HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0093.002 2012-2014 PI1k
COUNTY CLERK 9,'mv. 3214
COUNTY n 7 '4AWAII
Aloha, 2013 JUL -8 AM 41
I'd like to submit my testimony regarding
Bill #291 .
I am not against PUDs as long as they do
not impact their proposed
neighborhoods negatively. If surrounding I Le -,,
properties are 15,000 to 30,000 square o"
foot parcels, and a PUD comes in at N Hs
10,000 or under, this negatively affects U 0
�
the existing area by reducing values and FA
lowering tax bases of existing homes.
Not to mention adequate objective
research on road and park usage,
overcrowding schools and water run off
with diverted or filled streams that
impact neighbors below.
All applicants applying for PUDs use a
Hilo law firm that has a track record of
"getting the job done" but at whose
expense? These lawyers do not live in
our communities and their billing hours
Comm: , d G —
13 . a
Ref.To. Nod I
Ref.Date JUL 9 19
6'd 9LLL9Z9908 4o3 euoy{ awls] !elelenH e917:90 £6 90 IT
do not consider impact on areas
affected. Only results.
Certain elected officials see the
rezoning as a new source of revenue for
the county. They also, do not live in the
affected areas and do not fight the
traffic nightmares and school over
crowding directly. New revenue is new
revenue. Period. If roads, schools,
existing communities are properly
addressed, I see no problem with PUDs.
That is the main reason why
transparency is so important in this
issue. All citizens need to have imput
openly. We need to be heard. We need to
have open dialog and know that what we
share is being heard. Trust in
government policies, as you probably
know, do not rank very high. Most of that
is from behind closed door policies. Why
not open all discussions and decisions
to the public and make the decision in
( )N.
L'd 9LLL9Z£909 moo euoy{ a}e}s3 lelelenH e9b:90 £L 90 inf
front of the public. Very transparent and
fair.
As a 44 year resident of Kona, 31 years
teaching 7th graders their part in society,
I can honestly tell you that the vast
majority of those kids would tell you that
behind door policies are not fair if given
the choices between transparency and
unilateral decisions. If I were still
teaching, there would be about 150
letters from these kids asking what is
going on with behind door decisions.
In conclusion, we as Americans, are
very quick to admit that we are so lucky
to be Americans because we live in a
democracy where all citizens can be
heard. We are quick to accuse
dictatorships of unilateral decisions and
have no real input from their citizens. In
the County of Hawaii, which are we?
Joel Cooperson
P.O. 5384 Kailua Kona,Hawaii 96745
6'd 9LLL9ZE808 J oo euoN OTe1s3 IelelenH e9b:80 £l 80 Inc