SPRING 2007 DRAFT COUNTY-WIDE POLICY PLAN
SECTION IV. GOALS, OBJECTIVES & POLICIES
As part of the effort to develop this Countywide Policy Plan, the County of Maui supported and conducted a number of public participatory workshops. The intent of those workshops was to establish a broadly held consensus about the preferred future of the community. Those community involvement activities resulted in a series of broad goal statements each supported by more specific objectives and policies.
Those goals are stated below and are intended to describe a desirable end state or condition of the County by the year 2030. They are intentionally general but are felt to be attainable through concerted effort. The objective statements tend to be more specific and may be regarded as milestones in the journey to achieve the larger goals. Policy statements provide specific activities, tools and legislation with which to accomplish the goals and objectives.
It is important to keep in mind that in the process of prioritizing, there will be issues that overlap and conflict and will often compete with other issues for resources. In such cases, the participants of Focus Maui Nui recommended planning and decision-making with a balanced approach that takes as many categories as possible into consideration without forsaking other needs.
For example, participants said that if they must choose between areas of need or make “tradeoffs,” the majority believed that preservation of natural resources, the islands’ local identity, and cultural assets must be considered before improvements to the infrastructure or even steps to strengthen the economy. Residents articulated a hope that more balance could exist in decision-making, and they supported the notion that many issues could be addressed simultaneously by developing strategies that take into consideration competing needs.
This Section sets fourth the fundamental goals, objectives and policies of the County in regards to realizing our key strategies of: education, social services, natural environment, physical infrastructure, transportation planning, cultural preservation, land use management, economic diversity, housing opportunities, and good governance Countywide.
A. IMPROVE EDUCATION
- Goal: Maui County will continue to partner with the State of Hawai`i and other educational organizations to develop state-of-the-art school facilities, secure competitive teacher salaries, and create a wide variety of community-based learning programs so that Maui County residents have access to outstanding educational opportunities.
- Objective 1: Require quality educational facilities, supplies, equipment and service be made available to all residents.
- Policies:
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- a. Enhance and retrofit existing school facilities.
- b. Encourage the State to build new school facilities in a timely manner in appropriate locations that minimize time and distance for students to travel.
- c. Work with the State to make teacher salaries competitive with national standards and to recruit excellent teaching staff.
- d. Support the establishment of a four-year university campus in Maui County.
- e. Seek continual improvement in the quality of education at all levels.
- f. Expand pre-school opportunities and after school programs for the children of Maui County.
- g. Collaborate with local businesses to develop youth internship and apprenticeship programs.
- h. Define appropriate routes and ensure safe access to school facilities for children.
- i. Adopt best national practices in school scheduling to improve conditions for learning.
- j. Encourage the State to develop smaller schools that are accessible to surrounding neighborhoods.
- Objective 2: Provide all residents with educational opportunities which can help them better understand themselves, their surroundings, and inspire them to realize their ambitions.
- Policies:
- a. Support educational and training programs that will equip residents with skills that can be utilized in Maui County’s industries.
- b. Encourage the development of a wide range of informal educational and cultural programs for people of all ages.
- c. Support incentives to attract graduate level research programs and institutions.
- d. Encourage existing educational institutions to utilize Maui County for outreach and practicum projects.
- e. Promote the teaching of traditional practices such as; aquaculture, subsistence agriculture, medicinal treatments and healing, and home construction.
- f. Encourage the State to continue funding preschool language immersion programs.
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B. PROTECT THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
- Goal: Maui County will have significant areas of permanently preserved natural resources and through the adoption of firm policies will ensure the mitigation of environmental degradation to provide future generations the opportunity to enjoy islands’ rare and beautiful ecology.
- Objective 1: Identify and preserve environmentally sensitive – locally valued natural resources – and unique Hawaiian ecosystems.
- Policies:
- a. Protect and restore near shore reef environments and water quality through strengthened coastal zone management, re-naturalization of shorelines, and mitigation of urban and agricultural run-off.
- b. Work in partnership with other agencies to develop programs which preserve biodiversity, protect native species, and facilitate the control of damaging invasive species.
- c. Work in partnership with various organizations to protect critical habitat areas.
- d. Preserve and reestablish habitat connectivity through greenways, watercourses, and habitat corridors.
