HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0555.016 2010-2012 09-18-'12 15:46 FROM-KS HAWAII ELEM SCHL 808-982-0210 T-068 P0001/0002 F-136
LI AM. 555
Sept. 18,2011
TO: Hawai'i County Council Members [; ' ^: 9
FROM Marcie Kunz Saquing
1794 Kino'ole Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720 tel: 987-3933
RE: Bill 178: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 25-8-33(CITY OF HILO ZONE MAP),
ARTICLE 8,CHAPTER 25(ZONING CODE)OF THE HAWAII COUNTY CODE 1983
2005 EDITION), BY CHANGING THE DISTRICT CLASSIFICATION FROM SINGLE-
FAMILY RESIDENTIAL-10,000 SQUARE FEET(RS-10)TO MULTIPLE-F AMILY
RESIDENTIAL---3,000 SQUARE FEET( RM -3)AT WAIAKEA, SOUTH HILO,HAWAII,
COVERED BY TAX MAP KEY 2-2-038:017.
My name is Marcie Kunz Saquing. I currently reside at 1794 Kino'ole Street-a residence in which my parents bought in
1963,a home that I grew up in until I left in 1980. I returned home to this residence 3 years ago to care for my 85 year
old mother, Eunice M. Kunz who presently suffers from dementia and severe scoliosis. (Lived out of Hilo for 7 years
during the 80's)
I am writing in OPPOSITION of Bill 178 to re-zone this parcel located a mere 120 yards from my residence(going towards
Hilo)for the following reasons:
1. SAFTEY is the#1 reason to deny this request to pass Bill 178.
a. Earlier this year,a young student was killed on Kino'ole Street just up from this parcel. He was riding his
bike to school that fateful morning.
b. As recent as yesterday,there was a traffic accident between Kawili Street and Ohea Street that forced
that area to be closed for 2 hours(between 6am-8am).
c. There is no INFRASTRUCTURE that allows for sidewalks, bikeways along Kino'ole Street from(for
example) Puainako to Lanikaula. In fact,there is almost NO infrastructure for the entire length of
Kino'ole Street that allows for pedestrians and bicyclists to walk or ride SAFELY.
d. The traffic along Kino`ole Street over the past 5-8 years has grown astronomically.
i. I invite any of the council members to drive either up or down Kino'ole Street from Puainako to
Lanikaula during pau hang hours and early morning hours. It is jammed packed with cars and
not slow-moving cars either.
e. The traffic that passes my house is so heavy and dangerous that I NEVER get my newspaper in the
morning nor do I check my mail until 6:30 or 7pm,when the traffic subsides. I have 2 teen-age
daughters and they too stay clear of the street till the latter part of the day.
2. No community input.
a. I, nor my mother,was never called nor approached by Councilman Dennis Onishi about this impending
Bill 178. I learned about it from a friend who lives next to the proposed site.
b. I did not hear of any community meetings that were held regarding this issue, nor received anything in
the mail.
c. It is a shame that our community members were not informed nor asked for input prior to this point,
after all, a change in zoning such as this has tremendous impact,positively for the owners, negatively for
the current residents.
d. According to a recent Hawaii Tribune Herald article,even the University of Hawaii at Hilo was unaware
of this possible"student housing".
3. Kino'ole Street's communty integrity.
a. If you take a look at Exhibit"A" "Amendment to the Zoning Code" as included in this proposal,ALL of the
lots that surround the said parcel are zoned RS-10,single-family residential. While what is shown is a
Comm. No. SS,
Ref. To:
Ref. Date
09-18-'12 15:46 FROM-KS HAWAII ELEM SCHL 808-982-0210 T-068 P0002/0002 F-136
snapshot of the area,once can conclude for the most part,that Kino'ole Street from Kawili up to
Puainako remains zoned as RS-10.
b. We are struggling to remain a community,a 'ohana community where families call their area a
neighborhood.
c. With more and more lots being re-zoned to multi-family or commercial use,adding more traffic,
perhaps the likelihood of more crime,our neighborhood community is being squeezed out.
While I touched on some points as to my opposition to this bill,let me just add that I value our university students and
seeking higher education. I am employed at a school and hold my Master's in education. I understand the need for
student housing-not at the expense of posing additional danger to the people in our community. I believe this issue or
challenge with regard to student housing lies with the university.
I also understand the need to be thoughtful in garnering mana'o(thoughts)and opinions from the constituents that you,
the council members work for. The voice of the community should drive and assist in your decision making process,
because at the end of the day,your decisions affect US.
There are a lot of"old-timers"that still reside on Kino'ole Street, my family being one of them. There was a time when
my brother,Charlie Kunz and I could ride our bikes up on down this street at all hours of the day...SAFELY. We both used
to walk to and from Waiakea Elementary and Intermediate school. As a college student at UH Hilo back then I would
either walk or ride my bike to school. Not so anymore. The street is much too dangerous and way too congested now.
Finally,the word Kino'ole literally translates to"frail,thin, body". When you drive down Kino'ole,you can definitely see
that this road,path,street,is truly"thin"or narrow at best. Further,the street is named after chiefess Kino'oleliliha
Pitman,who was the daughter of high chief Ho'olulu,who was the uncle to Kamehameha I. It was given this name to
honor her.
I ask that you consider these reasons,opinions that I have offered up when you make your decision regarding Bill 178. l
also ask that you consider Ali'i Kino'oleliliha,her namesake,and honoring what I believe would have been her mana'o to
keep Kino'ole safe for those who reside and live on this street.
Mahalo for your consideration and I do hope that you make the best decision,one that would benefit all that reside and
call Kino'ole Street their home.
Ike ka mahalo nut,
1/,/toeuce:...,
Marcie Kunz Saqui .d I