HomeMy WebLinkAboutPL-CCI-2022-000002 J. MATLOCK TESTIMONY 10.4.2022Re'd at 10/4/22 by CM
Dist'd 10/6/22 Read
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WPCtestimony
From: janet Matlock <matlockjanet@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 04, 2022 4:19 PM
To: WPCtestimony
Cc: Villegas, Rebecca; Inaba, Holeka
Subject: Support Bill 194 10/6/22
Attachments: Support Bill 194.pdf
Aloha Planning Department Staff,
Attached please find my comments to the Windward Planning Commission regarding Bill #194, being discussed on
October 6, 2022.
Mahalo,
janet Matlock
Aloha Windward Planning Commission,
I am writing in support of Bill 194, introduced by Councilperson Inaba, that addresses the
frequent extension of time on projects that have been approved but not begun or completed in
a timely manner. This is especially egregious on the Kona side of our Island but affects us all.
Bill 194 is a good start towards addressing the ongoing pattern of speculative landowners,
(frequently out of state), and their developers securing zoning changes and development
approvals. The timelines on these projects expire, then the owner/developer's representative
(often a former employee of the Planning Department) submits a request to extend the zoning
and approval.
This pattern happens over and over, with language supporting the extensions by the Planning
Director that appears to be rote and/or cut and paste. Recent examples include, "Since the
applicant acquired the property in (date), they have worked diligently to comply with conditions
of approval...", and "...Based on the preceding, the non-performance is the result of conditions
that could not have been foreseen or are beyond the control of the applicant and that are not
the result of their fault or negligence..." Upon further examination, however, it becomes
apparent that the diligence has been on paper, and the unforeseen conditions are they didn't
get the funding they thought they could.
To my knowledge, no projects were approved, or are extended, with any awareness or
consideration of any other. In fact, the owner/developers and the Planning Director cite the
Kona Community Development Plan in a broad -brush manner, cherry -picking sections that
appear favorable while ignoring the purpose and intent of this plan.
There appears to have been little specific or ongoing comprehensive discussion regarding the
environmental impacts and strain on limited resources within the Moku — including transit,
water, wastewater, light and sound pollution, runoff and the effects on coral and ocean health,
piecemeal destruction of pre and post contact archeological sites and knowledge (to name just
a few) — when projects are initially approved. There is even less consideration when these are
routinely extended 5, 10, 15 or more years after the initial applications.
Bill 194 at least begins to put the brakes on this pattern. I additionally recommend pausing all
new applications and extensions until it can be publicly determined how many projects are
currently approved, pending, in process, expired, previously extended, et cetera, to allow for an
assessment of the cumulative effect. This would be good planning.
Mahalo nui loa in advance for your support.
Janet Matlock
Kailua Kona