HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0132.004 1996-1998 7anuary 28, 1997
Mrs. Bobby Jexn Leithead-Todd -Chair
Hnwnii County Council Planning Committee
Kamehameha Ballroom, King Kamehameha Hotel 'RECEIVED
Karlua-Kona, Hawarr Itme_~__--_ t~y_- -
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Thomas l,angenstein County councl; ~ ~~C'.
PO Box 1165
Captain Cook, Hawaii 96704 Phone - (808) 323-3I 1 I
re: Amendment to the Hawaii County General Plan -Bills 'i71, 372, 3'73
Aloha Chairperson Leithead Todd and Committee members:
Thank you for corning to Kona in order tp hear testimony on Bills 371, 372, 373, seeking to
amend the Hawaii County General Plan. As a businessman and property owner in the Captain
Cook area on Mamalahpa Hwy., I write testimony to this hearing hoping to influence you to
represent all of the South Kona corvnunity when considering this request.
I say this because I understand that allowing these General Plan amendments to pass will allow
this development to proceed. It could be a great economic encouragement to not only the
IIlVCStUi`31I1 Villages at Hul(Ukan0, bul fur community mcnibtfs who work in construction and
many other commercial service providers, such as urysclf, ul lire South Kona 17istrict. On the
nthrr hand, if oarrfirl planning in nor instituted addressing the lnilior retii4nal infrastructural needs
that this admittedly urban growth will impact, it could end up nggravating already strained roads,
public park and recreational facilities, and numerous other infrastructural facilities serving the
existing South Kona public along Mamalahoa highway, and negatively impacting existing
businesses.
As a business owner in this district for over eighteen years, l frequently now have clients whu try
to avoid certain daytime business hours (8:00-9:00 AM) in making appointments every weekday
morning attempting to miss Konawaena tr•afiic. Particularly on Fridays they try to avoid evening
aoutn bound traifio (4:su-a vuj, I am asking you to plan this protect in a Way ru add,ess tlus
concern. This already has a negative impact on business as people from Kailua and even Keahou
are increasingly unwilling to travel through this log jam. Traffic conditions in the Kealakekua area
arnnnd KnnawaPna High Srhnnl are likely to get worse once the new Konawaena Intenn4diate
School starts to be built. t can't see how making the Mamalahva by-pass rued intersect at Halt
Kee St ,rather than Kealakekua Bay junction, will serve to improve traffic Ylow coming through
this area-
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R,ef. 'tor Presented SP. PL
JAN 2 8 tss~
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1 have serious concerns about the portion of these amendments which allow the planning director
to exempt the developer from section K -construction of the by-pass road, for an undisclosed
time. In my opinion, this by-pass road should be completed in it's entirety before commercial
operations of any resort, or sales of any properties occur. To do otherwise will further negatively
impact the existing business and residential communities in South Kona along Mamalahoa Hwy.
As a South Kona resident with a wife and teenage daughter, I feel that the provision of adequate
public parks, bikeways, and walkways in the South Kona district, while in the process of rezoning
over a twelve hundred "Ag" lots included with this project and the Kealakekua Ranch rexoning,
make good business sense. This planning would not only be more attractive to tourists, but would
also go a long way in support of family life, reduction in crime, and increase public safety. While
I don't feel that it is fair or reasonable to ask this developer to come up with all the answers, I do
think the County should have a plan that works while allowing developmental growth.
I ask that before the Planning Committee commit to amendment of the Hawaii General Plan
allowing this first urban node in South Kona, fast develop a plan to meet the needs of the
community at large through development of a needs assessment study and specific regional plan
developed with community input to be implemented through such projects as Villages at
Hokukano and others to come. Thank You.
Sincerely, ~ t
Thomas LangPnstein U