01-24-2007, 03:35 AM
Aloha, Rob,
I would like to personally thank you (and anyone who helped) for what had to be a lot of hard work on your proposal. It is thoughtful, sensitive to the community, and better than anything I have heard proposed by the state or local officials. My cynical side wants to say that the officials won't like it because it makes them look lame, but that may not be true.
I especially like the limited access, sound buffers, scenic elements, and efforts to minimize disruption to home owners. The routing is a bit makai of what has been suggested in the past, but the 11-block from a thoroughfare facet makes sense. (Did your research show fewer homes on that route?)
Being an intelligent person, you have of course anticipated resistance. I will play devil's advocate for a moment and give you a preview of what to expect. Please note that the only one of these points that I personally subscribe to is the one about law enforcement.
1. Based on my conversation with neighbors and others, there will be some in HPP who oppose ANY highway across the subdivision. Period.
2. Some folks will oppose the construction of new highways ANYWHERE in Puna, saying that we should rely instead on improved mass transit and village center development. Some of these don't live in HPP.
3. No matter how sensitively it is done, and no matter how generous the budget, some people will not be satisfied with the compensation/relocation arrangements for affected homeowners. This is not unique to this project, however.
4. Any element of the proposal that involves law enforcement becomes dicey for those of us familiar with policing in HPP. We have had mixed results in community efforts to get current nuissance (and other) laws consistently enforced. I have personally been told on two occasions that the cops were too busy to come out and deal with illegal 4-wheelers. On other occasions, there have been prompt and effective responses. Asking them to regulate speed, type of vehicle access, noise levels, etc., does not seem like anything I would expect to be done on a regular basis unless they dedicate a couple of officers to it.
This has been a lengthy response by even my standards, but I think it is an important issue. Thank you again for your hard work, Rob.
Cheers,
Jerry
I would like to personally thank you (and anyone who helped) for what had to be a lot of hard work on your proposal. It is thoughtful, sensitive to the community, and better than anything I have heard proposed by the state or local officials. My cynical side wants to say that the officials won't like it because it makes them look lame, but that may not be true.
I especially like the limited access, sound buffers, scenic elements, and efforts to minimize disruption to home owners. The routing is a bit makai of what has been suggested in the past, but the 11-block from a thoroughfare facet makes sense. (Did your research show fewer homes on that route?)
Being an intelligent person, you have of course anticipated resistance. I will play devil's advocate for a moment and give you a preview of what to expect. Please note that the only one of these points that I personally subscribe to is the one about law enforcement.
1. Based on my conversation with neighbors and others, there will be some in HPP who oppose ANY highway across the subdivision. Period.
2. Some folks will oppose the construction of new highways ANYWHERE in Puna, saying that we should rely instead on improved mass transit and village center development. Some of these don't live in HPP.
3. No matter how sensitively it is done, and no matter how generous the budget, some people will not be satisfied with the compensation/relocation arrangements for affected homeowners. This is not unique to this project, however.
4. Any element of the proposal that involves law enforcement becomes dicey for those of us familiar with policing in HPP. We have had mixed results in community efforts to get current nuissance (and other) laws consistently enforced. I have personally been told on two occasions that the cops were too busy to come out and deal with illegal 4-wheelers. On other occasions, there have been prompt and effective responses. Asking them to regulate speed, type of vehicle access, noise levels, etc., does not seem like anything I would expect to be done on a regular basis unless they dedicate a couple of officers to it.
This has been a lengthy response by even my standards, but I think it is an important issue. Thank you again for your hard work, Rob.
Cheers,
Jerry