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September 15, 2004 <br />RE: BILL 178 — Clifto's Kona Coast LLC <br />Dear Members of the County Council, <br />I support Mayor Kim's VETO of the Clifto's project in O'oma, North Kona. <br />However, I don't support concurrency if it means more car -oriented planning and <br />if it means that you will continue to approve more sprawling development. <br />Those of you, (including past West Hawaii council members like Am Rath, ]ohn <br />Ray and Keola Childs) who voted FOR development along Queen Kaahumanu <br />Highway without forcing developers to build homes nearby for their workers, are <br />all responsible for causing West Hawaii to become a sprawling mess. You are <br />the ones who, by way of approving your sprawl -related developments, have <br />given us the congestion that we are faced with today. <br />According to the first of two articles from the Surface Transportation Policy <br />Project (STPP), which I Included with my testimony, studies indicate that sprawl <br />Is a primary cause of congestion. Sprawling development patterns such as what <br />we are seeing here In West Hawaii are causing people to drive further and to <br />drive more often. <br />According to the second article from STPP, building new and wider roads has <br />little long-term Impact on road congestion. In fact, studies indicate that new <br />and wider roads actually generate more traffic. This phenomenon, known as <br />"induced travel" occurs when drivers flock to the new facility hoping to save time <br />and people who would otherwise avoid congested conditions or take alternative <br />modes to their destinations are likewise drawn to the new roadway. In the long <br />run, the new roadway encourages new development nearby which leads to more <br />traffic. <br />So building more roads in order to keep up with your sprawl -related <br />development approvals Is not going to correct West Hawaii's congestion <br />problems. It will just make things uglier and soon well be looking like Honolulu. <br />If you folks sincerely want to correct the wrongs that you have done to West <br />Hawaii, you need to support the Mayor's VETO, stop approving any sprawl - <br />related development that will lead to congestion and move away from car - <br />oriented planning and towards a more equitable transportation system. <br />Mahalo, <br />7osephine L Keliipio <br />76-168 Royal Poinciana Drive <br />Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 <br />Comm. No. q 00. 1441 <br />Ref. To: PraMrrdrai I <br />Ref. Date, CFP 15 0 <br />