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RUG-03-2009 11:55 From:8088856353 CLRRK PERLTY KRMUELR Pa9e:112
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6§-12'17 KAWAIHAE ROAD PARKER SQOARE 010P
KAMUELA, HAWAII 96143 Comm. No.
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HTTP'//W'W W. CLARKHAWAII. COM
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P.ef. Doke UG 0 4 2009
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RUG-03-2009 11:55 From:8088856353 CLARK REALTY KAMUELA Paee:2~2
Au ust 1,12009
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Do inic Yagong. Chair
Co ty Council Finance Committee X009 AUG 0i PSI 12 00
25 upuni St.
H11 , HI 46720
D Chairman Yagong and Finance Committee members,
The Martha and Makai Access Committee was formed as part of the Hamakua Agriculture plan process, which
too 2 years and took into consideration input from hundreds of Hamakua residents. Our committee continues
to eet and advocate for access to the mountains and the sea. We oppose the sale of the Hamakua lands for th,-
foil w'in~'reasons:
It is poor policy to sell assets to pay for operating expenses; it's like selling your house to pay your Visa
bill.
Iikrnakua residents strongly oppose the sale; hundreds of residents spoke out against it at a series of
public meetings hosted by Dominic Yagong in 2004.
The Hamakua CDP has just begun; you should wait until it's completed before taking any action
regarding these lands. Residents should have the opportunity, like residents of other CDP districts, to
determine the future of their district.
Future possible public needs for this land (energy production, sustainable agriculture, forestry, koa
rekeneration) should be studied to determine the highest and best use for these public assets. The EA
that was done for the sale did not evaluate such alternatives to the sale of these lands.
Public access through these lands must be further researched and resolved so that public access can be
preserved. It is of significant value to ranchers, emergency workers, hunters, and residents to be able to
traverse across these lands rather than have to travel great distances down to the highway and then back
up.
6. Existing infrastructure such as old plantation roads and quarries located on these properties are valuable
resources that should be preserved for public benefit.
7. Land prices are depressed; it is unwise to sell in down market.
8. Even though prices are depressed, current financing requirements by the few lenders that will loan on
vacant land, such as requiring 35-60% cash down, will put these lands beyond the reach of local
residents.
9. Development of these lands as"gentleman farms" is the likely result of the sale of these lands, which
will place additional burdens on taxpayers to provide public services such as road improvements and
inamtenance and police and fire protection.. Studies around the United States have shown that
development doesn't pay its own way and in fact, costs taxpayers more than it generates in increased tax
revenue.
10. Once the land is gone, it's gone forever.
Sincerely yours,
Karen B. Clarkson, Chair
Mauaa and Makai Access Committee
P.O. Box 1396
Honokaa, HI 96727