- e. Create a scoring system and evaluate all land-based development relative to its impact on the County’s land and ocean ecological resources.
- f. Develop tree protection ordinances and assist in restoring upland forest environments.
- g. Expand public awareness about programs and adopt legislation to reduce air, land and water pollution.
- h. Develop stormwater treatment standards for new development and redevelopment projects that incorporate the use of native vegetation and mimic natural systems.
- i. Partner with state agencies to establish baseline stream flow levels for perennial streams and promote policies that ensure adequate stream flow to support aquatic species.
- j. Protect remaining undeveloped beaches, dunes and coastal ecosystems and restore natural shoreline processes where possible.
- Objective 2: Preserve for present and future generations the opportunity to experience the natural beauty of the islands through the protection of view corridors, open space, vistas, and natural landmarks.
- Policies:
- a. Utilize transfer of development rights to ensure the permanence of valued open spaces.
- b. Work cooperatively with institutions and land trust organizations to identify, preserve and provide ongoing care for important scenic, and environmental resources.
- c. Create design standards that require site sensitivity and view corridor protection for future development.
- d. Develop and implement financial programs to acquire scenic and environmental lands.
C. STRENGTHEN SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC FACILITIES
- Goal: Maui County will continue to partner with local social service networks and organizations to create communities in which the physical, mental and spiritual health needs of all segments of the population have been recognized and met.
- Objective 1: Coordinate the services of government, private and non-profit agencies, in order to insure the most expeditious and reliable access to needed services.
- Policies:
- a. Encourage the expansion and improvement of local hospitals, and ensure prompt and high-quality emergency care services for all residents.
- b. Support broadened access to health insurance and health care.
- c. Create partnerships with local organizations through the Housing and Human Services Department to provide counseling and assistance for substance abuse, domestic violence, and other pressing social challenges.
- d. Deliver social and government services to special needs populations.
- e. Support programs design to improve the general welfare of Native Hawaiians.
- Objective 2: Provide high-quality recreational facilities and expand access to public lands to meet the present and future needs of residents of all ages and physical ability.
- Policies:
- a. Identify and develop lands for parks, civic spaces and public uses.
- b. Maintain and enhance both active and passive recreation facilities in ways that preserve the natural beauty of their locations.
- c. Encourage “kama`aina” programs within the visitor industry to allow Hawaii residents to enjoy visitor facilities and activities.
- d. Encourage recreation, celebratory and leisure activities that bring people together and build community pride.
- Objective 3: Create an atmosphere which will convey a sense of security for all residents and visitors; and aid in the protection of life and property.
- Policies:
- a. Provide a wide range of social programs to help eliminate conditions that lead to crime and social disorder.
- b. Encourage a spirit of cooperation between the police and the public.
- c. Expand public education about natural hazards, personal safety and domestic dangers.
D. IMPROVE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
- Goal: Maui County’s physical infrastructure will be in good condition and will effectively serve the needs of the County through, clean, sustainable and self-reliant technologies.
- Objective 1: Support the improvement of water transmission systems to those areas which have historically experienced critical water supply problems; provided that the improvements are consistent with the County’s Water Use Development Plan.
- Policies:
- a. Ensure that all water infrastructure is in good repair and adequate to meet demand.
- b. Develop and fund improved delivery systems for fire protection.
- c. Limit growth activities throughout Maui County to ensure that development of new water sources address deficits in the existing system prior to the approval of new development.
- d. Promote water conservation practices that make the most efficient use of existing water sources and delivery systems.
- e. Prohibit the use of potable water for activities that could use reclaimed, gray or brackish water.
- f. Develop public educational programs to promote stewardship and sustainable practices including water conservation programs.
- g. Retain public ownership of the islands’ water resources.
- h. Limit development on the islands to the holding capacity of the natural water systems.
- i. Maximize use of existing water sources by expanding storage capabilities.
- Objective 2: Provide efficient, safe and environmentally sound systems for the disposal and reuse of liquid and solid wastes.
- Policies:
- a. Identify and develop new waste disposal methods that are safe, economical, environmentally sound, aesthetically pleasing and that minimize the disposal of wastes in landfills.
- b. Establish programs for the development of waste disposal systems which anticipate planned growth.
