HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0953.002 2004-2006
RE. Rezoning Request (RS10 to RM 2.5)
By Ivan Mochida and Les Aburamen. TMK• 2-2-36.60. 102. 103
Testimony by:
Miriam Saito Hamakawa
757 Laukapu Street, Hilo, Hawaii
1142 Puhau Street, Hilo, Hawaii
My sisters and I own the property and house at 757 Laukapu street which has been in our
family for over 75 years. Our house is directly across the proposed rezoning for a medium
density housing project being discussed today. We were raised in the Houselots community
and still consider it home. The Houselots area was a quiet tranquil place of single family
dwellings when we were growing up, and we feel it should remain an area of single family
dwellings.
We are extremely disappointed with this proposal to rezone the property across the street,
from single family dwelling RS10 to medium density multiple family dwelling RM2.5. We are
not against urbanization and progress and are aware of the housing shortage on the island,
but we are against this type of development in the Waiakea Houselots neighborhood, and
have several concerns.
Contrary to the Environmental Impact Statement, flooding is a very real and major
concern because we are presently and have been since the late 1990's experiencing flooding
on our property at 757 Laukapu Street. This flooding problem began only after the
development at the comer of Lanikaula and Laukapu Street, compounded by the increase in
height of the asphalt/concrete of Laukapu Street. Surface water run off originating from the
comer of Lanikaula and Laukapu Streets, flows down Laukapu Street and then into our
driveway which is the lowest point along the way. In times of heavy rainfall this water then
accumulates on the side of our house and rises to a level dangerously dose to the steps
leading to the basement where we have living quarters which are 3 feet below grade. We've
communicated our concern about this problem with officials from the Coun Public Works
Comm. Nq Z 1
Ref. To:
Ref. Late JUL^ 3
RE. Rezoning Request (RSIO to RM 2.5)
By Ivan Mochida and Les Aburamen. TMK. 2-2-36.60,102,103
Department beginning April 1999, and are extremely fearful that this problem will escalate if
the proposed development is allowed to occur, resulting again in more concrete and
sidewalks with less natural vegetation and ground to absorb water run-off.
We feel that Houselots, and Laukapu Street in particular, lacks the proper infrastructure to
support a project of the size proposed. The roads are narrow, with one lane in each
direction. The proposed land density will result in a drastic increase in people and cars,
leading to street parking problems and traffic congestion on the 700 block of Laukapu Street
which is already a heavily used thoroughfare to and from the industrial area. This will
undoubtedly be compounded by construction of 8.5 units per'/ acre.
1. 2 parking stalls are provided for each of the 34 units, but there is a potential for an
increase of 102 cars or more, with no parking available for 34 additional cars except
on the street. This would have an adverse effect not only on the 700 block of Laukapu
Street, but the surrounding blocks. Presently 3 to 4 bedroom single family dwellings
frequently have 3 to 4 cars, which can be parked on their property with 2 cars in the 2
car garage and 2 cars tandem in their driveway. When there are multiple family
dwellings that provide parking for 2 cars/unit, the extra cars end up parked in the
street, causing massive parking problems as we've seen in the Salt Lake area in
Honolulu.
2. Paragraph 3 page 2 of the Environmental Impact Statement states "adequate space
for 2 more stalls behind the garaged stalls could be used for guest parking". While I
realize that Figure 4 of the proposal may not be drawn to scale, the drawing shows 2
cars passing each other comfortably on the property. However, there is not adequate
space for 2 more stalls behind the garaged stalls. Figure 5, the conceptual site plan
which is drawn to scale, shows the proposed development driveways from Laukapu
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RE: Rezoning Request (RSIO to RM 2.5)
By Ivan Mochida and Les Aburamen TMK. 2-2-36.-60,102,103
Street and on the property are 20 feet wide, about the same width as the paved street
width of Laukapu Street. Twenty feet from one garaged stall to the opposite garaged
stall is wide enough to allow 2 cars to pass each other. If parking occurs behind the
garaged stalls, 2 cars would not be able to pass each other in the driveway.
3. The so-called transitional area at the makai end of Houselots, which has apartments
and commercial developments, exhibits parking problems and congestion, with cars
parked on the street. We don't want this to spread to the rest of Houselots.
Houselots is a convenient area to live, and with the proper infrastructure-wider roads,
sidewalks, traffic lights to control traffic congestion and provide a safer environment for all
who live and/or visit the area, and storm drains to control flooding, I envision a rejuvenated
Houselots area of mostly single family dwellings occupied by families who would prefer the
convenience of living 5 minutes to town versus a 30 minutes commute. The present single
family dwellings on % acre lots may have to give way to a denser configuration, but 34 units
on 2 acres, or 8.5 units per'/ acre is a density which would irrevocably change the character
of the neighborhood, increasing air and noise pollution and major safety issues for the
residents.
Figure 7 of the Impact Statement exhibits piecemeal zoning designations in Waiakea
Houselots area, and shows the need for an integrated larger plan for the area.
Spot zoning will only serve the interest of the developers, commercial and light industrial
enterprises with complete disregard for the neighborhood. Please, first and foremost,
consider the impact of these drastic changes on the lives and property of what is presently
there. We are against this re-zoning and look to you to support our position.
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