2010-03-05 TPD CDH - Laserfiche WebLink

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PARKINSON: My name is Jackie Parkinson. I live at 16-465 Laniuma in Keaau. But I’m here today representing the Hawaii Island Board of Realtors; and we are currently located at 26 Waianuenue, right next to Koehnens. I’d like to, I’ve submitted some written testimony, it’s rather lengthy.I’m not going to go into all the issues on the written testimony. But we have been asked, the Hawaii Island Board of Realtors has been asked to become a lead partner in some portions of the proposed plan, as well as other kinds of partnerships. So we are very much in support of smart growth and excited about the plan. But we also are protectors, our mission is to protect private property rights. And we are concerned that there are some issues here that are impacting the property rights without enough thought being put into some of the issues. One of the issues that isn’t in my written testimony that I would like to point out is that - I’ve discussed just a tiny bit with some of the plan creators - is that there’s not enough thought about the impact of the tsunami rebuilding requirements from FEMA in the inundation zone, in incorporating that into the plan. If you’re going to have a pedestrian-oriented Downtown, I think that also needs to be addressed. I think we need a little bit more time on that. The ordinance itself is our primary concern, that we aren’t there, the design criteria isn’t developed enough yet to really create an ordinance. And perhaps some of these design elements are better done outside of an ordinance and in a design review of some sort. I also want to point out in our testimony, it is pointed out a little bit, some of the incongruence between the plan, including the ordinance. And that is the reduction and use and elimination of some, like rest homes or residen -, what would be otherwise considered acceptable and mixed use in a residential/commercial community. So I’m grateful to hear that you’re postponing. I’m not sure I’ll be here in May so I just wanted to make sure that we could point out some of our concerns. The other is the cost that some of these, that ordinance would create for redevelopment of Downtown, which is something all of us are, and I think all of us are on the same page, we all want Hilo to be a wonderful place for people to come and shop and visit and live as well. I think another thing pointed out here that we need to revisit is the zero lot line and the impact that it has not only on future development but on our current businesses who use the sidewalks or their little foyer for marketing and encouraging visitors. So I thank you. I hope you will take some time to read through this rather lengthy written testimony we provided; and I’m happy to answer any questions you may have. WOODWARD: All right, thank you. Do we have any questions for Ms. Parkinson? Commissioner Domingo? DOMINGO: No, no, no. WOODWARD: No, okay, I was just anticipating. Okay, I always look there. Okay, Mr. Melrose, you’ve already been sworn in, sworn at, and given your name a couple of times, so you may just begin. MELROSE: Thanks. I’m going to wear the Downtown Improvement Association’s hat in this conversation; and I chair the Planning and Government Affairs Committee of the DIA. Our 2 EXHIBIT C