2022-01-06 Windward Exh B (PL-SPP-2021-000005)

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challenge presented by the unfavorable recommendation and just respectfully request you keep an open mind when considering the merits of this application. The Special Permit application at hand would allow local small business to be established in an area that makes sense for limited community and commercial development. This request is for a specific use by way of a Special Permit not for a Change of Zone to industrial zoning. This change of zone, on the other hand that would permit a wide range of industrial uses. In this case, a Special Permit we have the ability to create conditions to address any potential issues relating to the proposed use. Really at the heart of this discussion, since it was key in the Planning Department's recommendation is the question of whether this proposed use is industrial or commercial. This is an important question. It feeds into the analysis of the CDP's and the General Plans sorry, treatment of industrial uses. From my perspective, industrial uses are characterized by manufacturing, processing, warehousing, etcetera with many employees, large buildings, and potentially significant noise, air quality and visual impacts. In this case, the storage buildings are all under 4,000 square foot each and total only 18,000 square feet. For reference the Home Depot in Hilo is over 100,000 square foot of floor area just the interior. The proposed use would generate only 13.8 peak hour traffic trips with the combined storage and mailing service use. Only 3 of those trips are due to the storage use. Further to anticipated many of these trips will be of a passing by nature. Travelers stopping on their way to or from other destinations. Those trips don't represent an increase in traffic over current levels. However, some number of the trips will be solely for this facility, in which case the residents of Orchid Land and `Ainaloa would have a more convenient option for these services nearby without traveling to the Pahoa or Kea`au. In a small way, these trips remove from the Kea`au-Pahoa Road will help to ease the congested or capacity condition of the highway. The potential for hazardous materials stored on the site is not pronounced and will be similar to the potential hazard from storage of materials in and around a home think cleaning supplies or auto maintenance items, etcetera. This potential can be further mitigated by a condition prohibiting the storage of hazardous materials on site. So, further the potential adverse impacts to the surrounding properties are not anticipated to be significant. There's been no testimony and opposition to this plan. In fact, there are many potential benefits of the proposed use. I've spoken with Puna residents about this application and many of them clearly remember the rush on storage space due to recent Kilauea eruptions. Further people visiting the Puna and Kea`au Post Offices can expect maybe a little bit shorter line if the proposed facility is allowed. So, a good question here is has the zoning of Puna and the large subdivisions in particular been established in such a way to adequately serve the residents. A bit of a rhetorical question, but I would say no. These areas are not well served. There is one industrial zone parcel in Pahoa that has already developed commercially that's Ace Hardware and Malama Market. There is a good amount of land with industrial zoning in the nearby Shipman Industrial area. That's over 10 miles away from the subject property and just generally zoning paints with a broad brush it allows for a whole range of permitted users within a zone. And this application is a perfect example of where a Special Permit can be used to establish a specific use with protective conditions in an area already serving as a Neighborhood Center. 6 EXHIBIT B