2024-03-03 PL-SMA-2023-000046 Kent Steele Testimony

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From: kent Steele To: WPCtestimonv;Council Remote Testimony Subject: Public Hearing Punaluu development by Black Sand Beach LLC Date: Sunday, March 3,2024 4:01:54 PM County of Hawaii, I am writing this to voice my concerns for the above development at Punaluu/Black Sand Beach in Kau. We are current owners at the existing Colony I condos, about a quarter mile from the beach. We are volunteers with the Malama Pono Punaluu group that watch after the turtles that rest, and nest, at Black Sand Beach after the county lifeguards leave at 4.30 daily. Since covid, the volume of people visiting Black Sand has literally exploded, and that is without any new development. With the proposed development plans outlined in the SMA, the beach, turtles, and local environment, in my opinion, cannot survive. This past summer, an endangered Hawks Bill turtle laid 5 nests at Black Sand Beach. That can be 130 - 160 eggs per nest. Add in an additional 225 housing units (possible 500 to 1300 more people visiting the beach), possible 400 - 600 additional cars staying and/or passing through, market and restaurant traffic, and the endangered Hawks Bill will suffer, perhaps not survive. As will the resting Hawaiian Green Sea turtle that call Black Sand Beach home. People come to see the turtles as well as the black sand beach. Will the turtles still be there in the end? Another concern of mine is the lack of improvement(s) applicant has done to any of the existing infrastructure, i.e., water, fire, waste treatment, and street lighting. Last report I saw on the fire hydrants was maybe 11 of 18 were operational, some of those were questionable. Many are completely missing or laying on the ground. Is Punaluu another Lahina waiting to happen due to inaction on the part of Black Sand Beach LLC? The waste treatment plant is old and in all probability, has most likely exceeded it's intended life, since to my knowledge, relatively little in the way of upgrades have been done. The water storage tank has been leaking since we started coming here in 2017..... There is no backup generator for the one working pump in case of catastrophic power loss. None of the streetlights are functional. I'm not against development. As an engineer and project manager, I am against irresponsible development. A planned development of this size, this area, close to a pristine beach is more about money than preserving the beauty of Hawaii that people come to see. A scaled down version of Black Sand Beach LLC permit would be a more responsible approach to start with. To see what impact it will have on the environment and the area in general. I would like to see the permit re-written to encompass a much smaller scope to start with. Perhaps development of Colony 11 condos only, to see how Black Sand Beach LLC performs. Subsequent permits for other areas depending on previous permit performance. A new updated Environmental Impact Statement, EIS, should be done to see if the beach can survive this development. If the turtles of Black Sand Beach can survive..... I ask that another hearing be held on a Saturday, so the working people of Kau can attend and have their voices heard on this matter. For many, it's their native land, their culture, their heritage and the future of their Keiki at stake. That's the least the county can do. Sincerely,