Committee amends tree‑canopy action, changes 'require' to 'encourage' and adds co‑lead agencies

The DRIP committee on Sept. 23 amended action 2.22 addressing tree canopy and parking‑lot shade in the South Maui Community Plan, moving the language away from a direct regulatory requirement and toward encouragement while broadening county leadership.

Planning staff explained MPO had been working on a canopy map during drafting. Members questioned whether MPO alone should lead implementation; the committee agreed to add the Department of Management, Planning Department, Public Works and Parks & Recreation as co‑leads. Legal staff and planning recommended changing the paragraph’s 'require' verbiage to 'encourage' and pursuing a later code amendment if the body wants an enforceable standard. The change was made by motion and passed unanimously on the roll call.

Member Tom Cook urged caution about implementation mechanisms and enforcement, and Deputy Corporation Counsel Nahulu Nunokawa advised that codifying a 50% canopy standard is cleaner if enforcement is intended. The committee also directed staff to place the tree canopy items on the code‑amendment list and to explore grant and budget triggers for any action items that would require funding.

Outcome: motion passed to change 'require' to 'encourage' and to add multiple county lead/co‑lead agencies; members asked planning and corporation counsel to draft a path to a code amendment if the body wants the canopy standard enforced later.