HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0135.023 2022-2024 P/ 5. GourIG(
bill �o
Gollµ. 135
From: Rebecca Melendez
Sent: Monday, May 15, 2023 11:07 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: May 18, Meeting
Attachments: zendo island wide development.docx
It looks like the mayor is proposing budgets to widen Queen K Hwy going south. I would like to know how this will
possible because in some of the areas he is suggesting there is cliff on one side and mountain and homes on the other
side.There is no possible way to widen this road in these areas.
You keep approving more and more developments with the mountain road going south from Kona to Volcano will
ALWAYS bottleneck eventually to form only two lands. Can you see this?
Why create a budget for something that is impossible to do?
I am attaching a letter I made to show you how much you are changing this island and I would like to know how you can
justify all the new developments you keep approving when half of the Big Island is set up on a mountain.
I would like to know what the Environmental Impact reports say about increasing the population so fast with regards to
the sewer, water, rubbish increase, road traffic increase...
How are you justifying all the new developments you keep approving when the increased traffic has been huge, there is
no parking in Kona town,there is only the hospital that has limits to what it can do...
Why is the mayor increasing so many taxes?
Why is there a golf fund?Seriously?
--<-
Please read my attached letter.
Thank you, :.y
Rebecca Melendez
--
Comm. No. 17)0•D
Ref. To: P1041161
1 Ref. nate MAY 1 8 2023
March 10, 2023
Dear Zendo and County Council Planning Department,
I am Rebecca Melendez and I spoke with you last week at your Island-wide development meeting. I
spoke directly with Zendo. Thank you all for listening to me.
You asked how locals feel about the development on the Big Island and it has taken me days to put this
letter together to prove my point because I am writing on behalf of over 10,000 people who have signed
petitions to stop development on the Big Island. Please hear these voices.
Here are 5 petitions that I know of and I'm sure there are many more petitions that are trying to stop
development on the island and when I learn about them, I will share them on
https://bigislandsupport.com/.
These petitions are all trying to get local voices heard because they want huge developments to stop on
this island and locals need to come first for affordable housing. Please hear these voices.
Save Keauhou Bay Petition https://www.change.org/p/save-keauhou-bay-from-becoming-a-big-
crowded-resort?utm source=share petition&utm medium=custom url&recruited by id=92a53560-
1e91-11e5-b4ef-b94e90ced bdd
Protect'Opihihale Petition https://www.change.org/p/protect-opihihale-stop-kona-development-
partners-now
Help Prioritize Big Island Homes Petition https://www.change.org/p/help-locals-be-able-to-buy-
affordable-homes
Stop the Royal Vistas Development Petition https://www.change.org/p/stop-the-royal-vistas-
development-from-wrecking-kona-hawaii?signed=true
Kapu on Kapukapu Petition https://www.change.org/p/kapu-on-
kapukapu?utm content=cl sharecopy 33631070 en-
US%3A4&recruiter=640716950&utm source=share petition&utm medium=copylink&utm campaign=s
hare petition
I am aware not many locals attend meetings and as you all know that living here most of us must work
more than one job and our free time is limited as well because of family and self-time. Sometimes all the
free time someone has mentally and physically is to sign a petition because attending meetings that are
held during the work week is not possible. Please hear the petitions above and read all the comments
that are under Reason For Signing because those are over 10,000 local voices talking to you.
Will you please respect my serious efforts and time and look at all of the proof I will be showing in this
letter that you are over developing the Big Island because the island's small infrastructure needs to stay
safe for all who live here?
Will you please consider what I will be showing you that the Big Island's infrastructure is to small for a
serious increase in population that you are causing and that more reports need to be done and shown to
the public on what is a safe population for the Big Island because this is an island not the mainland and
even though there is a lot of vacant land the island's infrastructure isn't made for high population and
locals need to come first in order to keep the population in a safe place for the island's small
infrastructure and future.
I am asking is there a map of the island that shows all the hundreds of acres that you have already
approved years past for future development? If not, can you please make one and email it to me as well
as put it on your website so everyone can know and see what you are turning the Big Island into?
