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First set of answers to public questions asked at Puna CDP kick-off meetings
The Puna CDP Team
Q: Who or what is PlanPacific, Inc.? What is their profit by this?
A:
PlanPacific is a planning consulting firm based in Honolulu that works
throughout the Hawaiian Islands. About 85% of their work is for
government agencies and nonprofit organizations. The remaining 15% is
mainly for small residential property owners and for attorneys to
provide expert witness testimony. For work such as the Puna Community
Development Plan, PlanPacific does not expect to make a profit. Most
typically, the firm dedicates more time and effort to a community
project than what was originally budgeted, so at least some of the work
ends up being volunteer.
Q:
Please give names of developer and consultants on county level to help
include and integrate Volcano Vision 2020 into the CDP planning process.
A:
No developer has been asked to help with the CDP planning process.
PlanPacific is the consultant contracted by the county to help develop
a Puna CDP that will recognize and utilize local community planning
efforts such as "Volcano Vision 2020" and the "Hawaiian Paradise Park
Revised Master Plan."
Q:
What effort has the Planning Department made to ensure that Plan
Pacific does not have any conflicts of interest, including: Any work
currently being done or previously done for any landowners on this
island and any positions, including advocacy, legal or ideological on
planning issues
A:Plan
Pacific does not and has not represented any landowners or developers
in the Puna District. Several years ago, John Whalen, President of
PlanPacific, assisted a friend with the subdivision of an agricultural
lot in the Hamakua District to enable his friend?s daughter to
establish a small farm based on permaculture principles. Currently, Mr.
Whalen serves on the board of directors for Scenic Hawai'i, Inc., a
non-profit organization that, among other activities, advocates
legislation to protect or enhance the scenic beauty of Hawai'i.
The General Plan Elements
Environmental Quality
Q: Will noise control have a part
A: It
is doubtful that the CDP will address noise control directly. If the
issue is noise generated by incompatible adjacent land uses, then the
CDP might possibly recommend that new zoning code standards be
developed to address this problem.
Natural Resources and Shoreline
Q: How will the planning process consider Volcano National Park Biosphere reserve designations (UNESCO)
A:
It is not expected that the CDP will include policies or objectives
that are contrary to the Volcano National Park?s designation as an
International Biosphere Reserve. The National Park Service will be
consulted in the review of the CDP.
Q: Is there a mechanism within this process that may enable limits on native forest deforestation on private land
A:
This is a possibility. The first challenge is to determine an
acceptable method for categorizing and mapping such areas. The CDP will
probably need to rely on mapped inventories available through Federal
and State agencies, even though some of this information may not be
current.
Public Utilities
Q: Is there a plan for supplying water universally
A:
There is no such plan at present because the cost of retrofitting the
extensive subdivisions in Puna is extremely high. The plan could
include strategies for bringing water to existing subdivisions. The
Copies of Central Puna Master Plan will be available to be borrowed at
your local libraries?please check for further information on Previous
Puna Plan.
Transportation
Q: Who is responsible to pave the roads in Tiki Gardens?
A:
These are private roads, so the subdivision lot owners and/or community
association are responsible for paving and maintaining the roads.
Sewage
Q: How much longer will cesspools be allowed in Puna?
A:
Generally speaking, existing cesspools serving individual dwellings may
be continued, as long as they are functioning properly and there is no
municipal wastewater treatment system being planned to service the area
in the immediate future. State and Federal rules require the
replacement of large capacity cesspools under certain circumstances. In
some instances, there are conflicts between Federal and State rules.
For information on what applies to specific situations, refer to the
memorandum at the following website:
http://www.hawaii.gov/health/environmental/water/wastewater/pdf/lccmemo.pdf
Land Use
Q: Can there be some sort of incentive to establishing basic businesses such as small neighborhood groceries?
A:
This is one of the issues that the CDP could explore, especially in
growing residential areas where such services are not presently
available.
Q: What is being done or can be done, to prevent Hwy 130 from developing commercially as a series of strip malls?
A:
The CDP can be a mechanism for preventing this by establishing land use
criteria and restrictions on the issuance of Special Permits for such
uses.
Q: What incentives
can the county offer to encourage development of four 20 acre parcels
zoned commercial and light industrial within HPP?
A: The CDP can explore incentives to achieve this, if it is clear that these uses are desired at those locations.
Q: Do you have any plans to develop in lower Puna ? Kalapana ? Kapa?ahu area (at the end of the lava road)?
A:
It is very doubtful that the CDP would recommend additional development
in this remote area, especially in view of the natural hazards that
exist there.
