HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-36 Herlihy Testimony re SPP 1122Maura K. Herlihy, Farmers Market Manager
SeaView Performing Arts Center for Education
12 -427 Pohakupele Loop Road, Pahoa, Hi 96778
market @hawaiispace.com (808)965 -8756
Communication No. 2013 -36
Office Hours: Tuesday 9a -1p Saturday 6a -2p
County of Hawaii
Planning Department & Puna CDP Action Committee
Aupuni Center, 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3, Hilo, Hawaii 96720
N TESTIMONY to County of Hawaii Planning Dept, and Puna CDP Action Committee
re: PCDP Meeting July 9, 2013 Agenda Item Unfinished Business #1
To Whom it may Concern,
My name is Maura Herlihy. I started working at the SeaView Performing Arts Center for Education in
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June 2012 as the administrative assistant to the Market Manager and began serving as Market Manager
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in September 2012, amidst the the Special Use Permit process currently being discussed b the Puna
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CDP Action Committee. I have a degree in Community Development and Applied Economics from
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University of Vermont, have lived in Kalapana for 12 years, and am actively involved in the local non-
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profit and for - profit business sectors in lower Puna.
The Hawaii Volcanoes Circus (HVC) is the 501c3 non - profit organization that operates the Seavi
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Performing Arts Center for Education (SPACE). HVC is designated as a 501c3 non-profit organization
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by the IRS because the work perform is considered to be beneficial to the community the y y federal
government. In reading the PCDP draft letter to Duane Kanuha, Planning Director dated July 9 2013
with the subject title Amendment to Special Permit No. 1122 (SUP), it becomes evident that an l . old
version of the SUP amendment has been reviewed and the neighbors who gave testimony failed to
mention the ways in which HVC Executive Director Jenna Way, her staff, and volunteers have reached
out to them and acted upon their concerns. Namely:
1) A community meeting was called by Jenna Way and announced at the Kala ana SeaView
Estates Community Association's Annual Meeting in April 2013 as an invitation to residents to
express their concerns regarding the special use permit
2) The meeting was held the following week at SPACE, to hear and address SeaView Estates
resident concerns
3) Following the meeting, Jenna Way met with resident Uschi Snover, one on one to further
address Uschi's personal concerns with the amendment
4) The following concerns have been addressed in the following manner:
1. speeding -- drive slow signs have been placed along Mapuana Avenue, Pohaku ele Loop,
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and Kehauopuna Street to mitigate impacts of the Saturday Market; more signs are being
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re- painted to more clearly display Drive Slow along the roads as patrons exit
2. traffic -- an improved traffic impact analysis report is being performed based on the
guidance of the Department of Public Works, the Transportation Research Board's most
recent Highway Capacity Manual, and the U.S. Department of Transportation's Manual on
Uniform Traffic Control Devices, to arrive at a quantifiable assessment of traffic impacts
and arrive at appropriate mitigation measures/actions necessary
3. noise -- HVC has been pledged $30k to improve sound proofing and a professional sound
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proofing design has been developed for installation; the pledged donation will be allotted to
HVC once the SUP process is completed
4. subdivision resident input- 3 residents that attended the community meetin g mentioned
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above were invited to join the SPACE Advisory Committee, a committee of local residents
that provide advice to Executive Director, Jenna Way; two declined and one, resident Uschi
Snover accepted and attended the Advisory Committee's June meeting
5. concerns about SUP amendment requests -- are being addressed through redevelopment of
the amendment to represent the feedback provided by Seaview Estates residents at the May
2013 meeting mentioned above and include mitigation strategies based on proper research
and development; as mentioned above residents have been invited to join our advisory
committee
In the recent letter drafted by the PCDP, HVC is falsely accused of operating as a business more than a
community ervice. The current state of the non - profit sector here on Big Island and throughout the
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nation has driven non - profit organizations to develop internal revenue sources to keep their doors open.
What designates them as 501c3 non - profits is not that they do not have a revenue source but that the
revenue source is used appropriately to pursue their non - profit mission as a public benefit organization.
All revenues generated by HVC are used to provide:
1. a local site for public charter school classrooms
2. facilitate performing arts workshops and classes
3. enable young performers to perform (currently at locations other than SPACE)
4. provide a local market place for small business incubation
The goals of the SUP amendment is to enhance these non - profit activities, ensure their long -term
sustainability, and to augment future developments made by local businesses, government agencies,
and non - profit organizations. The amendment is proposing to enhance the PCDP village center model
b y providing some of the services all levels of government and the majority of residents deem
beneficial to their community, not proposing to be the village center.
I understand the language and requests in the SUP amendment appear overbearing to some residents
and those of you volunteering your time to represent and guide Puna through the CDP process in
planning tannin for our rapidly - growing district's future. My request that is you await the new draft of HVC's
SUP amendment that addresses the concerns of neighbors and has a proper Traffic Impact Analysis
Report before reacting to an outdated version with incomplete information. It is my experience that
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Executive Director, Jenna Way and her team of staff and volunteers will work with all of you to
address concerns regarding our SUP and help provide solutions.
Thank you for our time end consideration,
Maura K. Herli y
I P rovide permission to Jenna Way, HVC Executiv, Director, to provide this testimony to a HVC
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volunteer for spoken testimony. Signed, `� Maura K. Herlihy
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