2024-03-06 PL-SMA-2023-000046 Johnny Inserra Opposition Testimony

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From: Johnny Inserra To: W PCtesti mony Date: Wednesday, March 6,2024 8:12:49 AM Lessons from the North Shore of Oahu Previously a long term resident of the North Shore before moving to Ka'u, I witnessed a slow but seemingly inevitable process of development take over an entire community and with that change the displacement of many families that had lived there for generations. So many issues from ecological to traffic concerns. Just take a drive from Haleiwa to Sunset beach and you can see the results. Of the many concerns that come along with development such as the proposed plan for Punalu'u, one effect is so long term that it is often overlooked at the beginning. Real Estate Property Taxes. Sooner or later as the property values rise in the area, families that have lived here eventually may not be able to keep up with the increases. Anecdotally, we have all heard stories of families selling and leaving the island chain for places that promise lower costs of living. This is one of the most unfortunate of all the ill effects(and there are many) of the way development for Tourism has historically taken place. Taxes on North Shore properties went up again this past year with many residents receiving new assessments at much higher valuations based on recent sales of properties, some with significant increases. What will happen to local adjacent properties taxes when the resort properties inevitably increase the valuation of the area? Secondly, Turtle Bay is an example of a resort in the most beautiful location on North Shore. I imagine that it once was pristine as Punalu'u is now. I believe an agreement was reached where 800 or so acres were set aside for conservation through the state and private entities and to keep beach access for locals. (I don't know the exact figures, but they can be researched.) Even with this agreement, access continues to be challenged with the future development plans changing access and parking for the public. However, it's a compromise between the lesser of two evils. One thing that one must remember is that owners of resorts change and with it attitudes. Turtle Bay has gone through different ownership over the decades that I'm familiar with it. Some ownership has been local friendly and some has not. Plans and agreements change and the access for locals varies with every new company that acquires it. What starts has a good plan does not always stay that way. Third and lastly, defunct golf courses have been finding new life as public spaces and parks all through the US. (An article in the New York Times recently covered this new phenomenon) Perhaps this could be used as a possible blue print for how other proposed uses for the development as opposed to the obvious ecological disaster and the tragic loss of one of the last pristine places that developing in Punalu'u as now proposed presents. Thank you for all your efforts, John Inserra