The Governor has HB2704 on her veto list.
On 7/3/08 the community met with her legislative assistant. Testimony was broad based and included the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board, the Koolaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club and local kapuna and business.
Testimony was overwhelming in support of a passive park in which people can recreate and where the can learn the natural and cultural history of the valley.
The Department of Hawaiian Homes Land testified that it is there mission to build residential housing for Hawaiians in the valley.
One of the reasons the Governor gave for a veto was that this bill gave the valley to a small, narrow clique of people who where promoting their own self interest. Our testimony dispelled that bit of misinformation.
If the Governor does veto this bill, we will insist that the momentum generated by our meeting be addressed by forming a committee of community and government representatives which can resolve the future of Haiku Valley.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Resolution re Lilipuna Rd Visual Screen
Pu'u Ali`i Community Association
46-058 Alii Anela Pl.
Kaneohe, HI 96744
Whereas, the Kaneohe neighborhood board is concerned with the notice of violation you received from the Department of planning and permitting of the City and County of Honolulu; and,
Whereas, we understand that your property was allowed to be developed under the Cluster and Planned Development Housing Permit issued by the City and County of Honolulu. This permit requires that a vegetative buffer be maintained between Lilipuna Road and the condominiums.
A functional buffer or screen no longer exists; and,
Whereas, over the years, since the condominium was constructed, you have gradually pruned, cut and topped the vegetation to the point where a screen no longer exists between the Lilipuna Road and the condominiums. Your actions have resulted in a clear-cut on about 300 feet of road frontage and you have removed the understory and pruned and the remaining vegetation to the point where the condominiums are clearly visible from the road; and,
Whereas, the city and county has issued numerous warnings indicating that the condominium association is not to indiscriminately remove or trim trees. The landscape plan specified in your permit identified 124 trees to be protected as part of the buffer. Over the years, you have removed about a third of these trees, and have also removed understory vegetation; and,
Whereas, because of your disregard of County requirements to maintain a buffer, the city and county has notified you that you must stop trimming, pruning or topping of existing major trees and shrubs until the city and county has reviewed and approved a landscape management plan; and,
Whereas, the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board is concerned with how the landscape management plan may be developed; and,
Whereas, it is important that the plan maintain the screening buffer that is required by your permit. Any replacement of existing trees should be done incrementally and in a way that maintains the integrity of the buffer screen; and,
Whereas, we understand that this has become a very emotional issue, both with some of your residents and with your neighbors on Lilipuna road; and,
Whereas, we understand that your residents have no legal right to a view of Kaneohe Bay, but that you do have a legal obligation under your permit to maintain the visual screening between your condominiums and Lilipuna Road; and,
NOW THEREFORE,
Be it resolved, that the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board urges the Puu Alii Community Association to restore the understory needed to block the view from Lilipuna Rd before any vegetation is removed, . The restoration of understory could take 5-10 years. It will take that long for it to fill the space between the ground and the lowest limbs of the pruned vegetation. Once the understory fills in, then the existing trees can gradually be replaced with native species. When it is time to plant the overstory, the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board suggests that 5% of the existing java plum be replaced with native species each year. You are looking at a 30 year project.
In developing your landscape plan, the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board expects you to maintain the visual screening required by your permit. We understand that your ultimate goal, as expressed in a phone conversation with Mr. Sager, our environmental chair, is to remove the existing vegetation and replace it with native plants. While we support the incorporation of native plants into landscape management plans, we also expect that any such activity be done incrementally in a way that maintains the integrity of the visual buffer. We also understand that some members of your landscape committee are adamant that all vegetation that interferes with their view must be removed.
We believe that with a properly designed landscape management plan, which is abided to by the Association you can maintain the visual screening required by your permit and also protect the view of most of your residents.
For under planting to reestablish the visual screen under the Java Plumb you will need shade tolerant species such as the native white Hibiscus, kekio keo keo, and papila. These should grow to 6 feet in 5 yrs. Mamaki, Naio and Hao can be used to fill in the intermediate understory. These plants grow to 15-25 feet. Anapanapa also grows in the 15 foot range. Kamaki, Kou and Milo are medium sized trees that could constitute the over story. These taller trees can be used to replace the Java Plum and should be planted by thinning the Java Plum gradually over a period of time starting after the understory plants fill in.
Protection of the privacy of the Lilipuna Road residents and maintenance of the "woody" appearance of Lilipuna Point as seen from the Bay was the reason for requiring a visual screening.
We expect that your landscape management plan will protect and reestablish the integrity of the visual buffer and that you will work with your neighbors in developing a plan that is both attractive and acceptable to your neighbors.
