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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0349.011 2006-2008 O Ka'u Kakou (We are Ka'u) Mission• Return Ka'u to the healthy and prosperous community it has been in the past. Goal: Serving the community first Exploring all the possibilities Keeping the community informed Giving the people a choice and a voice Reach the silent Majority and call our community to action: People need to get involved in the decisions affecting Ka'u. If we don't choose, others will choose for us. Destiny is a choice. Shared Beliefs- 1. We believe, there needs to be balance between how we care for the land and endangered species and how we Gaze for our people. 2. We believe, that in the years of protecting our land the people of Ka'u are at risk and at a disadvantage. (Poor schools, Lack of Jobs, Long dangerous commutes, hospital needs attention, only 2 Police Officers on duty, drugs and drug trafficking run easy, lack of affordable and available housing.) 3. We believe, the fixture of Ka'u lies in the education of our children, the support of our families and the health and safety of all our community members. 4. We believe, the majority of the Ka'u coastline has been sheltered from development. We need to keep it that way! 5. We believe Punalu'u is developed land, land already zoned for development, however, Punalu'u desperately needs attention. (Resort a hazard zone and eyesore, lagoon ready to choke itself with invasive aquatic plant, golf course barely operational, roadways and infra-structure in desperate need of repair, etc) 6. We believe, there is a majority who feel that they can support development if the benefits to the people and the land faz outweigh the potential negafives of development. 7. We believe Ka'u needs economic opportunities that can keep our workforce off the highways and working in Ka u. Ka'u needs economic opportunities that will keep our families in Ka'u and offer opportunities for our children to return if they desire. E:~:€. ~F~_.~..-;;:~- ' O Ka' u KaKou (We are Ka'u) Defining Our Vision 'O Ka'u KaKou is an association of citizens who love Ka'u. This organization aims to return Ka'u to the thriving and prosperous region it once was while retaining and protecting its beauty, precious resources, and rich cultures. Those involved with'O Ka'u KaKou advocate and support the following: * We promote employment opportunities for the re:don Kau's proud history has provided previous generations with a wholesome and fulfilling quality of life through ranching, fishing, the sugaz industry, agriculture and other enterprises. But, times and the regional economy have changed. We in Ka'u must also change to meet the new challenges before us. Our economy must be revitalized so that we can improve many aspects of life here especially water and trarasportafion infrastructure, education and health caze. We do this in harmony and deep love of the land, sea and the tradifions passed down to us by our forefathers. * We promote conservation of natural resources, historic preservation and appreciation of the re¢ion's cultural diversity. We want to attract opportunities for employment, but we ask all those who come here to help us preserve Ka'u's natural beauty and to protect its precious historic resources. Hawaii has many endangered species. It is in the interests of all, even those not living in Hawaii, to help us protect them. Hawaiian history is unique and recognized throughout the world as a valuable period for all mankind. We must preserve the most important sites and historic azeas for future generations, pazticulazly for our own children.. * We want the children of I{a~u to grow healthy and fulfilled lives. Incentives must exist so that our children will choose to remain in Ka'u and establish their future here. Far too many of our families or their individual members have moved away seeking better opportunities. Ka'u's children aze assets that the community can't afford to lose when they become adults. The goal of'O Ka'u KaKou is to attract cazeer opportunities and advocate for better education. Providing improved health facilities and increased quality educational programs for our children aze extremely important challenges as well. * With Aloha we welcome all people. Our community has attracted people from throughout the world. Over many yeazs these newcomers have generously been received and their cultures respected. They have made valuable contributions to Ka'u's way of life and its traditions. Their ideas bring vitality and enrich the quality of life here. It is our responsibility to help them understand our aloha and our beloved multi-ethnic cultures. All people, regardless of race or religion, are welcome in Ka'u . Creating an Acceptable Plan for Development 1. Size and Scope: EIS: Plans were for 1500 residential units + 300 room hotel Z hotels (Resort hotel = 250 rooms, Eco-hotel = 100rooms) Still in Negotiations: Plans aze currently for 1040 residential units + 300 room hotel. No change in hotel room. 2. Hotel location: Plans originally located Resort Hotel on bluff next to Hokuloa Chapel overlooking County Pazk and Punalu'u Bay. Agreement reached: Hotel to be moved away from bluff, so that if one stood at the County Pazk Pavilion, you would only seethe top floor or roof of the hotel. 3. Existin¢ County Park: County Pazk (approx. 7 acres) is currently being leased by the County on a Month-to-Month basis. Agreement reached: Should SMS purchase property, land currently being leased for the County Park will be donated (deeded) to the County. Still in Negotiations: SMS is currently discussing with OKK possibility of enlazging the park and increasing the facilities. 4. Keep shoreline accessible to public: Agreement reached: There will be no gates or gated communities that will keep people out. Gates may be installed by county but not SMS 5. Improyin¢ Shoreline Accessibility make user friendly and add more facilities: Agreements reached: There will be no gates to keep people out. Parking will be improved and picnic, pavilions, bathroom and shower facilities will be added at the North End of Beach (Wharf), By the Vender Shops, and at Ninole (south end). Smaller pazking, picnic, bathroom and shower facilities will be added between Existing County Pazk and Ninole to make area more user friendly 6. Keep Shoreline free of Resort Structures and buildinQS: Agreement Reached: SMS will make every reasonable attempt to keep resort buildings and structures 400-500 feet from shoreline. With the exception of existing buildings (Lagoon Resort Area, Current Vendor Shops, and County Pavilions and one portion of azea 7) SMS agreed with OKK that development away from beach would be acceptable with the understanding that application for rezoning and development of the upper portion of the property will be pursued. 