HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0400.172 2002-2004 Testimony on Bill #178, #198, and #199
Honorable Chairman Arakaki, Council and All Voters Watching this on Cable TV
Although few of you came from elsewhere, some of what I wish to share was learned as
lessons in traveling and living elsewhere.
I base what 1 am discussing with you today on extensively traveling by car, motorcycle,
motor home, and TWA for forty years through 49 of the 50 states, plus Canada, and Europe.
You may characterize me an observant engineer, an environmentalist, and a business man, I
ran money making groups in two successful engineering organizations, so I know what a P/L
statement is about.
What 1 learned on the Road
LA, Detroit, Los Angeles, and Honolulu are cited as examples of Creeping Roads and
Sprawl syndrome. The `very smart' planners thought if they added roads, that would take
care of congestion. I have read, they know better now: you can never build enough roads
with sprawl. Contrast those clogged cities with Toronto, Singapore, Victoria, Curitiba
(Brazil) and most cities in Europe. All of which are much more `livable'.
I suggest you need to ask the Planning Department:
What they value as important: People or Development?
What they envision the Future Kona, Waimea, and Puna will look, and feel like, like in
2024 if you plan vs. if you do not.
Then ask them what it will take to get there.
Then it is up to you to decide. I personally hope you and sit down with all of the
experienced members of the County's professional planners.
What I learned in Wisconsin
Although Greater Milwaukee is about half the size of Greater Detroit, it was well planned,
with many walking distance parks, divided boulevard roads, good schools. I characterize Wl
twenty years ago as people living in balance with business, and nature. I do not know what
it is like today.
Back in Milwaukee Wisconsin, when AO Smith was sold to Tower industries, Tim Schiller,
AO Smith's manager of Testing told me they could not move to Detroit as only one or two
employees would move, Milwaukee was home. In fact AO Smith sold the facility to the
engineers. That is the relationship between Business and Labor in Wl.
In fact, if it did not get so darn cold in the winter, chances are, we would have stayed in WI.
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The Future of our Island
Please close your eyes and imagine Kona after twenty more years of the kind of current
unbridled expansion, with out accompanying infrastructure.
Honorable Council, please understand that just because someone asks to rezone a
conservation district, and build a housing development at the end of a runway populated with
Jumbo jets, does not mean you HAVE to approve it.
You will decide on the path this island will take.
How in the world do you possibly consider QK phase ll with the five years of rebuilding
traffic PLUS the O'oma Construction traffic to be `good' for the Kona folk?
Now 1 hear Cliff Moms has a survey of Waikoloa folk all saying they want to shop at
Clifton. Huh? With no plans for any particular store and with Waimea half as faz a distance
to drive. 1 personally don't think they have thought it through at all.
[ checked the mileages between: Waikoloa and Waimea and Waikoloa and the Kailua
Airport, in the "Big Island Revealed"
Now 1 could not get the EXACT mileage but it is 19 miles from where Waikoloa Road
intersects on to Queen K and 10 miles from Mamalahoa to where 250 intersects 190 in
Waimea according to p43. And as near as 1 can tell, Waikoloa is about half way between QK
and Mamalahoa.
So why would anyone sign a petition to drive twice as far to shop, without any idea of what
shops will be there??
Why doesn't Cliff Morris build his development in Waikaloa7 There is lots of land available
However, it may just blow-up on him after 50 years of everyone ignoring the problem of
unexploded ordinance from WyL'Il
That is the risk a business takes. Especially when it is involved in speculation. According to
his website, Cliff Morris has no intention of actually building and running anything at
O'oma, all he wants to do is get it rezoned as a Special District, sell it, and move on to his
next speculative development.
He is speculating that you will approve it. That is why he is trying to get O'oma rezoned,
because the Council and past Mayors were known to approve similar messes, take Lowes,
Home Depot, all along Queen K highway which has created the mess the Kona folks now
live with every day.
But you have to be clear about what you will and will not accept. Business needs a clear,
unambiguous direction. They will take their clues based on what you do today.
Do not `slit the throats` of farmers
The Big Island should be remain primarily AG. Every time the Planning Commission
Council Members remove a TMK from AG, you end up slitting the throats a little of those
trying to make a living farming. Why, because less AG land, drives others to speculate on
buying and rezoning AG land for development. It is a vicious circle- 1 say to Hell with
those that buy AG land with the expectation of having it rezoned into RS or AG-R and
making a profit by speculation.
We ask you to send developers a lesson on temperament. You need to set the tone.
Those that live here year around need to be Number One vs. those that can afford to live here
one or two months a year_ This island represents the best of small town living, which those
that move here need to accept_ "they need to change not us. Vote NO on Nani Kona Aina
and O'oma
The County's Voters are watching and waiting for your decision on these developments.
Mahalo for listening.
Charles Stanton
13-3455 Maile Street
Pahoa, HI 96778