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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-07-14 Edith Kawai WHCC From: Edith Kawai To: LPCtestimonv Subject: Waimea Hawaiian Civic Club Testimony-LPC,July 18,2024 Meeting,Agenda Items#3&#4 Date: Sunday,July 14,2024 3:29:51 PM Attachments: WHCC Kaupulehu Dev 7.14.24.docx To Whom It May Concern: Please find the testimony attached hereto. Thankyou, Edith Kawai, President Waimea Hawaiian Civic Club P O Box 6305 Kamuela, HI 96743 PO Box 6305 Kamuela, HI 96743 A Non-Profit Organization EIN 46-2207539 July 14, 2024 Leeward Planning Commission County of Hawaii 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg. E Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 Testimony - LPC July 18, 2024, Meeting, Agenda Items #3 & #4 Aloha Kakou, The Waimea Hawaiian Civic Club was established in 1949 and chartered by the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs in 1959. Our members hale from Paniolo and Hawaiian Homesteader stock who have carried forward Hawaiian traditions and values of our Kupuna. On behalf of our members and their'ohana —all of whom are residents of Waimea, we ask the Leeward Planning Commission to NOT approve Kaupulehu Land LLC's applications for State Land Use Boundary Amendment from Agricultural to Rural and Change of Zone from an Agricultural-5 acre to Neighborhood Commercial and Residential Agricultural (Agenda Items #3 & #4, Applicant: Kaupulehu Land LLC) for the following reasons: This project is solely for speculation purposes and is, therefore, inconsistent with the 2005 General Plan. It is a prime example of spot zoning and urban sprawl that Waimea is unable to support. The proposed commercial development is excessively huge with a 3-building, 2-story complex and is NOT compatible with this part of Waimea. The scale and size of this proposed commercial development is too large, similar to a 'strip mall' and NOT compatible for or in the character of this area. Likewise, it would degrade prime agricultural land and the "rural, ranching character" of Waimea. The development would adversely increase traffic congestion near this area. Also, this project would severely impact the traffic and create further congestion in this particular area on Mamalahoa Highway which is already difficult to navigate as the highway starts to narrow near here when driving west into Waimea Town. The level of traffic is in near constant overwhelm throughout the town which should raise cautionary thinking for ambulance and police access in light of the fact that Waimea has no bypass roads. The development, if approved, would adversely increase property taxes for residents in this area. This proposed residential development, which is being built for the high-end market and not for the affordable range, would only increase the property taxes for residents of the area. Our members, many of whom are kupuna retirees and others who have families, cannot handle the burden of inflated property taxes without having to work more than one job or who have their families stuffed into a single family home in order to share the cost of living in their ancestral lands. The development is NOT in compliance with the Hawai'i County General Plan (2005). The project fails to protect significant Agriculture lands by rezoning them and fails to preserve the rural, ranching character of Waimea as stipulated in the General Plan. Likewise, this proposed project is NOT consistent with the General Plan goals and policies that pertain to Agriculture and commercial development. This speculation project has failed to demonstrate the need for additional retail space in Waimea with many existing vacant retail properties in Waimea. Waimea is Hawaii Island's Breadbasket. The proposed lands, if developed, would forever erase these prime agricultural lands from Waimea's inventory. There is nothing that can replace it and the result would be to shackle our residents more deeply to imports which disasters and COVID have proven time and again is not sustainable. The development is NOT consistent with the South Kohala CDP (2008). This proposed project fails to meet the guidelines and policies set forth for the Waimea Town as stipulated in the South Kohala CDP. Instead, this project would remove prime agricultural lands and push unsightly commercial development further east of the Waimea Town center. PLEASE follow the plans that are already in place for Waimea. They provide a studied, cautionary, long-term view of development.' In conclusion, on behalf of our members, I ask that this Commission consider all testimony previously submitted on this proposal. Me ka mahalo iho no, Waimea Hawaiian Civic Club,President i With the strong exception of roundabouts.