2009-06-05 THOOTA - Laserfiche WebLink

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I’m sure, you know, with regards to the concerns that Mr. Iwashita made in regards to we’re slowly taking away, we’re slowly taking away residential lots from our House Lots, I do realize that. Also, by the same token, we noticed there’s a transition taking place wherein we have mixed uses happening down there; and residents who own parcels there sold it and have moved to other parts of the, perhaps in town or other places away from House Lots. And I think as I look into the future and the possibility of what it may bring with regards to, you know, disasters, and I refer to tidal waves -- in fact, as a matter of fact the very place we sit and further down were once homes, residences also; and, in fact, not far from here to the south there’s a memorial, you know, memorializing all those who lost their lives here in Hilo -- and if we, if I was a property owner and if I had the opportunity to move away when there may be a potential disaster happening, I would surely take that opportunity. Now I don’t know if those people who own residences there did that because of that. And I’m sure they did that because of some other reasons also and they found that it would be in their best interest to do so. So we’re finding a lot of people with that same philosophy. And they’re selling perhaps in their retirement years and opting to go to some other place where they may be more comfortable and feel more secure. And in place of that we’re having these mixed uses coming into the particular area. And this has been thought of for many years. And, of course, there were changes with regards to the General Plan and now, again, we come back to that instance where the General Plan permits the uses that are being proposed, applied for here in this application. And for that reason I don’t think that we’re rushing, we’re rushing into doing something that shouldn’t be.And I don’t want people to think that this Commission is doing that for the sake of doing it. Most of us believe that what was happening is a positive one and a logical approach to the future for those who own, who own parcels there. So I will vote for, I am in favor of the motion. I will vote for it. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. WOODWARD: Thank you, Commissioner Domingo. The Planning Director would like to make a comment or two. LEITHEAD TODD: This is in reference to CDPs, and partially this is for the Commission’s information, as well as the public that’s here. Each of the CDPs that the County has undertaken have cost the County anywhere from half a million to one million dollars a piece to undertake and adopt. And that’s because when you, the most recent ones that we’ve been putting money into, we’ve put in about $411,000; but that is not the total cost because there are additional monies that we have to set aside for staffing. Given the current economy, it is unlikely that a CDP for Hilo will be funded within the next two years. Next year’s fiscal budget has money for Hamakua. We’re expecting an economic downturn that will impact our budget even more. So it’s unlikely that it will be funded within the next two years. Part of what you’re seeing in the House Lots area is there’s an on-going demand for commercial and industrial fee simple ownership. Most of the industrial lands in Hilo are either owned by the State of Hawaii or owned by Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. And what happens is whenever they’re up for lease renegotiations the businesses face, in some cases -- the last time I went through DHHL, they faced a five-fold increase in their lease rent; and it forced many businesses out of business or forced them to relocate. And so that’s what you’re seeing, is some pent-up demand for fee simple property. And I assume that we will eventually get to a CDP for Hilo, but that is many years off. During the last round of the General Plan there was opportunity EXHIBIT A 7