HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0980.001 2014-2016 P!Pc
CUM WI C4WU
Murashige, Laura
From: John Kaye <johnkaye47@hotmail.com>
Sent: Monday, August 15, 2016 12:31 PM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Written testimony in favor of Resolution 592-16
Attachments: CDP Resolution Testimony - Kaye.docx
Attached is written testimony in favor of Resolution 592-16 slated for consideration tomorrow, August 16,
2016. Thank you.
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Ref. Date AljG j 6_ 2016
August 16, 2016
Honorable, Greggor Ilagan, Chair, Planning Committee
Hawaii County Council
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawai'i 96720
RE: Resolution 592-16 Related to Postponing Council Action on Rezoning
Applications in the Hamakua District Until the Hamakua Community Development
Plan is Adopted
Chair Ilagan and Members of the County Planning Committee:
I live in Hakalau, across the street from Hakalau Point, an eight to nine acre parcel of land
desired for development of ocean front homes and commercial activity by the Shropshire
Group.
Over the last few years very expensive ocean front homes have been springing up along the
cliffs of the Hamakua Coast to the detriment of the residents of this Island. Much of the land
along the cliffs and bluffs of the Hamakua Coast have now been bought up and developed
for the purpose of constructing expensive ocean front homes. This pattern has been
repeated along the cliffs to the point where there are few available cliff sites remaining for
the enjoyment of the residents of Hawaii County or for visitors to our Island to experience.
Consequently, I was elated to learn a few years ago,that Hawaii Island was in the process of
preparing a Community Development Plan for the Hamakua Coast,and that one of the
primary purposes of the CDP was to preserve and protect our unique and beautiful
oceanfront cliffs from further development to the detriment and injury of our citizens and
residents.
It is likely that once the CDP is adopted and approved,there will be a partial reprieve from
the ongoing destruction and elimination of public access and enjoyment of the ocean
viewpoints that continues from ongoing development of ocean front homes along the
Hamakua Coast.
As you are well aware,the Hakalau Point Property is currently the subject of acquisition
efforts by the County of Hawaii. The public has demonstrated its overwhelming support for
this acquisition,and hopes that eventually a public memorial park dedicated to honor all
those who lived and toiled on sugar plantations will be established on the site for the
residents and visitors of the Island of Hawaii to experience.
At the same time the County efforts of acquisition are proceeding,the Shropshire Group is
requesting permission from the County to rezone the property so that 11 ocean front homes
and 2 more commercial/industrial warehouses can be constructed on the property.
property.
Having read the proposed CDP,we have every reason to believe that the finalized version of
the Hamakua CDP will provide additional support in favor of public acquisition of the
Hamakua Point parcel, and will also provide additional support to a decision to reject the
Shropshire Group's request for re-zoning the area to a zoning designation that would allow
construction of homes along the ocean bluff.
If the rezoning decision is made prior to approval of the CDP, then development of the
remaining coastal bluffs is more likely to proceed,and the damage inflicted to the citizens of
Hawaii County will be irrevocable. Once the houses are built on the pristine coastal lands,
there is no going back. Those lands will no longer be accessible for the enjoyment and
experience of the rest of the citizens of Hawaii County.
Respectfully submitted,
John Kaye
PO Box 100004
Hakalau, Hawaii 96710