HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0027.002 2000-2002 SIERRA
CLUB
FOUNDED 1197
January 15, 2001
Hawaii County Council
PlanninAConniteee
Kilo, H~
Dear Committee Members:
The Molar Loa Group of the Sierra Club would like ib go on reooid as opposing the
slwpping amber at the uibessec~on of htghwaye 130 and 11 at the entrance bo the
~u
bypass. The plaoema~t of a dr
pping~on~er at this loaRion is more of an oe6enion of
the Kilo elw~ppi comdor than a eeRtalvati of the Keaau oonma~nity. The drive from Hilo
to Vdcano is taken by almost all tourist v our island. Many camnnent oti the soerric rural
nature of this ednbch of highway. The fu:dier whanii•~lion of this region will detract from the
aesthetic values that tourist hdd In such high regard.
One of the major focuses ad the Sierra Clvb is trying m shop urban sprawl. We believe in
the aeation of communities where shopping, parks, and employn+eit opporttuiitiee are
designed in such a maimer flat people tyre walk to work, ar the grooecy store and
thereby reduce the role of the aubonwbile in our daily Hues. The Keaau area could be such a
community. It would appear that the Shipman hss the opposite goal in mud. Much
of the commwaty was bulldarad. Now~d~opping center ie penpaeed on the oubekirla
of town wfrich wiH Hlcdy*eeode the hrwn center even [udlrr.
We do not want bo stand in the wwaayy of job growth in upper Rau. However we feel that
the placement of oomnlei'cial activity should esilunoe the scree of oommuruty in ICeeau not try
bD make it even more of a Hilo suburb. We quesHm the number of new jobs that will be created
by this project after the initial ooEUhruetlon is If a Safeway or KTA supezmarket is
included as the anclwr shore, ae has been peopwed,woulddtthere~ailers meetly h~ber
employees from their present etoees in the Rf aindao an>a only 5 miles away as ciubomas began
elwpping at the new a6~eY Anotherp
e ehonp
g amber is ahs~ady under oaishuction on the
bypass less than a mile from this center. When is enaµgh, enough?
In closing, what wlll be the of this new shopping center on traffic in the vidnity of
the project. The conetniction of the bypsss has finally given commuters same relief from the
monumental traffic jams at the oid ufbeesectiaai. This project will aeabe the same traffic
congestion at the new internection. Motorist proceeding toward Vdcano will feequeiitly leave to
shop to allow cars bD leave the shopping amber. This will waste gas and inaease the level of air
pollution in this area.
Please vote against this proposal
Sir?cemly,
' ~a~~
Dr.
Moku C9uir "J~/
t3~~~ Comm. No. `
I31e No.
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