SUBJECT: PUBLIC LAND PRIORITIE
SOURCE: JUDY DALTON dalton@aloha.net
POSTED: 4 February 2004 - 7:30am
Input on land use for profit sought
Under the proposed DLNR rules change is an amusment park a permitted use on public land?
From the Honolulu Advertizer: Monday, February 2, 2004
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources will hold simultaneous public hearings on O'ahu, Maui, Kaua'i and the Big Island Thursday to gather testimony about allowing commercial use of unencumbered public lands. Public meeting this Thursday, Feb 5 at 6pm at State Office Building, 3060 Eiwa St., Lihu'e, conference rooms A, B & C.These are state properties that are not leased, set aside for agencies or designated for specific land use. They include all beaches and coastal areas not under the jurisdiction of another government agency, but not parks, harbors and forest reserves.
Peter Young, DLNR director, said the proposed rule changes will set up
a permit process allowing businesses to use the land if they are willing
to provide a quality experience for visitors or residents and protect
the natural and cultural resources.
"At this time, our rules don't allow commercial activities on
unencumbered land," Young said. "Our management priorities
are, first, to protect and preserve our natural and cultural resources.
Next, where appropriate, we will seek and provide for the public's recreational
use of our public unencumbered lands without compromising their protection
and preservation."
Dede Mamiya, DLNR land division administrator, said the commercial activities
would include weddings and surf schools, but not concession stands. Businesses
would simply fill out an application for a permit and pay a fee of about
$20. She said the purpose of the public meetings is to accept testimony,
and the department will then go to the Land Board and decide whether to
amend the rules.
Jeff Mikulina, director of Sierra Club Hawai'i Chapter, said he had several
concerns about the proposed rule changes, including a provision that a
permit would be granted automatically if no action were taken on it in
seven days.
"(Gov. Linda) Lingle testified last year that we should not be approving any permits by default — that's a failure of government — but they should be granted on the merits of the permit," he said.
Mikulina said that under the new rules, permits would be approved by the
DLNR director and not the entire Land Board. He would like that changed
to allow for public input. He also wants the department to set limits
on commercial use of unencumbered lands and to collect a portion of the
revenues to go toward protecting the land.
"There is going to be some sort of impact, no matter what it
is," he said. "Someone has to pay for that upkeep,
so it makes sense to devote a small chunk to maintenance of the resource.
"We'd like to see them set some real limits based on what the resource
can handle. A lot of these unencumbered lands are where folks seek out
because they can have a solitary experience, and that is quickly ruined
with too many folks. Hopefully, they will decide what the resource needs
are and then what the residents' and visitors' needs are for the wilderness
experience."
For more information, call 587-0320. Rules are online at www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/land/draftrules.
By James Gonser: Honolulu Advertiser Staff Writer
SUBJECT: PUBLIC LAND PRIORITIES
Commerical Use of Public Lands Meeting Set
SOURCE: LESTER CHANG (Staff Writer Garden Island News)
lchang@pulitzer.net 2 February 2004 - 6:00pm
State Department of Land and Natural Resources officials are looking at ways to allow commercial activities on public lands on Kaua‘i and on other islands that are not being used by government agencies.
DLNR officials will hold simultaneous statewide public hearings on Thursday, Feb. 5 to receive public input on proposed rule changes to establish a commercial use permitting system on "unencumbered lands." Such lands are not leased, set aside to agencies or are designated under an executive order of the state for any particular use, DLNR officials said.
The Kaua‘i meeting will be held in conference rooms A, B and C at the State Building at 3060 Eiwa Street in Lihu‘e. The meeting starts at 6 pm.
Where such "unencumbered
lands" exist on Kaua‘i was not immediately identified by DLNR
officials.
But in the past, farmers and ranchers leased more than 6,000 acres in East
Kaua‘i for their operations. The acreage was leased to Lihue Plantation
Company, but the land was given back when cane operations ended in recent
years.
DLNR officials said unencumbered lands often include coastal areas and beaches
that are not managed by government agencies. Officials said unencumbered
lands do not include parks, harbors, forest reserves and other lands with
designated uses. On the need for a permit system for unencumbered public
lands, DLNR chairperson Peter Young said "We want to set up a permit
process so businesses willing to follow the process and provide a quality
experience for visitors or residents can do so in an appropriate way --
protecting the natural and cultural resources of an area."
The management priorities of the permit systems are to protect natural and
cultural resources; provide for public recreational uses and provide for
commercial uses that don't compromise the quality of natural resources or
public uses, Young said.
The proposed rules changes can be seen on www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/land/draftrules.
On Kaua‘i, people can to go the DLNR office at 3060 Eiwa Street in
Lihu‘e.
Lester Chang can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225)
Editor's Note:
Read the proposed DLNR rules here with Adobe acrobat.
Pau