2004-01-16 TAINALOA.1 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

With that, I think that what weÓre looking at here is a communit improvements. That roadway system is not up to what we classify as dedicable standards. However, it does provide a paved access through Ainaloa and connecting with the Hawaiian Acres Subdivision which, in essence, connects Highway 11 with Highway 130, a very important route between Upper and Lower Puna, and a very important route if Highway 130 is ever blocked as it has been in the past for various reasons. So, Mr. Chairman and Members of the esteemed Commission, I ask y souls on this one, because youÓre going to hear testimony that says that thereÓs various issues that would provide a rationale to block this approval. But I submit to you that half a loaf is better than no loaf. And what weÓre looking at is a $3 million road improvement requirement to improve AinaloaÓs 3.7 miles of roadway. The deve $1 million to provide for improvements along that roadway. I have polled my colleagues, and I think that one of my colleagues sitting in this room today agrees with me that that should be a County roadway. We somehow should find a way to provide for that being a public access route. We will wo the Ainaloa Association to do that in the future. But for today if we impose the restrictions of the original approval of this Special Use Permit that was offered in 1992, I think, in essence, whatÓs going to happen is the developer will walk. And if they walk, that means that that roadway system -. And let me explain to you another thing, that in the Puna region, weÓre the fastest-growing district in the State of Hawaii. Whether we have the infrastructure or the roadway systems or not, the people will move into that district because itÓs a beautiful place to live, number one. IÓve lived in that subdivision for 20 years. It also affords, itÓs a very affordable place to build a home, to raise your children, to provide for agricultural activities. But I think that, at this particular juncture, this roadway system also has been entangled in other issues that may convolute the decisions of this Board. Please try to identify that if this developer walks, the County of Hawaii will then be saddled with the respons -, IÓm sorry, the Ainaloa residents will be saddled with the responsibility of improving that roadway. The Ainaloa residents will be responsible for improving that roadway which is being used now by the greater population of Upper and Lower Puna. I donÓt thatÓs fair to us in Ainaloa. So, Mr. Chairman, Members of this Commission, I speak in support of this endeavor. And I would hope that if there are any questions or any feelings that may, at this particular time, lead you to believe that this may not be a good project, I make myself available for any of those questions. Thank you, sir. FUJIKAWA:Any questions, Commissioners, to the testifier? If not, Commissioners, the person whoÓve, Ole Fulks, heÓs the person who filed the Contested Case application; and I would like to hear his testimony after I hear from everyone else. I do have Julie Jacobson, who signed in. And is there any other people who signed in to 10