HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0704.006 1998-2000 April 15, 2000
Honorable James Y. Arakaki
and Members of the County Council
County of Hawaii
25 Aupuni Street R=~E,veD
Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Zime.------ ~ ey-____---.-.
Re: Resolution for Time Share No. 229 00 pp}e---- `~j' r-- c'-~•---_--
--..~4Caunty~ Councl~-x PC
Applicant: Bridge Puako, LLC -The Villages of Aitra Le'a
Dear Chairman Arakaki and Councihnembers:
You will be making a decision soon which will affect many of us who live is South Kohala. The
area where the greatest potential impacts will occur will be on the coast where the members of
our three community organizations own over five hundred homes. Your decision to enrich one
mainland developer by approving his request will harm the environment and diminish the quality
of life for thousands of your constituents.
• The "Villages" of Aina Le'a, with 2600 planned residences, and particularly the possibility of
750 timeshare units, pose a threat to the quiet enjoyment of our very limited sandy beaches
and public facilities in the district. The consequent visitation of thousands of transients to
our shore will be devastating.
• You will be approving a timeshare "resort" is as area unfit for such use. Located
considerably mauka, it is not - as claimed by the developer -proximate to nor part of the
coastal area identified as Resort in the Cieneral Plan. HR.S § 514E-5 limits timeshare only
to three areas designated for hotel, resort, or transient vacation rental. None of these
designations eziat for the subject property, nor don the category "transient vacation
rental" ezist to the General Plan, Zoning Code, or any County Ordinance.
• Queen Kaahumanu Highway is presently overloaded and dangerous. The intersections are
without signals, mostly unlighted, and hazardous not only to local employees but especially
to tourists who are unfamiliar with the roads and directions.
• It is unlikely that there is sufficient water to serve this development. Without a clear
definition of available water resources in the lands of Ouli, Lalemilo and Waikoloa, it is
exUremely risky and imprudent to approve a project of this nature with its vast water needs.
• Puako reef is a national treastrre with class AA waters, the cleanest State category. The threat
of pollution from so many golf courses planned for the "Villages" is alarming. We have little
confidence in the developer's expertise is cad commitment to eliminating this threat.
• Although the actual use of a timeshare unit mirrors that of a resort or hotel room, significant
reductions is Transient Accommodation Tex collections occur with timeshare ownership.
These taxes serve to offset the impacts of resort and hotel occupancy on public facilities.
Without sufficient and equitable TAT collections, the county and we who pay taxes here will
bear the brunt of negative impacts without adequate revenues to help mitigate them.
Comm. No. 7i7~ •
File No. ZN(j
Ref. To: P~ PG
Ref. nate_APR 1 8 2000
Chairman James Y. Arakaki
Members of the Hawaii County Council
April 15, 2000
Page two
A review of the developer's "Timeshare Industry Economic Impact Study" by KPMG reveals the
following:
? Timeshare has moved into a "resort" or "hospitality" mode and is essentially pre-paid
vacation accommodations run by large hotel companies.
? The Big Island has less of the state's timeshare inventory and there is "pent-up demand for
timesharing on the Big Island" based on comparatively high sales volume.
? The average number of persons staying at a timeshaze unit is double the size of the average
hotel guest party and per person expenditures are lower per person for timeshaze visitors.
Timeshare visitors stay longer and come back more often.
? "Timeshaze resorts typically experience very high occupancy rates compazed to other visitor
accommodations."
Conclusion: This will be a huge and busy "resort" perched above our fragile coastline
which will compete with existing legally zoned resort occupancy without
bringing in the same revenues to mitigate negative impacts.
The report implies that the Big Island needs to "catch up" to the other islands in terms of
timeshaze units available for sale. You, and anyone who is at all akamai, can understand our
desire not to follow the lead of Oahu and Maui regarding development in general and timeshaze
in particular. Resorts, and timeshare projects, and their associated activities should be confined
to resort zoned areas. Visitors should be able to walk to the beach and enjoy the amenities that a
well-situated and carefully planned resort offers and maintains.
We respectfully request that you unanimously deny the application for timeshaze by the
developer.
Sincerely,
VIC£ ~2LSiD+~i?i
fj-'o R
Evan King Emil Pensky Roy Simperman
President, President, Director, Vice President,
Puako Community Mauna Kea Corrununity Mauna Lani Resort
Association Association Association
P.O. Box 44345, Kawaihae, Hawaii 96743
Chititttfsn lames Y. Arakaki
Members of the Hawaii County Council
April 1 S, X000
PaQc two
revieN• of the developer's "Timeshare Induary Economic impact Study" ~y l{l'MG reveals the
followirs
? Timeshare has moved into a "resort" or "hospitality" mode and is essentially pre-paid
vacadun accommodations ruts by large ho!c;i companies.
? the 1316 Island has less of the stare's timeshare inventory and there is "pent-up demoad For
timcshtuiug on the Rig Island" based on comparntivcly high salts volu[ce.
? TY_c avoragc number of persons staying a[ a [imeshare unit is dottblc the size of the a.•erage
hotel goes: party and per person axpendilures arc war per person for timeshare visitors.
Tinesl:aro visitors stay longer and come Txtck mote often.
? " 1'imeeharc resorts typically experience ve.v high occupancy r~res wmparcd to other visitor
accommodations."
Conclusion: This will be a huge and busy "rcaort" perched above our fragile coastline
which will compete with existing Iegal>,y mntxl rcmrt occupancy without
bringing in the same revenues to mitigate negative impucts.
The report implies that the Big Island needs to 'catch up" to the other islwds in terms o;
fitneshare [outs available for sale. You, sad anyons who is at all aiamai, cart undcntanti our
desire aol to Coilow the lead of gahu ttad D4sui regarding development in genera! and timesh~c
in particular, Resorts, e~rd timeshare nrnje~y, and their associated activities should'x cnnfiued
to resort zoned areas. Visitors should be able to walk to the beach and enjoy rite amenities that a
well-situated end c:ueittL'y planned resort offer'. trod mairrlains.
We respectfully request that you twanimously deny the application f?r timeshare by the
developer. _
Sincerely, ` ~ ~
,
1
Evan Tung Emil Pensky' Sintpem±an
President, Presiden4 'actor, Vicr. President,
Puako Community Mauna Kea Community Mauna Lani I:cson
Associati,n Association Associo:ioa
P.U. Aox 44335, Kauaihae, Hawaii 96143