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HEMPEL: Steve Hempel. 72-4084 Ke Ana Wai, Kailua-Kona. My wife and I
<br />Makalei Estates, and weÓve lived there for over four years now.
<br />desire to slow down the project, Palamanui. I wish them best of luck and quick success.
<br />Anything that can be done to get them to, people back to work and stimulate the project, I think
<br />thatÓs a good idea. It needs to be investigated and thought through thoroughly. I did submit a
<br />four-page letter over a week ago, which I believe that you all have copies of and been able to
<br />read about my concern about the timing of the project. Obviously the economy has taken a
<br />downturn and theyÓre requesting an extension of some of the requirements. I believe a time
<br />extension is within reason from the standpoint things arenÓt going as well. I do believe that the
<br />conditions set forth should remain as were agreed upon by everyb
<br />has been in existence and has been able to get to the stage that it has.
<br />
<br />My main concern now is how the project will be affecting Makalei Estates and the traffic. That
<br />was a major issue three years ago when it was approved, and the construction of Road 4, the
<br />connector, was a major importance. I appreciate the fact that Palamanui has come forth and
<br />stated that Makalei Drive will not be connected to Palamanui until Road 4 is accepted; thatÓs a
<br />major relief. However, you know, with the history of whatÓs happened around here, I think weÓd
<br />feel better with some reassurance as to keep the road closed until such time as those requirements
<br />have been met. And by that, one of the phases for the developme
<br />the water system down. The water system, thereÓre two tanks that are going to be built within
<br />Makalei Estates and the transmission line, so there will be tearing apart of Makalei Drive in
<br />order to build the project. The water is a requirement, I believe, for the university and for othe
<br />you know, necessary facilities. Now, when you run a water transmission line through an area,
<br />Water Department is going to require a paved road over it to service their road. Now, they stated
<br />today that they werenÓt planning in building Road 1C until a later time, which, that is good, you
<br />know, cause that helps give a break between Makalei Estates and the connector until the
<br />connector is done. But by putting the waterline down the road and they will be paving that, that
<br />will provide physical access for people to use to get from upper highway to lower Î not a legal
<br />one but a physical one. So weÓre -. How do we stop that from becoming the router traffic for
<br />people anyway? ItÓs already been proven in the previous testimony three years ago that Makalei
<br />Drive with its 18 percent grades is not safe for any large amount of traffic of trucks. ItÓs,
<br />anyway, I donÓt need to go down that road. But anyway, I would like to see, the Water
<br />Department will probably require a gate to keep people off the 1
<br />between Makalei, the boundary between Makalei and Palamanui. I would like to see a gate put
<br />at the top of Makalei Drive as a temporary measure for the next, well, if it takes them two years
<br />just to get the tanks done at least that period, it might be four, six, eight more years until the
<br />connector roads are done Î maybe ten. But to keep the traffic out of Makalei and the future
<br />possibility of public opinion stating, well, you have a road there, letÓs use it and letÓs remove the
<br />barriers, IÓd like to see more barriers put there to stop that from happening in the future until they
<br />can follow a plan thatÓs been approved. And that would be a gate at the top and the bottom.
<br />When the roads are done, and then the gates get removed without a tremendous amount -.
<br />Makalei, just due to the nature of seclusion, has had a lot of crime and vandalism and burning of
<br />tires and drug trafficking and you name it; itÓs been happening.
<br />donÓt come there very often. We are, you know, in middle of nowhere. By putting some gates
<br />on there you can at least curtail those activities and lessen the necessity of police presence. And
<br />when the time comes, when the road is open, and then there is a normal amount of traffic or the
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