It should not be that difficult to look at what you have approved within the past years and put it on a
map and add applications for development that are currently in the process of being approved. If you I
use red for areas of the island that have been approved for development and green for applications,
then we all will be able to have a good idea of what you are creating the Big Island to become.
We all need a big picture and a proper map of what you have approved and what you could approve is
needed, please. Also, please include what land is for affordable housing and what is not, that you have
already approved and might approve in the future.This way we can also see who is priority on the island
and I hope it is affordable housing for locals.
There should be a map that is already made that can show the Big Island's possible future
transformation because of your approved developments, because without one how can you keep
approving more developments without knowing what you are turning the Big Island into?
We all deserve to have an idea of what you are turning the Big Island into because you have approved
hundreds of acres already so much so, that I believe in the future the Big Island will resemble Oahu
without any of the road infrastructure that Oahu has. I feel I will show you this point in this letter.
Zendo, I asked you if you have reports on traffic, population increase, evacuation, sewar,water...and
you told me at the meeting that you have reports done on all developments that have been approved
and that you don't want this island to become Oahu either, and that there is not that much
development going on now. I think you left out the word, "YET".
My point is that you have approved hundreds of acres to be developed in the future such as many acres
near Hokuli`a golf course makai side. Below are 5 pictures of For Sale signs on lots of land in this area.
What kind of island reports were done? Is any of this land for affordable housing?
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Zendo, you mentioned that there is not a lot of development right now and I must agree there is not a
lot of development being done at the moment and the truth is, that you all have approved hundreds of
acres to be able to be developed all over the Big Island in the future and I would like to see all the
reports that area showing that the island's small infrastructure is going to be safe to accommodate
everyone including the serious population increase because of all the land you approved because as it is
it took 20 minutes to go 2 miles last week and it's not even high tourist season on the island.
Is any of the you already approved years ago land for affordable housing for locals? Because if the island
puts in a stipulation that locals need to come first, that is not being prejudice it is keeping safe island
infrastructure for the everyone who lives here.
Do you have reports that show how the island will be affected by an even greater population increase in
the future because of all the land you have approved? Can I see those reports please, so I can share
them with others?
My point,the land near Hokuli'a golf course mauka side is all currently in the application process to
develop because below Alii Drive road makai you have already approved all that land to be development
in the future. Now there are applications to develop the entire upper road and will any of this land be
affordable housing for locals?
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two Notice of Applications can't be read but it is in the same area and I'm sure it's for many, many acres.
Will any of the above applications be for affordable housing for locals? Do you have reports on how the
population increase will affect the island's water, sewar,traffic... if you approve all this land?Can you
please share those reports?
This land most likely is not for affordable housing for locals. I believe this land is more land for the
extremely wealthy and because they have not developed any of it as of yet, can I see the reports that
you told me you have done Zendo? Because you told me at the meeting that reports are always done
with regards to developments, and I really would like to see what kind of reports are being done before
you approve all this vacant land when the Big Island's small infrastructure has yet to be improved.
Are there any reports on population increase and tsunami evacuation?
Because once these lands are developed the population increase on the Big Island most likely will be like
Oahu, which you said, Zendo, that you do not want this island to turn into Oahu and yet you all have
approved hundreds of acres and keep approving more development for hundreds of acres in the future.
What does the population increase report read for the island's small infrastructure?
Is all of this turning the Big Island into Oahu? Because this island is not like Maui or Oahu, you can't build
a bigger HWY from Kona going south because the only HWY is on the edge of the mountain and the cliff
from Henry Street in Kona most of the way going all the way towards Hilo and then going towards Puna
there is also only a two-lane HWY most of the way from Hilo towards Puna.
There is no possibility to widen the Kona two-lane small road HWY south and the traffic is already very
much increased drastically. Also, in Puna the houses are right next to the HWY so widening them is
almost impossible. Can you see this?
Now, let's talk about the other side of Kona. Palani and Henry have a Notification Sign for Development
Application that cannot be read. Will this be affordable housing for locals?
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Will this 80 acer application for 50 lot subdivisions be a subdivision for affordable housing for locals?
