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March 21, 2006 TESTIMONY -PLANNING COMMITTEE Hawaii County Council - (Communication 387) Bill 224 TMK 72-005-001 Hiluhilu Development, LLC Submitted by: Robert Ward 77-6526 Ho'olaupa'i Kailua Kona We should not forget just how important development issues are. The concept of a major development that is located miles from the population center, with over 700 homes, golf course and amenities is not a new concept to residents of Kona. Please don't get me wrong. 1 appreciate a lot of the features that Hiluhilu Development is proposing for Palamanui. Education, health care, senior housing, collector roads without driveways are all beneficial. While prospects for a Community College may be waning, the need for a "Rehabilitation Campus" may be growing. The only problems are location, connectivity and imin . The proposal departs from many of the principals of sound planning and several tenets of smart growth. 1. The proposal places the mauka entrance 1.1 miles north of the Airport. This increases our urban sprawl by extending the mauka community an additional 1.6 miles (from Kaiminani Street). This route was not identified in the Environmental Impact Statement as the preferred alternative. 2. The proposal avoids infill by creating desirable destinations for recreation, education and Health care at the extreme edge of the community rather than closer to the center. 3. Requiring many users to travel further exacerbates several transportation issues related to capacity, efficiency and safety. Makai access along Queen Ka'ahumanu Hiahwav should be limited to the Airport Access Road (either the current one or future one arooosed in the Keahole Airport Master Planl. Comm. No. v Y7• Ref. To: ~f10~O°~ G S- ~~.4. c..