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Home My WebLink About2024-11-17 George-Kapalili From: George-Kaoalili Smith To: LPCtestimonv Subject: 2021-000078 Mysin Comments in testimony Date: Sunday,November 17,2024 3:12:25 PM Attachments: Planning 21-078.odf From adjacent property owner George Smith 75-6150 Alii Dr. 93 Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 Ala Ka La condominiums Aloha no, Smitty& Kapalili The Smiths 75-6150 AM Dr.#3 Kailua-Kona,HI 96740 phn:808.331.1511,808.743.6618 e-mail:smittyberta@gmail.com 11/16/2024 to: Zendo Kern, Planning Director County of Hawaii 101 Pauahi Street,Suite 3 Hilo, HI 96720 from: George& Roberta Smith 75-6150 AIN Dr.#3 Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 Ala Ka La condominium,adjacent lot to Mysin property Please provide a copy of this transmittal to all members of the commission,and to the planner meeting with applicant on Monday 11/18/20 am (time unknown). Application by Jeketrina Mysin: a six-unit condominium. The applicant property TMK: 750200660000,9,934 sq ft Zone: RM -1.5 We protest the major changes in site plans at such short notice. It is impossible to digest and respond to a 40-page addendum with less than two weeks before the Commissioners meeting. However,given what we understand to be the current proposition we have comment on actual on-site conditions,specifically related to deep excavation for an underground garage and swimming pool. SITE CONDITIONS Average soil depths in the PuaPua'a 2 Ahupua'a range from 50 to 100 centimeters(18.5"—37"). On the subject property below that is a sheet of almost solid basalt.The below-grade lava shelf extends across the entire southern face of the land protrusion currently identified as"Alii Point"and includes the adjacent lots to the south and west. (see Illustration 1) In addition to the underlying basalt layer there are multiple above grade lava domes on all three properties.The subject property adjacent to AIaKaLa includes a large lava dome that varies from grade to more than four feet high of solid basalt,which straddles our common property boundary(see illus. 2).Additionally,there is a lava dome on the north approximately 1/3 of the lot that protrudes an average of three feet above grade. PROPOSED EXCAVATION The below grade parking garage/building foundations will have to be excavated to a depth greater than 2.75 meters(9')encompassing the entire footprint of the building. Additionally,there will be a driveway ramp ranging from grade at AIN dr.to basement level. The swimming pool with a depth of seven feet lies in the far southwest corner of the lot,with a zero lot line setback.The pool is directly under the four plus foot high solid basalt dome that straddles our common boundary(see illus. 3). In addition,there will,of necessity, be trenches to accommodate electric,water supply,sewage,and surface runoff,which will crisscross the site, including under the basement and pool,to an unknown additional depth. DIRECT IMPACT The southwest corner of the lot's common boundary lava dome is planned to be excavated on the property line to level the site and dig down an additional seven feet to accommodate the swimming pool-spa combination. Literally inches on our side of the lot line is an electric supply power pole.The site has been inspected by a HELCO engineering representative,who stated that the planned excavation WILL cause the pole to fall. In addition,the pool/spa is required by code to be no closer than five feet from an electric power transmission source.Also adjacent to the lot line is a fifty-year-old Bougainvillea tree that is prized by our owners,and must remain undisturbed. INDIRECT IMPACT The excavation of basalt will require an excavator and rock hammer. I'm sure you all have experienced the noise created by breaking basalt during excavation procedures.The author(George Smith)was on-site engineering representative for Bowers&Kubota for the installation of two large fuel tanks at Ellison Onizuka Intl.Airport(see Illus. 4),prior to retirement, last job,YAY!The rock hammer was operating constantly on the subsurface basalt for the foundations of the two tanks (each approx. 30' in diameter,approximately 2,800sq ft each).The hammering went on eight hours a day for over FIVE WEEKS.Anyone entering the one-acre job site was required to wear ear protection at all times. Mysin's project will have a similar impact on the entire neighborhood (remember,the subject lot is less than one-quarter of an acre),who will be subjected to noise levels above federal highway construction standards for weeks.The east units of Ala Ka La are less than 20'from the property boundary,and those units, if not our entire building,will be rendered uninhabitable during work hours until excavation is complete. Beyond that time we will continue to be subjected to constant major construction impacts. While we recognize that a property owner has a right to utilize their real property as they choose,there must be limits imposed by the regulating bodies to minimize impact on the right to enjoyment by neighboring owners of THEIR property.We understand that Mysin's property lies within the RM—1.5-unit allowance, but this proposed project impacts the surrounding neighborhood to an extreme. The Commission must exercise their powers to reflect the character of the surrounding properties and neighborhood in general. Mysin must present a proposal the is in keeping with those parameters, honor the character, and reduce the impacts on the place wherein they made their purchase. Respectfully, George Smith,AIaKaLa unit#3 Illustrations: No. 1, Basalt outflow,AN Point No. 2a-d, Common boundary line adjacent lot surface photos No. 3,Annotated building*renderings. No.4, Fuel tank no. 2 Ellison Onizuka Intl.Airport y . •.r1r1. S. No.1: AN Point, continuation of basalt lave flow that is sub-surface over the entire peninsula a _nw y 1 . 00 010 t R ,r ' R, r v .t V ,ya { 11. r� r" a No. 2d: Boundary pin at base of power pole, Bo Bougainvillea tree to left 17IW4 AA I P.M t,. IL 1 A.L1\ �G4F1'1�* O z r,arEt r 54 P 90 cat TR^1'1�FVUL% It M CA fiL�pA rA`'m VOLO W1 No. 3a Southwest corner indicating proposed bisection of lava dome and property boundary fence t S, A.,A to C CA41 SHpi4k3►4C -. �• -�— Ava.lt pCrFart° No. 3b,Rendering indicating Alii Dr. view of relative scale of structure on AlaKaLa condominium to the west NOTE:This is a previous(of many)version of the proposed building. A,Id a" r. r, 4 No.4 George and mo'opuna kane on top of KOA tank#2... 180,000 gallons of Jet-A fuel NOTE: I include this photo to demonstrate that I do have the experiential knowledge whereof I speak.