HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-29 AC-DPW Lauko Rd 13May14 Communication No. 2014-29
May 13, 2014
To: Warren Lee,
Hawaii County Director of Public Works
Dear Director Lee,
We the Puna Community Development Plan-(P CDP Action Committee, do hereby submit this is
letter of recommendation_to reopen South Lauko Road.
A meeting held specifically to address this issue over a year ago was attended by yourself and
County Councilman Zendo Kern at the Department of Public Works;in which you requested,
and Zendo Kern concurred,that an official response from the PCDP Action Committee was
required in order for the county to proceed with planning to reopen South Lauko Road. You have
each voiced your desire, along with Mayor Kenoi,to proceed with the necessary planning,
allocation of resources, and subsequent reopening of South Lauko Road once this is
accomplished.
The Puna Community Development Plan Action Committee herein expresses it's complete
support of this action in order for the county to proceed with planning to reopen South Lauko for
reasons which include those stated below.
The report of the-Ssubcommittee on Connectivity and Emergency Response will have been
considered for acceptance by the AC at the May 4-213, 2014 PCDP meeting, in which S. Lauko
Road is clearly designated as the 91 option for upper Puna(please see attached documentation).
A subsequent motion will have been made at the May 4-213, 2014 PCDP meeting to accept this
"priority list" from the subcommittee on Pfeil '-edness and Connectivity and Emergency
Response, in addition to a motion to accept the sub committee's report and their methodology in
arriving at the priority.
As you are aware, the South Lauko Road is completely owned the County of Hawaii, and was
previously used in the 1960's and 1970's by the general public. In 2013 the 14awaii
Co yDepartment of-Public Works paved almost a mile of South Lauko Road. Currently the
Fern Acres Community Association Board of Directors has had extensive discussion with many
community members and ha-ve—has voted unanimously in favor of reopening South Lauko Road
to reconnect to-with Puhala Street as soon as possible.
The current lava flow from oPu`u `0'6 is active and slowly moving behind of our Fern
Acres Community about 1.7 miles away. The potential for another dry summer this year will
subject the over (1800)residents in Fern Acres and another approximately (1000-) other residents
from the upper back side of Hawaiian Acres to potential forest fires that may threaten these
communities significantly. With the use of a single drivable two lane road(South Kulani Street)
to get out of the area, evacuation in a timely manner of one or both communities to safety in the
event of an emergency would be impossible, ensuring a higher risk of casualties.
Dr. Barbara Riley Principal of the Mountain View Elementary School is in favor of reopening
the road to reduce the amount of students and parents having to cross the dangerous highway in
peak hour traffic in order to enter the school. Dr. Riley has personally witness numerous traffic
accidents and near accidents at her school. Students and parents as a result of reopening South
Lauko will not have to traverse the heavily trafficked Volcano Highway daily to get to and from
the schools and other areas our children use daily, but instead have the opportunity of a safe
passage to and from the Mountain View Elementary School/ Charter School, public library,
gym, playground, and ball field.
We the Puna Community Development Plan Action Committee look forward to facilitating
appropriate correspondence necessary for moving forward with our recommendation to reopen
South Lauko Road.
Sincerely,
Puna Community Development Plan Action Committee