HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0233.005 2020-2022 II
May 15, 2021
Dear Council Members,
I oppose Bill 34, which seeks to amend the zoning of the former Hilo Iron
Works (HIW) site from OPEN to various industrial-commercial classifications.
In the immediate years following the 1960 tsunami, there were still 13
viable sugar companies on the eastern coast of Hawaii Island, from NaaI
to Kohala. The sugar industry was by far the predominant driver of the Big
Island economy, directly employing thousands, and indirectly sustaining
many thousands more.
All operations in sugar cane cultivation, harvesting and milling were by this
time fully mechanized. HIW was the only Big Island based large scale
industrial equipment, fabrication and machine shop facility that could meet
the immediate day-to-day mechanized sugar operations demand.
Following the 1960 tsunami, the Hawaii Redevelopment Agency was formed,
in part to master plan the area from Kilauea Avenue tote Bayfront, and
basically between Wailoa Stream and Hall! Street.
All remaining standing buildings within this area were to be demolished, and
the to lying areas were rezoned ""OPEN". The HIW site fell within this OPEN
area. However, HIW pushed back and declared they would cease operations
if forced to relocate. As a compromise, HIW was allowed to continue
nonconforming operation in the rezoned OPEN classification, with the implicit
understanding that should it cease operating, the site out eventually be
cleared to conform to the surrounding redevelopment OPEN area.
So fast forward 50 is years to the present. There is no sugar industry
here, no HIW, and sugar is no longer an economic driver. It is time for the
County to force the actual use of the parcel to OPEN, rather than
entertaining any thought of reclassifying the parcel to industrial-commercial.
The present owners of the property knew full-well that the parcel was zoned
OPEN and should have no the history of by the parcel was zoned OPEN.
If by small chance they did not, then it was for lack of their due diligence.
The parcel should remain OPEN, and in fact, the existing buildings should be
demolished to conform to the esthetics and intent of the surrounding area.
Melvin Tanaka
Comm.
Ref. To:_V jVG
Ref. Date— MAY 1 8 2021