HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-06-02 Jim McMahon Opposition Testimony
From: Jim and Lichun
To: Planning WPC Testimony
Subject: 26-06-02 Jim McMahon Opposition Testimony
Date: Tuesday, June 2, 2026 12:13:33 PM
Dear Windward Commission Chairman and Commission Members
Please accept my public testimony in opposition to Use Permit PL-USE-2026-000042 -
Agenda Item #1 of the 5 June 2026 Windward Planning Commission Meeting.
I would recommend that this permit be denied for the following reasons:
1.
The proposed clinic plans to offer Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy
services. My limited investigation into this treatment revealed that it is a highly
specialized procedure that has only been approved for a very narrow set of
psychiatric disorders which have not responded to other existing forms of therapy.
Therefore, most of the clients for such therapy are not local to the area. Most patients
would therefore presumably be traveling from Hilo and other larger population centers
located around the island. A more appropriate location would be in an urban center
such as Hilo and near a major hospital where one would normally expect to find
similar highly specialized outpatient services. Pepe’ekeo and other similar
communities would be better served by having more general medical service
providers such as regular general practice physicians, urgent care clinics, dentists,
etc.
2.
The proposed location is zoned residential although the current use of the parcel and
much of the surrounding area appears to be rural/agricultural. Introducing commercial
operations is usually considered undesirable because of the potential adverse
impacts to the surrounding residential users. It makes it less likely that the remaining
acreages in the parcel will be developed for its existing zoned residential use.
Therefore, it is also not consistent with the broader stated County goals of increasing
the supply of affordable housing.
3.
Access to the proposed location from the main highway (H-19) requires clients to
navigate through normally quiet residential streets and/or the Old Mamalahoa
highway. Ideally, commercial activities should be confined along -or at least have
direct access to - main arterial routes such as the nearby main highway bisecting
Pepe’ekeo where several other businesses are already located.
4.
Appropriately commercially zoned land already exists very nearby fronting the main
highway. This area probably also enjoys access to County wastewater infrastructure
and would not require a septic IWS like the subject parcel. The lack of adequate
infrastructure at the project site normally expected for commercial operations would
appear to be in conflict with the development guidelines set forth in both the County
General and the Hāmākua Community Development Plans.
In summary, this use permit application appears to offer a convenience to the landowner or
their tenant with little benefit to the immediate nearby surrounding community with a far less
than ideal location when considering the claimed benefits to the broader Island community.
Jim McMahon
Pāpaʻikou/Pepe’ekeo