HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-09-02 PL-REZ-2025-000083 Opposition Testimony from James Morgan, Volcano CA From: iames moraan
To: W PCtesti mono
Subject: Rezoning Of Volcano Lot to CV-20
Date: Tuesday, September 2,2025 11:43:58 AM
Dear Hawai'i County Windward Planning Commission,
As the President of the Volcano Community Association, I am writing to expresses the
interests of the community as shared with the Board.
I have been in service to the Volcano Community on the VCA BOD over the last 4 years, and
have listened to everything from general gripes to sincere concerns from our Volcano
Residents. Of which, the one concern and biggest value of the Community, seems to be the pin
to pin clearing of the native forest in residential lots; as well as unregulated, unsightly, or
overly destructive future developments of the Village.
This concern largely stems from the community members' social identity, "sense of place"
and love/reverence for the forest they have chosen to live within, with their desire to preserve
the aesthetic.
Volcano region is inherently a unique area of native high elevation ecosystems, leading into to
the attractive tourism of the park; The Village is a microcosm that allows tourism of the"Park
Experience" continued inside the village, and as such, is an aspect of Volcano's social/
economic stability.
Inherently, growth and development are bound to happen. Without a design plan
or regulation to ensure the aesthetic of the Volcano Village is maintained, I feel this exception
is not well placed.
(There is, however, a Volcano Community Plan drafted by the VCA, that works to bridge
these community/infrastructure gaps, as previously expressed by the community. This is
currently in process for review and critique, of our County Council and Community
Stakeholders.)
So far, the only correspondence of this change in The Village has been from concerned
residents and have yet to receive any outreach from the applicant or otherwise, in a measure of
"good faith" in the community.
Therefore, I cannot support the proposed changes in the Village.
I oppose:
Rezoning Request to CV-20 (Commercial, Village — 20,000 sq. ft. minimum lot size)
PL-REZ-2025-000083
Applicant: William Cox Morris
TMK: (3) 1-9-005:006 (portion)
Respectfully,
James Morgan
VCA President
603-443-1737