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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0896.073 2022-2024 P/LAAc dill to From: Rebecca Melendez Sent: Monday, June 17, 2024 8:19 PM To: Council Testimony Subject: No to Kona Three LLC Attachments: Resources Petition.docx Please read my petition that I've attached. Here are the reasons some of the 372 people have signed. Please say NO to Kona Three LLC. Thank you, Rebecca Melendez co -- Comm. No. ► ' 33 Ref. To: Ott i Ref. Date I tal. 1 8 2U24 Help Prioritize Big Island Development to Keep Island's Resources Safe for ALL https://www.change•org/p/help-prioritize-big-island-development-to-keep-island-s-resources- safe-for-all Help Prioritize Big Island Homes •�.•- to Keep Safe Infrastructure. ---r� -. I . , Ambulance trying to get by Kona traffic IRIF- 4_•-i-z. N r �� t ... Wednesday at 3pm and more 1 • : _ it. - • ' . develppment is coming. -� — - _ ` ! : / 1111 alrilli;i1 II 111111111111M i 6 144‘ C'''' / 1\ ,„ . , , , , _ , - . .L ....-_-_ ,, , , a 0:- :, , . ,,:t,. „ , -, --, --- ..." •+�r••• 0 # 1�v— Started June 22. 2022 Petition to Rebecca Villegas and 6 others Why this petition matters v Started by Rebecca Melendez Media Inquiries We stand to keep The Big Island in a place where the Island's resources are safe for the entire population and visitors. We ask that you read all articles below about Big Island resources and learn that the island's resources are limited and are already being affected negatively. Please, read these articles and learn through other sources as well, about how all the development that has already been built, and the many years of new development that has already been approved for the future, will affect the island's resources. We stand and ask that you stop before approving more and more developments and learn what is happening to the island's resources and what will happen to the island's resources after the years of development that is already scheduled for the future. Because a lot of development is having negative impacts on the island's resources as of today. What will future development do to the island's resources if there are already resource issues happening today? Please, learn how to take island resources seriously because you have approved many more years of development to come and today the island's resources are having issues. What will the future look like if you keep approving more development and don't start taking island resources seriously? What is happening to Big Island Resources 1) Hawaii Deals with Burgeoning Waste Management Problem As landfills face closure and waste-to-energy projects stall, various counties in Hawaii are dealing with waste management issues. Waste360 Staff January 10, 2020 "Hawaii Island is in the enviable position of having a landfill with anywhere from 20 to 100 years of capacity left to take in trash. But the island still wrestles with significant issues like plastic products that are no longer being recycled." https://www.waste360.com/landfill/hawaii-deals-with-burgeoninq-waste- management-problem 2) "Big Island Now readers seem to agree that there's likely no single solution for slowing down the timeline of the West Hawaii Sanitary Landfill reaching capacity. The West Hawai'i Sanitary Landfill, the only remaining landfill on the Big Island, is forecast to reach capacity within the next 20 to 25 years." https://bigislandnow.com/2023/09/17/biq-island-now-poll-no-27-results- more-than-one-solution-needed-to-help-extend-life-of-west-hawaii-landfill/ 3) Hawaii Island Has Decades of Landfill Space But Still Faces Challenges In Dealing With Its Waste Hawaii Public Radio Published January 9, 2020 at 5:00 AM HST "Hawaii Island is in the enviable position of having a landfill with anywhere from 20 to 100 years of capacity left to take in trash. But the island still wrestles with significant issues like plastic products that are no longer being recycled. For the past four decades, trash from the east side of Hawaii Island has been dumped in a landfill outside of Hilo. But now trash from all parts of the island is being trucked to a facility north of Kona." https://www.hawaiipublicradio.orq/local-news/2020-01- 09/hawaii-island-has-decades-of-landfill-space-but-still-faces-challenges-in- dealing-with-its-waste 4)"What happens to Hawaii Island's trash and recyclables? BY MICHELLE BRODER VANdyke HAWAII ISLAND PUBLISHED 11:30 AM ET DEC. 17, 2022 By Michelle Broder Vandyke Hawaii Island PUBLISHED 11:30 AM ET Dec. 1The future of the landfill The West Hawaii Landfill will be full in about 20 years. Finding a location for the next landfill is a concern, according to the DEM officials. They said