2017-06-21 Letter to Edward Bushor re Grand Naniloa Hotel Pool Above Ground Level Structures/Fencing

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<Y Oi Wil Okabe rl's+ri Managing Director Harry Kim �� P' ssY�:� • Mayor = n'i' v _ -, Barbara J. Kossow , "" ''`� Deputy Managing Director h'Oi'M....''. 1tnnntg of!Jabal ®fftne offile 4I.qur 25 Aupunt Street,Suite 2603 • Hilo,Hawaii 96720 • (808)961-8211 • Fax(808)961-6553 KONA 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy,Bldg C • Kailua-Kona,Hawaii 96740 (808)323-4444 • Fax(808)323-4440 Email' harry knnuihawalicounty go% June 21, 2017 Mr. Edward Bushor Tower Development, Inc. 93 Banyan Drive, Suite 234 Hilo, HI 96720 808.365.2665 RE: Grand Naniloa Hotel ("Hotel") Pool Above Ground level Structures/Fencing Dear Mr. Bushor, The County does not find it feasible that the County will overcome any of the impediments to Hilton's idea of proposing above ground structures/fencing around the pool area makai of the Hotel ("Structures"). Gaining approval of such Structures is unlikely given the heavy burden to overcome many inconsistencies between the Structures and the following regulations and policy: (i)State Coastal Zone Management (CZM) and Special Management Area (SMA); (ii)Tsunami zone regulations and prohibitions of shoreline improvements; and (iii) local public access policy issues that would be encountered by blocking the shoreline with such Structures. According to public record,the hotel structures and hardscape was established in the late 1960's, prior to the development of the CZM program (1972). Subsequently, SMA No. 101 (1979), allowed for improvements at the hotel complex and SMA No. 279 (1989), allowed for the renovation and refurbishing of the hotel complex. No permanent shoreline fencing improvements have previously existed on site, thus no precedence exists to "grandfather" such fencing into the hotel complex and cannot be considered as maintenance or repair to an existing nonconforming hotel complex (hotel complex established prior to CZM program). In addition,the State has certain Tsunami coastal zone regulations that limit new improvements within these areas of which the subject property is within. As such, above- ground improvements/fence contemplated around the pool could become a projectile matter and endanger the community upon a tsunami and does not appear to be a reasonable or viable recommendation. Lastly, the issue of public access to the shoreline is important to the local community. Any fence that would limit this access would also be the basis for objection/disapproval. County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer