PL-SMA-2022-000018, PL-SPP-2022-000018 01.04.23 B. ROBINSON TESTIMONY

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DeVera, Ashley From: Beth Thoma Robinson, R(B) <beth@hawaiilife.com> Sent: Wednesday, January 4, 2023 12:34 PM To: LPCtestimony Subject: Applicant Ahu Pohaku Ho'omaluhia LLC - Amendments to SMA Special Use Permit and Special Permit Aloha Commissioners: I am writing with testimony on the first two agenda items coming before the Leeward Planning Commission on January 19, 2023 regarding the applications by Ahu Pohaku Ho'omaluhia LLC to amend permits thereby increasing the number of rooms allowed at Hawaii Island Retreat in Kohala. As a disclosure, I am a Broker -in -Charge and Director, Conservation and Legacy Lands with Hawaii Life Real Estate, and in this capacity the members of Ahu Pohaku Ho'omaluhia LLC are my clients. I am writing, however, as a member of the Kohala Community who is and has been an active volunteer with multiple community groups beginning with my participation in the creation of the 2008 North Kohala Community Development Plan - as a member of the logistics team doing community interviews in 2006, and as a focus group member working with the consultant and Steering Committee in 2007. I am currently part of a working group for the "Kohala Community Plan", an effort to recreate the community input process used for our 2008 CDP, and work with existing CDP subcommittees to update goals from the 2008 plan. From our initial "talk story" sessions and meetings with the subcommittees, we are currently hearing a very different community opinion around facilities such as Hawaii Island Retreat than the sentiment reflected in the 2008 NKCDP. Page 20 of the 2008 NKCDP addressed community concern over the number of special permits issued in the 2000s, of which 10 were for overnight accommodations: One of the issues that has raised the most concern with Kohala residents is that of Special Permits, especially those that allow overnight accommodations, such as "retreats." While it is true that 10 of the 17 Special Permits issued in the 2000s do allow overnight accommodations, 8 of those 10 are parcels owned by one owner (the New Moon Foundation). Therefore, the bigger problem may be those land owners who are allowing overnight visitors without the appropriate permits. Still, community sentiment is generally that Special Permits that allow large-scale overnight accommodations should not be approved, due to the negative impacts that such developments have on the area's limited infrastructure and small-town feel. The concern at the time was that the approved special permits would collectively equal a small hotel in excess of 300 rooms. Here are key points of what has changed since this was written in 2007: 1