Public input sought for O‘ahu’s future
The city’s General Plan maps goals and strategies
(HONOLULU, HAWAI‘I) ̶ Honolulu City Councilmember Brandon Elefante, chair of the council’s Zoning and Planning Committee, is urging the public to provide comments on theCity’s General Plan (Resolution 21-23). The General Plan is a guiding document that charts the City’s basic goals and aspirations as well as its strategies.
“The General Plan is extremely important in setting our City’s goals and aspirations because all other planning and zoning documents and decisions need to be consistent with the General Plan. It is intended to inform all City decision-making and is the backbone for the vision of our island’s future,” said Councilmember Elefante.
Updates to the General Plan first proposed in 2017, have been updated to reflect a 2021 perspective, with a focus on our quality of life and supporting strong communities and neighborhoods. It includes statements that envision future uses and structures, green and open spaces, homes, schools, and businesses. It also folds in sustainability concepts and climate change concerns.
The current draft is available for public review online, in advance of discussion and possible action during the next Zoning and Planning Committee meeting at 9 a.m. Thursday, October 21. Proposed amendments can be read here.
The City’s General Plan, Sustainable Communities Plans, and Transit-Oriented Development Plans have been a major focus for the Zoning and Planning Committee this year as several of these documents have been waiting for adoption for many years. Since becoming Zoning and Planning Committee Chair, Councilmember Elefante has worked toward moving several important planning documents forward to the City Council for consideration. This year the City Council has reviewed, amended, and adopted the following:
Koolau Loa Sustainable Communities Plan (Bill 79(2020)) Ordinance 21-1 (pending since 2013)
Central Oahu Sustainable Communities Plan (Bill 41 (2019)) Ordinance 21-6 (pending since 2017)
East Honolulu Sustainable Communities Plan (Bill 88(2020)) Ordinance 21-11 (pending since 2020)
Ala Moana Transit-Oriented Development Plan Resolution 20-223 (pending since 2017)
“This call-to-action for the General Plan will assure that all voices are heard and that the final version of the Plan will reflect the essential and important goals and visions for the future of the City and County of Honolulu. We have received excellent feedback on this plan so far and we look forward to finalizing this crucial City planning document with the public’s continued help to assure a strong focus for the island’s future,” Councilmember Elefante said.
