It's not every day that the Planning
Commission gets to revisit — and hopefully correct — a bad
decision, but that day is coming tomorrow. That's when Kealanani —
the Kealia “ag subdivision” across the highway from another
enclave of gentlemen's estates, Kealia Kai — is asking for an
unprecedented eight-year extension.
The developer not only failed to meet
the five-year deadline for completing infrastructure, it hasn't done
any construction at all. Now it wants more time. I was amused to see
the reason listed in the planning staff report: “The delay has been
attributed to the complexity and overall size of the project.”
While the project is no doubt large —
they want to develop 2,000 acres into 188 CPR lots — it's been
plagued with financing problems, including one foreclosure, and has
changed hands twice in the past five years.
The developer also wants to substitute
its existing surety bond for the project with an $18.4 million
mortgage held by the County, prompting county planners to note that
foreclosure and liquidation in the event of default could cost the
County “substantial amounts of time and money.”
Yes, I know it's pretty cheeky to come
to the County with a “deal” like this — a deal that could be
withdrawn if the developer fails to prevail in its property tax
appeal. But it's not surprising, considering the developer
previously managed to convince ousted Planning Director Ian Costa,
the Planning Commission and the state Land Use Commission that this
was a “real” ag subdivision, as opposed to the usual gentlemen's
estate.
Even the New York Times took that bait,
running an article on how Kealanani was “preserving Kauai's rural
heritage” because landowners would be required to actually farm
their farm lots. But with parcels priced from $500,000 to $3 million
back in 2007, it was obvious that farmers were not the targeted
market.
Now the developer is also claiming that
more time is needed to complete “community improvements,”
including fixing up the Kealia rodeo site and donating it to a
nonprofit, building a poi mill, fixing up Kealia Store and donating a
14.7-acre lot to the county for a sports park. However, the planning
staff report says there's no guarantee that such “improvements”
would actually be made.
Oh, and remember how the developer
claimed it would build 100 units of affordable housing? According to
the staff report, “No affordable housing units are proposed either
in the original or modified proposal.”
The planning department is recommending
that commissions deny the request for an extension, noting in the
staff report, “Given the totality of considerations, the Department
believes the Developer is engaging in land banking at the cost and
high risk of County taxpayers.”
Gee, ya think? Can it be that county
planners are finally wising up to developers' tricks? And I just
about fell out of my chair when I read this part:
“The Department believes this project
runs counter to the public desire for less residential development on
ag lands, and the need for affordable housing.”
Amazing. The planning department is
finally listening to us, and responding appropriately. The question
now is whether the planning commission will go along and do the right
thing — or sucker under yet again to a land speculator's shibai.
Oh, and I just can't resist this little political tidbit..... Justin Kollar won the most beautiful barong (shirt) competition at Saturday's Kauai Filipino Women's Club Terno Ball, prompting his political opponent, Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho and her entourage to walk out in disgust, and resulting in this "politics makes strange bedfellows" photo. Yes, it seems Councilmen Mel Rapozo and KipuKai Kualii — both stanch Shay supporters — were first and second runner-ups, respectively. Councilman Dickie Chang was emcee. Justin is the one with the biggest trophy.
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39 comments:
I know I saw this photo in TGI and couldn't believe what I seeing.....poor Shay!
Shay and her entourage really got up and walked out when Justin Kollar won the trophy? Wow that is no class. And not pono.
You do wonder if anyone in Shay's group felt embarassed to be walking out so rudely. But of course, when with Shay, dissent is not tolerated.
Joan, you are too much. That is an outright lie and you know it. Or, maybe you don't know it because you were not even there. You continue to rely on lies from Justin's supporters to sensationalize your fictional drama. Enough already. Shame shame.
Voting for Kollar -- and hoping that one of his first actions upon taking office, will be to indict Shaylene for her long list of infractions.
