2024-03-06 PL-SMA-2023-000046 Megan Lamson Testimony

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vr� `p Hawaii WiWife Fund ro 5ox &ro Sox y900 y,raia HI ss77s Celekratir vg 2.8 years of Protecting,hawai'Ps native wildlife through research,education and conservation. County of Hawaii (COH) Planning Department and members of the Windward Planning Commission Attn: Zendo Kern, Planning Director 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 Hilo, HI 96720 e: WPCtestimony@hawaiicounty.gov zendo.kern@hawaiicounty.gov cc: COH Mayor Mitch Roth (mitchd.roth@hawaiicounty.gov) COH Councilmember Michelle Galimba (michelle.galimba@hawaiicounty.gov) 5 March 2024 Re: March 7, 2024 Windward Planning Commission Agenda Item #3: Special Management Area Use Permit Application and Landowner: Black Sand Beach, LLC (PL-SMA-2023-000046); regarding lands in the Ahupua'a of Ninole, Wailau, and Punalu'u; Ka'u Moku, Hawai'i. Aloha Mr. Kern and members of the Windward Planning Commission, As an active non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of HawaiTs wildlife for the past 28 years, including 20 years in Ka'u, Hawaii Wildlife Fund (HWF) would like to express our concerns regarding the SMA application submitted by Black Sand Beach, LLC: "To allow for the development of a residential and commercial community consisting of approximately 225 residential and short stay units, village and wellness center, retail uses, rehabilitation and use of golf courses, and dedication of a portion of coastline as a conservation area on an approximately 147 acres portion of a larger 434-acre project site within the Special Management Area." (TMKs: (3) 9-5-019: 011, 015, 024, 026, 030, 031, 033, 035; 9-6-001: 001-003, 006, 011-013; 9-6-002: 008, 037, 038, 041, and 053.) We respect that the Applicant landowner has invested the time to connect with those who have kuleana and special connections to the area. However, we emphasize that in order to proceed with WWW wildAaw411 Ow