2009-07-24 TPALAMANUI - Laserfiche WebLink

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WATANABE: Thank you. Fellow Commissioners, do we have any questions? BOWMAN: I do. WATANABE: Yes, Ms. Bowman. BOWMAN: Thank you for your testimony. And because I donÓt live in Kona, IÓm not familiar with all the parks that are here. But if, IÓve seen Airport Park and I know that, you know, IÓve driven by a lot of times, and itÓs not used much; but there are seasons when itÓs used a lot. And, you know, I do have concerns for a park, especially where I live. And I look at the location of the park and, until there are other residential or the university, IÓm just wondering if people from Kona, and this is just for my information, would drive out to utilize the park thatÓs so far away. I could understand it once the residential units are built and certainly the university. So maybe you could just shed some light on that. Thank you. PALMA-GLENNIE: I used to live in Kalaoa, I donÓt now. But I always felt that there was an extreme lack of park facilities and open green space that was accessible in the Kalaoa area. I do believe that people that are driving to, you know, even Higashihara Park or, I mean there are people that I do think would use that park. My greatest fear is that that park will not happen. And I just have been here too long and gone through this so many times, I think as Steve was mentioning, to see how these plans are, look really nice and it looks like after 100 homes are built that there will be a park. But it just doesnÓt happen. The YMCA, as soon as, I mean that was supposed to be built in AliÒi Heights Subdivision, Keauhou View, as I was saying. I mean there is no, I havenÓt heard of anything happening with that. And there were a lot of people who were really counting on that, and I donÓt know how thatÓs ever going to be resolved. When the property owners nearby now say that they donÓt want to have it there, what will happen with Palamanui? Will the same thing happen? TheyÓll say, well, now thereÓs going to be too much traffic, even though they bought into the area knowing that there would be that park. ThatÓs the kind of thing that holds it up. And then if itÓs financial or whatever it is -. I mean I just feel like this developer got their permits with these restrictions, everyone went back home saying, okay, you know, I got this, you got this. And this is a typical thing where here we are again discussing the concessions that they want to have because, you know, the bottom line isnÓt going to be as rosy as it was going to be. I just, I just have a lot of fears about that based on past experience and whatÓs existing right now. BOWMAN: Thank you, thank you. PALMA-GLENNIE: Thanks for the question. REIMER: May I briefly respond to your question? WATANABE: Generally we donÓt go back, but IÓll allow it if itÓs very short. REIMER: Yes, yes, it is. To answer your question, I live in a condominium complex that is very child unfriendly. And as far as going to parks we actually have some organized parents who will carpool kids to various parks. So we have nothing close and therefore people will probably from outside of the area use that park. EXHIBIT B 13