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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0766.064 2004-2006 Page 1 of 2 Murashige, Laura - . _V From: J KELIIPIO [Josephine@poidogs.comi 1,03 NOV 29 afq In u o Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2006 9:17 AM To: Council Testimony ^C`,I; • , Subject: BILL 251 - KONA COFFEE ESTATES Dear Mr. Higa and Members of the County Council Members, As you may or may not know, I was probably the only community member who was actively involved in providing input to 9 out of almost 12 working groups for our Kona Community Development Plan. I am providing a few of the final objectives from the Housing, Recreation and Transportation Working Groups which I believe should be applied to this project. I know that these objectives HAVE NOT been officially approved but I am sharing this with all of you just in case you decide to approve this project. For__the Housing-Working Group, two major objectives were that, Affordable Housing be TRULY affordable with affordability being based on local cost of living_and wages AND that All Affordable Housingunits MUST REMAIN in the Affordable Housing _Inventory _(into perpetuity). For the Recreation Working Group, two major objectives were that all developers build neighborhood parks or have open space within their subdivisions for bothoassive and active use AND that these parks be allowed to exist WITHOUT. _meeting the standard requirements of being a required lot size or havinga required number of parking stalls or having _restroom facilities. For the Transportation Working Group, some major objectives were that all neighborhoods be interconnected to each other via safe roadway systems withsidewalks_and that footpaths be provided to connect residential developments to each other as well as to adjacent commercial centers. The more walkways and. footpaths the more residents will be encouraged to walk.- They more residents walk, the less they might drive and contribute to traffic congestion. It is my understanding that Mr. Carr has had at least 6 meetings with the residents of Malulani Gardens before his project was even brought to a hearing. These meetings caused Mr. Carr to reduce the density of his project from 400 units to 113 units. Mr. Carr will be providing at least 2 areas of open space for use as a park and playground for the 56 multi family units. The archeological sites (from the Agricultural Field System) which are mostly located on the 57 one- acre lots mauka have already been identified and future lot owners will be provided with CC&Rs that will call for preserving any archeological sites in place with buffers. None of these lots will be mass-graded beforehand. As far as roads go, Mr. Carr will be providing a roadway from Queen Kaahumanu Hwy that will run mauka and north through Malulani Gardens and through the Kanuha property to reach his property. Sidewalks will be provided down to Malulani Drive. I believe that Mr. Carr has worked very hard to make his project a community sensitive one. He has reduced the density to appease Malulani residents, 40% of whom are only part-time Kona residents, he is providing roadway interconnectivity between all three properties (KCE, Kanuha and Malulani), 50% of his units will be classified as affordable, he is providing open space for his multi- family units, and he is protecting our archeological sites via his low density one acre lot sizess.. Comm. No. Ref. To: ~r ~as g 2~~• - 2 1 I /29/2006 Ref. Dote Page 2 of 2 Would you please work with Mr. Carr today to see how he can further incorporate the Working Groups objectives above? Mainly, how can we get him to make his multi-family housing TRULY affordable into perpetuity so that it will remain in our future Affordable Housing Inventory? How can we get him to provide an 8 foot wide foot path down through Lowes so that residents don't have to take a circuitous route through Malulani Gardens in order to walk to shopping? Can you please require that he allow direct mauka makai access through his one acre lots for the residents from his multi-family units when Hienaloli becomes a functioning roadway in the future? Roadway interconnectivity is very important. Having Mr. Carr to meet the objectives provided above would further help to meet the needs of the community. Mahalo, Josephine Keliipio 76-168 Royal Poinciana Drive Kailua-Kona, Hi 96740 11/29/2006