it will be challenging to find a location for a future landfill because of stringent regulations and costs related to planning, environmental regulations, design and construction that will take many years to complete. It will also require community support." https://spectrumlocalnews.com/hi/hawaii/news/2022/12/15/what- happens-to-hawaii-island-s-trash-and-recvclables 5) "The overwhelming plastic waste Hawaii visitors leave behind By Natasha BourlinAug 24, 2023 Hawaii saw more than 9 million visitors last year. Those tourists' first stops are often big-box and convenience stores, where they buy bottled water, plastic sand toys, single- use bodyboards, noodles, floaties and inner tubes for their trips." https://www.sfgate.com/hawaii/article/plastic-waste-hawaii-visitors-leave- behind-18286076.php 6) "A county commission drafts ordinance aiming to ban recyclables at West Hawaii landfill By Megan Moseley September 6, 2023 1:00 AM HST * Updated September 6, 2023 • 2:02 PM Hawaii County's Environmental Management Commission is developing an ordinance that aims to prohibit the amount of recyclable materials ending up in the island's only working landfill." https://bigislandnow.com/2023/09/06/new-draft-ordinance-aims-to- ban-recvclables-at-west-hawaii-landfill/ 7) " Hawaii County issues mandatory 25% water restriction for North Kona August 7, 2023 5:21 PM HST A mandatory 25% water restriction has been issued for various communities in North Kona due to the failure of the Honokohau Deepwell over the weekend." https://bigislandnow.com/2023/08/07/hawaii-county-issues-mandatorv- 25-water-restriction-for-north-kona/ 8) "Hawai'i Water Supply Closely Monitored As Severe Drought Continues by Big Island Video Newson Nov 6, 2023 at 3:28 pm STORY SUMMARY HAWAI'I COUNTY - Officials say a special focus will be placed on the South Kohala Water System, which is more susceptible to drought conditions." https://www.bigislandvideonews.com/2023/11/06/water-supply-closely- mon itored-as-hawai%CA%BBi-under-severe-drought/ 9) "Big Island Concerns About Water Quality Prompt A Lawsuit Over A Kona Sewage Plant Kealakehe sewage plant discharges more than 1 million gallons of wastewater into a lava pit near the ocean. By Paula Dobbyn / February 6, 2024 Settlement talks are scheduled in an environmental lawsuit involving a county-operated Big Island sewage plant in Kona." https://www.civilbeat.org/2024/02/concerns-about- water-qua lity-prom pt-a-lawsuit-over-a-kona-sewage-plant/ 10) "Researchers find sewage from an oceanfront Big Island community reaches nearshore waters Hawaii Public Radio I By Russell Subiono, Sophia McCullough Published December 20, 2021 at 5:56 PM HST There are nearly 50,000 cesspools on the Big Island, with tens of thousands posing a risk to water resources, according to the Hawaii Department of Health." https://www.hawaiipublicradio.orq/the-conversation/2021-12- 20/researchers-find-sewage-from-an-oceanfront-big-island-community-reaches- nearshore-waters 11) Has this issue been fixed? It's going on 3 years since this article was written. "Kona coast faces stark wastewater tradeoffs Current situation There are approximately 88,000 cesspools across the state, releasing more than 200,000 cubic meters of wastewater per day to the environment. https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2021/09/10/kona-stark-wastewater- tradeoffs/ 12) "BIG ISLAND NEWS HECO restores power after initiating emergency outages on Big Island by: Elizabeth 'Ufi Posted: Jan 30, 2024 / 09:43 AM HST Updated: Jan 30, 2024 / 04:15 PM HST An unexpected loss of several large Hawaii Electric generators left some residents on Big Island without power for parts of the morning on Tuesday, Jan. 30." https://www.khon2.com/biq-island-news/heco-initiates-30-min-rollinq- outages-after-Toss-of-generators/ 13) Hawai'i State News Update: Hawaiian Electric initiates rolling outages throughout Big Island February 13, 2024 5:23 PM HST * Updated February 14, 2024 4:21 PM The emergency outages are being initiated in various areas around the entire island to prevent loss of power to an even greater number of customers. The timing and extent of the outages will depend on the amount of demand on the system and the availability of generators." https://bigislandnow.com/2024/02/13/hawaii-island-customers-asked- to-reduce-electricity-use/ 14) "LOCAL NEWS HECO issues rolling power outages around Big Island by: Emily Cervantes Posted: Feb 13, 2024 / 05:11 PM HST Updated: Feb 13, 2024 / 09:12 PM HST Hawaiian Electric initiated rolling outages for Big Island after several large generators became unavailable and reduced output Tuesday