HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-12-05 Janet SixFrom:Janet Six
To:WPCtestimony
Subject:12/5/24 Special General Plan Meeting
Date:Thursday, December 5, 2024 2:51:15 PM
Attachments:Testimony.pdf
Aloha,
Attached is my written testimony regarding the General Plan proposed zoning changes fromconservation to recreation along the Hilo coast.
Mahalo nui,Janet Six
Janet Six, Ph.D
355 Kalanianaole Street #217
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
To: Hawaii County Windward Planning Commission
County of Hawaii Planning Department
My name is Dr. Janet Six and I own a residential unit in Orchid Manor located
at 355 Kalanianaole Street, #217, Hilo, HI 96720. I am also the Vice President of
the Board of Directors for the condo association. Additionally, I serve on the
Hawai`i County Cultural Resources Commission and work for the County of Maui
as their Principal Archaeologist.
I have grave concerns with the proposed change in zoning of the parcels along
the coast fronting our historic 1969 condo from “conservation” to “recreation. “
In addition to the historic building itself (Orchid Manor was the first condo ever
built in Hilo) there are important cultural sites along the coast such as the heiau
(outlined in orange) listed in the State Inventory of Historic Places (SIHP) # 50-10-
35-18695 (Screen shots below are taken from the State Historic Preservations
Divisions HICRIS database)
Since the general plan was concieved in 2005, numerous, compelling factors have
changed. We live in a post COVID world where homelessness, substance abuse
and mental health issues have skyrocketed.
According to the Hawaii Health Data Warehouse:
“Between 2022 and 2023, Hawaiʻi and Kauaʻi Counties experienced 20% and 10%
increases in total homelessness, while Maui County experienced a 5% decrease.
• Hawaiʻi County: Of the 661 unsheltered households surveyed, 18.5%
cited a family/relationship conflict, and 15.7% cited being unable to
afford rent as reasons for their current living situation
(https://hhdw.org/na-2023-point-in-time-counts/)”
According to a January 30th article published this year by Civil Beat:
“The Big Island’s homeless population has exploded in recent years. In 2019, 690
people were counted as homeless, a number that grew to 1,003 last
year. https://www.civilbeat.org/2024/01/a-birth-on-a-hilo-sidewalk-reflects-
challenges-in-helping-a-growing-homeless-community/”
I fear changing the zoning from conservation to recreation will encourage
homeless individuals to move into areas that are hidden from street view. We
witnessed this during COVID in the heavily wooded areas abutting Kuhio
Kalaniainaole Park. Residents at Orchid Manor have witnessed drug trafficking
and experienced vehicle vandalism and theft. Many homeless individuals have
mental health and/or substance abuse problems and I believe opening up more
land for “recreation” will exacerbate the homeless problem.
Homeless camps create sanitation and safety issues for those who live along the
coast. Additionally, law enforcement doesn’t patrol or control any activity in this
area leading to unsafe and uncomfortable situations for the residents of Orchid
Manor – the majority of which are seniors. The conservation lot in front of Orchid
Manor has maintained this area the expense of Orchid Manor owners for decades
(TMK 2100679000)..
Expanding a park into a commercial area would not be beneficial to anyone.
Keaukaha is a beautiful area with plenty of park space for all that want to enjoy it.
Adding a narrow strip of park space along the coast would simply be a further
drain on limited County resources with no obvious benefit to Hilo residents or its
visitors.
A lot has changed since 2005, and I sincerely hope that you consider the
importance of our personal safety and choose to leave these areas in
conservation.
Mahalo and Aloha,
Janet Six, PhD.
Board Vice President
Orchid Manor Condo Association