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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0027.020 2000-2002 Loren Lewisohn - 965-9329 HCR 3, Box 13536, Keaau 96749 Dear Chairman James Arakaki and County Council Members: This is my written testimony opposin~~The Gateway Shopping Center, respectfully submitted for County Council Hearing on 2/22/01, 9:00 am, Bill 195. 1. I oppose the proposed shopping center because the island is increasingly experiencing the effects of globalization -which is counter-productive to tr~}yR~~ sustainable development. nn~~_s.~~~ BY 2. Adopting a sustainable ecological oriented plan represents a more viable X01"~'~ because as a community, we will upon adoption of this plan, be able to save the `aina. This in turn represents long-term self-sustainability. 3. Our focus can be promoting eco-tourism and educational models that reflect sound self-sustainable community development. 4. This can include products, shops and services that more closely reflect a natural versus unnatural orientation. Shops which carry crafts and locally produced art and agricultural products are much more akin to preserving the spirit of the islands and presenting a responsible image that can be replicated in a network movement of local self-reliance, self-sufficiency and economic recovery. 5. Restaurants such as McDonald's Inc. do not fit in this category. For instance, each McDonald's hamburger consumed is responsible for the destruction of 55 square feet of irreplaceable tropical rainforest. The effects of deforestation are a serious concern, particularly in Hawaii. For this reason, including a McDonald's restaurant or a whole slew of them - is an unsightly blight on the landscape and irresponsible business practice. Please include Rainforest Action Network "Save the Rainforest" planning ideas in all future plans and the General Plan. 6. Where, I ask, is the architectural committee that considers aesthetic beauty? The bottom line is that we have to pass these unsightly strip malls which offend the sensibilities for both residents and tourists alike. 7. The Big Island of Hawaii is, fortunately, not the Mainland yet! The current trends already have supported too much Mainland style development. Where we once had the opportunity to take historical buildings in Keaau and preserve them for their cultural ambiance, instead we foolishly bartered the historical and quaint aspects in a trade-off for plastic development. Enough is enough! Comm. No. File No. Ret. To: CnLh!_. Ref. uete FEB 2 2 2001 Page 2 -Written Testimony from Loren Lewisohn, continued 8. As an example of more responsible and effective planning, please look at how Maui developed Paia town -one of the most successful tourist centers on the islands, that didn't barter or bulldoze away its historic, cultural treasures. 9. I respectfully ask that you suspend your decision on the Gateway Shopping Center until all these issues have been adequately addressed, especially in a forum that is more representative of the community's needs and desires as a whole. cvln, LG/zG'n GGw/.scl~N Y GH ~L1-tll tl47ii F'1'I 1-lK1 AUKI SKY tltltl Ybb !tltl! tll Loren Lewisuhn - 9G5-932y HCR 3, Box I35~: Keaau 9L5f1A9 I)enr (:ha~rrnan James Arakaki and County Council Mdifl~cF~:., 2 ~ i.i'I 8 0 I m, tx m written testimonylutpu~it~ Thr Gatrwav Shoppi~~~:enlcr, rrspl;4uyii~ +ttbtttitte for County t;'ouncif Hearing on 2/22/01, 9:(H) am, F3tll 195 I upp c the propocrd shopping center because the island is ine~ca,~ngr; raprrirnt~ing lhr effects of globalization -which is oounter-productive to tnd~ +ustttinab~e development _ ,Wopt ng a sustainable ecological oriented plan rcpresrnts a more vtahlc ~I.:n« hecause a crnumunity, we will upon adoption of this plan, he able to save ttu 'ama. T s in turn rcpn;yents long-U;rm self-sustainubility. • l)ur f us eau be promoting eeo-tourism and educauonul models chat rc~lru sound set -sustainable community development. i __I:tis c n include products shops and services that mute 4,h;srly rethu a_nauu~, )ersac un tural orientation. Shops which carry crags and locally produced art ,uid Ugric Iturul ptvduc;ts arc much more akin to preserving the spit it ol'the i+L•uur and ptcsc ling a nsponsiblc image that can he replicated in a network movcrnera of loyal s If-reliance, self-sufficiency and economic recovery. Resta rants such as Meihmald's Inc, do nut Iii in this catebory. I u? ur+4irxa each Mc onald's hamburger consumed is responsihlc for the destruction of SS ,yuarc Ic t of irrrplacrable tropical rainlorest. I hr ell'ects of delotcstatum a. serious c ncern, particularly in llawaii For this reason, including a Mci)onald'r icsuntran or a whole slew ofthem rs an wtsightly blight on the landscape ,+nd irrespons blo business practice Please include ltainforcst Action Network "Sa+e the Kaittt rest" planning ideas in all future plans and the General Plan. 1A her ,1 ask, is the architectural committee that considers aesthetic beauty I he bolt line is that we have to pass these unsightly strip mallti which otiend ~h~• vcnsibilit •s for both residents and tourists alike. I 1 hr B g Island of Hawaii is, fonunatcly, not the Mainland .yet! 7'he ~unrru trends al ady have supported too much Mainland style development Where ~+c once had hr oplx~rtunity to take historical buildings in Keaau and presrt,r then for their ulttual ambiance, instead we foolishly bartered the hi~turical and gwtint ;i+rectc i n trade-o11 for plastic development [a~ough cnaugh! ran-'ta-na tlY:YI rr~ ~.eKa riur~aan• une~ wee rear r. n~ 1 Pttgc~ ? ~ Written Testimony from Loren Lewisohn, continued ~ Asa example ol•more responsible and el1cctrve planning, plea+e louk ai nu~~ Maui de elupod Paia town -one of the most successful tourist centers on th~~ ivlands, t didn't baricr or bulldoze away its historic, cultural treasures. I res ' •lluhy ask that you suspend your decision on the Gateway tihoppui~ C'rntcr u tit all these issues have been adequately addrossed, especially m a tbnin~ that ism re representative of the community's needs and desires as a whole i I i i