night." https://www.khon2.com/local-news/heco-releases-conservation-alert-for-biq- island/ 15) "Here's how power outages can have repercussions for Hawai'i's water supply Hawaii Public Radio I By Savannah Harriman-Pote Published February 13, 2024 at 10:59 AM HST Water departments on Oahu and Hawaii Island have advised customers to conserve water ahead of possible storm-related power outages this month. But what does the power grid have to do with the water supply? It is impossible to separate Hawai'i's power system from its water system, said Kawika Uyehara, deputy director of Hawaii County's Department of Water Supply." https://www.hawaiipublicradio.orq/local-news/2024-02-13/residents-on- hawaii-island-and-oahu-are-asked-to-conserve-water-amid-power-outaqes 16) U.S. Hawaii is "on the verge of a greater catastrophe," locals say, as water crisis continues By Li Cohen Updated on: April 11, 2024 / 8:23 AM EDT / CBS News In Hawaii, one of the most important sayings is ola i ka wai, "water is life" — a phrase that not only sums up what it means to exist on an island, but what it means to live, period. But now, one of the largest of the island chain's land masses is facing a triple threat to its sole freshwater source, and if it isn't addressed soon, one community member says, "we're in deep trouble." https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hawaii-water-crisis-climate-change/ 17) NewsHawai'i County issues mandatory 25% water restriction for North Kona August 7, 2023 5:21 PM HS A mandatory 25% water restriction has been issued for various communities in North Kona due to the failure of the Honokohau Deepwell over the weekend. https://bigislandnow.com/2023/08/07/hawaii-county-issues-mandatory-25-water- restriction-for-north-kona/ 18) Hawai'i Water Supply Closely Monitored As Severe Drought Continues by Big Island Video News on Nov 6, 2023 at 3:28 pm (BIVN) —With an ongoing drought on the island of Hawaii, the Hawaii County Department of Water Supply says it is closely monitoring its 23 public water systems, with a "special focus" placed on the South Kohala Water System. https://www.bigislandvideonews.com/2023/11/06/water-su pply-closely-monitored- as-hawai%CA%BBi-under-severe-drought/ 19) Power Outage Issues because the power company actually has scheduled power outages https://www.hawaiianelectric.com/safety-and-outages/power-outages Please, give tax breaks to all homes that provide solar and/or wind turbine to there homes to help with power issues on the island. 20) r/Biglsland r/BiglslandJoin Aloha! This is a community of Big Island redditors. 28KMembers8Online •2 mo. agomadazzahatter Hawaiian Electric is reporting that several large generators on the Big Island are experiencing a range of issues and may lead to the need for rolling outages if supply does not meet demand. https://www.reddit.com/r/Biqlsland/comments/1bnuar3/hawaiian electric is repo rtinq that several large/?rdt=52660 21) NewsHawaiian Electric asking Big Island customers to conserve power due to down generators March 25, 2024 11:49 AM HST According to the utility company, this is an usual situation as the large generators are experiencing mechanical problems resulting in a reduced output. The largest generator, an independent power producer that sells electricity to Hawaiian Electric, is offline with significant mechanical issues. The plant generates 60 megawatts or nearly one-third of the typical peak demand of 180 megawatts on the island. https://bigislandnow.com/2024/03/25/hawaiian-electric-askinq-biq-island- customers-to-conserve-power-due-to-down-qenerators/ These articles show that Big Island resources are currently being negatively affected from the development on island, and there are years of new development that has already been approved, and even more development is still being approved before learning if the island's resources can handle more development. This needs to STOP, and island resources need to be addressed and taken seriously. We stand to say LEARN WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE ISLAND'S RESOURCES before approving more development because this is an island, it's not the mainland so it doesn't have all the resources the mainland has. We stand and say that Big Island resources needs to be FULLY considered before any more new development is approved for the safety of ALL who live here and visit. There are many, many developments that have been approved for years to come and we stand and say we need to learn how the island's resources will be affected when these developments are finished before you keep approving more and more developments! We stand and say NO DEVELOPING ON BURIAL GROUND. The history of the island needs to be preserved