A new road through Paradise Park (??)

[Rob Tucker]

I am working on tthe Puna Community Development Plan and have heard a lot about how HPP hates the idea of a new roadway through HPP which would serve as an alternative route through Puna Makai.

I would like to hear from actual residents of HPP on the subject in lieu of listening to rumors and stories.

If you live in HPP could you express the reasons for your support or resistance to such a proposal? Exactly what is it you might like or dislike about the idea?

Thanks

[JerryCarr]

Aloha Rob,
I am a resident of HPP, and can I tell you that there is quite a bit of opposition to a road though here. Some of this is from folks along some of the rumored routes,and some more of it is solidarity to insure that nobody gets a highway in their front yard.

My own feeling at this time is to oppose it until I know exactly what is being proposed. Where is it going to be? How big a road will it be? How are property owners going to be compensated, not just for the dollar value of easements, but for the aesthetic and lifestyle harm done?

We have heard about 15th, 16th, Railroad, multiple routes, gated emergency only routes, parkways, and Lord knows what else. Neither the County Planning Dept. nor the State Highway Dept have a reputation locally for openness or listening to the community, so I have no clue as to which of those options is likely.

All of this has everything to do with the county council getting greedy for tax money 40 years ago and allowing all these so-called substandard subdivisions to be built and then built on. I guess they never actually thought all those lots would ever be occupied, so they did not plan for adequate roads. Now they are asking people who bought into a semi-rural lifestyle in good faith to sacrifice it so somebody else can get to Hilo faster.

I am not saying that there is no way it could ever be acceptable, but it would take a lot more money and a whole lot more thoughtful planning than we are used to seeing invested in this community.

Rob, I really appreciate and respect your question, but until I know what we are getting, I can't give a complete answer.

Cheers,
Jerry

[Rob Tucker]

Thanks Jerry. I think that was a very good reply and I hope I get more.

As a volunteer on the Community Development Plan (CPD) effort I see our big problem is to overcome the lack of and bad planning from 40 years ago and try to deal with it in a manner that serves the next 40 years in a much better manner.

All our CDP effort can do is make recommendations to the planning department on the future of Puna based on the intent of the community input to date. There is a stong message about keeping Puna (and HPP) a peaceful, rural district.

Now how to do that when the existing lots are built out and our population is 150,000 on just the existing lots?

Thank you again. If you have more thoughts please post them.

[malolo]

Rob? Hi!
I bought a home in Paradise Park twenty years ago.

Why?
For the peace and quiet and views of course.
The quality of life and the calm.

Now I seriously doubt they're gonna pick my road to screw with.
Because, frankly, my neighbors and I are just too mean. Ha!

But regardless of whose road they're thinkin' about messin' with, I'm ready to fight 'em tooth and nail....because I'm convinced that everyone who bought and/or built here did so for similar reasons.

A super-silent jungle-colored high-speed monorail with stops and parking at Makuu, Paradise, Kaloli, and Shower might be acceptable. ....as long as it was equipped with a heavy-duty lunatic-proof video-surveillance security-system and/or a posse from the National Guard....and as long as those folks whose streets are affected are compensated wildly for their sacrifice.

But a plain ol' highway...with its noise and pollution and high-speed drunks? Forget it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Edited by - malolo on 12/17/2006 16:25:46

[Rob Tucker]

Okay. I understand that feeling. Here's a couple questions:

HPP is now approx. 22% built out. At what point, if any, toward 100% built out will you (or any other HPP resident) be wishing for another road out of the subdivision? Will HPP be a quiet rural place with 5x more people? The lots are there. The CoH cannot deny people the right to build on each and every one.

Our CDP work is based on projections of the near future.

[oink]

I'm not a resident but I own two lots. My first reaction is NIMBY, not close enough to hear. Otherwise I'm selfish enough to want easier access to Hilo and would like to see the road, as long as in meets the forementioned requirements. Affected owners would have to be compesated properly.

S. FL Islander to be

[jade]

We bought property in HPP 20 years ago. When we bought property we were aware that there was a proposed road to run through 15st. You can't make everyone happy but it has been on the records for years.

[Carey]

Rob, We lived in HPP last year, and went to their Homeowners membership meetings. This was discussed, and the record should be at the office, so you may want to call up Bobbi & check. Mind you that this is only input from the very small fraction of land & home owners who actually go to the meetings, so will be skewed input. You may want to include an article in the Conch (sent to Bobbi or Walter Bell).
Aloha, Carey

[Beachboy]

wow, this is somewhat disturbing. But then again, did you not see the writing on the wall when you bought in HPP ? I mean you don't even have to be a developer to see all the possibilites that HPP offers to investors.

But then again I wouldn't want it in my backyard either! So, how often does HPP have home owners meetings? Power in numbers my friends, power in numbers...

[Kapohocat]

Rob isnt Railroad ave on the books from hilo town almost to the old Kapoho Village?

That might make a nice scenic drive like Onomea and give an alternate slower route.