2024-03-03 PL-SMA-2023-000046 Judith Ransford Opposition Testimony

Home

From: iudvransford143(�bvahoo.com To: WPCtestimonv Subject: 128532 3-7-2024 planning commission for punaluu Date: Sunday,March 3,2024 7:25:19 PM Judith Ransford 94-5747 Kalakau St Naalwhu, HI 96772 808-635-5432 Judy 143angel@yahoo.com I am against development of Punaluu. "Current buildings and surrounding areas are not even kept clean and no maintanance was ever done since 1975 till now. *Before 1975 and earlier, Restaurant area and bldgs was used and rented out to community and school,party, activities and yearly banquet was held there. Leaving in 1986 and returning home in 2021, Nothing was done to improve and Clean up Punaluu. * First, regarding public commentary, having an important community meeting on a weekday doesn't offer adequate opportunity for the working people of Ka'u to attend. Please add an additional planning meeting on a Saturday. * We need an Environmental Impact Statement, since the current one is more than 50 years old. Deciding to move forward without one feels disrespectful to our community and to the aina, and does not feel in integrity or pono. * Last summer there were five Hawaiian Hawksbill sea turtle nests at Punalu'u. We had not had a nest here since 2018. About 95% of all Hawaiian Hawksbills nest along the Ka'u coast and there are maybe 20 nesting females TOTAL each year. They are critically endangered and they are very sensitive to light--both when nesting and when the hatchlings are trying to make it to the ocean. Any kind of a development at Punalu'u beach would be very detrimental to their already fragile survival. * There is no disaster mitigation plan. Pele can be unpredictable and things can change very quickly here. The beach is already reaching capacity and building a development that is not coastal dependent within 200 feet of the high tide mark puts people and facilities in danger. Tsunamis, earthquakes, flooding and other potential hazards need to be considered and anticipated—if not, there could be huge losses and liabilities. * There is no burial treatment plan in place. * Building condos at Punalu'u will most definitely increase our property taxes. * There needs to be an updated shore assessment and setback. This certification is especially important when there are plans to put a cafe about 100 feet from the beach, as seen in the proposed village diagram, 915. * The owner has listed 143 acres as conservation, which currently is planned from one fish pond to another. If this was extended to reach the boat ramp, it would ensure much better environmental protection for the endangered hawksbill turtles, green sea turtles and the Hawaiian monk seal. * The current infrastructure is very poor. How is the developer going to deal with waste water, necessary water supplies and what fire suppression systems will be in place? If you'd like to see the full testimony, it's on my profile page.