PL-SMA-2023-000038 12.18.23 Liz Berecz Testimony

Home

To: Leeward Planning Commission, County of Hawaii From: Elizabeth Berecz, owner of 75-5870 Kahakai Road, Unit 408, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 Re: Proposed Kona Hawaii Development LLC Application (PL-SMA-2023-000038) Aloha, I am currently an owner within the Hale Kona Kai (HKK) complex located on Kahakai Road directly across from this proposed development. I generally agree with the idea of developing this area as it currently contains an abandoned concrete foundation (an eyesore to the community); however, there are several concerns that I have with the proposed plan and I respectfully ask the Committee to not approve the plan in its current form. My concerns are as follows: -While stated as a 100-unit hotel development,the Type-C unit has three entry doors.This allows the option for the hotel to implement a "lock-off" option, creating a 151-unit hotel.This is a significant intensification of use from the previously approved 48 condominiums and should trigger more significant scrutiny for environmental impacts. -There have been no traffic studies conducted. In 2018 it was deemed unnecessary, but when we are talking about adding 151 units with stairs that lead to the entrance of the HKK parking lot,the addition of pedestrians on Kahakai Road, and the added vehicular traffic, it seems a study should be required. Kahakai Road is a much narrower thoroughfare than Ali'i Drive. - Parking was stated as 145 spaces, but the developer has acknowledged that there are only 143 spaces.This is completely inadequate for 151 hotel units and the staff needed on site to work and maintain the property. -The height of the building is only described from the Ali'i side of the building as being 40 feet. Along Kahakai Road,the impact of adding 40 feet of structure on top of the 25 feet of retaining wall and parking structure will create a building that towers over Hale Kona Kai, blotting the morning sun and creating a canyon of Kahakai Road.The projected images from the west side of the development are completely absent from the report. Even some of the included images show a landscape barrier in what is actually the office building of C.J. Kimberly Realty and Kona Beach Properties.