HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0027.059 2000-2002
Cory Harden, PO Box 10265, Hilo, Hawaii 96721 residence Mt. View
comments re. bill 195, Shipman Gateway, February 6, 2002
You're discussing amendments that would allow Shipman's Gateway Center.
But the Gateway Center should not be built at all, for three reasons:
First, legal action could be brought against the County.
Bonnie Goodell wrote a letter (March 27, 2001) saying a new environmental
assessment should be done. Corporation Counsel wrote a letter (May 14,
2001) saying no new assessment was needed.
When the environmental assessment was accepted in December 1995, says
the Corporation Counsel letter, "it is not clear how much more detail would
have been available at that time... regarding Shipman's plans."
Does this mean Shipman can just add whatever it considers a detail to its
plans?
The original plan had a 3-way intersection. But now there's a 4-way ~g~?:~.~~2,~.~
intersection. I don't think that's a detail.
The Corporation Counsel letter may make sense, legally. But common sense
tells you that if you decide 3 equals 4 and go ahead, somewhere down the
road you'll have a problem.
There needs to be a new environmental assessment, or the County could be
open to legal action.
Second, Gateway Center does not follow the principle of orderly
development.
The Corporation Counsel letter says "The legislative body should base it's
(sic) decision on a particular zoning request on whether it is in the best
interest of the orderly development of the community."
Is it orderly development when you have seven lanes of cars cutting through
a Keaau which is split up on opposing sides of a highway?
Is it orderly development when Keaau Shopping Center turns into another
ghost-town like Kaiko' o Mall? ,
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Is it orderly when new development jumps to the head of the line for County
water and roads, ahead of hundreds of people waiting for services in Puna?
Is it orderly when thousands of dollars are spent on a bypass and a few years
later it's no longer a bypass?
I don't think so.
Third, development in Keaau needs to take a more positive direction.
It should minimize traffic... not increase it.
It should enhance the town that's already there... not abandon it.
It should build community... not split it in two.
It should reflect the will of all the people... not just a few large landowners.