LIHU‘E,HI – June 17, 2009 – (RealEstateRama) — The Open Space Commission is encouraging the public to participate in its annual survey and make suggestions as to what lands or property entitlements, e.g. accessways, the County should consider purchasing or otherwise acquiring.
Ideas expressed in the survey will be taken into consideration and may be incorporated in the Open Space Commission’s annual recommendations to the County Council on which sites should be acquired using the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Fund.
The survey can be accessed and completed online at www.kauai.gov/OpenSpaceSurvey.
Paper copies of the survey are also available at any public library or neighborhood center or at the Planning Department.
The deadline for the online survey and paper surveys is June 30.
Completed surveys can be faxed to the Planning Department at 241-6699, dropped off or mailed to the County of Kaua‘i Planning Department, Open Space Commission, 4444 Rice Street, Suite 473A, Līhu’e, HI 96766.
To qualify for purchase or acquisition using the Open Space Fund, sites must meet at least one of the following purposes:
• Outdoor recreation/education, including access to beaches and mountains.
• Preservation of historically or culturally important lands and sites.
• Protection of significant habitats or ecosystems, including buffer zones.
• Preservation of forests, beaches, coastal areas and agricultural lands.
• Protection of watershed lands to preserve water quality and water supply.
• Conservation of land in order to reduce erosion, floods, landslides and runoff.
• Improve disabled and public access to, and enjoyment of, public land.
• Acquire disabled and public access to public land and open space.
The Open Space Commission was created in 2003 by the County Council following an overwhelming vote by Kaua‘i residents to establish the Public Access, Open Space and Natural
Resources Preservation Fund in the 2002 elections. The fund receives one-half of one percent of the County’s annual real property tax revenues.
Recently, the County Council approved the use of $1.85 million from the Open Space fund for the acquisition of a parcel on Hanalei Bay for the expansion of Black Pot Beach Park. For more information, please contact the Planning Department at 241-4050.
Contact:
IAN COSTA, DIRECTOR
Tel (808) 241-4050
Fax (808) 241-6699
