HomeMy WebLinkAboutPL-SPP-2022-000025 B. Donnelly Testimony 04.05.23 DISTRIBUTED AT 4-6-23
WPC HEARING ITEM#1
ASIAA (PL-SPP-2022-025)
From: D B on behalf of Brendan Donnelly TESTIMONY- B. DONNELLY
To: WPCtestimony; Planning Internet Mail
Cc: managerCabhawaiiconservation.ora; mailCaboutdoorcircle.ora; KAHEA-allianceCabhawaii.rr.com;
protectmaunakea@gmail.com;ainamomona1893@gmail.com
Subject: Written testimony regarding special permit application for Large Satellite Dish farms in Wood Valley/Kapapala
Ranch area, Hawaii-4.5.23
Date: Wednesday,April 5,2023 3:58:49 PM
Attachments: bd-wood valley-BD Written testimony for the Planning Commission prior to Public Hearing-4.5.23.odf
To whom it may concern,
Please consider the attached pdf and text pasted below as my written testimony regarding
Large Satellite farms in Wood Valley/Kapapala Ranch area, Hawaii.
Thank you,
Brendan Donnelly
Date: 4.5.23
To: County Planning Commission
101 Pauahi St., #3
Hilo, HI 96720
(808) 961-8288
planninaZhawaiicounty.aov
From: Brendan Donnelly
P.O. Box 605
Wood Valley, Pahala, Hawaii 96777
RE: Notice of Submittal of Application and Planning Commission Hearing Special Permit Request
Regarding the proposed development of an "Array of Satellite Dishes"on Wood Valley Road, we find it
inappropriate for this agriculturally designated zone. If this experiment is successful, it will undoubtedly
draw more scientists, astronomy developments and more satellite dishes to Kapapala Ranch and Wood
Valley due to the areas "radio quiet" qualities. Also, how do we fact check the data to know if this
"experimental project" is an actual success, do we just take their word? If it is unsuccessful, then it would
be a wasted use of prime agricultural land. Either result is a net negative for our community and Hawaii.
This resembles a classic University endowment"land grab"which starts as a special temporary project,
then sets a precedent to justify further scientific studies, land purchases and industrial development,
displacing farming communities:
"University endowments today are among the largest farmland holders in the world. Harvard has emerged
as the leading farmland buyer among universities, spending $1 billion to acquire 850,000 hectares of
farmland around the world. These land acquisitions have contributed to environmental destruction,
conflicts over water, and displacement and harassment of communities who have stewarded that land for
generations. And they are not alone -other university endowments have made similar"investments,"
though not all of the locations of their landholdings are known."
(https://storymaps.arcais.com/stories/081 d7b25c5fc48bc9cb1 fa49d05d25b2?
fbclid=lwAR2aK3yaHd32cEQ-PPLebl2RTZkpJscJe5OWXEIFsU89aXK99Sn98J RZT8k)
Wood Valley and Kapapala Ranch are sacred grounds; developments of this nature, satellites and
telescopes, should not be fast-tracked through a Special Permit Application with the Hawaii County
Planning Department. We should be consulting the local Kupuna as to the appropriateness of more
satellite dishes on the Mauna. We have not seen a DEIS to determine the safety and long term effects of
this project on the land and its inhabitants. We cannot take anyone's word, it needs to be an objective,
third-party analysis.
Our farm is near the proposed development. We are opposed to having the dishes located near us. The
experimental nature of the project is not reassuring as there is little precedence to support their claims
that there will be no health consequences to my family, our animals and the surrounding environment and
endangered wildlife. If there are health consequences to us, how would we prove it?Would they be
liable? I would rather not risk our lives for the sake of this project. There are so many places to conduct
an experiment like this without endangering the lives of a quiet community, why risk our lives?
I am also to understand that the operation of a simple drone can disrupt the "radio-quiet" requirement of
the site. I can tell you as a resident that there are drones flying in Wood Valley on a daily and nightly
basis, which would interfere with the satellite dishes reception of the FRB's.
We also do not know anything about this Chinese University that is behind this project. They would have
little accountability if something went wrong. They hired Land Planning Hawaii LLC to be the intermediary,
a company which seems to be less than 2 years old, further raising questions about the legitimacy of this
development.
When they previously tried to build this closer to our home last year it was denied rather quickly. When
we spoke to the representatives of the Chinese University, they said they understood our concerns and
would not want such a development in their neighborhood. They said they would not want to set up the
dishes without the community blessing. Obviously, they do not care about our concerns and are trying to
set up again in Wood Valley.
This development is practically in the center of the Wood Valley community. The satellites will be in full
view for everyone, especially homes at higher elevations like us. This will undoubtedly be an eyesore and
disrupt the current enjoyment of the natural beauty of Wood Valley, Hawaii. There are no developments
like this in Wood Valley, this would set a dangerous precedent and it is alarming that it is done as a
"Special Permit Application" instead of the more comprehensive agricultural permitting process and DEIS.
I am against this development and will continue to pursue all our options to Protect Wood Valley Hawaii
from Chinese University satellite dishes and telescope developments on Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea.
CC:
Hawai'i Conservation Alliance & Foundation
1601 East-West Road
Honolulu, HI, 96848-1601
Phone: (808) 944-7417
Email: manager_hawaiiconservation.ora
The Outdoor Circle
1314 South King Street, Suite 306
Honolulu, HI 96814
Tel: 808-593-0300
mai lO)outdoorci rcle.org
KAHEA
P.O. Box 37368, Honolulu, Hawaii 96837
Tel: 808-524-8220 1 toll-free: 877-585-2432
KAHEA-allianceZhawaii.rr.com
protectmaunakeaZamai I.com
Walter Ritte: https://www.kaainamomona.oraa/
Subject: Request for Meeting with Community Based Participatory Research Board
ainamomonal893(@amail.com
http://kaunewsbriefs.bloaspot.com/2022/03/kau-news-briefs-tuesday-feb-28-2022.html