COM 0400.139 2002-2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

There is a great irony in the fact that hundreds of emails and testimonies have been directed to us to kill the Clifto's project, but none to state officials to get on with widening Queen Kaahumanu. Would it help if more people found it within themselves to say yes, not always no? In an email dated September 13th to rally opposition to the Clifto's project, Jerry Rothstein wrote: "concurrency means Queen K. Highway would be widened to handle the increased traffic before that traffic is generated. Hoping that the state will fund and widen QK before the Clifto project is finished is irrational. A token but inadequate gesture towards concurrency was made but the bottom line is that the entire project can be built before the highway is widened." Let's examine Mc Rothstein's statement. It's not irrational to "hope the state will fund and widen Queen K." It's absolutely essential that we do so. But he is correct that it will take more than hope. It will take work and coordination. We should all commit ourselves to that work and advocacy. Mr. Rothstein also says, "A token but inadequate gesture towards concurrency was made but the bottom line is that the entire project can be built before the highway is widened." Is delayed occupancy of the project on a three-to-five year plan tokenism? Let's be clear about this. Yes, project construction may proceed at a pace faster than Queen Kaahumanu. But if the project is not occupied by real people driving automobiles for a number of years, it's impact on traffic will be minimal. Buildings don't drive cars. People do. So the real issue is occupancy. When will it occur? In talking over this matter with Mr. Fuke, the project consultant, I wondered aloud if the project's final stage occupancy might be extended to seven years until 201 I . Clifto's is willing to extend occupancy on these teens. Will that buy us enough time to finish Queen Kaahumanu widening by 201 I? The honest answer is that none of us know today. We need to work with the mayor, Governor Lingle, and our congressional delegation to get a better picture of the funding commitments to complete Queen Kaahumanu. What Pm suggesting is that the responsibility for concurrency does not rest solely on the developer. The developer has already committed $750,000 for its share of Queen Kaahumanu plans. It's up to government to fulfill its responsibility to meet a concurrency standard now. So we have our work cut out for us. If we roll up our sleeves, what will we do? Will we kill the Clifto's project and all the benefits it brings to our community? Or will we get our act together and do the sensible thing. 1 think the sensible thing to do is to support a good project on its merits and speak with one voice to get this highway built. 1 noticed the other day an editorial in West Hawaii Today welcoming the arrival of the Superferry in two years. That ferry arriving in Kawaihae will offload hundreds of people and up to 200 cars and 15 trucks. We need to fix our focus. It belongs on getting Queen Kaahumanu built within this decade. With that focus, we can vote for awin-win. I ask you to entertain that thought with an open mind. Thank you. 4