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represent charter schools here in Hawai‘i. So I’m here today to represent Connections in this <br />special permit application. <br /> <br />I wanted to, I think it bears reiterating what has happened here so far. There have been a number <br />of objective State and County agencies that have subjected this special permit to a rigorous <br />review. So I think it bears a reiteration. And if you would indulge me on this, just to recap what <br />has happened here so far. <br /> <br />As public lands under the jurisdiction of the State of Hawai‘i Board of Land and Natural <br />Resources, the Board has approved a direct least to Connections at its meeting held on <br />January 13, 2011. That lease is being finalized, and I’m aware of that because I work in the <br />Attorney General’s Office and we are finalizing that lease. Another division in the AG’s office <br />is finalizing that lease. Under that lease, the lease expressly provides that the lands are to be <br />used solely for school purposes. Also, the lease requires Connections to comply with all <br />applicable county, state and federal laws pertaining to this property. Therefore, all applicable <br />laws will need to be complied with or the lease will be subject to termination by the Board of <br />Land and Natural Resources. <br /> <br />Now the Department of Land and Natural Resources reviewed this project, and determined this <br />project would have, would not have significant impact and has issued a finding of no significant <br />impact. That Department notified the Office of Environmental Control of its finding in a letter <br />dated October 22, 2010. <br /> <br />In addition, the State Office of Planning reviewed and commented on this project and the special <br />permit application. And in a letter dated October 3, 2012 to the Hawai‘i County Planning <br />Department stated it has no objection to this project and provided comments and <br />recommendations. <br /> <br />Also, the Hawai‘i County Planning Director has also reviewed the special permit application and <br />has recommended that this Commission send a favorable recommendation to the State Land Use <br />Commission with certain conditions attached to address traffic, water and other issues that have <br />raised, been raised. <br /> <br />If these, if Connections does not comply with these conditions, the Planning Director may <br />initiate revocation proceedings with respect to the special permit. <br /> <br />And the applicant has invested a substantial amount of money in its effort to develop this charter <br />school on state public lands. It has complied with all applicable laws and has submitted to this <br />Commission evidence of its compliance. It has retained at its cost, substantial cost, engineers <br />and consultants to conduct studies with respect to traffic, water and other issues, and will <br />continue to incur expenses to satisfy applicable laws as this special permit application moves <br />forward. <br /> <br />We respectfully urge this Commission to send a favorable recommendation to the State Land <br />Use Commission on this permit application. <br /> 6 ATTACHMENT C <br /> <br /> <br />