2024-11-18 Don Strawn - Laserfiche WebLink

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From: don strawn To: LPCtestimonv Subject: Request for Immediate Postponement of the JEKATERINA MYSIN SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREA USE PERMIT APPLICATION(SMA 21-000078) Date: Monday,November 18,2024 2:55:09 PM Aloha to the Honorable Members of the Planning Commission, I am writing to request an immediate postponement of the review for the JEKATERINA MYSIN SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREA USE PERMIT APPLICATION (SMA 21-000078) scheduled for the upcoming Leeward Planning Commission meeting on November 21, 2024. This request is grounded in serious concerns regarding the incomplete, inconsistent, and outdated information currently in the public record, which directly undermines the public's ability to meaningfully participate in the decision-making process. The primary reason for this request is the significant confusion created by the multiple, conflicting site plans that have been submitted for review. These evolving proposals leave the community unable to fully understand the scope of what is being proposed, and as a result, there is widespread uncertainty about what the public is being asked to approve or oppose. With the comment period ending today, it is unreasonable to expect the public to adequately review these conflicting plans and provide informed feedback in such a short time frame. The public deserves clarity and a clear, consistent proposal to evaluate—not a series of changing submissions. Until this issue is resolved, it would be unjust to move forward with any hearing or decision. Another serious concern is the outdated background report that the Planning Department is relying on to assess this application. The report, which was based on earlier, much simpler plans, fails to account for significant changes in the project's scope, such as the introduction of an underground parking garage and major excavation work. The proposal now involves extensive excavation into lava rock, a detail that was not included in the original background report. This outdated report misrepresents the current plans and cannot serve as the foundation for any decision-making or public comment. The public relies on accurate, up-to- date information to assess the impacts of such projects, and continuing to use this obsolete report is a violation of the public's right to a fully informed process. Moreover, the rushed timeline surrounding this application presents another serious issue. While this project has been in development since 2021, the public has not been given sufficient time to review the changes made to the plans. With the review scheduled in just a few days, there is no reasonable way for the community to assess the complexities of the new proposal. This lack of time to properly engage with the information constitutes a clear violation of the public's right to due process. Residents of Kona should not be rushed into commenting on a project of this magnitude without ample time to conduct proper due diligence.