2012-09-20 Leeward Exh B - Ward Testimony (DPW)

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LEEWARD PLANNING COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I HEARING TRANSCRIPT SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 BOB WARD The following is public testimony provided by regarding the application of COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS (SMA 12-051) at 10:25 a.m. in the West Hawai‘i Civic Center, Community Center, Building G, 74-5044 Ane Keohokālole Highway, Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i, with Chair Geraldine Giffin presiding. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Geraldine Giffin, Brandi Beaudet, Thomas Hickcox and Richard Nelson, III ABSENT AND EXCUSED: Lani Bowman, Wayne Iokepa and Thomas Whittemore ALSO PRESENT: Ivan Torigoe (Deputy Corporation Counsel), BJ Leithead Todd (Planning Director), Daryn Arai (Planning Program Manager) and Noriko Sauer (Commission Secretary) And two people from the public in attendance. APPLICANT: COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS (SMA 12-051) Application for a Special Management Area (SMA) Use Permit for the extension of La‘aloa Avenue as a two-lane, 60-foot wide collector roadway for approximately 1,900 feet to connect with Kuakini Highway (Alternative Alignment 3, Cross Section Alternative B), La‘aloa 1 and 2 and Pāhoehoe, North Kona, Hawai‘i, TMK: 7-7-004: 68, 7-7-008: 029, 114, 120 and 7-7-28: 007. GIFFIN: Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth on this matter now before the Leeward Hawai‘i County Planning Commission? WARD: I do. GIFFIN: Good. Could you please state your name into the microphone. WARD: My full name is Robert G. Ward. I go by the name of Bob. GIFFIN: Begin your testimony. WARD: Thank you, Madam Chair, Commissioners, Planning Director and Counsel and Daryn, for hosting this. I want to testify just briefly. I fully support this project because it is an essential component of the Kona CDP. However, several conditions have not yet been met. Within the context of HRS 205A, this project must still ensure two things: adequate access and consistency with the General Plan and, by extension, the Kona CDP. Access currently is a 20-foot stretch of asphalt. If you recall the illustration of Painted Church Road, that’s essentially what portions of existing La‘aloa look like today. The 20-foot strip of asphalt is shared by cars, trucks, as well as kids heading down to pick up the school bus, folks on their way to catch the Hele On, and every pedestrian or bicyclist going to the beach parks or along 1 EXHIBIT B