- c. Develop comprehensive and publicly convenient alternative methods of recycling solid and liquid waste.
- d. Encourage and promote public awareness to reduce, reuse, recycle and compost waste materials.
- e. Adopt a zero waste policy for Maui County government as a model for other industries.
- f. Identify and promote technologies to reclaim grey water at all scales of development scales.
- Objective 3: Utilize renewable and green technologies to make Maui County energy efficient and independent.
- Policies:
- a. Provide incentives that support the use of solar, wind, hydro, agricultural bi-products and other sources of renewable energy.
- b. Encourage individual means of energy generation through green technology, utilizing wind, sun , water and biowaste.
- c. Encourage the incorporation of energy-saving building design concepts in all new developments by providing energy efficient urban design guidelines and amendments to the Uniform Building Code.
- d. Promote the retrofitting of existing buildings to incorporate energy-saving design concepts and devices.
- Objective 4: Direct growth in a way that maximizes efficient use of existing infrastructure.
- Policies:
- a. Capitalize on existing capacity as a priority over infrastructure expansion.
- b. Utilize appropriate infrastructure technologies in the appropriate locations (i.e., catchment systems and on site wastewater treatment in rural areas, and aggregated water and wastewater systems in urban areas).
- c. Promote proximity of land uses in balance with the County’s fiscal ability to provide necessary essential services.
E. PRESERVE LOCAL CULTURE AND TRADITIONS
- Goal: Maui County will have significant areas of permanently preserved lands, sites and activities that are culturally important to assure that current and future generations will enjoy the benefits of their rich island heritage.
- Objective 1: Preserve, enhance and establish new environmentally sensitive access to mountain, ocean and island resources for traditional cultural practices.
- Policies:
- a. Work cooperatively with land trust organizations to identify and preserve historic and cultural sites.
- b. Limit development of makai lands which are important for traditional Hawaiian use, giving priority to traditional and/or native activities – which include food gathering, religious and recreational uses.
- Objective 2: To preserve for present and future generation the opportunity to know and experience the arts, culture and history of Maui County.
- Policies:
- a. Expand opportunities for all age groups to participate in the arts.
- b. Encourage the recordation of oral history of Maui County residents.
- c. Develop programs that reconnect former County residents with their ancestral families on the islands.
- d. Identify and foster teaching opportunities for cultural practitioners to share their knowledge and skills.
- e. Encourage the construction of indigenous structures to perpetuate traditional building practices and craftsmanship.
- Objective 3: Preserve for present and future generation the historic architecture, structures, culturalsites and landmarks.
- Policies:
- a. Identify, develop and maintain an inventory of significant cultural and historical resources for protection.
- b. Promote the rehabilitation, and adaptive reuse of historic sites, buildings and structures to perpetuate traditional community character and values.
- c. Establish programs to record, restore, maintain, and interpret cultural districts, sites and artifacts in both natural and museum settings.
F. DIVERSITY TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS
- Goal: Maui County ‘s transportation system will be diverse, efficient, aesthetically and dimensionally compatible with land use patterns and designed in a way to provide residents and visitors with comfortable, safe and convenient transport.
- Objective 1: Build capacity in today’s roadway system through multi-modal transportation facilities.
- Policies:
- a. Plan for additional transportation connections to improve circulation.
- b. Create incentives for pedestrian-scaled transit-oriented development.
- c. Work with transit agencies and operators to prioritize efficient routes between employment centers and primary work-force residential areas.
- d. Reprioritize the road right-of-way to accommodate safe access for pedestrians and bicycles.
- e. Ensure that transportation facilities are programmed for construction in advance of or concurrent with planned development.
- Objective 2: Require high-quality and attractive design in all transportation infrastructure.
- Policies:
- a. Ensure the roadway systems of the County are in good repair.
- b. Utilize the County’s street tree plan and fund landscape planting, irrigation and maintenance programs along all public rights-of-way.
- c. Develop attractive and unique public transportation for visitors between the airport, accommodations, and common visitor attractions.
- d. Plan for the establishment of appropriately located and beautifully developed park-andride, and ride-share facilities in the County.
- e. Create incentives to reduce carbon emissions.
- Objective 3: Support the development of efficient, economical and environmentally sensitive means of moving goods and people throughout the County and between islands.
