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property owners and residents of, in this case, this particular subdivision. But this is not unique to this
<br />particular application, it’s not unique to Puna. This happens all over the island. Sometimes it happens
<br />as people are ignorant as to what the limitations are on the use of agricultural land because of the
<br />multi-layer state land use regulations as well as county regulations. But the ultimate goal is to both
<br />legitimize activities and also to give notice to surrounding community as to the extent of the activities
<br />and to put, you know, some, usually regulations on hours of operation, in some cases we even have
<br />decibel levels in other areas. We’ve done things where the speakers have to be turned in a particular
<br />direction so they’re not facing outward from activities. But it’s mainly trying to balance what is one
<br />segment of the community’s need for services against the needs of the surrounding community to have
<br />some, you know, quiet enjoyment of their residences and property. And so it sometimes, we just want
<br />to avoid confrontation. And usually if the neighbors know that you’re there and know what you’re
<br />going to do, you avoid -. But if things grow and you haven’t gone through the process where you
<br />brought the community in, that’s when we end up with confrontation.
<br />
<br />So, you know, I’m happy that we have the application in, that, you know, we’re proceeding along. I’m
<br />very happy they’ve met with the community, and I’m extremely happy that I haven’t had any
<br />complaints since the last time. Because you would be amazed as to how much work is generated in
<br />our office, not just in Puna but all over the island, by people who complain because the neighbors are
<br />doing things that they think are not permitted or not supposed to be occurring in residential or ag, or
<br />even sometimes in commercial areas. And so, you know, we have to investigate and we have to
<br />enforce rules and regulations. And sometimes it feels like trying to do the square peg and the round
<br />hole. The rules and regs that we have and our Zoning Codes don’t necessarily have the flexibility that
<br />people would like to have. We have a little more flexibility with special use permits in some cases
<br />with ag land.
<br />
<br />But, you know, it’s not our intent to be punitive, it’s not our intent to strangle development. It’s just
<br />basically trying to balance the needs of all sectors of the community. I like your performances. I, you
<br />know, enjoyed your many parades. But, you know, you have to balance that against the needs of
<br />neighbors. And so I think, you know, moving forward and trying to make sure that the neighbor’s
<br />concerns over noise and hours of operation are handled is the, will end up with something that’s
<br />mutually agreeable for everybody.
<br />
<br />PETRICCI: Can I respond?
<br />
<br />LEITHEAD TODD: Certainly.
<br />
<br />PETRICCI: I didn’t mean to put you on the spot. I just, it would really be a shame for this, for the
<br />community and for that whole area, for this to be lost because it’s something very special. We see in
<br />regular communities, schools and other types of developments that are put in the neighborhoods, and
<br />they’re able to do it. They’re much larger, stores, geothermal power plants, with noise, noise
<br />problems. If we can put a geothermal power plant into the middle of a community, and that’s a
<br />permitted use, I don’t, I think we should be able to put SPACE into the middle of a community as a
<br />permitted use. Thank you.
<br />
<br />AU: Okay, thank you. Any more questions for this testifier? Okay, we have one more testifier,
<br />Maura Herlihy. Please state your name and where you reside, and your three minutes can begin.
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<br /> EXHIBIT C
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