Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-08-28 PL-SPP-2026-000140 Gilbert Velasco & Teva Dunn Opposition TestimonyFrom:Gilbert Velasco To:Planning WPC Testimony Subject:Re: Bed n breakfast in Kehena Date:Friday, August 28, 2026 2:52:34 PM Aloha, I forgot to mention that we live there part time, within the 500 feet of proposed BnB. Sent from my iPhone On Aug 28, 2026, at 2:36 PM, Gilbert Velasco <organicgman@gmail.com>wrote: Subject: Opposition to Special Permit Application PL-SPP- 2026-000140 – Proposed Bed & Breakfast at 12-7208 / 12- 7210 Kalapana-Kapoho Beach Road Dear Members of the Windward Planning Commission: I am writing to formally express my strong opposition to Special Permit Application PL-SPP-2026-000140, which proposes to establish a three-bedroom bed-and-breakfast operation at 12-7208 / 12-7210 Kalapana-Kapoho Beach Road in our neighborhood. I respectfully ask the Windward Planning Commission to deny this Special Permit. This proposal would change the character and use of a residential property within our neighborhood by introducing a commercial lodging operation into an area that has developed as a community of permanent residents. A bed-and-breakfast is fundamentally different from a single-family residence. It brings a continuing stream of short-term visitors, unfamiliar vehicles, additional parking demand, noise, activity, and other impacts that are not associated with ordinary residential use. 1. Impact on the character of our neighborhood Our neighborhood is primarily a residential community. Residents have chosen to live here with the reasonable expectation that neighboring homes will remain primarily residential in nature. A commercial bed-and-breakfast would introduce transient occupants who have no long-term connection to the neighborhood. The resulting turnover of guests can change the atmosphere and character of the surrounding community. I believe the Commission should give substantial consideration to the cumulative effect of allowing commercial visitor accommodations to become established in residential neighborhoods. 2. Traffic, parking, and safety concerns The proposal anticipates using approximately 2,400 square feet of adjoining property for guest parking. This raises legitimate concerns about additional vehicle traffic, parking activity, headlights, noise, and pedestrian safety. Guests unfamiliar with the neighborhood may also be less familiar with local road conditions and traffic patterns. Before approving this application, the Commission should carefully evaluate whether the proposed parking arrangement is adequate and whether the surrounding roads and neighborhood infrastructure can safely accommodate the additional traffic generated by a commercial lodging operation. 3. Noise and disturbance A bed-and-breakfast creates the potential for substantially more activity than a normal single-family residence. Guests may arrive and depart at all hours, entertain visitors, use outdoor areas, play music, and otherwise engage in activities that can create noise and disturbance for neighboring residents. Even if the property owner intends to operate the B&B responsibly, the Commission should consider the potential impacts created by repeated short-term occupancy, rather than relying solely on the applicant’s intentions. 4. Precedent and cumulative impact I am also concerned about the precedent that approval of this Special Permit could establish. If one residential property is permitted to operate as a commercial short-term lodging establishment, additional property owners may reasonably seek similar approvals. Over time, this could gradually transform the character of the neighborhood from a residential community into an area increasingly oriented toward transient accommodations. The Commission should consider not only this individual application but also its potential cumulative impact on the surrounding community. 5. Agricultural zoning and compatibility The notice identifies the property as being within the County A- 1a Agricultural zoning district / State Agricultural Land Use District. I respectfully ask the Commission to carefully examine whether the proposed commercial lodging use is truly compatible with the purpose and intent of the applicable agricultural land-use protections and whether granting this Special Permit would be consistent with those purposes. The fact that an existing residence is located on the property should not, by itself, establish that a commercial visitor accommodation is an appropriate use of the property. 6. Quality of life for existing residents The people who already live in this neighborhood should not have their quality of life diminished by the introduction of a commercial enterprise that depends upon a continual turnover of short-term guests. Residents should be able to expect reasonable continuity, quiet enjoyment of their homes, and a stable neighborhood environment. For these reasons, I respectfully request that the Windward Planning Commission deny Special Permit Application PL- SPP-2026-000140. At a minimum, I request that the Commission require a thorough examination of traffic, parking, noise, neighborhood compatibility, agricultural-land-use considerations, and the potential cumulative impact of additional short-term lodging operations before making any decision. Thank you for considering the concerns of the residents who live in this community. Sincerely Gilbert Velasco and Teva DunnSent from my iPhone