2006-05-05 THirayama - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Kekuanaoa Street in the future and see how, you know -. If thats what they want, fine. If its something else, then well know what that is. Mr. Fuke talked about smart growth and the new urbanism. And, you know, its obvious if we focus our development in the mixed use as Mr. Fuke described and have people be able to live in places where they can walk to work, and the kids can walk to school that we cut down on our car problems, which we all have our car problems all over. And so that is a process that I think needs to be done. In particular in this case, you know, the map shows that we have abundant, I will characterize, Commercially zoned areas that are not developed that can provide the kind of office and commercial space that this change of zone is asking to add to that surplus. What we dont have is sufficient affordable housing; and what this does is take out a potential site that is now designated for, you know, its supposed to be for Residential and we have a proposal for Commercial use. So all of those issues, I think, needs to be addressed in the Community Development Plan Process. And to be consistent with my past actions, I will be voting against thismeasure. GRAHAM:Thankyou,CommissionerIwashita.DoanyoftheotherCommissioners have any comments in regard to what was just said or any other comments of your own? GALDONES:Mr. Chairman? GRAHAM:Commissioner Galdones. GALDONES:Thank you, Mr. Chair. I can understand where Commissioner Iwashitas concerns are, where hes coming from; and he has been consistent all along in all the applications that have been coming forth to the Planning Commission, especially in those Houselots area. Now in absence of the Community Development Plan, then the Commissioners have to be guided by some other means. And, for myself, its the testimony that we get from the public. Now in this particular case we didnt have any public testimony in opposition to this project. So what my take on it is that the community is, if the proper notice has gone out to the community, that the surrounding property owners are acceptable to this project; and that is the reason why I am supporting this application. Its contrary to the next coming application before the Planning Commission where there has been a lot of testimony in relation to that application. So that is the guidance for me as a Planning Commissioner. In this particular case there has not been any opposition to it; and that to me means that the community is acceptable to this application coming forth before the Planning Commission. GALDONES:Thank you, Commissioner Galdones. Do we have any other comments from Commissioner Salavea, Commissioner Siracusa? SIRACUSA:Yeah, Ill share. My feelings sort of runs half way between Commissioner Galdones and Commissioner Iwashitas. For I, too, have been very consistent in this area about not wanting to see affordable housing taken out of the area. In this case there is not, however, a dwelling on the parcel which was the case in the other applications that we have had to consider. And the people in the room today who are here for the townhouse application are from the same area; and I havent seen any of them step forward, as Commissioner Galdones points out, to say 11EXHIBIT B