Q: Is the county looking to re-zoning agricultural lots that are not being used for agricultural purpose?
A:
As a general rule, the County is unlikely to initiate rezoning of
agricultural lots that are not presently being used for agricultural
purposes. The County is interested in an easier process to change State
Land Use Designations for some areas, but this requires action by the
State Legislature. The County is willing to consider rezoning of lands
used by commercial businesses that have been allowed by Special Permit.
Q. Many Volcano lands are zoned Urban, how can this process help to reduce this potential density?
A:
The Urban designation is not County zoning. It is a State Land Use
classification made by the State Land Use Commission. The CDP is the
process by which questions like these will be examined with the
intention of implementing community desires.
Q: Will special design districts be considered involving architectural design?
A:
The creation of special design districts could be considered through
the CDP process. Candidate areas should already have some evidence of a
distinctive design character. If such districts can be identified in
Puna, then the CDP could define them, but architectural design
standards would need to be developed either in a follow-up ordinance or
in voluntary design guidelines.
Q. Is there a way to switch the focus on development to promised Hawaiian Home Lands?
A:
Priorities for the development of these lands are set by the Department
of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) and are not under the jurisdiction of the
County. While it is doubtful that the CDP will have much influence on
DHHL?s development schedule, it will attempt to reflect and accommodate
DHHL?s plans. Hopefully DHHL will also consider the recommendations and
conclusions of the CDP as it plans its development of DHHL lands in
Puna.
Q: How do we preserve our quality of life with this unprecedented, out of control growth?
A:
One of the big challenges in Puna is the significant latent development
potential of the extensive subdivisions in the district. The CDP will
explore methods to abate or slow the rate of development and point out
the lessons learned and the political and legal challenges that have
been experienced in other jurisdictions that are attempting to use such
methods. A big challenge for the Puna CDP is how to best handle and
accommodate growth that has all the legal entitlements and cannot be
controlled or limited through traditional zoning regulations.
Q: How does a more decentralized ? green, off-grid, sustainable model fit into this planning process?
A:
This model could be considered in the CDP process. Some areas of Puna
are better candidates for this approach than others due to physical
circumstances, cost factors, and the preferences of the affected lot
owners and residents.
References and Resources
Q: What is the availability of current demographics?
A:
The County of Hawaii Data Book published by the Department of Research
and Development can be purchased for $15.00 or you can check on-line at
www.co.hawaii.hi.us under Research & Development.
Q: Is there a present baseline or preliminary plan?
A:
The County General Plan was updated and approved on February of 2005.
You can view the entire plan on the web at
http://www.hawaii-county.com/la/gp/2005/main.html. Excerpts from the
General Plan specifically relating to Puna are here.
Q: Is there an island-wide soil grade map so that it is transparent to everyone which agricultural land should be set aside?
A:
In 2005, the Legislature adopted Act 183, which sets standards,
criteria and procedures for identifying "Agricultural Lands of
Importance to the State of Hawai`i (ALISH), and mandates the counties
to conduct studies and lead a public process to map such lands under
their jurisdiction. The ALISH maps are then reviewed and adopted by the
State Land Use Commission. Until that process is completed, State law
gives preference to the protection of agricultural lands rated "A" and
"B" by the Land Study Bureau (LSB) classification and mapping system
from the 1960s. LSB maps are available for the island in digital format
from the State of Hawai'i Office of Planning at
http://www.ehawaii.gov/dbedt/op/maps/LandStudyBureau/. Also, ALISH maps
as identified by previous studies conducted by the State Department of
Agriculture are available at
http://www.ehawaii.gov/dbedt/op/maps/alish/. The County?s General Plan
also designates "important agricultural lands" in its.
.
Q:
Are you/is anyone looking at Building Permits, auto registrations by
district and other things that are affecting or showing growth?
A:
The consultant has already analyzed building permit data to provide an
estimate of current population in Puna by Census Designated Place. See
http://www.hawaiiislandplan.com/punmaps.asp for a map that displays
these estimates along with population figures from the 1980, 1990 and
2000 Census to show the pattern of growth in Puna?s towns and
subdivisions.
Q: What
population numbers are being considered in twenty years? Are we
planning to get full or to prevent dense population in rural areas?
A:
One of the big challenges in Puna is the significant latent development
potential of the extensive subdivisions in the district. The CDP will
explore methods to abate or slow the rate of development and point out
the lessons learned and political and legal challenges that have been
experienced in other jurisdictions that are attempting to use such
methods. A big challenge for the Puna CDP is how to best handle and
accommodate growth that has all the legal entitlements and cannot be
controlled or limited through traditional zoning regulations.
