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GALDONES:Mr. Mooers, have you received a copy of the Background Report <br />and also the Recommendation, and do you have any comments on them? <br />MOOERS:Yes, I have received them. And the only comment I would make <br />is that this Change of Zone is based on the resolution that Commissioner Springer spoke <br />of, as have all the other change of zones. You€ll see another one today and there are <br />other, actually, numerous ones coming forward; and I think it might be good just to <br />review briefly what the purpose of these resolutions were. When Kaloko was developed <br />initially, particularly in the lower levels, there was an awful lot of the forest that was <br />graded and cleared out for agricultural purposes, and there was concern expressed by <br />many about the impacts on the watershed. The Council has passed two resolutions, the <br />most recent ones, seven years ago, to address this and the purpose being as to allow the <br />increased density in the area with the stipulations that preservation managers for the <br />forests be established; and you€ll see in the conditions there some very strict conditions <br />regardingtheamountofforeststhatcanbedisturbed.AndtheCouncil€spositionhas <br />been, consistently over the years, is that the increased density that€s allowed by these <br />rezonings is more than offset by the preservations methods applied in the Change of Zone <br />ordinances and the conditions, so that the net benefit to the community is that these <br />forests are preserved. Because presently there are obviously no conditions on these <br />properties and so people could clear-cut them as has happened in the past. So that has <br />been the trade-off that the County has adopted over the years. And this Change of Zone <br />monitors the others and is similar as those and the conditions are identical. So that€s the <br />gist. I wanted to refresh the Commissioners€ memory on that as to why these are coming <br />and why you will continue to see these. <br />GALDONES:Thank you, Mr. Mooers. Commissioners, are there any questions <br />of Mr. Mooers? Commissioner Graham? <br />GRAHAM:Greg, in light of what you said about the General Plan and policies <br />and all, I just wondered if there have been any follow-up or you have personal knowledge <br />as to whether these conditions to maintain the forest are effectively being adhered to <br />under the purpose that it was intended? <br />MOOERS:Yes, I do believe they have. And, in fact, I think on the next one <br />that€s on the agenda for Mr. Knierim, you€re going to see that one of the conditions is <br />going to require reforestation of a lot that was previously substantially grubbed. So I <br />think it does have that effect. One of the other things that happens, of course, is the <br />impact fees that the Council has been imposing are being allotted toward the <br />improvement for the intersection. And I think under this administration there has been a <br />very conscious effort made to identify those funds and really keep very good track of <br />where they are now. And it may not have always been the case but it certainly is now, so <br />that we actually are working toward a resolution of that situation. So I think, yeah, the <br />conditions have been tightened up and I think particularly with the Councilmember <br />Tulang now looking at the forest management plans is that we€re now looking at <br />retaining some professional people to develop those plans and consultation so that there€s <br />even a better monitoring and development of reforestation and monitoring this. But I€m <br />3 <br /> <br />