02-12-2011, 11:05 AM
One of the reasons we in HPP are engaged in a lenghty and detailed examination of PMAR is the fact that it has the potential to profoundly affect the entire community, and not just the road (or roads) immediately adjacent to whatever might be built. Highways are noisy and can be heard blocks away. As one of our committee members astutely pointed out, PMAR has the potential to funnel significant outside traffic onto our private roads. For example, say that Joe Smith in Hilo wants to visit is cousin in Orchidland, but he hates using Highway 130. He could take PMAR as far as Paradise Drive and scoot up to Orchidland through HPP, creating more traffic and wear on our trunk roads. And those are just a couple of concerns.
There are many other variables, some of which can be mitigated, that we will be looking at. Meanwhile, I'm not trying to be argumentative, but I would like to remind people that it's easy to accuse some in HPP of a NIMBY attitude when it's not your back yard in question. We will provide an opportunity for HPP lot owners to voice their concerns, and I personally plan to listen respectfully to everyone in my community who does so, whether they say "Hell, no!" or "Let's build it right now." Our job is not to sugar coat this thing or even to support its construction. Our job is to give the community a voice and some influence over what happens. We'll see where that goes.
There are many other variables, some of which can be mitigated, that we will be looking at. Meanwhile, I'm not trying to be argumentative, but I would like to remind people that it's easy to accuse some in HPP of a NIMBY attitude when it's not your back yard in question. We will provide an opportunity for HPP lot owners to voice their concerns, and I personally plan to listen respectfully to everyone in my community who does so, whether they say "Hell, no!" or "Let's build it right now." Our job is not to sugar coat this thing or even to support its construction. Our job is to give the community a voice and some influence over what happens. We'll see where that goes.