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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-11-18 Caroline H. Walsh From: CAROLINE WALSH To: LPCtestimonv Subject: November 21,2024 Leeward Planning Commission Agenda Item 1 Applicant:Jekaterina Mysin(SMA-2021- 000078) Date: Monday, November 18,2024 1:40:37 PM Attachments: Leeward Plannina Commission Caroline Walsh Postponement Reauest for Aoolicant Jekaterina Mysin(SMA-2021- 000078) 11.18.2024.1)df Leeward Plannina Commission Caroline Walsh Written Testimony for Aoolicant Jekaterina Mysin(SMA-2021- 000078) 11.18.2024.1)df Mysin Social Media Post for Hotel Event Center(SMA-2021-0078).PDF Aerial View of Mysin Lot(SMA-2021-000078).PDF Aloha Leeward Planning Commission, Attached are the following items: 1. Request for postponement of the above-referenced Agenda Item 2. Written Testimony on the Agenda Item, together with two additional exhibits: (1) Mysin social media post about the intended use of the project as a mini-hotel and event center and (2) aerial view of the project site to visualize the size of the five-story project vis a vis the surrounding two-story residential community Mahalo for your consideration of these items. Caroline H. Walsh 75-6150 Ali'i Dr Unit 6 Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i 97640 Caroline H. Walsh 75-6150 Ali'i Dr. Unit 6 Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i 96740 November 18, 2024 County of Hawaii Leeward Planning Commission Aupuni Center 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 Hilo, Hawai'I, 96720 RE: November 21, 2024 Agenda Item -Applicant:Jekaterina Mysin (SMA-2021-000078) REQUEST FOR CONTINUATION (POSTPONEMENT) OF SMA-2021-000078 Delivered via email LPCtestimonv@hawaiicounty.gov Honorable Members of the Leeward Planning Commission I have a home at Ala Ka La Condominiums, the property adjacent to the lot related to the above- referenced project. I am writing to formally request the continuation (postponement) of the above- referenced agenda item at the November 21,2024 meeting. This request is made to ensure public transparency and appropriate due process during the planning approval process. There are several significant reasons why the Leeward Planning Commission should continue this item: 1. Multiple Site Plans and Confusion in the Public Record The public has been presented with multiple, conflicting site plans and usage for the same application, there is widespread confusion about what is being proposed and what the public is expected to support or oppose. With the public comment period ending today, November 18, 2024, at 4:30 pm, it is necessary to delay the meeting until a clear and accurate record is established. This confusion creates significant ambiguity around the proposed permit itself, leaving the community uncertain about what is being supported or opposed. 2. Outdated Background Report The County of Hawaii Planning Department's Background Report appears to be outdated considering the latest plan proposals, that now include an underground parking garage, instead of the street level parking that the Background Report was predicated upon. The project's scope has expanded dramatically, shifting from a minor ground-level intervention to a major excavation project digging 9 feet into lava rock. The original Background Report only accounts for ground-level grubbing and grading work, and does not mention stockpiling and excavation of lava rock outlined in recent submissions. Accordingly, the current Background Report does not appear sufficiently updated upon which to base any decision-making or public comment. 3. Sunshine Laws and Public Transparency As we know, Hawaii's Sunshine Laws require transparency in public processes, especially for projects of this scale. The public should be afforded an appropriate period to properly review the various and changing plans, assess their implications, and provide meaningful input. 4. Community Opposition As of this morning, November 18, 2024, the County has received 100%oppositional testimony, and therefore, no letters in support of approving this project as written. This level of community opposition highlights the need for a comprehensive review to assess the reasons for such opposition to this permit in our community. It is important to note that in 2021, there was overwhelming community opposition to the original application and the public has not been fully informed about the subsequent changes to the evolving site plans. Given the above, I respectfully request that you grant a continuation of the Jekaterina Mysin SMA 21- 000078. Thank you for your consideration of this request. Respectfully, )�. t_30X 1 Caroline H. Walsh 2 Caroline H. Walsh 75-6150 Ali'i Dr. Unit 6 Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i 96740 November 18, 2024 County of Hawaii Leeward Planning Commission Aupuni Center 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 Hilo, Hawai'I, 96720 RE: November 21, 2024 Agenda Item -Applicant:Jekaterina Mysin (SMA-2021-000078) Delivered via email LPCtestimonv@hawaiicounty.gov Honorable Members of the Leeward Planning Commission I have a home at Ala Ka La Condominiums adjacent to the proposed above-referenced applicant's project. My unit is about 30 feet from the rear of the vacant lot for the proposed condominium project. Members of our Ala Ka La ohana, George Smith and Lisa Oasay, have submitted written testimony and plan to provide public testimony at the Commission meeting on November 21, 2024. 1 support the technical issues raised in their written testimony. I would like to emphasize some items for your consideration. 