Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-11-04 Windward Exh A (Public Testimony re SLU 20-054) WINDWARD PLANNING COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAI`I TESTIMONY TRANSCRIPT NOVEMBER 4, 2021 Public testimony regarding the application of HAWAI`I ISLAND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (HICDC)(SLU 20-000054) was called to order at 9:10 a.m. via live stream online meeting, with Chairman John Replogle presiding. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Gilbert Aguinaldo, Joseph Clarkson, Michelle Galimba, Dennis Lin, Thomas Raffipiy, John Replogle EXCUSED: Dean Au ALSO IN ATTENDANCE: Malia Kekai, Esq. (Counsel for the Commission), Jean Campbell, Esq. (Counsel for the Planning Department), Zendo Kern (Planning Director), Tracie Lee Camero (Planning Program Manager), and Melissa Dacayanan-Salvador (Windward Planning Commission Secretary) APPLICANT: HAWAI`I ISLAND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (HICDC)(SLU 20-000054) Application for a State Land Use Boundary Amendment from Agricultural to Urban for approximately 9.09 acres of land. The property is located at 1450 Mohouli Street, directly west (mauka) of the Mohouli Senior Housing Project and the County of Hawaii Fire Administration Support Complex, approximately 1,600 feet west of the Mohouli Street and Komohana Street intersection, Waiakea, South Hilo, Hawaii, TMK: (3) 2-4-001:168. Secretary's Note: "—" indicates indiscernible speech due to internet/technical difficulties or simultaneous talk. REPLOGLE: So first up, we have Dr. Lovina Sabnani? KELLER: This is Tim Keller. Dr. Sabnani due to the short notice and her scheduling out of three to four months for surgeries can't make it so I'll be speaking on her behalf. REPLOGLE: Okay. Mr. Keller? KELLER: Yes, both Dr. Sabnani and myself live at 847 Kukuau Street. Our property backs up to the proposed project number item two. We would ask you to consider the ramifications of your decisions of the zoning change and how it will impact our neighbors. Be up front, we are against the project for the fact that it's being developed with low-income families, as well as seniors. We're not against the senior development with a few caveats, but we are against low- income, other than the seniors. 1 EXHIBIT A First of all, low-income housing has a direct impact on property values when you're within 200 feet of that property. It can be up to 5% devaluation by studies done throughout the United States. Second higher crime rate is associated with lower income housing. Our neighborhood already been hit by break-ins, mail theft and stolen property. We don't want to see that go up. So, bottom line no low-income housing, except for the kupuna. About a year ago, Mr. Kato who's the project manager or project developer held a Zoom meeting with us neighbors that are directly impacted. He offered to give us a 30-foot setback, I know the building code is 30-foot setback, but he gave us the word that he would leave that green. That he wouldn't touch the area behind us for 30 feet to leave the ohia's and the natural forest back there for privacy. And then we talked about a fence, we were talking about a fence on our side and how it meets our standards and our CC&R's do not allow chain link fence. We're kind of disappointed on what they did at the lower Sunrise Ridge, where they put a chain link fence, a four foot and a service road right next to the properties down here. That's not very good. But after thinking about it we'd like to see they put the fence on their side of that 30-foot barrier that way we are a lot able to develop our fence line the way we want to, whether it be "—". a rock wall or whatever. We ask that if you approve this project that it be written into the approval that the permanent 30-foot buffer stays with the green space that's currently in place, along with the fence on that side. Currently there's two (2) medical doctors, a pharmacist and 2 dentists, that are impacted by this development. They worked hard all their lives to get to where they're at. They work hard during the day they like to come home and have that privacy. Well, clearing out that place and having housing right there, especially with low-income is nothing to look forward to. Don't take that away from them. My last and most concerning for the community of Hilo is the traffic. They did the EIS and I'm sorry to say, but the traffic study was from 10 years ago with a few other things put in there by the Department of Transportation which didn't take in the fact that COVID and school wasn't going on. At least the County had the foresight to develop Mohouli wide enough in making it to be four lanes with the addition of this development, you're looking at 150 vehicle parking spaces, along with the emergency dispatch centers that is currently going in with another 60 vehicles. You've got Peter Matsuura developing up the road here with more traffic is going to come in, if Connections goes through that's more traffic is going to flow through here. So, I don't know if any of you've ever tried to cross Kukuau during rush hour traffic or make a left turn it's almost impossible during that time. You're playing Russian roulette with traffic. Then they're asking to put another exit onto our entry onto Kukuau, I mean on Mohouli closer up by us. Given the line of sight on that road and the curvature and elevation it's just a disaster waiting to happen. Just recently our neighbors had a vehicle go through their rock wall right there in the corner and luckily nobody got hurt. So, I guess, bottom line on that is one of the solutions is just widen that road to four lanes, which will help alleviate this problem. And again, thank you for consideration, I know if it was your backyard, you'd have concerns to. Thank you. Any questions? REPLOGLE: Commissioners, are there any questions on this particular one? Okay. KELLER: Alright, thank you. 2 EXHIBIT A REPLOGLE: Thank you, Mr. Keller. KELLER: Thank you. The public testimony ended at 9:15 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Melissa Dacayanan-Salvador Secretary to Boards and Commissions 3 EXHIBIT A