COM 0964.047 2004-2006 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

8/22/2006 11:59 PM FROM: (808) 329-1279 TO: 961-9912 PAGE: 002 OF 003 Attachment to Council Testimony August 23,2006 Subject: Kona Kai Ola Letter to the Editor, Published in West Hawai'i Today on August 19, 2006 Recent comments from the Planning Director indicate opposition to the Kona Kai Ola project at Honokohau Harbor to expand the small boat harbor by developing a marina/resort/commercial project. Opposition is based on the premise that the project will generate growth and exacerbate infrastructure problems in North Kona. It is true that the project will generate growth by creating jobs in North Kona and that visitors using transient facilities will add vehicles to roads. It is also true that the project will generate income for DHHL and provide a means to fund water and road development on the 311+ acre DHHL parcel at Kealakehe and the 150 acre DHHL parcel at Keahuolu that are available for affordable housing development. It is also true that project developer JDI will upgrade the wastewater treatment plant to R1 grade, which is DOH approved as safe to use for irrigation and will relieve the current stresses on the potable water supply from use as dust control and irrigation. It is also true that project developer JDI is in negotiations to develop a connector road from Honokohau Harbor to Kuakini Highway, which would relieve congestion on local roads. On April 25, 2003, the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) approved the issuance of a Request for Qualifications/Request for Proposals to expand the small boat harbor area. On October 8, 2004, BLNR approved the selection of JDI and authorized DLNR to negotiate a developer agreement with JDI for the proposed development project. On February 5, 2004, DHHL announced the major lease agreement to develop adjacent DHHL lands. The lease agreement was negotiated between DHHL and Kona Marina Development Group, LLC-a limited partnership between Menehune Development, Inc. and JDI. Both of the state agency's RFP solicitations and planned expansion at Honokohau Harbor and adjacent lands were in progress before the February 2, 2005 Hawaii General Plan revision changed land use designations related to the project area. Consideration for a marina project immediately draws attention to community benefit. The facility management of the state's small boat harbors continues to be an issue and without legislative support to finance improvements. On July 29, 2006, Richard Rice, the state administrator for the DLNR boating division resigned, following the recent legislative audit that reiterated previous findings: "The boating program's mismanagement and neglect have deteriorated facilities to the point where their continued use threatens public safety." According to DLNR Director Peter Young, Ed Underwood has been named the new acting head of the DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR). Funding from the legislature continues to be elusive for harbor development, improvement, and maintenance. The BLNR solicited proposals to expand Honokohau Harbor and to include marina facilities. The private/public partnership is a means to fund the state harbor development to a viable and revenue producing facility. The DHHL adjacent project is part of their 2