Q: Could all the facilitators have copies of Volcano Vision 2020?
A:
A physical copy will be available at locations, in Volcano and
surrounding areas. Also, we can make copies for you, if requested thru
Department of Research and Development. Please check Puna Previous Plan
for further information
Regulatory Issues
Q:
Is there a way we can educate new landowners and bulldozers drivers
about respecting the `aina and doing something beyond clear cutting
lots?
AND
Q: In
some places in California, landowners must consult officials before
removing trees during building process. Could we possibly implement
something like this?
AND
Q:
Are there steps the county can take now to inform new property owners
before a plan is developed on how to clear a lot, such as bull-dozing
and development, to be handled in a sensitive manner to the rainforest
and land?
A: Some
municipalities (not just in California) have enacted ordinances to
prohibit the clear-cutting of lots and removal of significant trees for
development and provide other guidelines for more eco-friendly land
use. Such measures could be considered for Puna and other districts of
the Island, but it is likely that the CDP would provide only the policy
direction and objectives for more detailed regulations that would be
adopted by a separate ordinance.
One idea that has been suggested is
production of a pamphlet to educate landowners about the special native
plants that may be present on their properties. The pamphlet could be
distributed by realtors to new landowners who may be unaware of
Hawai`i?s unique flora and fauna. It is very possible that landowners
are clearing lots, completely ignorant that they are destroying
valuable resources on their property. Such a project would ideally be a
private, community-based initiative. There are probably private and
governmental grants available for such a project.
General Inquiries
Q: What is a sustainable level of growth?
A:
This is a question that can be answered only by first defining criteria
for "sustainability"as they apply to the Puna District. The CDP process
could possibly lead to the development of sustainability criteria that
have broad agreement within the region.
Q:
How can we have a Puna CDP when the legality of all our subdivision is
in doubt? (re: Hokuli?a lawsuit on the Kona side) challenging
residential homes on Ag land?
AND
Q:
Doesn't the legality of our subdivisions need be addressed?
Specifically regarding Hokulia county battle. If the homes in Puna are
illegally built on Ag land then we don?t have a community?
A:
The legality of residential use on ag land is an issue affecting land
throughout the County and the State. One solution requires legislative
amendments to the State Land Use Law. Another solution, which can be
directly addressed by the CDP, is to reclassify appropriate areas from
Agricultural to Rural designation. The CDP could also identify which
lands really do have agricultural value and should therefore be
specially protected.
Plan Implementation
Q: Who will ensure that the plan, once approved will be implemented according to the people?s true intent?
A:
How well a plan is implemented depends on several factors: 1) clarity
and specificity in crafting the implementing actions; 2) feasibility of
the implementing actions; 3) an inclusive process in developing the
plan so that the community is aware and cares about the plan to become
the "keepers of the flame"; 4) indicators to monitor progress and
effectiveness of implementation. The more involvement of the community
in developing the plan, the greater the chances that the community will
take responsibility to see that the plan is implemented.
Q:
Is it possible that after we go thru this process for a year that the
county council does not approve the plan? If so, then what?
A:
With broad input and resolve to address conflicts throughout the
planning process, there should be a groundswell of community support
for the plan. Council members will also be encouraged to participate
throughout the process. If extensive opposition arises at the tail end
of the process, then we have not done the job correctly and need to
take a hard look in reevaluating the process.
Q: How will the Puna CDP effect and be incorporated into say, Hilo and Kau Plans?
A:
There will be six to eight CDPs for all of Hawai`i County. There may be
issues that cross CDP boundaries (e.g., the traffic from Puna to Hilo).
Once a CDP is completed, we plan to establish a body to succeed the
Steering Committee to oversee the implementation of the plan. This body
will be involved in discussions where tradeoffs are necessary that
impact the communities of several CDPs.
Q:
How will priorities be established comparatively, between Kona and Puna
and the average household income (priorities meaning % of $ per
household and how much does that benefit us. How will those decisions
and $ be equitable) and how much will be spent in our district?
A:
Allocation of funding should not be based on the amount contributed,
but rather on need. If based on amount, the higher value properties in
Kona would mean more funding should be spent in Kona irrespective of
the need. We hope to develop a rational means to determine need based
on "level of service" standards. Funding would then be directed to
areas where the level of service is deficient. The CDP will identify
needs for public facilities and services.
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