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bikeable development that promotes physical health, climate-friendly transportation options, and <br /> nurtures interconnected community. Imagine college staff and students pulling on their <br /> backpacks and biking to campus. Imagine grandparents walking their grandchildren to one of the <br /> many neighborhood parks - - - hikes on the extensive hiking and biking trails. Imagine people <br /> biking up to a farmer's market to pick up fresh vegetables for dinner. Imagine roads designed to <br /> move cars efficiently and safely. These are the neighborhoods every person in Hawaii deserves, <br /> which is why we support Palamanui's community. Mahalo. <br /> CARR SMITH: Thank you, Jessica. Appreciate your testimony. Michael Riehm, would you like <br /> to go next please, then after that if the commissioners have any questions. Go ahead Michael. <br /> RIEHM: Aloha. I am Michael Riehm, I'm with the firm Riehm Owensby Planners Architects <br /> here in Kona. I started working on this project in 2006 with Roger Harris and a variety of other <br /> consultants. The time that I'm - - - I think one of the best things I've seen happen in West <br /> Hawaii is the development of the community development plan. Many people in the community <br /> spent a lot of time developing this plan and it was a great effort to mitigate what I call suburban <br /> sprawl, which is one of the things that is destroying a lot of the character on our islands. In ten of <br /> the community development plans I, as I see it, is to develop what we call livable communities. <br /> What I mean by livable communities are communities that are mixed use, they're compact, <br /> they're pedestrian and transit-oriented, and they travel by all of our common amenities within a <br /> five-minute walking distance. Palamanui was probably the first project of this size to make a <br /> sincere effort to use and implement the community development plan. In summary, we need to <br /> find new ways to be more proactive in our plan, we need to find more new ways to develop <br /> communities that are in keeping with the, the character we have on the island, and most <br /> importantly, to mitigate suburban sprawl. I sincerely request and ask that everybody support this <br /> project. Thank you. <br /> CARR SMITH: Thank you, Michael. Commissioners, do you have any questions for the five <br /> testifiers? Okay, I don't see anyone wanting to ask questions so I will thank you five and ask for <br /> you to drop off the call. We appreciate your testimony. Thank you. <br /> Commissioners, can I have a motion to close testimony please? <br /> KEALOHA: So moved. <br /> CARR SMITH: Was that Perry? Okay. Perry made a motion to close public testimony. Can I <br /> have a second? <br /> DEFRANCO: [raises hand] <br /> CARR SMITH: Thank you, Barbara. All in favor? <br /> ALL: Aye. <br /> CARR SMITH: Public testimony is closed. Thank you. <br /> 4 <br /> EXHIBIT A <br />