2010-01-08 THERNANDEZ - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Now what I’m seeing here is that, you know, I understand that agricultural zoned lands permit certain kinds of uses but it has to go through uses, though a special permit application. If I recall several years ago, in fact, there was a permit application above my property where I live in Kapulena; and it was a good use, a use which would stand in line with the use as suggested by Mr. Hernandez, and there were a lot of people who were supporting it. But, unfortunately, there weren’t more people supporting it and expressing it than those who, there were more people who were against it than those who were for it. And I think the property, the applicants at that time decided not to continue with the application. I was totally in support of it, and I was not a member of the Planning Commission at that time many years ago. But for this particular issue, like all other lands in Kapulena it’s agricultural land, agricultural parcel; and when we consider special permits it should be based upon, yes, it is unusual use on an agricultural land but a reasonable one. And using the reason for denial based on the General Plan I’m not too keen about it. I support this use because it may be interpreted as a permitted use on agricultural property, a reasonable use for such an agricultural designation, unusual but reasonable. And I look at the number of people who signed the petition, most all of the addresses stated in the effects to their signature are those individuals who live in the surrounding, immediate area of this parcel and those who live along the Waipio Highway going towards Kukuihaele. And, you know, I’m impressed with this petition. It could have been sent and placed in Kamuela or in downtown Honokaa at the supermarket where anyone and everyone who comes through the supermarket or in Kamuela shopping could have signed it. But the concentration here is to gauge whether or not there are people within the surrounding area would seriously, you know, with a positive approach to it, support such a use as that is being described here. And for that reason, you know, I commend the applicant for taking this approach. It was nothing that was used to, or was nothing or sort of a threat or to indicate that there we have signatures of over 500 people supporting it. But here we have people who live there, who have been living there for a number of years, those who came here and lived here several years, they decided to live in Kapulena for reasons stated in the presentations made by the applicant, and those who live in the surrounding area. And for that, you know, I would base my full support on it, of course, with the attached conditions as mentioned here by the staff. I appreciate the work the staff has done. You know, they look at it from a planning perspective. I think we as Planning Commissioners often look at applications based on what or how it will impact upon individuals who use the services, upon people who live in the surrounding communities. And I find that here in this application to be very strong and I would support the motion. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. WOODWARD: Thank you, Commissioner Domingo. Commissioner Ishibashi. ISHIBASHI: Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Mr. Hernandez, thank you. And thank you all the witnesses that came forward today. It’s very important that we learned that lesson, that through your community support you can make changes. I come from Kapulena. My family was born and raised in Kapulena so -. It’s a very special place, very healing. And your business and your services that you provide to the community is conducive of the land that you’re on. It’s a healing, it’s a healing land. And that’s why I support this. And I’m glad that we had the 20 EXHIBIT A