COM 0560.034 2002-2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Y My name is Lennart Lundstrom.I live at 40 S. Wiliwifi St. The proposed project is to be located two blocks south from where I Gve at the end of S. Wiliwili St. I am opposed to this project for several reasons. This area is currently well covered by trees,mostly non-native pioneer species typical of previously cleared land in the Hilo area, in places they are very dense and jungle like,in other places there are relatively open clearings. The last use of this land was for the cultvation of sugar cane,an extremely erosive bi- annual crop. The harvesting of this crop caused the loss of most of the soil in this area and heavy muddy runoff in the Alenaio stream. In the initial phase of the proposed development all of this area will be bulldozed and once again be subject to excessive runoff. Any flood control plan will be started after the area is cleared , it would not be possible to control runoff during the time needed to clear this area of trees. If I-Tilo received heavy rainfall at this time we would see debris and runoff in the Alenaio sream flood control channel that could cause that channel to overflow. If the rainfall is as heavy as in Nov. 2000 during this time we will have a disaster greater than we had at that time. The proposal states that "all development -generated runoff shall be disposed of on-site and shall not be directed toward any adjacent properties"[ pg. 18 ,AA) How is the developer going to dispose of 172 acres of runoff on-site? Even when the project is completed the runoff will be greater than it is currently and wig be impossible to "dispose of on-site". There are numerous springs in the area ,water moves underground through lava tubes emerging in many cases miles downstream. How can water be" disposed of onsite"when the site is the source of much of the water? Will Ponahwai street become Ponahawai stream once it is extended to MohouFi s~LFej through this flood plain? The other major problem I see with this proposal is the additional traffic that it will cause on Komohana and Mohouli streets.These streets are already major traffic arteries for the mauka residential areas of Hilo. The applicant intends to develop six hundred residential units and one hundred fifty hotel units on the property as well as a commercial area including a shopping center.This will bring additional traffic to the area both from inside and outside the development.The mauka area of Hilo will undoubtably be developed both residentially and commercially in the future.The recent extentions of MohouG and Puainako streets provide lazge areas for this developmerrt to take place that are not subject to flooding and traffic congestion to the degree that the University Terrace project is.Once developed the comrrtercial sites in the mauka sections of Hilo will attract not only Hilo residents but traffic from Puna as welLThis will change the current traffic 4ow in the entire Hilo area profoundly ,commercial development where the traffic is ah'eady, heavy would create an area inaccessable to Puna residents and ultimately those businesses located there will suffer when more accessable areas are developed . Comm. Plo. J `~O' Ref. To: - Ref. Date