HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0898.050 2020-2022 bill lqq
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From: Mark Van Pernis
Sent: Monday, January 30, 2023 8:19 AM
To: Council Testimony
Cc: Inaba, Holeka; Mark Van Pernis
Subject: Further public testimony re Bi8ll 194 =
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'I listened to all of the Council members,the Planning Director, his assistant,and the County Corporation Coun'4 xi at the
recent January meeting. There appears to be misunderstandings,the result of misrepresentations or lack of di suras from
the Planning DirectorDirector and/or his assistant. 1. ~ ~
First,there are thousands of approved residential units,many with infrastructure and affordable housing components,
without changes in old,often by decades, public impositions or public hearings, and many sales,without many of he original
applicants having the desire or capacity to develop within the time frame their ordinances stated or in the periods of free
delays/extensions of time.
Second,there have been NO PROJECTS ASKING FOR A DELAY BECAUSE SOME GOVERNMENT AGENCY HAS BEEN SLOW WITH
AN APPROVAL! That hypothetical situation has yet to occur. And Bill 194 is flexible enough that if it did arise in relation to an
application for delay to the Council, it could be accommodated with appropriate delay as a "reason beyond the control of the
applicant". Delays are usually granted merely for the financial convenience of the applicant or their successor
Third,the current Director has approved or recommended every request for delay,without any requirement for" proof of
circumstances beyond the control"of the applicant or hits buyer, e.g. labor strikes,floods, law suit injunctions,slow
government agencies,etc., DESPTE THE ORDINANCES REQUIRING THAT!
Fourth,there is a practice of getting approved for rezoning-subdivision and/or SMA permits, with automatic free
administrative delays,without intent or capability to develop,to take advantage of the Council. Bill 194 will encourage
developers to apply ONLY WHEN THEY ARE WILLING AND CAPABLE OF TIMELY DEVELOPMENT AND TO MEET PUBLIC
RESPONSIBILITIES, instead of taking advantage of the County.
Fifth,THE CURRENT SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK,as the five to forty year old infrastructure mess and affordable housing crisis
proves.Why can't the Director and his assistant admit that? E.g.the Sunshine Holdings LLC application for further delay(25
years and counting with no end in sight)soon to be before you.
The present and past Planning Directors and their free delays and recommendations for delay are adverse to the citizenry,
and make them sycophants of developers, large and small. The Council should do its duty to represent its constituency.,and
take control of the very ordinances they make. Development in Kona will go on no matter what.
1.This is fa further example of the inadequacy of forcing public testifiers to a 3 minute limit with no opportunity to
question/rebut/testify after applicants and the Planning Director,etc. make mistakes or misrepresentations in their unlimited
testimony It is possible and there are occasions when you are misled.
Comm. o _ o '��
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