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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0896.247 2022-2024/ Cou�l�i l dill I�q COMM, is 1� Oppose Bill 169 Kona Three LLC The Royal Vistas Developers are using smoke and mirrors to get approval! They stated that they don't plan on building any affordable housing on this project but plan to buy credits! They as developers haven't built anything- they sell dirt! With the Zoning STVR would be allowed. CC&R's can be changed at any time by a vote of the owners! Project Opposed By: Cultural Recourses Commission, Public Works, Local Archeologists, Kona Community Development Plan, Leeward Planning Commission, Kona Soil & Water Conservation, Natural Resource Conservation, Serra Club, and over 1,600 concerned citizens, and others. Flooding on November & December 2023 again on September 2024, Kuakini highway was closed due to flooding and mud. (Flood maps show most of this property is endanger of flooding. The Holualoa Ditch and Horseshoe Bend were raging rivers, bank to bank and about 4+ feet deep. Little to no rain was falling on this property. All the water was coming from above this property. There's no way they could collect all there water, only adding to the flooding) At least 16 historic archeological sites Pre and Post contact have been identified so far. At least one is significant, which is a Petroglyph and there could be more. Twelve sites were determined to be Historic Era sites. . They claim that the threatened and endangered species don't exist on this property which isn't true. The Pueo Owl, Hawaiian Hawks, Hoary Bats, and Blackburn's Sphinx Moth all use this property. (See pictures and Cultural Resources Commission tour) The Pueo was never listed in their report. Phttps://youtube.com/live/4mVDmueOLpY?si=fv3LRDMZASWEQeIM Hawaiian mythology, Pueo were worshipped as Gods and are still honored as ancestral guardian spirits or'aumakua, by Hawaiians today! . They claim that National Trails don't exist on this property. (Maps and the States trail expert was on the property and says they do exist. Evidence can be seen at the highway going up the property). Drone footage shows this. . They claim pre and post contact artifacts don't exist on the property. (Their own report says they do based on the light shovel probing of 5 acres) . They claim the remaining twin walls are cattle walls. (This appears to be false do to the fact they line up from Holualoa Inn to the canoe carving Heiau Makai of the Highway. Logs were put on sleds and pulled and slid down the mountain. (This was a log slide) Confirmed by Tom Pohaka Stone. . The food terraces were there for a Hawaiian gathering spot for the growing of food and exchanging or trading for other products. (All were part of the old Hawaiian Kona field system) * KV3 (AKA Royal Vistas Developers) were the last developers of Kona Vistas. They bought the project from a bankrupt company. They were required to finish 3 streets and bring them up to County standards for dedication which took over two years because they were in no rush. With all the lots they owned they Never built a single house. They sold dirt, the same thing they are trying to do with the Royal Vistas project. They will not build anything but sell it. That's why they want 10 years. They were asked if they had financing to build this project- they said No! . This property should be returned to Agricultural designation and sold to PONC for preservation. Especially after 40 years of no progess. . Their experts will say anything because they are being paid to say it by the developers. I understand Mr. Keone Kalawe was a student of Mr. Tom Pohaku Stone. Two of the three organizations that were mentioned No longer use Mr. Kalawe's services! In his report the word "May" appeared several times. Also the relationship between the Planning Director Zendo Kerns (past developers consultant), the Developers, and Mr. Kalawe are all subjective and not coincidental. . It's well documented that we don't have the infrastructure now, the sewer plant is under investigation possible major fine and over taxed now. Upgrades are needed. Sewer lines need replacement and increased in size in some areas. 779 housing units have already been approved to build adding to the issue. Traffic is another area of major concern. Every day it increases. The highway is already rated an F. Remember our only hospital is 10.4 miles from town and takes 17+ minutes to get there on a good traffic day. Narrow winding sections with no area to pull off. The road goes through two small villages to get to the hospital. This puts the ambulance staff, the patient, and public in danger with each trip which increases the run time to the hospital. With the Golden Hour every 15 minutes of delay getting to the ER lessens the chance of a full recovery by 25% (the Golden Hour starts at the second of the injury or illness happens). . Many issues with the Water Department keeping wells operational which causes water restrictions. . Electricity, we can't keep the lights on now with rolling blackouts because a generator stops working. Where is all this extra power going to come from for the approved 1,300 extra homes? The developers were asked 2 times during the last meeting if these were 2 Story with the developers saying yes! Two story is 25 feet or less in height! However he forgot to say the majority of this development is going to be 3 stories. Each building is 200 feet by 200 feet and up to 45 feet tall! Blocking of views and devaluing properties. . The developer has stated that the condos will be private gated streets. Only rich people will be able to afford these. Also zoning allows STVR's. How does that help affordable housing? Second homes for elite people. . Rental apartment buildings/homes are usually owned by 1 person. Condos are individually owned. How is this going to work? One person buys a 200 foot by 200 foot 2 story or 3 story buildings up to 45 feet tall? . The Developers propose 2 parks and pools! For those that have and have nots? The expense of monthly maintenance and insurance will run all affordable rentals and owners out. And gated off so you can't have access to some areas. . County standards say Makka to Makai roads with curbs gutters and sidewalks. Of course they don't want to build them. Then don't connect to other neighborhoods either! The Developers they plan to use Roads in Kona Vistas exceeds County standards for grade at Lako. You can't see over the top looking down the street and on a turn on Lako with cars speeding down the hill. 2 short driveways are within 50 feet with people backing out. You can't see each other. Serious accident waiting to happen. Liholiho Place is a much safer place for any connection. . The connection to the highway should have full traffic lights synchronized with the light at Lako and the Kuakini highway on ramps brought into the light. Now there are 2 entrances to the highway that causes major issues with cars trying to get to 3 lanes (left, right, or straight) in a very short distance. Of course the developers don't want to build it because it cost money! They don't care because they don't live here! They take their money and run! No responsibility. . The Developers own around 100 acres next to the soon to be built affordable housing project near Lowes. That would appear to be a more suitable site for their project (close to jobs and shopping). If they are truly concerned about affordable housing then there entire project should be affordable. To elevate traffic Walk, bike, bus/trolley, to work or shopping. (Google 15 Minute City) Follow the recommendation of all the Commissions, Boards, Departments, Public, and have the Land purchase by PONC so it can be preserved. Any work on this property should require protection of any and all artifacts and require an Archeologist and a Hawaiian Cultural Practioner onsite at all times with any ground work. To be chosen by the Cultural Resources Commission and paid for by the developers. Don't let greedy developers misguide you. Vote NO on any time extensions. John Powell, Kailua-Kona Council Testimony Oppose- Comm. 896.215 Aloha County Council, There No Valid Reason to postpone the vote on Bill 169. This project vote has been delayed several times by the developers trying to buy Affordable Housing I M-9-M The Pre and Post Contact Artifacts are not going away. The Protected and Endangered Spices are not going away. The Flooding (November & December 2023, September 2024) is not changing. The rugged steepness on the property isn't changing. The over 1,600 people against this project are not going away. Just because some kind of negotiating may be happening is no reason to put off the vote on Bill 169. A NO vote in fact it may speedup the process of PONC purchasing this property for protection. John Powell 0 2 .