Growth Management ToolsIn 2007, KPAA’s membership adopted a new goal to identify growth management tools and strategies – particularly those that have withstood a legal challenge – that can be used to pace and locate growth in areas that meet the policy direction of the
Sustainable Design Assessment Team (SDAT) Project - Planning for Lihue's Future
In January 2008, Kauai was selected as one of ten communities around the country to receive the volunteer services of a Sustainable Design Assessment Team (SDAT) from the American Institute of Architects. The purpose of the Kauai project is to help us redefine our district development planning process to ensure that it incorporates smart growth and sustainability principles and that it draws upon technologies and methods that facilitate public participation.
This project was launched through a partnership of Kauai Planning & Action Alliance, the County of Kauai and the Lihue Business Association, and the timing could not be better, as funding for a new Lihue Development Plan was approved by the County Council for Fiscal Year 2009. The new planning process can be applied to other areas of the island as they create their own development plans.
Peter Arsenault, the SDAT Team Leader, and the AIA's Erin Simmons came to Kauai July 29-31 to be briefed on the issues we are facing. Based on what they learned, five areas of importance to the Lihue District were identified: 1) Land use (includes agriculture, water and smart growth), 2) Housing and affordability, 3) Energy efficiency and alternative energy, 4) Transportation and transit and 5) Economic development (includes education, employment, workforce, retirees and solid waste).
A national team with expertise in these areas came to Kauai November 12-14, 2008 to meet with the public, stakeholders and develop initial recommendations and present these recommendations. Almost 300 people participated in work groups and town hall meetings. To review the final presentation given at a town hall meeting click here.
Download the written report: Lihue,
Why was this goal needed?
Kauai’s scenic beauty and rural character are a source of great pride for residents of the “ The policy-setting document for the island’s land use is the Kauai General Plan 2000. It calls for protecting and maintaining: a rural lifestyle; open spaces between towns; distinctly individual towns and community, each with its own unique history and character; cultural, historic, sacred and archeological sites; and access to shorelines, waterways and mountains, controlling usage as necessary to conserve the resources. The plan makes recommendations such as clustering new development around existing communities and using best management practices in the development of new roads and other public facilities and in its land development and environmental regulations. In the past few years, Kauai experienced a robust economy that resulted in significant out-of-state investment, the construction of luxury homes, conversion of hotel rooms to time share units, housing converted to vacation rentals, and the creation of estates on agricultural lands. Traffic congestion has become a source of concern and infrastructure and public services have not kept up with recent development. Managing growth to achieve the direction set by the General Plan has become a challenge for decision makers. The County’s Planning Department anticipates that as many as 11,300 new residential and resort units could be built within the next five years, putting an overwhelming strain on the island’s over-burdened infrastructure. Changing or managing this course will require utilization of tested tools and strategies that can mitigate or withstand legal challenges. Without such actions, the policies of the General Plan will never be realized. |
