2012-11-15 Leeward Exh E - DPW Laaloa

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J. LEDERER: Can I correct that? The concept of, yes, a connecting road, definitely in favor of it. This particular road, no. L. LEDERER: I second that. GIFFIN: Thank you. All right. Patricia Holum and Bob Ward, who testified last month, I am going to limit your testimony. Thank you. Please raise your right hands again. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth on this matter now before the Leeward Hawai‘i County Planning Commission? TESTIFIERS: I do. GIFFIN: Please, Patricia? HOLUM: Okay. Patricia. And I do live on the upper portion of Daytona 500. And I think, you know, to address the concern that Lani had, that is another wonderful access to everyone that’s going surfing, because the best surfing area is just, just a bit north of La‘aloa on Ali‘i, the Banyan’s and Hōlualoa; so that’s where the traffic is going to come from. Everybody is going to find a fast way to get down to the beach because they are not going to want to take Royal Poinciana and Lako over all the speed humps. Right now you are only going to have the two speed humps in the newer portion, and the one, existing one, that’s down there that I mentioned to Madam Chair that I’ve seen people go over it over 45, 50 miles an hour and take air as they have traveled over the one existing speed hump. So that’s my concern. And also, all the school children that are down there at the bottom. And I walk down there to go to the beach, La‘aloa Beach, myself, and when the cars are coming down there so fast, you are basically having to jump onto the gravel to get out of the way. I’m over 60 years old; I don’t really, you know, like jumping just to go down to take quick swim. So there has to be some kind of traffic calming. And I really feel that the lower portion needs to be addressed before the connection is done because of all school children that are down there, the school buses, the Hele On bus stop is right down there, too, so really need to address that, as well as that section from the Ali‘i Parkway up to where the connector is going to be done. There is no traffic calming; the cars are doing 45, 50 miles an hour going up there as it is, so -. That’s all I have to say. GIFFIN: Thank you. Bob? WARD: Thank you. GIFFIN: You’re welcome. WARD: I hope I’m not wearing out my welcome here. I’m here today, first, because I do support the project. And I hope that it can be progressed without delay. La‘aloa is the only practical access to the shore for most of the 450 homes you see up there. Second, my priority is to protect the health and safety of my family, my neighbors, my friends and guests that depend on La‘aloa for access to the coast and activities such as fishing, canoeing, surfing, swimming, whether it’s walking, hiking, biking, whatever activity they chose. And third is simply to request that the County honor its previous promises to the community, and perhaps even limit exposure to potential liability or litigation. The main point is despite the fact that existing La‘aloa does not meet the current standards of Department of Public Works and poses risks to all current users, and despite the fact that improvements were first promised over 29 years ago under the original ordinance, which 11 EXHIBIT E