HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0081.005 2016-2018 pltOuMCEL
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March 8, 2017 •
COUNTY CLERK
COUNTY OF HAWAI°I
Time
RECEIVED
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WRITTEN TESTIMONY Re BILL 10 Date�i IAR 0 8 7�f _
To County council members.
Hawaii County council, FIRST READING on March 8, 3017 (Second reading likely March 22, 2017)
By: Elaine Stephanie Salazar
78 E. Kahaopea Street, Hilo, HI 96720
Tel: 808 640-1313 Email: essalazar@gmail.com
BILL 10: Amend Ordinance 12-111, which amends ord 99-116, which amended Ord 960159, which
amended county code by changing district classification from single family residential 10,000-s.f..(rs-10)
to Neighborhood commercial 7,500 s.f. (CN-7.5), Waiakea, South Hilo,
Covering TMKS 2-2-044:003, 031, 032, 035 &037
Applicant Rhodes Moore, LLC, formerly Graphic Images Hawaii Inc.
Area 322,414 s.f.
TESTIMONY:
I submit written testimony to express concerns with,this project.
The subject of the rezoning (referred to as the "SENIOR PROJECT") is located at the former
Hirose Nursery property located on Kalanianaole at Kahaopea (across the Volcano Highway from Baskin-
Robins
and Puainako Center in Hilo).
I am owner of TMK (3) 2-2-044-030, a one acre Land Court parcel, with a20-foot roadway &
utilty easement across the subject property, with access to Kahaopea Street at the corner of
Kalanianaole. ( Sort of a 'flag lot', though my easement is over this project land).
GENERAL REQUEST/STATEMENT: This is a huge commercial project for a residential area that is mostly
in flood zone. The area makai is heavy residential: Hawaiian Homes and private homes. I ask that the
council keep in mind the safety and well-being of the community:traffic, flooding, landscaping and
privacy concerns
While Hilo needs senior care and the jobs the project brings, putting a three-story, 100+ unit
senior care home in a residential area is not the right choice.
I have raised many concerns at previous rezoning applications, including these:
Error to include TMK 2-2-004-003 in rezoning amendment application.
This is a non-taxed, roadway parcel owned by the MARGARET HIROSE TRUST and should NOT
be included in this application. This is a small area next to my property approximately 4,987 s.f., owned
by a trust whose named beneficiaries are deceased, including my late mother-in-law, Florence Doi. This
issue was raised in prior renewal applications, i.e., the Margaret Hirose Trust has approximately 25 to 30
heirs of beneficiaries of the trust--their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
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a. I do not believe the applicant has consent of any trustee or heirs of the trust
beneficiaries for this re-newed application for rezoning. This parcel should be
removed from the application.
2. MY EASEMENT: I ask that you preserve my roadway and utility easement as it is. The developer has
repeatedly asked me to move the easement down through the flood zone. I have lived on the property
about 30 years and know this area floods. Also, I do not want to drive through a commercial
development for access to my home.
a. Preserving easement— My property is right at the corner and I hope the developer
will make adjustments so that I can access Kahaopea Street, with right-turn, or left
turn access to Kahaopea Street from my easement.
b. LAND COURT property—I do not want the private development to take-away my
property rights, easement access or result in a 'land-lock' situation. The developer's
attorney, Tom Yeh, testified at the County Council Planning Committee meeting in
Kona that Public Works would NOT ALLOW me access to Kahaopea Street along the
legal easement as it is too dangerous. I am hoping the developer will work out an
agreeable easement adjustment for my property that is safe, legal and not in a flood
zone.
3. NEED FOR SENIOR RESIDENTIAL PROJECT—This is a private-pay senior project and not going to serve
Medicare clients (as does Life Care and Hale Anuenue) While this may be a needed project, I do not
believe this huge project is appropriate for a residential neighborhood, and will only increase traffic on
the highway and Kahaopea Street.
4. FLOODING—The Palai Stream is a flood way located behind this subject property and my home. I
provided photos to the Co. Council planning committee at its recent Kona meeting, to show how deep it
gets on both my property and the subject property, in some areas well over five feet deep. I once had to
rescue a tethered goat from the flood way and the water was up to my neck.
a. Flood Insurance— I"pay about $1,000 a year for flood insurance.
b. Runoff— I want to be,sure water runoff from the project to go onto my land and
possible flood my basement areas.
5. REPEATED RENEWALS WITH NO CONDITIONS MET—You can see from the title that this application for
rezoning started in the last century. The rezonings were granted with CONDITIONS, such as providing a
SIDEWALK along the Puna-side of Kahaopea Street.
Pedestrians have NO SHOULDER to walk along Kahaopea Street. Prior rezoning approvals
called for a sidewalk. Former county councilman Fresh Onishi said the county would make a
sidewalk, but the developer has to make one. This has been delayed too long. Drivers off the
highway whip around the corner, putting pedestrians at risk.
Thank you for considering my testimony.
Elaine Stephanie Salazar