HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0896.237 2022-2024P / coun cl (
From:
Janice Kerr
Sent:
Monday, November 18,2024 7:39 PM
To:
Council Testimony
Subject:
Bill 169
DATE: November 18, 2024
TO: Hawaii Island County Council
FROM: Janice Kerr
76-4320 Leilani St. Kona, HI 967740
SUBJECT: Opposition to Bill 169, Draft 3
If all of the testimony that has been received over the last few years in opposition to
Bill 169 was put on one side of a dual scale, and all of the testimony in favor of Bill
169 was placed on the other side of the scale, the weight of the testimonies opposed to
Bill 169 would be like the weight of rocks compared to the weight of feathers on the
other side. The same analogy applies to the overwhelming number of individual local
residents who testified under oath opposing Bill 169, and the miniscule number of local
residents who testified under oath in favor of BiI1169.
As you know, there is an extensive list of local Government and Private Agencies,
Commissions, Committees, Districts, Programs, Clubs, Associations, etc., that have
officially and consistently communicated to the County Council the reasons for their
opposition to Bill 169. Their input should be carefully and seriously considered.
There are also hundreds of specific concerns that have been continually and repeatedly
voiced by the local Community, including (but not limited to) the fact that the subject
property is in a Floodplain, the inadequate infrastructure to support the residents of the
development and existing residents, the increased traffic that has nowhere else to go
but onto the already overcrowded streets, the loss of native habitat, the desecration of
archeological sites, the shortage of water, the lack of concurrency required by the Kona
Development Plan, the inadequate sewage capacity, the downstream flooding of homes
west of Kuakini Hwy. and Ali'i Dr. (Question: will the County be held liable for their
losses?), the changes that have occurred over the 40-year time period since someone
thought it was a good idea to build in a Floodplain, etc., etc., etc.
I have listed just a few of the many, many issues that have been raised by those
opposed to Bill 169. This is the issue raised by supporters of the Bill 169: Affordable
Housing.
Ref. NOV 2 0 2024
Those that are in favor of this development proclaim "Affordable Housing" is badly
needed. Yes, it is, but is a price tag of $2-$3 Million "affordable"? The layout of the
structures in this development pretty much assures ocean views throughout.
Neighboring properties with similar views are currently in that price range. By the time
this development would have structures ready to "move into", it is highly likely the
prices will be much, much higher.
Besides, the developers can still play around with "Affordable Housing Credits" and build
somewhere else, or not at all, because no one know the true status of the existing
Affordable Housing Credit trading schemes.
The developers cannot "contain" Mother Nature's rainfall on their property, no matter
what they promise. They cannot say that it is not a Floodplain. They cannot do anything
to mitigate traffic snarls. They cannot fix the Kealakehe Waste Water System. They
cannot relocate the native species found on their property. And they will not accept
liability for downstream flooding of existing homes.
The number of local residents and the number of valid reasons for opposing this
development continues to increase unabated over time. That should tell you something,
and you are obligated to listen and act with integrity.
Respectfully Submitted,
Janice Kerr
jkkona(cbhawaiiantel. net
F-MITIONOIT-Olow M: