PL-SMA-2023-000038 01.15.24 Walter Jaccard Testimony

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Leeward Planning Commission January 15, 2024 Page 2 3. The building site is located on a slope. While the proposed building will only be 40 feet tall as viewed from Ali'i Drive (maximum allowable height is 45 feet), it will be substantially taller(approximately 65 feet) on the makai (west) side of the building as viewed from Kahakai Road(see attached photos). Those of us who live immediately behind the building (Hale Kona Kai Condominium residents, 1 homeowner, and 1 business owner)would literally be overshadowed by this massive structure. We note that neither the actual height of the building on the makai side,nor artistic renderings of the resultant narrow canyon this building would create along Kahakai Road are included in the information packets provided by the Planning Consultant. We believe this information was deliberately withheld in order to downplay the huge impact this proposed building would have on adjacent residents. Furthermore, allowing a building that would be taller than the maximum allowable height of 45 feet around the majority (>60%) of its perimeter would set a dangerous precedent for the approval of future buildings. Exactly how much of a building would need to be in compliance with building regulations in order to be approved? For these reasons,we respectfully request that the maximum height of the building be limited to 45 feet as measured from the lowest ground level on Kahakai Road. Further, the Planning Consultant falsely states that this should not matter because none of the units at Hale Kona Kai face East. This statement by the Planning Consultant is false. My unit 209 and all of the other 09, 011 and 012 units have lanais that have beautiful views to the East. We have spent many mornings watching the sun rise over the mountains. 4. The proposed building plans indicate that the entrance/exit for the hotel would be on the south side of the building onto Kahakai Road. Presumably, many of the cars would exit to the left (east-bound)up the hill to the intersection of Kahakai Road and Ali'i Drive. There is already substantial car and pedestrian traffic at that 3-way intersection. Furthermore, it is hazardous for cars to turn from Kahakai Road onto Ali'i Drive because the cross-traffic does not stop, the speed limit is 35 mph, and the visibility is very limited due to adjacent structures and vegetation. 5. There have been NO TRAFFIC STUDIES CONDUCTED. In 2018 it was deemed unnecessary, when it was a 48-unit condominium complex. Now this is 100 (or more likely 151)hotel units with stairs that lead to Kahakai Road and the entrance of Hale Kon Kai parking lot. With the additional pedestrians on Kahakai Road, additional vehicular traffic, and the traffic in and out of the hotel, it seems a study should be required to determine the traffic flow and needed mitigation. 6. Currently,there is "Public Beach Access" that leads from Kahakai Road across Hale Kona Kai property to the ocean shoreline in back of the Hale Kona Kai Condominiums. Given that the proposed 100 (or more likely 151)room hotel does not have a beachfront, we expect that many of the 344 guests would stray off the designated pedestrian "public beach access" and trespass onto Hale Kona Kai property. Allowing the 344 guests from