09-29-2008, 03:05 AM
I'm curious: What type of infrastructure do you think a grocery store in HPP might require that would cost a fortune?
People mention water a lot and I understand that water lines deep into HPP would be costly. But county water is not a legal requirement for such a store. County water is simply buying water via a pipe. A grocery store, for example, needs water for it's lavatory and to wash and clean the building.... but it is not a car wash. Water can be purchased by contracting with a water trucking service.... it's about the same price as buying water from the county. Not too big a deal.
Beyond that there are roads. There is power. Water can be obtained.
The real thing that is needed to bring services into HPP first off is zoning. That would inform the business community as to where they would be welcome. Local history is that Hilo forces have not wanted Puna to develop. The development plan for Puna basically consisted of three words: Drive To Hilo. So the politics needs to change. The Puna Community Development Plan starts that process. Now we need a mayor and council to keep it going.
The second thing is simple free market economics. The entrepreneur would need to determine that there was sufficient population and demand for their goods to make the proposition profitable. This is of course the most important. But without zoning decisions the investors will go where they know where they are welcome and Hilo has been preventing that in Puna.
This does lead to why I am supporting Angel Pilago for Mayor. A straight line can be drawn between who our next mayor is and obtaining goods and services in Puna.
People mention water a lot and I understand that water lines deep into HPP would be costly. But county water is not a legal requirement for such a store. County water is simply buying water via a pipe. A grocery store, for example, needs water for it's lavatory and to wash and clean the building.... but it is not a car wash. Water can be purchased by contracting with a water trucking service.... it's about the same price as buying water from the county. Not too big a deal.
Beyond that there are roads. There is power. Water can be obtained.
The real thing that is needed to bring services into HPP first off is zoning. That would inform the business community as to where they would be welcome. Local history is that Hilo forces have not wanted Puna to develop. The development plan for Puna basically consisted of three words: Drive To Hilo. So the politics needs to change. The Puna Community Development Plan starts that process. Now we need a mayor and council to keep it going.
The second thing is simple free market economics. The entrepreneur would need to determine that there was sufficient population and demand for their goods to make the proposition profitable. This is of course the most important. But without zoning decisions the investors will go where they know where they are welcome and Hilo has been preventing that in Puna.
This does lead to why I am supporting Angel Pilago for Mayor. A straight line can be drawn between who our next mayor is and obtaining goods and services in Puna.
Assume the best and ask questions.
Punaweb moderator
Punaweb moderator