2021-07-01 Windward Exh C Kirpal Meditation & Ecological Center SPP 20-220

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KIM: Okay, well good morning, um' Chairperson and Commissioners, thank you for hearing our Special Permit this morning and thank you to the Planning Department and all of its staff for all of their assistance in getting to this point. So, looking at the purpose for a Special Use Permit is to allow for their unusual and reasonable use of land situated within the agricultural district. LIN: I'm sorry Mr. Kim, I believe there's a point of order. John did you ask, did you ask the applicant if they agree with the Planning Director's — REPLOGLE: Have you, have the applicant's, you the applicant's Mr. Sussman and Mr. Kim. Have you've received the background and recommendation and revised reports from the Planning Department? Do you agree with the Director's recommendation including proposed conditions? KIM: Yes, and yes. SUSSMAN: Yes. REPLOGLE: Okay, go ahead with your presentation, I apologize. KIM: No, no, no, no problem. I apologize for missing that step. Okay, so, looking at the purpose for a Special Use Permit is to allow for the unusual and reasonable use of land within the agricultural district which will not be contrary to the effectiveness and objectives of Chapter 205. Um' HRS Chapter 205, has the objectives of preserving agricultural lands with a high capacity for intensive cultivation but this Chapter also recognizes that agricultural districts include areas that are not used for or are not well suited for agricultural and ancillary activities by reason of their topography, soils and other related characteristics. So, this why we allow for uses that are outside of the enumerated agricultural uses in the agricultural district. The chief concern when you are looking at a Special Permit really should be preventing what we call the urbanization of agricultural land. And given what we've shown in the application and the Center's ongoing application, ongoing operations this actually is an ideal type of operation for a Special Permit because we really not urbanizing the land at all. The Planning Department's report notes that the operations are confined to approximately 30 percent of the area of the subject parcel. The rest of the parcel is used for agricultural or cultivation or landscaping but most of it is agricultural cultivation. For example, the Center has over a 101 varieties of fruit trees on its property. There are 2 organic gardens, there are over 2,000 bamboo plants with landscaping. There is a native Hawaiian forest, there are also noni trees, and they produce their own food they're very self-sufficient agriculturally. So, it is ideal and it's just this serene meticulous environment that really fits in well with agricultural district that doesn't change its character and there is also a need for this type of operation right now. Because there is a big demand for alternative health and wellness tourism it's a different type of tourists that we're seeing, a different type of demand and this type of operation is really ideal for these types of guests who are seeking a more peaceful remote environment as an alternative to the traditional resort type of venues there we normally put the tourist into. 6 EXHIBIT C