2006-05-26 TGP_Amendment - Laserfiche WebLink

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ALAMEDA:Okay. Any other comments, Fellow Commissioners? Commissioner Watanabe? WATANABE:Asa follow-up to that comment, I think were not aware at this present time but youre probably aware that there are other applications for special permits, right, in that area. So would that influence some of this? YUEN:We do get quite a few applications for special permits, there have been quite a few over the years. And the idea behind having a designated area is really as a signal to people where to go. Otherwise, they will tend to buy a lot, actually, one of the dominant patterns is people buy a lot, they start the business, and they get busted, and then they apply for the special permit -- Not really the way to go. So, at the same time, we understand why, you know, you have a population center with the Paradise Park Subdivision which probably has more peoplethanthetownofWaimeawithvirtuallynocommercialactivitycloserthanKeaauor Pahoa towns which are, you know, seven miles away. WATANABE: I would tend to agree. With that much opportunity there, I dont see how youre going to hold back the development. Then without any kind of plan, then, I think were going to wind up with some of the other things weve been concerned about, like that strip mall on that main road going there; and those are some of the things weve been, you know, debating over in the past. And I know weve turned down some projects that many of us thought maybe would have been good but did not fit into the General Plan. So, I dont think that given as many people as there are there, I dont think that you can say, but we dont have any plan yet, even though we know youre going to need the services. With that in mind, I would tend to agree with the Director. ALAMEDA:Thank you. Other thoughts before we move on to A-2? Commissioner Graham? GRAHAM:Chris, is this area still at State Land Use level, is it still Agriculture? YUEN:Thats right. GRAHAM:It would seem like, you know, looking at the long-term picture, if were going to change some of this land to General Plan as you suggested it would be nice if the State had an Urban designation so that if folks want to develop they can go in for rezonings which are then appropriate to the General Plan. But at this point even if we change the General Plan theyve got to go through the special permit process, it would seem, if they want to do development. Is that correct? YUEN:Well, no, people could rezone at the Council level with a 15-acre or less boundary amendment. And although the pattern has been to do things like special permit, I think long-range we would rather see that development happen through zoning. It would have a boundary amendment and accompanied by a zone change in the future. GRAHAM:And just one follow-up with regard to my prior question when I asked you about the community association there. And in the letter we have on record they did suggest on 4