• Draft General Plan is flawed Draft General Plan is flawed I wait at the corner of Kalihiwai Road, ready for my chance to turn left onto the highway. Ten cars come in a tight line from the right, then 20
• Draft General Plan is flawed
Draft General Plan is flawed
I wait at the corner of Kalihiwai Road, ready for my chance to turn left onto the highway. Ten cars come in a tight line from the right, then 20 from the left and five from the right. Close behind, another stream has formed. Then a big truck pulls next to my little Honda on my right and blocks my view of the possibilities in that direction. When he finally gets an opening, he pulls out, but by that time more cars are approaching again. In the distance, a car approaches from the left, a line of cars trailing him. They seem to be coming fast. Now I’m late. Can I make it? Should I risk it?
It is dangerous and a pain in the neck and other body parts to wait so long while streams of cars whiz by at any of the entrances onto the highway in Kilauea. Or Hanalei. Or Waimea. It is also no fun to spend an hour or so managing the traffic jams if you happen to be driving through Kapaa at the wrong time of day. Or Hanalei. Or Waimea.
It is even more disheartening than those things, though, to read the introduction to the Draft General Plan that creates what is to be the vision for Kauai until 2035, a document that is about to go to the Kauai County Council for consideration and approval.
According to the plan, growth of tourism, population and development are inevitable and we are powerless to control them. That obstructionist starting point takes the entire endeavor into a direction that will spell disaster for Kauai’s future and ignored the urgings of the citizens committee who contributed hours of work and contrary views.
The new General Plan proposes no framework and no serious actions to manage the growth that threatens our island and is inconsistent
a) in it’s portrayal of policies to guide growth
b) in the data on population projections and visitor use
c) in proposed new growth areas reflected in the designated land use maps
Our island needs our protection in the areas of traffic, growth, affordable housing, tourism, agricultural lands and environment as never before.
Regardless of where you live on Kauai, this plan will impact the lives of you and your keiki.
What can you do?…
Look for the circulating petition from Community Coalition Kauai.
Check out the Facebook Page, Fix the Plan.
Attend the community meeting at the Kapaa Library Wednesday August 2nd from 6:30 to 9 p.m. to help take action.
David Dinner, Kilauea
