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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunication No. 2018-15- NKCDP Implementation of ActionsComm. No. 2018-15 NORTH KOHALA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN Progress Report Implementation of Actions January 2016 — December 2017 North Kohala Community Development Plan Action Committee (All members serving during this reporting period) Lehua AhSam Richard Elliott Lani Eugenio Jack Hoyt Ben Ney John Winter Faye Yates Planning Department Michael Yee Planning Director LeAna Gloor Eric Cook CDP Planner Planner Comm. No. 2018-15 INSERT LETTER FROM DIRECTOR HERE Comm. No. 2018-15 North Kohala Community Development Plan Progress Report on Implementation Actions January 2016 through December 2017 Background: The North Kohala Community Development Plan (NKCDP) was adopted November 5, 2008; Appendix A, as amended to Draft 2: ORDINANCE NO. 2008-151. Purpose: The NKCDP is intended to serve as an extension of the County of Hawai'i General Plan by articulating district -sensitive specific growth management strategies and the delivery of governmental services through a broad-based community input process. According to Chapter 16-4 of the Hawai'i County Code (HCC), each community development plan shall have an Action Committee (AC), which is advisory to the Planning Director, to serve as a proactive, community- based steward of the plan's implementation and update. Planning Area: The planning area for the North Kohala Community Development Plan encompasses the North Kohala District. This district consists of approximately 80,350 acres (125.5 square miles) located in the northwest portion of the Island of Hawaii. North Kohala is the smallest of the nine Big Island districts, comprising only 3% of the island's total land area. The district is bordered by the South Kohala District to the south, and the Hamakua District to the east. The ocean defines the region's north and west borders. North Kohala's Vision: We are a community that respects, preserves and honors our history, our land, and our diverse culture. We value access to our shores, our forests, and our streams. We have a broad range of programs for our youth that includes work on the land. We have good social services, recreation, health, and education. We are friendly and hardworking people, which enables us to continue to build our small businesses and create jobs as part of our sustainable economic development. We have a strong community voice in the development of affordable housing, the use of our land, and the development of alternative energy sources. 'Ohana and the Spirit of Aloha are the foundations of our community. Comm. No. 2018-15 Overall Goal of the NKCDP: To manage the future growth of the district in a manner that is consistent with the Kohala lifestyle and ideals of being a rural community with a strong cultural heritage, an agricultural base, and a small town feel. The Kohala Community Values include the following words and phrases: • Spirituality and prayer (pule) 0 Protecting natural resources • 'Ohana • Humility is strength • Honoring the past 0 Being respectful • History of Kamehameha • Bridging old ways with the new • We stand together for the 'aina, the • Tolerance towards your neighbor community, and each other • Open space • Give and take; give comes first Cultural and Historic Preservation Community: In order to honor and preserve an unparalleled historical heritage that includes heiau, ancient settlements, and other sites of great significance to the Hawaiian people, and its uniquely multi- ethnic community, North Kohala shall be regarded as a Cultural and Historical Preservation Community. Thus, all decisions regarding the development of land shall be required to assess and disclose their potential impact on the cultural sites and resources within the district, and shall be in keeping with the heritage and culture of North Kohala. Comm. No. 2018-15 2016/2017 North Kohala CDP Action Committee Members Lehua AhSam Richard Elliott Lani Eugenio Jack Hoyt Ben Ney John Winter Faye Yates Member Seat Expirations September 2017 Seat #4 Lani Eugenio Seat #7 Jack Hoyt Seat #5 John Winter Seat #8 Faye Yates We thank our valued retiring members for their years of dedication and hard work on the North Kohala CDP Action Committee. Action Committee Seat Availability There is currently one available seat on the Action Committee, with a term to expire 09-30-2021. Jack Hoyt is currently holding over in this seat until a new Action Committee member is confirmed. 