Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> To <br /> <br /> Chairman Stacy Higa and Hawaii County Council Members <br /> <br /> Public Meeting Kona 4/12/05 <br /> <br /> Testimony on Bills 29, 30, 31, 32 regazding Puaa Development and Suffolk Investment. <br /> I am Rick Vidgen and this Testimony is in support of the rezoning and redesignation <br /> <br /> proposed by Puaa and Suffolk Development. <br /> I have been a resident of Kona for over 20 years and live south of town just off the <br /> Highway. For much of my time here I traveled daily to MacFarms in South Kona and <br /> <br /> thus I am very awaze of the traffic issues and growth. <br /> I am now a Realtor and Agricultural Consultant and pazticipate in various community and <br /> <br /> realtor association committees which allows me to be both involved and informed with <br /> our community government process. <br /> I am here tonight as a concerned local resident to support the development proposed by <br /> <br /> Puaa and Suffolk. <br /> I am not necessazily for or against development but see it as inevitable on an Island that <br /> <br /> provides a lifestyle that is very appealing to a lot of other Americans. I am very definitely <br /> for the sensible and effective management of development and I believe that this project <br /> represents a planning direction that Fits with this concept. <br /> The project provides affordable rental housing and a neighborhood shopping facility and <br /> that seems to uniquely "fit" the eminently logical concept being proposed by the County <br /> Planning Director for such urban expansion. <br /> The concept is, I believe, intended to optimize the use of existing and future <br /> infrastructure and reduce the traffic problems that currently plague our community. <br /> I believe this project does just this. <br /> I understand that there are public concerns that the project will increase the traffic issues <br /> but I would contend Chat since it is "traffic miles" rather than actual "traffic" that have <br /> created our problems....the project is a distinct positive. <br /> At present it is inevitable that the population will increase and, at affordable levels, we <br /> currently force newcomers to HOVE/Milolii. <br /> The project will offer affordable living to such people and thus potentially take up to 350 <br /> cars per day OUT of the real "blockage point" for the Sth Kona traffic which is at <br /> Honalo, not anywhere near this property. <br /> This is one way in which the project will reduce, not add to, traffic problems. <br /> The second factor is much harder to quantify and this concerns the Neighborhood <br /> Shopping that the project will offer. <br /> This will allow people from the project itself and perhaps even Puulani to actually <br /> WALK to the supermarket....a novel idea in today's world. The shopping center and <br /> commercial services will also allow a significant "circle" of people to avoid the trip to the <br /> Kailua Kona or Keauhou centers which are all stretched for access and parking. <br /> I[ is good to manage development and to secure maximum community input. <br /> However it is not in the community's best interest to defer or prevent projects that provide <br /> virtually ALL of the elements we currently lack. Affordable rentals, neighborhood <br /> shopping, and real Mauka/makai connectors. <br /> I would urge you to allow this project to proceed. _ <br /> Comm. No. __/~,.~_(~_-C~ <br /> Ref. To: Pr G <br /> R;,f. is aSe <br /> <br />