PL-REZ-2022-000033 M. Van Pernis Testimony 10.14.23

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From: Mark Van Pernis To: LPCtestimonv Cc: Inaba.Holeka Subject: All Leeward Planning Commission members.Royal Vistas multiple family housing project. Date: Saturday,October 14,2023 9:32:28 AM North Kona subdivision;Royal Vistas multiple family housing project. This forty year old project,without consideration of the Kona residents,seeks another ten year delay without significant infrastructure contribution or a"sunset"provision. If the Leeward Planning Commission(LPC)and the County Council(CC)have any backbone and knowledge,and are willing to act for their constituency, the project will be flatly rejected immediately. The population has increased(about 300%)since original approval,and will CONTINUE to increase another 100%in the next ten years. The traffic on Kuakini that would serve the project is presently jammed constantly and often at a standstill,and will get WORSE with the additional ten years being sought. The project will add hundreds of vehicles and does nothing to address the problems. Kuakini from Kailua to Kainaliu,and feed-in intersections,must be widened and improved by the State and/or County BEFORE any more development using these roads is allowed, Does the LPC and/or CC have"no"or"wait"in their vocabulary? Do they represent the people of West Hawaii in planning for the future? Or do they put developer profits and delay first? Not every ancient development proposal is good for Kona. Is "all developers MUST be satisfied",even at the expense of residents,the mantra of the CC and LPC? This project was first approved forty years ago,according to requirements then.The developer wanted the approval and relatively cheap requirements then(compared to now or ten years from now)In order to sell the project,which has been done,perhaps multiple times,with the County getting nothing. The developer never intended to develop,but instead get its profit by sale. Then County gullibly went along with that,and put no "sunset"requirement on the development. Thus the County and is people have gotten nothing,not even the forty year old benefits, and will continue to get nothing,while the new developer has no expense. When will real future planning,including off-site,take place? When will the LPC start doing its job?cPlnnning must be brought into the twenty first century and beyond. The LPC consists of political appointees wth N O PLANNING EDUCATION OR TRAINING. They gravitate towards finding a way to approve the current Hilo based Planning Director's approval of all proposed projects instead of planning for the future,including off site. This project and its ten year delay is being promoted by the staff of current planning director,Mr.Kem,as"in-filling"proposed forty years ago,but with NO CONTEMPORARY consideration of the massive existing infrastructure problems or the even greater infrastructure problems the project would create in ten years. Due to the obvious conflict of interest,Mr.Kem had his loyal Planning Department staff process this application. But the staff too has a conflict of interest,being dependent on and allegiant to Mr.Kern,regardless of how such an issue was argues to the Board of Ethics. Just as a separate planning commission(LPC)for West Hawaji was instituted and approved by voters,a separate West Hawaii planning director is needed. If the LPC and the CC have any purpose or concem for Kona,this forty year old conflicted project and its requested ten year delay must be rejected by all LPC members completely and immediately. The new owner/developer is free to apply for development whenever it honestly is ready to develop, so contemporary requirements,AFFORDABLE HOUSING,and a"sunset"provision(e.g.one year)can then be imposed. Anything other than a"no",would be an argument for abolishing;the LPC. Just say"no". Mark Van Perris Former Kailua Design Commissioner, Leeward Planning Commissioner, and Kona Resident.