2025-02-03 Letter from John Pipan Response to Comments & Proposed Conditions

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LAND'` PLANNING 194 Wiwoole St. Hilo, HI 96720 (808) 333-3393 H AWA I I LLC info@landplanninghawaii.com February 3, 2025 Mr. Louis Daniele III, Chair Windward Planning Commission COUNTY OF HAWAII 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 Hilo, HI 96720 Dear Mr. Daniele: Subject: Response to Comments and Proposed Conditions Regarding Special Permit Application (PL-SPP-2024-000075) Applicant: Teppy Mountain LLC Agent: Land Planning Hawaii LLC Papa`ikou, South Hilo, Hawaii TMK: (3) 2-7-007:001 (por) This letter is intended to address neighbor concerns received by the Planning Department regarding the subject application. The application requests a Special Permit to host an annual four(4)— day event with overnight camping on a portion of the subject property as well as to store up to six (6) work vehicles (and heavy equipment) which are used commercially when not in agricultural use on the property. The property is located at the top of Indian Tree Road, approximately 0.7 miles west of Hawaii Belt Road in Papa`ikou, South Hilo, Hawaii. Mr. Goncalves Luz Filho and Mrs. Luz expressed concerns regarding the proposed use in comments sent to the Planning Department on January 14, 2025. Their concerns relate to the condition of Indian Tree Road and the impact that additional traffic may have on the road as well as potential noise generated by the work vehicles and during the annual event. As direct neighbors to the subject property, the applicant takes their concerns seriously and would like to propose some mitigation measures which he hopes will address these concerns. First, the applicant is aware that any additional traffic on the road may impact the road's quality. Since purchasing the subject property, the applicant has spent significant time and money out-of-pocket on maintaining and improving Indian Tree Road by purchasing gravel to fill areas of erosion and potholes. Moving forward, he intends to continue to assist with roadway maintenance as needed, with his goal being that his contribution toward the maintenance of the road outweighs the toll the Special Permit uses may take on it. With regard to noise generated by the event, as the event will only be held once per year, any nose impacts would be short-lived. Additionally, all amplified sound will be directed toward the mountain and away from neighboring homes. Mr. Goncalves Luz Filho and Mrs. Luz, as well as all other Indian Tree Road neighbors will be informed of the annual event beforehand and will have the applicant's direct phone number should they need to contact him for any reason during the event.