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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0560.018 2002-2004 Page 1 October 5`", 2004 To: The Office Of The County Council/County Council Members Hawaii County Council Committee Planning Commission Re: Proposed Development, University Terrace Project, South Hilo, Hawaii'i From: Mary Brown, R.N. 53 Puuko St. Hilo, Hawaii 96720 808-961-6261 My name is Mazy Brown...I live here in Hilo...%z Mile up Kaumana street from the 76 gas station...makai side. I have lived at this address since November of 2000. I want to go on record as "opposing" the proposed legislative bill requested by the applicant = Western United Life Assurance Company to change the district classification for the 171.504 acres of the land Tax Map Key:2-3-44:19, 2-3-49:53, 2-3-37:1 from Agricultural 1-acre to Project District. (Mauka side of Komohana St.-Ponohawaii St. Intersection & makai of the Mohouli St. Extension, South Hilo. My primary concerns about the proposed University Ten•ace Project are: I .The University Tenace Project is in a well documented flood plain & it also contains wetlands. I obtained the following information from the organization =Environment Hawaii - Their Article titled: "Hazdened Banks, Channelized Streams Climb Ever Upwazds After Hilo Flood" (Volume 12, Number 7 (January 2002) (referring to The November 2000 storm when nearly 28 inches of rain fell in one 24 hour period). When the skies cleared, the damage assessments were: 1. The bay front soccer fields were found to be coated in a petrochemical goo -the residue of a long-defunct cooking gas plant -that the raging waters of Alenaio Stream had unearthed from below a scour basin at the end of its course. The concrete channel in Alenaio Stream itself, on which work was completed just 3 yrs. eazlier, was undercut & scarred, as was the channel on the Waiakea Stream, similarly armored back in the 1980's. Months later, total flood damage was placed at about $70 million dollazs Comm. No. S~• Ref. To: Prssstl~d Ref. Date October 5~'', 2004 Page 2 Mary Brown, R.N. According to astate-maintained website on Natural Hazards = www.mothernature-hawaii.corri a damaging flood occurs on the Big Island every two years. But the averages don't hold for Hilo & Puna, where between 1980 ~i 1994 - 18 flood events occurred. The most recent draft update of the Hawaii County General Plan devotes several pages to flooding. "Present drainage ~ flood problems are mainly due to the "Development of Vacant Lands"...which aze often subject to serious flooding without any commensurate, coordinated development of new drainage systems or expansion of the existing drainage systems...the plan states. Due to the above information I am concerned about the decreased rate of absorption of runoff from heavy rainfall if this land is ever allowed to be developed ~i the alarming potential increase of devastation to homes, foundations, bridges, roads, cesspools, including human injuries & human lives lost. I personally saw the Waipahoehoe stream as a raging river during this Nov. 2000 flood as part of its downward courses behind the homes on the street below my home...Waipahoehoe is a tributary of the Alenaio water channel...and I also saw the Alenaio stream as a raging river ~ saw the damage done to Komohana ~ on down all along the bayfront due to the raging flooding Waters. October 5'", 2004 Page 3 Mary Brown, R.N. ~f i- ! ;~~~r++~ 2. My second concern is: T,lte intro ud ction for the Bill 248 draft 2, University Terrace Project from Leningrad Elarionoff, Chair To James Arakaki, Chair & Members of Hawaii County Council - dated September 21, 2004 states the following: On May 4`", 2004 the Council's Planning Committee voted to defer the above item in order to allow the Coancilmember Tulang, "Members Of The Community" and the applicant additional time to meet & consider the project. Mr. Tulang recently informed me"That They Are Ready To Proceed." Attached is Bill 248, Draft 2, inclusive of fair shaze language & several amendments proposed by Mr. Tulang. I want to know if Mr. Tulang has reported to Mr. James Y. Arakaki, Chair & Members of the Hawaii County Council that "We...The Members Of The Community" were not included in any meetings held by Mr. Tulang & Western United Life Assurance & "We" the community would like a public explanation as to why he did not include the community within these meetings as he said he would do so. :...,r ,~,~`l_~ -t- ~!'~~c`~L:.':. C:,~.C 'cam ~y~v.-~_.~~~_ <'_-~~-~~a~ I am a concerned citiz ne o ~s coity.... am opp s tom the z mng o\~~acn from Ag - lA to Project District. «,~L~'~ ~~s.c~_~~rS~~~c,~~S~c~ / C Our community needs to be included as part of any meetings held for future housing/ development planning & we are concerned that we have housing development in azeas that aze safe for our families to live: L• c~ ~ ~ . ~ ~ r • x-1-~ I realize that if you the County Council truly want to represent "Us"-The Concerned Citizens Of Hilo...And if you truly caze about our community input & concerns...You will designate meetings to be held in the evenings when more citizens of this community are able to attend which will enable more of our community citizens to be more informed & be allowed the opportunity to sha~-re~;their concerns. - Sincerely....Mary Brown, R.N.