HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0130.003 1996-1998 ~ I$~1212197 T~9:39 PM X1/2
FAX TO: Full Council
FAX FROM: Janice Palma; iax# 808-325-6322
P.O. Box 4849, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96745; tel#808-325-3416
Feb. 2, 1997 Please enter this up-dated letter into the pzzblic record and have it read out lozzd at the
up-corning council meeting. I cmznot attend due to work responsibilties. halo for yotu• help in this
important matter.
9'l Jfi;d ;3'; i y 21
Re: Nohona Partners and White Hat Development's proposed Kalaoa subdivisions:
rFIC_ ~ r
Pr4p~L lag is what makes a community_p~per or st~flg~l~; It goes `hind in
hand with crime levels, time we spend with our families, health, safety and many other
day-to-day components of our lives. Each good decision in plannurg prevents a multitude of
future problems for us and our children.
Nohona Partners and "White Hat Development," are pursuing their "affordable"
housing plans, named Keonelehua Heights and "University Heights," at the lower end of
Makaula Road in Kalaoa. It appears that there are irregularities in the approach - lapse
in health and safety to name only two -which the above corporations and county are using_
iit having this development approved.
• Though not illegal, the developers are using a planning loophole by skipping normal
channels. As supposedly "affordable," Nohona and White Hat have gone directly from
the Office of Housing Community Development to the Council for approval, cutting
out normally required public hearutgs. If their projects are so good, they should be
able to pass through the light of day of our planning process and come out smelling
like a rose.
• Bi11 Boy1~_and Jon Gomes are askingTor"pr_e-enlptions" of promised infrastructure
including park area, sidewalks, ui
c~erground utilities, suitable drv w , roadway_
grade and access, community benefit assessment, and other crucial criteria of the
developers' agreement. These are not excessive demands, but criteria which any ~
subdivision of this size is expected to meet to lessen impact of a development. If i ~
allowed by our county, who will end up paying for these and other necessary ~ ~
amentities in the future that Nohona and White Hat are skirting now? Mr.lO ~ ~
Gomes and Mr. Boyles promised "showcase" affordable housing that would be ~ ~ v
"decent, safe and sanitary" but is letting our community down with "hot air" ~ a a~
promises. (Should their name be "Changed Hat"?)* ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~
• ~ounciLrepresentative~~i~e_given Le~than tw~i~y~~iours t4~cLy_plan~~_
h gepr4p~ecL ley Nohona and White Hat Curtis Tyler was the only representative
to object to this. He was insistent that democracy be honored and the county's
c-i3o.o3
9' ""^1212197 ~=9:40 PM 62/2
proper planning proc. , ~res be followed. All other repre~. `atives voted in favor of
accepting the new la~pite not having had a chance to p~p~rly_study_t11en1!.
I am concerned by w y the county is overlooking democratic procedures by_
discouragYng citizen participation in the planning and development of our communities
Our neighborhood put its best foot forward four years ago at hearings regarding this project
and assumed its concerns were being met by "White Hat." The projects have so
substantially changed, that they deserve ottr scrutiny once again. Kalaoa residents will be
living with the affects of this plan for as long as the houses stand.
Mahalo for your time. 7avziceha+v~ct
*Does I{alaoa need I{eouelehua Heights and \ohoua Partners or ~1ce-~~ersa? Lot prices are low and fallhig
makuig these "afforable" lots achiall}~ market value (espeeiall~° considering lack of ameiuties and uifrastruchu-e.
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