HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0107.008 1996-1998
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January 28, 1997
Mrs, Bobby Jean Leithead-Todd -Chair
Hawaii County Council Planning Committee
Kamehameha Ballroom, .King Kameltameha Hotel
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Thomas Langenstein
PO Box 1165
Captain Cook, Hawaii 96704 Phone - (808) 323-3111
re: Amendment to the Hawaii County General Plan -Rills "371, 372, 373
Aloha Chairperson Leithead Todd and Conmtittee members:
Thank you for coming to Kona in order io hear testimony on Bills 371, 372, 373, seeking to
amend the Hawaii County General Plan. As a businessman and property owner in the Captain
Cook area on Mamalahoa Hwy., I write testimony to this hearing hoping to influence you to
represent all of the South Kona corununity when considering this request.
I say this because I understand that allowing these General Plan amendments to pass will allow
this devalopmem to proceed. It could be a great economic encouragement to not only the
investors in Villages at Hukukauo, bul for conunuiuty mcnibtr5 w~h8 work in canstruetiett and
many other commercial service providers, such as myself, iu the South Kona listrict. pn the
nther hand, if narrfitl planning is not instituted addressing the tuajor reltl0nal infrastructural needs
that this edtnitttdly urban grAwth will impact, it could end up aggravating already strained roads,
public park and recreational facilities, and numerous other infrastructural facilities serving the
existing South Kona public along Mamalahoa highway, and negatively impacting existing
businesses.
As a business owner in this district for over eighteen years, i frequently now have clients whu try
to avoid certain daytime business hours (8:00-9:00 AM) in making appointments every weekday
morning attempting to miss Konawaena tta8ic. Particularly pn Fridays they try to avoid evening
~outn bound trarfio (4: su-o:ou), I am asking you to plan ails projecc in a way w ndcJ~nss this
concern. This already has a negative impact nn business as people from Kailua and even Keahou
are increasingly unwilling to travel through this log jam. Traffic conditions in the Kealakekua area
arnnnrl Knnawar~na High Srhonl are likely to get worse once the new Konawaena Intettnediate
School starts to be built. I can't sae how making the Mamalahva by-pass ruad intersect at Ilalt
Kee St., rather than Kealakekua Bay junction, will serve to improve traffic flow coming through
this area.
RECCIVED ~
Tlme.--------- - BY -
Gounty Council
Comm. DIo. /0 ®lr
F51e Ito. Z N G _
Zbl Prosenfed sPfc P~
- - JAN 2 8 1991
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(L)
I have serious concerns about the portion of these amendments which allow the planning director
to exempt the developer from section K -construction of the by-pass road, for an undisclosed
time, In my opinion, this by-pass road should be completed in it's entirety before commercial
operations of any resort, or sales of any properties occur To do otherwise will further negatively
impact the existing business and residential communities in South Kona along Mamalahoa Hwy.
As a South Kona resident with a wife and teenage daughter, I feel that the provision of adequate
public parks, bikeways, and walkways in the South Kona district, while in the process of rezoning
over a twelve hundred "Ag" lots included with this project and the Kealakekua Ranch rezoning,
make good business sense. This planning would not only be more attractive to tourists, but would
also go a long way in support of family life, reduction. in crime, and increase public safety. While
1 don't feel that it is fair or reasonable to ask this developer to come up with ali the answers, I da
think the County should have a plan that works while allowing developmental growth.
I ask that before the Planning Cununittee commit to amendment of the Hawaii General Plan
allowing this first urban node in South Kona, fast develop a plan to meet the needs of the
community at large through development of a Heads assessment study and specific regional plan
developed with community input to be implemented through such projects as Villages at
Hokukano and others to come. Thank You.
Sincerely,
Thomas Langenstein U