Be it further resolved, that Pu'u Ali`i Community Association keep the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board informed as their landscape management plan is developed. The Kaneohe Neighborhood board wants to be involved in and contribute to an amicable solution to maintaining an effective buffer along Lilipuna Rd.
Be it further resolved, that this resolution be transmitted to the Pu'u Ali`i Community Association, 46-058 Alii Anela Pl., Kaneohe, HI 96744 and to the C&C Department of Planning and Permitting.
46-058 Alii Anela Pl.
Kaneohe, HI 96744
Whereas, the Kaneohe neighborhood board is concerned with the notice of violation you received from the Department of planning and permitting of the City and County of Honolulu; and,
Whereas, we understand that your property was allowed to be developed under the Cluster and Planned Development Housing Permit issued by the City and County of Honolulu. This permit requires that a vegetative buffer be maintained between Lilipuna Road and the condominiums.
A functional buffer or screen no longer exists; and,
Whereas, over the years, since the condominium was constructed, you have gradually pruned, cut and topped the vegetation to the point where a screen no longer exists between the Lilipuna Road and the condominiums. Your actions have resulted in a clear-cut on about 300 feet of road frontage and you have removed the understory and pruned and the remaining vegetation to the point where the condominiums are clearly visible from the road; and,
Whereas, the city and county has issued numerous warnings indicating that the condominium association is not to indiscriminately remove or trim trees. The landscape plan specified in your permit identified 124 trees to be protected as part of the buffer. Over the years, you have removed about a third of these trees, and have also removed understory vegetation; and,
Whereas, because of your disregard of County requirements to maintain a buffer, the city and county has notified you that you must stop trimming, pruning or topping of existing major trees and shrubs until the city and county has reviewed and approved a landscape management plan; and,
Whereas, the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board is concerned with how the landscape management plan may be developed; and,
Whereas, it is important that the plan maintain the screening buffer that is required by your permit. Any replacement of existing trees should be done incrementally and in a way that maintains the integrity of the buffer screen; and,
Whereas, we understand that this has become a very emotional issue, both with some of your residents and with your neighbors on Lilipuna road; and,
Whereas, we understand that your residents have no legal right to a view of Kaneohe Bay, but that you do have a legal obligation under your permit to maintain the visual screening between your condominiums and Lilipuna Road; and,
NOW THEREFORE,
Be it resolved, that the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board urges the Puu Alii Community Association to restore the understory needed to block the view from Lilipuna Rd before any vegetation is removed, . The restoration of understory could take 5-10 years. It will take that long for it to fill the space between the ground and the lowest limbs of the pruned vegetation. Once the understory fills in, then the existing trees can gradually be replaced with native species. When it is time to plant the overstory, the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board suggests that 5% of the existing java plum be replaced with native species each year. You are looking at a 30 year project.
In developing your landscape plan, the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board expects you to maintain the visual screening required by your permit. We understand that your ultimate goal, as expressed in a phone conversation with Mr. Sager, our environmental chair, is to remove the existing vegetation and replace it with native plants. While we support the incorporation of native plants into landscape management plans, we also expect that any such activity be done incrementally in a way that maintains the integrity of the visual buffer. We also understand that some members of your landscape committee are adamant that all vegetation that interferes with their view must be removed.
We believe that with a properly designed landscape management plan, which is abided to by the Association you can maintain the visual screening required by your permit and also protect the view of most of your residents.
For under planting to reestablish the visual screen under the Java Plumb you will need shade tolerant species such as the native white Hibiscus, kekio keo keo, and papila. These should grow to 6 feet in 5 yrs. Mamaki, Naio and Hao can be used to fill in the intermediate understory. These plants grow to 15-25 feet. Anapanapa also grows in the 15 foot range. Kamaki, Kou and Milo are medium sized trees that could constitute the over story. These taller trees can be used to replace the Java Plum and should be planted by thinning the Java Plum gradually over a period of time starting after the understory plants fill in.
Protection of the privacy of the Lilipuna Road residents and maintenance of the "woody" appearance of Lilipuna Point as seen from the Bay was the reason for requiring a visual screening.
We expect that your landscape management plan will protect and reestablish the integrity of the visual buffer and that you will work with your neighbors in developing a plan that is both attractive and acceptable to your neighbors.
Be it further resolved, that Pu'u Ali`i Community Association keep the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board informed as their landscape management plan is developed. The Kaneohe Neighborhood board wants to be involved in and contribute to an amicable solution to maintaining an effective buffer along Lilipuna Rd.
Be it further resolved, that this resolution be transmitted to the Pu'u Ali`i Community Association, 46-058 Alii Anela Pl., Kaneohe, HI 96744 and to the C&C Department of Planning and Permitting.
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