HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0067.009 2006-2008
TESTIMONY - Bill No. 345
Ronald P. Shoemaker
17-260 Ipuaiwaha Street
Keaau, HI. 96749-8237
Without re-hashing what has already been stated, let me try to put this in perspective. No one is
truly against treatment facilities for patients with drug dependencies, emotional and behavioral
problems, and mental disorders, nor the criminal element needing rehabilitation. No one will dispute
the need for treatment facilities and shelter for the homeless. What we tend to do is treat the symptoms
and not the cause. Preventative measures should be at issue rather than treatment. The sooner we start
preventative measures, the less treatment measures will be required.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Obviously, a great deal of time and effort was spent towazds the
original language in the code. Currently, eight patients can be housed under one roof but it requires the
opportunity for community input. Our honorable mayor Harry Kim has stated "for programs to be
assured of the highest success possible for the clients, the community supporting it is an essential part
of the program." By allowing this measure to pass, no community input will be required.
December 28, 2006, Hawaii Tribune Herald, front page, top half, "Riga Targets Big-box
Retailers." In the article, the counties "smart-growth" policy is defined as "preserving quality of life,
natural beauty, and rural chazacter." No one can dispute the fact there is an impact on a neighborhood
when the density is allowed to double.
Ask any teacher how many students should be in a classroom for the most effective learning
atmosphere. Common response being fewer is better for greater results.
"Licensed by a state agency." Are we going to let any state agency dictate, as they may feel
necessary, the number, type, form or function of a program that may operate in our neighborhoods
without any community input?
The current defmition of five in a family has worked in the past. Do we let changes in economic
conditions necessitate increasing the number to eight? Ten years from now do we increase the number
to fifteen? Why not just go to thirty now and make it more cost effective and avoid all the trouble of
code revisions in the future?
South Kohala District, North Kona District wanting to halt all future development until the
infrastmcture needs aze addressed. Allowing rezoning to occur, over-riding the General Zoning Plan to
allow lazge developments to be established, be it residential, commercial, industrial, all comes down to
impacts on the land and its people.
Tme, you can buy aband-aid this yeaz, but if you don't take away the knife to keep from getting
cut, next yeaz you will be buying a bigger band-aid and a bigger band-aid the next, and so on and so on.
There aze people far more eloquent, knowledgeable, qualified and intelligent than myself living
in the community and neighborhoods. It is my hope that you, as our elected officials, will listen to your
constituents concerns and suggestions rather than be allowed to be ruled by "any state agency" and
therefore reject this proposed change to the zoning code as merely a benefit to those other than the
patients that tmly need the assistance.
Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter,
Ronald P. Shoemaker r_
Comm. No.
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