HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOR-18-118063 . Aileen YehKay, Christian %chi$ APR 27 Rm Q
From: Aileen Yeh <a eh@hawaii.rr.com>
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Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2018 9:30 PM `�vlt1V f .r, OF W01VAJj
To: Kay, Christian
Subject: Hamakua Community Development Plan
Dear Mr. Kay,
Although I reside in Hilo, and farm/ranch in Puna and Hilo, I would like to submit some
comments on the Hamakua Community Development Plan. I think it is a very good plan,
although there are some parts that I don't agree with as written in the plan. In particular, ;
sections 4.5.4 and 4.5.6. (developing view plane regulations and alternatives to tall,
vegetative windbreaks.)*h
I have been involved in the forest industry here in Hawaii since 1979. 1 am a native of'----'
Hawaii island, and grew up with the presence of the sugar plantations, and clearvlews of --
the mountains and ocean.
I can understand the desire to preserve the view planes from the highways, but I think that
putting restrictions on what landowners can plant on their own lands if zoned agriculture,
may lead to hurting the agricultural, as well as forest industry here in Hawaii.
I think it makes sense to have buffers along the highways, so that if trees area planted,
they will not interfere with the electrical lines and utility poles. Keep in mind that the
existing eucalyptus trees are past the expected harvest rotation, and had not been
intended to be grown for such a long period before harvest. At a wider planting space,
they would also be shorter and stouter. Please be cautious in developing view plane
regulations. I feel that if the area is zoned agriculture, and the crop does not impact the
neighbors' crops, the landowner should be able to grow what he wants as long as the crop
is not illegal. Views are not an agricultural commodity.
4.5.6 Community action , "...alternatives to tall, vegetative windbreaks that impact
viewsheds" is disturbing to me. I believe that landowners should be able to plant what
they want, as long as the vegetations roots, and branches do not protrude or invade into
their neighbors' lands, nor create a dangerous condition. Many people have planted
shorter invasive plants which they think are wonderful hedges, and look and smell so nice,
and they don't care that the plants are spread readily by wind, or birds, and can spread
into their neighbors, or the native forest areas. If anything, the education should be
directed to what species they are planting that are invasive. A good group to contact is
the Big Island Invasive Species Committee.
Mahalo for taking the time to read this.
Aloha,
Aileen Yeh
Hilo, HI
1
1180G33
Aileen Yeh
aveh(@-hawaii.rr.com