1. For the past few years, there has been a very public discourse about the housing crisis in Hawai'i. The concern echoed by our government officials at both the state and county level is that we need more permanent solutions for long-term residential housing and minimizing short-term housing. Those solutions can only be facilitated by our government officials in our local communities when approving projects for development. These are difficult but necessary decisions if we want to provide residents with permanent housing options. Based on the Mysin's posts on social media (see attached copy of post), the intention is to have a mini-hotel/event center for the local community. That doesn't seem to comport with the need for more permanent residential housing. In addition, having a commercial enterprise in a quiet residential area is an extreme imposition on long-term residents who have heretofore enjoyed a traditional residential community. See attached aerial view of Mysin lot to visualize a five-story building on the size of a tennis court in the middle of two-story buildings. 2. There seems to be conflicting information about this project and the current plan provisions. One example is whether the permit covers excavation and stockpiling for digging the "basement" area for underground parking and the pool area rather than grading and grubbing. For this reason, among other conflicting information, I have submitted a separate request for postponement of the agenda item to a future meeting. 3. Excavation of lava during site preparation will make my home uninhabitable due to the noise levels. My home is approximately 30 feet from the property line. I am a remote worker and will not be able to conduct normal business work during the day, or even engage in daily home activities. Hawai'i must have some financial provisions to require the developer to protect the affected neighbors when construction conditions impact one's ability to reasonably reside in their home during construction. I will further research this but do not yet know how the County enforces that obligation for the benefit of the impacted homeowner. I wanted to highlight a specific concern for the Ala Ka La ohana. Respectfully, � . LD a e5,� Caroline H. Walsh facp;-,ock cow, i' Con-do ! r 1989 when I was a Ad uny. I Facebook Ali'i dr Cando to* yl u. , l f" l . A - 0 My name i{, In 19891 't:^hen I was a k :i mV pa rents f ad the Irk`_; ? �~ec.k ng asylum nverse s. 'Wth rothing or t.-e clot',Fs; or mir oacks. 'ry parents, siAirgs nic I I ved K P ,t: ogee camp in Aprl la, Ita 'y. I),=y; L. ned Phn weeks and turred Into montl7s ai,,liorrsly -wailed for our inini gration st,:t. s to op cr: v--!d. F r•r,ll_•,, a-ter 3 Iona morths ,'.4- ,:,t-re nc)provpd to corria to the us, and received -lie golne t n4M To thi-. r7t:",, .,.ntjnt7-y ,:e nove c':a I ho-re. Fo1 ,°ti^ rg in my father s fect-,;teps I p.1nulen a career In constructioi. ' ",as.orked °yard and contin.Jed ghn rg experience. I fe's currents p..11ed rue to the By Island of Hawn i in 23C5. 1 v-as -ortunate enouran to land a resident al contract r Paradise Park, I fell in Io-,..t ': i-h Hav%.- , h.J Id rg ii `-;t?i .. 0aInki ,-�rr:l Ma1..i. Tha ',,ntitIn Print of Hav-aii, ho',.ever, i1.1 ,:•�Iy )e; ,,,re ,. sesT to ;'11y hexi it I settles: Nos- ' `Jaalehu. I iVing do"t•5rn here you real y learn -o he rer,pec" .1 of the lane. ir I bul ','I ^':_1 s-.ii le firm y I'lnnles --i this day. Gnc Iwenoad Ire wit- mn amazing [Nana. Fcj- c .t of my The daughrms .,'mere .porn here in Ha,,, a i. My `Wr ly is Mat lrntivare s me to try and tie b-tier ever :, rgle day. . IN I started a flnnl'Ing and cnninPt s ip'oly `-Iayall orard 'A made C:I'een '. T'7^ company gre .% to h'f c,,ne one nt Pp he=:t cnhhet 'Uc-rtt'I rs in the of Hav,aii and is cur,ently the c dy oral Nooring a—A :ahinet v..nq i e r nt es I-,;,1*7e iniprovernenI stores on a I iF:'an cis- 'v'-..,. {7:1',''J 1_2 _1,n,al era- Ica; ::n I'd I drive for sale Ire and m ',f',i` knttAr i-a hail ,J"i )n to- the r`7c,�'t h: ,irl-i ill building t ,,p •,'. 11 oring families together _- =:I np c;nt­e--ings and s,-?ecial occa-., ons, I Iliad no money to buy It, the hi,.!-k den es Ir p" In, n huT. i hanz_„IIy I was ,=:1-,Iry to negnt ate financing with the owner. My wife! and I wou d love to hr.J Id a heaut fr.1 hu Id rg in this ot. It :rr-0[Jd t)r S 1�' e..nits t:ita . *e've gone out of our way to des gn it proj ding as much parking as posy tale. We rain>ecd the Dili ding to 45' tall, made love, c:eil rgs so the first floor can sane as parsing for the residents. There is a so a handicap and one sti et parking avai able for nny one. We 11ACIP it sir r.ritS so ',-.;)rer payment for ourcnntrrJr-t7on loar and op able tc: ave affordah e for karna'aira- r..:d local archeologhsts to do :an study air crake srJr's-. Yere ; rn iwi kop.Jra Vat van d op :iinurhe. I worked with the planning nepailment malcinc sLm tha7 hUi rd rg highi and FJ7C.• is ,!'i7h in -h P li 7 t t'7at is allowed for Al'r'i dr- Instead of Ailding lower and talk rg rip more land ^ :=' e. -ry n,j to preserve and build up.. I'm an owner but der and :vkh hkp of my local fr girds that work. v,it- .ne in N;aa ehu , Kona and throughout 0,,F islard I'm ccrf dent ve can h,.1 In t.. Once the constructi:)n is comp etea vae }'el i-. kr honlyl that w th kn-ra"aina mes available local f a m i i e s .:s:.l :i he at,l ,:; o3 jc:y i, {,t<-Ayc::ati i:j. ,shoot grard.l,a-ioi! Inone yIr or)ns, Ass reunions, wecJ:hig s or ce, ehr,:,-n • ing olr-lwAys by t-e h;cok ;�rf7vide -an outdoor rinse off shower fc-, T"e 1:.1171 enjc eng .ho ;a,' an- Ther oe dur rg construction and onc:=: is cornpie to o. My farm y and I hurr;)ly ;14. for' yc.l' ni answer any queshony or concerns you may have and do a q n~.... a: ; ,,ie .rwfh Ie following hawali bnil:iii ,:and am laws . With respect and Aloha Itkolay and ,lekaterina tvlysin Li ke QD comment !share 9 �w .. 4 w t TM g��� s m MORE VIDEOS `��' 1 , "