2008-06-06 TSUMIDA - Laserfiche WebLink

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significant impact to traffic and/or public safety concerns. All of the agencies with technical expertise have said this parking lot will not create a traffic impact. But Mr. Yuen is not following the technical advice, instead he’s saying it’s a creating traffic impact. He also says that it’s not reasonable because of the visual impacts. Well, in all five prior applications Mr. Yuen acknowledged that this area is primarily vacant and that the visual impacts can be mitigated with landscaping. And I do agree with you, Ms. Siracusa, when you pass by the landscaping could be far better. But I also know that this Commission before has required landscaping as a condition to occupancy permit and has required established trees so that the landscaping isn’t about 2 feet tall, and that it can mitigate the visual impacts. And if landscaping is as Mr. Sumida proposes planted all the way around the property you’re not going to see very much once the landscaping gets bigger, and particularly if it’s podocarpus trees. Unless the termites hit them you won’t see anything. Mr. Yuen also said that this use will not promote the effectiveness of Chapter 205 or 205A. I would like to point out to you that in all five of your prior permits where the uses were not much different than this the standard was met.And 205 wants you to preserve the most important agricultural lands for agricultural use. This land is E, it’s poor, it’s not good for agriculture. I might point out that one of the other criteria is the land, that you have to find the land upon which the use is sought is unsuited for the uses permitted, which is agriculture. Mr. Yuen in his recommendation, you know, with all due respect, he acknowledges the land is very poor but he said you can still do agriculture on this land, extensive and intensive agriculture. This land is not good for agriculture. It’s close to the highway. The Paradise Park Community Association in its revised plan in 2005 decided that that area should be Light Industrial because there was a cul-de- sac there at the end of the road so it doesn’t go into the other subdivision, it’s close to the highway, and since more and more residences are being built in Paradise Park people won’t have trucks going through the residential areas, because the truth of the matter is this is becoming more of a residential area. The utilities, water is available and Department of Water Supply has said that water is available for Mr. Sumida. So water is available. Electricity is available. It makes sense to allow that. Now for some reason the Planning Department says it wasn’t aware of this plan; and, in fact, it was overlooked in the Puna Community Development Plan for some reason. In Mr. Sumida’s application I raised the issue, and now all these letters are going out. But as Mr. Gapp said he surveyed the community in this area 18 months ago, and the people were supportive of doing improvements. I commend Mr. Yuen for sending out the letter to the owners. I think it’s a good idea. I think it’s a good idea to plan and do a master plan. However, Carnor can’t wait 3, 5 years to move his trucks. He can still do certain measures right now with the special permit that would mitigate the impacts while this idea of turning this area into Light Industrial is implemented. And if he has to change the landscaping, he can change the landscaping. Or if Planning wants certain kinds of landscaping, you can condition landscaping upon landscaping of a variety of proof by the Planning Department so that they can be consistent on everybody having the same kind of landscaping. So there are definite ways this Commission could impose conditions on this permit that would be reasonable. My memo goes through each of the conditions for a special permit. One of the conditions is that the desired use will not adversely affect surrounding properties. The properties are mostly vacant, or the few special permits with scattered residential use. You have heard not one person EXHIBIT C 10