HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0225.008 2004-2006 Murashige, Laura
From: Gbfaniaml @aol.com
Sent: Monday, May 16, 2005 10:15 AM
To: Holschuh, Fred; Ikeda, Donald; Arakaki, James; Higa, Stacy; Safarik, Gary; Jacobson, Bob;
Isbell, Virginia; Pilago, K. Angel; Hoffmann, Pete
Cc: Rockdockona@aol.com; matwaller@msn.com
Subject: Say "no" to opening Keo Keo!/movie attached
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dip_image002.gif clip_image004.gif keokeotokaiminani_
0326.MOV
Dear Gov't Official 5/11/05
Re: Please help us stop the removal of the Keo Keo S[reet Barricade
As a homeowner on Keo Keo Street I am concerned about removing the barricade
which was erected on private land, and has already been denied removal by
the city at a previous date.
1. I am concerned about the safety of drivers, walkers, elderly,
children, and pets who use this road as a means of transportation. The morning of
5/16/05, between the hours of 6 am and 10 am 45 individuals used this road
as pedestrians. Living on the side of a very steep volcano, there are few
roads that allow individuals a space to walk, run, bike Also this subdivision
does not have any parks, and there isn't a public park within four miles of
this area. Please also consider the health of our residents!
a. HOLU AND AHIKAWA AND KEOKEO AND KAIMINANI HAVE POOR VISIBILITY TDUE
TO STEEP INCLINES THAT LIMIT (SEE quicklime movie attached) SIGHT FOR CROSS
TRAFFIC....entering Kaiminani from Keo Keo can be dangerous, as visibility is
not clear especially from the makai side due to hill which obstructs the
view. It takes approximately 4-6 seconds from the time you can see the car to
the time it crosses the intersection, making this a dangerous place to exit
Kaiminani.
b DANGEROUS SITUATIONS OCCUR ON TMK ;'-3-005-111 DUE TO LIMITED
VISIBILITY. (SEE PHOTOS)
A vehicle has already landed in the front property of the makai side of the
road (Keo Keo side) due to a lack of smooth transition when the barrier was
previously opened for only a 24 period of time.
1)Previously three vehicles have ended up in the north-makai property
at Holu and Ahikawa Street when they failed to make the turn.
c. 600+ additional households (with an aver. Of 2 vehicles each) will add to
the additional traffic from 65 households which already access the road.
This will bring AT LEAST 1265 new vehicles to a road that was not designed
to handle such traffic.
d. this will add to the burden of the already 16,000 cars which utilize
Kaiminani each day (Hawaii Dep. Of Trans, 24 hour traffic count).
Instead, I purpose that an alternative site be as a connection road.
a. Holoholo/Nana Street project three would be an excellent choice:
b. Iliili/Kiekie Street project which will begin in 6 to 9 months by
Tinguely Development INC.
c. AhiAhi (as ground is also already broken on this project)
Please consider the reasons I have provided to NOT open the Keokeo st.
barricade. Asa school teacher, I am aware of how important safety can be, and if
this road was open it could potentially create great harm. Kona is growing
at an incredible rate, however that does not mean we should "cut corners" and 2 Z S ~g
make neighborhood road into major roads as a "quick-fix." Compromising the Comm. No.
safety of our Ohana is not acceptable, and should not even be considered as Ref. To• r~aw*.° 1
i Raf. Uate, MAY ] S 2~~ 1
an option. .
As health care providers we are very concerned about the safety of our
residents. Please don't consider opening this substandard road, because by doing
this you are sending the message that it is safe which, is in fact, not true
Mahalo,
Kelly Donovan/Senft M.A. and Dr. Mark T. Senft
(808) 938-4162
73-4322 Keo Keo
Kona, HI 96740
Gbfaniam1@aol.com
This issue was researched extensively by the previous council, and with the
traffic committee in Kona. I would suggest the council review these records
fGi urthei ir~fOrmativn.
I would like to refer also to the article printed in 2004 in the "West
Hawaii Today. "The (Hawaii County Council) made promises that the lower streets
would be opened first," McClure said. "We need to look at those things
before we can take down any barriers on private property."
"But that decision may be that we leave the barrier," he said. "We're
already looking at those places and all should eventually be opened, but the
problem is they are on raw land, and an (environmental assessment) will have to be
done if we're going to connect those."
Also I would like to remind the council of the quote by Richard H. Schenkel,
general manager, in the same West Hawaii Today article when he stated, "the
opening of Keokeo - Holu first would create a dangerous situation at the
corner of Keokeo and Kaiminani Drive. "Consequently "Keokeo Street intersects
Kaiminani Drive at a dip in the road," Schenkel said. "(Former Councilmen Keola
Childs, Wayne Easley and Curtis Tyler) concurred that the lack of
visibility makes this a hazardous intersection for large volumes of traffic."
Schenkel said Kaiminani Drive will become more congested as future developers use
the road as access for their piggyback subdivisions. At least two large -
scale subdivisions are planned north and south of lower Palisades. "This traffic
condition will get worse, and a major accident is waiting to happen by the
several future proposed housing developments planning to use Kaiminani Drive
as an access and exit road," Schenkel said.
I have attached a movie which would allow you to see keo keo to Kaiminani!
Mahalo,
Kelly Donovan M.A., and Dr. Mark T. Senft
I have attached two movies (you need to use Quicklime to open them.. you can
download it if your computer doesn't have it online FREE)
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