HomeMy WebLinkAboutBaker, Christian
Tsuneda, Kaci
From:CHRISTIAN BAKER <cdogman911@aol.com>
Sent:Tuesday, October 20, 2026 8:58 AM
To:Council Testimony
Subject:opposition in regards to 186-187
Date: \[10/20/2026\]
To: Chair and Members of the Hawaiʻi County Council
From: \[Christian Baker \]
\]
Subject: STRONG OPPOSITION to Bill 186 and Bill 187 (Waikōloa Greens Rezoning)
Aloha Chair and Members of the Hawaiʻi County Council,
I am writing as a resident of \[Your Neighborhood/Waikōloa Village\] to voice my strong opposition to
Bill 186 and Bill 187. While I understand the critical need for housing across Hawaiʻi Island, I cannot
support large-scale expansion that significantly outpaces our existing infrastructure, puts our
community at severe safety risk, and permanently depletes our agricultural resources.
My opposition is rooted in several critical concerns shared by the community:
1. Severe Wildfire Safety and Evacuation Risks: Recent county evacuation data shows that it
would take over four hours to evacuate Waikōloa Village’s existing 7,000 residents in an
emergency. Adding an estimated 2,000 new residents via the Waikōloa Greens project without
first securing and funding a dedicated second emergency access road is a dangerous gamble
with human lives. We cannot afford a failure of emergency capacity.
2. Inadequate Water Infrastructure: Our local water systems are already under strain, with
frequent calls for community conservation. This council should not approve massive multi-
family developments until there is verified, operational water infrastructure capable of both
sustaining a growing population and providing adequate fire suppression during an active
wildfire crisis.
3. Loss of Important Agricultural Land: Bill 186 proposes shifting productive agricultural
designations to urban use. If Hawaiʻi is to truly strive for sustainability and reduced reliance on
imported foods, we must protect our agricultural lands from permanent development. Once this
acreage is covered in asphalt and concrete, it is lost to future generations.
4. Strain on Community Services: Our local schools, drainage frameworks, and emergency
medical services are already stretched thin. Approving a project of this scale before these
public services are upgraded ensures a diminished quality of life for both current and future
residents.
For these reasons, I request that the Council vote NO or defer action on Bills 186 and 187 until the
developer complies with a full Hawaiʻi Environmental Policy Act (HEPA) review. We must demand
responsible community planning where infrastructure comes first, rather than promises of
infrastructure later.
Mahalo for your time, consideration, and dedication to protecting the safety and future of our
community.
1
Sincerely,
\[Christian Baker\]
2