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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-11-19 Leeward Exh A (Public Testimony re AMEND REZ 05-010 & AMEND REZ 09-094) LEEWARD PLANNING COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAII HEARING TRANSCRIPT NOVEMBER 19, 2020 Public testimony regarding the applications of PALAMANUI GLOBAL HOLDINGS LLC (AMEND REZ 05-000010 AND AMEND REZ 09-000094) was called to order at 9:47 a.m. via live-stream online meeting, with Chairperson Nancy Carr Smith presiding. COMMISSIONERS IN ATTENDANCE: Nancy Carr Smith, Barbara DeFranco, Perry Kealoha, Max Newberg, Mark Van Pernis, Michael Vitousek and Faith"Faye" Yates ALSO IN ATTENDANCE: Malia Hall, Esq. (Counsel for the Commission), Michael Yee (Planning Director), John Mukai, Esq. (Counsel for the Planning Director), Robyn Matsumoto (Acting Building Chief, Department of Public Works), Jeff Darrow (Planning Program Manager), Maija Jackson (Planner), Jessica Andrews (Planner), Tracie-Lee Camero (Planner), Rachelle Ley (Secretary to the Planning Director), Kim Tanaka(Secretary to Boards and Commissions) and Noriko Sauer(Leeward Planning Commission Secretary) APPLICANT: PALAMANUI GLOBAL HOLDINGS LLC (AMEND REZ 05-000010) Application to amend Condition V(Scope and Timing of Road Improvements) and Condition S (Scope and Timing of Park Improvements) of Ordinance No. 09-132, which amended Ordinance No. 06-105, which rezoned 725 acres from an Agricultural- 3 acres (A-3a) and Open to a Project District zoning district for a mixed-use development known as the Patamanui Development. The property is located northeast of the Kona International Airport at Keahole, between Queen Ka`ahumanu Highway and Makalei Estates Subdivision, Kau, North Kona, Hawaii, TMK: (3) 7-2-005: Portion of 001. APPLICANT: PALAMANUI GLOBAL HOLDINGS LLC (AMEND REZ 09-000094) Application for a time extension to Condition E(Secure Final Subdivision Approval) of Ordinance No. 09-131, which rezoned 29.92 acres from the Project District(PD)to Industrial-Commercial Mixed-20,000 square feet(MCX-20) zoning district in 2009. The property is part of the proposed Patamanui development located northeast of the Kona International Airport at Keahole, between Queen Ka`ahumanu Highway and Makalei Estates Subdivision, Kau, North Kona, Hawaii, TMK: (3) 7-2-005: Portion of 001. Secretary's Note: "- - -" indicates indiscernible speech due to internet/technical difficulties or simultaneous talk. CARR SMITH: Moving on to public testimony. I have the following people registered to testify and it happens that all testifiers are here on behalf of agenda items one and two, Palamanui. So, I have Wendy Laros, Jacqui Hoover, Najha Ray, Jessica Thompson, and Michael Riehm, and I think we know that you're all here. So, the five of you, will you please raise your right hand? Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth before this matter on the Leeward Planning Commission? 1 EXHIBIT A ALL: [Nods or mouths "aye" in agreement] CARR SMITH: Okay, thank you very much. We'll start with you, Wendy, and if you could please tell us who you are, who you're representing, and your position and keep it to three minutes please. Go ahead. LAROS: Okay. Aloha everyone, my name is Wendy Laros. I'm the president and CEO of the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce. The Kona-Kohala Chamber has been in existence since 1968, so over 50 years, and for decades we've been supporting all kinds of educational initiatives, including the design, or development of the Palamanui campus. And I actually have sent in testimony and definitely want to highlight that, you know, since the campus has been open since 20 - - - , that so much happened for our community for our high school students that are entering into college, you know, there's just been quite a bit of success at the campus for the last five years, and this really is a reality because of Palamanui Global Holdings and their contributions. We - - -to have a, a letter here that's not the one I sent in, that was actually, it was drafted by Vivian Landrum, one of our presidents and CEOs from the past, and this was in 2009, and it was a letter to this, this group as well, to this commission. And, and with that letter we have over a decade, the University of Hawaii perceived the need for higher education in West Hawaii when its board, board of regents reviewed detailed plans and selected a 500-acre state- owned parcel in Kona for a permanent facility. So, we're just talking a lot of decades here, and certainly, the Palamanui campus has been built but the campus needs the surrounding development, and at the Chamber of Commerce, we have positions, and one of those positions is to support housing projects at all inventory levels, and the associated infrastructure. And as well, we also have position statements to support the growth of Hawaii Community College Palamanui campus, programs, and staffing. In addition, we have support expansion and establishment of programs that feed directly into the regions key industries, including the visitor industry, agriculture, aquaculture, astronomy, aviation, business and education, healthcare, marine and STEAM. STEAM would be science, technology, engineering, art, and math endeavors. So, we are a strong proponent of the campus. We understand its crucial role in workforce development for our community in West Hawaii, and we do know that that campus needs the development that surrounds it to continue to thrive. So, with that, I'll go ahead and stop. Thank you so much. CARR SMITH: Thank you. Let's move over to Jacqui Hoover. Go ahead Jacqui. HOOVER: Aloha, I'm Jacqui Hoover and I have spoken before this commission previously in my capacity as president of Hawaii Leeward Planning Conference, a member-based organization with a history of 46 years of commitment, the sound planning, wise use of resources, and effective government process. Today however, I also have the privilege and pleasure of serving in my capacity as the executive director for the Hawaii Island Economic Development Board, another member-based organization with a 36-year history committed to providing and promoting private sector support and expertise for balanced growth in Hawaii County, in partnership with both public and private resources. After years of a vigorous economy, 2020 has delivered us a very grim reminder of the fragility of our island's economic stability. Today we find ourselves trying to navigate our way through converging economic challenges and as we strategize the best needs of recovery, it is important that we look for 