From SPACE down to Earth - the outcome?

[Rob Tucker]

Stillhope, It is my understanding that everyone will be allowed to submit testimony, for or against, on any such application. That residents within a reasonable radius will receive notice of the SUP application and hearing dates. But the answer would be no, everyone would not vote on the issue. The votes that would be taken would involve the Planning Commissioners and the Council Members. Sometimes the community input is effective, sometimes it appears to not be effective.

To expand on this however, in the case of village centers, I would expect that a community association such as Seaview would have meetings and poll or vote on support for testimony in favor or against.

The community group which I am president of, Friends of Puna's Future, has a general policy of requiring at least 70% approval of membership on policy decisions. Generally we operate with much higher approval rates than that. If we don't have substantial support on a topic we turn our attention to issues of higher importance to our membership. In community affairs a fifty/fifty split on an issue is tough to deal with and very divisive.

[StillHope]

[Originally posted by Rob Tucker[/i]
"The votes that would be taken would involve the Planning Commissioners and the Council Members. "
__________________________________________________________________
Great! Someone who lives in the community has no say?!
How impartial are those officials?
So whoever has better "connections" wins?

[Rob Tucker]

I just told you that everyone who wants to have say will have a voice. How do you determine that someone who lives in the community has no say?

You can expect that as human beings the commissioners will have a variety of motivations. Hopefully they will be emotionally removed from the issue and can be pragmatic. Ethics would require that if they were personally involved to abstain from voting.

[StillHope]

Sorry,Rob.I guess I misunderstood you.
So if there's 900 lots,everyone will receive the letter with some kind of a form to "vote" or just the offer to express opinion.

So those officials you mentioned will really consider the percentage and if at least 51% is against,the Village application would be dismissed?

[Kapohocat]

quote:

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Originally posted by StillHope...
Great! Someone who lives in the community has no say?!
How impartial are those officials?
So whoever has better "connections" wins?

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Here is some light reading for you:

Planning Commission: Rules of Practice and Procedure

and this is what is practice for the above "theoretical":
http://www.hawaii-county.com/planning/co...n/main.htm

[StillHope]

Thank you.

[Rob Tucker]

You are getting closer.

1. Official notice of a official government SUP application hearing will require a minimum notification to everyone within a certain radius. That may or not be all 900 lots of Seaview. Depends on the radius. All of those notified and any other interested parties that can breathe, write or speak will have more than one opportunity to provide their personal opinion. They can also join or form any community groups they choose to combine their opinions. So they can lobby individually or in groups.

2. I would assume that Seaview Community Association and SPACE would notify as close to 100% of property owners and membership of any meetings to discuss village center issues.... and there are more village center issues than just SPACE. The subject of a Seaview village center could well be of interest to outlying neighbors in Kehena or elsewhere too.

3. The Planning Commissioners will, after all due hearings and discussion, vote on providing a positive or negative recommendation on the application to the county council planning committee.

4. The County Council planning committee will, after all due hearings and discussion, vote on providing a positive or negative recommendation on the application to the full county council

5. The County Council will, upon receiving recommendations from the Planning Director, Planning Committee and Planning Commission & after all due hearings and discussion, vote to approve or deny the application.

You and you neighbors will have so many opportunities to speak in favor or to speak against that you will likely grow weary of driving to Hilo and will send in your testimony by email.

Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

Assume the best and ask questions.

Punaweb moderator

[Kapohocat]

quote:

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Originally posted by Rob Tucker...
You and you neighbors will have so many opportunities to speak in favor or to speak against that you will likely grow weary of driving to Hilo and will send in your testimony by email...

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Aint that the truth!! [][][]

[StillHope]

Thank you,Rob.Very informative.
About this radius thing - who has the honor to calculate?[]

[Rob Tucker]

I believe the Planning Department will require the applicant to evidence notification of everyone in the described area. Often this is done in writing, by mail, with return receipts requested. The letters would be addressed to the owners of record of each indicated TMK. So letters might be going out locally, nationally and internationally.

The applicant would, at some given point, deliver evidence of notification or returned letters as proof. Sometimes public notices in the newspaper are required. There are variables which I am not expert on.

In my life I live 75 yards from Pahoa's commercial zone. It has it's pluses and it has it's minuses. On the plus side is my convenience in going to the community center, various stores, banks and restaurants. On the minus side is the noise from the bar(s) on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Sometimes the noise is excessive and I personally complain. Sometimes the bands are VERY GOOD and I get a free concert. When the bar changes ownership I receive official notices of applications for license to serve alcohol. When those come it is up to me to speak in favor or in opposition.

It is complicated and time consuming set of processes which people usually only get involved in when they are fired up.

By all means read up on the various codes and rules of procedure. If you get really expert at it you might find yourself a job as a consultant.