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from us. We have the Keaau Elementary School right down the hill from us. We have the brand
<br />new Keaau Intermediate School that’s to our back door; and then we have the Keaau High
<br />School that is just another quarter of a mile away from that. And here we have a company or
<br />corporation that’s non-profit that’s wanting to put at-risk children in the middle of all four of our
<br />schools, knowing full well and acknowledging that there was a situation developing when they
<br />came in and purchased the residence with this in mind. And I think Mr. Yuen addresses that
<br />very adequately in his response to their request. And if you’ll note that in Marimed’s letter that
<br />you’ll notice that they requested this information at the time they entered into escrow, not at the
<br />time of the date of the original purchase of the home.
<br />As far as amending or changing the number from five to eight in a residence, we’re beating
<br />around the bush here. We know the reason why we’re here. This got put on the agenda because
<br />Marimed wants to move into the Keaau Ag Lots, and they want to open it up; and they need
<br />eight persons per house in order to make it work.
<br />Well, the two-story house up front is a five-bedroom home; and if you put two beds per
<br />occupant, then you have it. However, the staff is supposed to be 24-hour staff and they’re
<br />supposed to be on duty. So now, where’s the staff going to sleep, number one? Number two,
<br />how many staff is going to be out there, according to the proposed amendment? And number
<br />three, we have a two-bedroom home that is in the back of the big house that you’re going to get
<br />another eight people in?
<br />Now I understand that the Department of Health is supposed to regulate, and supposed to come
<br />out and inspect, and they’re supposed to making all these changes. Well, under this amendment,
<br />what happens to the Fire Department coming out and looking? What happens to ADA coming
<br />out and looking? What happens to excessive no on-site parking? As a builder, and I did a lot of
<br />commercial stuff on the mainland, I’m very familiar with ADA requirements and Code
<br />requirements under ADA. And these houses, I mean, I can even get down to where they’ve got
<br />to have 32” doors for interior doors, none of the accessways can have more than two percent
<br />grade. They do not have any outside elevators, all the windows upstairs do not pass egress
<br />codes, there are no fire escapes, there’s no two-way out. I mean, I can go on and on in this
<br />situation, as far as this particular -. And I understand and appreciate why it’s being presented in
<br />this fashion. However, it is just the way around to be able to get operations started. In the
<br />family code, it passed as the ag designated area. And we were quite told blank-and-blank, we’re
<br />going to open up a garden and we’re going to have 16 people maintaining a garden in the back of
<br />this house so we can comply with the Ag Code. He stood right in front of 50 or 60 people and
<br />made the statement, no problem, this is the way we’re going to do it; and if you don’t like it, oh,
<br />well. Now I had a real problem with that. And then, when the gentleman stood up and
<br />threatened me with a ADA civil lawsuit and said, “Well, if you don’t let us in, we’re going to sue
<br />you because you’re discriminating against the handicapped, then I really had a big problem with
<br />that.
<br />And I can go on and on, but you’re going to get to hear me in Hilo, so I will shut up, and let you
<br />read the letter. I have safety issues, I have they’re near the schools, the man offered to sell it
<br />back at a profit in less than a year, the overcrowding, the houses don’t even come close to being
<br />able to comply, they don’t have enough square footage, they knew right upfront and they
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