2008-01-03 TCOUNCILsubdivision_7-lot

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since 1975 and that, and the Subdivision Code to me is now really passé on what it was trying to accomplish then, and what it does accomplish, and how well it now suits our current situation. So I would like to ask you if you think that this antique document fits our situation best and does the best job possible for our community, or if you think that it could really use some modernizing. WILLIAMS: Well, the Subdivision Code has had modernizing. It isn’t the same code of 1975. There have been changes to it. That said, I certainly would agree with you that there are things that could be done to improve it. None of us want to see unbridled development where the island just becomes paved. I too came here in 1975 and I also remember the traffic was a lot less back in those days. I also remember when you went to a store there was nothing you could purchase, everything had to be ordered. Now stores actually carry an inventory. So there’s pros and cons with development. We are going to have some development. The question is is the development going to be good or bad? And that is our job, yours as Commissioners, the Council, the administration, us as citizens to try to do the best we can to make the growth be responsible, yet have a good economy. Because as the president of the Chamber of Commerce we naturally are trying to advocate business. But, again, we’re not saying we want business at the expense of the community. We want business because we want a strong economy so people have jobs, so they can afford houses. That’s very important. At the same time, it does have to be balanced. SIRACUSA: Follow-up? ALAMEDA: Commissioner Siracusa? SIRACUSA: Yes. I think we’re all on the same page. What I would like to hear from you as a member of the community is do you have any specific ideas about changes that you would like to see? If you were king of the world, what would you do? ALAMEDA: Mr. Williams, you don’t have to answer any of our questions. But if you want to, you go ahead. WILLIAMS: That’s kind of difficult on the spot to say if I was king of the world what would I do. SIRACUSA: If you were the Mayor of the Big Island, if you were head of the Planning Department? WILLIAMS: Well, certainly I would want to see property rights protected because I think that’s an important issue too, that we have certain rights when we own pieces of property. If they’re entitled properties you have a vested right to be able to do things with it. And that’s the purpose of zoning. You know, maybe some of the changes to the Zoning Code and to the Subdivision Code could be made that would be beneficial. I can’t off the top of my head say exactly what I would plan, cause I didn’t come here today with that in mind. I guess I’ll conclude with that. Thanks. ALAMEDA: Follow-up, Commissioner Siracusa? EXHIBIT B 13