2021-04-15 Leeward Exh B (Public Testimony re SPP 21-222)

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reasonable to always expect them to have sober participants who are familiar with traversing the road. Waiono Ranch Road has never been evaluated for commercial use and does not follow any other required criteria for the safety of public roads, emergency services such as fire engines and paramedic teams their ability to reach commercial operations easily on the current road even with the suggested improvements doesn't provide for this. As stakeholders we feel we have a legitimate concern of a long-term irreversible effects of such a Special Use Permit and respectfully implore the Leeward Planning Commission to halt the continuation of these ongoing operations and deny the application outright. Protecting our agricultural zoned property and its values is paramount to the continuation of our shared quality of life, privacy, and continued safe coffee operations and ask for your sincere consideration. I'm not going to speak any more about the culvert it obviously needs, its right adjacent to our property, it needs to be studied from an engineering perspective, from an environmental impact perspective and I certainly don't want additional flooding on our lands. So, I'll just close by saying I appreciate the opportunity to have spoken today and thank you for considering all aspects in looking at this situation from all different perspectives. Thank you. VITOUSEK: Thank you very much appreciate your time. Michael Bell will be next, please state your name and area of residence. BELL: Hi, I'm Michael Bell, I live in Kailua Kona. I'm here today in support of the Hickey's request for their permit. I just want to say that being a lifelong resident here in Kona there are so few venue options for couples living here. Once you find out how much the Holualoa Inn cost your stuck to the old days ["- - -"testifier spoke in Hawaiian language-inaudible] or the "- - -" center. Like I think everybody on this Zoom not alone in the island if you there is no way you get a wedding down to 30 people especially here in Hawaii. I just think that this island needs more affordable, large wedding venues and this is a great opportunity to supply that to the island. Originally when I was married in twenty-seventeen (2017)to my wife we reached out to Kate and her venues just too small to house our area and we actually had to host our wedding on a neighbor's property at Pam Parker. She was gracious enough to host us there but, I guess my point is that it's just we need more venues and it's crazy that anyone could be taking cash under the table and hosting weddings themselves up at Waiono Ranch Road but we're penalizing Doug & Kate for following through on the permitting process. I just think especially in this time during COVID we should looking at any options to bring in revenue for small businesses and that is all I have to share. VITOUSEK: Thank you very much. Moving on to Lyla Mah. Please state your name and area of residence and the town you live in. MAH: Hi, my name is Lyla Mah and I'm from Waimea. I'm a third-generation farmer and a third-generation lei maker florist. I'm here today to give my testimony and unwavering support for Sunshower Farms Special Use Permit. As a farmer I know the constant struggle of trying to make a living solely off of farming. With the cost of living and the cost of keeping the farm running most of us need to diversify to keep a steadier income. Kay and Doug main focus has always been the coffee and this venue was just a means of supplementing their income. I've worked with Sunshower Farms since the beginning of their events and weddings and have 11 EXHIBIT B