2006-05-05 THirayama - Laserfiche WebLink

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ALAMEDA:Okay. Commissioner Iwashita, do you care to -? IWASHITA:You dare ask? I think the Chair is aware of myfeelings as I expressed when we considered the Tripp matter, which is the adjoining property. So Ill rely on your recollection of all that I said there, which is essentially what I reiterated on this record. The only other thing I think that I would like to add is that, you know, as far as community input, I guess my view is that we have a 1975 Hilo Community Plan which designates this area as Residential. We have the most recent General Plan Amendment which took this area from Low Density to Medium Density Urban zoning, I mean, General Plan designation. And, you know, that doesnt change directly the Hilo Community Plans designation of this area as Residential. So if we look to the history of the planning process thats applicable to this lot, the more specific designation is in the Hilo Community Development Plan. It says Residential. Yes, Medium Density Urban designation in the General Plan does allow for changing zone to Commercial. Whereas before last years change the Low Density Urban did not allow for Commercial change. So whats happeninghereistheownerasalltheotherownersintheothermattersweveconsideredinthis area have come in and, because of the change to Medium Density, are essentially taking advantage of that to change the use from the Residential designation in the Community Development Plan which has not been changed and they want to change it to Commercial. So theres a conflict there. And I understand the Departments position is, well, because the Department initiated change from Low Density Urban to Medium Density Urban was done basically without any real community input, you know, that that justifies having this Commercial change of zone done. I dont agree that that history by itself justifies this change of zone to Commercial CV-10, or whatever it is, no, I dont want to be inaccurate, CN-20. So, again, I think that because there really is no shortage of Commercially zoned properties that have not yet been developed that can be developed to meet whatever Commercial needs are there, that the best route to take is to everyone in this room go to your Councilperson and say lets get the Community Development Plan done. We have $25,000,000 extra. Lets use some of that to get this done. And then we wont need this debate because the discussion about whats going to be done, where, how, is going to be done in the community by those people like yourselves that care about these issues. And that is, to me, the better course to take and the way to avoid Kihei and other strip mall developments. ALAMEDA:Thank you, Commissioner Iwashita. I appreciate that. Commissioner Salavea, you want to add anything thats different? SALAVEA:I didnt provide any comments during the initial discussion. But my feelings run along the same lines as Commissioner Galdones, that in the absence of an updated CDP public testimony is probably the most useful and current information that we can use to make decisions such as this on applications, especially regarding the Hilo Houselots area. Unfortunately we dont get the same type of, or consistent type of testimony from application to application which can cause the perception of the Commission spot zoning or approving some applications and not approving others. And thats my concern, is that if this application was to come on separate agendas as other agenda items in the same area the absence of any community input for or against the proposed project would in most cases in my mind in my opinion allow the project or the application to get approved. Its only when we do get public input that we can use that as information, current information, to base our decisions from. So thats my train of thought or where Im coming from. Thank you. 17EXHIBIT B