Speaking of large pricey developments, the Hanalei Bay Resort folks have tweaked their plans and created a new website to lull us into believing they really care about the island:
http://hanaleiplantation.com/
Add to it, Kalaheo's new huge and pricey development selling ag-open space "with associated country residences":
http://www.brydeswoodranch.com/
Argh!
"That is an outright lie " You mean Shayme guys didn't walk out?
I sure hope the Planning Commission is brave enough to say no.
Joan,
I always wondered how much of what you wrote I should trust. Now I know: Maybe none. Shay and "her entourage" were inside talking to Mel and Kipukai after the event was over. And they were waiting for their car at the same time that Justin Kollar was waiting for his. I don't know if you think repeating lies about people you don't like is okay, or if you value integrity in any way. If so, this might be a good time to show a little humility and admit you were just repeating rumors without checking at all about whether or not they were true.
How can we know how many of your other posts about Shay, Jake, and the OPA were the unconfirmed lies of their enemies? Have you no shame?
No Shayme!
Shaylene herself said in a 7/1/12 Garden Island newspaper article that when the council referred the POHAKU program to the Ethics Commission a few days earlier, there was already a pending ethics commission investigation concerning the Prosecutor's Office. She also referenced a May 23 subpoena for documents that her office had been served with.
So I logically conclude that there is a pending ethics investigation of the Prosecutor's Office. (And No, Special Counsel Gary Slovin does not have the authority to "clear" Shay before the Ethics Commission.)
whisper anonymously in Joan's ear that Shay was seen robbing the Bank Oh and Joan will report it as God's truth.
justin looks like an undertaker. What a stiff.
I heard it was First Hwn
Joan can rip on TGI but at least they get most of the facts correct. Just doesn't seem like anyone over there (TGI) wants to touch any real stories of late. Can't keep up with who's even there. Soooooo much turnover.
Its killing you cuz the undertaker is gonna win
If Joan wasn't getting it right you wouldn't be purting so much energy into trying to duscredit her.
High Turnover rate at the TGI because its like the OPA-firing dishonest employee and rewarding the most qualified.LOL Laughing Out Loud LOL!
They have Magic Mike standing in front of the Planning Commission.
This will uncover the 500 friends and family she helped get out Jail. These criminals terrorized the community of Kauai as soon as they got out, committing the same crimes and even worst ones there after. If the participants names in the pohaku program was published then we would all see the repeat offenders and their names tied to Kauai's Mafia.
It's the bank wherever the county tax payers monies go to that she is robbing with all the EEO complaints, gas theft, vacation expenses, giving funding to friends and families by creating jobs and programs for the incompetent and unqualified, and just pure binge abuse.
No Shayme
Better Justin the undertaker than Shay the excessive taker.
What made Joan suddenly take sides with the mayor's good old boys? That's what I don't understand. Does she really want Castillo's boy in charge of OPA. The OPA and the police commission were the only ones standing in the way of the mayor taking control of the police department away from the police commission where the county charter places it to keep it from becoming a political football. Joan is a fool for siding with these guys.
"That is an outright lie "
No THAT is an outright lie. Shay walked out.
You are lying. Shay talked to Mel and Kipu at their table. Who are you? Were you there?
"Even though the Police Commission met and determined that it wants Chief Darryl Perry to come back, and the chief was planning to return to work today, Mayor Bernard Carvalho is saying no. In fact, he issued orders that Perry should not be allowed to enter his office, and the County Attorney even seized his computer. Good grief."
"take a gander at the mayor's spin, I mean statement, which validates my earlier reporting that Perry wanted to be placed on leave from the get-go, but Carvalho said no, then changed his mind a couple of days later.
It also includes an email that Perry wrote to Police Commissioners after Deputy County Attorney Justin Kollar advised him that he could not put himself on leave."
Written by Joan Feb. 22. Good grief indeed.
