HomeMy WebLinkAboutIndividual Comment - R. Vidfen - Planning Meeting 8.25.16From: Rick Vidgen [mailto:rickvidgen@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, August 29, 2016 7:44 AM
To: General Plan
Subject: FW: Planning meeting 8/25/2016
Just to follow on my Friday note…..below. You will have noticed that this AM the road to the Ocean View
“Population” center is closed in 2 places. I guess the HOVE population will be poorly served today!!!
From: Rick Vidgen [mailto:rickvidgen@gmail.com]
Sent: Friday, August 26, 2016 11:10 AM
To: GeneralPlan@hawaiicounty.gov
Subject: Planning meeting 8/25/2016
April Supranant
April,
This note is to follow up on the above meeting which I attended last night.
The meeting was something of a “slick” presentation apparently to arrive at predetermined answers…..all of
which was reasonable but it would seem to me that the bases for the planning premise need to be questioned
and/or explained more reasonably, particularly since there was limited or no opportunity to ask questions of
the presenters.
In the end it would seem that the desired conclusion was reached ie to support the concept that the County
should work to better serve existing population centers rather than expand population centers into new areas.
This was cleverly and effectively done and I do not question this process however I do question the “validity”
and rationale of using Ocean View as a population center. Per Land and Power in Hawaii and other
investigative reporting, Ocean View exists only because some venal politicians got cheap land to supporters
who “created” a giant subdivision in an area with very little to attract buyers except cheap land. For the
following reasons it was a bad choice.
1. It is a lava zone with a high probability of concerning issues.
2. The land has no obvious water source at any reasonable cost
3. The land has limited/zero agricultural value so all food is imported
4. Access to the ocean is limited
5. The likelihood of local industry to create jobs is very low
6. The commute to Kona will always be long and expensive to maintain
So, aside from the fact that it is “county zoned” and cheap land it seems a very bad place to plan to support a
“population center”.
Hawaii is a wonderful place to life in general BUT NOT AT Ocean View!
So this is my concern about the process that occurred last night…….it made great sense EXCEPT at Ocean View!
Appreciate any comments you may have.
Aloha
Rick Vidgen
808-937-3487