HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0047.027 2020-2022 / C/OCi
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From: Sunita Przewlocki
Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2020 9:57 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Senate Bill 217
Bill 217: Please Vote 'No'.
Aloha,
Bill 217 would severely limit the public access to one of the
only accessible shorelines along the entire Hamakua Coast. It is inconceivable that the Council would consider legislation that
would dramatically curtail the right to public enjoyment of the mile-long Waipi'o shoreline, the Muliwai Trail to Waimanu Valley
and the King's Trail which are utilized by so many. It seems this bill has been proposed as a reaction to the concerns of few
without weighing the impact to many. There have been no traffic studies conducted to substantiate that pedestrians pose any
kind of danger to drivers or visa versa.
The passage of this bill would be particularly egregious in light of the Council's recent resolution to condemn, for public use, the
trail to Papaikou Mill Beach which is a fraction of the size, has no public parking (or even public road way) and is utilized by a
comparatively small number of people.
Bill 217 would defeat the purpose of the State law on "Public Access to Coastal and Inland Recreational Areas" (HRS 115-1)
which seeks to "guarantee the right of public access to the sea, shorelines, and inland recreational areas ..." and assigns
responsibility for developing and maintaining rights-of-way to the counties.
The County Code (Sec. 2-83) also mandates that the County afford "fair and impartial treatment"to "all persons." If this bill
passes, however, some will be able to access public lands while others will not.
Please vote'No'.
Mahalo,
Sunita Przewlocki
Comm. No. 41.21
Ref. To: PIWAVICA1
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