HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0560.007 2002-2004 Testimony for the Planning Committee of the Hawaii Island County Council,
May 4, 2004.
My name is Amy Mahealani Jones. I live on Liko Lehua Street at its intersection with
Wiliwili Street on the north border of the proposed development. I have lived in my
house for 22 years. I testified against the proposal at the Planning Commission meeting
in which the zoning change for the area called University Terrace was forwarded to the
Council. I come to testify again today. I am against the proposed development for many
reasons. My colleagues and teammates are presenting testimony on some of these
reasons today. I will limit my testimony to two main points:
1. I am concerned about the present level of flooding in the entire area, and any
exacerbation of the current problems that would be caused by more
development in this watershed.
It's boggy back there in the forested area behind my house. I've walked into the forest
during drought season, and the soil is still damp. I've wondered for years if there is water
surfacing somewhere out there, and while I don't have proof, I think it probably is.
I learned from doing my research about this area that this part of Hilo and up mauka is
too new for stream beds to have become well-established. Instead, in many areas when
there is enough rain, the water flows in sheets on the surface of the land. We can see
evidence of this on Komohana Street and other places.
The sheet flow does not continue all the way to the ocean. In some places water joins
river beds, such as the Alenaio, but in many places it disappears into the soil, and into
lava tubes. Lava tubes can move water quickly, and from lava tubes water often
resurface as a spring.
There are two streets on the northern border of the proposed subdivision, Waipuna Street
and Spring Street. Hawaiians often gave place names because of land features there.
Waipuna means an upwelling, or spring of fresh water. That gives us a good clue as to
what was, or is still here, and the natural condition of the land.
The current developer plans to make dry wells on the property to handle excessive runoff.
When water finds lava tubes, or when dry wells are used, where does that water
resurface? I attended the community meeting about the proposed 116 acre development
up on Wilder Road, and at that meeting I asked the water engineer for both projects if he
knows where the water comes up again from dry wells or lava tubes in this watershed.
He couldn't answer me. What if it comes up downtown, or more to the point, what if
more water surfaces downtown, like it has before in the basement of Spencer's or
Koehnen's, or many of the other businesses there? Is it responsible to make a decision to
reroute the course of water to this degree in an area already taxed by flooding issues?
Doesn't it make more sense to understand water flow in this area before manipulating it
Comm. No. SpV
Ref. To: Preweted
Ref. Date
into another configuration? If the decision is made to develop, and there is a flood that
harms business, homes or people, who is responsible for the liability?
Humans are not perfect. Should we really allow the engineers and developers to change
and manage the course of all water in the watershed? I believe nature should play a
significant role in tempering the flow of water, if only to provide a backup for potential
miscalculations of our designers and engineers.
1 also believe that some areas in our landscape should remain green and not be developed,
to provide for some natural drainage and maintain a natural environment for aesthetic
benefits as well. The land the developer calls University Terrace is one of these places.
It is a natural basin and already plays a role to decrease the rate of water flowing into the
downtown area and decrease potential damage to the downtown area when Hilo gets a ]ot
of rain.
Before any decision to proceed with this development is made, I invite Council members
to visit this land when there has been recent moderate rainfall. See for yourselves the
unsuitability of this property for the scale of development that is being proposed.
2. There is a serious lack of specific planning that can be objectively evaluated
and intelligently discussed. The developer comes before this body asking for
permission to develop one of the last remaining large tracts of land in Hilo,
but does not provide enough details for the Council to make an informed
decision.
The zoning called project district is perhaps suitable for very large tracts of land that do
not adjoin existing residential properties. Project districts seem to work for resort areas,
such as the Hualalai, but aself-contained, self-sufficient "community" tightly surrounded
by residences and businesses does not seem to meet the specifications for a intended use.
In short, this zoning change is not appropriate for the area and is in direct conflict with
the General Plan because it will result in a substantial adverse impact on the surrowrding
community, area and region. Please vote today to deny the petitioner's request to change
the zoning designation of this area, and keep this land Ag-lA.
Members of the committee:
Jim Anderson Joseph Lopez
Sandy Anderson Rosiland Lopez
Jeremy Agag Cheryl Reis
Leticia Agag Wally Wilson
Melchor Agag Francis Woo
Emmeline dePillis ~ 4~,
Amy Mahealani Jones
'Oiwi Parker Jones