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Murashige, Laura GCM 1. I ICI
From: Tom Liberty konalibert mail.com
Sent: Friday, April 01, 2011 8:50 AM
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: Testimony for Resolution 45 -11
Aloha Council Members,
I would like to comment on the proposed approval of a variance to the sign application, Resolution 45-
11, before you. My concern is that even with a previous approval (or not) on the larger Borders sign is
not a carryover for approval of Resolution 45 -11. If allowing this variance is approved, it will open the
door for others to seek relief on the sign code requirements as well. I watched the committee meeting on
TV and was shocked that the fact that Maryl has had their real estate office in that building for years,
something like 10 years and has survived without the benefit of highway frontage signage for that time
period. That being said, it would not be fair to all other real estate businesses that are hindered but the
ability to grossly oversize their signs (based on Sing code requirements) to offer the same services.
Please bear in mind that the real estate industry already has a broad latitude of signage allowed for open
houses and on parcels/buildings offered for sale. This variance is to attract potential customers to their
office. The need for allowing this signage is diminished in this day and age, with the electronic accesses
with GPS and mapping programs. Maryl as well as all other real estate businesses have their name,
location and contact information on each of the "for sale" signs littered about on properties offered for
sale. Since almost everybody has cell phones, a simple call would allow directions. At the same time,
with the limited signage allowed, this sign would "eat up" the allowable maximum sign and other
tenants of the same building would not be able to have the same opportunity to expose their businesses
as Maryl would monopolize the signage allowance and then some. Borders was the anchor tenant with
the largest lease area so it made since that Borders had the highway frontage signage. What will happen
if a new tenant leases the soon to be vacant Borders tenant space? Will council allow additional signage
variances? Again, Maryl has occupied space in this building for over 10 years and survived without
highway frontage signage.
Thank you for your time on this matter.
Tom Liberty
Kailua Kona
Aloha,
Tom Liberty
808 - 333 -4003
Comm. No. / / �.
Ref. To•'► ►ed C.wrci •
Ref. Dote APR 6 2011
4/4/2011