HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0084.004 2024-2026From: rnarkp50
Sent: Friday, January 17'2O2511:3OAK4
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Comm 84
Ak)h8Council Committee Members,
The vvhOi8paid parking issue inK8iiUa-KoOniSdevastating the entire area.
One issue wouLd be anytime a business or shopping area is approved required parking is conditioned.
The word "Free" parking is required.
Th8Countypass 8n[)rdin8DCethat onk/theCOUDtyCouidcharge forpeddngorregU[ate p8[Nngfeeo.
How doeothe{|OUO1yhnoVViftheyarepaying a[ithepro per taxes nnthepor|dnginonme?
I'm SUn8when the Kona ViUage|nDVV8S8pprovedporkingVv@S@noquinaDneDt,butthevvnnj"Free" mhOUid
have been incLuded. UncLe BiLly never had paid parking in mind. But his greedy kids do. ALso the owners
of Coconut Grove should be ashamed.
However since paid parking started vve and our many guests donot dine orshop downtown. VVmrecently
had a birthday dinner with eight peopLe. Went to a pLace with free parking and had a great time. Because
it was a busy on a Friday night and the fact they were short staffed we there around 3 hours but it only
seemed like an hour because of at[ were talking story. Everyone was so happy. Great food, conversation,
and service.
Next week 8friendly large group iscome over tOKona from California. \A/0have advised them about the
issue and told them that we would all be dining and shopping elsewhere because of the ridiculously high
parking rates which is a shame.
Making AM drive one way is not a sotution. Lowering property tax for just the parking lots for free parking
mUayvvorx?
Another issue is the escape routes. One plan the previous mayor talked about was a road from Atii to
Kuakini using the vacant tot across from Huggo's. The new road coutd be wide enough to have 2 travel
lanes plus free parking on both sides. This would also reduce traffic along Alii drives major businesses.
Many time service/construction vehicles have no other way to get to Kuakini.
In cLosing these greedy LandLords and parking companies have ruined the businesses in town.
We don't go downtown. We the Locats alt supported them during and right after Covid to heLp them.
Mohabz
John Powell