2016 & 2017 Action Committee Meetings 2016 Meetings Meeting Date Quorum Met Y/N January 1, 2016 NO (Canceled) March 14, 2016 YES May 9, 2016 YES July 11, 2016* YES September 26, 2016 NO (Canceled) November 14, 2016 YES November 13, 2017 YES 2017 Meetings Meeting Date Quorum Met Y/N January 9,2017 NO March 13, 2017 YES May 8, 2017* YES June 19, 2017* NO July 10, 2017 NO September 11, 2017* NO November 13, 2017 YES The 2016 and 2017 NKCDP Action Committee meetings were typically held on the second Monday of every other month at 5:00 P.M. Exceptions were made to accommodate holidays. Indicates General Plan update presentation was given at the Action Committee meeting. Comm. No. 2018-15 Former Subcommittees Subcommittee Purpose The North Kohala Community Access Subcommittee worked to North Kohala Community insure implementation of the strategies of the plan relating to Access Subcommittee open access to coastal and mountain resources and places of recreation, including officially opening access trails granted by County action, but not legally located. Parks, Water, and Roads The PWR Subcommittee worked to implement the "Strategies" of Subcommittee the Plan that address the condition of parks, water and road systems. The principal goal for the Growth Management Subcommittee, as stated in the North Kohala Community Development Plan, was to direct North Kohala's growth to areas within and near existing town centers in order to preserve the district's open space and Growth Management cultural resources. Subcommittee This subcommittee reviewed various types of land use applications submitted to the County Planning Department in the North Kohala District, decided upon appropriate action, such as notification of and input from affected neighbors, and made recommendations to the NKCDP AC and hence to the Planning Department. The principle purpose of the Affordable Housing Subcommittee Affordable Housing was to work towards a means to provide affordable housing Subcommittee opportunities for low and moderate income residents and their children and grandchildren. Power, Viewplanes, and The PVEC Subcommittee worked to implement the strategies of Erosion Control the plan that address the condition of the area power system, as well as issues concerning the quality of views from roads and Subcommittee erosion, particularly along the coast. The principal purpose of the Agriculture Subcommittee was to direct North Kohala's growth to areas within and near existing Agriculture Subcommittee town centers. The reason expressed for this was "to preserve the district's open space and cultural resources; and to promote agriculture." Cultural and Historic The principal purpose of the Cultural and Historical Preservation Preservation Subcommittee was to address ways to document Kohala's history, preserve Kohala's strong cultural heritage, and protect cultural, Subcommittee natural, and historical sites. The principle purpose of the Healthcare Investigatory Healthcare Investigatory Subcommittee was to increase community awareness of Subcommittee healthcare services in North Kohala and strive for solutions to better serve the healthcare needs of North Kohala. Comm. No. 2018-15 CDP Pro]ects Priority List Updated November 2017 NKCDP Respective Rank CDP Project Location Need Cost Strategy Department Mahukona Beach Park: Mahukona Beach 2012-2013 CIP Budget - 1 Restrooms, pavilion, wharf 4.1 ( p. 72) Park Existing infrastructure needs repair. DPR $2.5M repair and winch access. 2 Green waste facility. 4.1 (p. 72) Ka'auhuhu Green wastes now put in with trash, DEM 2014-2015 CIP Transfer Station need separate green waste chute. DEM Budget -$500k Improve Kapa'a Beach Park Park pavilion, restrooms, and picnic 2012-2013 CIP Budget - 3 facilities and install 4.2 ( p. 74-75) Kapa'a Beach Park areas needs improvements. NKCDP AC, DPR $110k power, TBD electricity (solar power). improvements Improve existing roadway Many of the roads Improvements are needed for many 4 systems and create 4.6 (p. 79) within the NK roads in the NK district. Pratt Road NKCDP, DPW $3.5M emergency bypass roads. district. was identified as a possible 'E'route if Akoni Pule Hwy. were closed. 5 Kamehameha Park 4.2 (p. 74-75) Kamehameha Park improvements. DPR 2012-2013 CIP Budget - improvements. Park $490k Repair/replace Ageing pipes and limited water 6 Upgrade Potable Water 4.5(p. 78) aging water lines pressure in some areas and the need System. and obtain a new to create redundancy by building a DWS $4 -SM to build well (Hala'ula) new reservoir. Hawai'i Broadband 7 Improve communication 4.3 (p 75) TBD Poor cell phone reception and Taskforce, various systems (cell and internet). internet access/speed in many areas. cell phone providers Repair/relocate solid waste Ka'auhuhu Current transfer station at 17 acres is Repairs- $300k/new- $3 8 transfer station. 4.1 ( p. 72) Transfer Station - too small for current demand. DEM -4M New site TBD 9 Public boat access. 