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So, as far as the General Plan goes, you could argue this both ways. This does support economic
<br /> growth. It does support a lot in there, and I think we could argue, argue that both ways. As far
<br /> as the community, Puna Community Development Plan is concerned, it's silent on Special
<br /> Permits. It does talk about commercial, and I think is not necessarily a commercial use in its
<br /> normal nature. If this was a gas station or a convenience store or a Laundromat or something of
<br /> that nature, it should probably go in those designated commercial areas.
<br /> It's also a challenge, though, because those lands in those commercial areas are private and say,
<br /> for example, Paradise Park, are basically all owned by one large landowner that isn't doing
<br /> anything with it. We sit here with this community development plan trying to have some
<br /> reasonable planning when it comes to true commercial, but nothing happens. What do we do?
<br /> We drive to Hilo, drive to Kea`au, but it's very, it's very challenging. I think this is " " you
<br /> know, because this is a home, this is a, you know, it's, it's a chiropractic, massage clinic being
<br /> conducted by the owners of the land that want to be able to live on their property. This is " ."
<br /> They're serving the community. They're not selling a product even. They're offering a vital
<br /> service to our community, and I think that's really important. This kind of goes a little bit back
<br /> to health" " and they didn't all get pushed into town where you had to go to town every single
<br /> time. I believe it's about balance. I think this really needs to be looked at and really carefully
<br /> considered.
<br /> There is, there's been some, some interesting back and forth. We've been going back and forth
<br /> with this with the Planning Department for a while, and I wanted to make sure that it's, it's
<br /> somewhat understood of what's really trying to occur here. The Applicants are looking to build
<br /> the home located on the front of the property. They're going to live in that home. They're not
<br /> going to be operating the business during that time. Their goal is to eventually build the home
<br /> on the property. That'll be their primary residence and turn the front home into the actual
<br /> chiropractic clinic, so that will be the commercial space. They are fully aware that when that
<br /> occurs,they'll have to bring that up to code " " for commercial use. The challenge is, is that
<br /> they can't get two building permits on that property. So,they're coming in early. They're
<br /> asking for permission. They're doing it right" " and here we are trying to do it right and
<br /> basically getting a negative recommendation.
<br /> It's, it's challenged, so we talked, you know, about why do it this way. Well, it's the only way
<br /> they can really do it, and ask for permissions. They're going to build the place in front. They're
<br /> gonna live there. They'll be able to, by allowing the Special Permit, they'll be able to get a
<br /> building permit for the home in the back and start building that as money becomes available at
<br /> which time, they would then move to the back and the front would then get converted. So, at no
<br /> time, would they be living in the same place and conducting business in the same unit. I think
<br /> that's really important. That was to be one of the conditions that I was hoping if we had gotten a
<br /> positive recommendation or if the Commission decides to vote in favor of this is that we should
<br /> have some conditions, obviously, and one of those would be that, you know, they have to " "
<br /> space. So, it's been well-thought out. It's, I think it's admirable what they're trying to do, come
<br /> in, they offer a really great service. These testimonies, I mean I hope all of them have gotten to
<br /> the Commissioners. I haven't to my knowledge, we haven't received anything negative.
<br /> EXHIBIT A
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