COM 0763.003 2004-2006 - Laserfiche WebLink

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~ ? Tft"ncs"ETY C75-344 Nang KaUua Dr, Kaflua-Kona, HI 96740 808/331.0441 TESTIMONY Of The Kona Traffic Safety Committee Presented By JOEL GIMPEL Chair, Public Affairs 73-4686 Hine Lani St. Kailua-Kona, Hawaii Before the HAWAII COUNTY PLANNING COMMITTEE Regarding Smith (Bill 247) April 113, 2006 Good afternoon and aloha. When we testified earlier this month on the Geslirg and Totah applications for rezoning in Kaloko Mauka, we urged that although those applications would probably have only minimal effect on traffic in the area, you should carefully consider the cumulative effect of Kaloko Mauka rezonings on traffic volume and safety. With this application to permit subdivision of nearly 22 acres into seven, 3+acre lots, the other shoe, or in this case, boot, has dropped. We applaud your decision to send the Totah and Gesiing applications forward with negative recommendations, and urge that you give this application the same treatment. The Kaloko Drive/Rte 190 intersection needs to be improved, but we. haven't yet learned of any timetable or plan for the needed improvements. So we again ask, that you say. "Stop! No occupancy permits will issue in Katoko Mauka until the needed traffic signal is installed and operating " Or better yet, we recommend that no subdivision approvals be granted until the County Council enacts an ordinance to require payment of impact fees. The County is out of compliance with the Statute that has required the ordinance for over 10 years. That, we believe, is the way to assure that vital infrastructure improvements that improve safety will be provided. We note also that rezoning is a privilege, not a right, a privilege that shouki be granted only if the benefit to the community outweighs the disadvantages. In this case, until the Kaloku Drive/Hwy 190 intersection is made safe, we fail to see the benefit to the community. Thank you for the opportunity to comment. Comm. N9.-~f~3.3-• Ref. To: r'"-soo"s pro Ref. Date