2024-02-29 PL-SMA-2023-000038 Debbie Hecht Opposition Testimony

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From: Debbie H To: LPCtestimonv Subject: Kona Hawaii Development LLC request for 100 room hotel on 1.76 acres Date: Thursday, February 29,2024 6:10:45 AM Attachments: Screenshot 2024-02-29 at 7.32.02AM.pno Aloha Commissioners- Please say NO to another extension on this outdated project! Please require the developers to go back to the drawing board and resubmit plans that are appropriate for the infrastructure available (roads, water, sewer), current density and usage of the area. This is just a bad idea! A fifth 5-year extension sets a bad precedent for this process with endless extensions. This third world eyesore has been in place for at least 20 years in the heart of the tourist zone and flipped by multiple developers. Developers should be required to provide increased roads for increased traffic, more parking, ample water and sewers at their expense. Big island taxpayers should NOT have to foot the bill. In addition, PLEASE require them to tear down the existing eyesore of old cement and rebar. This is a BAD idea in this area that is presently too densely populated, because: 1. Is a 100-room hotel really needed in this area? NO. Is Royal Kona full? NO! 2. A 100-room hotel will greatly increase walking and driving in this already overcrowded area. Where Walua Road meets Ali'i Drive and where the 1-lane road, Kahakai provides access to both Huggo's restaurants, and several condo projects that also require parking. Too much is already going on in this overcrowded area. See map below. 3. This project is right next to the Royal Kona Resort tennis courts and across the l-lane road Kahakai from the resort and other condo projects. There is not enough parking for these properties and the tennis courts. 4. This process of multiple 5 year extensions is not working. How does this serve Big Island residents by allowing yet another developer to come back to "extend" their plans for a 5th extension so they can just sell it to yet another developer? 5. There are no roads to serve increased traffic for a 100 room hotel. 6. A developer should be required to pay to increase road widths in the area and leading up to the area. This should be a requirement of plan approval. 7. It's hard to drive in the area and park now for the Royal Kona Resort area and all the shops and restaurants. 8. The Kealakehe sewer plant is already overloaded and sewer lines in the area are old and potentially leaking. 9. Where will the additional water come from? PLEASE require that the Kona Hawaii Development, LLC to resubmit plans that bring this project from 1998 and 4 extensions in compliance with current conditions in this area. PLEASE require that the developers clean up this eyesore with rebar sticking up and chipping weathered cement. What a third- world eyesore!