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L Notice of
iyul.ci+vision Application
Proposed-50 Lot Subdivision ` r
Area:80.114 acres
TMK. (3)7-3.009:062
Fo, additional mformat.on.
contact the offices of the
Planning Department in Hilo
;;t Aupum Center, 101
Street,Suite 3,Hilo,
I at 808-' 1-8288
/mak
This sign is on makai side near Kohanaiki private club community and I'm thinking it's not for affordable
housing for locals,just more land for extremely wealthy. The sign below is next to this which looks like
this area is going to become another Waikoloa Village which means Kona looks like it's turning into a
city.
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lCounty Code Wyant to Haw
R :Pst;Propesed creatic4 of an 1t-ui1it
ot*rnii'i i property regime
TMKs: 7 3.065:044.approx.3,418 ac_,situate at
hanai4Dstrict of North Kona,island and
(aunty oll4awato
Proposed notiei of units.10
For additional itiormation, the offices of
the Planning Iain Hilo at Aupuni Center,
101 Pauahi Street Me 3,Hilo.Hawaii at 961-8288,
and in Kona at the Wei Hawaii Civic Center,
741-5044 Ane Keohokatde Highway,Building E,
2nd door Kailua-Kon,/j rail,at 32341770.
Next to the above picture is this picture showing that you have already approved 83 acres for
commercial land. Looks like you want Kona to become another Waikiki because if this is not a sign that
says you have been approving to turn the Big Island into Oahu then I don't know what is.
83 Acres Commercial
111 MILE of HIGHWAY FRONTAGE
Zoned Mg3A Mixed Use
John Miller(RS) 808315 5501
LivelnKona.com A-E'- by,
This is more commercial land that you all have already approved and yet the islands small infrastructure
has stayed the same. What reports are showing the safety of the Island and the people with all this
development?You all have had to of experienced the new Kona traffic now, right? It's not even high
tourist season. Can you please share the safe population increase reports that went with all this land
you approved?
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Then you have the land directly off Mamalahoa HWY in Kona. Some land is already approved and over
200 acres still have their application signs up. Will this land be affordable housing for locals?Can I see
the reports that show how safe the island and Kona town will be with a serious increase in population?
68 Acres in this
Application
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courthouse. Will it be affordable housing for locals?
How will traffic be once all of this land is developed? How is this keeping Kona's small road
infrastructure safe? It looks to me like it's going to be Waikiki with NO 4 lane HWY just serious amounts
of traffic on a 2 lane small local road that can't be widened going all the way south.
Can you work on improving roads before you approve any more developments because a lot of the
roads need repair?Can you see this?
Kuakini HWY and Hualalai Road in town both have a lot of development applications on vacant land and
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ylh '�° JI DEVELOPMENT PARCEL
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development is underway on Kuakini HWY and
some areas have already been approved by you all. Is this affordable housing for locals?
Below are future land development applications on Kuakini and Hualalai Rd in Kona town. Will any of
this vacant land be for affordable housing for locals and what does the small infrastructure reports say?
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13_
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�,. . . ' " This is over 9 acres. Is it affordable housing for locals?
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Can't read this but it's agriculture to urban. Is it
affordable housing for locals?
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This is 47 acres. Will it be
affordable housing?
This island does not have the road infrastructure like Oahu has. Have you done reports on what the
future traffic will be like, especially on the 2 lane HWY, because of all the developments you have
already approved?
When do you think many of the main roads that have potholes and need repair will be fixed?Will it be
before or after you keep approving more development? Because it is dangerous to keep increasing
population without, not only safe infrastructure but also with many roads that need repair because
there are potholes everywhere.
Have you driven down King Kamehameha III Rd. lately?That road proves my point on road repair that is
needed all over. Can you please improve the roads before continuing to approve developments?
As it looks to me the daily traffic has increased drastically, I hear the ambulance sometimes more than
once a day when I used to hear it maybe once a week. Do you realize that with high population brings
even more high traffic and an ambulance will have issues getting through because there are many areas
on Big Island roads where cars can't really pull over because of the small infrastructure of the roads, so
an ambulance getting by will be challenging?
