Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> TESTIMONY - Bill No. 345 <br /> Ronald P. Shoemaker <br /> 17-260 Ipuaiwaha Street <br /> Keaau, HI. 96749-8237 <br /> Without re-hashing what has already been stated, let me try to put this in perspective. No one is <br /> truly against treatment facilities for patients with drug dependencies, emotional and behavioral <br /> problems, and mental disorders, nor the criminal element needing rehabilitation. No one will dispute <br /> the need for treatment facilities and shelter for the homeless. What we tend to do is treat the symptoms <br /> and not the cause. Preventative measures should be at issue rather than treatment. The sooner we start <br /> preventative measures, the less treatment measures will be required. <br /> If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Obviously, a great deal of time and effort was spent towazds the <br /> original language in the code. Currently, eight patients can be housed under one roof but it requires the <br /> opportunity for community input. Our honorable mayor Harry Kim has stated "for programs to be <br /> assured of the highest success possible for the clients, the community supporting it is an essential part <br /> of the program." By allowing this measure to pass, no community input will be required. <br /> December 28, 2006, Hawaii Tribune Herald, front page, top half, "Riga Targets Big-box <br /> Retailers." In the article, the counties "smart-growth" policy is defined as "preserving quality of life, <br /> natural beauty, and rural chazacter." No one can dispute the fact there is an impact on a neighborhood <br /> when the density is allowed to double. <br /> Ask any teacher how many students should be in a classroom for the most effective learning <br /> atmosphere. Common response being fewer is better for greater results. <br /> "Licensed by a state agency." Are we going to let any state agency dictate, as they may feel <br /> necessary, the number, type, form or function of a program that may operate in our neighborhoods <br /> without any community input? <br /> The current defmition of five in a family has worked in the past. Do we let changes in economic <br /> conditions necessitate increasing the number to eight? Ten years from now do we increase the number <br /> to fifteen? Why not just go to thirty now and make it more cost effective and avoid all the trouble of <br /> code revisions in the future? <br /> South Kohala District, North Kona District wanting to halt all future development until the <br /> infrastmcture needs aze addressed. Allowing rezoning to occur, over-riding the General Zoning Plan to <br /> allow lazge developments to be established, be it residential, commercial, industrial, all comes down to <br /> impacts on the land and its people. <br /> Tme, you can buy aband-aid this yeaz, but if you don't take away the knife to keep from getting <br /> cut, next yeaz you will be buying a bigger band-aid and a bigger band-aid the next, and so on and so on. <br /> There aze people far more eloquent, knowledgeable, qualified and intelligent than myself living <br /> in the community and neighborhoods. It is my hope that you, as our elected officials, will listen to your <br /> constituents concerns and suggestions rather than be allowed to be ruled by "any state agency" and <br /> therefore reject this proposed change to the zoning code as merely a benefit to those other than the <br /> patients that tmly need the assistance. <br /> Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter, <br /> Ronald P. Shoemaker r_ <br /> Comm. No. <br /> Ref. To: <br /> Ref. Uate <br /> <br />