2024-03-02 PL-SMA-2023-000046 Donna Barnett Opposition Testimony

Home

Planning Department Don& Donna Barnett 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 95-789 Ninole Loop Rd. Hilo, HI 96720 Pahala, HI 96777 March 1, 2024 Re: Special Management Area Use Permit Application (PL-SMA-2023-000046) for applicant: Black Sand Beach, LLC To Whom it May Concern, We believe Punalu'u is one of few remaining historic and remote Hawaiian places, and therefore it should not be further developed, but rather replenished and protected, especially when areas already damaged by development could be responsibly restored. Corporate expansion can only atrophy and overwhelm what has survived. We are writing regarding our concern about the proposed land use for the Punalu'u area. We own a condo in Colony One on Ninole Loop Rd. The proposed development would essentially surround and envelope our entire complex. There are many reasons we are opposed to said development. Major disruption to existing community • No maintenance to our existing water system by applicant, who is also our new water system owner/operator. • No response from applicant about maintaining our community's water when contacted in writing. • Same concern with waste treatment for our community • Same concern with fire suppression maintenance for our community • Concern for preservation of historic church on land • Concern for historic structures on the beach • Concern for the protection of Hawksbill and Green turtles (and their nesting/resting on the beach), monk seals, and other wildlife. As volunteers for Malama Pono Punalu'u, we commonly see that many tourists on the black sand beach do not respect the protocol in place. • Concern for "Over Tourism" involving inhabitant volume, parking, traffic, pollution, etc. • Concern for respect of our black sand beach and capacity of lifeguards to maintain safety for this level of visitation. Concern for hurricane, tsunami, and any other emergency evacuation. The proposed land use area is a tsunami zone. In the case of a tsunami, and with the