HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0896.232 2022-2024From: Wayne Hemby
Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2024 8:57 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: oppisition to 10 year time extension to KV3 project- Bill 169
Honorable council members,
Some Council members mistakenly put forth a political and/or economic justification for the project, wanting to believe it helps
alleviate our current affordable housing crisis. It does not. A study by Keyser Marston Associates shows that each new development
creates a demand for additional affordable homes. A ratio of 20% affordable to 80% market rate units only just meets the number of
inclusionary affordable units FOR THAT PROJECT.
This project is OPPOSED by:
• County of Hawaii Cultural Resources Commission -
• County of Hawaii Kona Community Development Plan Action Committee
• County of Hawaii Leeward Planning Commission
• County of Hawaii Public Access, Open Space, & Natural Resources Preservation Commission (PONQ
• Kona Soil and Water Conservation District (funded by the County of Hawaii R&D Department)
• Na Ala Hele Hawaii Trail and Access Program (DOFAW, DLNR)
• Volunteer, unpaid Archeologists
• Hundreds, if not thousands, of residents living and working in this area.1612 have signed the petition against it
So Many Reasons to OPPOSE:
• Other major developments - over 750 multi -family units, including workforce housing - have already been approved in the
immediate area.
• Development is in a floodplain, with the applicant intending to place the lowest -income area at the bottom of the runoff,
and providing no mitigation for those living makai. (How's that forsocial justice?) The Council recently conducted a site visit
to see for themselves.
• Testimony has been given regarding pre- and post -contact archaeological and cultural significance, critical habitat loss,
ongoing water shortages, and drought.
• These parcels are in HECO's power shut-off wildfire area.
• Lack of concurrency required by the KCDP, putting additional strains on infrastructure, including the "Kona crawl."or "Loco
Blocko" traffic congestion
• Impact on the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is already violating the Clean Water Act by dumping effluent
into nearshore marine waters.
• The supportive testimony heard was almost exclusively given by those who already have or who will make money off this
application.
• After nearly 40 years of inaction, there should be no consideration for a time extension. Kill this project and get it off the
books.
Please OPPOSE Bill 169, Draft 3, Kona Three LLC's request for a 10-year time extension. Failure to do so will clearly indicate the
council is complacent and unwilling to see the facts or take the advice or guidance of supporting agencies
sincerely,
Wayne Hemby-Kailua Kona