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Hawanan Hardwoods Direct ~ ~ 803-922-5305 ~ 3/23/00 1:07 PM ~ 1/2
Wendy Schaefer, Planning Coordinator
Hawaii Academy of Arts & Science
PO Box 1494
Pahoa.H196778
r RE{~yEp March 22, 2000
Mr. JamesArakaki nme..__~-y BY.---~-~---•..
Hawaii County Council County Covndl / ( `
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, HI 96720
Dear Mr Arakaki:
It has come to my attention that the Hawaii County budget draft under
consideration includes $100,000 for planning a bike and pedestrian path on that
portion of Railroad Ave (between Shower Dr and Kea au) still owned by the Shipman
Company. The acpuisitiorof this final link in an historic public right of way needs to
proceed with haste! Please change the appropriation item to read' for acquisition of
the portion of Railroad Ave. owned by Nl. H Shipman,(Kea au to Shower Dr.) Bicycle
paths are a national trend addressing a future in which comm unities will be closer
together and non vehicular pathways will serve growing numbers of community
members for transportation and recreation. Securing this right of way is vital to our
future as a community that cares about its own wellbeing!
The County Council is currently considering the Shipman Company request for
a rezoning to accommodate their proposed shopping center. I was pleased to see
well over 150 people in attendance March 22 in Kea au at the public hearing
concerning this request. It was obvious from the testimony that the community
supports inevitable development, and also is very concerned that all consideration of
development be guided by comprehensive traffic planning. Surely the Shipman
Company could be persuaded to see the importance of this bicycle pathway to ifs own
developing vision of the greater Kea au area! Perhaps they would consider donating
it as public right of way. I can think of nothing that would improve their esteem within
the community more than such a generous, public spirited, and visionary gesture!
Situated as we are in a perfiect place for bicycle transportation, it is imperative
that we develop this already popular non-vehicular route which links so many of our
growing population centers. As planner for a new high school of choice (public charter
high school) in east HI, I see the RR Ave, bikeway as a transportation route youth could
utilize to get themselves to and from school. The time is right to bring RR Ave into the
equation of Kea au development for the benefit of all Hilo/Puna residents. I applaud
the hard work that has brought the bikeway to this stage. Make the bikeway a reality
and it will become a magnificent addition to a public infrastructure supporting the
"human comm unities' the community spoke for so eloquently on March 22.
Mahalo, Wendy Schaefer, Planning Coordinator
Ha~n~ai' i Academy of Arts & Science Comm. No. 68L} • 00)
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Karen Azuma Budget James Arakaki, -County Council /
Wendy Schaefer, Hawaii Academy of Arts&SciSteveSdraefer, Hawaiian Hard(((woods Direct
Fax Number:808-586-2733 808-966-4754
Date: March 22, 00 Thu, Mar 23, 2000. 1:07 PM
Pages, including cover: 2 3
If there is difficulty with this transmission, please call: 808-982-5305808-982-5305
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