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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-11-07 Hearing Transcript - HI Island Veterans Memorial Inc. Amend REZ 06-051WINDWARD PLANNING COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAII HEARING TRANSCRIPT NOVEMBER 7, 2018 A regularly advertised hearing on the application of HAWAII ISLAND VETERANS MEMORIAL, INC. (AMEND REZ 06-000051) was called to order at 9:52 a.m. in the County of Hawaii Aupuni Center Conference Room, 101 Pauahi Street, Hilo, Hawaii with Chairman Joseph Clarkson presiding. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Gilbert Aguinaldo, Joseph Clarkson, Donald Ikeda, Thomas Raffipiy, John Replogle. ABSENT & EXCUSED: Donn Dela Cruz. ALSO PRESENT: Michael Yee (Planning Director), Malia Hall (Deputy Corporation Counsel for the Windward Planning Commission), Jeff Darrow (Planning Program Manager), Maija Jackson (Planner), Christian Kay (Planner), Sarah Hata-Finley (Commission Secretary), and Kim Tanaka (Secretary). And 25 members from the public in attendance. APPLICANT: HAWAII ISLAND VETERANS MEMORIAL, INC. (AMEND REZ 06-000051) Application to amend Condition B (Water Commitment), Condition C (Complete Construction), and Condition F (Install Street Lights and Traffic Controls) of Change of Zone Ordinance No. 07 26, which reclassified 4.888 acres from an Open (0) to a Multiple Family Residential — 1,000 square feet (RM -1) zoning district in 2006. The property is located at the north corner of the Kawili Street and Kapi`olani Street intersection, Waiakea, South Hilo, Hawaii, TMK: (3) 2-4- 057:029, portion of 030 and portion of 031. CLARKSON: The next item on the agenda is Hawaii Island Veteran's Memorial, Inc., application to amend certain conditions from a previous zoning change. JACKSON: All right. The next application is a request from Hawaii Island Veteran's Memorial, Inc. to amend Change of Zone Ordinance 07 26. The subject property is located in the Hilo District. It's generally shown in this location here by a red dot in the middle of the slide, and it's located just north of Kawili Street and a little bit east ofI'm sorry, a little bit west of Kino`ole Street. The area shown here in purple is the University of Hawaii at Hilo Campus. All right, so Change of Zone Ordinance No. 07 26 was adopted in 2007 by the County Council to rezone about four acres of land from Open to a Multiple Family Residential —1,000 square foot zoning district. And, they did that for the purpose of developing a 6,200—square foot veterans' EXHIBIT C center, a 15,000 -square foot multi-purpose community center, and about 96 to 110 independent living apartment units for senior affordable housing with preference given to veterans and spouses of veterans. There—since 2007 when the ordinance was adopted, the Applicant has found another development entity, and they can explain more about that to you, but there's basically two major components of developing the property. One is the affordable housing and one is the veterans' center community-based, outpatient clinic. So, in order to implement the two components of the project, the Applicant is requesting to amend Conditions B, C, and F. Condition B required submittal of a water commitment payment to the Department of Water Supply by September of 2007. Water commitments have been secured for Parcels 29 and 31. This is to support the veterans' center outpatient clinic project; however, the Applicant has not yet secured water commitments for parcel 30. That's the location of the proposed affordable housing project. The payment would be the responsibility of the new development entity that will develop the affordable housing project. So, the Applicant's request was to amend Condition B to make the water commitment payable for parcel 30 upon securing financing by the affordable housing developer. Their second request is a time extension. Condition C required construction to be completed of the entire development by March 20th of 2012. The Applicant requests to amend the condition to allow an additional ten years from the effective date of the amended ordinance. They have made steady progress. They've completed a few different important project components. They actually constructed a driveway off of Kawili Street into, that will service the primary access to the veterans' center project and then also service another access to the affordable housing project. They've also done a lot of pre -planning and site plan development. So, they have made steady progress in the last 11 years. They are requesting the additional time to secure financing and to continue the permitting process. And, then their last request is to amend condition—actually delete Condition F. Condition F required the Applicant to design, purchase, and install streetlights and traffic controls as may be required by Department of Public Works. They are requesting to delete the condition because they spoke with Department of Public Works staff, and during that conversation, they said that staff agreed that entrance lights and traffic control measures would not be required for the project since the streetlights and traffic controls already exist at the intersection of Kawili Street and