HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0019.034 2002-2004 Wilfred R Tanigawa
PO Box 333
19-4188 Road B
Volcano, HI 96785
ph. 808 967 8803 ' , " `i ~
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'December 27, 2002
Mr. James Arakaki
Chairman, County Council
County of Hawaii
25 Aupuni St.
Hilo, HI 96720
Mr. Chairman,
This letter is written in support of the request before the County Council by the
Hawaii True Value Hardware Store in Volcano, Hawaii, proposing a zoning change to add
an adjacent faality to store and sell lumber.
My family has lived in Volcano since the early 1960's and I have been a permanent
resident of Volcano for the last 30 years. I currently work in the Volcano area and also have a
small certrfied orchid nursery, Hawaii Volcano Orchids, that produces potted orchids primarily
for export to the mainland.
From the first day that the True Value Hardware Store opened, I have been a
regular customer. Mr. Thomas and his staff have managed to stock almost all the items that
would be required for maintenance and small improvement to residential dwellings, home
gardening and, in my case, many terns for small commercial agricultural operations. One of
the things that is often needed but is not available, is lumber of various sizes and grades.
This is just the service that will be provided by approving the proposed request.
The proposed improvement is of low impact and is sufficiently setback from general
view that it would not intrude into the lifestyle of the community. In addition, I believe that the
minimal impact would be more than compensated by the convenience of a full service
hardware store.
As a separate but perhaps related issue, I understand that as usual, with requests for
improvements to services, there is a small but vocal group who oppose the approval of
the proposed request. One of the arguments used is that they "...represent the interests of
the community"'. While in the past this organization was indeed influential and did good work
on behalf on the community, the current leadership does not have the general support of
the community as it had in the past. I urge the Council to use their resources to determine
exactly who, and the number of individuals this group purports to represent.
I regret that I will be on Oahu and will not be available to give oral testimony but I
hope that this letter is given due and equal consideration.
ThanC,k you.
Wil ed
Taniga~/~~p/a
Helen Tanigawa v v Comm. No,
cc: HawaiiTrue Value Hardware Store File
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