2018-11-07 Hearing Transcript - William Quinn (Pahoa Farm & Garden) SPP 18-199

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CLARKSON: If there are no further questions, thank you. We have, I guess we'll do public testimony now. We have three people signed up: Jon Olson, Rene Siracusa, and James Ozone. James may have left, so two people. Raise your right hand please, sir. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth on this matter before the Commission today? OLSON/SIRACUSA: I do. CLARKSON: Please introduce yourself and proceed. SIRACUSA: Age before beauty. OLSON: Just barely. SIRACUSA: Okay, my name is Rene Siracusa, and I am president of Ma Lama O Puna which is an environmental non-profit focusing on the Puna District. But, we also have a strong agricultural support component in our exempt purpose, and that's why I'm here today in support of our local agriculture. To my mind, a Special Permit shouldn't even be required. We're looking at ag land, and we're looking at an applicant who for 19 years has provided, been providing and enabling ag support products and services to the local community. I have been a consumer of the product. I have been a client of Pahoa Feed & Fertilizer which is the business that it's been going under, the name that it's been going under before and now it's going to, as it moves, it's going to change the name to Pahoa Farm & Garden. It's the same thing. It's the same—it's a family business. When I was, before I retired and I was operating my farm pretty much full-time, granted a lot of the big shopping I did in Hilo, but when I needed so small items, just like a wormer for my goats, you know, I would go down to Pahoa Feed & Fertilizer. When, I would get a lot of cinder from them, I would get a lot of mac nut compost from them. I bought flower pots for my nursery, and feed for my animals. They were and still are a well-rounded provider to the community of the needs of nurseries, farms, ranches, and home gardeners. To me, that says, ag. It's very clear that that's what they do, is ag. They're not selling umbrellas; they're not selling dresses. You know, they're not cutting people's hair. They are providing agricultural services and products. Most of those are generated right here on this island because they, they buy from local importers. Granted, stuff comes from the mainland. Hey, we're an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Everything ultimately comes from the mainland, including us. So, one mainland or another, anyway. So, just to say that because some items that they, that they sell are originally—are originally produced on the mainland is a reason to say that they're not an agricultural resource to our community or I think is a logical inconsistency. Now, almost all of the Planning Director's objections that I saw on the screen are based on what I consider to be an inaccurate designation of the applicament. He's being designated as a commercial activity rather than an agricultural activity. And, the objections are based on the laws governing commercial activities. But, if he was a nursery, he would still be selling EXHIBIT E 14