07-15-2010, 02:49 AM
A Tale of Two Bobby Jeans.
What I have here is a local parable about our Planning Director, Bobbie Jean Leithead-Todd and the treatment afforded to two similar issues which recently came before the Planning Commission.
One was a Special Use Permit (SUP) for a local family who bought land and had spent considerable funds to plan a small commercial venture on Orchidland Drive at Highway 130. Little money. The other is the Woodland Center in Pahoa Village. Big money. Bobbie Jean was red flagging the first and is green flagging the second.
Perhaps she will read this and explain why.
As president of Friends of Puna’s Future we had concerns about the Orchidland project. The property had frontage on the highway and commercializing the highway is not something wanted or needed for aesthetic reasons and safety reason. The Puna Community Development Plan covered this.
But upon examination and talking with the Orchidland Community Association and the property owner we found that the project made good sense and we decided to support the SUP application. There is an orchard on the highway side and the owner was keeping that orchard and dedicating that portion of his property for agriculture. No highway visibility, no highway entrance. His planned entrance would be on Orchidland Drive over 200’ from the highway and almost across from the existing Wikiwiki. The portion away from the highway is to become a small farmer’s market, small Thai restaurant and an office. The owner had a plan that was thoughtful and well placed to take part in an Orchidland Village Center. So on June 4th I went down and testified in favor for FoPF.
Our Planning Director had submitted opposition. I was not and am not completely sure why. In the course of the Planning Commission hearing it became apparent that the commission would vote to approve the SUP for the local family. Good. There was solid testimony in favor. Then to my surprise Bobby Jean brought out a last minute qualification. She wanted the local family to agree to not open for business until the State HDOT completed a new traffic signal at Shower Drive, two miles away. Geeze. If you can’t stop them I guess the next best thing is to slow them down in her opinion. The owner of the property acceded and accepted the stipulation even though it was dependent on someone else (HDOT) performing road work two miles and two plus years away. Their hopes for their investment and effort succeeding was now years off and a bit out of their control.
I couldn’t figure out why the Planning Director would be so harshly opposed to a local business development in a designated PCDP village center.
So that is one tale of Bobbie Jean. Here is the next...
The Woodland Center in Pahoa is well underway and nearing completion. Not many people are aware that the permits for commercial development of the site date back to 2003. The permit was originally for a market at the location. Plans change. The permit was granted with terms requiring completion in five years with allowance for one, one year extension and no more. That agreement meant that the Woodland Center needed to complete in 2009. This is 2010. The permit was expired. The terms of the zoning were in violation. There was also a requirement that safety improvements be made to the road and access at one of our most dangerous intersections. Legally a tough situation.
I would like to say that I am supportive of the Woodland Center and wish Paul and his tenants success. It is the largest investment in Pahoa in years and will bring jobs and services. Maybe not the jobs and services I might have preferred but it’s not my money.
The owners and developers of the Woodland Center, with an expired permit and desperately wanting to open for business are now applying to council for another extension. They have a lot of money invested and their tenants want to open. They are also asking the council to allow them to open and obtain their certificate of occupancy BEFORE they do the road safety improvements. Now remember please that this is a dangerous intersection located smack dab at the project. Safety is a big concern there. People are very concerned that when the Woodland Center opens traffic will increase substantially and there will be more accidents. Property damage, injuries and perhaps death.
So the other Bobbie Jean, the one who opposes a small project opening without a new traffic signal two miles away for “safety reasons” switches sides. Lawyers do this a lot. Bobbie Jean is a lawyer. She supports the Woodland Center opening before the traffic improvements are made. Ya gotta wonder, and so I ask....
Bobbie Jean. If you read this please explain.
The appearance is that big Hilo money development gets whatever it wants however it wants it. Multiple permit extensions and delaying making the traffic safety improvements at a known dangerous location. Money trumps safety.
The small time local family gets pointed to the back of the line, delaying return on investment and hope that someone else (HDOT) does what they intend sooner rather than later at a site to miles away.
This is my tale of two Bobbie Jeans.
I am interested in people’s thoughts on “equal treatment under the law”. I am interested in hearing from Planning Director Bobbie Jean Leithead-Todd. I am interested in informing the Puna public that this will be coming before council in case anyone wants to testify.
