HomeMy WebLinkAboutIndividual Comment - G. Harrold - Long Range Physical Development Part 1From: Gary Harrold [mailto:garysgab@gmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, August 28, 2016 3:30 AM
To: General Plan
Subject: Long Range Physical Development
As a lifetime member of both the Sierra Club and Recycle Hawaii and nearly 50 years as a public school
teacher, both in Hilo and Santa Cruz CA, I am concerned about Hawaii county's future physical development.
Before subdivisions, business parks, additional roadways/parking lots are planned for and before natural areas
are bulldozed and deleted, I feel you have some salient considerations to ponder. Our streams and marine
biotic health must not receive runoff from increased physical development. People and animals thrive on and
in clean water. Kindly consider reducing the number of vehicles that contribute to our tragic climate crisis. A
massive, long-term mass media educational campaign may at least alter some of the public's consumer/driving
habits. More efficient 'Hele On' transit, alternative transportation - ridesharing, improving the safety for
cyclists (separate bike paths) and incentives for government/business carpooling could be examined. When
you allow development to spread across the land, we all see a reduction of oxygen-rich botanicals. Plants clean
up our air. I personally would rather not breathe exhaust, preferring oxygen instead. Would you really like
Puna 'built out'? We need to lower population and have a goal of less human density. The result: a quieter,
greener, healthier, more liveable and a more attractive county. If every lot in HPP were build on with single
family dwellings, can you imagine the unpleasant impact that would have on already horrendous traffic. We
need more neighborhood health centers, libraries, community gathering places, recycling centers, bike paths,
parks and schools not shopping centers that encourage over consumption and over driving - all contributing to
global warming. Have you heard of Bill McKibbon? He's THE livable cities guru and is the 'CEO' of 360.org.
Finally, rather than focus on more is good we need to dismantle toxic and destructive physical development
such as Pohakuloa. Please use your governmental influence to reduce and eventually shut down {then clean
up!} Pohakuloa. I appreciate your attention to my suggestions for a saner, healthier Hawaii county. Please see
the additional email I am sending regarding recycling issues. Gary Harrold ----------- St. Hilo HI 96720 238-
5031