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NEELY:And Im Lanny Neely, the current director ofthe World Botanical Gardens, and I live here in Hilo at 254 Kaiulani Street. SPRINGER:Thank you, sir. Did you receive the Planning Departments Background Report and Recommendation? N. ERICKSON:Yes, we did. SPRINGER:Do you have any comments to make on that? N. ERICKSON:No. I just want to reiterate something that Chris just now said, is that this is an existing botanical. It has been in existence since 1995. Were here because we want to do the right thing. We have been seeing visitors and we understand were allowed to do that, and continue to do that without any of these conditions. However, we want to create a better experienceforvisitors.Wewanttocreatesomething,abuildingthathasaHawaiianaflavor.We want to be able to provide them restrooms and a safe place to park, handicap accessibility, and all the other things that I think make a visitors center attractive to Hawaii. The only reason were here is because we want to expand the kind of things that the garden can provide. In other words, if we want to sell a hat, or a t-shirt, or a book, then we need to have a special permit. So I appreciate your patience and tolerance, I thought, everything Ive heard today, and pardon our five oclock shadows, right? SPRINGER:Thank you, sir. Do your colleagues have any testimony to make at this time? S. ERICKSON:Thank you. I really dont want to go over the criteria, the legal criteria thats in our application. I just want to make one small point regarding the visitors center, and I think the point has been made that were an existing botanical garden thats allowed. And what were trying to do is really a very small change from what, I believe, is allowed or would be allowed as an accessory building that would support our permitted use. And the reason were here is just because we want to sell a few things to make money to help keep the garden running, and pull the weeds, and kept it maintained. SPRINGER:Thank you. Maam, youve heard a discussion regarding the March 10, 2004 memo from the Division of Forestry and Wild Life and some of the suggested language for a new condition. Do you have any comment to us on that? N. ERICKSON:I think Lanny is, can answer that. S. ERICKSON:Yeah, Lanny, to my right, is the Director. He has got 22 years experience as a professor of horticulture, so Im going to defer to him on that one. SPRINGER:Okay, thank you, Maam. Mr. Neel. NEEL:With your permission, Id like to read these prepared remarks to kind of make it more concise, save a little time. 9EXHIBIT C