Palamanui's request for deferral of infrastructure

Richard Fucik's letter- Kailua Kona HI
This is testimony for denial of Palamanui’s request for deferral of infrastructure commitments: Here we go again! Yet another developer has fallen on hard times and wants the county to relieve them from their infrastructure commitments so that they can make their numbers work. It is not the responsibility of the county, nor its taxpayers, to make good poor investment decisions on the part of developers. Roger Harris has requested that Palamanui Global Holdings postpone or modify several of the provisions of the project’s zoning, including an indefinite deferral of the mauka-makai connector road and park: Absolutely no!!! This is just another case of developers receiving permits with promises to put in adequate infrastructure and then backing out when it comes time to do the work. If economic conditions have changed such that Palamanui can not meet its infrastructure commitments then they should cancel or postpone their project. If they cannot secure funding for their project, including infrastructure improvements, that means they want to unload the improvements in order to provide a profit to Charles Schwab. If lenders will not finance their whole package then it isn’t a viable project at this time. Don’t let them go for the money making portion of their project and leave the infrastructure portion to our risk. It is not necessary for the county to negotiate away infrastructure commitments to gain an increase in valuation for the development. County assessors have the duty and authority to apply full assessments and do not have to bargain for that right. Please don’t leave us taxpayers having to pay for promised infrastructure after Palamanui has left the scene pockets full of money, bankrupt, or whatever scheme they opt for to get out if putting in the promised infrastructure. Insist that Mr. Harris and Palamanui and all other developers live up to their infrastructure agreements. We’re sick and tired of the county whining about no funds to improve the inadequate West Hawaii infrastructure only to find out that some developer was supposed to put something in that never happened. The county continually seems to let developers off the hook or lets their commitment slide until the county had no leverage to enforce them. I have to wonder about why the Leeward planning commission would vote unanimously in favor of the developer at the expense of the county and its taxpayers. Either they are extremely gullible and naive or they are the developer’s servants. Certainly they do not represent the best interest of the taxpayers. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Attached is my unheeded appeal to the Leeward planning commission on this subject dated 21 June 200973-4205 Eluna St
Kailua Kona, HI 96740 21 June 2009Hawaii Count Planning Commission75-5706 Kuakini Su 109Kailua-Kona HI 96740