Rolm t f •
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- ..,,'' — to Neev safe Infrastructure
=c -:::1111;',3k:-..:,. ...= • A rMwlanra trylm to riot by Kona trafficrJ q i ;
a .y. „- �'- moi° Wednesday at Spm and more _ f• .� "�'
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:.-- _ rr develbpirant is comm. I -- \, —
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wn, This kind of traffic happens
most of the time now.
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. This is early morning traffic, and this HWY cannot be
widened to have more lanes, it's not possible with the mountain on one side and the cliff on the other.
Zendo, can you please share the reports on population increase, traffic, parking, sewage, water...that
you mention is done for every development? I would like to understand how you all feel that continuing
to approve more and more development it seems mostly for the wealthy is still okay, even with the
island's small infrastructure. I would also like to share your reports with others.
Have you come up with any ideas for parking in Kona town? Because the town needs more parking,
especially with all the new developments you all have approved in the past years. Will you be solving the
parking issue before approving more developments?Can you solve problems before approving more?
At the bottom of Henery Street in town there is a development sign that says land For Sale to build
another resort. Can you look into buying this land for Kona parking? Because we don't need another
resort the town needs parking.
Alii Drive has 2 developments that are currently underway. Are either of these developments affordable
housing for locals? Doesn't look like it.
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There are more applications for development on Alii Drive.Alii Drive is a two-lane road with several Stop
signs that currently have traffic backed up for miles a lot of the time now. Below are more Alii Drive
applications. How is overpopulating this area okay? Is any of these applications affordable housing?
11 Acres
f (--•NOTICE OF FILING OF APPLICATION
40 „0 e1
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
eau amsimnel/
?'am Ec.,s icrre-&:MstrresolatAe‘4,414r j
Prod , 303 acres 7 I
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3 Acres
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NOTICE OF FILING OF APPLICATION V. • ��`�'� 1 Am,
.,, ' There was a notice
i �+�a Special Management Area Use Permit Application ,.
`re:r I
i; (SMA 21-000078) 1 aption here but I
gt•' REQUEST To Allow for the DevelopmeI.5 tit'. 'r 4ipu approved th .
• Six-Unit Condominium P . .'v y t . et
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�i r cieveXp �ttent on Alii Dr. iii
4r PROPERTY AREA: 9,934 sq ft park.
fr n of Pahoehoe
` TAX MAP KEY'. (3)7-5-020:066 _ ' 3.; /\ x:. '
For additional information,contact Hawaii
East Hawaii
101 Pauahi Street,Suite 3 74' '.* r
Hilo,Hawaii,96720
Phone:8089618288
What about these subdivision and family home applications in Kona, will any of these be affordable
housing for locals or just keep increasing the population?These are just some I found in Kona, but these
applications are all over the Big Island now. Will this land be safe for the island's small infrastructure
because these signs are all over and the island needs to keep to safe population for the infrastructure it
has. What do the reports say with regards to the island's small infrastructure?
1: I
6:875 A
Vr47 Notice Pursuant to County of Hawai
NOTICE OF FILING OF APPLICATIONS Subdivision Cade Section 23-58.1
ai]-t;- ''^+Ix as 6.,_a t:`I.vur 'y A'r'enc'ne•I Request:Proposed subdivision of
Aen eas&to0tarl 1 lot into 61ots,1 road lot
PrepaxC Ftznr've 00-It S OS-10I and a variance,if necessa
P00PC511.:15 SheafanIy ireaneThal its
teeing below t4.070to25.000 suuarP feeteadt Number of Lots: 6
P90PrP1vAKA.0115Acra Site of Property: I 74 Acres
TO uo'liFi 8.1-(q6004 Tax Map Key: 8-1-007:013
Porn mrM rbmyen csrar'6wei':.uvv Poen pea•-,:...
