2020-10-15 Leeward Exh A (Public Testimony re SPP 20-000219)

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This is an agricultural residential area not a parry zone. Thank you. CARR SMITH: Thank you very much Sandy. Commissioners, any questions? Seeing none. Thank you and Michael for your testimony you folks can drop off the call now. Thank you very much. Okay, Toni Withington. WITHINGTON: Good morning Commissioners. My name is Toni Withington. I am a resident of Kohala for 50 years. I have a longtime background in Hawaii planning and land use matters. I've been aware of Puakea Ranch following the activities as a member of the Growth Management Group of the North Kohala Community Development Plan. I admire Christie Cash for her passion and her dedication to the ranch and to its history and to her many, well-appreciated contributions to community organizations. My testimony is not about her, it's about the Planning Department and how they've handled this conflict. It has been almost a dozen years since Planning had first cited the ranch for violations and it is been unable to get them to cease and desist or to fix their permits. What I don't understand is why the Planning Department is operating as an advocate rather than an enforcer. In my written testimony I have said that there are many things in the files for Puakea Ranch that are not in the background and recommendation. I had shared some of them with you in my testimony. The two things that are most important to the permitting part is the first is a letter of Notification of Violations that was sent in 2009. In it the Department said she has no permit to do for what she does, and she has no building permits. Basically, the owners of Puakea Bay Ranch, Puakea Ranch bought thirty-two (32) acres of raw land, agricultural land in 2006 and build a hotel on it. They did not get permits to operate the hotel or get permits for construction. The land remained taxed as raw land for six years while they operated the hotel. The other piece of material from the Planning Department files is a letter that was from the Department of Public Works that was sent just in July and in it they cited all the buildings that do not have permits. They also cited thirteen (13) structures which is more that was cited in 2009. The difference between these two are almost identical and they expand eleven (11) years. The County has codes and regulations that are designed to ensure development is safe and comfortable with minimum negative impacts on the environment, the neighborhood, and our cultural treasures. To approve this out of sequence request will further condone the developers with disregard for these regulations. I urge you to deny the request, tell the Planning Department to follow the rules of the County which you represent. CARR SMITH: Thank you very much. WITHINGTON: "- - -" not sure whether proper development. Thank you. CARR SMITH: Thank you very much. Commissioners, do you have any questions for Toni? Very good, thank you Toni appreciate your testimony you can drop off the call now. WITHINGTON: Thank you. 10 EXHIBIT A