HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1137.015 2016-2018 •
Ptprrm&
c.c.,. I tt7
From: Kathy
To: Council Testimony
Cc: Roger Guenette;Steve Bailey;Ohara,Eileen;Saraswati Tokura-Ellsworth
Subject: November 1,2018 Planning Committee Meeting Testimony
Date: Sunday,October 28,2018 12:38:24 PM
Attachments: RES 732 Draft 01 2016-2018.pdf
ATT00001.htm
Aloha Everyone,
Resolution 723-18 concerning Puna road issues including Papio n
o�-a
Street was written by Council woman, Eileen O'Hara and is Ccs
r-a �-C
scheduled to be heard Thursday.November 1. 2018 by the County --Q —
Council Planning Committee at 1:45 p.m. Hawaii time. w -(
CD HSCA's Papio Street continues to be used by Sanford Cinder ._.. -71 n
Company and-its customers. Three miles of lava covered Highwayrn
ter`
132 which destroyed the route Sanford's dump trucks and its .Q s''
customers accessed to retrieve cinder material.
Currently weighing up to 45,000 pounds,these large trucks emit toxic 4"4 --
diesel fumes and use Jake brakes while traveling on streets including
HSCA's privately held Papio Street. Papio Street has a posted 25
MPH speed limit and features a quiet park used by visitors, families,
children and pets.
The County and Hawaiian Shores Recreation Estates entered into an
agreement to temporarily allow egress and ingress along Papio Road
during the emergency proclamation. However, this narrow street was
not constructed or was it intended to accommodate commercial
trucks of this weight load factor. It has been used over the last 5
months at a frequency of up to 55 passages per day, 5 days a week
and continues to be used in this capacity. This cannot continue.
Papio Street is being destroyed. Kahakai Boulevard which has a
posted 35 MPH speed limit, has no sidewalks to speak of and is also
being destroyed.
Sanford does make an important employment and material
contribution to Hawaii Island and is considered by HSCA and others
as an important asset. However the County and its supporting entities
must support a safer passage for Sanford Cinder Company to conduct
its business a d make this a priority as safety could be seriously
compromised. Highway 132 or a comparable road needs to be
constructed sooner versus later.
As Resolution 723-18 points out,there are other very important
issues as to Puna's road needs such as .... There is no emergency
evacuation route due to the recent lava flow should Government
Beach Roadoat Honolulu Point be wiped out due to storm surge or
other causes such as new lava flow. Farmers cannot gain access to
their land which can still be farmed. This Resolution provides
options.
Up to this point, the County of Hawaii and the Mayor's office have
been noncommittal as other districts want to use funding for projects
Comm. No. MO
Ref. To: P I P w f rJ
Ref. Dote OCT 3 1 2018
4.1
unrelated to Puna. In January our government representatives will
convene to decide appropriation of funds and what projects will be
deemed a priority. From what I recently observed at a County
meeting on October 1st, Puna is low on its priority list. I hope for the
betterment of HSCA and Puna residents, commercial businesses such
as Sanford Cinder and agricultural farms landlocked by lava, that the
County's perspective on Puna changes. We need your help and
appreciate your assistance.
• Mahalo
Kathryn Kuhlman
Hawaiian Shores Community Association
15-2793 Honu Street, Pahoa. 96778
Kathryn Kuhlman is a resident of HSCA's community and serves in a volunteer capacity on its
board of directors.