PL-SMA-2023-000038 01.18.24 FRED HERBER TESTIMONY

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Dear Leeward Planning Commission RE: Notice of Submittal of Special Management Are Use Permit Application Kona Hawaii Development LLC TMK 7-5-018:011 (PL-SMA-2023-000038 This letter is in response to the recoded request and documents provided by Sidney Fuke and the Public Records request. There are a couple of areas of concern that have been brought up, but no solutions have been given by the Developer. It is good to see that there are additional -more than required parking spots to be available as parking in this area is already overused with public access taking up many spots. 1.The developer has requested a 7-foot-wide sidewalk for part of the project even though 8 foot is required. It appears the County staff is willing to grant a variance for this reduction in width. The Developer and staff both acknowledge that Kahakai Rd has limited width for a two-way road. It is disturbing that no mitigation was given for reducing the safety of a 7-foot vs 8-foot wide sideway. In an area of narrow road and very limited site distance. To add to this concern no traffic study has been performed to address any shortcoming that this project may reveal.This project with 100 units will probably general approximately 600 daily trips and 60 peak hour trips along with the existing traffic on these roads. None of this has been discussed. As part of our safety concerns and to mitigate for these safety concerns traffic into parking area could be directed as right only in left only out to keep any additional traffic off the narrow Kahakai where pedestrians and cars already intermingle as there is no sidewalk along most of this road. Further to help mitigate the safety concerns if Kahakai was turned into a one-way road coming from the north it would help with the safety issues that are only going to be increased with the additional traffic. 2 It appears that the elevation from Ali'I Drive meets the height restrictions but that the view from the ocean side looking to the Mountains from Kahakai will be over the allowed 48 feet.This has not been discussed on how this meets the rules and zoning code for the area except a variance appears to be in the 3 As Kona Reef provides Water access-there is an easement for 10 feet of our grass area-this 100-unit hotel will cause more stress on our maintenance as we are the closest and will be the main access for most of residents of this units. There should be some commitment from the developer to provide monetary support for our continued maintenance. 4. As we are a short term rental units we would like some additional noise restrictions. We want this project to goes toward completion as quickly as possible but on days of excessive noise—jackhammering and similar noise we would like these not to start until 9:00 AM if possible. Thankyou Wendy Reinoehl Kona Reef AOAO Board President