Hawaii County committee weighs competing telecom siting ordinances, postpones both to Feb. 18

The Hawaii County Council Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use, and Economic Development on Feb. 4 heard extensive public testimony and planning‑department briefings on two competing ordinances that would revise county rules for telecommunication antennas and towers, then postponed both measures for further work and amendments until the committee’s Feb. 18 meeting.

Committee Chair Ashley Kirkwitz presided over the meeting, which included testimony from residents, interest groups and agency representatives and presentations by planning department staff. The two measures under consideration were Bill 194, introduced by Councilmember Cindy Evans, and Bill 24, initiated by the County Planning Director and presented to the committee by planning staff.

Why it matters: The bills address where and how the county allows cell towers, antennas and small wireless facilities to be sited, and propose new plan‑approval requirements, setbacks, design standards, and safety provisions. Committee members and witnesses said the outcome will affect aesthetics, public safety, emergency communications and how quickly carriers can build infrastructure across Hawaii Island.

Public testimony and key claims

Several public witnesses, primarily affiliated with the grassroots group SafeTec Hawaii, urged the committee to support Bill 194 and oppose Bill 24. Deborah Green, founding director of SafeTec Hawaii, told the committee that "Bill 24 was written by former planning director Zendo Kern," and criticized what she described as limited public involvement in Bill 24 and possible influence by telecom industry testimony. Naomi Milaman (identified in the record as Naomi Malamed/Milaman), also testifying for SafeTec Hawaii, said "Bill 24 completely overlooks small cells," and urged the committee to adopt Bill 194 because it explicitly addresses small‑cell facilities and includes decommissioning, setback and fire‑safety provisions.

Cindy Evans, the councilmember who introduced Bill 194, described her work drafting the ordinance with community input and said she had consulted with…