7. Protective our shoreline from eolf course run-off and drainase: Agreements Reached: SMS will be required to apply for Adobun International Signature Golf Course Plan 8. In area 7 build residential units away from shoreline and free from obstructive Current Condo Views: Current zoning allows residential units to be built below existing road to defunct Club Club House. Agreement reached: SMS will build residential units in azea 7 above the existing roads and keep minimum obstruction to Colony One Condominium View planes. 9. Protection of our Endaneer Species: Agreement reached: SMS to create a Turtle protection plan and have Resort to provide the manpower to manage the program. SMS also agrees to address and protect any other endangered species affected within the redevelopment area. 10. Protection of our historical, archeoloeical, and burial sites: Agreement reached: SMS shazes the community's desire to protect all of Punalu'u's sacred sites. SMS will do everything within their means to improve the protection and preservation of any and all historical, azcheological, and burial sites within the development property. 11. Evening Liehtine: Public concerned about too much evening lights. Public does not want to see Punalu'u light up the evening sky. Community has concerns regazding lights affecting endanger species. Agreement reached: SMS will use downwazd focusing lights. Every attempt will be made to keep lighting down to the minimum required, plus work hazd to design landscaping to mask evening lighting. 12. Population affects on schools, traffic, fire, aoGce and hospital: Schools -Very little effect Traffic -Some effect Police -Not enough recruits to fill positions Fire -Determined by County, SMS will abide Hospital - $1,000,000 eazmazked for hospital needs from OI{IC Community Fund 13. Beach Over crowdedness: Agreement reached: Improve accessibility, restore ponds and add bathroom and shower facilities in the shoreline azea beyond county pazk and make more user friendly Over crowdedness is a factor to consider, however both agree that the development will not be the primary reason because: Most Resort Population will be older vacation homes or second home families who will not be beach orientated. Most will favor the resort pool swimming. Beach not swimmer friendly. Currents, lazge shore breaks, rock bottoms tend to deter older swimmers from the water. Proposal Only SEA MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY BENEFIT PACKAGE Peraetual Revenue Program 1. Initial Sales a. Sea Mountain will contribute $1,000,000 to the Community Benefit Fund upon final approval including the settlement of any lawsuit, of the SMA application. b. Sea Mountain will contribute $1,000,000 to the Community Benefit Fund upon issuance of the grading permit. c. Sea Mountain will contribute to the Community Benefit Fund .3% of the gross sales price of each house and/or lot sold to the public. This will be called the initial sale. This does not include the one time sale of lots to builders or bulk sales. Sea Mountain will obligate each builder to contribute to the Community Benefit Fund .3% of the gross sales price upon sale of any house or lot whether it is to the public or not and this will be considered the initial sale Any sales after the initial sales will be considered a resale. 2. Resales a. After the initial sale, Sea Mountain will obligate the owner of each lot or house to contribute to the Community Benefit Fund 1 % of the gross sales price upon the sale of any house or lot. This obligation will be recorded on the title of each property. 3. Hotel Room Rentals a. Sea Mountain will obligate the hotel owner/operator to pay into the Community Benefit Fund, a bi-annual payment of $3 for every night a room is rented during that six month period. Sea Mountain will make this a permanent obligafion of any hotel operating on the property. 4. Golf Course a. Sea Mountain will obligate the golf course owner/operator to pay to the Community Benefit Fund a bi-annual payment of $1 for each round of golf paid for during that period. 5. Homeowners Association a. Sea Mountain will require the Homeowners Association to pay a monthly contribution of $3 per lot or unit to the Community Benefit Fund. This will be written into the Homeowners Association documents and become a permanent obligation of the Association. Local Hire First Policy Sea Mountain agrees to pursue and require builders and operators at Sea Mountain to pursue a policy of hiring local people fast. Job Training Program Sea Mountain will work with the County, State and private groups to create a job training program to train interested local residents for hotel, construction and other jobs. This program will also include training people to start and operate their own small businesses. Affordable Housin¢ Sea Mountain agrees to work with OKK, the community and the County to create affordable housing programs and fmancing programs that will make any affordable housing or workforce housing required by the County, more affordable to the local residents. Cultural Educafion Center Sea Mountain is appreciative of the community's efforts to locate a cultural center on or neaz the Sea Mountain site. It is understood that the location and the scope of the cultural center and buildings, has not been determined. Sea Mountain will work with OKK on the cultural center and will consider construction of the infrastructure to the site and possibly some buildings with the understanding that the buildings are .Sea Mountain understands that they need to be flexible on this issue and aze ready to work with OKK as the plans develop. County Park Sea Mountain agrees to donate to the County, the land currently being leased to the County for the pazk. Sea Mountain is currently discussing with OKK the possibility of enlarging the pazk and increasing the facilities. Wharf (Boat Rama) Area Sea Mountain will clean up the wharf azea with local use as a priority. Sea Mountain will work with the community to plan any uses and facilities which will include restroom and shower facilities. Golf Sea Mountain will initiate and support a year round junior golf program at the golf course.