HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0965.054 1998-2000SENT B1' : COOKS
P.O. Box 6960 ` Kemuela * Hl * 96743 *Tel: (808) 885 - 7502 * email: cni csii (r2.pLcom
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Dear Council Members:
:11- 2- 0 : 7:07AM : HI ISL ECO\ BEY BD-
November 2, 2000
The Honorable James Arakaki, Chair and Members of Hawaii County Coe4 't
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, HI 96720
t It y r O E
�QUN�• OE HAW NI
I understand serious weather problems in East Hawaii and Ka'u have fore. »ci "an :ellation of
today's Council Meeting, which included consideration of Council Resolution 00 :I-'5. \r fe appreciate
the help of the County's employees during this emergency,
However, I ask the above measure be rescheduled for Council considerat on ns c uickly as
possible because the Hawaii' County Planning Department's Plan Review "clock" I a suited and we
face a tight timeline.
Had there been a Council meeting today, I had planned to make the following comments: The
daunting quandary faced by Waimea residents over how to prevent a gas stationlconveni•mce store/car
wash or fast food restaurant from being built at Church Row is a problem that could beset any and every
community on this island.
Despite General Plan designation that specifies some lesser use than Villa;i _ Commercial, the
small parcel of land at Church Row was -- once upon at time -- an ice house. Only real o•i timers
remember the ice house. Hence, most of us never suspected that Village Commercial was possible in
this serene, tranquil, historically significant setting.
This could happen in every District -- the rim of Waipi'o Valley, Akaka or Rs•nbov• Falls,
Volcano, Punalu'u, Kealakekua, Pololu -- places held near and dear to residents but piece:: where -- a
very long time ago -- there might easily have been a poi factory, a country store, a lis`i eut lion house, a
slaughter house, a dairy or some similar use that warranted commercial spot zoning el the time.
Given this circumstance, I ask your support for this resolution because whip. LI:: z ning process
permits a gas station at Church Row, it is an "inappropriate" use in conflict with the neighbc rhood. If
permitted, it will seriously deteriorate the surroundings. The biggest issue is traffic irr:nlri in Church
Road. Should 300 -plus cars a day use Church Road for ingress and egress as has ,n':n in iiceted in the
plans and business projections, Waimea will be forced into the eventual upgrade ar : I:ur.:f Road with
curbs, gutters, sidewalks and street lights. This would further deteriorate the pristine •hare•:tcr of the
area and wipe out parking for all five churches.
We also take issue with light, noise and runoff impacts, water usage and liquor sale s. We further
believe the plans, as submitted, do not provide sufficient detailing to evaluate them ilia nsrl i.n our
Waimea Design Plan guidelines governing building design and materials, signage, trial .ncagnng and
lighting.
In closing, I hope to assure you that we are trying to remain fair and reasonaele in i ;cognizing
the landowner's rights. We still believe it is possible to achieve a win -win resolution t ;it( landowner.
A number of us have been working every day on this project, seeking alternatives. Bile. nee 1 time,
patience and cooperation. In the meantime, we need the Planning Staff to give this ∎' ry aa
consideration. We believe there is legal standing to deny Plan Approval, or, at the \nor; lea,t, to require
substantially more impact studies and mitigation commitments from the landowner
Aloha,
cc: or Steve Yamashiro
Planning Director Virginia Goldstein
9E48912.= 1
Mahalo for your consideration and a special thanks to Councilman Elationci c.ilf: ::'. uncil staff
Comm. No. 1b5. 054
File No. PL-
Presented e'
Ref. To:.
Ref. Date 14°_,L....1-2211----,