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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0560.052 2002-2004 'r ~Ir~IIII t'i J: T November 8, 2004 rl.il_ ~ T0: COUNCIL CHAIR JAMES Y. ARAKAKI AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL FROM: ARLENE WAUGH RE: BILL 248, DRAFT 4, UNIVERSITY TERRACE PROJECT I am writing in support of Bill 248, Draft 4. Unfortunately, I was out of town when this bill came up for a public hearing on October 18, 2004. I have listened to all of the complaints and read the testimonies opposing this bill and I urge the Council to pass it. Leaving it up to the incoming Council would only delay the process and encourage opposition to this project. The Planning Committee has already heard the recommendations of the Planning Commission and the Planning Director. This would be a waste of time and money to review this matter again. We have lived at 50 Hoomana Street, which is adjacent to the Pu'u Honu Hill, for the past 22 years. Over this period of time we have been subject to countless devastating floodings of our home and property. The county has not seen fit to maintain this Boarding School Ditch which runs parallel to our property, as their reason not to, over the years, is that it is a private matter. I have spoken to Mr. Yamashiro and Ms. Goldstein who are the project managers for University Terrace and they are very much aware of the problem. This is why I support Draft 4 of this bill which will provide for maintenance of the Boarding School Ditch. There have also been countless objections to this bill because of flooding. Please remember that the Alenaio Channel was a project of the Army Corps of Engineers and water in the channel flows does not only come from the Komohana area. Also, there are many older persons living in Kaumana and they have to travel far to do their shopping. There are only two grocery stores which are situated in downtown Hilo. A shopping area closer to home would be beneficial for all. Right now, to do any decent shopping, we have to travel several miles to reach Comm. No. S ' S~' Ref. To:P~O R~.f. os~V 1 0 9004 . the Prince Kuhio Plaza or the Puainako areas. This should alleviate some of the traffic flowing to the other side of town also. I have looked at the petitions that were presented to the County Council and have noticed that many signatures were of people who do not reside on our side of town and are not in our district. Some of them may work in the area, but some don't even live on this island or in this state and are not aware of what goes on here. We need more controlled development on this side of the island and I feel that this project will address the housing shortages not only for students, but also for the professional market. As for the complaints regarding traffic, there is no traffic problem. With the new Mohouli and Puainako roadways in operation, traffic has been reduced tremendously. People now use these roads to get to their destinations in the upper Kaumana areas. The Kaumana Drive areas should not be impacted in any way by this project, as no roadways will be through streets. Please consider the favorable recommendations and support of the Planning Director. I urge the council to pass Bill 248, Draft 4. This project will give us added jobs and more shopping conveniences than we now have.