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Murashige, Laura <br /> From: The Maynards [haoles2@verizon.net] <br /> Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2005 2:09 PM <br /> To: Hawaii CO. Council <br /> Subject: Bill 78 <br /> ~',i~~ .L'' i t <br /> To all members of the Council, <br /> I would like to take this opportunity to urge all the members of the ~`;Y_; <br /> council to vote in favor of the passage of Bill 78. As someone who <br /> moved to Big Island from the mainland and one who is making this <br /> beautiful place her permanent home, I would urge you to take every <br /> measure possible to preserve those things about the Big Island that <br /> made me and my sister choose to relocate here. Chief among them was <br /> the existence of open space and the lack of the "wall-to-wall" <br /> development we left behind. <br /> Once the land that is currently undeveloped is developed, there is no <br /> way to put that genie back in the bottle. Once we have lost our <br /> shorelines to hotels, houses, condominiums etc., there is no way to put <br /> that genie back in the bottle. Once we have lost access to the <br /> shoreline we cannot put that genie back in the bottle. <br /> I am not opposed to progress but I am opposed to that progress which <br /> <br /> will destroy the very things about this place that make it such a <br /> <br /> wonderful place to live year round. Last year when this same topic was <br /> discussed in the form of putting a referendum on the ballot, it was <br /> pointed out that in a survey some 70% of island residents were in <br /> support of establishing a land protection fund. Last year Mayor Kim <br /> <br /> was in favor of this project and I ask you to not be swayed by his <br /> threat to veto the legislation this year. In passing Bill 78 you will <br /> be doing the will of the people of Big Island, which is your <br /> responsibility as members of the council. I fail to understand the <br /> Mayor's position myself and intend to tell him so in a separate <br /> communication. The merits of the project have not changed in one year. <br /> As I remember last year's debate, it was the idea of establishing the <br /> fund by charter amendment not the merits of the proposal which caused <br /> the then members of the Council to fail to support Bill 270. <br /> If you feel the 2% figure is too large a commitment (I do not), I would <br /> urge you to pass this legislation with nothing less than a 1 % figure. <br /> Kauai and Maui already have land protection funds established and have <br /> used the same to purchase significant tracts to preserve their islands. <br /> We cannot always depend on the generosity of landowners to deed their <br /> property over to the County or State in order to maintain it so that <br /> future generations may experience this island as we now have the <br /> opportunity to experience Big Island. <br /> Remember, once the land is gone to development or been altered it any <br /> <br /> way, it is gone, never to be the way it is now. We cannot put that <br /> genie back in the bottle. <br /> Thank you for giving this testimony your serious consideration. <br /> Marianne Maynard <br /> 73-1212 Hi'olani Street <br /> Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 Zo <br /> Comm. Prose ) <br /> Ref. To: <br /> ref' i9b <br /> <br />