HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0764.006 2018-2020 COUNTY CLE
bill Cy I
COUNTY OF AI'I
RECEIVED
I:r7 Ka Makani O Kohala Ohana - Kako'o
Date MAR 2 4 2020 P.O. Box 76
Hawi Hawaii 96719
March 23, 2020
Aaron Chung, Chair
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii
Bill 141
KOHALA SHORELINE, LLC (REZ 19-000237)
KOHALA SHORELINE, LLC (SMA 19-000073)
TMK: 5-9-001:008 Kahuali'ili'i (Kahua 1),
NorthKohala
Dear Chairman Chung and Councilmembers,
We support the downzoning of this land and oppose the subdivision of it for
residential use. The land is highly valuable to the people of Hawaii County for its
historical and cultural values and for the continuation of the generations of use by the
people of North and South Kohala for fishing, gathering, hiking and visiting ancestral
sites.
THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL REPORTS ARE INCOMPLETE:
The Historic Sites on this land are so important and tightly packed, that they
need the extra scrutiny available through a mitigation plan approved by Historic Sites
Preservation Division (HSPD), before planning the locations of six large residences.
So far 40 significant historic properties have been identified on the 37.8-acre steep
property crossed by three gulches. Thirty six of them are identified as pre-Western
contact, several are trails. Early surveys identified 33 of them for preservation,
however Kohala Shoreline LLC archaeologist R. Rechtman originally said 21 should be
preserved, but the final count, submitted to HSPD says 16 sites will be preserved.
THIS CHANGE OF ZONE REQUEST (page 6) CONFIRMS THAT THE CULTURAL AND
ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES HAVE NOT BEEN COMPLETED.
"I. To avoid potential impacts to the cultural value of burial sites present on the
property, a burial treatment plan will be prepared in compliance with HAR §13-300.
2. To avoid potential adverse impacts to the cultural value of the preservation sites,
and to enhance the preservation, interpretive and cultural values of these sites,
archaeological data recovery and preservation plans will be prepared and
implemented." Emphasis added.
Comm. No. 1424
Ref. To: P1(qu
Ref. nate MAR2 5 2020
When the Planning Director required that these plans be completed before y
acceptance of the Environmental Assessment, Kohala Shoreline LLC appealed his
decision to the Board of Appeals in February 2018. Instead of hearing the public's and
Department's reasons for needing completed plans, attorneys for the County and
Kohala Shoreline LLC worked out an agreement outside the hearing room, denying the
Board and the public a chance to hear arguments.
We still feel strongly that the Historic Sites Preservation Division SHOULD
review and approve final burial and preservation plans before subdivision of the land
is approved. Two members of the Leeward Planning Commission stated similar
concerns at its meeting in January 2020 before voting against passage of the Special
Management Area Permit.
While passage of the downzoning of this land relieves the public from the threat
of severe residential lot development of this land, we ask the County Council to please
let the Planning Department know how important preservation of this land is to future
generations.
Malama Na Lihikai O Kohalanei,
Toni Withington
President