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Ellen Okuma r~~ - <br /> P.O. Box 1448, Kea`au, HI ~ 2 i 3 ~ 8 <br /> r. <br /> ' ' February 2 k, X001 <br /> SubJect Bill 195/Gateway Mall <br /> <br /> Perspective. Opposed <br /> Mr James Arakaki, Chair <br /> Hawaii County Council <br /> <br /> Hilo, HI 96720 <br /> <br /> Deaz Mr Arakaki, <br /> I ask that you and the full Council senously consider my letter along with other <br /> <br /> opposition to the Gateway Mall <br /> <br /> My husband and I own a house and lot in Hawazian Pazadise Pazk (HPP). Although I <br /> <br /> work in Hilo, four yeazs ago we chose to move to HPP because of the lazge lots, native <br /> forest and quietness. I also have academic background in environmental management. I <br /> registered our oooosition to the Gateway Mall a year ago at a Kea`su town meeting <br /> and am doing so again with this testimony. <br /> We are disappointed that Council members except for Ms Jacobson and Mr Tyler, have <br /> ignored the requests of vanous parties to reconsider the Gateway Mall plan as it was <br /> <br /> presented The following is our list of reasons why we aze opposed to the Gateway Mall <br /> 1 Economically another step mall will further the decline of Downtown Hilo and <br /> Kea`au Town Center, and will exacerbate the number of vacancies in the other malls <br /> m Hilo <br /> 2 Traffic will increase, especially dunng peak hours (ie, to/from work and school), on a <br /> lvghway that already is overburdened, especially when there is an accident We were <br /> already told that the recently completed Bypass would minuruze traffic but in fact, it <br /> has caused more congestion dunng peak hoots due to the increase of traffic signals <br /> and the absence of an underpass or overpass leading from Highway 11 to Highway <br /> 130. <br /> 3 Urban sprawl will occur if the location and size of the Mall proceeds as planned At <br /> the town meeting last Spnng, many people supported the idea ofhaving ascaled- <br /> down shopping azea on the same side of the tughway as Kea`au Town Center. <br /> Something that complements Sure Save and the other stores currently in Kea`au Why <br /> have the Council members ignored those suggestions? <br /> 4 Rural chazacter is what makes much of the Big Island, especially on the East side, <br /> appealing to residents and visitors alike My husband and I chose to move to East <br /> Hawaz`i from Honolulu where traffic, congestion, noise and afast-paced life-style aze <br /> not to our liking <br /> Comm. Na ' <br /> Ftile No. <br /> Ref. To: rw`~Ali1 <br /> Ref. Da*e F 8 ~ ~ <br /> <br />