HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-05-12 Janet Matlock Testimony From: ianet Matlock
To: LPCtestimonv
Subject: LPC testimony Item#1 Boaz 5-15-25
Date: Monday, May 12,2025 4:37:38 PM
Aloha Leeward Planning Commissioners,
I offer some questions for the Leeward Planning Commission to ask on this proposal:
(1) Land Speculation: In 2019 the property was for sale.
Given its Long history of owning this property,does Boaz,under its current incarnation in affiliation with
Minnesota-based builder KJ Walk,actually plan to build,and if so,does it have the funding secured to build?
Or is their intention to secure yet another extension and increase density to entice a buyer?
It is notable that in the Language of the planning director's report,this new project would be approved for 5
years,with an additional five-year extension possible.
One neighbor who presumably is concerned about how the Landowners have allowed the property to be
squatted on by houseless individuals,wants the public ocean access to be on the opposite side of his condo,
stating, "We already have major problems with constant trespassers&parking violators,especially the
locals..."
While I am hopeful this individual was simply speaking out of frustration at the Lack of caretaking by the
current owners,shouldn't it in fact be"the locals"who have more access to the ocean, not Less?
(2) Lack of Affordable Housing:This is yet another vacation-rental type project dating back decades.As the
Commissioners are well aware,what we Lack in Kailua Kona is affordable and workforce housing.
Do we really need additional vacation and second-home properties?
(3) Water: Kailua Kona has frequent water and ongoing restrictions, including a 10%voluntary restriction at
the present time.The Dept.of Water Supply has not determined how much water will be required by this
project.
Is this open-ended approval really how we should be allocating our precious water resources?
(4) Tsunami:This proposal is sited on a narrow strip of Land fronting the ocean,with one driveway accessing
a narrow and already overburdened two-Lane road. ALi`i Drive has been and will be again completely at a
standstill in a tsunami evacuation. Unless all the occupants somehow make it to the top of the building and
the tsunami doesn't exceed,the likelihood of tragedy is obvious.
This is an expired project owned by out-of-state interests,who have not been good stewards of the Land.You
(not the County Council)are the final say on this proposal. Please do not approve this unnecessary project.
Mahalo for your time and attention,
janet Matlock
Kailua Kona