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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0027.031 2000-2002 From ~ i- Mar aret Shaw ' ~ _ - - 1035W FrrtoAve ~~1 ~ f" ~-'I 1~ Q~j Mesa, Arizona 85210 r- Sublect Bill 195/The Gateway Mall Perspective Opposed 2/20/01 Dear County Council Members, I am a long time resident and homeowner of Hawau Currently I am res~dmg on the mainland to reach an educational goal but plan to return home w~thm the next few years I am opposed to the proposed Gateway mall for all of the reasons previously expressed overwhelmingly by our community as follows 1 Urban sprawl that will create increased traffic Lams m an area where a recent bypass was constructed to reduce traffic 2 Local businesses in downtown Hilo and m the existing malls in Hilo are already struggling and going out of business due to msuffic~ent demand and competition by mainland "Box stores" such as Walmart, Safeway, Office Max and Ross's 3 The "mallmg" of Hawai'~ and the impending loss of our local character, which ~s supported by older family-owned and operated businesses 4 The associated housing development that will mev~tably be built by Shipman m Kea'au that will only increase traffic and promote further destruction of the local nature of Kea'au 5 The potential to turn I-Lghway 11 into a commercial corridor lined with malls, warehouses and other aesthetically disturbing scenery, which would extend all the way from Hilo to Volcano and beyond 6 The ultimate demise of Kea'au village, which was sadly bulldozed by Shipman lust a few years ago to make way for gas stations and convenience stores, which will also be put out of business by this mall 7 The unwillingness of Shipman to install an underpass, which would facilitate access to the proposed mall by residents of Lower Puna and prevent increased traffic disruption on Highway 11 8 The complete disregard for the environment and native forests that this development demonstrates In conclusion, we are at a turning point m East Hawaii We may choose to preserve and protect the character and native environments that make Puna such a special place, or we can choose to turn Puna into a step mall with all of the "conveniences" of Honolulu and West Oahu It is our choke I choose the native forests and local character of Puna as my legacy to our children The Puna Community has spoken loudly against developing a mall and all of its associated services and housing (Phase II) m Kea'au as demonstrated at 27.3 Comm. No. File No. Ref. To: Fr~afd Ref. Date 2 2001 the previous county council heazmg on this issue But once again, most of the planning committee has ignored publw feedback and deeded to pass bill 195 Since coming back to the mainland, aRer being m Hawan for over 20 years, I have seen what can happen when developers are given free rem In lust one generation, thousands of acres of pnstme desert have been stripped and "strip-mailed" into urban ugliness The one consolation I have is that I can return to my home m Puna The one fear I have ~s that I will find that the urban sprawl mentality has continued to spread into one of the most beautiful places on earth Please stop this from happenings No profit is worth the pace we, as a community will ultimately pays Sincerely yours, M ret Shaw