2020-06-18 Leeward Exh D (AMEND REZ 2004-024 & AMEND REZ 2004-025)

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Community Development Plan, then we can help you. You know, the whole purpose behind, you know, three months ago when we asked for deferral was I think the Commission was hoping that, you know, the applicants and the Planning Department would fully back up and try to solve these issues so that we are not in this kind of uncomfortable position of trying to mediate something. And I feel like if we have this goal of providing housing or providing commercial space, we have this kind of a mixed-use type area, which existed prior to the Kona Community Development Plan. And, you know, it's kind of like a chicken-or-the-egg where we've got this thing that existed previously, now we are trying to incorporate it into the Plan. Is there a way where the applicant can work with the staff, with the Planning Department, to make the existing zoning work so that we don't have to kick it further down the road and change zoning and go to Land Use Commission and all that? Is there a way that we can accomplish that by working together? CARR SMITH: That's a very good question. I support that question, and I'd like to know whether there has been any communications and any efforts trying to work out any of these details. Can the Planning Department confirm or deny whether there has been any efforts made since February? KAY: We met with the applicants' representative shortly after the February hearing, had a conversation in the Director's office, and really what came out of that is a determination that our recommendation wasn't going to change, that, not just for consistency with the CDP but all the other reasons we stated for the unfavorable recommendation. We were just going to move forward with that. And from that point, that's kind of when, when the world turned upside down. So we haven't had any additional meetings since then about that. CARR SMITH: Mike. VITOUSEK: Does the, does the County have any ideas on what could be done in order to turn this into a favorable recommendation to maintain the existing zoning and allow them to proceed? Or is it a hardline on the Project District is the only way to accomplish the needs? KAY: I, I think,just my opinion and I'll certainly defer to the Director on this, but based on what the CDP calls for and based on the limitations of the existing single zoning as they are, there's really not a possibility to kind of even get close. If you add into that, then the extensive relief that's been requested by the applicant on developing anything other than commercial development there, it's very difficult to find the middle ground. But that's just my, my response, and I'll let the Director respond, as it's his recommendation. CARR SMITH: Director, do you have any comments? YEE: So, yeah, besides the meetings that Christian just spoke about, we certainly have had internal meetings among staff to talk about this project, more, more than once, soon after the hearing in February and thereafter a couple more. So I think we've tried to take a reasonable look at options, and I still fell under the recommendation that I had before. So I'm hesitant to sit there and say, yes, there is an option, because then all of a sudden we'll get into conversation about, about not going forward with my recommendation, right? So I'm hesitant to want to sit there and say now, people who know me, also I try never to say never. I try to listen if there are good options out there, too. 16 EXHIBIT D