pending Council vote threatens Pahoa Village

[Rob Tucker]

This issue (Bills 220 & 221) comes up for a vote again this Friday, Jan. 19th. which create the first commercial zoning on Hwy. 130. [It was postponed from the Jan. 4. Council Meeting]

This legal precedent could pave the way for strip malls on the highway. Commercial development on Hwy. 130 would threaten every Pahoa business. Do you want this?

Tell all council members to
vote NO on Bill 220 and Bill 221

Council members phone: 961-8225

Here are Council members email addresses:

J. Yosimoto <jyoshimoto@co.hawaii.hi.us>
Emily Naeole <enaeole@co.hawaii.hi.us>
Dominic Yagong <dyagong@co.hawaii.hi.us>
Don Ikeda <dikeda@co.hawaii.hi.us>
Stacy Higa <shiga@co.hawaii.hi.us>
Bob Jacobson <jjaco@co.hawaii.hi.us>
Brenda Ford <bford@co.hawaii.hi.us>
Angel Pilago <kapilago@co.hawaii.hi.us>
Peter Hoffman <phoffmann@co.hawaii.hi.us>



While the Puna Community Development Plan is in progress it is inappropriate for such rezoning applications to be approved. Community input, via the CDP is to maintain the rural character of Puna. One commercial development, benign as it may seem, will lead to another. Do we want strip malls, car lots, bars and neon lights on our primary road way? Do we want mainland style development? What about traffic safety?

Bill 220 (2004-2006): Amends the State Land Use Boundaries Maps for the County of Hawai‘i by Changing the District Classification from the Agricultural to the Urban District at Keonepoko, Puna, Hawai‘i, Covered by Tax Map Key 1-5-7:53 (approx. 3.317 acres). {Timothy Lynn Gardner, Applicant.} Re: Comm. 680 Intr. by: Mr. Pilago Approve: PC-4

Bill 221 (Draft 2) (2004-2006): Amends Section 25-8-26 (Pahoa Zone Map), Article 8, Chapter 25 (Zoning Code) of the Hawai‘i County Code 1983 (2005 Edition), by Changing the District Classification from Agricultural (A-1a) to Industrial-Commercial Mixed (MCX-1a) at Keonepoko, Puna, Hawai‘i, Covered by Tax Map Key 1-5-7:53 (approx. 3.317 acres). {Timothy Lynn Gardner, Applicant.} Re: Comm. 680.1 Intr. by: Mr. Safarik (B/R) Approve: PC-5

How to submit testimony to council consideration:

(from the county web site)

Submitting Testimony: Those persons wishing to testify in person must register with the Council/Clerk’s staff.

Those testifying in person and submitting written testimony should bring seventeen (17) copies of the testimony for distribution at the meeting.

Those persons unable to testify in person may submit testimony
(1) by mail to the County Clerk’s Office in Hilo at 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720,
(2) by facsimile to (808) 961-8912, or
(3) by e-mail to counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us.

Please submit a separate testimony for each item.
For testimonies submitted by e-mail or fax, copies will be made and distributed at the meeting when transmitted in a timely manner. In any case, both oral and written testimony will be considered public record.