HomeMy WebLinkAboutPL-USE-2022-000006 J. PRIES TESTIMONY (LATE) 05.18.23 From: Joe Pries
To: LPCtestimony
Subject: Renegade Towers-testimony
Date: Thursday, May 18,2023 3:26:29 PM
Attachments: Pries letter of testimony re Renegade Towers.odf
Aloha please accept our attached letter of testimony opposing the Use Permit Application for Renegade
Towers, LLC.
Thank you,
Gary (Joe) and Emily Pries
Gary J. and Emily Pries
73-1222 Kauilaniakea Drive
Kailua-Kona,HI 96740
May 18, 2023
To: The Leeward Planning Commission
Re: Renegade Tower Use Permit Application (PL-USE-2022-000006)
Aloha,
Thank you for accepting this letter of testimony.As residents of Kauilaniakea Estates subdivision and
neighbors of the proposed cell phone tower project,we are opposed to this application.
We have attempted to go through all of the Use Permit Application background documents since
receiving notice on May 6th that the documents were available online.
Concerns for our neighborhood:
The proposed tower will be dominant in the long-established view plane of our home and our
neighborhood, Kauilamakea Estates. It will have a significant visual impact on the character of the
surroundings. Such a change will likely impact our property values as well.
The monopole from a long distance may look like a tree,but from our home and those of our neighbors, it
will look like what it is—a huge green utility pole with panels around the top of it attempting to "blend
in". The nearest tall trees in the area are a few silver oaks-and they are very tall. Based on the simulation
photos in the application and the actual view from our home,the monopole will be significantly taller
than those few silver oaks.
Questions about the application:
Regarding the "Attachment to Special Permit or Use Permit Applications" document (p. 26 of 154
pg. background report):
Item #7. The applicant does not include evidence of a commitment from a minimum of two service
providers as required by the County. (Only Verizon is committed,with "interest"from T-Mobile and no
response from AT&T).
Item #8. The County asks the applicant to identify sites where "diligent but unsuccessful" effort was
made to install or co-locate on an existing tower or support structure.
The applicant's response did not identify any sites or give an explanation of those efforts. The response
simply states that there are "no tall towers or buildings in this area"that would suffice. How broad is "this
area"?Where are the nearest existing towers for any of these three providers? Has reasonable effort been
made to work with existing facilities?
As stated in their application, Renegade Towers is a tower infrastructure company. They have a vested
interest in building new towers.
Other questions:
5G:
Is this tower intended to be 5G,now or in the future?What is the County's stance on this?
Coverage maps:
We are lay people- so forgive our ignorance here but the maps are hard to decipher.Are the
commissioners able to view the provided coverage maps and determine that the proposed tower would
provide more than a nominal increase in range and service that it warrants placing it in this location?
Monopole:
Other than the simulation photos that show the monopole in the distance, can the applicant provide a clear
photo of what a monopole looks like with four carriers'equipment installed on it?
Microwave dish:
The application states this tower might need a microwave dish installed on it if there is no fiber optic
available to the site.Where on the tower would this be located?How does that impact the look of the
monopole?
Road-in-limbo:
Donahue Road is a road-in-limbo. In the event that the construction of this tower negatively impacts the
road,who will repair it? It is a public road that neither the State nor the County maintains.Are there other
utilities on the Big Island on such roads?
We realize the hearing is tomorrow,but we wanted to thoroughly read all the background information
before submitting our testimony.
Like everyone else,we view cellular service and internet access as a key utility.We also believe that
thoughtful, long-term planning is key to preserving the look and feel of our community. Thank you for
considering our concerns and the impact of such intensive utility projects on the character of Kona's
neighborhoods.We ask that the Leeward Planning Commission refrain from approving this application.
Thank you,
Emily and Gary(Joe)Pries