Safety concerns for students of Lupelele Elementary School are the main reasons cited in letters of opposition regarding construction of a two story commercial warehouse across from Lupelele Elementary School in Iliili.
The application for land use and building permits for the warehouse and parking lot project lists the names of Merlin Uli and Solip Hong.
The Principal of Lupelele Elementary School Lita Timoteo Manase in a February 20 letter to the Territorial Zoning Board expressed her opposition to construction of the warehouse.
She said a warehouse in this area is not safe, especially, for staff embers and students walking to and from school.
She also said the road is narrow and school bus drivers have difficulty moving in and out of the school.
Additionally, the warehouse will require large trucks to move goods and products, and there’s not enough space to maneuver large trucks.
She wrote that the warehouse would be too close to the the school, and it’s simply not safe for students and the community near Lupelele Elementary School to have the warehouse in the proposed location.
High Chief Leituala Morgan Suapilimai, on behalf of the Iliili faalupega, or county chief, and concerned residents also wrote to the Zoning Board and Project Notification and Review System Board saying, “We strongly condemn such a business endeavor for the safety of our children.”
He asked that the Zoning Board conduct site inspections and field visits to the proposed construction site and consider their position.
Leituala also revealed an issue with ownership of the property.
He said the true owner of the property is the late Chief Selelimalelei Pesamino Suapilimai and his two children. He informed the Board that the children are contesting the sale of the property without their knowledge and are presently pursuing legal action.
The PNRS Board which reviews land use permits approved the permit for the project at a meeting last week, according to a source who spoke with KHJ News. The meeting was not advertised as open to the public.
The Territorial Zoning Board must also approve the project and local statute requires a public hearing.
The Zoning Board reviewed the application for the warehouse at a February 20 meeting, but tabled its decision.
The source who spoke with KHJ News said it’s important for the Zoning Board to make its decision known, as members of the public have 10 days from the written decision to request a reconsideration.
