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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0019.007 2002-2004My name is Kathleen Porter. My family and I moved to Volcano from O' ahu 23 years ago. I reside on the property immediately adjacent to the proposed rezoning. The long drawn-out process of this application has already drastically affected the wellness of my little wellness center. Programs, retreats and other events that must be planned sometimes a year or more in advance, have had to be shelved. It hasn't been possible for me to invest what little I have in promoting such an uncertain future. So I am already feeling the loss of income, and have therefore reached the decision to move on and have listed my property for sale. This was a heartbreaking decision for me after all the time and effort I went to, after going into debt to do the necessary renovations and improvements and after jumping through what seemed like countless hoops to satisfy the County's permitting process. I haven't been able to afford to hire a planning consultant, and so I've had to learn how to do it all myself. Along the way, I think I've learned a few things, and most recently, I've been learning about letting go. This has been helpful and has allowed me to focus on what I see as a much bigger issue than my own concerns, and would therefore like to address my remarks to what I see as an exciting opportunity for a realistic and workable solution. This situation is really is all about community, both the community of Volcano, of which some of us are a part, and the larger community of the Big Island, of which all of us here are a part. Call if family, if you will, as this is an apt analogy. If we think of the various "factions" within our community as siblings in a family that are given to bickering and fighting among themselves, then the County, at least in this instance, can be viewed as the parent. Oh what is a parent to do! Well, some parents are overly strict, not allowing for chldren to learn the lessons that can only come from making mistakes. Other parents are overly permissive, offering little guidance, leaving the children to drift away and make mistakes that can have serious consequences. Some parents take sides and favor one over the other, setting up an unfortunate cycle of resentments that can last a lifetime, or in some cases, even generations. A wise parent understands that children need both guidelines and discipline in the right doses, yet enough freedom to learn and grow and become empowered. These parents promote harmony and cooperation among siblings, and help to nurture a sense of shared values. So how does this analogy apply to us here? Unfortunately, the zoning code, as currently written, forces the County to take sides and to hand down win/lose decisions again and again on a case by case basis. This situation becomes compounded when the County approves rezoning after the fact, as was the case with Maurice Thomas' previous rezoning application. This sets up to become polarized. Sometimes it seems easier to ignore things or put them off, rather than squarely, especially when we know looking at ourselves might be difficult. However, this kind of an investment of time and attention is tremendously.4 worthwhile when one considers the controversies that are otheriwise repeated again and again. �� The County could require, like a parent laying down the law, that a divided community must sit do'wr together in a mediated, facilitated process, to explore the bottom line needs and wishes of everyone w wants to be heard. We might actually be surprised to discover ways in which we aren't so far apart. And where we are, we would find a way to negotiate our differences in a fair, reasonable and democrat fashion, as required by the County. It may be that some residents would be less fearful of impendingz growth if the knew that the uses that were permitted were appropriate to their specific area and wouo d z w not threaten the irreplaceable qualities of community life. It's startling to discover that KTA Pumako has the exact same zoning as what is allowed on Old Volcano Road in our little village. By the same token, it may be that others would be less fearful of regulations if they believed that they could truly particpate in creating those regulations in a way that would address their needs, provided, of course that their needs did not override the those of the greater community. Fortunately, the General Plan is still under review. Nothing is cast in stone. This is the perfect time for the County to explore innovative approaches that can address these urgent community planning issues. For example, Bobby Cooper, CEO of Shipman Estate, has offered to have a discussion with the community and the County about the use of land owned by them down by the old quarry for a small business park that would place higher -impact businesses in an area that would help protect existing businesses, like Kilauea Lodge, from being destroyed by having incompatible uses imposed on them. Even if the Shipman Estate scenario were to prove problematic for some reason, I believe an exploration of realistic solutions must be considered before we give in to something irreversible that will only deepen our wounds to the point where they will be almost unhealable. I believe that the County Council, as the authoritative, decision-making body that it is, can step up to the job of wise parent and help lead us all it the right direction. I therefore ask you to deny this application, at least for now, until we give ourselves -- all of us -- an opportunity to become true partners in creating a future together. x VOLIAMO V I LLAG& .., —worribS w A, fir r 0 so fi .., —worribS w Ir ---- - -- ro .., —worribS w 5 a &N< .gip 5 Or "k 4 � Ir Or Ai .#A too ren a &N< .gip 5 Or "k 4 � Ir Or Ai .#A too