Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutPL-REZ-2022-000033 RENEE & DEREK INABA TESTIMONY 12.12.2022 Araujo, Jaclyn From: Renee Inaba <inabaventures@yahoo.com> Sent: Monday, December 12, 2022 1:35 PM To: LPCtestimony Subject: LPC DECEMBER AGENDA PL-REZ-2022-000033 Attachments: 12.15.22 LPC Inaba Comments.Testimony K3 Opposed.pdf Aloha, Please include the attached PDF testimony/comments (3 pages) in the Commissioners' packets for the 12-15-22 Leeward Planning Commission meeting. Related to Agenda Item 1. Mahalo, Derek and Renee Inaba Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android i Agenda Item 1. LPC 12/15/2022 Meeting: Please include in Commissioners' Packets Opposing Kona Three,LLC Application for Permit Extensions(PL-REZ-2022-000033) TMK(3) 7-6-021:016 & :017 [68.837 acres as noted in Applicants Documentation] Aloha Leeward Planning Commissioners: We are respectfully requesting that the Leeward Planning Commission deny any further extension or any proposed building permits to Kona Three LLC for parcels as indicated in agenda 12/15/2022 LPC meeting. There are a multitude of issues that have not been adequately addressed about this consortium of investors'request to convert the open space (TMKs as specified in documentation) from Ag land,open space to dense multi family housing. Given the quite low original price,they seemingly purchased the land knowing that no active permits were in place. As we understand it the totality of the acreage had reverted back to its original state of Ag land. There have been many plans,that seem to change constantly with these Developers as well as multiple name changes on their part which has caused a lot of confusion on the part of the public.That is the case even for those that have been very interested in this matter. It turns out that many stakeholders have not had the chance to weigh in properly for a variety of reasons including a degree of confusion that seems to have been built into this process with these Developers and this property specifically. This may have happened intentionally or unintentionally one cannot say why,the fact is that it has happened. To move forward in any way without hearing from all important, key stakeholders would,we think,prove to be unwise at this time in this environment. Stakeholders are numerous as are the risks,complications, and ultimate costs of an unwise, "pushed through" approval of still further extension on old permits. The community needs more data,more complete reviews of the total infrastructure cost to the community in general for such a development. To extend or grant permits without a complete understanding of these costs,i.e., short-term,intermediate, and long-term,would be foolish. This could end up costing the County of Hawaii as well as its taxpayers and the community-at-large more than our current or future coffers could possibly afford, i.e., to subsidize a builder's development plan for their own profits with the actual cost being born by your constituents and our population of citizens,key important stakeholders. It is important that there be full inclusiveness and transparency in this process with no subterfuge or anyone involved having any perceived or actual conflicts of interest. There have been many efforts to try to save and preserve this land. It is one key space on this particular ahupua'a that has provided a lush habitat and hunting grounds for several endangered and protected species. Those are the Hawaiian owl, Pueo,the Hawaiian Hawk, 'Io and the Hoary Bat population in the area. There have not been proper or complete studies or involvement of key stakeholders and experts to assess this risk. There are also native birds in the area in addition to those species noted that need to be better understood. We as a community and you in your roles need to avoid,where possible, overstepping the boundaries that have been set up to protect this environment and these species. There is also much concern about pre-contact,contact, and post-contact(Western contact) archaeological materials and cultural materials relevant to the Hawaiian host culture that need to be better inventoried and preserved before they are lost to bulldozers and construction. This is one of those things if it's lost,it's lost forever and there is no reason to not do a proper and complete inventory of the entire area including the parcels noted by this development permitting request. Only a small fraction of the land was apparently ever reviewed and to the best of anyone's knowledge the entirety of the land and its potentially very significant features have never been properly assessed, logged and inventoried in partnership with the Burial Council or other Hawaiian groups of historical, archeological,or cultural practitioners. Of great concern is the watershed and water flow areas one on the north side of the property,one on the south side of the property that provide important and historical mauka-makai water flow during any significant rain. There is a lot to be considered here in that any modification of those two waterways could affect the properties and homes on either side of these proposed developments as well as the properties well above,upslope and below this area. This would require significant engineering reviews ensure if anything is ever done all the considerations and concerns by the communities, agencies,departments, and all parties all around the ahupua'a can be fully addressed. You may all be familiar with the major flooding that happens just below these areas on Kuakini. There's a lot of concern that any changes or alterations in contouring the land could create destructive outcomes if done improperly or alter a properly working watersheds or streams,i.e., similar concerns to the major flooding on Kauai which caused massive flooding resulting in property damage,casualties and fatalities due to contouring work done without proper consideration of the entire area even miles away. These are important issues and it is believed that the environmental impact studies and other studies done were incomplete and those can leave big but important gaps in real consequences of development,contouring,changing the land. Back to our taxpayers and the County of Hawai'i and others being stuck with the bill,very big bills,once the builder is long gone. These will be the major