2008-06-20 TKONAHEIGHTS - Laserfiche WebLink

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nd I provided testimony on May 22 before the Planning Commission, and continue to strongly support the proposed La‘ipala Makai residential project. The draft Kona Community Development Plan, which is before you today – as well as finally you got a whole book of it to look at since last month – includes in its eight “Guiding Principles” that the future growth should be guided by a principle of respect for the land, environment and natural resources, provide connectivity and transportation choices such as sidewalks, trails and bike lines; offer a broad range of mixed housing choices. The Kona Community Development Plan includes Consistency with Sustainable and Smart Growth Principles utilizing compact building design; create a range of housing opportunities and choices; create walkable communities; foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place; mix land uses; strengthen and direct development towards existing communities. La‘ipala Makai is a proposed residential project that appears to mirror the Kona Community Development Plan. La‘ipala Makai also includes the “Leadership and Energy and Environment of Design,” which is LEED, L-E-E-D, that was created in 1994. LEED has grown from one standard for new construction to a comprehensive system of six interrelated standards covering all aspects of the development and construction process; that includes “Green Building” – establishing a common standard of measurement; promotes integrated, whole-building design practices; recognizes environmental leadership in the building industry; stimulates green competition; raises consumer awareness of green building benefits; and transforms the building market. La‘ipala Makai will be the first registered LEED on the Big Island. And to me, it fits like a glove with the Kona Community Development Plan. I want to thank you for the opportunity to testify today, and I encourage the Planning Commission to act favorably on this application. RHO: Thank you. Questions? If not, we’ll move on to the next testifier. Kale? GUMAPAC: My name is Kale Gumapac, HCR2 Box 9607, Puna. I come before this Commission to give testimony with regards to La‘ipala Makai. And in reviewing and talking with George Atta about the proposed development, the sustainability that is being proposed for this, for this neighborhood is a bomb.This is one of the first ones that is taking the bull by the horn and coming forth to make an effort for the entire development to be green. The Kanaka Council is taking the position that we have a conditional acceptance of this project based on the cultural side as far as inadvertent finds and the archeological finds that are there. However, on the sustainability issue in talking with George Atta, we think that this is a kind of building that needs to take place everywhere on this island. Bar none. You guys are the Planning Commissioners; you guys are the ones that need to take to be able to make sure that all of the developers and everybody else that come in start building green, because we have to malama the aina and also malama the people that are here. EXHIBIT A 20