Mahalo,
Rob Tucker, President
Friends of Puna's Future
What I have here is a local parable about our Planning Director, Bobbie Jean Leithead-Todd and the treatment afforded to two similar issues which recently came before the Planning Commission.
One was a Special Use Permit (SUP) for a local family who bought land and had spent considerable funds to plan a small commercial venture on Orchidland Drive at Highway 130. Little money. The other is the Woodland Center in Pahoa Village. Big money. Bobbie Jean was red flagging the first and is green flagging the second.
Perhaps she will read this and explain why.
As president of Friends of Puna’s Future we had concerns about the Orchidland project. The property had frontage on the highway and commercializing the highway is not something wanted or needed for aesthetic reasons and safety reason. The Puna Community Development Plan covered this.
But upon examination and talking with the Orchidland Community Association and the property owner we found that the project made good sense and we decided to support the SUP application. There is an orchard on the highway side and the owner was keeping that orchard and dedicating that portion of his property for agriculture. No highway visibility, no highway entrance. His planned entrance would be on Orchidland Drive over 200’ from the highway and almost across from the existing Wikiwiki. The portion away from the highway is to become a small farmer’s market, small Thai restaurant and an office. The owner had a plan that was thoughtful and well placed to take part in an Orchidland Village Center. So on June 4th I went down and testified in favor for FoPF.
Our Planning Director had submitted opposition. I was not and am not completely sure why. In the course of the Planning Commission hearing it became apparent that the commission would vote to approve the SUP for the local family. Good. There was solid testimony in favor. Then to my surprise Bobby Jean brought out a last minute qualification. She wanted the local family to agree to not open for business until the State HDOT completed a new traffic signal at Shower Drive, two miles away. Geeze. If you can’t stop them I guess the next best thing is to slow them down in her opinion. The owner of the property acceded and accepted the stipulation even though it was dependent on someone else (HDOT) performing road work two miles and two plus years away. Their hopes for their investment and effort succeeding was now years off and a bit out of their control.
I couldn’t figure out why the Planning Director would be so harshly opposed to a local business development in a designated PCDP village center.
So that is one tale of Bobbie Jean. Here is the next...
The Woodland Center in Pahoa is well underway and nearing completion. Not many people are aware that the permits for commercial development of the site date back to 2003. The permit was originally for a market at the location. Plans change. The permit was granted with terms requiring completion in five years with allowance for one, one year extension and no more. That agreement meant that the Woodland Center needed to complete in 2009. This is 2010. The permit was expired. The terms of the zoning were in violation. There was also a requirement that safety improvements be made to the road and access at one of our most dangerous intersections. Legally a tough situation.
I would like to say that I am supportive of the Woodland Center and wish Paul and his tenants success. It is the largest investment in Pahoa in years and will bring jobs and services. Maybe not the jobs and services I might have preferred but it’s not my money.
The owners and developers of the Woodland Center, with an expired permit and desperately wanting to open for business are now applying to council for another extension. They have a lot of money invested and their tenants want to open. They are also asking the council to allow them to open and obtain their certificate of occupancy BEFORE they do the road safety improvements. Now remember please that this is a dangerous intersection located smack dab at the project. Safety is a big concern there. People are very concerned that when the Woodland Center opens traffic will increase substantially and there will be more accidents. Property damage, injuries and perhaps death.
So the other Bobbie Jean, the one who opposes a small project opening without a new traffic signal two miles away for “safety reasons” switches sides. Lawyers do this a lot. Bobbie Jean is a lawyer. She supports the Woodland Center opening before the traffic improvements are made. Ya gotta wonder, and so I ask....
Bobbie Jean. If you read this please explain.
The appearance is that big Hilo money development gets whatever it wants however it wants it. Multiple permit extensions and delaying making the traffic safety improvements at a known dangerous location. Money trumps safety.
The small time local family gets pointed to the back of the line, delaying return on investment and hope that someone else (HDOT) does what they intend sooner rather than later at a site to miles away.
This is my tale of two Bobbie Jeans.
I am interested in people’s thoughts on “equal treatment under the law”. I am interested in hearing from Planning Director Bobbie Jean Leithead-Todd. I am interested in informing the Puna public that this will be coming before council in case anyone wants to testify.
Mahalo,
Rob Tucker, President
Friends of Puna's Future
Assume the best and ask questions.
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Punaweb moderator
