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I don't think you specifically addressed kalakoa's point. Why can't the County adopt different standards for roads serving Farm Lot subdivisions. A full width with full shoulder paved road is unappealing aesthetically and unnecessary in such subdivisions. The County could adopt such roads with different standards as those appropriate to suburban and urban areas. The "one size fits all standard is wrong". I'm not exactly sure who it benefits in general other than the road construction industry. Those neighborhoods desiring to retain very primitive roads, substandard by any reasonable standard, could still apply for the "Grant In Aid" as they still burn taxed gas driving them.
Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.
Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.
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have to bring that particular road up to county standards.
The problem being that County standards are "one size fits all", and that standard size road is expensive overkill for a "farm lot" subdivision, especially when said subdivision(s) explicitly do not want pavement.
I figure about 25% of the "standard per-mile maintenance rate" would provide enough gravel, grading, and tree-trimming to keep a "farm lot road" in passable (enough) condition for emergency response vehicles.
Granted, this would require amending the County Code, and a small increase to the Fuel Tax. Cheaper than a lawsuit (assuming anyone ever figures out how to attach liability to County). Keeps the country country.
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Aloha Leilani
I am sorry I missed the forum, but by all accounts you were very articulate, and stand in stark contrast to your opponents. I do have a question that I would greatly appreciate your taking the time to answer.
As I see in todays Trib (well at least on their website) they are dedicating, on what I assume (by the description in the article) is state land, a landing pad for extra terrestrials in Kalapana, on Friday.
http://hawaiitribune-herald.com/news/loc...s-kalapana
Being that the state is the landowner in this instance, what do you think should be it's role in the landing pad going forward?
btw, I see that Russell Ruderman will be attending, will you be participating in Friday's dedication?
Mahalo in advance for your reply.
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a landing pad for extra terrestrials in Kalapana
So this is the new emergency exit plan? Hitch a ride on a spaceship?
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A lot of the state doesn't realize what this means. It means the First Hawaiian Space Port is going in at Kalapana this weekend. It isn't only for landing, it is for launch also. The First Hawaiian Space Port may be on state land, but all state land is owned by the New Hawaiian Kingdom under the ali'i and kahuna. Also, the New Hawaii Kingdom is exempt from FAA regulations.
"This island Hawaii on this island Earth"
*Japanese tourist on bus through Pahoa, "Is this still America?*
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quote:
Originally posted by pahoated
A lot of the state doesn't realize what this means. It means the First Hawaiian Space Port is going in at Kalapana this weekend. It isn't only for landing, it is for launch also. The First Hawaiian Space Port may be on state land, but all state land is owned by the New Hawaiian Kingdom under the ali'i and kahuna. Also, the New Hawaii Kingdom is exempt from FAA regulations.
"This island Hawaii on this island Earth"
Launch maybe the wrong term with which to look at anti- gravity activated objects. By this I mean no toxicity from rocket fumes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquid_rocket_propellants
That would be a good thing compared to antiquated liquid propellants.
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What are they launching into space?
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Aloha Oink and Kalakoa!
Your point is well made. Hawaii County could amend its charter to create a second category of what might be called an acceptable "farm road" standard. I know the actual standard has changed over the years, and in fact, the territorial standard set up in 1947 did require only a gravel covering and a certain width and grade. But changing the charter would require a lot of care and thought. You would ideally want to allow anyone the right to request county dedication of their road at the lower "farm road" standard, but you'd probably have to run it through a 501©, and then you'd have to make sure that a majority of the residents living on that road were in favor. Yes? A petition process would have to be developed, with public commenting periods, etc. And then you couldn't force the county to "upgrade" your road unless, say, certain population density requirements were met, or other contingencies were in effect.
It's an intriguing idea, and I'd support beginning a dialogue that could take us there. I too chose Puna because of its rural flavor, and in fact I live quite happily with my husband and dogs on a quiet gravel road in HPP. There's really not much I could do as a State House Representative to champion such a proposed county charter amendment, but I'd certainly discuss it with my council person.
Mahalo,
Leilani Bronson-Crelly
Candidate for State House Representative, District 4
www.Vote4Leilani.com
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But changing the charter would require a lot of care and thought.
Yet former governor Lingle was able to "clarify" police jurisdiction on "privately owned" roads with a simple executive order that did not take the wishes of residents into account.
allow anyone the right to request county dedication of their road
Where said roads are "open to the public", they are functionally "County roads" for which residents pay taxes and receive no services.
If it's "open to the public", it should be eligible for publicly-funded maintenance.
If it's "private", the owner(s) should be allowed right of exclusion or the ability to charge entrance fees for non-residents.
That fatalities are not part of the "official" total merely reinforces the belief that these roads are not really public, as County insists that the fatalities "didn't happen in the county", just like with the VNP.
There's really not much I could do as a State House Representative
I keep my expectations low when dealing with Hawaii politics.
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There's really not much I could do as a State House Representative
More to the point: it's a statewide problem which the counties refuse to address.
Hawaii County just happens to have the most "privately-owned" roads and the lowest fuel tax.
Of particular interest: County is quite flexible on their "standards" whenever the State provides funding under the (State) Roads In Limbo program -- yet they cite these same "standards" as justification to ignore the "private" roads. I'm sure at least some subdivisions could manage a 12-foot paved surface on a 40-foot easement -- just like a recent RIL project which now provides a paved road to a grand total of ... three driveways.
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