06-18-2012, 05:09 PM
Seeb,
There are some long stretches of purely residential uses between Longs and the 7-11, I know someone whose grandparents live in the same house they've lived in for over 75 years in one of those stretches. They shouldn't have to endure a business going in right next door to them. Many places use a system where the zoning flips over once a certain percentage of the properties have changed to commercial, or in some cases industrial, until then it is still done on a case by case basis with lots of room for input.
One of the big issues with zoning is that it tends to paint with a very broad brush, a multitude of uses are OK under each zoning classification, not all of which are OK with the community in which the uses would take place. People who are OK with a family run Thai restaurant often hate the idea of a McDonald's in the same place for example, but for zoning purposes the two are the same. Conditional use permits are much more restrictive, but that makes them really a bad idea for business people who need maximum flexibility.
Puna has really weird zoning, no light industrial, limited commercial, and thousands of acres zoned AG that are completely useless for farming because they are bare rock. HPP has big blocks designated for commercial/light industrial uses on the developer's original plans, but zoned AG by the county. This whole district was developed as a land scam, no one actually thought anyone would move into all these subdivisions, but thousands of people have. That history is going to require really intelligent, proactive, solid leadership from Puna district county council representatives for the next 10 years or so, while we get the zoning more in line with how people actually live and work here.
"Drive to Hilo." can no longer be the default answer to all the zoning and infrastructure issues here, we need representation on the county council who can read and understand zoning codes, who isn't beholden to anyone but the residents of Puna, and who understands how to balance the desire to preserve a certain way of life with the need for zoning that meets the needs of the citizens.
Carol
There are some long stretches of purely residential uses between Longs and the 7-11, I know someone whose grandparents live in the same house they've lived in for over 75 years in one of those stretches. They shouldn't have to endure a business going in right next door to them. Many places use a system where the zoning flips over once a certain percentage of the properties have changed to commercial, or in some cases industrial, until then it is still done on a case by case basis with lots of room for input.
One of the big issues with zoning is that it tends to paint with a very broad brush, a multitude of uses are OK under each zoning classification, not all of which are OK with the community in which the uses would take place. People who are OK with a family run Thai restaurant often hate the idea of a McDonald's in the same place for example, but for zoning purposes the two are the same. Conditional use permits are much more restrictive, but that makes them really a bad idea for business people who need maximum flexibility.
Puna has really weird zoning, no light industrial, limited commercial, and thousands of acres zoned AG that are completely useless for farming because they are bare rock. HPP has big blocks designated for commercial/light industrial uses on the developer's original plans, but zoned AG by the county. This whole district was developed as a land scam, no one actually thought anyone would move into all these subdivisions, but thousands of people have. That history is going to require really intelligent, proactive, solid leadership from Puna district county council representatives for the next 10 years or so, while we get the zoning more in line with how people actually live and work here.
"Drive to Hilo." can no longer be the default answer to all the zoning and infrastructure issues here, we need representation on the county council who can read and understand zoning codes, who isn't beholden to anyone but the residents of Puna, and who understands how to balance the desire to preserve a certain way of life with the need for zoning that meets the needs of the citizens.
Carol
Carol
Every time you feel yourself getting pulled into other people's nonsense, repeat these words: Not my circus, not my monkeys.
Polish Proverb
Every time you feel yourself getting pulled into other people's nonsense, repeat these words: Not my circus, not my monkeys.
Polish Proverb