Community Development Plans

1. The County of Hawaii revised General Plan, approved in 2005, established the Community Development Plan Program (CDP).
2. Community Development Plans: translate broad General Plan goals, policies, and standards into implementation actions as they apply to specific geographical regions around the Island.
3. CDPs are also intended to serve as a forum for community input into land-use, delivery of government services and any other matters relating to the planning area.

What is Different This Time?

1. Wide Community Input: Past plans were expert-driven. Present approach recognizes the importance of the planning process– i.e., that wide community involvement creates a plan where the community becomes the “keepers of the flame”.
2. Force of Law: The General Plan now requires that a Community Development Plan shall be adopted by the County Council as an “ordinance”, giving the CDP the force of law. This is in contrast to plans created over past years, adopted by “resolution” that served only as guidelines or reference documents to decision-makers.
3. Monitoring: The CDP’s will include indicators to monitor progress in achieving the goals and objectives.
4. Visualization Techniques: State of the art techniques will be used to help visualize alternative scenarios, such as GIS land use simulation models.

Characteristics of the Community Development Plan Process

1. Inclusiveness— the process reaches out with innovative methods to engage the community and in the process strengthen community cohesion, promote partnerships, and foster new leadership; groups that do not normally participate are sought out (e.g., kupuna, children, local population).
2. Partnerships—the plan is not a plan for government actions only, but is a partnership among government and the community where all parties responsible to implement are held accountable.
3. Action-oriented—the process is focused to result in practical and pragmatic implementation; where possible, small actions are acknowledged and implemented concurrently while the plan is being developed.
4. Balanced—the significant cultural and natural features that define the uniqueness of the community are clearly identified, but the extent and means of protection are balanced against the impact on private rights and does not stifle individual creativity.
5. Contextual—the focus on regional interests is considered in the context of the welfare of the island, it is not strictly parochial.

Outcomes of the Community Development Plan Process

1. Reader-friendly document—the plan is clear, concise, well-illustrated.
2. Community network—after the plan is “completed”, the community network that evolved to prepare the plan lives on to implement the plan; collaborative action planning teams are formed; town meetings or other community forums are held to implement the action plan.
3. “Living” plan—indicators track the progress in meeting the goals and objectives of the plan, with actions and goals adjusted accordingly.
4. County support system—the County has a system to incorporate the plan’s action items and weigh priorities on an island-wide basis.
5. Action plan—each CDP clearly sorts out the implementing actions to identify:
• Land use amendment requirements—State Land Use and LUPAG changes by ordinance for the CDP to be consistent
• Other regulatory changes—other new or existing ordinances or rules that need to be adopted or amended
• Budgetary items—the CDP prioritizes the operational and CIP requests
• Community implementation actions—the CDP identifies those actions which the community will be responsible to implement
• The HCRC will support as necessary with grant funding training or other resources.

Public Outreach Outcomes

1. Informed community (educational workshops)
   • Understands the planning process and what to expect from a CDP
   • Understands land use concepts and how to effectively participate in decisionmaking
   • Understands implementation tools to foster pragmatic planning
2. Organized community (asset mapping; websites, newsletter support; community organizing)
   • Stakeholder groups identified
   • Communication network established
   • Core leadership evolved
3. Action-enabled (training)
   • Facilitation skills acquired to run effective meetings and resolve conflicts
   • Computer skills acquired for GIS, newsletter and/or webpage production, collaboration
   • Pilot project implemented to test and practice skills, and galvanize community participation
4. Partnership
   • Relationship established with County
   • Community takes initiative, more self-reliant

Kona CDP

1. Stakeholder Meetings
2. Large Public Meetings
3. Facilitation Training
4. Small Group Meetings (100)
5. Large Community Workshop
6. Charette #1
7. Charette # 2
8. Implementable Regional Community Development Plan
9. Approval By Hawaii County Council
10. Adoption into the General Plan by Ordinance

Community Readiness Program

1. Assess past planning efforts and general readiness to plan and act
2. Educate communities on planning concepts and the CDP process
3. Build community capacity
4. Initiate data collection
5. Engage in issues and problems identification, assets inventory, visioning

Conclusion

In a partnership involving Hawaii Island communities, County of Hawaii’s Departments of Planning and Research and Development, the nonprofit agency Hawaii Alliance for Community-based Economic Development and select consultant firms, the County of Hawaii is pursuing an unprecedented (for this County) planning effort.

Our hope is that through this effort, Hawaii Island will be a wonderful place to live for generations to come:

1. Significant open spaces preserved;
2. Lifestyle values affirmed, such as access to shorelines, rural ambience, and interaction among diverse social groups;
3. Affordable housing opportunities for local people;
4. Diverse job opportunities;
5. Vibrant sense of community;
6. Governing institution that reaches from the community grassroots to the decision makers.