5 STORY 6 UNIT ---HOWEVER AS SUBMITTED PLANS APPEARS TO SHOW 8 UNITS

TMK: 3/7-5-020-066. 75-6150 Alii Drive Kailua-Kona; Applicant Jekaterina Mysin

(SMA 21-000078)

County of Hawaii Leeward Planning Commission Meeting Date May 20, 2021 9:30 am by Zoom. Public may provide oral testimony at meeting by joining online or calling into the zoom meeting. To register for access contact: Noriko.Sauer@hawaiicounty.gov or 808-323-4783 no later than Tuesday May 18, 2021.Written testimony may be provided via email at LPCtestimony@hawaiicounty.gov or submitted to Hilo or Kona Planning Departments up to 2 business days prior to the hearing by 4:30 pm.

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AS a residents and community members, we oppose the proposed six-unit condominium seeking SMA permit 21-000078.

The application contains inaccuracies as well as a false description of the area giving the reader an impression the area is primarily condominiums and vacation rentals. While in fact, the area remains to be a “beach community”, the proposed development will severely and negatively impact the charm of the community.

While there may be additional concerns to the proposed development, the following descriptions should cause enough alarm to deny the application in its current form.

The elevation (A012), and renderings (Figure 5a, 5b) depict a 5 STORY steel and glass industrial design style** that is inappropriate to the Alii Dr. Scenic Corridor. The values of the Scenic Corridor are based on a vision to preserve the historical and cultural design language of the village and ‘The Kailua to Keauhou Beach Road”. The proposed 5 STORY structure is jarring in relation to the neighborhood, and overwhelming in size and impact on the small lot (less that 10,000 sq ft.

** The proposed building will be very similar to the new Kona Brew brewery, in the old industrial area.

The map, Figure 1, as presented makes it appear that the property (TMK : (3) 7-5-020: 066) encompasses the entirety of lot 3, when in actuality it is less than ½ the area of the combined properties. This creates a false impression of buildable area in the presentation, and does not provide accurate information regarding the property scope.

The driveway as shown will remove five currently available on-street (Alii Dr.) parking spaces. The adjacent Shoreline Access* is heavily used by families, surfers, divers, fisherpersons, and ocean access in general. Street parking is critical to the enjoyment of our shoreline by the public, and this neighborhood has very limited on-street parking.

* Shoreline Access, aka ‘Old Canoe Road’, Royal Patent by Kauikeaouli, and is now a private driveway. Although the shoreline access only requires a 5’ wide pedestrian accessway, historically vehicles enter, unload/load while parking on the street, and adjacent properties support that limited community use. The subject property does not have legal access to the driveway.

The access gate as presented in A001 Site Plan, is approximately 9’ from the edge of Alii Dr. Vehicles attempting to enter the 5 STORY property would be forced to stop in the Alii Dr. traffic lanes and wait while the gate cycles, creating a traffic delay and public safety problem. Measurements to gated properties in both directions on Alii Dr. vary from 20’ to 29’, and clearly indicate past address to this potentially hazardous situation:

Part of the property area consists of a large lava dome, that varies from 3’6” to 5’6” height above grade. The applicant proposes a swimming pool in this location. A HELCO inspector stated that it would not be possible to remove this natural feature without destroying the adjacent lot portion, and resulting in the loss of that property’s power service pole.

The plans submitted for permit are either fraudulent, or inaccurate. Initially, there is confusion related to number of floors, as the plans utilize the European floor numbering protocol, which makes it seem to be only four levels, when in actuality there are five.

Ground level (A001) exhibits the site plan, including the before mentioned un-permittable entry from Alii Dr. and swimming pool proximity to a live high-voltage electric source (less than 5’).

Level 2 (A003) shows two adjacent condo units.

Level 3(A004) shows two adjacent condo units.

Level 4 (a005) is stated as the lower level of two two-story units, however there are no internal stairs in either unit, nor open floor space in which to install same.

Levels ground through four are serviced by an elevator.

Level 5 (A006) is stated as the upper level of the two-floor units. These floor plans show internal stairs, but the floor below does not, and as drawn cannot support a stair landing from above. The only access to level five is via an outside stair from the fourth-floor lanai, there is no elevator or enclosed stair. Additionally, the fifth-floor units both contain a full kitchen.

AS SHOWN IN THE SUBMITED DOCUMENTS THIS IS AN EIGHT UNIT BUILDING. Whether this is an error, or a deliberate attempt to sneak in two additional units cannot be determined by the public. This permit must be rejected as presented, and an accurate plans set submitted so that the public is correctly informed, and can respond from a knowledgeable position.

While recognizing that the proposed use may be qualified under the current zoning, the permit application must be amended for accuracy and, the design language and style of the building modified to fit into the surrounding environs. There has been no thought on the part of the applicant to create a project that fits the scale and sensibilities of a residential neighborhood.

As of the morning of May 03, 2021 there is heavy equipment on the lot excavating within the Shoreline Management Area without permit!

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