- Policies:
- a. Encourage upgrading and modernizing air and water transportation facilities.
- b. Develop an efficient and economic means of transporting local agricultural products and goods to major off-island markets.
- c. Provide adequate funding to improve transportation facilities.
- d. Make safe and easy alternative transport options (e.g. walking, bicycling, etc.) between and within communities a prominent component of long-term transportation planning and a top priority for improvements to existing roadways.
G. PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE LAND USE PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT
- Goal: Local, cultural and traditional community lifestyles will be preserved by limiting and managing growth through environmentally sensitive and effective use of land and resources in accordance with the individual character of the various communities and regions of the County.
- Objective 1: Implement a directed land use growth strategy which will encourage the redevelopment and infill of existing communities and allow for mixed land uses.
- Policies:
- a. Define and enforce urban and rural growth limits in the island and community plans.
- b. Develop programs that preserve lands well suited for agricultural uses, recognizing that the agriculture lands of the County contribute to the islands rural identity an economy.
- c. Enable existing communities to be self-sufficient through a proximity of uses that reduces the average vehicle trips per households.
- d. Allow for auto free communities and traditional Hawaiian villages.
- e. Limit and define the boundaries of resort destination areas to prevent the overflow of visitors into neighboring residential communities.
- f. Limit the subdivision of agricultural lands into lots that are economically too small to farm.
- g. Utilize transfer of development rights to concentrate new development around existing infrastructure and services.
- h. Discourage the establishment of pseudo-agricultural subdivisions on agriculturally zoned lands.
- i. Support the right to farm.
- Objective 2: Plan the growth of resident and visitor population through a directed and managed growth plan providing for social, economic, and environmental prosperity.
- Policies:
- a. Maintain a balance between resident and visitor population by controlling the growth of visitor accommodation units.
- b. Develop programs to encourage the retention of local families.
- c. Require the public dedication of continuous lateral access parallel with the shoreline.
- d. Require new developments to contribute their fair share to infrastructure costs.
- e. Encourage land owners and the development community to collaborate with government agencies, non-profits and land trusts to preserve lands of importance and develop housing to meet the demands of the local population.
- Objective 3: Ensure that all developments are designed to be in harmony with their surroundings and enhance each community’s sense of place.
- Policies:
- a. Establish urban design guidelines and standards which will reflect the unique architectural characteristics and materials of each community.
- b. Ensure high-quality children’s play areas, parks, open spaces and public gathering places in all urban centers and neighborhoods throughout the County.
- c. Permit the construction of indigenous building styles and tropical building and architectural designs.
- d. Require each development project to address important character defining elements including, street trees, landscaping, lighting, building massing, and public amenities.
- e. Ensure business districts are distinctive and attractive destinations.
- f. Focus on improving the aesthetic quality of all waterfront areas and harbors.
- Objective 4: Utilize distinctive public transit, pedestrian and bicycle ways and the public right-of-way to make neighborhoods and Community Plan areas attractive and distinctive.
- Policies:
- a. Coordinate with the State Department of Transportation to utilize transportation enhancement funds to create places of distinction
- b. Use trees and other green infrastructure along rights-of-way and within parking lots to provide shelter, beauty, urban heat reduction, and separation from automobile traffic.
- c. Use visual cues and design details for way-finding and to indicate pedestrian rights-of-way.
- d. Situate parking to enhance the pedestrian environment and facilitate access between destinations.
H. STRENGTHEN THE LOCAL ECONOMY
- Goal: Maui County’s economy will be diverse, supporting a range of activities including culturally sensitive visitor and service sectors, agriculture industries, and small locally-owned businesses, while protecting the cultural resources and natural environment.
- Objective 1: Provide an economic climate which will encourage diversification of the County’s economic base, particularly small-business.
- Policies:
- a. Enable informal retail, local markets, and cottage industries a venue to market their goods and services, and create legislation that enables those activities.
- b. Encourage industries that will give incentives to the County’s youth to seek higher education to prepare them for jobs within the County.
- c. Support investment in infrastructure for information technologies.
- d. Provide incentives for market expansion of traditional crafts.
- e. Encourage marketing methods which will help make local products competitive with mainland products in local markets.
