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Richard J. Vidgen <br /> 78-630 Ihilanl Place <br /> Kailua-Kona <br /> Hawaii 96740 <br /> Phone (808) 324 6019 <br /> r,., iona~ ono oo~~ <br /> <br /> To <br /> K.Angel Pilago <br /> Chairman Planning Committee <br /> Hawaii County Council <br /> I am Rick Vidgen, a Kona resident for over 20 years and residing at 78-630 Ihilani Place, Kailua <br /> Kona, 96740. <br /> This Testimony is in support of Bill 224 which would allow the Hiluhilu development at Kau, North <br /> Kona to proceed as planned. <br /> My rationale for this is quite simple and is, as follows. <br /> First it is important that the County, the Planning committee and (hopefully) the residents of West <br /> Hawaii begin to appreciate that, regardless of what measures are taken to restrict development, <br /> "people WILL come' and whether we like it or not, Kona WILL grow. Attempts to restrict <br /> development will have one simple but quite inevitable effect. They will clearly just increase the <br /> prices on existing Real Estate and force local and long time residents to move to increasingly <br /> remote areas (Ocean View etc) where they are not serviced by effective basic utilities and where <br /> the costs to provide these will inevitably tax the County severely. <br /> This view is not speculative on my part but a proven fact from counties in similar situations where <br /> just this has happened thus ruining any perceived quality of like justification that [he decision <br /> makers may have had. Santa Barbara in California was recently the subject of an intensive study <br /> to link this "action and consequence" which it did and it seems the "old and desirable' Santa <br /> Barbara has gone forever. <br /> The Hiluhilu development is well thought out, and most critically it is located in an area where it <br /> will IMPROVE the overall traffic flow rather than add to it. It is quite obvious that while the long <br /> overdue Hokulia/Alii bypass road will improve the Sth Kona traffic disaster it will not fix it. <br /> Inceasing development in Sth Kona is really not a viable option. This is an opportunity for <br /> sensible planning and development at Hiluhilu to upgrade the overall traffic issue and improve the <br /> overall quality of life. <br /> Kona will grow and this development will allow that to happen sensibly and with a positive impact <br /> on most aspects of our life. <br /> Sincerely <br /> ,.__V <br /> Comm. No. O 7 <br /> Ref. To: ~°'O~ <br /> ' Ref. Uate <br /> <br />