov>; Araujo, Jaclyn <Jaclyn.Araujo@hawaiicounty.gov>
Subject: Fwd: 8/26/16 County Plan Workshop
Aloha Again !
Forgot to say if you want to share my comments with others in Planning or other groups, please feel free to do
so !
Mark
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Mark Gordon <mark.gordon333@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Sep 4, 2016 at 12:22 PM
Subject: 8/26/16 County Plan Workshop
To: "Jaclyn Araujo@hawaiicounty. gov" <Jaclyn.Araujo@hawaiicounty.gov>, Deanne Bugado
<Deanne.Bugado@hawaiicounty.gov>, "margaret.wille@hawaiicounty.gov"
<margaret.wille@hawaiicounty.gov>
Aloha Jaclyn, Margaret and Deanne
Great fun and informative workshop !! Glad to be invited and to have attended. Mahalo nui loa ! Here are
some of the comments I shared with friends and members of the Waikoloa Leadership Group too.
I attended a County Scenario Planning Workshop in Kona on 8/26/16. See attached. There was also a similar
workshop in Hilo, with 2 days open for public comment on the County Plan both sides of the Island.
Very, very interesting and fun event to participate in. Thought I would share some of the info learned at the
event.
There were 6 separate tables with about 5 people at each table. Each had a moderator and a County person,
who ran the computer program.
The County allowed us to utilize a new software program that will assist them in planning revisions to the
current County Plan.
The County hired a consulting firm in the States, Placeways who utilized projected population data of where
Hawaii Island would be in about 2040 They inputted this information into the software program. Estimated
current population is about 175,000 Island wide. In 24 years, projected to be about 296,000.
For instance, by 2040, the program said there would be about 1000 more homes in Waikoloa Village. This high
increase of homes in Waikoloa was done, since per the current County Plan, additional population to the
Island should be added to current higher populated towns, such as Kona, Waikoloa Village, Hilo etc.
The program also showed areas on the Island more at risk for tsunamis, floods, wildfire, etc.
Our table decided to move the computer projected higher populations in coastline towns (tsunami, floods and
tropical storms risk) and areas more at risk for wildfire into areas less at risk for these natural dangers.
We decided to move some of the projected additional 1000 homes for Waikoloa Village to other towns on the
Island. Our rationale was that Waikoloa Village is the area in the State most at risk for wildfires. In addition,
there is currently only one major road into and out of the Village. Also via the software, we were able to add
another road out of the Village. We were all very surprised at the very high projected costs on building just one
new road !!
Here are the Summary Points our table shared with the other groups, as well as the County:
Suggest a lower density of people be in high hazard areas, such as those areas prone to tsunamis,
tropical storms and wildfires
Needs to be more new infrastructure and development to Hawaiian Homelands areas
Computer program needs to show affordable housing, rather than listing market housing. We need
Much More affordable housing in Waikoloa Village
Consider using alternate sources for non potable water needs
In the N. Kohala area, we understand that there is large amount of agricultural lands. We need to
encourage more people to go into farming
Any questions, please ask.
Take care
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Mark
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Mark