2 EXHIBIT A opportunities of safe harborage. Similar to how we are asking our residents, our government, and our businesses to pivot for survival, so too, must Palamanui developers pivot. This is the dichotomy that is confronting the principles of the Palamanui project who are seeking to steer out of the economic storm and find safe passage to allow this well-planned project to advance. The amendments before you seek relief by allowing the project to phase in, develop 10 of the 20- acre regional park, and defer the building of the connector road until 900 units have been built. It is important as we weigh this to recognize that nearly 22 million dollars has already been expended to develop Hawaii Community College Palamanui, the Ane Kehokalole Highway, and other needed infrastructure. It is also important to recognize that Palamanui has no intention to walk away from fulfilling what they have committed to, but rather seeks resequencing, a pivot if you will, to the critical path of work and defer the nearly 65 million dollars necessary to front- load the road conditions, and rather, start with building the community around Hawaii Community College Palamanui, which is critically important to sustainability, economic viability, education, training, workforce development, an opportunity for both present and future generations. I humbly request that you consider our tradition of wayfinding, and the importance of plotting and adjusting our course for changing conditions. Please support Palamanui's wayfinding to adjust for current conditions and allow them to set an alternate course for safe passage to our destination to reset, rebuild, and recover our economy. Mahalo. CARR SMITH: Thank you, Jacqui, for your testimony. Appreciate it. Najha, you're up next. Please go ahead. RAY: Thank you. I'm testifying as a private citizen. Aloha Nancy, and members of the Leeward Planning Commission, my name is Najha Ray and I am a life-long resident of Hawaii Island. Thank you for the opportunity to speak today to express my support for Palamanui. I've reviewed the amendments sought by Palalmanui and believe that they are not intended to retreat from commitments made, but rather reflect the economic times we are in and allow the developer to phase work and build the community around the Hawaii Community College at Palamanui. This will provide direct support to, and help the college become an important anchor institution in North Kona and provide needed housing, infrastructure, and socio-economic benefits. As our island works towards recovery from the severe economic downturn and societal disruption caused by the pandemic, it is important that we work collaboratively to bring long-term benefits to our island and, I believe, this is what Palamanui is offering. In closing, I ask that you please support Palamanui's amendment request. Mahalo. CARR SMITH: Thank you Najha, for your testimony. Aright, Jessica Thompson. THOMPSON: Good morning, my name is Jess Thompson and I'm the executive director of PATH - - - for trails Hawaii. We're a 30-year-old Hawaii County-based non-profit, and our mission is to safely connect people and places on Hawaii Island with pathways and bikeways. Over the course of the past decade, Hawaii County has become a leader in being champions for safer, climate friendly, people-focused transportation projects and policies. Just this past week we are happy to celebrate the County Council unanimously passed a resolution recognizing the visions through an action plan and the street design manual based on complete street principles will go for a vote before Hawaii County Council shortly. Which is why PATH is so happy to be with you today. We support Palamanui's revised master plan because it will be a walkable, 3 EXHIBIT A bikeable development that promotes physical health, climate-friendly transportation options, and nurtures interconnected community. Imagine college staff and students pulling on their backpacks and biking to campus. Imagine grandparents walking their grandchildren to one of the many neighborhood parks - - - hikes on the extensive hiking and biking trails. Imagine people biking up to a farmer's market to pick up fresh vegetables for dinner. Imagine roads designed to move cars efficiently and safely. These are the neighborhoods every person in Hawaii deserves, which is why we support Palamanui's community. Mahalo. CARR SMITH: Thank you, Jessica. Appreciate your testimony. Michael Riehm, would you like to go next please, then after that if the commissioners have any questions. Go ahead Michael. RIEHM: Aloha. I am Michael Riehm, I'm with the firm Riehm Owensby Planners Architects here in Kona. I started working on this project in 2006 with Roger Harris and a variety of other consultants. The time that I'm - - - I think one of the best things I've seen happen in West Hawaii is the development of the community development plan. Many people in the community spent a lot of time developing this plan and it was a great effort to mitigate what I call suburban sprawl, which is one of the things that is destroying a lot of the character on our islands. In ten of the community development plans I, as I see it, is to develop what we call livable communities. What I mean by livable communities are communities that are mixed use, they're compact, they're pedestrian and transit-oriented, and they travel by all of our common amenities within a five-minute walking distance. Palamanui was probably the first project of this size to make a sincere effort to use and implement the community development plan. In summary, we need to find new ways to be more proactive in our plan, we need to find more new ways to develop communities that are in keeping with the, the character we have on the island, and most importantly, to mitigate suburban sprawl. I sincerely request and ask that everybody support this project. Thank you. CARR SMITH: Thank you, Michael. Commissioners, do you have any questions for the five testifiers? Okay, I don't see anyone wanting to ask questions so I will thank you five and ask for you to drop off the call. We appreciate your testimony. Thank you. Commissioners, can I have a motion to close testimony please? KEALOHA: So moved. CARR SMITH: Was that Perry? Okay. Perry made a motion to close public testimony. Can I have a second? DEFRANCO: [raises hand] CARR SMITH: Thank you, Barbara. All in favor? ALL: Aye. CARR SMITH: Public testimony is closed. Thank you. 4 EXHIBIT A The public testimony ended at 10:00 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Kim Tanaka Secretary to Boards and Commissions 5 EXHIBIT A