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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> County Council Testimony, June 1, 1998 Meeting <br /> <br /> Orchidland Community Association opposes the McCully commercial rezoning request <br /> on the Keaau bypass. <br /> <br /> The original intent of the bypass was to relieve existing congestion in Keaau. This <br /> grows worse monthly. Keaau is the bottleneck of the transportation corridor between <br /> <br /> Hilo and Puna. With roughly 40,000 and 30,000 population respectively, these two <br /> districts account for 1 /2 the islands population. Puna is a bedroom community for <br /> businesses in Hilo with many workers commuting daily. Agricultural goods from Puna <br /> must move to Hilo for sale. The free movement of workers and goods is essential if these <br /> two districts are to have an efficient economy. Every planning decision that adds to the <br /> difficulty of movement leaves a permanent burden. <br /> <br /> <br /> When the fourth stop light is placed on the bypass to serve this commercial development <br /> it will hinder traffic flow through Keaau. However, the long term consequences of setting <br /> a precedent by allowing commercial development right on the bypass are even more <br /> serious than this one stop light. This rezoning will lead to adjacent developments, <br /> drawing traffic from both Hilo and Puna, eventually resulting in the bypass becoming main <br /> street. <br /> <br /> As we attempt to link with the global economy we must become more efficient, not <br /> <br /> less. We've seen what happens when infrastructure is neglected. We're all familiar with <br /> the traffic in Honolulu. The recent financial implosion in southeast Asia is attributed in <br /> part to the failure to build efficient systems that kept up with business expansion. <br /> During rush hours in Bangkok pedestrians move faster than cars. <br /> <br /> For too long the Big Island has acted as if the General Plan is irrelevant. As <br /> congestion in the Hilo-Puna corridor worsens we cannot continue to ignore planning <br /> <br /> considerations. Please listen to the objections raised by the Planning Department, the <br /> Department of Transportation, the Puna Community Council, the Puna Traffic Committee, <br /> and the individual subsivisions, by denying commercial development on this vital artery. <br /> <br /> Mark Willman <br /> Orchidland Community Association Board <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> PresCouAvc«- <br /> _ 1 _ PAC ?ol,_ <br /> <br /> Rcpt. Nlate_ im <br />