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Yes, I support that language, with conditions, that: (1) any EA or EIS is preceded by project scoping using already-appropriated funds ($588,000); (2) scoping is centered on an honest community consultation about finding what best serves the community; (3) scoping includes a genuine assessment of alternatives and priorities; and (4) the outcome of scoping serves as the absolute basis for any subsequent EA or EIS.
The problem to be resolved, as framed by County Planning, is providing Puna residents access to gainful employment and access to services both commercial and social. That need is one point on which the HPPOA PMAR Committee and County Planning have been in perfect accord.
With the agreed objective of providing Puna residents access to gainful employment and access to services, I maintain that a legitimate and considerable alternative to any road is investment in infrastructure in Puna so that Puna residents have an opportunity to access employment and services without driving to Hilo or anywhere else.
We have well-situated and hardly-utilized land set aside in planned communities where village center services can be established -- retail, industry, education, health, recreation.
We all recognize our island’s hyper-dependence on fossil fuel is untenable, and our transportation system is the principal user of fossil fuel.
We need to grow our local economy to reduce the need for driving to Hilo or anywhere else. That will require investment.
Invest in Puna!
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James,I hope I'm reading between the lines incorrectly but what I hear you say is the following:
I do not see a PMAR as a priority. However, I want to use the PMAR process as an engine to promote my goal of village centers and my views of Puna sustainability, although this use of the PMAR process will likely substantially delay it.
A harsher interpretation of your statements could be: I don't want a PMAR as it would encourage further Hilo growth at the cost of more fossil fuels being consumed. However, I want to use the PMAR process as an engine to promote my goal of village centers and my views of Puna sustainability, knowing this use of the PMAR process delays or derails the chance of a PMAR in our lifetimes.
Or how about this one: Rob, I do not approve of the way you portray my views on this matter. Let me restate my views in a manner that is a bit more fuzzy and will likely confuse the reader as to my true intent while saying essentially the same thing.
Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.
Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.
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"With the agreed objective of providing Puna residents access to gainful employment and access to services, I maintain that a legitimate and considerable alternative to any road is investment in infrastructure in Puna so that Puna residents have an opportunity to access employment and services without driving to Hilo or anywhere else."
REALLY?
A Politician's shell game if I ever heard one. Very disappointing.
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The idea of Village Centers is cute, but when you research the volume of customers needed to support almost any business, it just doesn't pencil. Businesses will not succeed where there is not adequate foot and vehicular traffic. At most a village center could support a convenience store and a laundromat, or perhaps the old country store model.
Even light industrial business must be near diversified commercial areas.
I thought PMAR was about an alternative route.
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The census showed that puna has as many people as Hilo, just more spread out
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I don't need to commute to Hilo, so I keep a list of to do items. Some of these items I could get at a village center, (only a mile away) but some are more obscure and can only be found in a more diverse commercial area (Hilo). Do I go to both? Perhaps. Would I open a business in a village center? Only a JHara, Hiranos or a 7-11. Do we need more of these?
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Re James’ advocacy of local village center business development. Without PMAR there will be no viable village center in HPP for decades. Business investment needs access to customers. Buried in the bowels of HPP the 20 acre commercial site won’t attract business investment without better roads.
Whether or not James thinks we should or should not be going to Hilo it is our county seat, harbor, airport and light industrial base. When Puna builds out fully - and it will - there will be 200,000 trapped in the district with one road in and out. One bad accident, a bad earthquake and Puna is trapped - like parts of Maui are today. Look at traffic now and picture 3 to 5 more cars & tracks for every one we presently have.
I am a bit flabbergasted and annoyed that we have to have a fresh debate on the need for PMAR because of James Weatherford's obstructionist approach.
Assume the best and ask questions.
Punaweb moderator
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How about this deal - accept the roads In HPP and you can come on thru. No need for several hundred eminit domain cases
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Seeb,
There is no legal method to stop people from driving through HPP though some in HPP wish there was.
Friends of Puna's Future (FoPF) has been working hard to get money for the roads....
something James Weatherford hasn't participated in.
PMAR and the Puna "private" road systems are similar but different.
Assume the best and ask questions.
Punaweb moderator
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Obstructionist is exactly the word for it.
Strategy for an obstructioist: get elected.
also annoyed.
Ya might have to break a few hundred eggs to make an omelet for Puna
