2010-02-05 TTAIS - Laserfiche WebLink

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RECESSED The Chair recessed the meeting at this time, 12:40 p.m. RECONVENED The meeting reconvened at 2:00 p.m. WOODWARD: Okay, will the Windward Planning Commission please come back to order. We are on Agenda Item No. 7. We have heard from the Planning Department, from the applicant, and from the one public testifier. So we’re at the point to consider a motion if somebody is of such mind. IWASHITA: Mr. Chair? WOODWARD: Yes, Commissioner Iwashita. IWASHITA: On Item No. 7, Vincent T. C. Tai (REZ 09-114), change of zone from a Single- Family Residential – 7,500 square feet (RS-7.5) to a Multiple-Family Residential – 2,500 square feet (RM-2.5) district for approximately 3.292 acres of land tax map key 2-4-28:9, I move that the Planning Commission forward a favorable recommendation on the change of zone request to the County Council with, subject to the conditions set forth in the recommendation. KERN: Second. WOODWARD: All right, thank you. It has been moved and seconded. Do we have any discussion? Commissioner Iwashita. IWASHITA: I’d like to acknowledge a couple of things. First the work of the staff in preparing this in doing the fine job that they always do.And, also, I’d like to acknowledge the letters from the community regarding their concerns for the effects that the project will have on the community. In making the motion basically in my view as I said earlier in another matter, the ideal scenario for the development of Hilo and any urban center really is that we concentrate as much of the needs of the community in the Urban core; and this area obviously is part of the Urban core, the police station is right there, there are schools and all of that. So we do need, and it’s a well known fact, I gues,s and understated that, you know, on this island we have a housing shortage; and we do need more affordable housing. And this project comes with a representation and actually the requirement that’s part of the conditions for providing affordable housing. I think as a community we need to address all of these issues and in a role as Commissioner, that I’ll serve here for a short while more, I’d like to think that I am aware, and keep that awareness of the needs of the entire community in any of the matters that come before us. On the plus side for this project is, or are the following points:One, that it does provide a higher density of residential use which is necessary in order for the County to make best use of its infrastructure, the roads and so forth. And, two, in this location as the neighbors know it’s a very convenient location, you can walk to certain functions and access certain, you know, it’s possible to walk to Longs Drugs from where you live here. So, you know, those kinds of considerations to me are pluses. 8 EXHIBIT C