HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0896.013 2022-2024 p/ LAAG
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Comments on Bill 169 - Kona Three Proposal
Aloha County Council.
1. Here's what I know about the extension request for the Kona Three proposal:
*The project received its rezoning in 1984 - 40 years ago. Think of all the things in
modern life that have changed in the 40 years. Why should this community accept the
same old approach to land development?
*Why should the community believe that more time will make a difference and the
project will be built?The last amendment approved by the County Council was in
November 2002, and the project was given a completion date of November 2011.c f?
Clearly, this project wasn't completed, and is why a new developer is requesting
another extension of 10 years.
*Affordable housing must part of this proposal. Please clarify what the affordable
housing requirements are for Kona Three. Is it the 10% housing credits that were == 2---
discussed in the December 2022 staff report'? Is it 20% that was stated in an Au94tst.
2022 letter from the Office of Housing and Community Development (OCHD)to the'
Planning staff?What land are we talking about? Where? Is the affordable housing ttQ �n
be on-site or off-site? Is the parcel adjacent to Lowe's part of this confusing mix?
* Please release the most current Affordable Housing Agreement with the
developer. The public and decision makers need to know what the terms of this
Agreement are.
*There seems to be a great deal of mistrust in the planning process for projects that are
sent to the Leeward Planning Commission for review. It's rare when there's a staff
recommendation to not approve a proposal. It feels like well thought out community
concerns are dismissed, and those who are against development are seen as
NIMBY's.
*This is another example of a conflict of interest where the current Planning
Director cannot be involved with a development proposal because he was previously
involved with the same proposal as a private consultant to the developer. Using the
Deputy Director as a "firewall" has gotten old. There are management level planners in
the department who have the education and experience to fill this important
government and community function (and who are women!) who don't have "private
developer baggage".
*All facets of the public infrastructure system are ill-equipped to have 450 units come
online, even over time. It is negligent to allow this amount of new housing units to
overwhelm the aging, antiquated, and possibly functionally obsolete various utility
infrastructure systems.
*This extension request is the perfect example of why the Council approved Bill 194,
and why Bill 127 has been proposed: the Planning Director should not have sole
authority to extend the life of rezoning projects, without public review, and conditions
of approval should be prepared with time limits clearly articulated.
2. I'd ask the Council to direct the Planning Director to enforce language in
Condition BB, Page 13 of Bill 169, and start the process to have the zoning revert to its
original zoning designation - Unplanned. Condition BB states, "should any of the
conditions not be met or substantially complied with in a timely manner, the Planning
Director may initiate rezoning of the area to its original or more appropriate
designation". I'd argue that 40 years is not timely to wait for affordable housing units to
be built. All residential developers must be required to provide affordable housing as
part of a project. This critical type of housing cannot be ignored or not be provided
because of a scheme to defer or delay or confuse the creation of these units. hiComm. N. ''� % . I�
Ref. To: !IL1
Ref. Date J'.;•N ® 4 2024
3. Please uphold the negative recommendation by the Leeward Planning Commission for
the Kona Three, LLC proposal. Too many will be impacted by a poorly conceived
development proposal. Forty years is just too darn long for much needed affordable
housing, neighbors wondering if a potential project to be built, and on land that is
important and sacred to many, regardless of archeological and cultural studies.
Mahalo.
Elizabeth Dunn