2018-11-07 Hearing Transcript - Hilo One Inc. REZ 18-228

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We did all the proper notices and what not. I haven't gotten any phone calls from anybody. I'm not saying there isn't some folks here to talk about it, but haven't gotten any personal phone calls. Like I say, relatively straightforward. I think this is needed. There's not many lots available in Hilo. It's challenged. And with not much availability, it doesn't help our housing situation out. So this is a prime project in a good area that has all the infrastructure that we would need that would be very good for our community. And with that I'll leave it to Mr. Higashi to make any further comments. HIGASHI: Yes, we've reviewed the comments and conditions by the Planning Commission, Planning Director, and we accept all those conditions as provided to us as amended. Just like to say that I was the developer for Waiakea Fairways, as far as the pent up demand in Hilo, we did 49 lots, we did it in an affordable manner, and those lots sold out in 3 weeks. I mean there were people who, while we were developing, were inquiring. But we sold that, in three weeks we were sold out, so, there's some interest in displays because people's seen the sign, seen the surveyors, they've been calling us and saying "hey, we're interested," but we haven't taken any names yet, but I think in Hilo proper there are not too many new developments of Residential - 15,000 square feet. I think there's Hillside Development that's going on; that's a one -acre subdivision. So in Hilo, there's a pent up demand, in our opinion. So I'm an experienced developer. Just to let you know, I've done ten subdivisions already. Mostly Hilo area. We try to keep it as affordable as possible. The one thing that drives up the cost is government expenses. We have fair share, we have housing commitments, we have time lag, so in this case this project is moving pretty rapidly and we appreciate that. By the way, you asked about what that land was used for? That young man that was sitting in the back here, he's the dependent of the owner. He's the son of the previous owner. And Mr. Higa was a farmer. He moved from Okinawa. When he moved here a lot of that Waiakea area was done by Okinawan's and were doing farming in that area, but they haven't done that for like 30 years. So, he was the last son and he inherited the last piece. CLARKSON: Are there any questions for the Applicant from anybody on the Commission? REPLOGLE: I have one. It wouldn't have worked to make a 3 -acre subdivision and encouraged farming? Small farming or? I understand Hilo's housing crisis, and I guess at some point there'll be houses all over the island. HIGASHI: Yeah. REPLOGLE: Where do we protect our ag lands? That's what I ask. HIGASHI: John, my opinion is that to farm in an area where it's urban, we have all the houses around. If I raise pigs, horses, I mean, I use fertilizer, contaminants. It's not conducive to the area. Yeah? So, I think the highest and best use is still a residential. KERN: Thank you. And from a planning perspective, you can look at the State Land Use as Urban. That's where they want to see the urban growth go. And then when you look at the EXHIBIT F 4