HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0199.013 2006-2008 Christopher Manfredi
PO Box 1109
Naalehu, Hawaii
96772
June 1, 2007
Mr. Pete Hoffman, Chairman
and Members of Hawaii County Council
333 Kilauea Avenue, 2"d Floor
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Re: Bi1162
Change of Zone Application (REZ 06-00054)
TMK 9-5-24:8
Applicant: Big Isle Ventures, LLC
Deaz Chairman Hoffman and Council Members:
I'm testifying today as the applicant of Bill 62, as it relates to the issue of a sidewalk as a
condition of approval.
I appreciate the time and care that you took when you recently visited Naalehu, and for
the opportunity to address this council.
Since moving to Ka'u in 2002, I have tried to assimilate and adapt. Since that time, I have
made many friends, to include the forty farmers and four ranches that lease land from my
company.
My ranchers aze great friends and they welcome me as one of their own. Lately, I've been
on a campaign promoting Ka'u Coffee. I'm investigating ways to promote Ka'u coffee and
identify ways to improve the business model for Ka'u Coffee growers. You may have
read about our recent international success. I have always tried to be a good neighbor. I
help coach the high school baseball team in Ka'u, as I have done for the last two seasons,
and help by sponsoring kids to take ukulele lessons and donating to the fundraising effort
for Honu'apo Park.
This is our 6w public meeting on this issue. We advertised the zoning application by
posted sign, direct mail, and in the newspaper. Public testimony is accepted my mail,
email and fax. There have been plenty of opportunities for comment.
There hasn't been any significant opposition to the zoning change itself. The property is
contiguous to other commercially zoned parcels and the area is designated as 'Urban
Expansion' in the County General Plan.
Comm No. ~ 7 7•
Ref. To: Ira°ef ~
Ref. Dcte IIIN 7 2QQ?
We addressed the sidewalk issue before the Planning Commission on February 2, 2007.
There, I agreed to maintain the rural chazacter of Naalehu town in Condition D of
`Conditions of Approval', which states:
"The commercial development shall utilize the existing dwelling. Renovations and
improvements which aze generally consistent with the current appearance of the existing
home shall be allowed."
I checked with the State Department of Transportation and reviewed the survey. The rock
wall is in the `right of way' and will need to be destroyed to make room for a sidewalk.
The existing trees are exactly where the sidewalk would go. We are also informed that
DOT does not want a sidewalk on Highway 11. Can you imagine the community outrage
if we start to cut down the trees and bulldoze the rock wall? The community will blame
me, and I'm the one that wants to protect those features! All for a strip of concrete that
leads nowhere and connects to nothing and may even decrease safety to those that walk
on it.
A letter from the Planning Director to the Council dated April 19, 2007, states condition
D was deleted in both zoning ordinances of the adjacent properties because "there aze no
sidewalk improvements anywhere along the mauka side of Mamalahoa Highway in
Naalehu" and the construction of a sidewalk would affect the existing drainage system.
The County Council voted to delete Condition D, and the requirement to provide curb,
gutters and sidewalk improvements.
In summary, I'm not looking to upset the rural character of Naalehu and request that no
sidewalks be required in Bi1162.
I remain sincerely,
'
Chris Manfredi