Kapi`olani Street. This is in close proximity to both of the project driveways. And, let's back up. So, this is the Applicant's site plan. It shows their overall development plan. Just for orientation, Kapi`olani Street is on the left side of the slide. You have Ululani Street on the north side and then Kawili Street on the bottom of the slide. So, the driveway entrance that already exists that they did construct located in this location here. This will service the primary access to the future veterans' center outpatient clinic which is, will be located on the east side of the property. Then you have a parking lot, and then you have the entrance into the affordable housing project which you can see the various apartment units kind of a reverse L shape here. Then we have parking with another access that will serve the affordable housing project and community center on Kapi`olani Street. On the bottom of the slide, you see in this location here EXHIBIT C 2 is the future community center. And, then there will be another access all the way up to the top out towards Ululani Street. And, then I have some close-up views of the various project components. So, this is a zoomed in view of the veterans' center, community-based, outpatient clinic. You see that Kawili Street on the bottom, the entrance into and then like a loop driveway out of the site with the parking on the left side. The—it will be one structure. There will be a waiting room, quite a few exam rooms in this location here, a conference room, restrooms, break room, and then on the bottom of the slide are the offices associated with the veterans' center. This is a view of the proposed community center, and so you have a patio area that kind of separates two structures. One will have a multi-purpose room and a kitchen facility. There will be restrooms, some storage and office building or office rooms, and then the other side is like a gathering area that will have a TV, computer, some tables, and then a little fitness center in this location here. And, then the nextoh, I'm sorry, I thought I had a close-up view of the affordable housing, but I don't. So, the County zoning for the property is Multi[ple]-Family Residential – 1,000 square feet. That's shown in the brown. As I mentioned earlier, the University is located just across Kapi`olani Street to the west which is shown in the purple. And, then you have a mix of Single - Family zoning which is shown in the yellow further to the east across Kino`ole Street. To the south is the Waiakea School campus. And, the General Plan designation of the property is High Density Urban, which allows high density residential single-family and multi -family residential use as well as community uses. This is an aerial view of the photo [sic]. Again, you have Kapi`olani Street on the west side; Kawili Street on the south side. That one driveway entrance would be generally located I believe in this area here. Another entrance off of Kapi`olani Street in this location, and then a connection to Ululani Street on the north end. The property is currently vacant. This is a view of the property looking towards the UH Campus, so towards the west; and the property is on this side here with the big tree. And, a view looking the other way. The truck is parked in that existing driveway entrance. This is a view of Kapi`olani Street, so the University would be just off the slide here, and then the subject property is located on the left side. The Planning Director is recommending a favorable recommendation for the time extension request and an unfavorable recommendation to amend Condition B and F, and I'll explain that briefly. So, we did get a comment letter back from Department of Water Supply and Department of Public Works regarding Condition B and F. So, the way Condition B works is our Zoning Code concurrency requirements say that anytime you apply for a Change of Zone or a time extension to a Change of Zone, we have to ensure that water is available to support that zoning change, and that requires that the Applicant secure water commitments from Water Supply. We've received a letter from Water Supply saying that because commitments haven't been secured for the affordable housing project, that there is no guarantee that water can be made available until they secure those commitments. EXHIBIT C 3 So, we understand that the Applicant wants to have a little more time in order for that affordable housing development entity to secure financing, but if more time is granted beyond like the normal 180 days, we are concerned that it won't meet concurrency requirements and water may not be available to actually build the affordable housing project. Regarding Condition F, we got a memo from Department of Public Works saying that they would like to keep that condition in and not delete it because they want to be able to look at the Applicant's construction plans to see whether or not street lighting would be needed to illuminate the future driveway entrances. The current plan we have before you is a conceptual plan. The driveway locations may change slightly, and so that's why Department of Public Works doesn't want to remove the condition until they know exactly where those driveways will be located. So