04-22-2012, 08:32 PM
We are busier than usual at SPACE these days responding to this action by the County Planning Department but we do want to share as much information as we can with everyone concerned about this issue. Thanks for all your comments.
SPACE has been operating under terms of the original 2001 SP #1122 and a March 2010 letter from BJ at Planning which permit performance arts training programs, the Haas satellite Charter School and the Farmers Market. SPACE maintains that we have not violated the terms of either of these permits since March 25th. Our amended Special Permit application was complete and scheduled for Planning Commission review on October 14th 2012. SPACE then withdrew the application pending the lease of adjacent State Land which, if included in the amended SP, will enable us to move traffic parking and our proposed industrial arts center well away from Seaview Residences. The Environmental Assessment and other legalities required for this lease have created a major delay in this process. SPACE and the patrons of SPACE are anxious to move forward with this so that we can fully focus on our mission "to creatively promote sustainable community in Puna Makai".
The delay in our SP process plus the impact of complaints that include frivolous, fraudulent and vindictive accusations have brought about this crisis. It has also brought attention to the fact that the SP process as it exists does not serve to promote good community development. The County and State administrations are not financially able to provide many services that communities need and desire.
Community organizations like SPACE, and many many other grass roots groups island wide are taking up this slack and serving their communities by providing them with facilities and programs. Most organizations like SPACE are non profits and most people involved in this are community volunteers and almost all are illegal and in violation of County codes. Only Kalani Honua and SPACE have attempted to operate legally with Special Permits and look at the problems we are encountering.
It is time that we have a new kind of permit enabling Community Groups to operate legally. We need to adopt a process that builds community instead of dividing it. We need to replace the existing confidential complaint system with mediation and Ho'oponopono. We are asking the County to work with us on this instead of closing down activities that 100's of people support and a tiny minority oppose.
Our petition signed by 972 people and well over 100 testimonials written to Planning, so far, will clearly show that the overwhelming majority of nearby neighbors want the programs we are requesting to be permitted in our amended Special permit application. Many of our neighbors will be attending the May 3rd Planning Commission meeting to substantiate these facts.