HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0106.009 2004-2006 Janic,~ Palma-G~ennie
P. C7. 4849
Kailas-Kona, Hawaii 967'!'f
Ted#808-324-009
Re: Proposed Suffolk and Puaa development projects
March 13, 2005
Aloha, Councilatembers
I want to thank you for the careful deliberation of Suffolk and
Puaa projects. I know that some hard questions have been asked of
the developers, and that some good has come out of the follow-up
to those questions. However, I remain opposed to these, and
similar, projects for the following reasons:
1) ;~Wpyort a como~ete morator+ L on an_~;vis+on aad reaonina at
this time. There appears to be no other way to get a grip on the
infrastructural overburdens which we now face and which will grow
greater if another :house or shopping center was never built. The
reason, as I've said before, that I feel this approach is not only
necessary but righteous, is that ~ PERSON WSO HOUGET LAND BORED
OR PLANNED FOR ONE TBING NAS ANY RIGHT TO EFFECT THAT ZONING TO BE
CHANGED, NOR SUEDIVISION APPROVAL GIVEN even if it has been done
10,000 times before. In West Hawai'i's case, ten thousand wrongs
have made gridlock.
until we have a community-generated, legally adopted Regional
Plan, this council and the County administration must continue to
take a slow (or even stop) approach to loading our island
communities with any more unplanned, developer-generated
subdivisions and commercial centers.
2) More houses mean more traffic. There's no way around that fact
in the short-, or mid-, run, no matter if the houses cost $5 a
piece.
3) I applaud the low cost housing initiative which this council Q
Comm. No. ~ Q ~ • _I
Ref. To~~eiesNl G
RFf. Cate ,MAR 1 ~ ~nn~
recently passed, and I appreciate that the projects before us
include quality of life improvements such as sidewalks, a park,
underground utilities, and local shopping. However, it is a sad
time, especially when County revenues are up, that we appear to be
totally dependent upon developers to provide lacking affordable
housing to the point where we must accept a poison pill to go with
the "cure."
4) Without legal precepts written in atone, this county will never
be assured that affordable housing approved today won't mean
speculation and exhorbidant prices tomorrow. we have all seen the
prices of homes in previously bona fide affordable areas go
financially far out of reach for local families and individuals.
Luckily, there are existing models in other communities that are
keeping speculation out of the affordable housing picture. These
models must be studied, modified for island life, and then
employed before this county utters the word "yeah" to another
subdivision or commercial project.
5)There's no guarantee that this project's (or any) small, locally
owned shops will be financially successful and remain open or true
to their intended purpose (the Pines being a perfect example where
real estate and financial planning concerns have replaced what
used to be neighborhood shops). Without government support to keep
small shops and small town centers alive and well (the way
farming, better roads, parka, etc. are subsidized),-how can we be
sure that those commercial areas won't actually encourage traffic
to come into a neighborhood when different types of businesses end
up replacing original stores?
Though this council. has made great strides in only a few months
toward righting what has been going wrong with $awai'i Island
planning, there is much farther to go. There can be no harm in
taking a severely cautious approach to subdivision approval as
this island we've been severely taught the lessons of what what
true, dangerous gridlock and lack of services can mean to our
quality of life.
Please defer these projects until a much later date, after our
town has had a chance to get a true grip on its land use plans and
planning laws.
Mahalo for this opportunity to speak on this critical subject.
Sincerely,
Janice Palma-Glennie