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this particular change and that we really should wait until the community again can get involved
<br />in whether or not, you know, this kind of Light Industrial or High Density kind of commercial
<br />activity is the kind of activity that they want in this neighborhood. So Id like any comments on
<br />why, you know, this really shouldnt wait until the community can have input in the Community
<br />Development Plan for Hilo.
<br />ALAMEDA:Care to comment? Commissioner Graham?
<br />GRAHAM:I would just like to say in response to Commissioner Iwashitas comments
<br />like if this particular area that were speaking of there where Big Island Candies is, if that whole
<br />thing was coming to us fresh now that none of that had been zoned for its current use and none of
<br />that had been General Planned for its current use, I would totally agree. But given that in the
<br />past there was a General Plan change and zoning change, I view this as just the Director trying to
<br />sort of regularize the existing situation thats there and give a little, I dont know, square it out
<br />andbringituptotheroad.AndIdontthinktheresanyconsequential,negativerepercussions
<br />for the community. So even though I appreciate Commissioner Iwashitas general concern and I
<br />agree with it, in this specific case I find it okay whats being proposed.
<br />ALAMEDA:Follow-up, Commissioner Iwashita?
<br />IWASHITA:My main concern is that, you know, this is, I understand the explanation of
<br />why this isnt spot-zoning. But, in effect, you know, my vision, Im going to go out on the
<br />limb and say that for the Community Development Plan as it would apply to this particular area,
<br />but, you know, frankly, if I were involved or when it comes about and when I can get involved in
<br />the process, would be that Kekuanaoa Street, I think we all would agree, you know, its going to
<br />end up being some type of a commercial-developed area. Its the main road between the airport
<br />and, you know, that Hilo Shopping Center, that whole part of town; and that what I really dont
<br />want to see is these kinds of changes being made on a piecemeal basis, which is what it is, you
<br />know. Maybe its not spot zoning, technically, but its definitely piecemeal. And, you know, its
<br />taking what has been done off of Kekuanaoa Street and extending it on to Kekuanaoa Street; and,
<br />you know, how thats done, what limitations are placed, this is entitlement. You know, Big
<br />Island Candies will now have basically an entitlement if this is passed; and by doing so, you
<br />know, you lock in certain kinds of rights. And if the Community Development Plan says, Well,
<br />we dont want certain kind of commercial development to be done in this area, you know,
<br />theres going to be, Big Island Candies will be entitled to be paid on, arguably, for taking away
<br />certain rights that this entitlement gives the owner. So I understand.
<br />What I really would like to see is that the community get together and say, you know, if we want
<br />Kekuanaoa Street to be a strip mall. As far as Im concerned, doing this kind of thing is going to
<br />pretty much guarantee that its going to be a strip mall. But if you want the Community
<br />Development process, as I would like to see it, be a vehicle by which the community can say we
<br />want Kekuanaoa Street to look more like Downtown Hilo in terms of a commercial
<br />development, not have parking lots fronting all the businesses and the theaters and whatever else
<br />is going to go down in there, and have something thats more livable and walkable, to have
<br />planned areas for municipal parking, you know, in this commercial area, what is going to be a
<br />commercial area, then we ought to wait and do it the right way. By doing it this way, youre
<br />creating entitlements and making it more difficult when we dont have to do it. Theres no
<br />necessity to do it. The fact that, as far as Im concerned, it was done wrong in 1997 or whenever
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