2005-04-01 TYAMADASAFARIK - Laserfiche WebLink

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SPRINGER:Im sorry, Councilman Safarik. Will you please raise your right hand. Do you swear or affirm totell the truth on this matter now being heard before the Hawaii County Planning Commission? SAFARIK:I do. SPRINGER:At this time, could you please state your name, your residence address, and proceed. SAFARIK:Okay, thank you. Chairwoman Springer, Commissioners, new Commissioners, Director Yuen, staff members, thank you for allowing me the courtesy of testifying first. As I mentioned, I did have a meeting, and I appreciate that. My name is Gary Safarik. Im the chairman of the Hawaii County Council. I reside in the AinaloaSubdivision.Theaddressis16-2161AinaloaWay,andthatiszipcodeofPahoa.Ive lived in the Puna region for over 25 years; and Im originally born and raised in Hawaii. And I know you didnt ask for all that history, but I thought I shouldgive it to you anyway. Im speaking to you today primarily as a private citizen and then, I believe, secondarily Im speaking to you as the Council representative of District 5 for this particular area. Ihappen to have the handout and my testimony primarily on my letterhead, but Im not speaking to you as Chair of the Council. So this is a personal testimony. Let me just read the first two paragraphs of my testimony so that itllbring you up to speed on where Im coming from; and then Id like to make a few comments outside of this testimony, if you would allow me. SPRINGER:Proceed. SAFARIK:I am writing in support of the applicants Gerald and Wendy Yamada who are applying for a Special Permit to allow the establishment of a commercial retail and office complex on approximately 3.17 acres of land situated in the State Land Use Agricultural District. Proposed uses for the parcel may include a gas station/convenience store, auto repair, sales store, supermarket, financial institution, personal services, restaurant, hardware supply, medical and dental office, other professional services such as real estate, attorney, insurance and others. I believe the concerns regarding traffic control as related to this project will be mitigated by traffic signals at Ainaloa and Orchidland Drive which are presently being studied by the State Department of Transportation. In addition, access to the property would be from Aulii Street, which is a street that runs perpendicular with Highway 130, rather along the Highway 130, as residents would no longer need, oh, Im sorry. In addition, access to the property would be from Aulii, rather than from Highway 130, as residents would no longer have to travel to Pahoa, Keaau or Hilo to access retail and office services, primarily the region that were talking about or the entire Puna region along Highway 130. Right now, according to the 2000 Census it says its the fastest growing district in the State of Hawaii, population-wise. Paradise Park which is a subdivision, along with Ainaloa, runs on both sides of Highway 130. The Hawaiian Paradise Park Subdivision has currently 8800 lots that are available for building in the Ag-1 district, or Ag-1 classification. If you look at the buildout today in Hawaiian Paradise 2