2014-09-04 Hearing Transcript-Paul Ogasawara REZ 14-176

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The Planning Director is recommending that the Planning Commission send a favorable recommendation to the Hawai‘i County Council. That concludes our presentation. Are there any questions? Thank you. MIYASATO: Thank you. Would the Applicant or representative please come forward? FUKE: Morning, good afternoon. MIYASATO: Could you raise your right hand? Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth on this matter now before the Hawai‘i County Planning Commission? FUKE: Yes, I do. MIYASATO: Could you please state your name and residence. FUKE: Sure. Good afternoon, Commissioners. My name is Sidney Fuke, and I am here assisting the Applicant, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Ogasawara, who is here in the audience, by the way. My business address is 100 Pauahi Street, Suite 212. Essentially I’ve known Mr. Ogasawara since, I guess like, over thirty years right now, so he had asked me to assist him with this particular rezoning. One thing about Mr. Ogasawara, being a life-long resident of the Pāhoa area, you know when he saw the original plan that was prepared by one of his architects he decided to abandon that because what wasn’t shown in the plan was like, basically the original plan called for like a 13,000 square foot building, two structures, and he said that well, that really wasn’t in keeping with what he deemed to be like the “Pāhoa character.” So he said rather than that, he’d rather have three single-family looking-type of buildings, you know, constructed on the property. So he scaled it back by nearly forty percent and so what was presented by the Commission is what his ultimate goal is, is to construct three single-family looking building on the property and make it available for commercial retail or commercial office. He recognizes further that the area falls within the Pāhoa community, the design guidelines, and so he has already had a meeting with the committee and will continue to meet with the committee and as stipulated by the Planning Director’s Recommendation mandating compliance with the design guidelines. The other condition that the Planning Director’s recommending is that construction of a curb, gutter, sidewalk section, at the same time relinquishing at least a ten-foot wide section fronting the property to enable the construction of the curb, gutter, sidewalk section fronting his property and that he’s also willing. So having said that, the staff’s Background Report and the proposed Recommendation offered by the Director is acceptable to Mr. Ogasawara. MIYASATO: Commissioners, any questions? No questions. Thank you. FUKE: Thank you. 3 EXHIBIT A