2008-01-11 THALEKII - Laserfiche WebLink

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would normally take with other developments. And I certainly would like to have some assurances, you know, as to how or when these improvements will be made because the impact will be immediate when we divert traffic through the Bypass Road; and that’s my concern. And furthermore, you know, probably not your concern but it would certainly have an impact on your decisions in the future, you know, what we’re looking at, and I think Norman described that highway in its appropriate term, a scenic highway. Now if you look at the undeveloped lands from Alii Drive and south towards Napoopoo you’ll find a vast acreage of land that is not developed. Now looking at Kona developing for the past 10 to 20 years you’ll find that north of Keauhou and above the Old Mamalahoa Highway the amount of development that is taking place. And I think that is why we are faced with such a serious problem with regards to the traffic from north to south, you know. Now the question is because the Bypass Road is in its final stages of completion how many large landowners do we have owning properties above and below the highway and if, in fact, if there has been already some inquiry as to the possibility of developments along that scenic area; and that is my concern. Because the reason why we’re entertaining and why we’re having this Bypass Road is because of the tremendous amount of growth that is taking place in Kona. Now unless the Department or the administration takes some kind of position as to put some regulation or stop towards development along this area, we’re going to be faced with the same problem that we’re faced with today in trying to find some other ways to mitigate and address the congestion problem. WATANABE: Okay, Mr. Domingo, I understand that and I’m sure there are other people within the audience who would agree to some degree. But we’re still talking about restricting between 3:30 and 6:30 on the Bypass, not 10 years from now we’re going to develop and how many other roads do we need, yeah? SUMADA: Mr. Chairman, may I respond with a short response to Mr. Domingo’s concern. Mr. Domingo, you take a very broad look at how towns grow and develop which is very, I think, a very prudent thing. The thing is, though, road, government’s response to the growth in the community traditionally in every, most every town lags. You know, you do the development first and then government tries to catch up with the road infrastructure or other types of infrastructure needs. And in some ways it’s a good thing because you don’t want to be putting roads in where there’s no development, and it’s almost like wasting government money. But the thing is when we develop roadways or try to improve the roadway network we have to do it in phases cause there’s never enough funds to do it. So it’s like we take small steps. So the concept of opening this road up from 3:30 to 6:30 is just like a half a step or a small step. You know, hopefully Hokulia will come through and build the southern section quickly, you know, regardless of the, I mean, considering the appeal process; but it has to be done in steps. And what we’re, this is the same experience we’re going through in opening up Laaloa and Lako Street. Nobody wants to have traffic through their community; and I wish we could make all these projects happen all at the same time; but we cannot. So there’s this period where some communities have to bear the burden for a short time until we can get all of the steps in place. So I’m sorry, Mr. Chairman, for taking too long. WATANABE: Mr. Director. EXHIBIT A 22