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HIRAYAMA:Thank you. I want to retire but nobody will let me. <br />GALDONES:Commissioners, are there any further questions of Ms. Hirayama? <br />Commissioner Iwashita. <br />IWASHITA:Thank you. Thanks for coming, Ms. Hirayama. I was one of the <br />Commissioners that voted to not allow this change of zone. And what Id like to find out, <br />andmy concern in what Id like to ask you about is that, you know, the Houselots area as <br />you say is historically residential and there have been these businesses that have been <br />allowed to comeup mostly on the fringe of the area. And we have the housing shortage <br />now, no question. And how were going to resolve that or how thats going to be <br />resolved is an issue I think that as Planning Commissioners, you know,wehave to <br />seriously consider that. So do you have any thoughts -? I know you said you would like <br />small businesses to be able tobe allowed in the area. Have you thought about how that <br />wouldaffect,youknow,peoplelivingintheHouselotsarea?Becauseoneofthe <br />thoughts that I have is that the Houselots area is a prime area for Hilo to look at in terms <br />of, you know, becoming a more, providing more housing and, hopefully, you know, they <br />have a broader range of housing options in that area. Do you have any ideas about that? <br />HIRAYAMA:I dont have a magic wand and I really cannot tell you except that I <br />know that when the businesses came in they, at that point in time, a lot of the residents in <br />fact the kumiai, you know, that kumiai that we have the lower house lots kumiai, they <br />werent against Big Island Candies coming in. There were some, Im sure. But youre <br />telling me how, you know, even people who work in the industry and even like <br />Mr. Yuen, its a, I dont know, its a problem as to how were going to do affordable <br />housing. Right now theyre wrestling with all that problem. They just passed the <br />General Plan and even that I dont -. Is it completed, Mr. Yuen? Is the General Plan <br />completed? <br />YUEN:Yes. It was passed in February 2005 and it redesignated this part <br />of the Houselots from Low Density Urban to Medium Density. <br />HIRAYAMA:To Medium. No, but has all the addendums been written, <br />everything has been done? You know, I know the Plan was passed. But has everything <br />been completed that was supposed to be put in there? <br />YUEN:There are some amendments that Im preparing but none that <br />affect, at this time, at least, none that affect this area. <br />HIRAYAMA:Well, for me, I know that a lot of the people who lived in the <br />Houselots area, now they do not live there. Well, the people that used to live, like the <br />Imaizumis across the street from me, there was a widow living across, she passed away; <br />and that was the vacant house which was causing people to go in there at night and sleep <br />so they tore the building down. But I think a lot of the people that own properties there - <br />I dont know, I didnt do a research, but I could do it „ I dont think they really are there. <br />I think they have a lot of rental properties in that area. I know next to me, back of me <br />10EXHIBIT A <br /> <br />