2005-01-21 TSUFFOLKOPUAA - Laserfiche WebLink

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Briefly, Id like to outline a couple of the considerations and concernswe had with the Suffolk Investment proposal. We do appreciate that the Applicant proposes to provide much-needed rental housing in the Kailua-Kona area. Nothing in the applications, however, describe the affordability of the rents to be charged. Because the shortage of affordable housing for low-income workers in the Kailua-Kona area contributes greatly to our traffic congestion, we urge that you require the developer to designate a substantial percentage, at least 30 percent,ofthe units on-site for low-income households, and that in-lieu of fees not be permitted, and that the developer also comply with other requirements for affordable housing that are in effect when construction begins. In addition, we recommend that you require the developer to restore the old Kailua- Keauhou Road, which is the Middle Road thats designated on Page 10 of Appendix D-2 on the application, that runs mauka of the old Kuakini Highway which is the western boundary of the project, and designate it as a bicycle and walking path which will benefit all area residents. We note that the project, that the TIAR anticipates that the project upon completion will add1405dailytripstotheroadwaynetwork.Inotherwords,KuakiniHighway/Route11 and that Route 11 is already a capacity. Furthermore, the TIAR on this application didnt anticipate the service and delivery vehicles that will be entering and leaving the adjoining commercial complex that was proposed by Puaa Development. So thank you for the opportunity to comment, and Ill be happy to answer any of your questions. SPRINGER:Thank you, Mr. Gimpel. Commissioners, do you have any questions for the testifier? Commissioner Graham? GRAHAM:Thats a lot to chew on there. But the first thing youre talking about a Community Development Plan that youd like to see. Is that underway now? Im not aware of whats going on with the development plan. GIMPEL:Yes, that is underway. The Council is considering the Draft 1 of the General Plan in which calls for the, and will be working on community development plans as well. And that we think is important because the current General Plan, until the revisions are adopted, isnt something to base this on. GRAHAM:I understand. Thank you. SPRINGER:Thank you, Commissioner Graham. Other Commissioners, questions or comments of the testifier? The testifiers comments peaks some questions that I have for Deputy Director Takemoto. Im interested in this failure to take the Uluwehi Development, is that correct, into consideration. Im also interested in, if the Planning Department took into consideration the increased commercial traffic that would result from this development. And if you could, we had some discussion about the tension between providing much-needed affordable housing close to places of 25