Public Land Development Corp Hearing on Maui

File photo by Wendy Osher.

By Sonia Isotov

The Public Land Development Corporation (PLDC) will hold statewide public hearings, starting Monday August 20, for adoption of new Hawai‘i Administrative Rules (HAR) for the PLDC.

Some provisions may affect small business and organizations, especially those that use public lands or perform public facilities projects.

“The upcoming public hearings are an opportunity to inform the public about the PLDC’s mission, objectives and priorities. We welcome public participation and encourage individuals to utilize this opportunity,” said Lloyd Haraguchi, the executive director of the PLDC, in a written statement.

The Public Land Development Corporation is a state entity created by the Legislature in 2011 to develop state lands and generate revenues for the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Through public-private partnerships, the corporation aims to attract private companies as joint partners in development opportunities.

The proposed adoption of a new Chapter 13-301, HAR, Practice and Procedure establishes operating procedures for the PLDC. It contains general provisions relating to the office location and hours, board meetings, and delegation of authority to the executive director; and sets forth procedures for proceedings before the board, contested case hearings, declaratory rulings, and petitions for amendment, adoption, or repeal of administrative rules.

Proposed adoption of a new Chapter13-302, HAR, Public Land Development Program sets forth a procedure for the PLDC to initiate, by itself or with qualified persons, or enter into cooperative agreements with qualified persons for the development or financing of projects that make optimal use of public land for the economic, environmental, and social benefit of the people of Hawai‘i.

Waihe’e Valley, file photo by Wendy Osher.

Proposed adoption of a new Chapter 13-303, HAR, Project Facility Program establishes a procedure for undertaking and financing any project facility as part of a project. Project facilities include improvements, roads and streets, utility and service corridors, utility lines, water and irrigation systems, lighting systems, security systems, sanitary sewerage systems, and other community facilities where applicable.

A public hearing will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, August 24 at the Maui Waena Intermediate School cafeteria at 795 Onehe`e Street in Kahului. On Molokai, a public hearing will be heald at the Mitchell Pau’ole Community Center on August 27 on 90 Ainoa Street in Kahunakakai from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Meetings are also planned for Oahu and Kauai.

Persons unable to attend or wishing to present additional comments may email comments to [email protected] or postmark written testimony by Friday, September 14, 2012 to: PLDC, PO Box 2359, Honolulu, HI  96804.

More information on the PLDC is available at www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/pldc. Copies of the proposed rules change are available on-line at http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/pldc/rules.

Copies for public review are available Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at No. 1 Capitol District, 250 S. Hotel St., Room 501, Honolulu, HI 96813. The public may make written request for a mailed copy by indicating mailing address in correspondence sent to the PLDC address in the preceding paragraph.

Any person requiring a special accommodation (i.e. large print materials, sign language interpreters) should make a request in writing to the PLDC address in the preceding paragraph or by calling 587-0393 (V/T). The request will need to be received at least seven days before the hearing date.