HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0135.000 2002-2004
FEB-13-03 09:43 AM KRLEIfiLOHR ORCHID FARM 902 3204 P. 01
I)nl'E' I~chruary I3. 2003 , ,
'fO: T'hc Hawaii County Planning 1)cpartment ri
1,_11.
!'ROM: Robert G, and f
.Anne Chase, rosidcnts, Orchidland Estates ~j~ , _ , ~ ~
HC'R 1 t3ox 5782. Keaau. HI 96749 (Ph) 9B2-fi479 (~J?""
SURJI:("I': Concerns about the Application tier Extension to the Slxcial [?se Permit fi,r
the Wiki-Wiki !Karl and Cias Station on C)rchidland Drive
UF.ARING DA'I'G: F.;bruary 21, 2003
Our home was built on 35`x' Street in 1974 and, since than, have watched the development
ol'Orchidlund. We am strong supporters ofdcvelopment. particularly specialty stores
similar to those now located on Orchidland Drive and owned by the people applying for
;tn uxtensicrn to their Special l_lsr Permit. As you may romemher, we and our avo
ncighhirrs wrote a letter in supptxt of Vern Wood's similar request last year.
~s you know. an earlier County C'uuncil allowed Orchidland Estates to he developed in
the chcapust possible way with the minimum of inttastructure for those who live here.
While a positive outcome of this decision has been the availability of very inexpensive
land, the negative side has been the attraction of a segment of the population that has not
gut the money, intett5t or foresight to improve the subdivision. As you know, the ~
subdivision is impro~ ing itself but very slowly and with much difficulty.
I'hc County has never resisted making developers provide improvements beyond their i
own needs in exchange for the privilege of obtaining special consideration, such as
special use pcmlits. As we stated in our support for Vern Wood's request, the original
plans Ibr the Wiki-Wiki mart includes a water tine and, we arc told, paving to 35's. I
Neither was donor Worse than this, our research into the water question showed that no
one in the County realized that the line had never been installed or knew why it hadn't ~
been. The (bunt} Council is rcyuiring Vcrn Wood to conduct a Traffic study in
association with his reyuest to develop his pmpcrty at the mauka corner of 34'" and
Orchidland Drives which we support strongly, However, it is only fair that the new
owners of the Wiki mart share in the cost of the study and in the cost of any resulting
changes to the intersection that the County might rcyuire since their activities
(particularly the gas station) impact traffic. as well.
We support the application for extension of the Special Ilse Permit but we beg of the
(''ounly Council to begin taking some level of responsibility fur the tetxible state of the
Orchidland subdivision. We ask that it use this request, as it does with other requests, to
review the sintation and make reyuiremems that will ameliorate the danger that tx,th the
development of the subdivision and the development of a commercial center on
(lrchidland Drive is creating. We understand the frustration the County has experienced
with [hc wc;ak and incflcctual Icadcnhip of our community organization but this is nu I
roaxrni t<~ i~nr.re the. ~,hvirnrc needs of the suhdiviFi~n. Plenre help us.
~mDI. No. ~ 3S
File Na P~-~
Ref. To;
Ref, oats FFR 1 ~ ~nn~