HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0595.046 2020-2022 I
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From: Michael Konowicz
Sent: Monday, February 07, 2022 11:46 AM COUNTY CLERK
To: Council Testimony
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Subject: Testimony in Support of Bill 112 for the 2/8/22 Planning Committee RECEIVED
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Aloha Chair Kierkiewicz,Vice Chair Villegas,and members of the Committee on Planning--
I'm writing this letter to you to provide my testimony in support of Bill 112 which deals with zone changes associated with
Waikoloa Land Company's Waikoloa Beach Resort, namely their"Area A"and "Area B" plans that were split between two
related bills, 112 and 115. Because the bills are related, I'm leaving identical testimony for Bill 115. 1 am testifying as a resident
of Waikoloa in my capacity as an individual with personal beliefs not tied to any business, board,or commission I am a part of.
The Waikoloa Beach Resort is a valuable asset to our island and provides world-class accommodations,shopping, recreation,
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and places to enjoy great local cuisine-all while providing a tax revenue stream into our community and valuable jobs for
those island-wide.The proposed changes within the Waikoloa Beach Resort by the Waikoloa Land Company make sense and I
support the Leeward Planning Commission's favorable recommendation for this change of zone for the overall "Kumu Hou
Project."
While I do support this change of zone, I do have some concerns that the Planning Department,the Planning Committee,and
County Council should consider when taking actions on this property and others like it in the area.
First,the Kumu Hou Project contains no fewer than 140 workforce housing rental units which includes income-qualifying units.
While I appreciate having reasonably priced housing available so close to so manyjobs, I do have concerns for households
there not having just-as-close access to schools, affordable shopping, and healthcare services like they would in other
communities on our island. Prices of shops and restaurants are premium-priced for upscale tourists; new residents at these
affordable homes would either need to pay not-so-affordable prices locally or travel to Waikoloa Village or beyond for more
reasonable pricing.The same is true for schooling and healthcare;while there is a dentist office within the Queen's Shops
inside the Beach Resort, people living there will need to travel at least to Waikoloa Village or beyond for reasonable services
and care,which could be a challenge if they lack their own vehicles. I have heard these concerns echoed by others in our
community. However, I believe moving forward to allow this project would serve as an important experiment to see if those
fears are true or unfounded. If having affordable housing proves to be successful here, I encourage other affordable and
workforce housing opportunities to be considered elsewhere in nearby resort zones.
Second,the area of Waikoloa Beach Resort and Waikoloa Village is seeing tremendous growth,with multiple projects in
progress or approved;with this boom, more attention needs to be paid on local infrastructure. Because this Waikoloa Land
project includes multiple-family residential and some single family homes in which occupants are likely to be out and about on
local roads more so than people simply visiting and staying at a resort hotel property, please make sure local infrastructure can
support it. We've seen numerous car accidents, some fatal,at the Queen Ka'ahumanu intersections at the Mauna Lani and
Four Seasons Hualalai Resort entrances,as well as the intersection of Waikoloa Road and Paniolo Avenue in Waikoloa Village.
It appears the improvement of the Waikoloa Road/Paniolo Avenue intersection is at least 1-2 years away from being resolved,
troubling with the opening of the large Waikoloa Plaza shopping center and hotel coming in the weeks and months ahead.
While improvement is budgeted for the Waikoloa Road/Paniolo Avenue intersection,there's been no talk or timeline of
improving the other intersections on Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway. Also unresolved is an additional roadway to exit from
Waikoloa Village,especially in times of emergency. Not only is a road needed to improve traffic flow in Waikoloa Village every
day, but an exit road is needed should the Village face the need to evacuate due to wildfire.That same additional road from
the beach area is also needed to evacuate the coast to Waikoloa Village should a serious tsunami threat appear.
With projects like Waikoloa Land Company's expansion and others in the area beyond Waikoloa Plaza,such as KeOlalani at
Waikoloa now being built,or Aina Le'a across from Mauna Lani destined to be built too, I hope that Waikoloa Land Company
and other companies like it that come to your board seeking approval are helping contribute to necessary infrastructure
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improvements around Waikoloa and that the Planning Committee and County Council will also appropriately plan and budget
for the infrastructure updates these projects will require for the region.
In closing, I'm writing in support of Bill 112—but hope the Planning Committee and County Council consider my concerns when
voting on any large scale development project in the region.
Signed,
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Michael J. Konowicz
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