2021-12-16 Leeward Exh A (Public Testimony re Items 1 thru 6 Waikoloa SMA & REZ)

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The applicant stated that they considered the affordable housing initiative to be complimentary to development of the Kumu Hou project. And we would say it's incompatible. We and others are concerned that developing workforce housing units within the Waikoloa Beach Resort. While a meaningful endeavor is contradictory to the originally conceived concept of the Resort Master Plan that was intended for Waikoloa Beach, as well as all the other resorts along the Kohala Coast. The developers are offering workforce housing within Waikoloa Beach to gain project and permit approvals to fast track their development. However, the resort's do not specifically serve the needs of a workforce. The resorts have numerous essential qualities that making embedding workforce housing within master planned resort communities an incompatible use for those who will occupy workforce housing within a resort environment. Where is the strongest thread in the social fabric of a vibrant and cohesive productive and stable community? It is not in the resort's which have no sense of community that cater to transient tourists with marketed experiences, expensive shopping, and restaurants in a very limited essential service. There are no real neighborhoods, public schools, religious venues, daycare centers, student recreational facilities, public parks, playgrounds, banks, post office, etcetera. These are the necessary conveniences and services for day to day living. We would say the strongest thread in the social fabric is in residential bedroom communities that house workforce of single person's, couples and families and provide the structure and essential services so needed to give them more complete quality of life. We owe it to them to be responsible and choosing common sense locations where they can live. They deserve that consideration as they are foundation of this island. The resorts should continue to focus on and address the primary purposes for which they were planned in design as tourist destinations. With second homes and income properties for part time owners, and retired residences for small amount of a full-time owners. If the developer wants to compliment work for housing to a community, it should do so where it makes sense in Waikoloa Village. We ask that you consider whether this unprecedented step of adding workforce housing to a resort. VITOUSEK: Okay, mahalo. You run out of time. Thank you for your testimony. GROSS: Thank you. The testimony ended at 9:57 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Melissa Dacayanan-Salvador Secretary to Boards and Commissions 6 EXHIBIT A