KAILUA-KONA — Dust, noise, health problems, lower property values and lawyers.
Mix prime real estate and subdivisions with a plan for a commercial gravel-crushing operation, and that’s what you get, said 20 residents who testified against a Bolton Inc. plan for that activity off of Hualalai Road above Queen Kaahumanu Highway.
The Leeward Planning Commission postponed action on Bolton’s application for a special permit for the 10 to 20 daily truckloads of commercial rock crushing, a baseyard, equipment storage and security area on 9 acres of agricultural land. The body has not yet decided if a group of residents from four nearby subdivisions has standing in its petition for a contested case hearing on the permit request.
But the commission did sit through scalding testimony from some of the 60 people who attended.
“It was decided by your predecessors that area would be single-family residences,” said Bill Mandell. “I can’t even begin to understand why anyone would consider bringing industry into that area. It makes zero sense. It’s anti-planning. You’re a planning commission and this violates everything that has been planned for that area for the past 60 years.”
Jeff Citron, president of The Community Associations of Hualalai, demanded that the record be made public on a Department of Public Works investigation on alleged multiple entrances to the land and removal of a guardrail by Bolton. County attorneys denied Citron’s request last year to see the documents.
Residents also pointed to a warning letter to Bolton from the Planning Department in February detailing allegations of rock crushing and transport from the property without a proper permit and several warehouse structures that lacked permits.
Citron estimated that the newly formed Hualalai community association represents 500 homes and 2,000 residents in Pualani Estates, Heights at Hualalai, Hualalai Colony and Kona Orchards.
Rod Quartararo, president of the Pualani Estates Community Association representing 1,184 people, said that the overwhelming majority of residents worry about the noise and the increase of dust that they witnessed before the county halted the rock crushing in February.
“We walked our streets when we saw this permit application come up,” Quartararo said.
“As recently as last week, loaded trucks were seen leaving the subject site. Such egregious action shouldn’t be rewarded with a special use permit.”
Residents lacked proper notice of the plan, and Bolton should set up community meetings to inform the community of its intentions, he said.
“There has been absolutely no communication with the applicant,” he said.
Real estate agent and Pualani Estates resident Brent Ryan said property values “will be seriously impacted if this goes through.”
Christy Logan, agent for Bolton, told West Hawaii Today in an email that Bolton Inc’s primary purpose of its Waiaha construction project is a FEMA-approved flood channel, “which the county believes is necessary and beneficial to our community.”
She did not respond to specific questions on claims by residents about dust, noise and unpermitted activity.
“Throughout this work, Bolton Inc. will take appropriate measures as required by federal, state, and county agencies,” Logan said. “This work proceeds with numerous permits in hand.”
Nick Wong, a 12-year-old student at Innovations Public Charter School near Hualalai Road, worried about dust and noise distractions for students. Students found it hard to focus when construction equipment worked on a new driveway project for the school, and the same distractions will be a problem with the gravel operation, Wong said.
“We’re concerned,” his mother, Pam Wong, said.
“It’s for five years. That’s a long time for kids to be breathing that in.”
Planning Director Duane Kanuha had recommended the permit be approved with a five-year time limit and mandatory dust control. Kanuha noted in his report that his approval was without the benefit of public testimony and that he reserved the right to change his position based on information that might emerge during the comments.
