COM 0349.153 2006-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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6. PROTECTS PUNALU'U FOR THE FUTURE The resolution would protect the only Public Beach Pazk in Ka'u for future generations and expand it to handle the growing population of Ka'u. There aze over 17,000 house lots in Ka'u that will one day be built on, not including several new sub- divisions being planned. All of these new residents and new families will need a recreation area like Punalu'u that is the ONLY beach that everyone can access including the elderly and our children. It is also the ONLY black sand beach with easy access on the entire island. 7. FEDERAL FUNDING: SAVING THE COUNTY $3.000,000 The purchase by the county of the proposed park could costs upwards of $6 million dollars. However, if the county acts now, a $3 million dollar Federal grant as requested by U.S. Congresswoman Mazie Hirono would SAVE the county $3 million dollars. This is an amazing opportunity for the county tax payers to save millions of dollars and create an important public park for all island residents. 8. PROTECTS A VITAL INCOME SOURCE FOR ICA'U Over 300,000 visitors come to Punalu'u each year to enjoy the natural splendor and open space of one of the last undeveloped beaches in the state that is not surrounded by a huge luxury resort. These 30,000 monthly visitors to Punalu'u are an important income source for many businesses in Ka'u. If the natural beauty of Punalu'u is damaged or if it becomes just another tiny beach park under the shadow of a huge resort, then many of these visitors will have no desire to stop and spend the day in Ka'u and thus we will loose an important and vital economic engine for our community. 9. DEVELOPER PROMISES TO DONATE ONLY 9 ACRES OF LAND Much has been said about the developer's promise to donate land to the county. It is important to know that in a letter dated May 25, 2007 from the developer, George Atta, it states: "Sea Mountain Five, LLC will donate the existing nine acre park to the county while increasing it to 17 acres. "Should we allow a developer to decide the future of Punalu'u and limit the size of the park to only 17 acres? Can we trust a Beverly Hills developer who is only interested in profits made from turning Punalu' u into a massive LUXURY housing development? It is also important to note that most of the nine acre park they are promising to donate is already owned by the public and is not theirs to give away. The new shoreline certification will show this as the recent ruling by the state Supreme Court re-defines the shoreline to be the HISTORICAL high water mark. 10. PROTECTS ACCESS FOR KA'U RESIDENTS The proposed expanded beach park at Punalu u would guarantee public access for all Ka'u Families forever. If a luxury housing development with over 1,000 homes, 2 large luxury hotels and over 2 acres of shopping centers are built there instead, Ka'u residents would have to deal with what many Kohala and Kona residents deal with today. In order to access their beach they must pass through private gated resorts and then deal with limited parking and overcrowding of the beach. Support Resolution 169-07 and help keep Ka'u Ka'u