HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0964.047 2004-2006
8/22/2006 11:59 PM FROM: (808) 327-1277 TO: 961-8912 PAGE: 001 OF 003
Written Testimony from Barbara E. Scott
75-5782 Lopeka Place
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
(808) 327-1277
County council Meeting y,
August 23, 2006
BILL 309 C C
C~
Amends the Hawaii County General Plan, as Adopted N
by Ordinance No. 05-25.
STACY K. RIGA, Chmr & F udmg ofcer -
VIRGINIA ISBELL, wOe Char
JAMES Y. ARAKAKI
PETE HOFFMANN
FRED C. HOLSCHUH, M.D.
VIRGINIA ISBELL
DONALD MDA
BOB JACOBSON
K. ANGEL PILAGO
GARY SAFARIK
In support of General Plan amendments,
with emphasis on E-4 in North Kona to support state harbor expansion plans
Honorable Chairman Higa, Vice Chair Isbell
and Distinguished Council Members:
It is encouraging to see land use amendments that consider future infrastructure needs, as well as
resource development and protection.
This Council accomplished the monumental task of passing the Revised General Plan, updating
the protocol for island development to meet current population realities. his good stewardship
to recognize that the General Plan will require adjustments to fine tune land uses in specific
locations.
In light of the harbor expansion and infrastructure contributions proposed by JDI, it is reasonable
to allow the amendments that will support the project. It is clear that the final plan is not in
place, but when JDI submits the project for approval, the Council will have the Kona Kai Ola
Environmental Impact Statement for reference, and the option to require additional conditions as
considered appropriate.
Sincerely,
Barbara E. Scott
Enclosure: Letter to the Editor, published in West Hawai'i Today, August 19, 2006
Comm. No. qb
Ref. To: preieMet
Ref. Date At lr, y 7nne
8/22/2006 11:59 PM FROM: (808) 329-1279 TO: 961-9912 PAGE: 002 OF 003
Attachment to Council Testimony
August 23,2006
Subject: Kona Kai Ola
Letter to the Editor, Published in West Hawai'i Today on August 19, 2006
Recent comments from the Planning Director indicate opposition to the Kona Kai Ola
project at Honokohau Harbor to expand the small boat harbor by developing a
marina/resort/commercial project. Opposition is based on the premise that the project will
generate growth and exacerbate infrastructure problems in North Kona.
It is true that the project will generate growth by creating jobs in North Kona and that
visitors using transient facilities will add vehicles to roads. It is also true that the project
will generate income for DHHL and provide a means to fund water and road development
on the 311+ acre DHHL parcel at Kealakehe and the 150 acre DHHL parcel at Keahuolu
that are available for affordable housing development. It is also true that project developer
JDI will upgrade the wastewater treatment plant to R1 grade, which is DOH approved as
safe to use for irrigation and will relieve the current stresses on the potable water
supply from use as dust control and irrigation. It is also true that project developer JDI is
in negotiations to develop a connector road from Honokohau Harbor to Kuakini Highway,
which would relieve congestion on local roads.
On April 25, 2003, the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) approved the
issuance of a Request for Qualifications/Request for Proposals to expand the small boat
harbor area. On October 8, 2004, BLNR approved the selection of JDI and authorized
DLNR to negotiate a developer agreement with JDI for the proposed development project.
On February 5, 2004, DHHL announced the major lease agreement to develop adjacent
DHHL lands. The lease agreement was negotiated between DHHL and Kona Marina
Development Group, LLC-a limited partnership between Menehune Development, Inc.
and JDI. Both of the state agency's RFP solicitations and planned expansion at
Honokohau Harbor and adjacent lands were in progress before the February 2, 2005
Hawaii General Plan revision changed land use designations related to the project area.
Consideration for a marina project immediately draws attention to community benefit. The
facility management of the state's small boat harbors continues to be an issue and without
legislative support to finance improvements. On July 29, 2006, Richard Rice, the state
administrator for the DLNR boating division resigned, following the recent legislative audit
that reiterated previous findings:
"The boating program's mismanagement and neglect have
deteriorated facilities to the point where their continued use
threatens public safety."
According to DLNR Director Peter Young, Ed Underwood has been named the new acting
head of the DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR). Funding from the
legislature continues to be elusive for harbor development, improvement, and maintenance.
The BLNR solicited proposals to expand Honokohau Harbor and to include marina
facilities. The private/public partnership is a means to fund the state harbor development
to a viable and revenue producing facility. The DHHL adjacent project is part of their
2
8/22/2005 11:59 PM FROM: (808) 329-1277 T.0: 911-8912 PAGE: 003 OF 003
long-term master plan to generate economic opportunity for Native Hawaiians and the
greater community, and to generate revenue that will help place Hawaiians on DHHL
lands. DLNR and DHHL have set restricting conditions on development at the harbor and
adjacent lands
As part of the developer requirements, JDI submitted the Environmental Impact
Statement Preparation Notice (EISPN) on July 8, 2006 to the Office of Environmental
Quality Control (OEQC), which is available for review on the OEQC public website, and
with the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Final Environmental Impact
Statement to follow. All submissions to the OEQC are open to public comment.
OEQC procedures protect all environmental and cultural preservation concerns. In the
Final EIS, the developer outlines any mitigation measures required to address impacts.
Project feasibility meets stringent demands through routine procedures and, in this case,
additional requirements imposed by DLNR and DHHL. The project is also subject to
additional approval procedures. In the event that mitigation measures are beyond
available technology, or required measures are cost prohibitive, the project will terminate.
JDI has a stellar reputation for environmental responsibility and is willing to work with the
community to improve existing infrastructure deficiencies in the project area.
The February 2005 General Plan amendment changed the project land use designations,
after DLNR and DHHL published RFPs, and after DLNR and DHHL each selected JD1 to
develop their portion of the project. The County Council should restore land use
designations that existed when DLNR and DHHL initiated actions and chose JDI to
develop the Honokohau Harbor marina/mixed-use project.
The Kona Kai Ola project should move through required feasibility and approval
procedures based on project merits.
Sincerely,
Barbara E. Scott
3