AC-PD 2015-11 ltr req Pahoa Plan Consultant

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William P. Kenoi Duane Kanuha MayorDirector Bobby Command Deputy Director County of Hawai‘i PLANNING DEPARTMENT PUNA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE  Aupuni Center 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720  Phone (808) 961-8288 Fax (808) 961-8742 March 10, 2015 Duane Kanuha Planning Director Planning Department 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 Hilo, HI 96720 Aloha Director Kanuha, RE: Planning Consultant for the Pāhoa Regional Town Center Plan & Wastewater Treatment Study The Action Committee of the Puna CDP urges the Planning Department to move forward on the hiring of a consultant for the Pāhoa Plan and the Wastewater Treatment Study. The Pāhoa Regional Town Center Steering Committee, a sub-committee of the Action Committee, voted unanimously at their meeting on February 16, 2015 for action to resume on the hiring of a consultant. The progress of hiring this consultant was stalled when the threat of lava led us to believe that Pāhoa was about to be overrun. As we know, the flow and direction of the lava is unpredictable and may not ever, or may take years to do whatever it will ultimately do. In the meantime, Pāhoa is still here, and developers, residents and area community members still want to sustain and develop businesses in the Village. The issues that were present before the lava emergency remain and the businesses are returning. In order to support intelligent growth and to preserve the character of Pāhoa we need to have a Regional Town Center Plan. Our Design Guidelines and supporting ordinances are moving swiftly through the County Council. We urge you to move without delay to complete the process of hiring a planning consultant. As this will be on our next Action Committee Agenda please inform us as to the status of your deliberations by March 31, 2015. Sincerely, Patti Pinto Chair, PCDP Action Committee cc: Greggor Ilagan, Danny Paleka Hawai‘i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer