HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0687.049 2004-2006 Thursday, February 16, 2006 Page 1 of 2
fhwsday April 26, 2006
Chairman Pilago and Planning Committee Members
County Council
County of Hawaii
Kona, Hawaii
Email Transmitted:
Written Testimony in Support of the Proposed Palimanui rezoning request before
The County Council's Planning Committee, April 26, 2006. The support for this
rezoning includes keeping the proposed UH West Hawaii Campus site said to be 500
Acres an integral part of this rezoning and the development.
My name is Kirk Stephenson I reside in Kona Hawaii and have been a resident of the Island of Hawaii
since 1971. I graduated from the University of Hawaii I Iilo in 1975 and have been the owner of several
businesses since that time. I have been employed by United Airlines for over 30 years on the Island of
Hawaii.
Today I am drafting testimony in support of the rezoning and development proposed by the Hiluhilu
developers for the Palimaniu project. The development known as Palimaniu is proposed to be located
north and mauka of the Keahole Airport.
I have read the development proposal, I have read the community benetils to be included and conclude
this rezoning and development should be approved in an espeditcd manner.
Community benefits outweigh any potential negative impacts
1 support the proposed development at this site since two of the community benefits include a mauka-
makai connector road and the 500 acre (JH West Hawaii temporary campus. This 500 Acre UH campus
benefit will assist businesses in our community that suffers from the very low unemployment rate.
Typically, college students are good pat-t time job candidates. Placing this development and this campus
on the North fringe of the Kona Community removes by design a signitlcant additional traffic element a
University campus would create if it were located on Hawaiian Homes Lands adjacent to the
F Ionokohau I larbor. T'he recent disclosure of the aggressive Jacoby second Harbor plan in that area
makes the only choice for a Community College Campus the site you are discussing Coday, Palimaniu.
Additional benefits of this proposed development would include:
l Since the Community College is planning to have an enrollment of 600 students and the location
is past the airport, the addition of a town to campus via the airport Heleon Bus route would be
feasible. 'Ilre current bus route travels on the upper road and makes a stop at Matsuyamas store.
"the public transportation factor further mitigates potential vehicular traffic on this very busy
trafl3c corridor.
2.) A Campus adjacent to the State facilities at O"fEC would allow for a curriculum that might
include class room and lab study conducted at this OTEC site.
3.) A Campus adjacent to the Keahole Airport could allow for cun~iculum in Fire Fighting. The
Federal Funded fire fighting training facility at the airport could be used in this instruction.
4.) A Campus adjacent Yo the Keahole Airport could allow an aircraft maintenance curriculum like
the one that is available of Kapiolani Community College to be added. The proximity Co
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airline ramp area helps create this new discipline for the Big Island which is a great community
educational benefit.
5.) As the Keahole AirporC tenant airlines expand flights, the close proximity of the Community
college would create an additional labor pool for the expanding airlines.
6.) A Campus of 500 Acres as proposed could accommodate multiple student and faculty housing
projects. These would move additional vehicular traffic out of town.
7.) Another Community benefit to be reaped from the proposed development will be the placement
of infrastructure water, electricity, and sewage for the college location.
8.) The final benefit that has the greatest value is the "Promise" to build '1"emporary Buildings to
immediately replace the exact square footage cun~ently in use at the West Hawaii campus in
Kealakekua. This savings to the UH System is valued at almost $300,000 in annual lease rent.
These facilities would reverC back to the developers at some later date, yet the immediate benefit
is the campus could be moved to this larger site acrd be up and running without any State of
I lawaii or Board of Regents approval or funding.
It is my belief that this proposed development is of great importance to our community for the reasons [
have described in my written testimony today.
Concerns of the additional traffic this development will create are mitigated as 1 described by the fact
that a public bus route could be added to service the campus and student housing areas and the airport.
Further. the size of the proposed acreage (500 acres) to be provided by the developers is of significant
value to a community that is trying to limit the density of land use.
Finally, the underlying concern regarding the language of the developer's agreement that has been
publically discussed as written as if the developers could change their minds and not complete the
proposed community benefits is without merit. 'the development team and principles have their integrity
on the line with these promises.
Che Planning Committee should approve this project. The community benefits escecd any impacts this
project would create.
Thank You for the opportunity to submit this testimony.
Kirk Stephenson
75-5810 Nalukai Place
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740
1°elephone (808) 329-1924 Finail-Captkirko(aaol.com
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