HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0766.073 2004-2006
Murashige Laura
From: Rod Hinman [rod@auroraresearch.com]
Sent: Friday, November 24, 2006 1:48 PM
To: counciltestimony@co. hawaii. hi. us
Subject: Kona Coffee Estates
I am writing to oppose rezoning for the proposed Kona Coffee Estates subdivision near the
existing Malulani Gardens subdivision. While this proposed subdivision does have the
advantage of proximity to the downtown area, the planned or promised roadways are
insufficient to merit approval.
We have been approving and building too many subdivisions on this island without regard
for their impacts on the existing infrastructure such as roads and water systems. You
would not move into a house before the plumbing and electricity are connected, but this is
in essence what is happening with development in Kona. Either we as a county must
approve, fund, and build roads to connect subdivisions, or we must require developers to
build them. In either case, they must be built BEFORE the lands are cleared and houses
erected.
A promise to build later is not good enough. The still-incomplete Lako Street is the most
often cited example, but there are dozens of roads between subdivisions that almost
connect. If I wish to visit a friend in a neighboring subdivision, I can walk over an
incomplete road. If I need to take him some equipment, I must drive up to Mamalahoa
Highway, turn left, and then turn left again a short distance later. Depending on the
time of day, this can be an unsafe maneuver; at any time, it adds unnecessary congestion
to the highway.
The reality is that many of the residents of this proposed subdivision will drive to work
outside the "urban core", or will drive to the rest of the core anyway, thus negating the
proximity argument. In order for proximity to be an advantage, people must be encouraged
to walk. The area around Henry Street and Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway has not been designed
to be enticing to pedestrians, but that is a subject for another letter.
Please take existing traffic issues into consideration before adding more cars to the
roads.
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Aloha, o
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Rod Hinman (Y^
73-4372 Hulilau St. C/(. o
Kailua Kona, HI 96740 C:, c
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