COM 0027.031 2000-2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

From ~ i- Mar aret Shaw ' ~ _ - - 1035W FrrtoAve ~~1 ~ f" ~-'I 1~ Q~j Mesa, Arizona 85210 r- Sublect Bill 195/The Gateway Mall Perspective Opposed 2/20/01 Dear County Council Members, I am a long time resident and homeowner of Hawau Currently I am res~dmg on the mainland to reach an educational goal but plan to return home w~thm the next few years 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 Lams m an area where a recent bypass was constructed to reduce traffic 2 Local businesses in downtown Hilo and m the existing malls in Hilo are already struggling and going out of business due to msuffic~ent demand and competition by mainland "Box stores" such as Walmart, Safeway, Office Max and Ross's 3 The "mallmg" of Hawai'~ and the impending loss of our local character, which ~s supported by older family-owned and operated businesses 4 The associated housing development that will mev~tably be built by Shipman m Kea'au that will only increase traffic and promote further destruction of the local nature of Kea'au 5 The potential to turn I-Lghway 11 into a commercial corridor 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 this mall 7 The unwillingness of Shipman to install an underpass, which would facilitate access to the proposed mall by residents of Lower Puna and prevent increased traffic disruption on Highway 11 8 The complete disregard for the environment and native forests that this 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 Puna into a step mall with all of the "conveniences" of Honolulu and West Oahu It is our choke 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 (Phase II) m Kea'au as demonstrated at 27.3 Comm. No. File No. Ref. To: Fr~afd Ref. Date 2 2001