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transportation that is very, that it is of a concern to the community. And I appreciate these kinds of
<br />open dialogues, because I believe that it is through open dialogues that we are able to resolve issues.
<br />We’ll come up with creative ideas that we can all resolve issues and be able to work together and live
<br />together and, and do things together.
<br />
<br />On the issue of traffic, I know, I’ve seen a lot myself when I used to travel to Kona to go work and the
<br />traffic accidents on that road before they came up with the new road. But I think putting, having a
<br />school over there and installing signs that that is a school zoned area, I think it will actually alleviate or
<br />reduce the risk of having traffic accidents in that area, because now we’ll have a school zoned area.
<br />
<br />Transportation, we have a bus system. Although we may have 384, whatever the population of the
<br />school is, we do have a bus system that, you know, they meet up, they meet up in certain areas. For
<br />example, like in Keaau by the intersection of Keaau-Pahoa Road and the Volcano Road, they meet out
<br />there. And they are carpooling in to alleviate traffic coming into town, and I think that will be
<br />continued.
<br />
<br />A community-based school, Mr. Thatcher talked about Connections or charter school being not
<br />community based. So no matter where you take this school or any school, public charter school, you
<br />will never have that kind of support because it’s not community based. It’s not, you know, it is for,
<br />opened to all communities, as opposed to these schools that we have here that are community based
<br />where they serve the community that they’re in. Charter schools they serve the whole island, it’s open
<br />to the whole island.
<br />
<br />So with that, I urge you to consider all that, you know, when you make your decisions. And I really
<br />urge you to see if you can continue these hearings, the hearing process of the special use permit for the
<br />school. And I just really want to see those kids have a better place other than what they have right now
<br />than two, two separate areas. So please consider that in your thinking. Thank you very much for our
<br />time.
<br />
<br />AU: Okay, any questions for the testifier? Okay, would Lee Botelho, please state your name, where
<br />you reside, and your three minutes.
<br />
<br />BOTELHO: My name is Lee Botelho; and I live on Mele Manu Street. I apologize for being a last-
<br />minute person to sign up to speak. But I’ve been, I was here at the last month’s meeting. And
<br />listening to the testimony today, a lot of people are talking about whether or not charter schools are
<br />good. They’re testifying on behalf of the program of the Connections Charter School. That’s not what
<br />the issue is here. The issue should be whether or not the application for a school to use this property is
<br />the appropriate use of the property, and considering the amount of County water is insufficient to build
<br />a school or to support school, much less the additional water required for a caretaker’s residence which
<br />they plan to build and for agricultural use. So that’s one of the main concerns, is the amount of water
<br />that they will have access to. Is it part, you know, so is the school an appropriate use for this parcel of
<br />land -- I’m very nervous, sorry – when there’s not enough water to support it?
<br />
<br />In addition, the access to the property, to the school, will it adversely impact the surrounding
<br />properties? Yes, it will. We talk about Kaumana Drive. But Edita Street is the only access for this
<br />subdivision. When you add 200 cars every day, twice a day, to everyone who also has to go to work
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