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room Eco Hotel here in North Kohala. On August 2, 2001, after an appearance before the <br /> Planning Commission we were granted a Special Permit to operate Hawaii Island Retreat. We <br /> had gone through a lengthy permitting process in a prescribed legal manner. We were required <br /> to abide by stated components of our project in terms of the number of guest rooms, the square <br /> footage of the buildings themselves, the requirements of a licensed contractor, plan check and <br /> approval and an installation of a septic system not merely a bunch of separate cesspools. <br /> Any deviation from those stated in the original Special Permit needed to be approved by the <br /> Planning Commission. Prior to approval input was sought from the public, as well as multiple <br /> government agencies including the Department of Health, the Department of Public Works, the <br /> Department of Water Supply, the County Fire Department, the Department of Land and Natural <br /> Resources, the Office of Planning, the Land Use Commission, the Long Range Planning <br /> Division, the Department of Environmental Management, the Department of Health, the State <br /> Department of Transportation, and the State Highway Department. Input and requirements from <br /> these various agencies ensured that our project would be in alignment with County standards and <br /> community expectations. <br /> Contrasts are legal regulated and controlled process that I just described to that presented by the <br /> Applicant here today. The Applicant is attempting to receive retroactive absolution for all illegal <br /> and unregulated activities over the past decade and a half. Sweeping that dirt under the <br /> proverbial rug with one stroke of your pen. I ask the Commission is this a process that we are <br /> operating under here in Hawaii Island. Do absolutely what you want, operate without rules or <br /> boundaries for eighteen (18)years. Continue to take in monies, ignore cease and desist court <br /> orders, deny County inspectors access for over ten(10) years continuingly and repeatedly <br /> bombarding your neighbors with drunken revelry at all hours of the night well past midnight. <br /> That was recorded by the neighbors at decibels over a hundred and ten, run up fines of over half <br /> a million dollars as which was just stated. Finally, to be taxed at and pay only a pittance for your <br /> Agricultural zoning. <br /> CARR SMITH: Thank you very much, your time is up. <br /> WATKINS: Thank you. <br /> CARR SMITH: Appreciate your testimony. Commissioners, any questions? Please speak if, let <br /> me know if you're trying to reach me because I can't see everybody. Okay, thank you very <br /> much Mr. Watkins appreciate you and your wife's testimony. Okay, I'd like to go to Christine <br /> Richardson next. Thank you, Christine. <br /> RICHARDSON: Hi there, Cathy Morgan is going to testify for both of us. <br /> CARR SMITH: Okay. Very good. <br /> MORGAN: Good morning everybody, I am a neighbor of Christie's. I have watched her do <br /> incredible improvements and historical information gathering on this amazing piece of property. <br /> A number of my families has spent time up there, I've been up there too. I do respect the <br /> concerns of the neighbors who are closer to her than I am. I am up the road about another mile <br /> 5 <br /> EXHIBIT A <br />