HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0493.004 2000-2002 Sat, Jul 7, 2001 1:39 PM
Fr®an ~
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Jaati%ct ~~I.i~.ot--ct,eatiwa,t
K.~%La~-FC.oaa,R, a-i~t~vdr~i.' i~~~-
-r-~ID~-~.-~--0093
SAX T0:
Hawaii County Glerk's office
FAX# 961-8912
Aloha! I am sorry that I was unable to attend Friday's hearing in Kailua-Kona. Would you please
make and distribute capies of my following testimony for each planning commissioner? Mahalo
for your help_
RE_ReyiSio~_~ the_Co_uGeneral plan:
Aloha Chairman and Commissioners:
I would first like thank the many people, including Mayor Harry Kim, f
tanning Director
Chris Yuen, and members of the general public, for taking a fresh, honest approach to
making meaningful changes to the County General Plan. I especially appreciate the time
and effort our representatives took to listen to, accumulate, and incorporate public
sentiments into the proposed plan. I have the following comments to make regarding
specific areas targeted for changes to the old plan:
Keopuka/Kealakekua:
1__~tr__or~gly~upn~th~ designation of Keq.puka Lands as "conservation"J believe
this area and the surrounding Kealakekua shoreline and connected upland areas Should
be left in as pristine a condition as possible, taking into account the cultural and
environments! treasures which these areas hold. The uses permitted at nearby
Oceanside 1250 (Hokulia, as it is now called) do not suit this area (gentrified pseudo-ag
use, golf course, etc.) which lead to higher property rates, higher taxes and subsequent
unaffordability of land and housing for local residents. Surrounding prime agricultural
lands, or those potentially suitable for agriculture in the future, need to be left for
those purposes.Ih~~_~ ~.gland~_~hQ.uJ~be free of the threat of golf course development
(a presently .accepted "ag use" which, I believe, should be removed from agriculturally
zoned or designated land}.
~f. i~aa
Sat, Jul 7, 2001 1:39 PN!
Fr®an
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Kohanaiki/0`orna:
I feel optimistic about ~1~e_prono5e.~ d rede~ignation of Kohanaiki and 0`oma t~
"~p~i'. However, I remain confused and concerned about the "open" designation a5
compared to "conservation." My hope is that the "open" designation will take into
account ongoing protection of the entireity of this critical community space which has
been so well managed by the community and the Kohanaiki `Ghana for over a decade.) am
also concerned to see any "urban" designation m~kai of the hia}sw~y at this time in
area, no less Kohanaiki/D`oma. 1 believe that what is left of open coasts! space i5 (and
will be) too diminished to accept anything other than protected, open, unbuilt areas
dedicated to either the public or the integrity of the environment and culture of Hawaii
{improved access not necessary, but locked gates generally unacceptable). Exception to
this "no build" limitation might be cultural and/or community type facilities {i.e., those
that would enhance public camping opportunity or cultural use of a resource) as passive
as those, for example, at Hapuna or Volcanoes National Park.
I know that the situation at Kohanaiki remains somewhat tenuous, but I have strong
hopes that compromise in the use of this area (that is, any other option than leaving
Kohanaiki/0`oma protected and undeveloped} will not be made. I am concerned not only
that inappropriate building may take place on "urban" designated land, but that golf
course development might be considered on the "open" portions of these two parcel. The
insidious and unnecessary development of coastal golf courses (and more exclusive
resort development) would spell doom for the pristine ocean resources which remain and
provide subsistence, recreational, and spiritual respite on our island whose
overdevelopment shocks me every time I leave my home.
North of Keahole Point:
1 would ask that the most protective designation (preferably "conservation") be
maintained or added to al! land surrounding Kekaha Kai State Park (particularly mauka
and to the south)in or er to ~i~~llow»~ prQp~'iat~ctivitie5 like drag racing or high=
density. comm~rci_aLdevelQpment within sight or earshot of the arks well a~ in
surrouncln~r~5idential. areal (besides, obviously, the airport facility at its present size,
Kekaha Kai State Park which has taken so much community and government work to
create and is unique in its wilderness and passive design, There i5 no other wilderness
park on this side of the island and no publicly, accessible land protected as such. l~
r__em_ain~ c~citi~ally
impo~t~~.h~t_this area, and its s~arr_o~n.,~.yy r~'ve the.gro~_
p_Qpt~.l~~l~£1N~.5t..H~w. ai~.i.a..r.~f~a.ge.frorn~ ra~dwhich, even if it were able to be cut
completely out of plans by our present administration, would continue due to previous
Sat, Jul 7, 2001 1:39 PM
Fr®er~
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plans and permitting moving full Steam ahead.
Mahalo again for the vigilance and time given to this plan by members of our county
administration and public. I look forward to the future implementation of this plan
through even more protective and insightful regional plans.
Sincerely,
? /~Q