HomeMy WebLinkAboutAC-Lee SLauko Rd Opening JNZY OF h,�
William P.Kenoi �:•'�� �'.ol Duane Kanuha
Mayor Director
Bobby Command
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>e oF'N►�' Deputy Director
County of Hawaii
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
PUNA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE
Aupuni Center • 101 Pauahi Street,Suite 3 • Hilo,Hawaii 96720
Phone(808)961-8288 • Fax(808)961-8742
May 13,2014
Warren H.W. Lee, Director
Department of Public Works
101 Pauahi St., Suite 7
Hilo,Hawaii 96720
Dear Director Lee,
Subject: Support for Reopening of South Lauko Road
We,the Puna Community Development Plan(PCDP)Action Committee, do hereby submit this 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 its 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 subcommittee on Connectivity and Emergency Response was considered for acceptance by the
PCDP AC at their May 13,2014 meeting, in which S. Lauko Road is clearly designated as the 91 option for
upper Puna. By unanimous vote the PCDP AC accepted this report and"priority list" from the subcommittee on
Connectivity and Emergency Response, which is being transmitted to you under separate cover.
As you are aware,the South Lauko Road is completely owned by the County of Hawaii, and was previously
used in the 1960's and 1970's by the general public. In 2013 the Hawaii County Department 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 has voted unanimously in favor of
reopening South Lauko Road to reconnect with Puhala Street as soon as possible.
The current lava flow from Pu`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 1,800 residents in Fern
Hawai`i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer
Mr. Warren Lee, Director
Department of Public Works
May 13, 2014
Page 2
Acres and another approximately 1,000 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 number of students and parents having to cross the dangerous highway in peak hour traffic in order to
enter the school. Dr. Riley has personally witnessed numerous traffic accidents and near accidents at her school.
As a result of reopening S. Lauko Road, students and parents 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,
Patti Pinto
Chair,PCDP Action Committee
Cc: Zendo Kern, Council Member—District 5