"Some, most notably a certain “rabid reporter,” continue to assert that the mayor, fearful of another expensive lawsuit, was justified in suspending the chief, who had supposedly “botched” an employee's hostile workplace complaint.
But through my investigations, I've since learned the chief didn't botch that complaint. Back in October, when the complaint was first made, Chief Perry notified the county attorney's office and reportedly got no response when he asked for assistance."
Joan on March 13. The county attorney got assistance in stonewalling the chief though. From Justin Kollar. Thanks Justin. Such backbone. Such integrity!
Please don't distort and misrepresent my views. I've always taken the position that the mayor and County Attny behaved badly in removing the chief, and that the Charter limits the mayor's power over KPD. As for your last deceptive comment, it wasn't Justin whom the Chief asked for assistance, but another deputy County Attorney.
"On Jan. 30, the chief was called into the mayor's office for what he thought would be a meeting on another issue. It was attended by the mayor, Managing Director Gary Heu and Deputy County Attorneys Justin Kollar and Marc Guyot. The chief was read a letter from the mayor that stated he had received a complaint from a employee alleging a hostile work environment at KPD, and the county had a duty to take such things seriously."
Joan, March 1. Exactly the kind of ambush politics Kauai thugs are famous for. These guys are the Kauai GOBs.
Kollar is a puppet just like KipuKai. By the way can we vote him out? Pure arrogance!
Something personal here. I just donʻt get it. I canʻt believe the strong defense of someone so inexperienced to take on OPA. And bonus pkg. Castillo????
What the hellʻs going on here?
And the blog starts off on an important issue, that very dangerous request for an extension at Kealia and everyone here has their collective heads up their collective asses.
Did anyone even read the Planning Deptʻs report?
Digress. Digress.
Kollar is Al's puppet. I can't believe Joan is helping Al put his puppet in the OPA. Joan, you've been sold a bill of goods. Hempey is using you to help his friend Castillo.
Why do you think Castillo is Hempeyʻs friend?
"First Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Jake Deleplane said the language is clear, and that the mayor overstepped his authority in removing the police chief. With his gun and badge taken, he was effectively removed, Deleplane told the Charter Review Commission.
The commissions exist to place citizens in positions of authority over department heads based on technical competence, said Deleplane. It frees department heads from coercive political influence, and that to allow a mayor to remove a police chief at any time is essentially making the mayor the police chief.
Deleplane said that in his personal opinion the charter language is clear but has a muddled interpretation from the county attorney’s office.
County Prosecuting Attorney Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho said the matter has disrupted police operations and also the work of the prosecutor’s office. The charter was designed to protect against the type of intrusion that occurred with the police.
“There are ramifications for all of the counties,” Iseri-Carvalho said.
There is room for clearer language at times, but the charter is not the problem, she said.
Iseri-Carvalho said another concern is that the police chief was denied due process in his suspension."
Now it's payback time. Al wants Shay and Jake out and Kollar in. Kollar tried to help them take the police department by force. Now Al wants him installed in OPA. Sickness.
I donʻt think Hempey uses people like that but Tim Bynum would be a good call.
What about Shaylene and Jake going to New York? What the ????
It is a battle for total power between a few factions of abusive families and friends that wants control of Kauai. Neither of these feuding networks of criminals are good for Kauai. The things that have occurred over the many years of corruption on Kauai is sickening and it needs to END with all of these fools being brought up on RICO charges by the Organized Criminal Drug Enforcement Task Force. We are talking about all of Kauai's Top officials. The US department of Justice would be taking down the biggest criminal enterprise in Hawaii's History right here on Kauai. They are the real Kauai Gangsters!
Chief Perry is not good for Kauai
Most attorneys on Kauai are snakes, making backroom deals with judges and their colleagues.
A display of the outcome of backroom dealings is happening today at the planning comission as a group of paid locals support a rich developer asking to throw out what is best for the community and approve something that is against any measure of good planning and just may be illegal. Will the comission do it anyway?
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