The Backstory:
We at Safe Tech Hawaii have been working with Hawaii County Council Member Cindy Evans for over a year on a telecom ordinance that reins in the rampant deployment of towers and antennas. CM Evans' ordinance was introduced on August 20
and had been previously forwarded to the Planning Department. Yet over Labor Day weekend the Planning Director submitted a new ordinance of his own that is too sympathetic to the Telecom industry. We support Council Member Cindy Evans ordinance (Bill 194) that was introduced on August 20.
Big Island has two
Planning Commissions (Windward and Leeward). Windward meeting was on 9-5-24 and Leeward is coming up. Anyone can testify! You don't have to live on Big Island. Please testify now!
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WHAT TO SAY (Item #4):
I oppose
Item #4 because I support Council Member Cindy Evans' proposed telecommunications ordinance, Bill 194, which had already been forwarded to you. The new ordinance proposed by the Director is too sympathetic to the telecommunications industry with not enough protections for our community.
It gives almost total power to Planning with no other agencies or experts involved! It rushes the approval process to only 30 days! It has no provisions to protect us against 5G small cells! It
allows towers at schools and day care centers!
Please consider Council Member Evans proposed ordinance which has clear, attainable requirements. It is the perfect balance between the health, safety and welfare needs of the people and the needs of the tech industry.
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The above is the message. Modify and add as you wish but short is best.
Change a few words, add your personal tone, but please preserve the core message: We want Council Member Evans ordinance and not this one.
Oral Testimony via Zoom: To register for the Zoom meeting,
https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsdeisrzooEp3Yo2rccgcMR0jwSnPm5Pc
Register by 12:00 noon, Wednesday, September 18, 2024. Do it NOW! You can testify at the start of the meeting at 9:30am or just before the agenda item
#4.
Submit Written Testimony (Do it now):
(1) Email to LPCtestimony@hawaiicounty.gov Subject line: Oppose Item #4
(2) Or Drop off at the Planning Department offices in Hilo at the County Building address above or Kona at 74-5044 Ane Keohokālole Highway, Building E, 2nd Floor, Kailua-Kona
If you can attend the meeting online or in person, that's great! If not, please submit written testimony! Deadline is, Mon, Sept 16.
But it's never too late, do it now anyway. All testimony, regardless of when its submitted, becomes part of the record.
Here's the link to the AGENDA
https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/weblink/1/edoc/138238/2024-09-19%20Leeward%20Planning%20Commission%20Agenda.pdf
Here's a link to the Leeward Planning Dept. Ordinance - ITEM #4
https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/weblink/Browse.aspx?dbid=1
The ordinance document is 76 pages long! The ordinance "meat" is pages 5-19.
If you're concerned about the proliferation of cell towers and antennas, it's
time to speak up! 💪