and the burial grounds need to be respected at all costs. We stand and say NO more approving of future developments because there are hundreds of acers that have been approved for future development and the Big Island needs to address these resource issues before more land is approved for development. We stand and ask to make it mandatory for vacation rentals and ALL resorts and hotels to provide drinking water machines to their guests to help stop all the empty water bottle waste on the island. We stand and ask to make it mandatory for vacation rentals and ALL resorts and hotels to provide shampoo, conditioner, body wash in bulk containers rather than continuously using different containers for every new guest, to help stop all the empty bottles waste in the limited landfill. Can Hawaii Planning Department put in a stipulation in all development applications that to build on The Big Island they must sell a high percentage of their homes to locals at an affordable rate first before selling to newcomers because this is an island, and the island's resources need to be seriously considered? A stipulation put in to be able to build could help the local homes shortage as well as slow the increase in population and help with the island's resources. An example, of a stipulation could be, to build on the Big Island they must sell 50% of their homes to native Hawaiian locals who have lived on the island for 10 years or more, 25% to regular locals who have lived on the island for 10 years or more and all at an affordable rate and sell 25% to newcomers at whatever rate they want. A Big Island building stipulation that would offer 75% of homes that developers build, sold to locals in order for the developer to be approved to build on the island would help the island's resources because it would slow the population growth to help keep the island's resources safe for all who live here. The articles above prove that island resources are already have serious issue and this needs to be taken seriously, ASAP. To have a building stipulation, this would help the locals who have lived here for years be able to purchase a home before big investors, as well as help, slow down homes from becoming vacation rentals instead of family homes, and will help decrease the fast increase in population until the Planning Department can know for sure that the island's resources can handle a serious increase in population. We ask for an Enviormental Impact Report to be done to learn what is safe for Big Island resources with future developments and the people that live here now and will move here in the future. How can we be sure to have enough landfill, water, sewer, power...for everyone? This needs to be learned. Also, there are mostly only 2 lanes throughout the entire Big Island and some places where cars cannot pull over if an ambulance needs to get by. The traffic has seriously increased and if the island's population keeps increasing there will be hours and hours of constant serious traffic in the near future, how will ambulances get by in emergencies? What if there is a tsunami and people need to get to higher ground? Will they be able to get to higher ground in time with such an increased in population causing a serious traffic? The island's small road infrastructure isn't made for a high population and that needs to be taken seriously. We ask for another hospital to be built, as well as a trauma center and dive chamber to be put on the island to accommodate all types of injuries because of all the years of new future development that you have already approved. Alii Drive is only two lanes and right now there are three huge developments in progress, and over 10 more acres of land on this street has just been approved for even more development on this street. Did you research to see how this one road can handle more development before your approval? Did you research and check on the island's resources before you approved this and many other developments all over the Big Island? We stand to slow down development to learn how roads will handle all the new homes that Hawai'i has already approved for years to come before more development is approved because right now there is serious traffic issues all over Big Island? We stand to say what are you doing about the growth in homeless on the island? We stand and ask that this be taken seriously. What about parking? All of the Big Island towns have parking issues, especially during high tourist seasons and especially Ironman. The land at the bottom of Henery St. has been for sale for a new resort for years and the town needs parking. Would it be possible to use that land for town parking instead of