2025-02-08 Rebecca Melendez Testimony

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From: Rebecca Melendez To: LPCtestimonv;WPCtestimonv;ccMdhawaii. v;Plannina General Plan;Villeaas,Rebecca;Kimball,Heather;Kaaiwada.]ennifer;Onishi.Dennis;Kierkiewi-Ashley;Kanealii-Kleinfelder.Matt;Galimba.Michelle M.;Inaba,Holeka;Hustace,James Subject: Please OPPOSE 2045 General Plan Date: Saturday,February 8,2025 7:04:11 PM As an off-and-on resident of the Big Island for over thirty years,I have witnessed the gradual erosion of our rights due to the actions of the Hawai'i County Planning Department.The department's proposed 2045 General Plan is beyond comprehension for the average citizen,with complexities that beg for transparency and accountability. Tragically,this plan includes Land Title Changes,which are deeply concerning.When someone in the Hawai'i County Planning meeting opposed a land use title change,the director dismissed it as an"oversight."This raises serious questions about the number of oversights in their final draft.Changing land use titles strips us of our rights to private property and introduces vague,yet potentially harmful, rezoning measures. Furthermore,the plan includes ambitions to create a broadband and smart grid,a lofty goal for an island lacking the necessary resources.This raises significant questions about the feasibility and environmental implications of such projects. It's crucial to ensure that these changes DO NOT proceed.We must continue to push for transparency and accountability in these decisions to protect our land,Island,and future What's more distressing is that the Hawai'i County Planning Department seems to always focus on high-end development initiatives that overtax our resources and infrastructure instead of considering the voices of our community.A clear example was when 18,569 voices opposed development in a petition.Yet,Zendo Kern,the Hawai'i Planning Director at the time,ignored these voices and stated the resort would not hurt the land even with articles like these two: https://www.fisheries,noaa,gov/feature-story/cautionary-tale-2019-coral-bleaching-event- hawaii#:—:text=Coral%20Bleaching%20Is%200ccurring%20more.had%20catastrophic%20i mpacts%20state%2Dwide https:llcoral.org/en/where-we-work/hawa**an-- isla nds/#:—:text=Haws i%CA"/o B Bi's%20reefs%20face%20m a jor%20g loba I.into%20 Hawa i%CA^/o B Bi's%20waterways%20every%20day This is the petition he ignored:https://www.thepet*toonsete.com/l854/086/898/residents-who-oppose-the-resort-in-punaluu- ka%C5%AB/ This is the article showing Kern's opposition over local voices:httns://www.cavalbeat.org/2024/03/hundreds-of-hawaii-asland- residents-protest-proposed-housing-project-in-punal uu/ Additionally,we urge Mayor Kimo Alameda to reappoint a new Hawai'i County Planning Director.Jeff Darrow's 26 years with the Hawai'i Planning Department,supporting Zendo Kern,have demonstrated a lack of commitment to the land and local voices.These voices have consistently opposed high-end developments,advocating instead for the conservation of the land for endangered species and the island's future.Jeff Darrow's support against local voices in the past years shows he is not the right fit for thejob,and we demand that accountability be served. We need a Planning Director who prioritizes island resources and infrastructure over high-end developments,favors land conservation, and listens to and supports local voices.We need someone who will work to ensure the Big Island retains its unique character and doesn't turn into another Oahu. I stand,and OPPOSE Haw!'!County Planning General Plan for the reasons stated: In the General Plan Page 79 9.4 Support mechanisms,such as PUD and Cluster Plan Development(CPD),that group parcel density to preserve open space, recreational areas,or scenic viewsheds. The General Plan DOES NOT explain what a PUD means. Taken from this site:https://www.forbes.com/advisor/mortgages/what-is-a-planned-unit-development/ "A planned unit development,or PUD,is a community of single-family homes,and sometimes condos or townhomes,where every homeowner belongs to a homeowners association(HOA)."