those are the two reasons for the unfavorable recommendation. And, that concludes my presentation. I'd be happy to answer any questions. CLARKSON: Any questions from the Commission for staff? AGUINALDO: I do have one, CommiI mean, on the public facility and services, item 21, water system, it states here, "County water is available to the property via an 8 -inch waterline within Kawili Street. The applicant has paid the water commitment fee to provide water for the CVC/CBOC project and is....." As far as those fees, so that fees is paid and additional fees again? JACKSON: Yeah, so the veterans' center community outpatient project, that component, the water commitment fees have been paid, and they have water commitments secured. It's the affordable housing component that has not secured those water commitments. AGUINALDO: Thank you. CLARKSON: There being no further questions, thank you. Will the Applicant and/or their representative please come forward? Would you please, if you can, raise your right hand? All of you. Anyone who is going to testify. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth on this matter before the Commission today? OHASHL Yes, we do. WILLIAMS: I do. GUSHIKEN: Yes. CLARKSON: Please, whoever is going to begin first, introduce yourself and proceed. OHASHL Yes, Mr. Chairman, Commissioners, Maija, thank you very much for this opportunity. My name is Yukie Ohashi. I'm a planning consultant to the Applicant. I worked on the project in 2006, 2007 at the very start along with Lt. Colonel Bob Williams here, and we secured the permits at that time. Since that time, I've seen HIVM work diligently towards EXHIBIT C 4 securing a partner to develop the housing component and so Ms. Marian Gushiken is here from EAH. She will be speaking about the housing component. With regard to the recommendation, so we have read and discussed the recommendations of the Planning Director, and, yes, we appreciate the extension to ten years. Then, with regard to the other two conditions, I'd just like to explain that initially, when HIVM came in with this project, they held the lease for all three parcels. The two parcels, the parcel that the CVC/CBOC or the Combined Veterans Center and the Community -Based Outpatient Clinic is to be built on as well as the Ululani Street extension which is going to be used just for access and also the third parcel, the larger parcel where housing is going to be held. So, HIVM held the lease for all three parcels. Since acquiring a housing development partner, the leases have been changed, so, yes, the water commitment was paid for the CVC/CBOC properties. Now, the lease for the housing component has gone through the process. We have received the approval of the BLNR to transfer the lease for the third larger parcel where housing is to be built, and that is in process of being executed. So, that lease has been approved by the BLNR and is going to be transferred to EAH. EAH has not been in a position, not being the leaseholder, to pay that commitment. So, we are very close to getting an executed lease for the housing parcel, and at that point, EAH will be in a position as the leaseholder to make the payment of the water commitment deposit. Now, with regard to the Traffic Division's comment, it was our misunderstanding that streetlights for illumination, we misunderstood that to be traffic signals. Big difference. So, there's a traffic signal at the intersection of Kino`ole and Kawili and also at Kawili and Kapi`olani. Our driveway will be approximately half way between the two, and so because of our misunderstanding, we request that this condition to be deleted. Anyway, any—shall I WILLIAMS: —Well, we withdraw that, yes. Chairman Clarkson and Members of the Planning Commission, staff, Corp. Counsel, members of the public, thank you. Bob Williams is my name. I've been project manager for this for ten, twelve years. Long time in the pipeline coming and hallelujah, it's there. Just to clarify one thing. We're talking about a total parcel here that includes 5.6 acres. It's the upper tmk which extends all the way back to the tail end of Ululani Street and also where there is a water source back there. That's all earmarked for housing for EAH develop—our partner. The other sandwich little strip parcels are 60 -foot wide roadway easement which is actually a County property that we added to or leased once we got the executive orders for the upper parcel. And, then the lower parcel which at the time was about .9 acres, subsequently, we did a parcel consolidation, the old abandoned roadway easement to our makai, on the makai side, and so it gave us about a sum total of about an acre plus to do a 10,600 -square foot facility that we have already completed the design and engineering plans for. I've got a shovel ready to go minus zoning, and that parcel, just addressing those lower two parcels now, that consist of about an acre half and that parcel will ideally be built by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the VA. We—that was our preferred developer and who we intended to build that for. By the way, we also put in two sewer taps on the driveway, and we also put in—we also have a sewer tap for our lower parcel, so we got