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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Orchid[and Community Association, Inc. <br /> P.O. Box 280 <br /> Keaau, HI 96749 <br /> <br /> July 31, 2006 <br /> <br /> Hawaii County Council <br /> Committee on Planning <br /> <br /> Mr. Angel Pilago - Chair <br /> <br /> Re: Testimony of Orchidland Community Association <br /> Regarding General Plan Interim Amendments A-1, A-2 Affecting Orchidland Estates <br /> <br /> Mr. Pilago and Council Members: <br /> <br /> Background <br /> Interim Amendments A-1 and A-2 are quite similar. Both lie completely within the private <br /> subdivision, Orchidland Estates (refer to last page). Both propose to change the zoning along a <br /> 2-1/2 block stretch of both Orchidland Drive and Ainaloa Boulevard from Rural to Medium <br /> Density Urban so that commercial development can proceed quickly. Let's not mince words. <br /> This proposal will, in effect, immediately creating two strip malls within Orchidland. We know <br /> that developers are waiting in the wings. <br /> <br /> Orchidland's Objections <br /> This proposal will change the zoning on or abutting 22 lots that have existing residences on <br /> them. Some of these houses have been completed within the last year. These owners bought in <br /> an agriculturally zoned area for a reason. If they wanted to live next to a Laundromat, they <br /> would have bought elsewhere. The Planning Department has not even seen fit to notify these lot <br /> owners about this zoning change that will profoundly affect them. Not only that, these <br /> amendments were approved by the Planning Commission at a meeting over in Kona! <br /> <br /> The amendment proposed by the Planning Department calls for the row of lots along the <br /> highway not to be rezoned. It is to be a "buffer". This effectively pushes the development <br /> further back into Orchidland. It is not necessary to use a 600 foot deep lot as a buffer when a <br /> much narrower line of plantings will accomplish the same goal. <br /> Traffic at the intersection of Highway 130 and Orchidland Drive is already a considerable <br /> problem. During rush hour there is usually a long wait to enter the highway or to turn off the <br /> highway onto Orchidland Drive. There is no traffic light and not even a merge lane on the <br /> highway. Representatives of the State Department of Transportation visited with the Orchidland <br /> board two weeks ago and said there was virtually no chance of getting the state to fund a traffic <br /> light there. The only light planned is going at the Shower/Pohaku intersection where there is no <br /> commercial development anyway. Moreover, that light is not scheduled for completion until <br /> 2009. <br /> <br /> <br /> Comm. No. <br /> Ref. Toie»et <br /> Ref. Date .#U1 3 1.1006 <br />