HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0560.005 2002-2004 Good afternoon members of the Council and thank you for
the opportunity to comment on the Proposed University
Terrace Project;
My name is Cheryl Reis and my home of 27 years is at 65
Punahele Street. I am a retired Hawaii Police major and
while in that capacity was apart of the team that developed
and implemented the Enhanced 911 system and was the
Department's liaison to our Civil Defense. I also spent 14
years in the Juvenile Aid Section as an investigator and ten
years in the patrol operations in South Hilo, and later as
Commander in both the Laupahoehoe, Hamakua and Puna
police districts.
In addition to myself and my family, I am speaking today also
on behalf of
Wally Wilson
Francis Woo
Joseph and Rosalind Lopez
Melchor and Letitia Agag
Amy Mahealani Jones
Oiwi Parker Jones
Emmeline De pillis
James Anderson
Sandy Anderson
and against the blanket approval of the proposed Project
District.
I have 2 points to make.
The first is the substantial increase to the density of this
neighborhood. As proposed, 3000 more residents and about
1500 more of their vehicles, along with shopping traffic
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would be added to the area on a daily basis. This adds the
potential of increased traffic accidents, robberies, burglaries,
thefts, other property crimes, domestic and other types of
disturbances, and general calls for police services. Add
fires, medical emergencies and other calls for Fire/EMT
services with an increased volume of 911 calls, and you tax
an already stretched Public Safety network. I believe that
the Developer has undertaken a very ambitious venture and
considering its scope, a realistic attitude toward his
contribution to our County infrastructure should be imposed.
Specifically, the Developer should be assessed the cost of
increasing both police, fire and 911 dispatch personnel in a
reasonable amount to be calculated by the County.
Additional support personnel within the 2 agencies should
also be considered and an assessment made for those as
well if applicable. Operational facilities should also be
included on the project site to accommodate calls for service
without taxing those already in place for the greater Hilo
area. The Developer's benefit will be lasting in his service to
the residents/users of the area and less strain for the rest of
us.
Most of the residents on the lower Kaumana/Punahele
section of the project are either retired or young families with
growing responsibilities and limited or fixed incomes. So my
second point or question would be, how would the project
impact the infrastructure for them as, for example, an
increase in property taxes perhaps. If existing resources
along this area such as sewer lines be used, what is the
impact on the existing neighborhoods. Almost everyone
contacted on my petition drive in those neighborhoods
grabbed eagerly for the pen to sign up to deny the proposed
project.
I urge you elected officials who are also our neighbors and
protectors for the common good to weigh heavily that this
rezoning request is not appropriate for that area and, as
such, will result in a substantial adverse impact upon the
surrounding area, community and region and should be
denied.
Thank You.