4.2 (p. 74) A coastal area Some have expressed desire forACOE TBD small -boat access in Kohala. Improve emergency Post a large The community identified the use of 10 response - install a large 4.4 (p. 76) lighted sign near a large lighted sign as one of the best Civil Defense and $35-40k lighted sign for emergency Kohala High tools to post important information NKCDP-AC communication I I School I during emergencies. Comm. No. 2018-15 North Kohala CDP Implementation Update: The NKCDP Action Committee, State of Hawai'i, County of Hawai'i and other private or community groups have engaged in a variety of projects either consistent with the goals and objectives of the NKCDP or specific actions called for within the plan. The attached table lists those NKCDP action items that are actively being implemented and identifies significant accomplishments and milestones achieved during the reporting period. Growth Management Group NKCDP Goal, Objective, and Action Items Progress Update Goal: Direct North Kohala's growth to areas o The Growth Management Group met a total of six times this within and near existing town centers in order past year. to preserve the district's open space and o Aworking document to summarize and track existing land use cultural resources and to promote p applications was created. o Two subdivisions, three plan approvals, and one special agriculture. management minor use permit were reviewed and commented Strategy 1.3: Down -zone identified State- on. owned parcels that have special cultural Hawi which would include some affordable housing lots. and/or scenic value. Conversations also continued with a landowner near'Ainakea. Affordable Housing Group NKCDP Goal, Objective, and Action Items Progress Update Strategy 3.1: 'Ghana housing units and o In 2017 the Affordable Housing (AH) subcommittee of the CDP additional farm dwellings. Action Committee changed course to become a less formal Community Group. o In 2017, the AH group worked more closely with the County Strategy 3.2: Self-help housing. Office of Housing and Development. Conversation began with a landowner who is proposing to subdivide a 33 acre parcel in Strategy 3.3: Non-profit housing development Hawi which would include some affordable housing lots. corporation or similar entity. Conversations also continued with a landowner near'Ainakea. o Conceptual sketches have been drafted for several vacant parcels showing how this would increase the number of units Strategy 3.4: Preemptions of certain County and viability of the project for a "Pocket Neighborhood". regulations to provide for more affordable o The group is also keeping track of the "Tiny House" movement, housing and/or changes to County codes to hoping to coordinate with them in the future. facilitate affordable rural housing. Comm. No. 2018-15 North Kohala Community Access Group NKCDP Goal, Objective, and Action Items Progress Update Strategy 1.2: Acquire coastal lands that o Worked with community groups to nominate six coastal projects should be preserved as open space. to the Mayor's PONC priority list for Open Space purchase. All six were named on the 2017 list, and purchase of one parcel at Hapu'u is underway. o The group added input to discussions for purchase of lands at Hono'ipu (Parker Ranch) and Kaupalaoa (Kaupalaoa Ranch). o Applied for stewardship of previously purchased open space lands at Pao'o and Kaiholena in cooperation with Kohala Lihikai, through the County's Maintenance Fund grant program. Strategy 2.1: Provide for substantive o Helped the Planning Department shepherd two grants for public community input to the County Planning access easements through the County Council (for trails and roads Department and the County at'Ainakea and Hala'ula). o Worked with land owners on three other pending easements. Council in order to finalize and accept priority (Halelua, Pahoa Beach and Upolu East). shoreline access easements. Strategy 2.4: Encourage increased o The group participated in the environmental assessment review of cooperation and coordination among federal, new residential development at Kohala Shoreline near Kohala state, and County agencies and departments Ranch. o Worked with Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail in creating a regarding public access to coastal and mauka conservation easement to preserve the Ala Loa and coastal trail at lands. Kohala Kai near Kohala Estates. o Worked with Na Ala Hele Trail staff and DLNR, to move ahead with relocating the coastal trail at Puakea Bay Ranch. o Worked with a National Parks Service planner to answer questions about possible government rights to Mahukona and Niuli'i Railroad easements. o In partnership with Kohala Lihikai, the group obtained a Rivers, Trails, Conservation Assistance Grant for trail maintenance and educational programs at Kohala High School. Strategy 2.5: Encourage and increase o Worked with Hawaiian Islands Land Trust and Ala Kahakai cooperation and coordination between the National Historic Trail to seek opening of the Parker Ranch coastal community and private land owners land at Hono'ipu for public use. o Worked with Kohala Lihikai on an erosion control and native regarding public access to coastal and mauka planting project at Upolu Airport. lands. Other Progress: o The NKCAG made substantial progress in opening a new coastal trail and mauka to makai access road. It has moved substantially forward in the role of stewarding public open space lands. Comm. No. 2018-15 Parks, Water & Roads Group NKCDP Goal, Objective, and Action Items Progress Update Strategy 4.2: Improve parks (restrooms, gym o Set up a series of monthly meetings between the Dept. of Parks & public boat ramp). and Recreation maintenance supervisor and representatives from areas of significant beauty along the Kohala each county park, to discuss work planned by the Department of Parks and Recreation and park needs expressed by the reps. Strategy 4.5: Upgrade potable water system. o In 2014 the group produced a paper summarizing the potable corridor. water supply situation and needs in Kohala and presented it to the Department of Water Supply. The group continues to monitor Strategy 4.7: Improve reliability of electrical progress on potable water needs and improvements. Strategy 4.6: Improve existing roadway o The Group has concentrated on two principal road issues in 2016 - systems and create emergency bypass roads. 