Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> water lines laid, etc. Because past councils failed to plan for the future, the present Council is <br /> <br /> faced with "planning for the past," as well as the future. This is a big order for a county that is <br /> already facing large fines for violation of an EPA order to replace its gang cesspools. Even if <br /> <br /> the Council had the political will to raise taxes to pay for its share of the necessary <br /> infrastructure, that would do nothing to address items such as schools and highways, which are <br /> the responsibility of the state. If this proposed development is built, along with the others that <br /> are already approved, without four-laving Queen Kaahumanu Highway at least from Kainaliu to <br /> the airport, traffic will simply stop, cutting off most Kona residents from the hospital, among <br /> other things. It would be the height of irresponsibility to continue approving new development <br /> in this area when you have no way of providing for the developments that are already under <br /> construction. <br /> During the last election cycle, there was much talk by the mayor and some current <br /> members of the council of the concept of concurrency -that the timing of development must be <br /> matched to the availability of the supporting infrastructure. If this concept is somehow <br /> applicable only to the proposed Clifto's development, and not to all the other developments that <br /> our present infrastructure simply cannot support, then I do not understand its value. To be fair <br /> and effective, the principle of concurrency must be integrated into all county decisions and <br /> applied to all re-zoning applicants in a uniform way. <br /> Applying concurrency provisions to all applications is a separate process from ruling on <br /> the merits of any particular project, and it does not at all address the question of whether growth <br /> and development of Hawaii County is the vision and wish of a majority or minority of its <br /> residents. Applying concurrency provisions is simply responsible governance, and addresses <br /> infrastructure deficits in two ways: while slowing construction starts on new development, it <br /> also encourages creation of the necessary infrastructure. Apparently the Hawaii County <br /> government has no more influence than its citizenry in persuading the state officials in far-away <br /> Oahu to address our critical shortages of schools and roads. Applying concurrency provisions to <br /> rezoning requests shifts the burden to a group with more influence in the state government: the <br /> developers. Successful developers are successful because of their ability to get things done in a <br /> timely fashion -something neither the State nor the County has excelled at. If schools, roads, <br /> water and sewage treatment are what stands between them and starting their projects, they will <br /> most likely find a way to see that these things are accomplished. If not, at least our gridlock will <br /> be no worse. If the Council is making decisions that result in a declining quality of life for <br /> current residents of the county, it is making the wrong decisions. I believe many Kona residents <br /> would cite the deteriorating traffic flow on Queen K as a major factor already affecting their <br /> quality of life. Other effects of runaway development without adequate planning and support <br /> will become more apparent later. Thank you for making the responsible decision to tie <br /> development to all the services required by those developments. <br /> ~ \ <br /> L <br /> <br />