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And the only other scenario would be to cut off our Belt Highway access and then let
<br />people try to find us, which, in a sense, is even more of a confusing traffic issue where
<br />people are pulling off to the side of the road or making u-turns trying to figure out how to
<br />get to this thing that they can see but they cant get to.
<br />And, I guess, the other issue would be for emergency services, too. As a business, whats
<br />the most logical way to provide access for emergency services should they ever be
<br />needed?
<br />And, also, that Old Volcano Highway, the road that goes back behind the property is, its
<br />an abandoned highway. So theres no signage, its unimproved and its not maintained.
<br />So its kind of an unusual situation. And because our lot is far into that corner as we can
<br />get it, it kind of presents us with a challenge; and I think were trying to just do the best
<br />that we can with this particular scenario right here.
<br />MRS. MORTARA:Also, if you noticed, most of those lots facing Old Volcano
<br />Highway,allthelotshaveaflaglotcomingouttothehighway.Sothatmeansifallthe
<br />property owners decide to build the houses there, there will be so many driveways
<br />coming out to the highway, unless Old Volcano Highway and the main highway could be
<br />connected at the end. Right now its just cut off with the vegetation.
<br />GALDONES:Further questions? Commissioner Springer?
<br />SPRINGER:In that regard, perhaps if the Planning Director could comment on
<br />it, because we had some discussion of this in Kona about wanting to minimize points of
<br />ingress and egress onto the highway. So could the Director respond?
<br />GALDONES:Mr. Yuen?
<br />YUEN:Yeah, we did look at this exact situation, and maybe Mr. Darrow
<br />could refresh my memory on this. But I think we wound up accepting this because they
<br />have an existing access. Theres a number of, which would be, they have an existing
<br />two-way access, I believe, right, which would be converted to a one-way. And theres,
<br />we like the idea of reopening that intersection closer to Hilo; but that wasnt really
<br />feasible. Is that what we came up on this?
<br />DARROW:Yeah, the Department of Transportation, you know, this would
<br />have been ideal to just connect this to the highway; and, at that point, you know, this
<br />wouldnt have been such an issue. As the Mortaras had mentioned, their property is all
<br />the way on the Hilo side of this Old Volcano Highway. So someone would have to,
<br />traveling from Hilo, would have to go all the way for approximately a mile-and-a-half,
<br />come back on this old road, and hopefully just, you know, think that theyre on the right
<br />track to get there.
<br />Unfortunately, the Department of Transportation, or the County, or anybody, as they
<br />mentioned, this is a road in limbo. So, at this point, nobody is really taking responsibility
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