HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-07-15 Leeward Exh B (Public Testimony re Amend SMA 286) LEEWARD PLANNING COMMISSION
COUNTY OF HAWAII
TESTIMONY TRANSCRIPT
JULY 15, 2021
Public testimony regarding the application of PACIFICA BIG ISLAND, LLC (Amend
SMA 286) was called to order at 11:22 a.m. via live stream online meeting, with Chairman
Michael Vitousek presiding.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Michael Vitousek, Shani Armbruster, Barbara DeFranco,
Mark Van Pernis, and Faith"Faye" Yates
ABSENT AND EXCUSED: Clement"CJ" Kanuha III
ALSO IN ATTENDANCE: Dalilah Schlueter, Esq. (Counsel for the Commission),
Jean Campbell, Esq. (Counsel for the Planning Department), Zendo Kern (Planning Director),
Jeffrey Darrow (Deputy Planning Director), Maija Jackson (Planning Program Manager),
Christian Kay (Planner), Tracie-Lee Camero (Planner), and Noriko Sauer(Leeward Planning
Commission Secretary)
APPLICANT: PACIFICA BIG ISLAND, LLC (Amend SMA 286)
Application for a three (3)-year time extension to Condition No. 2 (Time to Secure Final Plan
Approval) of Special Management Area Use Permit No. 286, which allows the development of
184 units of multiple-family housing and related improvements on two (2)parcels totaling
approximately 24.499 acres of land situated within the Special Management Area. The subject
properties are located on the east(mauka) side of the Kamehameha III Road-Ali`i Drive
intersection, Kahulu`u and Keauhou 1st, North Kona, Hawaii, TMK: 7-8-010:078 and 090.
Secretary's Note: "- - -" indicates indiscernible speech due to internet/technical difficulties or
simultaneous talk.
VITOUSEK: Okay, in that case, we will move on to Item number 2, Pacifica Big Island, Amend
SMA 286. Again Janice Palma-Glennie is not available, we'll move to Barbara Anderson. Is
Barbara here?
ANDERSON: Good morning, can you hear me okay, this is Barbara Anderson.
VITOUSEK: Thank you. Would you please state your town that you live in.
ANDERSON: Yes, I'm on a low bandwidth connection here so I'm kind of having a hard time
hearing your voice, it's kind of gravelly, so I'll do my best. I'm a concerned person regarding
the project that's going on for Pacifica properties. My name is Barbara Anderson. I thank you
for having me and hearing my testimony and I'll start out by saying that the bottom line is I don't
have an objection to this. But what my interest is that there was an agreement back in 2015
which is part of the background information Exhibit J in the information you have that was
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EXHIBIT B
concerning the owners who met with Mr. Fuke and the architect back in 2015. And expressed 8
items in that document that we would like to have considered and for the most part they're in the
record with regard to the follow up documentation. But the reason I come today is, I want the
Planning Commission to know that the Kaulana Project is right adjacent to the development, and
we are very interested in being good neighbors to this project and we have 44 units that are there.
I'm not representing the 44 units today, but there are 44 units there that will be subject to
everything that goes on with the new construction, grading and excavating and all that sort of
thing.
So, our concern is this the concern of I have is mostly related to as the project is built and
hopefully that the concerns that were brought in 2015 will still be abided by and that we can have
communication back and forth with the developers as it goes on to make sure that they are.
There's been some concern over the last three years about keeping the property up in terms of
brush management and the feral ungulates and all that sort of stuff. So, we haven't really had
any conversations with the developers because I think we couldn't get in touch with them for a
while and there's been almost a 50%turnover of the condos since 2015. So, we kind of just
wanted to shore all this up and make sure that we can have some sort of conversation as we go
through. That's number one and then number two is there's a comment on Page 45 of the
background, it's paragraph 5 of the memo that deals with keeping the property cleaned up,
homeless, I guess trying to live on the property and in such. Because it's like a lot of brush there
that people can hide in as well as the feral ungulates and I just want to say I hope we can have
some more dialogue because we tried to contact the owners and had a hard time, and the brush
was just not kept trim down and so hopefully we can start the conversation again now.
And the third thing and this is the last thing that I have is there's 8 items on the concerns that are
Exhibit J and the one that I wanted to bring to your attention, I didn't see really addressed. It
said in the original documents it was going to be addressed by the Public Works and that's
dealing with site drainage. There's a 25-foot well that's documented on there that was going to
be brought to the attention of the Public Works and in the Public Works response I didn't see
anything relating to that. So, I'll just let, I don't want to repeat what's already in the record for
you. I know because you have a lot of things to go over, but, if you could just take a look at
those 8 items and then if anybody has any questions, I'll be glad to answer.
VITOUSEK: Thank you very much.
The public testimony ended at 11:28 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Melissa Dacayanan-Salvador
Secretary to Boards and Commissions
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