HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-12-16 Leeward Exh B (Public Testimony re Item 7 Onaka SPP) LEEWARD PLANNING COMMISSION
COUNTY OF HAWAII
TESTIMONY TRANSCRIPT
DECEMBER 16, 2021
Public testimony regarding the application of RACHELLE ONAKA (PL-SPP-2021-000003)
was called to order at 9:57 a.m. via live stream online meeting, with Chairman Michael Vitousek
presiding.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Michael Vitousek, Barbara DeFranco,
Clement"CJ" Kanuha III, Mahina Paishon-Duarte, and Faith"Faye" Yates
ALSO IN ATTENDANCE: Dalilah Schlueter, Esq. (Counsel for the Commission),
Jean Campbell, Esq. (Counsel for the Planning Department), Zendo Kern (Planning Director),
Maija Jackson (Planning Program Manager), Christian Kay (Planner), Jessica Andrews
(Planner), Tracie-Lee Camero (Planner), Eric Cook (Planner), and Noriko Sauer(Commission
Secretary)
APPLICANT: RACHELLE ONAKA (PL-SPP-2021-000003)
Application for a Special Permit to establish a three-bedroom bed and breakfast establishment
within an existing single-family dwelling and an adjoining guest house on 1.312 acres of land
situated within the State Land Use Agricultural District. The subject property is located at
76-3724 Duarte Road, approximately 410 feet from its intersection with Mamalahoa Highway,
H6lualoa I" & 2nd Partition Lots Mauka, H61ualoa, Hawaii, TMK: (3) 7-6-005:017.
Secretary's Note: "- - -" indicates indiscernible speech due to internet/technical difficulties or
simultaneous talk.
VITOUSEK: Moving on, we have testimony on agenda Item Number seven (7). Testifier is
Anne "Antu" Harvey, would you please state your name and the town that you live in.
HARVEY: Good morning, my name is Antu Harvey, and I live in the village of H61ualoa.
Thank you Chair and Commissioners for this opportunity. I would like to read my statement,
because I know from testifying, I have a hard time staying within three minutes. So, in isolation
is a specific case, I am not against Rachelle Duarte Onaka request for a Special Permit to convert
her farmworker dwellings into a bed and breakfast business enterprise. The Duarte and Onaka
ohana are farming and ranching kama`aina and very connected and active community member
and they are good neighbors.
However, looking through a broader perspective, I am very concerned for the implications to our
community over time. As the density continues to spread across and transform our open and
rural landscape. Our Big Island benefits and suffers from still having vast tracts of land that hold
much potential, including remaining as open space and rural ag lands and rural residential areas.
Unlike the other islands, most of our land has not been irrevocably paved or built over. But this
is changing and in Kona the pace is accelerating. I would like you to consider 3 areas of broader
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concern. In the future, this parcel if the permit is granted should not be referred to as a precedent
supporting other SPP to convert ag land, farm dwellings as homes for farm workers into B&B
lodging business enterprises. No offense to Rachelle, but it should be clearly understood on the
record that this small parcel is not represented of a full actively working farm surrounded by Ag
lands. It is less than an acre production area. It is part of an area planted around 1900 into a grid
of small parcels. It is bordered on its makai side by all R zoned parcels, and it is surrounded on
all sides by property tax classes homeowner or residential. Only one other adjoining parcel class
is still Ag.
Second, for a village or neighborhood. What is the biggest downside to proliferation of making
taking dwellings for uses for transients not residents? It's not traffic or noise. It is the dissolving
of the fabric of being an active interconnected community. Transients are not residents. They
are not members of the community. They can become fans, but they cannot participate in civic
engagement to keep the community connected, healthy, and vibrant. Our system relies on
grassroots stewardship to guide the protection and enhancement of our neighborhoods and
communities. In fact, by the rules only people living within 300 feet have standing to formally
way in a non-conforming change. I've been told by the County planners to protect and enhance
the village of Holualoa and the Mamalahoa Kona Heritage Corridor, Hawaii Scenic Byways we
need the support of a significant portion of the community. Holualoa is quietly transitioning
from a rural agricultural base village to an increasingly dense enclave of homes. They are not
continuously occupied by members of the community. Whether due to absentee owners holding
vacation, future retirement, or investment homes are running transient accommodation
businesses.
This gets the traditional balance between individual interest and the interest of the community
and shifts the power to the community government agencies to determine and appropriate use
mixes and tipping points.
VITOUSEK: Thank you very much.
HARVEY: I didn't get a two and a half minute warning?
VITOUSEK: You may have didn't hear it, but they did ring the bell at two and a half minutes.
So, I'm sorry that is your time. We appreciate your testimony.
HARVEY: Okay, thank you.
The testimony ended at 10:01 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Melissa Dacayanan-Salvador
Secretary to Boards and Commissions
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