HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0019.036 2002-2004 Sally M. Mermel
P.O box 342
Volcano, Hawaii
January 5, 2003
To: James Arakaki
Hawaii County Council ~ , i f'1 ~ , ,
Regarding: Application of Maurice Thomas for lumber/equipment
warehouses in Volcano Village
I oppose the granting of permission for this use by Mr. Thomas.
I have lived in Volcano Village for 25 years, and in recent years
have seen the granting of permits for various building after they have
been built. Two of these projects were "Volcano Inn" and Mr.
Thomas's "True Value Hardware Store".
At the present time, Mr. Thomas has the following businesses
on this property: 1. "True Value Hardware Store" 2."Village Art Store"
3. "Volcano Visitor Center" (for Bed and Breakfast rentals, as he
owns "Hale Kilauea" on Kilauea Street also in Volcano Village)
4. "Thai Thai Restaurant" S.Wash `N Dry Laundromat and 6.Volcano
Barber Shop
This amounts to a virtual mini-mall on the corridor of the heart
of Volcano Village. Now, Mr. Thomas proposes to bring in an
indecently large (the length of a football field) industrial use lumber
warehouse and equipment rental and run it through the parking lot of
his "mini-mall". Unfortunately, this is a narrow lot, and the industrial
use he plans will create traffic of large lumber trucks and equipment
rentals.
The Volcano Community is the home to numerous small bed
and breakfast businesses owned by its entrepreneurial residents.
They thrive because Volcano a very special place. Volcano is
charming, quiet, peaceful, and beautiful. Much of what the visitors
enjoy is based on "eco-tourism", walking, hiking, biking and being
outdoors. It is joy to visit and has much to offer its residents and its
visitors. Will this quiet be destroyed? Sounds of the numerous native
birds are a joy to behold. Not so, if the application is approved
allowing the sound of chain saws, compressors, weed eaters and
large lumber trucks.
On this very historic "Old Volcano Road" is a new neighborhood
school, "The Volcano School of Arts and Sciences". The children
often walk or bike to school along this narrow road. After school they
also visit the two stores on either side of Mr.Thomas's property.
Comm. No.
File No. Z N U
Ref. To:
~f, n~>R ,iAN Q 8 2003
Numerous visitors to Volcano Village also walk this narrow road from
their accommodations at Kilauea Lodge, and various Bed and
Breakfast rental operations. I consider this an important safety
consideration in the expansion planned by Mr.Thomas and the traffic
it will create.
I believe this use needs to be placed in another area of
Volcano.
I urge you to consider the huge impact this project wilt have on
such a small community, its residents and visitors.
We need to respect the planning process developed by this
community or revisit this process in a healthy, productive way. I am
afraid this project has divided our community and t urge you to wait
while we put adequate processes in place for such developments.
We need to plan carefully for our future and the future of our children
and the precious rainforest in which we live.
If there does need to be a place for industrial use, it needs to
set aside from the heart of Volcano Village. Perhaps, I might
suggest an area by the old quarry, and near the Volcano transfer
station. Please note that Shipman Estate owns land near the old
guarrv is very receptive to the development of such an industrial use
there.
How much is enough for Mr. Thomas? Is he being a steward for
this land or envisioning his mini-mall growing into a long strip mall?
What are his true long-term plans? If he is granted this use he will in
effect be given a "blank check" to any thing he wants.
Please help us look at the "larger picture" and what is good for
the entire community in the long run.
Please consider a moratorium on such growth for our
community until further community planning can be done.
Yours truly,
~ V~. V~inw-~
Sally M. Mermel
Volcano resident of 25 years
President, Mermel, Inc.
DBA "The Most irresistible Shop in Hilo"
Businesswoman in Hilo for 27 years