2018-01-18 Leeward Exh B (AMEND SMA 412, REZ 17-225 & SMA 17-068))

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SCHAEFER: Okay. E Mau Nā Ala Hele is a non-profit trail advocacy group dedicated to preserving and protecting the ancient and historic trails of Hawai‘i, including their natural and cultural surroundings. The area under consideration today contains many sites of historic and cultural importance. As evidenced by the archaeological record and a simple walk through the area today, this place had, and continues to have, special significance and value to the people who live and visit here. We have quite a number of concerns but I’d like to highlight three today. One is the zoning buffer of the area. The original V-2a zoning provides a buffer between the more densely zoned resort center and the adjoining open space land. We consider this still very desirable and much more appropriate than the proposed V-7.5. The proposed zoning and resulting development would have a significant negative impact on the historic sites and the viewscapes from these sites, the natural beauty and the natural resources of the area. While we acknowledge the applicant’s statement that their proposed rezoning is a least dense of the resort zonings, we still believe the current zoning is best. We recommend the zoning remain unchanged. Natural resources. Of concern is the impact further development would have on the water quality in and adjacent to the project area. The applicant seems to claim because water studies done say it is not unusual that several water quality parameters do not meet the State Department of Health water quality standards, that this is all right. We disagree. And some of their solutions don’t seem sufficient or practical. Just for example, directing excess water to the landscaped areas where the ground would be more permeable and can thus absorb the additional water, does not seem like a reasonable solution, because the ground in this area is permeable, the water will still percolate into the ground and the nearby ocean. Parking considerations are another one of our areas of concern. If the rezoning and development are to proceed as described, the parking considerations are very inadequate. Parking from the Lava Lava Beach Club already overflows into the proposed development area. And if you would, nd please take a look at the photos that I provided today. These were taken on December 22 of last year at approximately six in the afternoon. I walked the area and counted about 120 cars. This included the Lava Lava Beach parking but did not include the public parking area. So this is without any more development there. And if you look at the pictures, you can see the palm trees that was pointed out in the other testimony, surrounding the anchialine pond. And the second photo on the page shows the public parking in a distance relative to the overflow parking there. We worry that — UNGER: Kala mai. Please summarize. SCHAEFER: Yeah, we worry that the spillover to the nearby public parking area could adversely affect the public’s ability to access the area. The response from the applicant to this concern still does not adequately address the problem. The solution suggested seemed very difficult and unlikely to be enacted and/or enforced. 20 EXHIBIT B