17. The first is finding a way to have Pratt Road readily available as an emergency bypass road. Questionnaires were sent to the landowners fronting Pratt Rd. Meetings were held to hear their wishes and concerns. o The second focus was the PololG Lookout. In conjunction with three other groups of the NKCDP we hosted four meetings seeking recommendations for solutions to the increasing congestion, parking problems and other health and safety considerations at the PololG Lookout. The Group is working on a plan to create a parking lot and restroom facilities. o At the November, 2017 meeting Big Island District Engineer for the State DOT Representative, Dan Smith outlined DOT's plans for maintaining the Akoni Pule Highway. Residents expressed their strong concerns, which centered on the dangerous conditions at A'amakao Gulch, and the yield sign at Walaohia Gulch. Strategy 4.12: Long term strategies. o Three meetings were held on agricultural water distribution 4. 12a: Support repair and maintenance of systems. The first was specifically for farmers to assess their existing agricultural water transmission and needs. o The second open meeting was to learn what the community distribution systems to meet agricultural wants, what resources are available, and how the system might needs. be administered. Thanks to Senator Inouye, $ 1. 5 million was set aside for a feasibility study. o At the third meeting, John Richards of Waimea Water Services, presented his initial findings and sought public comments. The group's participation in the issue is ongoing. Power Viewplanes and Erosion Control Group NKCDP Goal, Objective, and Action Items Progress Update Strategy 1.9: Establish a viewplane o Worked with other NKCDP groups on a continuing discussion with protection program to identify and protect residents near PololO Lookout to improve the situation there. The areas of significant beauty along the Kohala group also met several times this year with HELCO. o Work continued on mapping Kohala's potential HELCO Mountain Road and Akoni-Pule Highway transmission loop routes, viewplanes identified in various view corridor. studies, and lands preserved for open space. HELCO transmission line routes proposed for steep slopes are being studied by group Strategy 4.7: Improve reliability of electrical members for potential soil erosion. service in North Kohala. o Restoration efforts continued at Upolu Point and along the leeward coastline on contour land planning and sediment basins to prevent erosion runoff. Comm. No. 2018-15 Agriculture Group NKCDP Goal, Objective, and Action Items Progress Update Strategy 1.5: Establish agricultural education o The Agriculture Group is in a restructuring stage and seeks programs. members of the community wishing to work on promoting a most of the living historical memory of North Kohala. They said vibrant and productive agricultural system in Kohala. Strategy 1.8: Participate in the identification or scenic resources. of Important Agricultural Lands as established by Chapter 205-47, Hawaii Strategy 1.6: Establish community cultural Revised Statutes to ensure that appropriate programs. lands are identified and protected. Strategy 3.1: 'Ohana housing and additional Strategy 1.7: Implement a policy for a farm dwellings. Cultural and Historical Preservation Group NKCDP Goal, Objective, and Action Items Progress Update Strategy 1.3: Down -zone identified State- o The CHP group met with members of the Senior Club who carry owned parcels with important cultural and/ most of the living historical memory of North Kohala. They said they would rather share information informally and in "talk story" or scenic resources. venues rather than publish a book or pamphlets or post informative posters/ signs. Strategy 1.6: Establish community cultural o Faye Yates attended two State Historical workshops in Kona to programs. learn what is required to nominate, and care for places on the Historic Register. The group discussed ways to record personal Strategy 1.7: Implement a policy for a histories, either a new book on Kohala or video sessions. o The group did meet with staff from the Community Resource cultural and historical preservation Center to discuss a project to write short personal/family community. histories. Healthcare Investigatory Subcommittee NKCDP Goal, Objective, and Action Items Progress Update Strategy 4.9: Increase community awareness o The Healthcare subcommittee continues to focus on increasing of healthcare services in Kohala. community awareness on healthcare needs and issues in North Kohala.