Amendments For The General Plan 2045 on Big Island
Testimony Due Oct 24th, 2026
Email generalplan@hawaiicounty.gov

Read Amendments

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The amendments give stronger direction about where the County wants future growth and development to happen — and where it wants less development.

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They introduce language calling the Land Use Element a “primary governing framework” and providing “binding direction” for the location and intensity of development.

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What could that mean for you?

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If your property is outside an area where the County wants growth, could that affect a future request to subdivide your land, build additional homes, rezone it, or change how it is used?

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The amendments also raise questions about how much discretion the Planning Director has when interpreting the General Plan maps, and how large projects such as data centers could be evaluated for water, electricity and infrastructure. Important things that should be amended have not been introduced. 

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At the same time, important protections for property owners, farmers, local families, and rural communities have not been added.

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Testimony to model: 

Email generalplan@hawaiicounty.gov

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RE: General Plan 2045 — Proposed Amendments

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Aloha,

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I am concerned about several proposed amendments to General Plan 2045 and how they could affect farmers, homeowners, and property owners across Hawaiʻi Island.

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I understand that these amendments do not automatically change existing zoning. However, the General Plan guides future County land-use decisions and regulations, making this language important for property owners.

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The amendments introduce language calling the Land Use Element a “primary governing framework” and providing “binding direction” for the location, intensity, and timing of development. They also direct the majority of future growth into designated growth areas and state that development intensity should decrease outside those areas.

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I am concerned that this language could influence future decisions involving additional homes, subdivisions, rezoning, changes in land use, and other discretionary approvals, particularly for people whose property is outside the County's preferred growth areas.

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Please remove “binding direction” and “primary governing framework” and make clear that these policies will not be used to unnecessarily restrict lawful uses of existing private property.

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I am also concerned about the discretion given to the Planning Director to interpret the General Plan maps and policies.

 

The General Plan itself acknowledges that its land-use maps have broad boundaries and are not intended to establish exact parcel-level lines. Because these maps are broad, there must be clear, objective standards for determining how they apply to individual properties. A decision that could affect the use or development of someone's property should not depend primarily on the Planning Director's interpretation. The amendments should establish clear standards and a transparent process for resolving disputed map boundaries and interpretations.

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The amendments add detailed policies for data centers, including water, electricity, wastewater, and infrastructure. The County should clearly establish how these resource demands will be evaluated and who will be responsible for the costs of any additional infrastructure.

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Additional amendments are needed to support the people who already live here. The General Plan should:

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• Protect lawful existing property uses from unnecessary restrictions based solely on growth designations.

• Reduce unnecessary permitting and regulatory burdens on small farmers, ranchers, and local food producers and allow necessary farm uses and infrastructure.

• Support reasonable multigenerational housing so local families have opportunities to house children, parents, and grandparents on family property.

• Give meaningful consideration to Community Development Plans before broad islandwide policies are applied to individual communities.

• Require major development to demonstrate adequate roads, water, wastewater, and electricity without creating unreasonable burdens on existing residents.

• Establish objective standards for broad General Plan maps rather than relying primarily on one official's interpretation.

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Climate and resilience policies should also consider the costs and effects on local families, farmers, homeowners, and small businesses. If these policies are used to support new regulations or land-use restrictions, the County should provide clear data, objective standards, costs, expected benefits, and opportunities for public review.

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Terms such as “equity” and “environmental justice” should have clear and objective standards when used in County decision-making so residents understand how decisions are made and everyone is treated fairly.

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Please add protections ensuring that climate policies respect existing property rights, affordability, local agriculture, and the ability of local families to remain on their land.

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The General Plan should not only direct future development. It should also protect the ability of the people who already live here to remain here, farm their land, house their families, operate local businesses, and reasonably use their property.

 

Please revise the amendments accordingly before they are adopted.

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Mahalo,​

(your name)

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