2025-02-07 M. Lahilahi Heen - Laserfiche WebLink

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From: M. Lahilahi Heen To: W PCtesti mony Subject: GP Opposition Date: Friday,February 7,2025 9:02:36 AM URGENT Opposition Position to the General Plan 2045 While the General Plan 2045 sets ambitious goals for sustainability, economic growth, and infrastructure development, there are critical flaws in its approach that could hinder its success. The plan lacks feasibility, overestimates resource availability, and places undue burdens on taxpayers and rural communities. 1. Unrealistic Transportation Goals The plan prioritizes multi-modal transit and emerging technologies while neglecting practical infrastructure needs: • Mass Transit Limitations: Expanding public transportation is idealistic, but given the low population density, mass transit will remain underutilized and costly. • Neglect of Rural Needs: Vision Zero and Complete Streets focus on urban centers, but rural roads remain deteriorating without sufficient funding. • Autonomous Vehicles & Smart Roads: Investing in future technology is premature when basic road maintenance remains underfunded. 2. Housing Policies Worsen Affordability The plan's zoning changes and affordable housing policies may exacerbate the housing crisis rather than solve it: • Urban Growth Boundaries Increase Prices: Restricting land use in rural areas artificially inflates property values, making housing even less affordable. • Overcrowding Solutions Overlook Economic Realities: Policies ignore that overcrowding results from low wages and high living costs, not just housing shortages. • Regulatory Burdens on Developers: Strict zoning and sustainability mandates deter private investment, reducing housing supply and increasing costs. 3. Infrastructure and Utility Investments Are Unfunded and Impractical The plan assumes major infrastructure expansions without realistic funding mechanisms: • Green Infrastructure & Energy Transition: Renewable energy projects are costly, and residents will bear the financial burden of transitioning away from fossil fuels. • Broadband Expansion: While beneficial, the cost of rural broadband investment is unsustainable without private sector buy-in. • Water Conservation Mandates: Restrictions and green infrastructure initiatives may increase costs for consumers without clear efficiency benefits. 4. Economic Development Overlooks Local Challenges The plan assumes economic diversification will reduce reliance on tourism but fails to address key barriers: • Workforce Shortages in Tech & Healthcare: While the plan emphasizes education and business services, Hawaii struggles to retain talent due to the high cost of living. • Tourism Mismanagement: Reducing tourism's footprint is economically dangerous, as it remains Hawai`i's largest industry. Balancing conservation and tourism is unrealistic without clear incentives. • Agricultural Growth Is Not Feasible at Scale: Farming expansion requires land, water, and workforce, all of which are limited. Dependence on imports will persist.