2007-05-24 TALLIANCE - Laserfiche WebLink

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my strong concern that when we take prime agricultural uses off for other purposes, it’s a great concern to me, and that it’s also being listed in the Agricultural Lands of Importance to the State of Hawaii. The State Constitution strongly states that agricultural land should be protected from other uses, and that it should be encouraged that those lands be cultivated and used for the production of agricultural commodities. Recently I read two articles from two different publications indicating and the concern about of what is to be, in store for us in the future years with regard to being self-sufficient in the agricultural produce that we depend on. Most of the produce are being shipped and flown here to Hawaii. As more and more people come to the islands and live here on a permanent basis, there would be a time when there will be a much more demand for those products. And I think if we gradually go into areas where prime agricultural lands have been taken out for other purposes, then we are preparing ourselves for a day that someday we might regret to see. Therefore, I only vote for this application only because of the nature of the program that it will provide for in a community. Thank you. GRAHAM: Thank you, Commissioner Domingo. Commissioner Watanabe, my recollection is that we did have a formal motion to close the hearing. Am I correct on that? Do you remember? WATANABE: That is correct, and it was upheld. GRAHAM: Good. Thank you. Did we take a vote on the motion, or -? WATANABE: Yes, we did. GRAHAM: All right. WATANABE: It wasn’t a roll call vote, though. I think it was just by consent. GRAHAM: Let me just re-affirm, so we have it on the record. I do recall your motion, but I don’t recall taking a vote, so -. WATANABE: I made the motion to close the hearing before this second -, the motion that’s on the table now and Ms. Siracusa -. SIRACUSA: I seconded the first one. WATANABE: Seconded. GRAHAM: Okay. For the record, could I have an assent from all the Commissioners that we have closed the hearing? Please say aye. COMMISSIONERS: Aye. GRAHAM: Thank you. Part my oversight there. Do we have any other further comments by the Commissioners on the merits of this application on the motion before us? Personally, I also share – I mean this is extra important to me being a resident of North Kohala – and I do share a lot of the concerns. And in particular I think that Kako`o brought forth about the Planning Commission one application at a time sort of establishing a land use pattern for North EXHIBIT B 23