2020-05-07 Liquor Commission Minutes

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right now. This brewery will set a precedence for us and other communities throughout our Coastline. We don't want this in small rural communities. We need to protect and preserve our cultural heritage. When we look at building the economy back up, that's not building the economy back up. Poindexter: (There are) so many road issues, you know, exactly what Mr. Kaye testified to, I won't repeat it. I just want you to know that once this is deferred, I will put my testimony in writing and why we should not allow these types of businesses in very small rural settings. It's absurd. If the owner of the facility and the developer, Mr. Shropshire, truly care about protecting our island and our community, then they should think twice and pull this out. Go put it where it belongs, in an industrial area, in more of the city settings where it's acceptable. Don't ruin Hamakua Coast. Anyway, that's my testimony and I'm definitely not in favor of this, and I'm looking for it to be deferred. Thank you, aloha. Onizuka: Thank you. Do we have any other testifiers? There were no other testifiers. Onizuka: Commissioners, any questions? There were no questions from the Commissioners. Onizuka: Hearing none, we'll move on to the Director's report. Takase: Chair, maybe we should ask the applicant if he would like to say anything more before we continue. Onizuka: Okay. Bender: This is Mr. Bender. I've listened to Mr. Kaye. I've listened to Valerie, I'm sorry, don't remember your last name and the other lady who testified. I would just like to say the following: 1) This is not a brewery, first of all. I think there is misinformation based on the original application, that they thought a brewery is actually going to be manufacturing beer there. It's not. 2) The property is actually zoned properly for this type of a business; and, 3) It is a small community and I'm very sensitive to that, and I can understand the push -back. Bender: But, our view is that this is not just for the people living on that block or street. It is a destination for tourists to be able to enjoy, yet, another interesting place to visit and to have something to enjoy. There's a whole tourism about traveling around the world and visiting small breweries and brewpubs. The alcohol itself, I believe you folks think it's the devil, somehow, but in fact, it's part of the culture. The Big Island is, statistically, very much MAY 7, 2020 -LIQUOR COMMISSION MINUTES 10