2024-06-20 Chad Wiggins - Laserfiche WebLink

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20 June 2024 Subject: Opposition to Applications PL-SLU-2022-0000008 and PL-REZ-22-000039 Aloha members of the Leeward Planning Committee, My name is Chad Wiggins and I am a resident of Waimea, Lalamilo, South Kohala. The oldest house in our town is named for my wife's 5th great-grandfather, Francis Spencer, and the future of Waimea is a responsibility I take quite seriously. I am opposed to, and humbly request this Commission deny,Applications PL-SLU-2022- 000 0008 and PL-REZ-22-000 039 to rezone agricultural lands. The proposed rezoning is contrary to the zoning plans and development plans that are meant to ensure responsible land use. The flooding risk alone creates a legal barrier that must not be disregarded. Further, Waimea Policy 2 from the South Kohala Community Development Plan states that "`Responsible Growth` shall be an overarching land use policy for Waimea. Adequate infrastructure, including roads,water supply electrical power, drainage structures, schools, and parks, shall be provided by public and/or private entities before any large-scale new residential or commercial projects can be considered for approval by County."The Plan admonishes the County to"...carefully evaluate and condition, as appropriate, any rezoning that would negative impact important agricultural lands... in Waimea." The lands proposed for rezoning from Ag-5 do not have adequate roads or drainage structures and do not constitute responsible growth.They should not be permitted to develop in a manner unsuitable for their location. The applicant may argue that these are not important agricultural lands, but this land is in a prime climatic area for abundant production as evidenced by the farms on the Mauna Kea side of the proposed area.Though small by urban standards, this is a large-scale project for this area -when we look at adjacent commercial sites, this would be the largest commercial development beyond the urban core of Waimea, opening the door for unplanned urban expansion farther and farther from town. I recognize that zoning is not set in stone and there is a need to be adaptive to changing conditions, particularly with regard to climate impacts on agriculture. However, this proposed change is maladaptive based on current and projected future conditions. The applicant may be able to point to data that rationalizes this effort, but I contend that this data is inadequate.