HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0896.017 2022-2024 p/ IAAC
Bill lvt
,
,LOUNTY OF HAWAII
Aloha. I am Joel Gimpel, a Vice President of the Board oily Mal iRi g ates tiKona Homeowners
Association, a subdivision of 362 single-family homes several hundred yard north of the proposed
Royal Vistas Project(Kona 3 LLC). In October 2023, I submitted testimony to the Leeward Planning
Commission noting strong opposition to the applicant's request for another time extension, focusing on
the many traffic concerns and the Cultural Resources Commission's report which, after its careful
inspection of the subject property and nearly three hours of expert testimony and thorough discussion,
unanimously approved its report to the Planning Commission for careful consideration. That report,
completed in July 2023 and transmitted to the Leeward Planning Commission in August 2023, clearly
indicated that the proposed development, for which a 10-year time extension for completion of
Condition I was sought, "will likely have substantial impacts on historical and cultural assets on the
subject property," and that"the area should be preserved in perpetuity as a historic property."
Unfortunately,the Leeward Planning Commission did not formally consider the CRC's report for
seven months, from September 2023 through March 2024, due to lack of a quorum at six meetings,
and once, in December 2023, at the applicant's request.
Furthermore, on February 7 of this year, the state's Land Use Commission (LUC) met to consider the
Kona 3 LLC's report regarding the developer's compliance with affordable housing requirements. The
developer had reported that another developer had agreed to include 67 affordable housing units for .
Kona 3 LLC in a development behind Lowes. However, the other developer denied the existence of
any such agreement. The denial was reported in West Hawaii and noted in testimony before the LUC.
My wife and I, long-term residents of Pualani Estates, as well as the Board of Directors of Pualani
Estates in Kona, concur with the CRC's report and strongly urge you to deny the applicant's request for
a time extension, and to approve and adopt the CRC's recommendation to preserve the area in
perpetuity as a historic property..
Mahalo for your kind attention and careful consideration of this matter. I'll be happy to respond to your
questions.
Joel Gimpel
75-628 N. Mea Lanakila Pl.
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
808/325-4991
Comm. Ng. VRil'1 +
Ref. To: r[MK
Ref. Dote JUN - 4 2024