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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> L_ ,z <br /> TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF BILL 309, DRAFT 4 <br /> BY DAVID TARNAS, aii lI{ is 1?PI r <br /> MARINE AND COASTAL SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL, INC. <br /> PLANNING CONSULTANT TO JACOBY DEVELOPMENT, INC. <br /> NOVEMBER 15, 2006Gv~~i'' <br /> <br /> Aloha <br /> <br /> Thank you for this opportunity to testify in support of Bill 309 Draft 4, Interim General Plan <br /> Amendment E-4, which amends the Hawaii County General Plan for the Kealakehe makai lands from <br /> "Open" to "Urban Expansion Area." Among the lands covered under Amendment E-4, there arc over <br /> 300 acres of DLNR land adjacent to Honokohau Harbor that are under a development agreement <br /> between DLNR and Jacoby Development, Inc- <br /> Designating these DLNR lands as Urban Expansion Area is consistent with the land use designation of <br /> adjacent lands, specifically the 200-acre parcel under the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands which is <br /> already designated Urban Expansion Area. <br /> <br /> Designating these DLNR lands as Urban Expansion Area is also consistent with the community plans <br /> for this area in the Keahole to Kailua Development Plan as the new regional urban center for Kona, with <br /> an expanded harbor complex, a new road connecting the harbor to Kailua Village, and shoreline park. <br /> <br /> Under separate agreements with DLNR and DHHL, Jacoby Development is planning a project to <br /> expand the harbor basin, and develop a mixed-use urban expansion project around the new harbor <br /> including commercial, hotel, timeshare, and marina-related industrial activities, as well as community <br /> and open space. <br /> The development, called Kona Kai Ola, is being designed to support the necessary financing of the <br /> substantial public infrastructure that is part of the project, including the new harbor, the connector road <br /> to Kailua Village, improved water and sewer systems, as well as other community infrastructure <br /> including a major shoreline park, cycling and walking paths, community areas and a cultural park within <br /> the development project, itself. <br /> <br /> This harbor-front commercial village seeks to provide a stable employment base close to residential <br /> growth areas planned for Kona. While hotel and timeshares are included among the mix of land uses <br /> under the agreements with DHHL and DLNR, permanent housing on these lease lands is specifically <br /> prohibited under the agreements. Workforce housing that will be required of the project could <br /> potentially be developed mauka in the same or adjacent ahupua a, and connected by a shuttle service to <br /> the makai lands. In this way, Kona Kai Ola hopes to create a sustainable ahupua'a, where people can <br /> live, work, play and learn. <br /> Using smart growth design principles, this collaborative project of DHHL, DLNR and Jacoby <br /> Development, Inc. intends to create a community-friendly place for residents and visitors alike, that uses <br /> the best in transportation planning, environmentally-sensitive and energy-efficient design. <br /> <br /> Thank you for this opportunity to testify in support of Bill 309 Draft 4, Amendment E-4. f <br /> <br /> comm. No. I IO <br /> Ref. To: <br /> Ref. Uate NOV t 5 znc <br /> Tarnas testimony on Bill 309 Draft 4, Amendment E-4 p. 1 of l <br />