the sewers completed. They are all roughed in. We got EXHIBIT C 5 the water commitment, of course. We just need to bring electric over, and we're ready to roll the lower parcel. The lower parcel, as I say, is intended for the DVA. The DVA has finally agreed to put in a concept which is to consolidate their health arm along with their other service arm here in—and I'll clarify this in a moment—and to put `em all in one location would make sense, so we agreed to do that. At that end, we've helped lobby politically and for legisla—for appropriations, and they have been awarded, according to Senator Schatz, they've been awarded—whose on the appropriations committee—they've been awarded $10 million to do a consolidated CBOC and combined veterans' center on that lower parcel. No, well no, that period. They will put that out as an RFP. They'll go out for a competitive bid which we welcome, and when we get that RFP which we're looking for, but they're so slow getting us all together, we then think we'll have, we think we'll have abe in a strong position to say we got a development partner. If they still continue to do as they've done, we also have several non-profit health care providers to also partner with, and they would provide then medical outpatient clinic services to a larger community to include the general community and veterans can access that through what is known as the veterans' choice program. One further clarification I should tell you. We talk about veterans on this island. We're talking about 25,000 people, more or less. Not to mention the reserve components, troops that made multiple deployments. You know, the reserve units and the National Guard units some of which who are already forward deploying again. So, we got a large community of all ages and all generations. We've addressed this, too. We got involved with this because we saw all this diverse population of veterans and there was a proliferation of veteran services scattered here and there, impossible to find, constantly changing storefronts, and so we created our this was, the organization was created not by me, but others. The—address the situation, so we're essentially a non-profit developer, that's what we are. We're not a service, veterans' service organization like Purple Heart or Marine Core League or all those units. So, what we have from the Department of Veterans Affairs, currently we have a community- based outpatient clinic, an outpatient clinic by any other name, and that's located currently up across from the hospital in an awkward location, not a bus stop, on an expired lease, in a facility owned by Hilo Medical Center. [Inaudible] but they don't, they just keep kicking the can down the road so yeah, yeah, well, finally they're in gear to get out of there now, and that's one arm. The other arm is what is known as the vet center program, totally separate bureaucracy from within the Veterans Administration, and they're located as an after -thought behind a dentist office over on Lanihuli Street which is mauka of Hilo Shopping Center. Impossible to find, and with cars all jammed up and parked on the streets in there in a, you know, a RM -1 type neighborhood. So, we're saying we're going to put most of it together in one facility, and VA finally agreed to do that. We're, they're going to put out an RFP for this, and we think we're going to be in a pretty good position. Once we get our zoning and we'll be shovel ready with our lower project with this. We designed that project with Fleming Associates Architect, Engineering Partners, an EXHIBIT C 6 engineering services firm here in town, and basically, and all have been plan approved by the DPW, Department of Public Works. So, we'll have shovel ready plans ready to roll for that. The water commitments, once we have our zoning, we are shovel ready. We'll get Final Plan Approval on this. So, we're basically prepared to offer the VA a set of plans and say you're ready to go, let's go, with no acquisition fee and a long-term lease. We got a long-term lease for VAH housing, 65 -year renewable lease. That's a sweet spot on a $1 million appropriated piece of property sitting up there, and we'll get a long-term lease from the Council, I'm confident of on the lower parcel once we have a development partner. So, hopefully that clarifies the whole it's a bigger than a 4.88 parcel—that was the original parcel that was zoned, you know, and now we're addressing the zoning on that. I don't know if that creates more confusion then it answers, but if you have questions, I'm happy to field them. Questions? Do you want to elaborate on that? CLARKSON: Let's hear about the WILLIAMS: Housing CLARKSON: The housing. WILLIAMS: So, I'm happy, I'm also happy first of all, I should say, or happy to have Yukie Ohashi out of retirement again, probably the best planning consultant in Hawaii, and anyway, I'm really happy to have formed, also to have developed an ideal partner who I learned about in Pacific Business News, when I realized who are these EAH characters who are out here doing housing all over the State, well not really in Kauai, in Oahu. They're very well regarded and `lo and behold, we've partnered up with them and happily, too. Marian Gushiken, who is