HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0019.021 2002-2004 Testimony from: Ms. Suzan Starr, Resident Volcano Village
Respectfully submitted to the County Council of the County of Hawaii
Wednesday, January 8, 2003
Re: Proposed Lumber Yard Development by applicant Mr. Maurice Thomas
Request for re-zoning from Residential usage to Commercial Village
Old Volcano Highway, Volcano Village, Hawaii
My name is Suzan Starr and have lived in Volcano Village for the past six
years. accrrvr`a
My mailing address is P.O. Box 301, Volcano, Hawaii 96785 cot~._.____.. !1kre~..__._.._.__.
_ County Counctl
I have been a home owner for the past three years and a renter for three
years prior to that.
I am also a store owner and have owned my own business in downtown Hilo
for the past eleven years. As a business woman, I am very sensitive to thQ
needs of the community as well as the needs of the local market.
I have attended two meetings in protest to Mr. Thomas's Lumber Yard
Proposal. This is my third testimony asking for rejection of Mr. Thomas's
application for re-zoning his property from residential to commercial village.
At the last meeting, Mr. Thomas's representative, who, at one time, was a
Planning ,Director for the County Uf Hawaii, was asked by the County Council,
"If Commercial Village Zoning allows for Warehousing and/or a lumber Yard
development?" Mr. Thomas's representative did not answer the question
directly and referred back to the general plan which was written for the area
back in the 70's.
Also, at the last meeting, Mr. Frankel, who is an Attorney, and Ms. Marohnic,
testified that "Commercial Village Zoning, according the the zoning laws, does
not allow for Warehousing or for a Lumber Yard development."
When Mr. Thomas's representative was asked about the use of the property
and the zoning conflict, Mr. Thomas's representative then said, °well, it is
not for lumber, it would be for retail storage overflow." Whi~h~ by~o a way, Z ,
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Page. 2. S. Starr Testimony
is still warehousing.
• First, if Mr. Thomas is now proposing a different usage for the property,
then, he needs to reapply for a zoning change based on his now proposed use
for "Retail Overflow."
If this if Mr. Thomas's true intention for the use of the property, then all of
the testimonies and meetings we have had over the past four months would
be invalid.
Mr. Thomas needs to resubmit his application to the County Planning
Department, according to the appropriate re-zoning request protocol and
state what his true intention for the use of the property is. If his intention
is to use the space for "Retail" and not a lumber yard, then he needs to state
so in his reapplication. -
As I have stated at the previous meetings, I am against Mr. Thomas's Lumber
Yard proposal. The environment of Volcano Village is not conducive to such a
development nor is it economically feasible. A great number of people would
suffer economically from such a development .
Volcano Village is a natural gateway to Volcano National Park. Its'
environment offers a peaceful refuge which is sought after from
vacationers who come from all over the world to visit the park.
There are a great number of Bed and Breakfast owners as well as Vacation
Rental owners who benefit from the visitation of those who are seeking a
peaceful refuge. These business owners employ a number of people from
our community for property maintenance, upkeep and assistance in running
their businesses. Presently, one home owner who runs a vacation rental and
wellness center has decided to sale her property as the noise and congestion
from such a development would disrupt from the peaceful refuge her
property offers to visitors. The Pmpact of such a development would have a
negative economic effect and would put her out of business. Her property
is next .door to Mr. Thomas.
From that one business owner's decision, there are other people who will
suffer economically from her business closing. Her business has
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Pg. 3. S, Starr Testimony
other health care practitioners who offer classes on yoga, massage, and
wellness. They will now have one less place to come and offer their services
from which they economically benefited.
Lumber Yards are an Industrial Development and need to be in Industrial
Parks, not Residential areas. And, especially, should not be allowed in an
environment which is heavily forested, is residence to native birds and native
plant species, and, as well, as, is home to native species, both plants and
animals,-which are on the endangered list of extinction.
The last time Mr. Thomas deforested the front part of his property back in
1995, a comment was made by Ms. Porter, to me, as to how she came home
after Mr. Thomas had cut down the trees and how she found a number of
disoriented Apapane Birds fluttering around on her front lawn appearing
disoriented. This type of behavior for such a species of native forest birds
is extremely unusual. For the past six years I have witnessed the behavior
of these birds. I have never seen them fluttering around on the ground.
Their daily behavior has been flying about from tree to tree, taking nectar
from the Lehua Blossom and singing their songs at sun rise, midday and at
sunset.
I could go on and on about the disruption to the community and the
environment and how the community has already suffered from this
proposed development by relationships being tested by disagreements over
this proposal.
From such suffering, I think it is more than obvious what the long term
negative impact of such a development would make upon this community and
the environment.
In closing, as a Rotarian, we are sworn to the following four way test in the
things we say and do:
1) Is it the truth?
2) Is it beneficial to the community?
3) Will it build gdod will and better friendships?
Pg. 4 S. Starr Testimony
4) Is it beneficial to all concerned?
In answer to the above four questions and applying these questions to Mr. _
Thomas's proposal, the answers are no, no, no and no.
With deepest concern and aloha,
Suzan Starr