HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-02-14 Theodora Mallick Testimony From: Kathy Johnson
To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv;Council Testimony; Kimball. Heather; Kaaiwada.Jennifer;Onishi. Dennis;
Kierkiewicz.Ashley; Kanealii-Kleinfelder. Matt;Villeaas. Rebecca;Galimba. Michelle M.; Inaba. Holeka
Cc: Inaba.Holeka; Hustace.James;cohmavoolhawaiicountv.00v
Subject: Opposition to General Plan 2045
Date: Friday,February 14,2025 10:27:22 AM
Good Morning,
Thank you for taking the time to read our concerns regarding General Plan
2045.
Our family currently resides and owns property in Hilo and Papaikou. I have
worked for a family with agriculture farming in Papaikou for the past 10 years
and we absolutely made the right decision to live here and raise our family
here. We love everything about living here and feel blessed to be part of our
community and hope that we can someday be able to pass our home on to our
family. We are very concerned and oppose many of the proposed changes in
the General Plan 2045 being considered. There are many flaws in this plan
that I believe will negatively impact both our community and our family
directly. We are very concerned about water rights- this should not be
privatized— everyone should have access to water without paying for it from a
private source. We are also worried about what this plan could allow and the
possible effects proposed would have on our ownership and use of our existing
land.
I work for a family who owns land that they actively farm for over 20 years,
they harvest the land responsibly, provides revenue for our County,
employment for so many, including myself, and preservation of the beautiful ag
land we enjoy on the Big Island. The owner has always told me how special
this place is, it is a safe place where you can live off the land and resources we
have from farm to sea- but you have to give back to the land and community
and not just take. What will happen if the proposed restrictions on land use,
property rights and zoning negatively impacts agriculture on this island or for
our neighbors? There is so much packed into this general plan and it lacks
feasibility, overestimates resource availability and places undue burdens and
risks on taxpayers and rural communities.
We respectfully request that you oppose the current General Plan 2045 as
it is currently written. Focus on resolving what is currently broken,
ensuring roads, utilities and housing affordability are being addressed
before adding expensive, unproven speculative technology. We fully
understand that there is a need for sustainability, economic growth and
infrastructure- this plan lacks feasibility, overestimates resource availability
and we believe will place undue burdens on taxpayers and rural communities
located throughout the island.
We thank you for listening to our concerns and hope that you will oppose the
General Plan 2045.
Mahalo,
Kathy & Brennan Johnson along with Bryan Johnson and Linda Smith
109 Panaewa Street, Hilo, HI 96720