COM 0560.027 2002-2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Testimony for the Planning Committee, Hawaii County Council Re: Proposed University Terrace Development ]bl October 2004 Submitted by: Amy Mahealani Jones I am not able to be in attendance at the Oct 19 meeting of the Planning Committee of the ~divai'i County Council, but wish my testimony to be heard. Again I am appealing to the council members to either deny approval for the rezoning of this property, or to delay your vote. You have heard my concerns before. I will reiterate my most pressing concerns why I believe a vote of approval is ill advised at this time. 1) Much has been said as far as anecdotal reports of wetlands and occasional flooding both in the property and in surrounding areas. Studies to date to not definitively confirm or deny the amount of ground water or flooding. Until a comprehensive study of the amount of water flow, its sources, and downhill effects is made and is well understood, planning of any sort is not realistic, and therefore a vote to approve for buildings here is premature. I worry that in this dry period it will be forgotten that water is what primarily shapes the Hilo landscape, and just how powerful that water is. I expect that there will be mistakes made in planning and engineering for the containment of water, and that will result in potentially huge taxpayer burden to repair damages downstream. I know that there is underground water on the property, and at this time underground water is not well enough understood to plan safely for buildings here. I do not believe that dry wells on the property will adequately contain the water generated here, nor will "management" of stream flow through the property from mauka lands adequately handle this water. More comprehensive studies aze needed to more fully understand water, both above and below the surface, and to make intelligent decisions about the proper use of this land. i When I first moved into my house on Liko Lehua Street I was amazed to see a river form next to my property during heavy rains. I took photos which show my fence under 18" of water. Unfortunately I have not been able to locate those photos. I will keep looking. In the meantime, last spring during a moderately rainy period, the river formed again, and I did take photos. I have brought them to show you today. Keep in mind that this is from only a moderate Hilo rain. It has been suggested that this water sits in a low point on or neaz my property, but that is not the whole story. What you will see is a quickly flowing river that exits from the culvert along the makai side of my property, that moves out past my yard into my neighbor's yard (under a stone wall) and on into the project property. There I believe it soaks into the ground, c Comm. No. ? ~ Ref. To: Ref. date