the director of development for EAH, to be a local girl who grew up in Mohouli Street and whose parents are, you know, ideal candidates for a housing facility like this. I'm not by the way. I'll be over income. So, I won't—without further ado, Marian Gushiken, take the floor here. GUSHIKEN: Thank you, Bob. Good morning, everyone. We are very excited to be here. I think as we've all mentioned, it's been a long road for us, especially for HIVM, so we are particularly excited to be at this juncture, and for EAH, we'll just starting although it has been about a few years since HIVM first approached us about an interest in pursuing the affordable housing component of this development. EAH is a non-profit housing development and management company. We were just celebrating our 50th anniversary this year. We came to Hawaii back in 1996 at the invitation of HUD to preserve some affordable units that were HUD financed on Oahu that were at risk of converting to market rate uses. So, back in '96, we acquired nearly 500 units and have owned and operated them as affordable housing ever since then, and since that time have also been expanding our development activities in this State. So, we're excited to be here on the Big Island. It would be our first project here. Just to sort of confirm the statement that Yukie made with respect to Condition B, the genesis of that request to defer the water commitment payment came from really the mismatch between the timing of the ground lease that we would have and the need to make the payment at the time. So, as Yukie mentioned, now that the executive orders have been revised and we've negotiated the ground lease with the County, and that's as I understand almost imminent as far as execution, EXHIBIT C 7 we'll be in a position to have the site control and then we'll be, it should be no issue to pay the water commitment fee within the 180 -day time frame that's required. So, that's no issue. Just a little bit with respect to the housing, the site plan showed, it will be a little bit different I think when we're all said and done but we're looking at between 90 to 95 units of affordable senior rental housing, one -bedroom units, in that L-shaped configuration. We do intend to have a community center that services both our residents as well as the multi-purpose room that would be available to both the residents as well as members of the public. We would have clusters of buildings throughout the site with open space throughout that, so tenants can traverse the site from the bottom to the top. The entry ways that were shown are, we're staying consisting with, so they'll be the main entry that we share with HIVM's group at Kawili Street. It's a right -in, right -out turn that we're planning. There would also be another entry at the Kapi`olani Street side, kind of at the top of the parcel that we own or lease, and then also on the Ululani Street extension site. So, we're still in final stages of refining that site plan and then as I understand it, we'll be back in front of you for final plan review at the appropriate time. The rental housing that we're intending to development, of course, would be affordable to households at 60 percent or below, but we also, because of HIVM's involvement, are making about 10 percent of the units available to a higher income bracket, so 80 percent, and that was specifically to target veterans who might be on a 100 percent disability payments. So, that would actually kick them over the 60 percent limits. So, we've now incorporated a small component of the project to serve folks at that 80 percent AMI band. And, we'd be happy to answer any questions you might have. CLARKSON: Well, let me just start out by trying to resolve some confusion. Are you actually now then withdrawing your request to amend Conditions B and F? OHASHL Yes. CLARKSON: Okay, so any further questions for the Applicant? REPLOGLE: I sort of do. I understand about the water, but what about the lighting? Are you going to put in the lights or isn't that a condition? GUSHIKEN: As we understand it, the condition is that Public Works would review or Traffic would review it at the time that the construction plans are submitted. So, we're willing to REPLOGLE: —Okay, I see what you mean. WILLIAMS: And, we have two construction plans. Theirs and also the veterans' center, and so, yeah, that entranceway on Kawili would be one critical one for sure, but probably all entranceways, and it would probably need entrance illumination, well that some overhead, curb lights, will impact curb lights. REPLOGLE: Okay. EXHIBIT C WILLIAMS: To be determined. REPLOGLE: I understand. WILLIAMS: Yeah. REPLOGLE: Thank you. WILLIAMS: Sure. AGUINALDO: Mr. Chair, I have a question. For the affordable housing and we're talking about lease, what is, you know, how long more in order for you guys to secure the lease? Secondly is are you guys planning to do the construction phase, you know, all at once as far as the affordable housing, the veterans' center? WILLIAMS: Staggered I would imagine. It all depends on finance as you know. So, Marian can speak to financing for the housing. I can speak to financing for the veterans' center. AGUINALDO: Right. And, as far as for the lease, is—I