1. Growing traffic congestion;
2. Diminishing open space;
3. Impeded access to the ocean and mountains;
4. Affordable housing being pushed to the outskirts resulting in longer commutes;
5. Large-lot housing consuming agricultural lands;

Smart growth is about improved principles and tools to manage our future. Our current set of land use tools consisting of our General Plan, community development plans, zoning code, subdivision code, and capital improvements program (CIP) needs to be reevaluated in light of these principles.

Smart growth principles include (from a reference entitled "Getting to Smart Growth: 100 Policies for Implementation" by the Smart Growth Network, March 2002, http://smartgrowth.org

1. Mix land uses. Conventional zoning codes (like ours) separate commercial from industrial from residential uses resulting in a development pattern where one must drive just to get a loaf of bread. Allowing a compatible mix of land uses encourages a more walkable environment and a better balance between jobs and housing.
2. Take advantage of compact building design. Because we have an abundance of land on the Big Island, it is hard for us to accept the idea of higher density (i.e., smaller lots) development. However, unless we start thinking about how to use the land more efficiently, growth will sprawl all over this island. By using smaller building footprints, compact design provides more affordable housing, leaves more open space, and supports viable transportation alternatives.
3. Create a range of housing opportunities and choices. If profit alone dictates the type of new housing being built, then our residential construction workforce will only build for the high-end market. A mix of tools are available to influence the types of housing provided, including mandatory regulatory requirements to provide a percentage of affordable units (called "inclusionary zoning"), tax and other incentives, community land trusts, innovative construction methods, innovative home purchase financing products (e.g., location-efficient mortgages), and public housing construction. The challenge is to determine which of these tools work for the Big Island and to engender a cadre of community-spirited developers.
4. Create walkable communities. How do we create communities that foster social interaction, feel safe, are convenient, and do not rely on the automobile? The typical cul de sac subdivision is not the answer. Although innovative development projects on the mainland provide successful models, we need good models adapted to Hawaii. We also need to revisit our street standards to encourage pedestrian-scale development.
5. Foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place. We need to pay attention to creating communities with character. This requires sensitivity to the place, and attention to details of the architecture, landscaping, signs, historic preservation, and natural environment.
6. Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty and critical environmental areas. Preserving the right open spaces guides growth to lower-impact areas, enhances a community’s quality of life, and thereby fosters economic prosperity. Visitors and new businesses are attracted to areas with a high quality of life. Networks of preserved open space are called "green infrastructure". A green infrastructure plan could identify the significant open areas to be preserved, and the innovative financial tools to acquire or preserve.
7. Strengthen and direct development towards existing communities. We need to remove any barriers and provide incentives to optimize the use of land in existing communities (called "infill" development), to encourage rehabilitation of existing buildings, and to stimulate revitalization of blighted areas through strategic public-private civic projects.
8. Provide a variety of transportation options. We cannot build ourselves out of traffic congestion. New road capacity fills up almost as fast as it is constructed (known as "induced demand", studies show that people increase their driving to take advantage of the new infrastructure). New approaches to transportation planning are needed: better coordination of land use and transportation; high quality transit service; network of connected roads; and connectivity between pedestrian, bike, transit, and road facilities.
9. Make development decisions predictable, fair and cost effective. To successfully implement the smart growth vision, the private sector must believe and support the objectives. If new ways of doing things result in more time, how do we expect developers to try? When developing new codes that encourage smart growth, these codes must be concise, clear, and have predictable timetables.
10. Encourage community and stakeholder collaboration in development decisions. An effective community planning process that draws in broad participation and expresses the core values of the community in its vision will result in a plan that will stay alive and be relied upon for key decisions regarding development proposals, community programs, and infrastructure priorities. We need to pay attention to the process. In the past, we just focused on the document product which then just sat on the shelf.

These principles sound good, but how do we make it real, how do we bring it home to the Big Island?

In search of good ideas, the County recently co-sponsored three outstanding speakers with track records of success stories:

1. Jaime Lerner, as Mayor of Curitiba, transformed this city in Brazil into a model of quality bus transit, mixed density, mixed housing, architectural quality, a pioneer of the pedestrian mall (related to smart growth principles #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 8 above). He also provided inspiring tips on how to get things done.
2. Jim Charlier, a transportation consultant from Colorado, educated County staff and a group of landowners/developers on new approaches to transportation planning that emphasizes connectivity, multi-modal options, and land use coordination (related to smart growth principle #8 above, but also #4 and 5).
3. Steve Ames, a planner from Oregon, conducted workshops on the concepts and methods of visioning that have resulted in enthused communities taking charge of their future (related to smart growth principle #10 above).

There are many initiatives being studied or underway, but this article in a way is premature because we do not yet have any accomplishments or directions to report. However, awareness is a big first step, and we invite ideas to move us forward.

For further information, call the Planning Department at 961-8288.

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Construction work to widen Kuakini Highway, from Palani Road to Hualalai Road, will commence on November 8.

Kuakini Highway will be widened to four lanes, including two lanes with pockets for left turns and bicycle traffic. The construction will last 18-24 months.

One lane will be open at all times from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. while construction is in progress.

We are most grateful for the public’s patience and apologize for any inconvenience caused.

The public is invited to a weekly update on the Kuakini Highway project, which will take place every Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. at the Kona Mayor’s Office conference room at Hanama Place. The first meeting will be on Tuesday, November 9. Light refreshments will be served.

For more detailed information on the construction, please contact Hawaiian Dredging Contracting Co., Inc. at (808) 483-4270.

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Hawai`i County Council member Bob Jacobson and the County’s Department of Environmental Management are set to provide the public with an update for a new Transfer Station with recycling opportunities for Hawaiian Ocean View Estates and Milolii village area residents.

The public is invited to a special public meeting on Sunday, November 7 from 12 noon to 2 p.m. at the Manuka State Park Pavilion.

Besides council member Jacobson, Environmental Management's Deputy Director Nelson Ho and Ron Terry of Geometrician and Associates will be on hand to discuss the new facility and the relocation of the temporary transfer station at Milolii village.

For more information contact Nelson Ho at 961-8083.

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The Environmental Management Commission meets Wednesday November 17 at the Hawai`i County Council Room, 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo.

The meeting will be preceded by public hearings on Solid Waste Division rules and Commission Rules, starting at 9:00 a.m.

1. Call to order & announcements

2. Approval of minutes of September 22, 2004 meeting

3. Approval of addendum and/or supplemental agenda items

4.    Statements from the public on items listed on agenda

5. Reports/correspondence

• Director's report

• Solid Waste Division chief's report

6. Unfinished business

• Waste reduction technology request for proposal update
• Hawaii Deposit Beverage Container program (Bottle Bill) update

• Scheduling of County site visits by the commission
• Appeals process for sewer connection requirements related to ordinance 04-57
• Emc2004-06 - ordinance proposing waiving of tip fees in special circumstances
• Emc2004-07 - ordinance proposing greenwaste tip fee for commercial haulers

8. Future agenda items

9. Meeting announcement

10. Adjournment

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