|
Low Density Urban until the beginning of 2005 when it was upgraded; and that upgrade, the
<br />Low Density Urban, was actually the reversion at the request of the community; and in 2005
<br />when it was upgraded that was not a request of the community. It was basically done through
<br />the General Plan Amendment process at that time. And that is really the basis upon which, you
<br />know, provides the foundation for this application to be made. Given all of that, and my real
<br />feeling that General Plan Amendments, I know the Director takes an opposite view, but those
<br />General Plan Amendments are contrary to the Community Development Plan that was adopted
<br />32 years ago for the area, and I believe that a Community Development Plan process should be
<br />implemented for houselots and all of Hilo really, and the island, so that the community can have
<br />the kind of input that the applicant testified to here. But it would be not just for, you know, the -.
<br />My concern is that the neighbors are looking at a self-storage facility as a very non-intrusive use
<br />of the property, relatively speaking, and it would be. But I don’t think that those people
<br />understand that the request is not just for an approval to do a self-storage facility. The request is
<br />for a zoning change that would allow inclusive of the self-storage facility another 47 different
<br />uses of the property. And that, you know, when the Council approves this, the applicant need
<br />not build the self-storage facility. She can turn around and sell it to someone who wants to build
<br />a kennel, who wants to, you know, do Light Manufacturing, you know, use the building to do
<br />Light Manufacturing, and would have a much greater impact on your neighbors than a self-
<br />storage facility. So, you know, that is my concern. I believe that we need a better process in
<br />order to avoid the strip mall kind of environment that Commissioner Siracusa talked about. And,
<br />again, for the record in this matter, you know, it is my firm belief that as we move along here in
<br />this process that if we, you know, we keep doing this, then that’s what we’ll have, houselots will
<br />end up being this island’s Kakaako or, you know, Sand Island; and that’s where we’re heading
<br />down towards. So I’ll be voting against the motion.
<br />M. THOMAS: Can I ask a question or comment at this time before you guys vote?
<br />GRAHAM: Excuse me. Commissioners, we did close the public hearing part. But if
<br />the applicant would like to respond to this, is that okay with you?
<br />SIRACUSA: No.
<br />GRAHAM: No, okay. Do we have any other comments or discussion on this from the
<br />Commissioners? I might just throw in, personally I think because it is on Lanikaula Street, you
<br />know, according to the Director’s General Plan designation that it is reasonable to have
<br />Commercial uses. However, I believe it was that CN parcel up above when we rezoned for that
<br />that we had a lot of discussion about maintaining the character of the neighborhood and using the
<br />existing building in its footprint and things like that. Seems like we’re kind of abandoning that
<br />here by just putting in a large area, sheet metal building in this kind of old residential area. So
<br />I’m kind of troubled by that. If it was a use that was specifically of commercial value, you
<br />know, like something that the neighbors around are likely to use in any volume -. But it seems to
<br />me like a self-storage is not particularly a site specific operation, that people from all over might
<br />be using that. It wouldn’t be particularly relevant to the neighborhood. So I’m sort of troubled
<br />by that. However, that certainly is countered by the fact that the neighbors certainly seem okay
<br />with it and we don’t have any testifiers here testifying against it.So I just want to express my
<br />thoughts on it. If there are no further comments from anyone, Jeff, would you be ready to take a
<br />vote on this application on the motion by Commissioner Watanabe that’s before us?
<br /> EXHIBIT A
<br />6
<br />
<br />
|