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From Dr Laura Brezinsky PO Box 504 _ Kea'au, HI 96749 ~ i . ~ ~ % , i Subject Bi11195/fhe Gateway Mall Perspective• Opposed 2/16/01 Dear County Council Members, I am a Biologist and 20 year resident of Hawai' i I am opposed to the proposed Gateway mall for all of the reasons previously expressed overwhelmingly by our community as follows 1 Urban sprawl that will create increased traffic dams to an area when a recent bypass was constructed to reduce traffic. 2 Local businesses in downtown Hilo and in the einsting malls in Hilo are already struggling and going out of business due to insufficie~ demand and wmpetition by mainland "Box stores" such as Walmart, Safeway, Office Max and Ross's 3 The "malimg" of Hawaii and the impending loss of our local character, which is supported by older family-owned and operated businesses 4 The associated housing development that will inevitably be bwlt by Shipman m Kea'au that will only increase traffic and promote further destruction of the local natwe of Kea'au 5 The potential to turn Highway I 1 into a commercial comdor lined with malls, warehouses and other aesthetically disturbing scenery, which would extend all the way from Hilo to Volcano and beyond 6 The ultimate demise of Kea'au village, which was sadly bulldozed by Shipman lust a few years ago to make way for gas stations and convenience stores, which will also be put out of business by tlvs mall 7 The unwillingness of Shipman to install an underpass, which would facilitate access to the proposed mall by residents of Lower Pavia and prevent increased traffic disruption on Highway 11 8 The complete disregard for the environment and native forests that t}us development demonstrates In conclusion, we are at a turning point m East Hawaii We may choose to preserve and protect the character and native environments that make Puna such a special place, or we can choose to turn Pavia into a strip mall with all of the "conveniences" of Honolulu and West Oahu It is our choice I choose the native forests and local character of Puna as my legacy to our children The Puna Community has spoken loudly against developing a mall and all of its associated services and housing (Plisse II) in Kea'au as demonstrated at the previous county council heanng on ttus issue But once again, most of the planning committee has ignored public feedback and decided to pass bill 195 Like Ivlr Tyler, I also quote Sir Winston Churchill here in saying "never give :n, never give rr~{gr,Ne, ~ File No. Ref. To; h~~ CIIAVt~I Ref. Dates FEB 2 ~nnp~