HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0331.009 2020-2022 PAC,
6111161
COMM.351
From: Thomas Yeh
Sent: Monday, August 16, 2021 11:52 AM
To: Council Testimony
Cc: Aileen Yeh; Hank Correa; hank3@hankcorrea.com; Zendo KerrcOuNTY CLERK
Subject: Testimony re Bill 57-Planning Committee Agenda for Augu@()XMT-Y0gW HAWAII
Attachments: Bill 57-August 12, 2021 Email from T. Yeh to App-licants.pdf RECEIVED
Tiw6�.�. 2 �M
Date- AUG 1 6 2021
Aloha Chair Kierkiewicz and Members of the Planning Committee,
As of the date and time of this email, I am submitting this written testimony,given the deadline for same. Please refer to our prior
written testimony of July 30, 2021 for a detailed description and photos depicting our concerns regarding the use of a 50 foot wide
easement to serve as a combined access for the proposed subdivision and Life Care Center use for vehicle and parking
purposes. After your committee meeting of August 3, 2021, 1 spoke briefly with Hank Correa about our concerns,and he mentioned
the willingness to accommodate parking along with a possible swale, presumably for pedestrian use. I mentioned existing curbs on
the Life Care Center side of the 50 foot wide easement could remain as is.
Thereafter, on Thursday,August 12, 2021,the Planning Dept forwarded a somewhat cryptic proposal from the Applicants sent to the
Planning Dept.
and my old email address that had been sent on the same day,which indicated Applicant would be"willing to create a three foot
compacted gravel swath to allow for better walkability along our boundary." No further design details for the rest of easement were
provided, or the location of the"gravel swath".
On the same date, I sent an email to the Applicants indicating that a gravel swath would have maintenance issues. I suggest that
within the easement,there be sufficient paving width to allow for parking, as well as a paved swale for pedestrian use, a less costly
design which has been used with success in other contexts(as an alternative to curbs,gutters and sidewalks), and that Applicant
might want to work with an engineer to provide conceptual design elements. Attached is a copy of the August
12 email to the Applicants. I forwarded a copy of same to the Planning Dept.this morning,for their information.
Should I hear back from the Applicants before Wednesday's meeting, I will do my best to let you know. In the meantime, should
there be any questions, I can be reached at this email, or at the following 808
numbers: 961-0055 (b), 937-2437 (c). It is my intent that this written testimony be in lieu of oral testimony unless I am requested to
attend. I plan to be in Kona for some other matters on Wednesday.
Much appreciated,
Tom
Comm. No.-
Ref. To: PIP&
Ref, Date AUG 1 8 20
11ltfl J/
Subject: Bill 57
From: Thomas Yeh
Date: 8/12/2021, 3:56 PM
To: Hank@hankcorrea.com, hank3@hankcorrea.com
BCC: Aileen Yeh
Hank and Henry,
Christian Kay from Planning forwarded your email of today tome. Am sending from my current
email address.
In looking at the subdivision code, Section 23--34 does require that subdivided lots are to abut
upon an approved private street, and hence, the issue of what improvements should or may be
required for the easement are pertinent to the subject ordinance. Sections 23-89 and 23-91 in
turn do allow for the Planning Director to recommend and the Council to require certain
improvements on a street, including CGS. So the issue of what internal roads mean in the
ordinance is both a DPW and Planning issue.
As you know, our main concern is that with subdivision traffic, together with existing conditions,
there needs to be sufficient area/width for vehicle use, parking and pedestrians to safely pass
through, across and along the easement. When I spoke to Hank last week, I indicated that the
curbs on the Life Cafe Center are fine. Hank mentioned improving enough area for vehicles to
park and some type of swale along the boundary of your lot. I suggested he talk to an engineer
to discuss possible design elements. While I understand that you have suggested compacted
gravel for pedestrian use along your boundary, as we might anticipate, that will deteriorate over
time, and also result in weeds and grass growth.
Our suggestion is that there be sufficient paving width to allow for parking and also paved swales
for pedestrians, in lieu of CGS on your side of the easement, to be approved by the Planning dept
in conjunction with DPW. The design can be similar to the subdivision by the golf course. It will
also be of benefit to the subdivision. An engineer should be able to provide some comments or
input on design elements. I suspect Life Care Center would be willing to pitch in, but am not sure
if you have been in contact with them.
Let me know if the above works.
Tom
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