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Or does the State as a land owner really want to look at that peninsula? Because the State owns
<br /> pretty much the whole peninsula. Do they want, do they envision something different in the
<br /> future than what is there now? And we gotta determine that now so we can start working on
<br /> these things. How are you gonna do that? Maybe in Mr. Inouye's case, and sorry I'm using you
<br /> as an example, but maybe they'll come out and say eventually we, that area, we want to do
<br /> something else to it but we're not going to reach there for another 20 years. Okay, let's give
<br /> them a 20 year lease instead of a 65 year lease or something. But you know, the land owner, I
<br /> think, which is the State, gotta kind of get the guidelines first. What do they want done with the
<br /> property?
<br /> ONISHL So two years ago we had a bill in order to develop a planning committee for Banyan
<br /> Drive at the State level through DLNR. I didn't see the County, if I'm not mistaken, there to
<br /> testify in support. The idea was to set up a committee, a planning committee, for ten years that
<br /> would be required to come up with a master plan in two years, and then have eight years to begin
<br /> to explore how to execute the master plan. I didn't see this agency, I didn't see the County
<br /> Planning Commission, or Planning Department, or the Mayor's Office testify in support of that
<br /> bill even though it reached the floor of the House for final reading, I mean the Senate, and then
<br /> got tabled. So, you know, it's not like we haven't been trying to do something. And as Gordon
<br /> mentioned, the Legislature has appropriated money a number of times to do studies on planning
<br /> for Banyan Drive. You know, it's not like we're not trying to do something, but the problem is
<br /> with the development of this agency comes into conflict with the requirement of the State to
<br /> move forward with coming up with a real plan. So, I think at this point what we're deferring to
<br /> is to the County to come up with the plan, put it through the approval processes that the County's
<br /> required to do, and the State Land Board, and then the Legislature can look at the funding aspect
<br /> of it. But until that happens, we're in limbo too. We don't know what you guys want to execute,
<br /> we don't know what the Department's willing to execute. Department has come up with a ten
<br /> million dollar proposal to tear down Uncle Billy's; I don't see the Legislature acting on it. So,
<br /> you know, I mean again, until we get some clarification on who's going to take the lead, which
<br /> agency, I don't see the Legislature really addressing it in a meaningful way. So, again, but
<br /> that's, you know, my opinion. I've been trying to push this whole thing through the last few
<br /> years and nothing has happened. You know, even the last bill we provided that the Legislature
<br /> passed is really not going to do anything for Banyan Drive unless one of the current month-to-
<br /> month lessees can convince the Board that through that bill they're willing to put in a bunch of
<br /> money and they're going to get a new lease. But, you know, I mean that's up to the Land Board
<br /> to make that decision, so.
<br /> And I really apologize for leaving you guys like this, but I'm sorry, I do have another meeting I
<br /> gotta attend to so. I appreciate you giving me the opportunity to speak. And more than happy to
<br /> continue the discussion.
<br /> GADDIS: Thank you for coming, Mr. Onishi. There anyone else want to follow up on that?
<br /> YEE: You know, I hear Representative Onishi. Two years ago, or you know, for the Leg in
<br /> 2017, it started when I had been in this job for two weeks. There were many things on my plate
<br /> and getting up to speed on what needed to be testified on. After a year on my belt, I was there
<br /> last year, I was in Honolulu testifying for the County on Banyan Drive. So, you know, that's just
<br /> the reality of that situation. I think, I'm disappointed to hear that Representative Onishi feels as
<br /> if it's 100 percent on the County to have to put up for funding for an EIS. Cause part of what,
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<br /> Banyan Drive Hawaii Redevelopment Agency
<br /> September 24,2018 Minutes
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