.PD RECOMMENDATION REPORT (PL-SMA-2023-000038)

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R Kona Hawaii SMA 11/23/23 COUNTY OF HAWAI`I PLANNING DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION KONA HAWAII DEVELOPMENT, LLC SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREA USE PERMIT APPLICATION (PL-SMA-2023-000038) Upon careful review of the applicant's request against the guidelines for granting of a Special Management Area Use Permit, the Planning Director recommends that this request to develop a 100-room hotel and related improvements using a partially completed foundation structure on 1.76 acres of land the Special Management Area be approved by the Planning Commission. Since this recommendation is made without the benefit of public testimony, the Director reserves the right to modify and/ alter this recommendation based upon additional information presented at the public hearing. This approval recommendation is based on the following: The applicant requests a Special Management Area Use Permit to use the existing foundation, footprint, and basement area to develop a three (3) story hotel that includes 91 suites with kitchenette, and nine (9) standard guest rooms (100-rooms total)to be operated as a Residence Inn by Marriott. The proposed suites will consist of two (2) bedrooms, and the site will also include a dining area, an outdoor pool, and a bar.The underground parking area will accommodate 143 parking stalls, that includes handicapped parking and (two) parking stalls with charging stations for electric vehicles. Additional work includes the construction of a 7-foot-wide sidewalk along the property boundary with both Ali`i Drive and Kahakai Road to accommodate pedestrians and access in the area, and landscaping using native plants and drought tolerant species will be utilized to mitigate viewplane impacts. The applicant is pursuing this project to complete the partially constructed development while providing accommodations that cater to the specific needs of visitors to Kona as opposed to vacation rentals or Bed& Breakfasts located in residential areas. The grounds for approving development within the Special Management Area are based on HRS, Chapter 205A-26(2) (Special Management Area guidelines) and Rule 9- 11(e) of the Planning Commission Rules of Practice and Procedure. Planning Commission -1-