2013-01-10 Windward Transcript Connections

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NOVAK: I’m Allen Novak. I reside in Kaumana on Mele Manu Street. And at the original hearing, the Commission instructed Connections to hold a community meeting and report back thth by December 6. I also attended the December 6 hearing. I had not received any notice of a meeting, but was told at that hearing that a notice was in the mail; and, indeed, the next day a th notice did arrive on December 7 notifying me that Connections was going to host a meeting on th December 17 at the Connections School in the middle of the day. It gave me ten days to reschedule my patients, which I did because I considered it important that I stay informed and see any opportunities to work with this group that may arise. So I was able to attend the th December 7 meeting, at which Eric Boyd initiated the meeting by expressing his desire to build trust with the community. These words made feel encouraged and hopeful. As the meeting progressed, it became apparent that these opening words were hallow, as Connections became unresponsive to community input. Connection’s position became blatantly apparent to me that a community, when a community member asked if Connections would take some action to mitigate the traffic congestion and hazards that occur, would occur at the intersection of Kaumana Drive and Edita Street, the response was that they weren’t required to do so. No attempt was made to address the concern for safety or congestion at that intersection. It became apparent to me that in spite of Connection’s stated position of being willing to consider community concerns and accommodate, they plan to do the minimum required by law or whatever they can get away. If this special use permit is approved, Connections will deviate from its stated plan, at the expense of the community if it is to their advantage. I have no doubt of that. Keeping the door open does not reflect commitment to action. You are our only hope to protect our community from this premature misguided project proposal. So please deny this permit application. AU: Thank you, Mr. Novak. Any questions for the testifier? Robert Wagner. L. NOVAK: Oh, that’s me. My name is Layne Novak. I am going to be testifying on behalf of Robert Wagner who is at work right now. Both, Captain Wagner and I live on Mele Manu Street. This morning as usual, at about 7:20 a.m., I drove from my residence on Mele Manu Street to work. I exited Edita Street making a right turn onto Kaumana Drive. As I drove down, traffic was as usual for a school day, the traffic began backing up at Terrace Drive and slowed to about 4 or 5 miles per hour once you reached Luana Way. If you are coming out of Luana Way, or the street below (Aipuni Street), you rely on people letting you out, otherwise you cannot enter Kaumana Drive, especially those exiting Aipuni Street, which is roughly quarter mile away from the intersection of Ainako/Kaumana Drive. Traffic is heavy at this time on Kaumana Drive, it takes me 15 minutes to get to work which is 4 miles away. You can experience this yourself if you want, just drive down Kaumana Drive at about 7:30. The problem I have, having, excuse me, the problem I am having is the increase in traffic that will occur as a result of a charter school that has 370 students, not including staff, exiting onto 25 ATTACHMENT C