HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0639.012 2018-2020 i
Mon 3/9/2020 8:04 AM
Jan Marshall<jarshall@fimetrix.com>
Testimony for the March 10th meeting
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Dear Council Members,
I write to you as a mainland resident who wants to rebuild my winter home in Vacationland subdivision.
After we lost our home there we looked throughout the Hawaiian Islands,the Caribbean and Central
America and concluded on balance that we would prefer to re-join our neighborhood in Kapoho.
We believe the ocean view and proximity to the waterfront and the climatic conditions that encourage
exuberant plant growth combined with the cost and risks of alternative locations, argues for a return to
Kapoho. According to scientific studies, our property in Vacationland was last overtaken by lava
somewhere between 700 and 1200 years ago. During that time, other flows covered most of the rest of
the Southern part of the island. The subdivision is now elevated. We are no longer at risk of flooding.
We have no fire risk. We do have termite risk.
This is a bit uncomfortable, but I would like to remind you that the millions that you will be receiving
from FEMA came primarily from the mainland and that a large proportion of the owners of Kapoho
properties were families that spent part of their year in Kapoho-but were mainland residents. I don't
like to mention it—but it should be obvious,that a failure to restore Route 137, potentially puts the
County of Hawaii at risk of suit in mainland courts. Refusing access over County roads is in effect
condemnation. Condemnation is a serious act requiring compensation. The tax value of the land in
just the Vacationland subdivision of Kapoho (not to mention other private property accessed by 137)
runs into the tens of millions of dollars and then there is the issue of how condemnation could tar
Hawaii's image as a safe place to invest.
So, beyond being the right thing to do—restoring 137 is the smart thing to do. The County of Hawaii will
be using a small fraction of its financial gain from the lava flow event to restore access to those who
have lost so much. The County of Hawaii will be creating the conditions for Puna job growth as
Vacationland owners rebuild. The County of Hawaii will benefit from future tax revenue. Going
further and assisting Vacationland with a grant to help with the cost of internal road reconstruction and
opening up the area for vacation rentals would have further positive benefits for both those who have
suffered loss and the County.
Sincerely,
Jan Marshall
1305 Presby Road, Lisbon, NH 03585 j owner of 14-5017 Wai Opae Rd, Pahoa, HI
Comm. No. '
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Ref. Dote MAR 1 0 2n20