2009-08-28 TDIRECTORLUPAG - Laserfiche WebLink

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Well, Kaliko Chun and I are part of a lawsuit challenging the CountyÓs failure to protect native Hawaiian rights and public trust resources, as well as its failure to plan properly. HawaiÒi County Planning Director Bobby Jean Leithead Todd is proposing t from ÐUrban ExpansionÑ to ÐOpenÑ Î a classification that will better protect the natural and cultural resources of the area. As a concerned community member, and in particular a Hawaiian indigenous to these islands, I fully support HawaiÒi County Planning Director Bobby Jean Leithead ToddÓs proposal to reclassify the area in question from Urban Expansion to Open. Thank you. WATANABE: Do we have any questions of Mr. Nelson? Thank you. M HECHT: My name is -. WATANABE: Need not to state your name and address. You already did -. HECHT: Okay. My name -. WATANABE: So go ahead. HECHT: Is Debbie Hecht, and I do support the rezoning (sic) from Urban to Open. The Kona workshop was poorly attended because there was a whole another meeting on another zoning issue over at the, another hotel. So I think they would have been more focused and itÓs too bad that they werenÓt, but you know, itÓs just how it worked out. The Kaloko-Honokhau National Park is a jewel for Kona and our island. They have wonderful plans for an extensive Hawaiian cultural center. The surrounding area should be preserved as much as possible to protect and buffer the park. I would hope the County would provide a no- build buffer zone in that area. If you look at the aerial photo here, you can see how already the area to the north of the harbor has been graded and grubbed. And that is pretty, I think, itÓs pretty close to where the Park is. So you can see how encroaching an industrial area Î that is an industrial area, there is boat finishing areas, there is a sailing club, there is harbor, there is parking Î has encroached on the Park. And for any more development on that area will affect the ponds and the anchialine areas, so I would, I think that should just be preserved as a no-build, no-anything buffer area. It was mentioned in the public meeting that the property adjacent to the harbor in north may be used to expand the industrial area. That is a really bad idea. There are already some septic systems in the area that are suspected to be faulty; there is one at the restaurant, there are restrooms at the small beach on the south side, the fuel dock restrooms, thereÓs sewer or restrooms in the industrial area, not sure how many, thereÓs, the sailing club has restrooms, and thereÓre standalone restrooms for the fish cleaning area. Nitrate leaking from these faulty septics are increasing algae and, according to ocean scientists, have caused a diatom bloom. When the algae increases, it increases the turtles which, and the turtles attract sharks; this is obviously a safety issue. The Kaloko Ponds are also be impacted. EXHIBIT E 7