HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-06-02 Carlton Bello Opposition Testimony
From: toni Bello
To: Planning WPC Testimony
Subject: Opposition to PL-USE-2026-000042
Date: Tuesday, June 2, 2026 10:38:29 AM
Date: June 2, 2026
To: The Windward Planning Commission
Regarding: Strong Opposition to the Permit Application for Big Island Neuro Health
Foundation’s Outpatient Clinic in Pepeekeo. PL-USE-2026-000042
To the Members of the Windward Planning Commission,
My name is Carlton Bello, and I am a resident of Pepeekeo. I am writing to express my strong
opposition to the permit application for the Big Island Neuro Health Foundation’s proposed
outpatient clinic. My opposition is based on critical procedural failures regarding community
notification, as well as deeply concerning inconsistencies regarding the facility's operational
scope, staffing, and patient safety protocols.
I respectfully urge the Windward Planning Commission to deny this permit based on the
following facts:
Failure of Required Public Notification: The applicant has failed to meet basic
transparency and notification requirements. I personally checked with Councilwoman
Heather Kimball, who confirmed that my property falls within the required 300-foot
notification boundary. However, when I explicitly asked about this at a community
meeting, I was incorrectly told that I was outside the boundary. Consequently, I never
received the first or second notification letters regarding this project. If immediate
neighbors within the legal radius are being excluded or misinformed, the applicant has
not conducted proper, lawful community outreach.
Contradictory and Shifting Scope of Staffing: The applicant has provided inconsistent
information regarding the scale of the operation. Representatives initially stated that
only three people would be at the clinic. Shortly thereafter, they contradicted
themselves by stating that more people would be hired on. The Commission cannot
accurately assess the traffic, parking, and infrastructure impact of a facility when the
applicant refuses to provide a transparent, definitive cap on staffing and headcount.
Unclear Scope of Medical Care: While initially presented strictly as a neurological
health facility, the applicant has noted that services would extend to mental health
patients. Introducing a mental health treatment facility into a quiet residential zone
requires distinct oversight, security considerations, and community dialogue—none of
which have been adequately addressed or detailed in the current application.
Lack of Viable Transportation and Safety Protocols: When asked how patients without
independent transportation would return to their residences, the community was told
that Ms. Stevens would personally put patients in her own car and drive them home.
This is a staggering lack of professional protocol for a medical facility. Relying on a staff
member's personal vehicle to transport individuals—who may be dealing with complex
neurological or acute mental health conditions—is completely unviable, poses immense
liability risks, and demonstrates that the applicant lacks a serious, professional
operational plan.
Conclusion
A project of this nature requires absolute transparency, strict adherence to county notification
laws, and rigorous operational standards. The Big Island Neuro Health Foundation has failed
on all three fronts. They have misinformed immediate neighbors about the 300-foot
boundary, shifted their narrative on staffing, altered the scope of care, and offered highly
unprofessional solutions for patient transit.
Pepeekeo is a residential community that relies on this Commission to protect its integrity and
safety. Because the applicant has demonstrated a clear lack of readiness and transparency, I
respectfully urge the Windward Planning Commission to deny this permit.
Thank you for your time, leadership, and consideration of the Pepeekeo community’s voice.
Sincerely,
Carlton Bello
808 895-0063
cbello@live.com