2021-09-16 LPC MINUTES_TRANSCRIPTS

Home

VITOUSEK: Thank you very much and appreciate your time. Next up is Joe Kunkle? KUNKLE: Good morning. So, my name is Joe Kunkle. I've got a little bit different perspective than most on the gym. I first met Nanette Guiffrida back in 1989 when she'd opened her first gym. She stopped by my first cabinet shop and asked me if I would build some things for her and her students. Which I did,we donated it to the program. Skip forward 10 years I bought a commercial building Nanette's gym was housed in it. She was recently divorced had her two small four-year-old twins in the gym at the time. I had to ask her out I think every day for an entire year before she agreed to date me once and a few years later I actually got to marry her. I've always considered myself a moral and ethical guy. My wife has taught me there's a whole another level to this and that's what she does. She one of the most incredible people I've ever met and what she does for those children I can't even describe and I'm sure you'll hear over and over again. I'd like to directly discuss what Janice had brought up earlier about the zoning issues. Until very recently there was never a place for gymnastics facility to have been in legally. It was not in the County Code or Charter anywhere. I know that because when I bought the building that her gym was in,we had to get a Special permit just to allow her to stay in there is like legally keep her in there. And Nanette would have stayed in the same facility for 30 years,the only time she ever has to move is because the building has gotten sold and the new owners wanted to increase the rent or change occupancy or whatever. We've never been able to put her in a place that had the required height and space required to do gymnastics that wasn't in commercial area and gymnastics has never been allowed in commercial area until recently. So industrial areas would not house her, commercial areas would not house her, obviously agricultural areas wouldn't allow her so she's never had a place that she could be in before. Fortunately, Dan Bolton was willing to step up and give her a place when she lost her last place because they sold it. So, I completely understand about the bending rule's part, but unfortunately there was never a place that gymnastics was allowed here before until recently. That's about all I've got to say,thank you so much for your time, I appreciate it. VITOUSEK: Thank you for your testimony. I see Doug Scoufos has joined us. SCOUFOS: Yes. VITOUSEK: Doug,would you please raise your right hand. SCOUFOS: Can you hear me, okay? VITOUSEK: Yes, yes, can you please raise your right hand I'll swear you in. SCOUFOS: Raising right hand. VITOUSEK: Do you swear or affirm and tell the truth before the Leeward Planning Commission? 5 EXHIBIT A