- f. Support programs that promote purchase and consumption of locally grown and produced products in Maui County.
- Objective 2: Diversify and expand agriculture and aquaculture throughout Maui County.
- Policies:
- a. Promote the use of agricultural lands for diversified cottage agricultural industries by providing incentives and encouraging collaboration among market participants.
- b. Capitalize and expand on the Hawaiian legacy of aquaculture industries.
- c. Assist in methods of exporting County agriculture and aquaculture products.
- d. Provide a reliable and appropriate source of water for agriculture and supply low cost water for agriculture purposes especially in areas where water can be diverted while continuing to meet domestic needs.
- e. Encourage the development of agricultural parks throughout the County.
- Objective 3: Require exceptional quality in the visitor industry and control the development of visitor facilities to incorporate the traditional, social and environmental values of the islands.
- Policies:
- a. Eliminate encroachment of ocean front lands for tourism and other industry.
- b. Encourage sensitivity of cultural values and the island lifestyle.
I. EXPAND HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS
- Goal: Quality, island appropriate housing will be available in Maui County to all of its residents, and future generations – regardless of their household income, size and age.
- Objective 1: Address the existing housing deficit for the resident population, and all income ranges, as a priority before allowing additional luxury housing for off-island absentee owners.
- Policies:
- a. Provide emergency, transitional and long-term housing for the homeless population.
- b. Expand opportunities for the development of “oh?na” cottages and increase awareness about small-scale housing as an affordable option.
- c. Work with lending institutions to redefine lending criteria in order to expand housing options through a variety of programs.
- d. Work with major industries to develop workforce housing in proximity to job centers.
- e. Create incentives for transit oriented/auto free neighborhoods and traditional Hawaiian villages – thereby lessening development costs and increasing a range of housing options suitable to a mix of incomes.
- f. Streamline the review process for affordable housing development for both single and multi-family projects
- g. Expand access to and information about State and Federal programs that provide
financial assistance to renters and home buyers. - h. Ensure that low and moderate income housing is available in all areas of the County and is not developed in high concentrations in any location.
- Objective 2: Promote the building of housing in neighborhoods and urban centers at densities that promote social equity, environmental sustainability and economic development.
- Policies:
- a. Codify traditional neighborhood design – incorporating a mix of housing types appropriate to island living.
- b. Promote infill housing in urban areas at scales that capitalize on existing infrastructure and lower development costs.
- c. Streamline the government review process to promote high-quality, mixed income projects, thereby adding certainty to the permit process.
- d. Encourage the establishment of additional senior citizen and special needs housing in appropriate locations.
- e. Encourage the use of environmentally sound building materials and technologies for housing construction.
- f. Support the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands’ development of homestead lands that are developed in accordance with the Island plans and General Plan.
J. STRIVE FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE
- Goal: Maui County’s government services will be efficient and responsiveness to the needs of its people utilizing a process that is transparent and user-friendly.
- Objective 1: Promote inter-departmental communication, improved public feedback and consensus building activities within Maui County government.
- Policies:
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- a. Foster consensus building through in-depth public participatory processes.
- b. Address and plan for the implications of Hawaiian Sovereignty.
- c. Respect and empower each social, political and economic group.
- d. Avoid duplication of effort by the various governmental agencies and coordinate governmental services to avoid unnecessary expenditure of funds.
- e. Ensure that necessary services not provided by the private sector are made available by government when feasible.
- Objective 2: Update policies and regulations to ensure improved implementation and enforcement.
- Policies:
- Rewrite the County Zoning Ordinance incorporating best land use regulation practices.
- Simplify and clarify the permitting process to ensure certainty and transparency.
- Utilize institutional knowledge to improve the quality and effectiveness of existing policies and codes.
- Adequately fund and support the implementation of plan policy programs as well as enforcement activities.
- Objective 3: Continually update all Island Plans, Community Plans, and public facilities plans in a timely manner.
- Policies:
- Plan for the unique character of each community in Maui County.
- Ensure means for sound planning on Lana`i and Moloka`i through improved interisland government connectivity, communication and facilities.
- Develop, continually update and implement plans for infrastructure, transportation system, community facilities, and social service programs within the County.
- Fund the continued maintenance of all the County’s infrastructure, transportation systems, public facilities and social services.