2005-05-12 TYAMADA - Laserfiche WebLink

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VIDUNAS:My name is Gaila Vidunas. My address is HCR 1, Box 5628, Keaau. My street address is 16-562 Alii Street, Orchidland Estates. SPRINGER:Thank you, Maam. Your testimony? VIDUNAS:Im here representing some of the Orchidland residents who strongly disagree with the Boards decision to drop the contested case hearing. That was done on very short notice when the new idea for a supermarket was presented. One of the many things that has happened in the course in the history of Orchidland is that when the Wiki Wiki Mart was originally put in, we were given, I was on the board of directors at that time, we were given both verbal and written assurances that development would be contained on Orchidland Drive and a traffic light would be put on Orchidland Drive and the Highway intersection. We were concerned at that time, and we are still very concerned at this time, about strip malling of the highway. We very much support Mr. Yuens decision not to expand commercial development alongthehighwayuntiltheinfrastructureistheretosupportit.Theimprovedhighwaystopsat Paradise Park Drive. Alii Street is a side road according to the subdivision plans. Its only 40 feet wide. Orchidland Drive is 60 feet wide, is already zoned for commercial purposes, has a special use permit. And we would just ask that the present commission please adhere to its word about containing the development on Orchidland Drive, not spreading and sprawling us out over the highway and exacerbating the already existing traffic problems. A traffic light at the one place is not going to alleviate the problems of the big development going out of Orchidland Drive and all the traffic that that is creating. The traffic light and further development belongs clustered in the same place instead of spreading it out all along the highway. Thank you. SPRINGER:Thank you. Members, any questions for the testifier? SIRACUSA:I just wanted to -. SPRINGER:Commissioner Siracusa. SIRACUSA:To verify one thing that, if I heard you correctly. And that is that you say that there is commercial zoning along Orchidland Drive which could accommodate this sort of a development? VIDUNAS:Im not sure if it would accommodate the full-scale plans for the supermarket. Most people have no problems with the supermarket being built in Puna. The problem is the proposed location for it. If enough land were purchased to have it on Orchidland Drive it would be no problem for the most part since that has been designated the commercial area. Most of us feel, however, that Pahoa and Keaau are the towns that bracket the subdivisions, and that there is no need to create another small little town in the middle of an agriculturally zoned area. SPRINGER:Commissioners? 15 EXHIBIT A