PL-REZ-2022-000032 C. HARDEN TESTIMONY 10.17.2022

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comments on item #2 Sunshine Holdings for Leeward Planning Commission, 9 AM Thursday, October 20, 2022, West Hawai'i Civic Center from Cory Harden Aloha Commissioners, It's been almost 25 years since the change of zone was approved. Please ask the applicant and Planning Department to describe the changes in population, traffic, need for affordable housing, etc, and add conditions to address these changes Ask the applicant and Planning Department to justify why it is wise to build housing on these Important Agricultural Lands. Ask if water system improvements will use standardized parts, so obtaining replacement parts for future repairs is quicker and simpler. Ask the applicant for evidence to back up the claim that no gathering is being done and traditional Hawaiian rights are not affected. "According to the applicant, no gathering is taking place on the site. Thus, to the extent to which traditional and customary native Hawaiian rights are exercised, the proposed action will not affect traditional Hawaiian rights, therefore, no action is necessary to protect these rights..." Planning Department Recommendation, p. 7 The applicant does not appear to be a long-time Hawai'i Island resident who might have knowledge about gathering. After graduating from BYU, Micah started and sold a small business, then the real estate crash began and he started buying and selling numerous properties across 11 different states. Micah's love of adventure and family fun prompted him to keep various vacation rentals, particularly in Utah and on the Big Island of Hawaii. Most recently Micah has gotten involved in multifamily development & building a couple of large apartment complexes in Utah. h ttps://marriott. byu. edu/advisoryboard/directory/member/?id=3324 The Planning Department doubts that plants in the area are used for cultural practices, despite the fact that Native Hawaiian practices generally use numerous resources from native forests. Possible adverse effect or impairment of valued resources: Some native plants may be destroyed by construction or ground alteration. There is no evidence that the flora in the area are particularly desired or used for cultural practices... Planning Department Recommendation, p. 7 Before the Leeward Planning Commission votes, the specific wording of the promised DOFAW-related [Department of Forestry and Wildlife] conditions should be added. The conditions should follow DOFAW recommendations, such as requiring surveys for rare and endangered plants before any work commences, and implementing a protection plan approved by DOFAW. The applicant should also follow recommendations in the County's "Building in the Forest" brochure. (see J The native forest must be protected to preserve native plants and animals and preserve watersheds.