HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0032.005 2006-2008
Murashige Laura
From: Janice Palma-Glennie [palmtree7@hawaiiantel.net]
Sent: Tuesday, January 02, 2007 12:56 PM
To: county council testimony; Pilago, K. Angel
Subject: Ban on the biggest of the big-box stores
Res. 21-07 - Ban on Big Box Stores
Aloha, Committee Chairman Pilago and committee members:
I support a ban on big box stores and think our island missed an opportunity
15 years or so ago to stop the blight which is now a part of Hawai-i Island's scene.
Though Z would support the resolution, I feel that it doesn't go far enough to stop the
type of big box stores with which Hawaii (especially West Hawaii) has been inundated
(Wal-mart, K-Mart, Lowe's, etc) and with which it will continue to be inundated. Though
some feel that lower prices justify the problems created by these monsters growing in our
midst, others understand how they kill small business which in turn helps to kill
neighborhoods and communities by creating suburban sprawl, and that cheap, plentiful goods
end up filling our landfills at such a great rate as to cost all taxpayers dearly both
environmentally and economically (disposal of rubbish being one of our island's greatest
challenges). The costs associated with these problems, to me, far outweighs the benefit of
buying a box of Q-tips at Wal-Mart for $1.89 instead of $2.39 at a smaller store, though I
understand that it all adds up-.
I'm glad that this issue has come up, but I think more work should be done to 1) have the
subject addressed in context of the island's Community Development Plans (i.e., when
sprawl is properly addressed and regional plans devised, that these stores won't fit into
the picture anyway) and 2) strengthen the rules to stop more than just the hugest of the
behemoths that may someday try to muscle their way into our communities by slipping
through our new, improved regional plans.
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Mahalo for your attention to this land use planning matter.
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Best regards, C r-'• ~
Janice Palma-Glennie r'
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Ref. To: AN 3 X007
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