HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-02-17 PL-SMA-2023-000046 Teresa San Miguel Opposition Testimony From: Ouihano,Chasitv
To: WPCtestimony
Subject: FW: punalu'u development
Date: Tuesday, March 12,2024 4:33:34 PM
From: Mom San Miguel <mom.sanmiguel@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, February 18, 2024 12:07 PM
To: Council Testimony<counciltestimony@hawaiicounty.gov>
Subject: punalu'u development
Hello council members!
am writing in opposition to the proposed development, by Eva Liu, for the Punalu'u
area. My reasons are as follows:
1)the environmental impacts would be enormous, and are not clearly addressed .
Upkeep of grounds around the project do not appear to have any stipulations
regarding the use of herbicides,which are commonly used in other ocean side
developments on the island. Increased noise from people and vehicles is going to
disturb the honu as they gather in the spot they've chosen. Tour buses,which are
required to leave the diesel engines running in order to keep the AC going while some of
the riders choose to remain seated on the bus during tour stops, will be gassing out the
entire area with diesel fumes. Tourists are notably insensitive to the damage they cause
by gathering natural elements (like rocks) as souvenirs, leaving trash, and poisoning the
water with toxic sunscreens. These are just a few examples.
2)the size and scope of the proposed development seems geared more towards
attracting tourism and making use by residents more difficult.
Any economic benefits to local residents would be based on low payingjobs-
working the gift store, mowing lawns, etc. , without any true long term opportunities for
career development.
As a tourist destination, the site would normally involve input and regulation by state
and county agencies overseeing things like traffic control, hours of operation, gates,
lighting, parking fees, and so on. All of which would make the natural beauty difficult for
area residents to access.
Educational opportunities,while somewhat addressed as part of a package for
guests, are not designed with any real, in-depth education, training, research, and
involvement for the future environmental or cultural concerns.
3).The entire area was once impacted by earthquakes and eruptions, and recent
geological studies don't do anything to encourage us to develop the area. If an serious
quake, or lava flow- either of which seems possible -occur and the development is
damaged, the cost of development and/or restoration of said development, would end
up being at least partially born by the state and/or county, resulting to increased taxes
for area residents. The increase in taxes will, over time, continue, but not even come
close to being offset by income from low paying jobs, either at the site itself, or within the
towns nearby.
In summary, this sounds like just another developer wanting to turn the area into a
money maker and tax write off, creating an opening for more, and bigger, development in
the future.
Presented as being"culturally and environmentally sensitive", does not make it so.
Respectfully submitted 2/17/24
Teresa San Miguel
Kea'au