another resort? With more subdivisions comes more cars and the island towns are already overcrowded with parking issues. How will parking Improve with more houses? Is the Hawaii Planning Department considering the parking issues? We stand for you to find a way to improve the parking issues before approving more development. There are over 50,000 cesspools on The Big Island. Have these all been upgraded to ensure they will not pollute the land and ocean? This needs to be addressed ASAP before more development is approved. We stand that all cesspools be upgraded ASAP to ensure safety for the land and ocean around the island. Please, give tax breaks to all those who change from a cesspool to a toilet such as the Cinderella Cinder https://cinderellaeco.com/en-us this does not use water and is a way to get rid of cesspools so they stop polluting the ocean that we all swim in. If you agree with this info, please sign this petition. There are many new homes that have been approved for future development and are currently being built right now. This petition states that we strongly OPPOSE approving new development applications because the island's resources are currently having serious issues, as you can see from the articles above, and many more homes have already been approved for future years developments. You need to learn how island resources will be affected by these years of future developments before adding more. There are many big black and white signs on vacant lands that have development application information and Tax Map Key numbers for new developments and they are all over the island. What will the island become if you don't start taking island resources seriously? Thank you for your support! Reasons for signing See why other supporters are signing, why this petition is important to them, and share your reason for signing (this will mean a lot to the starter of the petition). Carolan Cash2 weeks ago Getting dangerous as more and more folks moving here. Plus all the proposed developments. Give us a break • ._� . Timothy Sullivan2 weeks ago Keep Hawaii Hawaiian • Fero! Kolons3 months ago I'm tired of all this development with no infrastructure. I spend so much time stuck in traffic and it's raining my life in Hawaii. I can't imagine being stuck in an ambulance that is stuck in traffic. People will die and then they'll sue the state. Infrastructure before construction! • Amy Lee3 months ago The beauty and historical values are very significant. Sea turtles will loose their homes and/or became endangered. It's time to put a stop to the greedy people developing the land. What else must we endure? Fatima AYoubil year ago It's important to preserve local lifestyle Report • Caroline Norcrossl year ago Hawaiian lands as not just for tourists and the rich. • Andrea Kanial year ago The land should not be destroyed. Focus on locals being able to afford housing. Stop the greed. Report • Justin Porterl year ago Needs to be a halt on wealthy mainlanders rushing the B.I. driving up house pricing. Many of these people don't even live here FULL-TIME. Report • linda lohnsl year ago There are too many homeless locals Joanne A Martinezl year ago Big Island residents are impacted by all the high end development promoted by real estate business, the planning department and Mayor driving the high cost to live on the island beyond affordability. Native Hawaiians r forced to leave their homeland replaced by wealthy mainlanders changing Native Hawaiian & local culture to include political views not favorable to long-established residents on Big Island. Hawaii County is becoming not much different than stateside culture. We are losing our uniqueness & delicate ecostructure is being damaged. • Lauren Kamauu2 years ago We need to be able to live here too! We shouldn't be priced out of our homes Susan Collins2 years ago Local families are priced out of housing market. Annette Reves2 years ago The laws should be that any residential property that is sold in Hawaii, must be sold to other residents that have lived here as full time residents for 5 consecutive years or more, immediately before the actual buying of the residence. Proof must be submitted including 5 years or more of their income taxes filed in Hawaii as full time residents. • Pam Shultise2 years ago We need affordable housing! • Jana Serion2 years ago Jana Serion • Kurt Faut2 years ago Simply put, the traffic on Kamehameha Ill Road, should this project be completed, will be similar to that fronting Hulihe'e Palace and the pier. Tourists clamoring to swim and recreate on the bay, ride on the snorkel and fishing boats, and passing through to the Outrigger Keauhou Bay Hotel will