2024-12-16 Janet Matlock - Laserfiche WebLink

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provide lodging to visitors—not residents—who have no experience of Kailua Kona's ongoing droughts and water restrictions.The Florida engineer hired to provide usage estimates seems to have forgotten/ignored that this project is being touted as a longer-term stay resort,yet the kitchenette water use is estimated at 5 minutes per day. Plus factor in an on-site laundry. Plus a restaurant. Plus a pool. Plus... Traffic PD Background Report: "Traffic:No traffic impactanalysis was conducted for the proposed project,however, the applicant stated that the proposed development does notgenerally conflict with the normal working/commuting traffic."(emphases added) PD Background Report:"Further, while a number of visitors will be driving to the proposed hotel, the visitor's normal travel pattern does notgenerally conflict with the normal working and/or commuting traffic" What evidence is there for these statements?What is a"visitor travel pattern?"What is"the normal working/commuting traffic?" We do not know,as there has not been a traffic study. PD Background Report: `As noted in the application, the request is fora SMA Permit and not a zone change. As such,the zoning code's concurrency requirement for a traffic impact analysis report is not required. Further relative to the SMA permit,based on the Topliss v. Hawaii County Planning Commission decision of the State Intermediate Court of Appeals,the Court opined that traffic is relevant only if the request is shown to have a substantial adverse effect on the coastal environment,and as such,should not be used as a basis to deny the SMA permit. In this case, the project is not adjacent to the shoreline and does not compromise coastal use.As a matter of fact,it should enhance coastal use by making pedestrian improvements along Kahakai Road." What is this?A sort of, "We don't want to do a traffic study,and you can't make us?" Are they expecting us to believe that adding parking for 147 vehicles(with a grand total of three public parking spots),and potentially sidewalks IF the Dept.of Public Works approves the design,will"enhance coastal use?"That adding the traffic generated by an additional 100+hotel rooms won't have a negative impact on AU'i Drive or adjacent streets?That having traffic exit from Kahakai Road will not create bottlenecks or safety issues? Evacuation PD Background Report: "However,in the event of locally generated tsunami-as it happened in the Tohoku region of northern Japan in 2011 -there would understandably be little evacuation time. Evacuation time would be limited,and regrettably,it would be something that cannot be avoided."(emphasis added) "Whether this project consists of 10,48,or 100(which is consistent with the zoning)rooms/units,having an areawide emergency evacuation plan,complete with designated and alternative routes for residents,guests, and stakeholders, would be appropriate. While such a plan could not be found on the website of the County Civil Defense Agency,if appropriate and desired,the applicant would be willing to work the[sic]County Office of Civil Defense on this." Yes.An areawide emergency evacuation plan would be appropriate.County Civil Defense should work with all interested and affected parties to develop a clear and comprehensive plan.