HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0687.048 2004-2006 Richard J. Vidgen
78-630 Ihilanl Place
Kailua-Kona
Hawaii 96740
Phone (808) 324 6019
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To
K.Angel Pilago
Chairman Planning Committee
Hawaii County Council
I am Rick Vidgen, a Kona resident for over 20 years and residing at 78-630 Ihilani Place, Kailua
Kona, 96740.
This Testimony is in support of Bill 224 which would allow the Hiluhilu development at Kau, North
Kona to proceed as planned.
My rationale for this is quite simple and is, as follows.
First it is important that the County, the Planning committee and (hopefully) the residents of West
Hawaii begin to appreciate that, regardless of what measures are taken to restrict development,
"people WILL come' and whether we like it or not, Kona WILL grow. Attempts to restrict
development will have one simple but quite inevitable effect. They will clearly just increase the
prices on existing Real Estate and force local and long time residents to move to increasingly
remote areas (Ocean View etc) where they are not serviced by effective basic utilities and where
the costs to provide these will inevitably tax the County severely.
This view is not speculative on my part but a proven fact from counties in similar situations where
just this has happened thus ruining any perceived quality of like justification that [he decision
makers may have had. Santa Barbara in California was recently the subject of an intensive study
to link this "action and consequence" which it did and it seems the "old and desirable' Santa
Barbara has gone forever.
The Hiluhilu development is well thought out, and most critically it is located in an area where it
will IMPROVE the overall traffic flow rather than add to it. It is quite obvious that while the long
overdue Hokulia/Alii bypass road will improve the Sth Kona traffic disaster it will not fix it.
Inceasing development in Sth Kona is really not a viable option. This is an opportunity for
sensible planning and development at Hiluhilu to upgrade the overall traffic issue and improve the
overall quality of life.
Kona will grow and this development will allow that to happen sensibly and with a positive impact
on most aspects of our life.
Sincerely
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Comm. No. O 7
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