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When the Planning Director issued a favorable recommendation, it was done with reservations <br />and without the benefit of public testimony. Now with the benefit of such testimonies from so <br />many who have expressed overwhelming opposition to the school’s proposed location, it is up to <br />you, the Windward Planning Commission, to make the final decision. I humbly ask you to <br />recommend denial of the Special Permit. <br /> <br />By denying the Special Permit, you are not denying a new school for the students, nor are you <br />denying a new campus for the faculty, for nothing yet has been built. And I believe nothing <br />should be built, until the leaders of the school find a better suited location. <br /> <br />The sites that were considered by the administrators in their initial search were all located in the <br />central Hilo area, and many were summarily dismissed as being “too large” or “too small”. <br />Perhaps these sites should be revisited. But more so, we believe other potential sites were not <br />even considered or fully explored. Why not extend the search further into Panaewa, or Keaau, or <br />Puna, or Hamakua Coast? A site that has less inherent restrictions, community dissent, or <br />stringent conditions of approval will allow the project to quickly get off the ground. <br /> <br />As Connection’s consultant Celia Shen mentioned, the conceptual drawings for the campus are <br />in their very early planning stages, and can be easily modified to accommodate change in <br />conditions. Thus the investment in these plans will not be lost, but can instead be used to <br />springboard the project at the appropriate location. But, more importantly, by choosing a site <br />that is embraced by its stakeholders as well as the surrounding neighbors and community at <br />large, the school can then meet with a success that is – at best – questionable at the Kaumana <br />location. <br /> <br />In conclusion, please vote to recommend denial of the special permit, and in so doing compel the <br />leaders of Connections to seek an alternative, but appropriate location for their new campus. <br />Only then will the school be able to advance quickly – and harmoniously – to achieve its stated <br />goals. The students, their parents, the faculty, and our community at large deserve no less. <br />Thank you for the opportunity to testify. <br /> <br />AU: Thank you. Any questions for the testifier? Okay, thank you all. You may be seated. <br />Next four people, June Sakamoto, Ming Peng, Kaainoa Enaena, and Allen Novak. Please come <br />forward. Okay, and I guess we’re missing somebody. Robert Wagner then. I’ll move on to the <br />next person. <br /> <br />L. NOVAK: Oh, Robert Wagner. <br /> <br />AU: Okay, can you all raise your right hand, please. Do you affirm to tell the truth, do you <br />swear and affirm to tell the truth in front of the Planning Commission today? <br /> <br />TESTIFIERS: Yes. I do. <br /> <br />AU: Okay. We’ll start off with June Sakamoto. Please state your name, where you reside and <br />speak into the microphone. You have three minutes. <br /> 23 ATTACHMENT C <br /> <br /> <br />