On Kaua'i, we are at a crossroads, and the path we take will have a tremendous impact on generations to come.

It is our responsibility to make decisions based on this obligation.

An American Indian proverb says: "We have not inherited the earth from our ancestors. We have only borrowed it from our children."

Reflecting upon our past, how did we get to this juncture where infrastructure is lagging behind development, forcing us to come up with creative solutions to solve this problem?

Over the last 30 to 50 years, only three major roadways have been built on Kaua'i: Kapule Highway and the Kapa'a and Koloa bypass roads. Little else in the way of infrastructure has been touched. During the same period, the island's population has increased by about 2 1/2 times.

Revenue generated by the county in previous years was used to balance the general fund. This is understandable, since the focus after the two hurricanes— Iwa and Iniki — was on rebuilding the island's economy. We were going through tough times.

However, as a result of this and continued growth, we now have hundreds of millions of dollars of infrastructure needs and no viable source of revenue to pay for them.

The federal government no longer has the funding to build new roads and provide additional sewer and water sources. The state also has limited funding to provide infrastructure improvements. It's now up to the county to develop public and private partnerships to catch up and get to where we need to be.

One solution offered by the County Council via ordinance is through Community Facilities Districts. These provide an effective method of raising money for special improvements that will benefit the public at large, such as roads and sewers. Only real property within the district would be subject to the special tax. Facilities districts provide the opportunity for developers to finance and build public infrastructure before impacts are generated, and for existing communities to fund infrastructure in their areas.

Undoubtedly, we need to continue to seek creative solutions such as Community Facilities Districts in order to get the job done.

During my first term, we have given top priority to projects that benefit Kaua'i's working population and provide benefits such as affordable housing.

We are also in the process of redefining our affordable-housing guidelines for developers. These guidelines would bring clarity and objectivity to the permitting process.

In addition to looking at projects ready to build now, we are also learning from mistakes of the past and trying to put safeguards in for the future.

We've authored legislation that would ban gated communities and require that developers provide lateral access to shorelines and beaches. Bills have been proposed by this administration that would:

A quasi-moratorium on resort zoning is in place through a County Council resolution. But in my opinion, moratoriums on building permits could upset the natural course of supply and demand and possibly raise housing prices even beyond what they are now. This would be counterproductive to our efforts to create affordable and gap housing.

Impact fees are being reassessed because the current structure is completely inadequate to compensate for impacts of new units on our infrastructure.

In 1993, an impact fee study was conducted but was never implemented due to the hardships created by the Hurricane Iniki. The cost of doing business has gone way up over the past 13 years. We assume that impact fees should have at least doubled since 1993, based on the fee schedule in the study.

Impacts are greater now than they have ever been. And there's little money to pay for them.

Any developer that comes before the Planning Commission today must offer enough benefit for our 64,000 residents in the areas of infrastructure improvements (road, water and wastewater), affordable housing and economic opportunity.

Benefits must outweigh the impacts that residents have to endure. We must put the needs of Kaua'i's people first.

Bryan J. Baptiste is mayor of Kaua'i. He wrote this commentary for The Advertiser.