2021-06-16 Leeward Exh B (Public Testimony re SMA 21-000078)

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VITOUSEK: Thank you very much for your time. Are there any questions from the Commissioners? Seeing none, moving on to Katie Lopez, please state your name and the town you live in. LOPEZ: Aloha, my name is Katie Lopez, I'm from Kailua-Kona. Thank you for allowing me to be heard today. I'm speaking in opposition of the 5-story condo proposed at 75-6150 Alii Drive which boarders our Ala Ka La public beach access. I was born and raised in Kailua-Kona and I'm a homeowner within 500 feet of the proposed building and I am also a local business owner. I'm asking the Leeward Planning Commission to deny this SMA Use permit based on the original intention of the SMA zoning and the preservation of the scenic corridor. The first point I'd like to make is public beach access. The SMA requires adequate access to public owned and used beaches. We already have such a limited public beach access. Most of these areas do not offer safe entry into the ocean for families with young children, at high tide this is limited even further. The Ala Ka La public beach access is one of the only accessible beach access points remaining and it's commonly used by surfers, fisherman, and families. The amount of parking in a 6-unit, 22 bathrooms condo would require of a significantly impact the public access to this beach. The plans have already stated that they plan to commandeer the public parking and we can also assume that residents of this condo will also have guests absorbing even more of our public parking. This does not ensure the adequate access the public owned and used beaches which an SMA requires. There is also the issue of safety and the increase of parking and traffic along this area. This is also a passing zone, not that I agree with that but there are runners, bikers, families along this road, it is a passing area we're talking about excessive parking now. The second issue I'd like to address is cultural preservation of the Alii Drive Scenic Corridor whose values are based on a vision to preserve the historical and cultural design language of the village of Kailua to Keauhou Beach Road. The renderings of this 5-story modern condo both renderings including the most recent highly contradict the cultural surroundings. The structure will stand 3 stories higher than any of its neighbors bordering Alii Drive with the design that does not align with the Scenic Corridor and it would block the public's view of the ocean from Alii Drive. Any further development on the makai side of Alii Drive must be limited. As it is there are only few areas along the scenic corridor where you can actually view the ocean due to obstruction of"—". This 5-story condo will obstruct the public's ocean view from our scenic road and yet another area of Alii Drive. My next concern is the precedent that the Leeward Planning Commission will be setting if the proposed SMA Use permit is granted. Special Management Area zoning was established because there was a need to preserve this area and it was feared that if special zoning was not set in place, excessive development would continue. The SMA was 5 EXHIBIT B