2007-05-04 THICDC ORI - Laserfiche WebLink

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GRAHAM:Thank you. I have six people signed up to testify here. Maybe Ill just call three at a time, and then you all can come sit up front. Richard Baker, Steve Meek and Lucille Meek, are the three of you here? TESTIFIERS:Yes. GRAHAM:Good. Could you all raise your right hand. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth on this matter before the Hawaii County Planning Commission today? TESTIFIERS:I do. GRAHAM:Thank you. Maybe Ill start on the right here, Ms. Meek. And would you just begin by giving your name and your address and then go right into your testimony. L. MEEK:Okay. Im Lucille Meek and my mailing address is PO Box 928, Pepeekeo.Duringourlastmeeting80signaturesweresubmittedonbluesheetsofpaperwith people indicating that they were in favor of the self-help housing portion of the proposed rezoning. When looking at this list, I found that only 12 people out of the 80 names gave Pepeekeo addresses. As for the self-help housing part of the rezoning I think it again needs to be mentioned that there is no guarantee that residents of Pepeekeo will get into the houses. As Mr. Kato stated in the last meeting, we are Federal programs, we cannot give anybody any kind of priority. However, it was very interesting as I went door to door that I came across a couple, and the lady said she would not sign my petition because her girlfriend is going to get one of those houses. And I said thats impossible to say at this point because its a Federal-funded program and she has to go through the right -. And she said her girlfriend was invited to a meeting and at that meeting her name was placed on a list and she was told her in two years she will get one of those houses. And I tried to explain to this lady thats impossible. But she continued to say no, no, no. Now the interesting thing is her husband is against the proposal because he is against doing anything with Ag lots, but he wouldnt sign either cause his wife wouldnt sign because her girlfriend is going to get one of those houses. Over the past month as schedules have allowed me, we have gone, not only me but others, we have gone door to door in the community. Weve spoken to people who live both below and above the highway. A majority of the people weve talked to knew nothing at all about the rezoning. Some were surprised and some were angry. Very few were for the rezoning. But approximately 95 percent of the people we did speak to were against the rezoning. To date, over 200 signatures have been collected, all are residents of the Pepeekeo community, with the exception of three who work in Pepeekeo but wanted to sign because they think this is a bad idea. All that signed are concerned for the future of their community. I ask the Commission to take into account these concerned citizens and recommend a denial of this rezoning, or at least that they would postpone it till more information could be gotten to. We cannot wait until after its done to get the problems settled. Problems need to be settled before the rezoning. GRAHAM:Thank you, Ms. Meek. I have a question from Commissioner Siracusa I believe. 12EXHIBIT A