Laserfiche WebLink
Matthew Calabar <br /> PO Box 708 <br /> Kealakekua, HI 96750 <br /> (808) 7%-1213 <br /> May 31, 2007 <br /> Honorable Pete Hoffman, Chairperson <br /> Hawaii County Council <br /> 25 Aupuni St. <br /> Hilo, HI 96720 <br /> Re: Testimony in Opposition to Bi1151 Draft 3 Proposed Amendments to Chapter 27 of the Hawaii <br /> County Code <br /> Deaz Chairperson Hofmann and Hawaii County Council Members: <br /> My family and I are residents of Kealakekua and both work in Kona. A year and a half ago, I chose <br /> to leave the mainland to move here and many my wife and make Kona our home. After being <br /> married, my wife and I chose to stay with her family until our financial resources would allow us to <br /> build our own home. <br /> Shortly after being married in February last year, we were invited by my wife's brother and brother- <br /> in-law to jointly purchase a 3.5 acre piece of land at a great price. Excited at the opportunity to <br /> realize our dream of owning our own home and to help our relatives in doing the same, we accepted <br /> the invitation and purchased the land in May. <br /> Since then, we have gone through many obstacles already to comply with current county codes. We <br /> are on the brink of breaking ground for our homes. Please do not pass this bill as it would seriously <br /> cripple our progress by causing the following negative effects: <br /> • Cause greater expense and increase the time to generate income from our agricultural plan <br /> • Make it almost impossible for all families involved to fit their homes on the land along with <br /> the landscaping, driveways, and other things we are planning to put on the land. <br /> I understand the need to have better flood control, but this is not the right solution. We have spoken <br /> <br /> to a local engineer who is one of many technical experts against this bill and she said there are a lot <br /> <br /> more simple approaches to preventing the flooding. She gave an example of how one flood victim <br /> could have avoided his problem by not grading his land to funnel the water directly into his house. <br /> <br /> Educating the community on how to grade their land rather than regulating how much land can be <br /> <br /> graded is a more reasonable solution. <br /> In summary, please do not allow this bill to go into effect. Please try and work out a different <br /> solution before introducing such a change that will have a much more negative impact than it seems <br /> especially on the common people like me. <br /> Sincerely, <br /> ~ colttm. 1,,0, i7 6. g ~ <br /> Matt Calabar Ref. Tor <br /> Ref. Date i 206 <br /> <br />