irreversibly and negatively affect the peaceful nature of this gem of an ocean masterpiece. I am firmly against the construction of the through road from Ali'i Drive to the Hotel. • Ana Chervenak2 years ago My home is becoming overpopulated • CM Simon2 years ago I care. Resort • ..466i.L. Tracy Gonsalves2 years ago We are already overpopulated, our ecosystem is altered each time portions of this land is cleared to make way for another structure or roadway, this invites the outsiders of wealth to buy and continues to suppress locals and natives from living a basic or simple affordable life. This depletes and disrupts our beautiful historical hawai`i nei. Frank Rom2 years ago Seems population growth is out pacing infrastructure development by too big a margin. Ann Eshabarr2 years ago We need to build smart and affordable. We need to take great care with the important decisions being made. Infrastructure, roads, culturally significant land, and traffic are just a few of the things to consider. We need to move forward carefully. We must stop corruption. All money should go to where it's intended not someone's pocket. We need more auditing. Mahalo. Peter Matlock2 years ago If all existing homes that are supposed to be hooked up to our sewer system were connected overnight, we'd already be over the capacity of the Kealakehe sewage treatment plant. We know the danger of getting into local waters with an open cut--infections take impossibly long to heal. Coral reefs and marine wildlife are suffering. Why are we making this problem worse? Protect'Opihihale Ohana2 years ago Ua mau ke 'ea o ka 'aina i ka pono. • Heidi Lee2 years ago We don't need more housing unless we have enough natural resources .. and we need affordable housing not more second homes for people p ,Re ort, i Ethan Olins2 years ago As it is there's not nearly enough infrastructure or decent shoreline access in Kona and BI in general. Aole. • Duane Nakano2 years ago We need more affordable housing for locals..l'm in the construction industry & all I see is lots being cleared to build for outsiders. • Carolyn Witcover2 years ago There is too much housing here owned by people who only live here for a few months each year! Meanwhile the locals suffer. Report • Karen Foster2 years ago We already need infrastructure improvements. • Hanna Casaclrande2 years ago I'm signing because lots of locals family's as well as local family business are being kicked out of there long time generation or just starting businesses, and family can't afford to live in there own home in which they were planing on staying in forever to raise there kid let there kids raise there kids etc.. almost everyone is moving out to ocean view because it's the only thing we can afford due to lots being underpaid as an employee, so when can we ever win honestly, it's like we get this but you gotta do this how is that fair? I get we're the biggest island but not every haole has to live here vacationing is enough to make our system run, so please keep in mind to those who want to build and kick all current residents out who have been there for YEARS keep in mind that they have a family to care for and sometimes there's only ONE person who is able to work and provide for the whole entire house... be thoughtful don't ruin our lives and make us all homeless Resort V fi • Mark Axelson2 years ago Markaxelson Report • 10 comments were added to the list T Vazquez2 years ago I would like Hawaii Island to NOT become like the island of OAHU! Denise Smith2 years ago The big island can not handle MORE VEHICLES MORE PEOPLE.. WITHOUT PROPER INFRASTRUCTURE!!!!! Re•ort -- ; Aleksie Keske2 years ago Hawaii belongs to Hawaiians NOT real estate agents. Catherine Watson2 years ago To save the big island don't want more people moving here bini easley2 years ago I don't want Kona to become Honolulu • Kittrena Morcian2 years ago Enough is enough. Kailua Kona sewage seeping into the ocean for decades. All homes sold to people flocking in and no own who lives or born here, one white or blue collar workers can buy a home. I bought a house with a mortgage well over a decade ago and the price for a termite home trashed by tenants was $250,000. Now can be be sold for $700,000. Bizarre. Lisa J Sims2 years ago Growth in Kona has skyrocketed. Keep Kona a small town or there won't be any natural land left Resort Jan Holton2 years ago I agree with the issues stated in the petition. Report Deni Alley2 years ago Keep Hawai'i Island country! 3 Share Tweet Resort • Frederick Smith2 years ago No new development until we update public infrastructure like roads and sewage. It's amazing how far out of control this has gotten already. 1 Share Tweet