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DeVera, Ashley <br /> From: diana riera <verapearls@hotmail.com> <br /> Sent: Thursday,June 8, 2023 10:36 AM <br /> To: LPCtestimony <br /> Subject: I oppose the Kaupuleho Land LLC applications <br /> Aloha, <br /> Having moved up to Waimea town in 1997 after many years in Kailua- Kona, Waimea provided <br /> that essence of a beautiful mountain town in Hawaii bordered by Pu'us , steams, green natural <br /> beauty and tranquility. The energy and feel of "Old Hawaii" were still prevalent. <br /> Kailua- Kona on the other hand has become an overcrowded small town that has lost its ocean <br /> front tropical feeling , beauty and Pacific charm. We know this is progress but at what <br /> cost? Will this happen to Waimea? Where are we headed? How do we manage it? <br /> Waimea on the Big Island is considered a jewel by many of the residents of the other islands. <br /> That is what is so attractive and value producing ( but dangerous as it attracts high value <br /> developers) <br /> The rich soil of Waimea allows farmers to produce our much-needed food as we are so <br /> dependent on imports that can be unpredictable during chaotic times. 1. The self-sustaining <br /> lifestyle must be encouraged and not destroyed by the over-eager development of <br /> commercialism in a town of about 11,000 inhabitants. This is a goal for all the islands. We <br /> need our small farmers. We count on our farmers' markets for our weekly fresh produce. <br /> Businesses will come and go but the damage of the land due to commercial development is <br /> short sighted and detrimental to the goals of subsistence . The tax benefits of <br /> overdevelopment will come back to bite the hands that collect them and long term hurt the <br /> citizens of the town. <br /> We are all aware that Counties have a constant need for more income. <br /> However, as a state that has a surplus, we are not coming from a position of need and <br /> weakness but actually from a financially sound position that should allow us to make long <br /> term wise decisions. <br /> Which brings me to our second point - 2. Infrastructure and traffic management. We are a <br /> one lane town. <br /> The commercial traffic on the highway through town is at times overwhelming. We provide <br /> access from all the surrounding communities which use Waimea town as a thoroughfare to <br /> their destinations. Couple this with schools and the towns normal daily traffic patterns, the <br /> main street of Waimea becomes quite crowded Adding commercial buildings at its heart <br /> with parking lots and movement for 75 cars plus is a poor recipe for wise development. <br />