know you guys are talking about securing the lease. How long more? Because water is an issue, yeah? No water, no building. WILLIAMS: Well, the Corp. Counsel, the County was shut yesterday, so I have a call into Joe Kamelamela and all saying where are the documents that are for Harry Kim to sign? And, I, presumably, those documents went from the DLNR, BLNR, they went to the Corp. Counsel who was the action agency for the County, and it just prepares the—for what a perfect, you know, format, so then the Mayor signs that. The Mayor is supposed to sign this. They're here in the County somewhere. We can't locate the documents frankly. That's for EAH's lease. We have our lease. OHASHL Yes, HIVM lease document is in your, in your papers there. So, and then there's also a draft of the EAH or HKI lease. Now that is, I believe the language is the same. This is a lease that went to BLNR and is on route back to the County for execution by the Mayor. So, and the housing lease is now a 65 -year lease. WILLIAMS: Renewable. AGUINALDO: Mm-hmm. Thank you. WILLIAMS: Yes, a 65 -year renewable, and it—and the lease, approved lease by the BLNR is here in the County, in the County administration somewhere. Not sure. After this meeting is over, I'll go to Corp. Counsel. In fact, Malia, is there, can you do that for us? Could you check on that fact `cause I do believe—I've called Ron Kim, and I've called Joe Kamelamela and said hey, you seen your BLNR lease documents? Where are there? They're here. The land agent from DLNR says no they're here, they're at the County. We just can't find them. EXHIBIT C 9 CLARKSON: Okay, so it—based on my understanding of the testimony, the transfer of the lease is imminent. WILLIAMS: Yes. CLARKSON: And, regardless of that, they're withdrawing their application for an amendment to Condition B. HALL: And F. CLARKSON: And F. Are there any further questions? If not, thank you. We'll take public testimony. RAFFIPIY: Mr. Chairman, I just want to, I'd like to make a comment on this subject. I just want to let you know that I myself am a veteran. I'm a member, I'm a life member of Post 3875 VFW, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and I use the service of CBOC and the vet center. And, I know it's frustrating. It is very frustrating when you go there, and in the vet center, there's no parking. Really no—you know that you going one way and come out the other way, and you go in and there's only a handful of parking and so many veterans that they need to utilize. Same as up there, CBOC. You go up to CBOC across from the hospital, and a lot of times, you go up there and there's not enough parking and then you have a lot of disabled veterans. They gotta go park across the street and try to cross that, Waianuenue, coming across to go to CBOC, and every time I look at it, I thought it was a very disgrace—you know, from the point of, you know, Hawaii taking care of their veterans. That we cannot have one place where the veterans they can go and get all the care that they need, and to even have the housing right next to the CBOC, I think that's, it's really good. A lot of us veterans we go, we volunteer in the schools to go read to the children and how nice it is to be right across the school that you can just walk across and go and mentor and work with the children across the street in the school, Waiakea Elementary School and High School. So, thank you very much. I know this has been a long hall and appreciate, sir, Colonel Williams, Bob, for, you know, I know you've been very steadfast in all, navigating the bureaucracy to bring this project to this point. So, thank you very much, and thank you very much for EAH for coming up and stepping up and partner up with our volunteers to provide the housing development. So, I'll vote, Mr. Chairman, in favor of this project. CLARKSON: Well, before we make a commitment, we need to hear from the public who wishes to testify. Thank you. Please be seated, and we'll proceed now with public testimony. Two people have signed up to testify, Ken Fujimoto and Jeremy Kelley. Would you both please come forward? Please raise your right hand. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth on this matter before the Commission today? FUJIMOTO/KELLEY: I do. CLARKSON: Either one of you, whoever is proceeding, introduce yourself and then proceed with your testimony, please. EXHIBIT C 10 FUJIMOTO: Thank you. Good morning, everyone. My name is Ken Fujimoto. I come before you as not only as a board member of HIVMI, but also importantly as a veteran. I served in the U.S. Army from 1963 to 1966. I fought in the Vietnam War as a helicopter crew chief. In 1964, I was wounded transporting South Vietnamese troops into battle, and because of my injury, I rely heavily on the community-based, outpatient clinic or CBOC. And, I look at it this way. As the County has done with the ADRC, I'd like to see a similar situation for the veterans where we can have a one-stop shop. We can have our medical taken care of and go to the other side and have our other—if we have any questions on other veteran issues or filing claims, we would have that. And, if possible, maybe an office for one of the veteran service organizations with their service