COM 0560.028 2002-2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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To: Hawaii County Planning Department From: Emmeline de Pillis Date: Friday, February 6, 2004 Subject: Opposition to Western United Life Assurance Co. University Terrace proposal As a Hilo resident, I appreciate the opportunity to share my concerns about the proposed University Terrace development. While others have raised compelling objections to this proposal on environmental grounds, ' I will address the community impact. What does this elan lack? This proposal does not give UH Hilo students and other members of the UH-H community the "college town" amenities they crave, for one simple but insurmountable reason: It is not within easy walking distance of the main campus. I have taught Management 425, the business planning course at UH Hilo, for several years. In this course, the students write a plan for a business that they feel the community needs. This assignment invariably provokes a discussion about the lack of restaurants, housing, shopping and entertainment on or adjacent to campus. Students do not want these things one or two miles away. "These amenities must be within five minutes' walking distance from the main campus, and convenient for students without cars. Anything further away will simply compete with the other shopping, dining, and housing options already availahle in town. What does this plan have? The hallmarks of a very large suburban slum": • Lack of major employers within easy walking distance. (Phis is probably the most important predictor of success for amixed-use development). • No meaningful, long term barriers to inappropriate tenants or architectural eyesores. • Small lot size and high density. • Erosion of commercial and residential rental rates, both within University "Terrace and in East Hawaii overall due to oversupply of available units. Worse, while run-down inner cities have successfully undergone renewal, suburban slums do not rebound. Once a suburban area begins to deteriorate, homebuyers move on to newer properties. Suburbs do not possess the character, history, energy, or perceived intrinsic value of city centers. Historically, preservation societies have shown little interest in expending the tremendous energy and expense it would take to revitalize a mn-down suburb. Once underway, the deterioration of these blighted communities accelerates, and area residents must live with the consequences. Halting suburban sprawl limits traffic congestion, preserves property values, encourages revitalization of city centers, and benefits the community and the environment overall"'. I respectfully implore the Planning Commissioners to deny the zoning changes under consideration today. Thanks again for taking the time to consider this testimony.