infrastructure components that really need to be addressed before any permits should be allowed or any equipment would ever be allowed to move on to the property assuming all the other issues had been addressed in a transparent and community-based manner. By the time,our County and our taxpayers realize how much additional infrastructure this whole project will take these builders will be long gone counting their cash while our taxpayers and our County have to foot the bill. We just simply don't have the infrastructure in the area to deal with the transportation flow with this many more people in the area. Some of the roads were not even constructed properly and cannot handle additional flow. An example is Puapuaanui,too steep a grade,blind spot curvatures in the road that make this particular road which is already very busy very dangerous without any additional overload of traffic. There have been numerous meetings with the state and county highway and safety committee on this. It is a known problem. (Note when the developers conducted traffic studies it seems those were done during covid times when traffic was,to say the least,rather light. That is not the case now and clearly not what we would anticipate in the future.) Roads would likely have to be reconfigured,expanded and or merge lanes, lights,etc. Movement of huge amounts of traffic through residential communities poses a whole lot of other issues and risks that are in many ways untenable. Additionally,the extra traffic loaded on to Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway just north of Puapuaanui and south past Lako would not be helpful or popular with our commuters and public. If you have not travelled these areas during peak and even non-peak times to "experience"this significant congestion you may not be as aware as this as our Kona community. Infrastructure issues continue with other concerns. Schools do not have the capacity at this point to handle additional students,we think you already are aware of this issue. Water taps,water pressure, and water supply (wells and aquifers) has been an issue in our communities and Kona in general. Many other services from both public and private resources and vendors would also be greatly strained. Do we really have the capacity to handle all this extra infrastructure cost?These are just a few of the issues that would arise by granting these permits or any extensions. Is that the legacy that this commission wants? The best decision, a good choice here would be to make sure that this application is paused and deferred until: 1)An actual COMPLETE archaeological study is done of the whole property in question. There is considerable evidence that rather significant Hawaiian archaeological and perhaps cultural materials are on this property. 2)A proper query to add layers of real transparency about this whole development and who the developers are and who they've had contact with needs to be better known by decision makers and stakeholders. This would hopefully avoid the actual or perceived conflicts of interest that some have expressed concern. County officials and other county decision making parties that are involved with this process should probably certify that they have never done business with nor had any financial interest with any of these developers in the past or this consortium of investors. This would be important to give the public ease and assurance about the parties and the process. 3)The public and all key stakeholders have a proper opportunity to in a transparent way vet and understand these issues and share their concerns as well as their mana'o on these matters. This is important in that if this is to go forward and there is to be an additional cost to the community and to the County,we need to do that with some consciousness and full awareness of why this would be moving forward given the history. (Let's also understanding that some stakeholders are say creatures or the aina itself and not human beings and we citizens and interested stewards will have to speak on their behalf.) 4)A full rigorous assessment of infrastructure risk and potential costs downstream needs to be done in earnest.Not to do so would seem reckless of the power you currently hold and of the positions and responsibility that our County administration has for being good stewards of the resources and the planning decisions. Given that the costs are likely to be quite large due to highway and road concerns,due to lost endangered and protected species habitats,expansions to our schools and other public and private services facilities,water issues including water flow,water shed and flooding issues, etc. This analysis needs to be done with a great deal of care and understanding of what the ultimate cost of developing this particular property might be. That would provide an opportunity for the County to secure, from the developers, upfront financing and escrowed funds from the developers before any prospective development activities are even considered to be undertaken. The bottom line is that this is not the time for this decision.Not enough of the key stakeholders have been properly made aware of the situation by the County. There's been much confusion because of development changes,name changes, schedule changes,what people thought the permits were versus what they seem to be now,etc. If a project is to be successful it needs to have buy-in. Even if there's disagreement,if there's understanding and transparency a better,more pono decision will be made. There is much to understand about the situation and this land and this possible development that's under review. It's impossible to just drop into the middle of this issue and fully understand the history but it's important that you try to do so. Transparency and a clean process that involves as many stakeholders as possible in as clear a path as possible is greatly important in making proper decisions. Studies and assessments need to be done to truly assess the real, current situation/s. This is our and your community and aina to caretake. Wield your approval pen and your decision power with great care in making these decisions as they can have important and not always positive consequences if not all factors are weighted properly. Mahalo for your attention to this important matter. Derek and Renee Inaba Kailua-Kona,Hawai'i