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Notice Pursuant to County of Hawaii
Subdivision Code Section 23-58.1
Notice Pursuant to County of Hawaii
Request.Proposed subdivision of Rezoning Code Section 25.2.12
1 lot into 6 lots.1 road lot Subdivision Code Section 23-58.1
and a variance.if necessa Request:Proposed subdivision of
Number of Lots: 6 1 lot into 3 lots.and a
Size of Property 1.74 Acres variance.if any
Tax Map Key 6-1-007 313 Number of Lots: 3
,.. Size of Property: 2.00 Acres
Tax Map Key: 7-9-007 055
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Subdivision Code Seu."^n 23-58.1
Notice Pursuant to County of Havaaii _
Subdivision Code Section 23-58A Request Proposed subdivision .I
1 lot into 2 lots.and
Request Proposed consolidation of variance if any
3 lots and resubdivision
into 2 reconfigured lots Number of Lots 2
Number of Lots: ;389 Acres Size of Property' 1.15 r res
Size of Property: Tax Man Key. 7-8-.15 027
Tax Map Key: 7-8-004.059&060
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24.9 Acres .?:' ,1 4,r .1 ' -;
AcerNotice Pursuant County of Hawaii
Subdivision Code Section 23-58.1 '' : o
Request: Proposed subdivision 01 _ ��NOTICE OF APPLICATION
1 lot into 5 lots. 1 road lot
and a variance,if any 31F` h OF LOT 7 KW ALSOPORTIO SOFGRANT'.
s Number of Lots: 5 ANDRESUoiaIsi05 70 P7hE 12 r ilio,
' Size of Property: 24.9510 Acres hre Ili rt 12 099A t,>
Tax Map Key: 7-7-006:055
,.. TWIT P KEY. 7-5-012 011 8 012(5118-18-00184ii
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Zendo, you told me at the meeting you are working on something to put locals first, what is that? Can
you please share that with me so I can share it with others because locals need to come first so the
island can stay in a safe population for the infrastructure it has. Don't you think?
Yes, Zendo you are right.There is not that much development going on right now and you forgot to say
the word, "YET" because of all the hundreds of development applications you all have approved
throughout the years. Right?Can you see this on a Big Island future developed map that has all the
applications that you all have already approved?
I hope I am making my point clear on what you all have approved and are turning the Big Island into
because this island doesn't have the infrastructure that the other islands have. It has a lot of vacant land
but how can the small infrastructure handle all this development? It looks like you are turning Big Island
into Oahu without Ohau's big infrastructure.
These signs are just signs I found in Kona and these application sings for future development are all over
the Big Island. You are seriously changing the Big Island and how safe is this?
All of what I have shown is only some of what is happening in Kona and all over the Big Island. You have
approved a lot of development everywhere.
Waikoloa Village has a lot of new development going on right now and it looks to be turning into a small
town instead of just a residential area.
Puna looks to be turning into another small Kona with only a two-lane HWY as well because the island's
infrastructure doesn't look like it was made for a huge population, and are any of these developmental
lands affordable housing for the local people who have lived here for years or just whomever shows up
first who have the big bucks?
Please read this petition https://www.change.org/p/help-locals-be-able-to-buy-affordable-homes.
Zendo, please share all the reports that you said you have on population growth,traffic,tsunami
evacuation, sewar, water, parking that you said was done for all the developments that have been
already approved and please share a developmental map of the Big Island so we can all see what you
have approved and possibly will be approving, so we all can completely understand what you are
creating for us to live in here on the Big Island and how safe it really is going to be for the infrastructure
that this island has.
As a reminder have you considered that there is land at the bottom of Henery street that is For Sale to
developers to create another resort, which the town does not need. Kona town needs parking. Have you
considered this For Sale land could be a parking area that the town needs?Can you think about this and
consider talking with this owner to create a county parking lot there before another resort goes in that
will cause more parking challenges?We need to start solving issues not creating more population
without having island issues and infrastructure issues met first, please.
Can you please give 7 days' notice or longer before any county meeting deadlines for emails?Your
notice is sometimes 72 hours or less before a deadline and that is not enough time for people to let you
know how they feel about an issue you are having a meeting on. We all are working a lot, have lives and
need more time to be able to respond to you. Can you please take this into consideration and give a lot
more notice for your email deadlines and county meetings?
Thank you,
Sincerely,
Rebecca Melendez
bigislandtalk@gmail.com