The Hawaii County Council gave its support Wednesday to forming a new development agency tasked with improving the Banyan Drive area.
The council voted 8-0 to form the Banyan Drive Hawaii Redevelopment Agency and authorize Mayor Billy Kenoi to nominate five people to serve on its board. The nominations require council approval.
The board’s role will be to develop a master plan to guide development in the hotel and condo area, located mostly on state land in Hilo.
The Windward Planning Commission also voted in favor of the new agency in February.
The entity is being created under Hawaii’s urban renewal law, which required the commission to declare the area “blighted.”
Calling it a “really good move on the part of the county,” Kona Councilwoman Karen Eoff said she hopes the model could be used to spruce up the island’s small boat harbors.
“I’m interested in seeing how it develops,” she said.
Planning Director Duane Kanuha said the next step will be to appoint the board members. It wasn’t clear how soon that would occur or who is being considered.
The redevelopment district’s boundaries include the Waiakea Peninsula, also known as Banyan Drive Peninsula, the former Hilo Iron Works, and properties on the mauka side of Kamehameha Avenue from the Wailoa River to Kalanikoa Street.
Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.