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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-07-01 Windward Exh A (Public Testimony re SPP 12-138) WINDWARD PLANNING COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAII TESTIMONY TRANSCRIPT JULY 1, 2021 Public testimony regarding the application of CONNECTIONS NEW CENTURY PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL/COMMUNITY BASED EDUCATION SUPPORT SERVICES (CBESS) (SPP 12-000138) was called to order at 9:17 a.m. via live stream online meeting, with Chairman John Replogle presiding. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Dean Au, Joseph Clarkson, Dennis Lin, John Replogle ABSENT AND EXCUSED: Gilbert Aguinaldo, Michelle Galimba RECUSED: Thomas Raffipiy ALSO IN ATTENDANCE: Malia Hall, Esq. (Counsel for the Commission), Jean Campbell, Esq. (Counsel for the Planning Department), Jeffrey Darrow (Deputy Planning Director), Maija Jackson (Planning Program Manager), and Melissa Dacayanan-Salvador (Windward Planning Commission Secretary) APPLICANT: CONNECTIONS NEW CENTURY PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL/ COMMUNITY BASED EDUCATION SUPPORT SERIVES (CBESS) (SPP 12-000138) DISCUSSION ONLY: Executive Session to consult the Commission's attorney on questions and issues pertaining to the Commission's powers, duties, privileges, immunities and liabilities concerning Intermediate Court of Appeals' January 31, 2020 Memorandum Opinion vacating the County of Hawaii Windward Planning Commission's May 12, 2014 Decision and Order, which denied Special Permit SPP No. 12-000138, and remanding the Special Permit SPP No. 12- 000138 back to the Windward Planning Commission for further proceedings consistent with its Memorandum Opinion. The subject Special Permit sought to develop a K to 12 charter school campus with dorm facilities and related uses on approximately 70 acres of land situated in the State Land Use Agricultural District. The property is located on both the southwest and northeast sides of Edita Street near its intersection with Kaumana Drive and adjoining the Pacific Plantation Subdivision in Kaumana, South Hilo, Hawaii, TMK: 2-5-006:141. Secretary's Note: "—" indicates indiscernible speech due to internet/technical difficulties or simultaneous talk. REPLOGLE: First testifier, Mr. Stephen Wong. WONG: Hello? 1 EXHIBIT A REPLOGLE: Hello, Mr. Wong? WONG: Yes, this is Mr. Wong. REPLOGLE: Okay, I'm going to have to swear you in again because you did not get say, you didn't get to do it. WONG: Okay. REPLOGLE: Please raise your right hand, do you swear to affirm to tell the truth before the Windward Planning Commission? WONG: I do. REPLOGLE: Okay, thank you and before you start, state your name and the town you live in prior to your testimony. You may begin when you are ready. WONG: My name is Stephen Wong and I live in Hilo, Hawaii. REPLOGLE: Okay. You are testifying on Connections? WONG: Yes. REPLOGLE: Okay, you may begin. WONG: Okay, so, I'd like to state that the first thing is I'm not one of the good old boys of Hilo, I'm just a regular guy. Second, I want you to take just 5 seconds and listen. You noticed how quiet it is, it is really quiet, you only hear the birds up here. And also, we have 5 schools in a 4-mile radius Hilo Union, Hilo Intermediate, Hilo High, DeSilva and Kaumana Elementary School. Do we need a, do we really need another school and a dorm up here? And also, the infrastructure, the water, the sewer, the roads, can that handle that many more people up here? And I also have questions with this school. A while back one of the teachers, I guess he's a teacher, told me that they were going to build a farm and I asked him "what they going to do with the pigs"because there's a lot of pigs in that property. And he told me he's going to shoot um'. Now this is not a hunting area, this a residential area and that's his mindset is that he's gonna shoot them. And also, earlier this year I see 4 students from that school going by in the property with their all-terrain vehicle, 4 of um', sitting in there, no social distancing and next thing you know the school is shut down because of COVID-19. I mean what kind of practice does this school do, I mean. But my real concern is to you know it's so quiet up here. And that's all I gotta say. Thank you. REPLOGLE: Thank you, thank you Mr. Wong. I believe the Commission is going to go into Executive Session now, and when that is done the Commissioners may have some questions for you regarding your testimony so, if you can hang on till we're done with that, please. 2 EXHIBIT A WONG: Aw, you froze up. REPLOGLE: I froze up? So, I will repeat it for you. The Commission is going to go in — HALL: John, sorry. REPLOGLE: Yes. HALL: There will be no questions today for that. REPLOGLE: Okay. HALL: We are only going into executive session, if Mr. Wong would like to come to next hearing, then, you know you guys can ask him questions if you have questions at that time. WONG: Okay, so. REPLOGLE: Okay. WONG: You folks have a date for the next hearing? HALL: Uh' not at this moment, most likely it will be next month but, um'just look out for the agenda and it will be posted in the paper as well as online on the County calendar. WONG: Okay or somebody can send me an email too? HALL: Yes. WONG: Okay, thank you very much. REPLOGLE: Thank you Mr. Wong. WONG: Okay, bye. REPLOGLE: Bye. The public testimony ended at 9:21 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Melissa Dacayanan-Salvador Secretary to Boards and Commissions 3 EXHIBIT A