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the recent rezonings and that the applicant has submitted letters of support from <br />surrounding property owners as well as questionnaires/surveys that were sent out. He <br />noted an email has been received from Jeri Rose and Michael Ravenswing. <br />The applicant, Cynthia Kuulei Thomas, said she is looking to relocate her self-storage <br />business established 15 years ago in Hilo, noting she does not have plans to put a dog <br />kennel, mortuary or strip mall on the property. She felt the sidewalk infrastructure <br />which is about 30 percent of her construction cost will be a direct benefit to the County <br />and public. She pointed out that in today€s Tribune Herald for the Hilo area, there were <br />34 houses available for rent and only one businesses for sale. She added she felt this area <br />is in transition from residential to business-type uses. <br />Michael Thomas noted various letters of support submitted into the record and pointed <br />out the locations of parcels zoned for residential use but used commercially and parcels <br />thattheownerswouldliketoestablishacommercialuseinthefuture. <br />Therewasnoonefromthepublicwishingtotestifyonthisagendaitem. <br />ItwasmovedbyCommissionerDomingoandsecondedbyCommissionerWoodwardto <br />forward a favorable recommendation to the County Council as recommended by the <br />Planning Director with amended Condition B to read, Prior to the issuance of a water <br />commitment by the Department of Water Supply, the applicant shall submit the <br />anticipated maximum daily water usage calculations as recommended by a registered <br />engineer, and a water commitment deposit in accordance with the Water Commitment <br />Guidelines Policy€ to the Department of Water Supply within one hundred and eighty <br />days from the effective date of this ordinance.‚ Commissioner Woodward supported the <br />application as this is an area in transition, there was no opposition to the request, and felt <br />the proposed use fits into the community. Commissioner Siracusa said she opposed the <br />application as it will open a floodgate for other landowners in the area to request similar <br />rezonings and she felt this area should remain in residential use. Commissioner Domingo <br />spoke in support of the application as he felt the area is in transition and it was an ideal <br />place to have such businesses, adding there were elderly people whose children have <br />moved away who were hoping the transition takes place so they can sell their land at a <br />higher value. Commissioner Domingo pointed out that there were other established <br />commercial uses in the area and there were no objections to the proposed rezoning. <br />Commissioner Domingo added that although the 1975 Hilo Development Plan <br />encouraged continued residential use, there were two General Plan reviews done <br />subsequently that encouraged the area be for light industrial and commercial uses, noting <br />10 years ago light industrial and commercial uses were permitted among the residential <br />uses. Commissioner Watanabe said he also sees this area as an area of transition and <br />noted the current location of her business in Keaukaha is in a tsunami inundation area. <br />Michael Ravenswing who has rental properties across the street expressed his concern the <br />rezoning will further change the character of the neighborhood and will continue to tip <br />the scale to the point where there will not be any more residential uses in the area. A roll <br />call vote was taken and motion carried with five ayes (Domingo, Woodward, Ogata, Rho, <br />2 <br /> <br />