01-18-2010, 06:00 AM
It seems like a lot of the folks commenting out there have a "pie in the sky" attitude. I agree with everyone that we need to start our solution NOW. Our local council person doesn't seem interested in helping us. As a council person, I woul search for the right people to put in the right places, then LISTEN to what they say, and work with the community.
Some of you are saying you want more businesses out here, which I think is a good thing. A local business, such as KTA, would be great. But nobody wants the roads improved to manage all the delivery trucks that would be forced to come out here with increased businesses. Nobody wants anyone else to move out here, people keep telling me they want it left "rural", but with any kind of growth, there will be population growth as well. Be honest, how many of you make the "Costco run" every couple of months over to Kona? Or shop the coupon days at KTA and Safeway, rather than Malama? I doubt this will ever change, a bargain shopper is just that.
In the past, Hawaii has not been a business-friendly state. The Supperferry comes to mind (as an example only). We need to re-zone, re-think, and re-tool, basically change our mind set. I've been reading the ideas from everyone, but a lot of them are ten years out.
Everything I've read and heard from everyone, progressives, isolationsists, ruralists, all have great ideas. As a council person, I would meet with each group every month to discuss the best plans for Puna, whether or not that includes following the PCDP to the letter. I did read some of the E-mails flowing between the planners, and the word "mandate" jumped out at me. The PCDP planners want to "mandate" that we stop driving to Hilo, and drive into the village centers instead, or bike to Hilo. Unenforcible, and unrealistic.
I also keep seeing "local business". We need to be open minded to all business, unless it will adversely impact our environment. A business that offers employment opportunities to our citizens is what we want. When it comes to non-local enterprises, I would like to see a percentage of their profits put back into the local economy for infrastructure. As an example, say Safeway wanted to open in Pahoa, we would grant their re-zoning and permits, but they would sign a binding agreement to provide X% of profits for road work, as their store would put many more delivery trucks on our only roadway.
As a council person, I would be open to any suggestion which offered viable economic growth for our area, without cluttering our highway with shops. I have to agree with keeping the highway zoned non-business.
Loren Baker
baker4puna.com
Some of you are saying you want more businesses out here, which I think is a good thing. A local business, such as KTA, would be great. But nobody wants the roads improved to manage all the delivery trucks that would be forced to come out here with increased businesses. Nobody wants anyone else to move out here, people keep telling me they want it left "rural", but with any kind of growth, there will be population growth as well. Be honest, how many of you make the "Costco run" every couple of months over to Kona? Or shop the coupon days at KTA and Safeway, rather than Malama? I doubt this will ever change, a bargain shopper is just that.
In the past, Hawaii has not been a business-friendly state. The Supperferry comes to mind (as an example only). We need to re-zone, re-think, and re-tool, basically change our mind set. I've been reading the ideas from everyone, but a lot of them are ten years out.
Everything I've read and heard from everyone, progressives, isolationsists, ruralists, all have great ideas. As a council person, I would meet with each group every month to discuss the best plans for Puna, whether or not that includes following the PCDP to the letter. I did read some of the E-mails flowing between the planners, and the word "mandate" jumped out at me. The PCDP planners want to "mandate" that we stop driving to Hilo, and drive into the village centers instead, or bike to Hilo. Unenforcible, and unrealistic.
I also keep seeing "local business". We need to be open minded to all business, unless it will adversely impact our environment. A business that offers employment opportunities to our citizens is what we want. When it comes to non-local enterprises, I would like to see a percentage of their profits put back into the local economy for infrastructure. As an example, say Safeway wanted to open in Pahoa, we would grant their re-zoning and permits, but they would sign a binding agreement to provide X% of profits for road work, as their store would put many more delivery trucks on our only roadway.
As a council person, I would be open to any suggestion which offered viable economic growth for our area, without cluttering our highway with shops. I have to agree with keeping the highway zoned non-business.
Loren Baker
baker4puna.com
Loren Baker
baker4puna.com
baker4puna.com