HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0632.002 2014-2016 COUNTY CLERK
COUNTY OF HAWAI'I
RECEIVED
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Lili`uokalani
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TESTIMONY
Hawaii County Council
Bill 136: Capital budget, adds West Hawaii micro-housing—32 units for chronic homeless
First Reading: January 22, 2016 @ 1:00 p.m.
Chair Dru Mamo Kanuha, Vice Chair Valerie Poindexter, and members of the Hawaii County Council:
On behalf of Queen Lili`uokalani Trust, I write to encourage the County of Hawaii to responsibly plan for
the impacts its micro-housing project will have on the Old Industrial Area. While it is acknowledged
there is a need to address Kona's chronic homeless population, the proposed location for the micro-
housing is currently unsuited for residential uses. The area is zoned MG-la, light industrial zoning, which
does not allow for residential use. Furthermore,the area's current infrastructure and public spaces are not
suited for full-time residents.
Please consider the following:
1. Pedestrian travel and safety are already difficult in the area and will only be made worse by the
introduction of full-time residents. Sidewalks throughout the Old Industrial Area are generally
unpaved, as is true for the County roads that lead to the proposed housing site (Pawai Place and
Kaiwi Street). The Trust and its lessees in the Old Industrial Area currently experience many
clients of the Friendly Place trespassing through private property, we believe as a more
convenient or safer way to get to the Friendly Place. We are very concerned that the proposed
micro-housing will increase the trespassing through our property without adequate improvements
to the surrounding streets for safe ingress and egress.
2. There is insufficient lighting to keep pedestrians safe at night. One business in the area
anticipates forty (40)tractor-trailer trucks per week traveling to and from its property along Pawai
Place. Paved sidewalks and better street lighting are a necessity for safety of the proposed
residents.
3. Health risks to residents are unknown, due to the industrial nature of the area. MG-1a, light
industrial zoning, intentionally does not allow residential uses to mitigate such risks, as was
intended with the development of the Old Industrial Area.
4. There currently is no traffic study planned, as required for most new projects. While the impact
to traffic in the area may be negligible,the potential impact is unknown. Coupled with the lack of
pedestrian improvements, there is real concern for the safety of everyone in the area.
To summarize,the Queen Lili`uokalani Trust encourages the County of Hawaii to responsibly plan and
implement this micro-housing project by addressing necessary off-site infrastructure improvements with a
portion of the funds approved for this project. Responsible implementation of any project should include
mitigation of all of its impacts. ��yy
Mahalo for this opportunity to testify. d� 12
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Justin Murata Rpf- D®&'
Real Estate Manager
ALAKEA CORPORATE TOWER• 1100 ALAKEA STREET,SUITE 1100•HONOLULU,HAWAII 96813 •ONIPAA.ORG•808-203-6150