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we go ahead with this, in my own opinion, and zoning, zoning would not have much of an
<br />impact in the decisions that we make. It’s just the use, and if we can accept that use. Thanks.
<br />WOODWARD: All right, thank you, Commissioner Domingo. Commissioner Iwashita wanted
<br />to speak, and then Commissioner Kern. Commissioner Iwashita.
<br />IWASHITA: Thank you, Mr. Chair. I share pretty much all of Commissioner Domingo’s
<br />concerns in terms of process and planning. My particular concern in this case is that basically -.
<br />You’re right, Mr. Mizukami is a good businessman, he’s keeping his overhead down. He had
<br />this facility to, you know, facilitate his business without additional cost of a lease or acquiring a
<br />Light Industrial zoned parcel to develop. Can’t fault him for that.
<br />From the public’s perspective in terms of planning, Commissioner Domingo’s concerns are
<br />correct. And in terms of how we decide this particular application, you know, what we have in
<br />terms of the facts of this case are that the applicant actually started the use without applying for
<br />this permit. This application is based upon we becoming aware of this otherwise improper use
<br />by way of a complaint of some unrelated issue.
<br />And so the question before the Commission in my mind is whether or not, as Commissioner
<br />Domingo put it, we will establish a precedent where you have prior use, discovery of the prior
<br />use which doesn’t conform to the law, and then an application after-the-fact to conform it to the
<br />law. The, we have in the past, in my past five years, had applications where we have approved
<br />prior use. Now the one that stands out in my mind is the amusement park in Paradise Park, you
<br />know, where we have, we basically approved an amusement park down there. You guys should
<br />all check it out. It’s a pretty neat place. I haven’t had a chance to do it yet. But in that case, you
<br />know, the distinction between that and this case is essentially the community got behind that,
<br />they expressed the need for this type of facility in Paradise Park for basically the children or, like
<br />in my case, child-minded people to service their need. In this case, there has not been any
<br />evidence on the record that there are no other Light Industrial facilities that could provide the
<br />storage and pickup needs that Mr. Mizukami’s business has.
<br />So I, you know, I understand his business perspective. I think from my perspective, you know,
<br />he should be given a reasonable amount of time to find -. You know, I’m aware that there is lack
<br />of Light Industrial zoned land upon which he can properly run his business. So I am disinclined
<br />to extend the time that he needs to find that, although five years, I guess, is an outside limit for
<br />me. I do not feel like there should be really, you know, there should be an understanding in the
<br />applicant’s mind that there’s going to be an extension of this in perpetuity because that would be
<br />the precedent that, you know, basically what we’re doing here is creating a spot zoning of this
<br />use, this particular use for this purpose. And if extensions are granted basically with, you know,
<br />as a matter of course, then basically landowners can say we don’t have to do rezonings, we’ll
<br />just -. You know, if I have, if I’m fortunate enough to own Ag land I can just do special permits
<br />and get away with that. So those are my concerns. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
<br />WOODWARD: All right, thank you, Commissioner Iwashita. Commissioner Kern.
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