where's the "development"?

[Rene Siracusa]

Kalakoa: you say that no growth has actually happened in the areas identified as village centers. Have you been to Pahoa lately? There are currently two large parcels that have been cleared for development. And other, not yet cleared, that is looking for an 'anchor' tenant. Part of the delay was due to the fact that our previous councilperson had amended the plan to allow development along the bypass, while leaving the center of Pahoa out side of the village center area. The planning director has had to go through a convoluted process to change it so that the bypass lands stay in intensive ag, all of Pahoa is village center, and the dump road is where light industrial will be. This involved changing the State Land Use (LUPAG) map and then amending the CDP. All time-consuming processes. Meanwhile, many businesses were waiting for the process to run its course. You will soon see some massive movement, I think.

Regarding the other village center areas, this all depends on warm community bodies creating the plans for each area. Volcano has been at it for a while, Mt. View and coastal Puna are just starting. Some communities do not want village centers in their area, and so nothing is being done there. The CDP does not force village centers on a community. If you get involved yourself, you can help pick up the pace. If you come to an Action Committee meeting you can hear the status reports of these groups and actually talk to the people who are working on their village center plans, learn where they're at, what obstacles they are facing, and how you can help.