officers which a lot of veterans are more comfortable with that instead of going direct to the VA. So, and that would be nice because for now, to get our medical services, we run all the way up Waianuenue, and to get other veteran services, we gotta run all the way down to Lanihuli Street, and as was reported by Mr. Raffipiy, there's always hardly any parking, and it's frustrating at times, but we carry on and hope in the future they'll be a better situation. And as for the housing component, an affordable senior rental apartment community would be best for a lot of the fellow veterans and their spouses and also for those in need of housing. This housing availability will help our homeless and elderly veterans with shelter. Although I do own my own home in Ninole, I can see that someday, I won't be able to maintain the property. That's when a senior rental apartment would be the best situation for me. So, I thank you for allowing me to speak on behalf of the veterans. Thank you. KELLEY: Good morning, everyone. My name is Jeremy Kelley. CLARKSON: Please use the mic. HALL: Please use the microphone. KELLEY: The mic, sorry. HALL: Yes, please, thank you. KELLEY: My name is Jeremy Kelley. I joined the naval air reserve in Seattle at the age of 17. After one year in the reserve, I served three years of active duty and was honorably discharged from the Alameda Naval Air Station in October of 1961 and then five more years of reserve after that. I took advantage of veterans' benefits including a home loan in the mid -60's. Educational benefits provided me with a huge range of aviation training all the way up through airline transport certification, flight instructor, helicopter flight instructor, a bunch of stuff And, for the past ten years, I've utilized the medical, CBOC, also as a part of my veterans' medicals. I've been on the Board of Directors of Hawaii Island Veterans' Memorial for the last ten years, and have been the board secretary for the last seven. I joined the board with the idea of giving back as much as possible for the VA benefits that changed my life for the better since the mid - 60's, and I'm thankful to be actively helpful in implementing our mission to provide a really nice, low-cost senior independent living community with preference to veterans and their EXHIBIT C 11 spouses. This also includes a desirable living option for me, much the same as Ken just mentioned regarding maintaining my house, at some point not being able to. We've made great progress with our 1.5 -acre shovel ready site in providing complete architectural engineering plans for a new community-based, outpatient clinic and combined veterans' center on our lot here in Hilo. The successful outcome of our mission will benefit any of our Big Island veterans and provide options for veterans from other islands as well. I appreciate being part of this effort to provide better and more easily accessible services for Hawaii Island Veterans. Thank you. CLARKSON: Are there any questions from the Commission for Mr. Fujimoto or Mr. Kelley? If not, thank you. Are there any other members of the audience that wish to testify on this matter? If not, I'll ask for a motion to close public testimony. HALL: Oh, sir, what is his name again? Sir, your hat. [Mr. Kelley left his hat on the testifier table.] KELLEY (from audience area): [Inaudible] all the time. RAFFIPIY: I move to close public testimony, Mr. Chairman. REPLOGLE: Second. CLARKSON: It's been moved and seconded that public testimony be closed. Allthose in favor? COMMISSIONERS: Aye. CLARKSON: Opposed? Public testimony is closed. Is there a motion for action on this matter? RAFFIPIY: Mr. Chairman, I'm going to make the motion. I move that a favorable recommendation be forwarded to the County Council on the request to amend Change of Zone Ordinance No. 07 26 based on the Planning Director's recommendation, findings, and proposed amended conditions which shall be adopted. CLARKSON: Now, I just want to make sure that your motion includes the fact that— RAFFIPIY: Right. CLARKSON: Okay. RAFFIPIY: Can I just ask one question? You know, up there its amended Rezone 06-51, and down here it says Change of Zone Ordinance 07 26. Which is the right number? JACKSON: The ordinance number is what you should refer to. The rezone is just our rezone file number. EXHIBIT C 12 RAFFIPIY: Okay. All right, so yeah, the motion included the conditions that was CLARKSON: Withdrawn. RAFFIPIY: Withdrawn, yes. Yes, sir. CLARKSON: Is there a second? REPLOGLE: Second. CLARKSON: Being moved and seconded, would staff poll the Commission, please? JACKSON: Okay, so the motion is to forward a favorable recommendation to the County Council to amend Condition C for a ten-year time extension. Commissioner Raffipiy? RAFFIPIY: Aye. JACKSON: Commissioner Replogle? REPLOGLE: Aye. JACKSON: Commissioner Aguinaldo? AGUINALDO: Aye. JACKSON: Commissioner Ikeda? IKEDA: Aye. JACKSON: And, Chair Clarkson. CLARKSON: Aye. JACKSON: All right, the motion carries five, zero. CLARKSON: You'll be notified in writing of the action of the Commission. The discussion ended at 10:38 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Sarah Y. Hata-Finley, Secretary Windward Planning Commission EXHIBIT C 13