The county Planning Department on Monday unveiled a draft of the county’s General Plan 2045.
Public comments on the plan, a 25-year blueprint for the long-term growth and sustainable development of Hawaii Island, are being accepted until Nov. 20 through Konveio, an interactive online platform. The link to the Konveio site, including the 212-page document, can be found at cohplanning.konveio.com. “In simple terms, it provides our vision and direction of what we want our island to look like 25 years from now,” county Planning Director Zendo Kern said in a video presentation on the plan.
According to county officials, the GP envisions a future that balances growth with preserving the island’s unique cultural and natural resources.
“Sustainability means responsibly safeguarding our environment, resources, and culture for the prosperity of future generations,” said Mayor Mitch Roth. “The General Plan is our road map, guiding us to achieve this vital balance. It ensures that our actions as a community align with our commitment to future generations.
“We take pride in the work accomplished by our community thus far and eagerly anticipate further collaboration to create a plan as diverse and vibrant as the communities we serve.”
The county has two public informational workshops on the GP during the comment period on consecutive Saturdays. The first will be at West Hawaii Civic Center, Building A in Kailua-Kona, 2-4 p.m. Sept. 30, and the second is at Aunty Sally Kaleohano’s Luau Hale in Hilo, 1:30-3:30 p.m. Oct. 7.
The general plan is mandated by state law and the county charter. The county is currently operating under the 2005 General Plan.
Although “it isn’t always obvious,” according to Kern, “the GP impacts most aspects of daily life.”
“Let’s say you’re a single mother of two,” he said. “In order to find affordable housing, you’re located an hour away from the nearest job center. And because bus routes and child-care facilities are not near your home, it’s a long commute to and from work each day. Most days after work, you need to pick up groceries and check on your aging parents. By the time you get home, you don’t have much time for family time before you go to bed and do it all over again the next day.
“In a more equitable and sustainable future, you would have better transportation options, work closer to home and have more access to community resources like childcare, grocery stores and senior care homes within your community. This demonstrates how the choices we make today about land use, infrastructure (and) housing — guided by the General Plan — can have a big impact on the quality of life for generations to come.”
Kern said the review “incorporates many emerging issues that were not addressed in the 2005 GP, such as climate change, integrated water resource management — sometimes called ‘One Water’, broadband, food security, equitable housing and regenerative economy.”
One of the planned goals to combat climate change is for the county’s Mass Transit Agency to have an emission-free fleet of vehicles by 2035.
After the public workshops, GP 2045 will be submitted to the Leeward and Windward Planning Commissions, who will review the plan independently during public hearings, which will include opportunities for public testimony.
After review by the county planning panels, the plan will be forwarded to the County Council for their review and action, with public testimony again being taken.
To stay informed about upcoming events, progress, and the overall process, interested individuals can sign up for the Planning Department’s eNews at www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov/general-plan-community-planning/gp/connect. More information is available at the Planning Department at 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3, in Hilo. They’re also available by phone at (808) 961-8288 or email at generalplan@hawaiicounty.gov.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.