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There is a commercial rezoning vote coming up Monday regarding an application for commercial zoning in Pahoa Village next to Hunt Surf Shop, Island Naturals and near Pahoa Cash & Carry. Bill 209
James Weatherford is candidate for the district in which this application is made and James is a frequent contributor here on Punaweb.
It will be useful and informative to have James state publicly his position, yes or no, on Bill 206.
James, what would your vote be? Yea or Nay?
Assume the best and ask questions.
Punaweb moderator
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I thought pahoa town is district-5 ?
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Pahoa town, following the upcoming election, will be split between a newly formed District 5 and a newly formed District 4. The line between the districts runs down the middle of Pahoa Main Street.
Cash & Carry, for example will be in the new District 5. Jeff Hunt Surf Shop will be in the new District 4.
James Weatherford is running for council in the newly formed District 4.
Assume the best and ask questions.
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Regarding Bill 209-12.
For whatever reason, I have been asked to publicly state my position on this legislation, although the other two candidates have not been asked to do the same.
Because my wife was injured in a mishap at the farm last week and has needed to remain off of her feet while the wounds healed, I have been busy taking care of her and doing everything around the house that both she and I normally do. Elizabeth is now rapidly mending, so I can share the following.
My understanding of Bill 209-12 is based on what I have read in the newspaper, in online discussions, and on the Council meeting agenda.
I strongly agree with the proposition that changing parcels along Pahoa Village Road from residential to commercial zoning, particularly as a means of avoiding sprawl beyond the village, is the right way to go.
I also share concerns about an application for rezoning of any parcel that is being offered for sale. The rezoning application for Bill 209-12 makes a claim for specific business plans. Given that the applicant does not intend to continue owning the property, it is a legitimate and relevant question as to whether those stated plans are genuine. Is this rezoning application simply meant to increase the speculative value of the parcel, without the owner/applicant having invested in on-site infrastructure for commercial development? If so, that does not serve the community well.
The Council receives written and oral testimony from the multiple perspectives, including the applicant as well as supporters and opponents. During Council deliberations, a Council member has the option of getting more information from the Planning Director. As a candidate, I do not have the same access to information that a sitting member of Council has. Without that information, I am not going to take a position on Bill 209.
Every sitting Council member has an obligation to be ready and able to explain the reason(s) for their vote. I look forward to hearing my Council representative do so.
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Wow. Learned a lot from that.
Thanks, I guess.
Assume the best and ask questions.
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From James' post:
"I also share concerns about an application for rezoning of any parcel that is being offered for sale. The rezoning application for Bill 209-12 makes a claim for specific business plans. Given that the applicant does not intend to continue owning the property, it is a legitimate and relevant question as to whether those stated plans are genuine."
I disagree, It is absolutely illegitimate and irrelevant what the current owner's plans are for a that parcel.
A rezoning should be decided solely on the appropriateness of the zoning for the parcel in question.
The zoning will be ongoing regardless of future changes of ownership and uses of that particular parcel.
Zoning is about overall land use, not micro-managing business plans.
[/quote] From punatalk forum
Dan
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Golly, James. You're starting to sound like a politician, hedging your bets. While I disagree with some of Rob's badgering (and yes, that's what it was IMHO,) I don't think it's too much to expect a straight answer.
I don't have a personal or political horse in the Pahoa race, as some of the proponents and opponents of this rezoning do. It just seems to me that rezoning that area commercial makes sense in terms of the village center concept in particular and the need for more business opportunities in Puna in general. If some of the naysayers are worried about getting a McD's or something else they find aesthetically undesirable, they need to get busy and enact a design or historic district with architectural guidelines. The fact that the property may be sold is irrelevant. Isn't it true that any property owner in Pahoa has the right to sell and that the zoning designation goes along with it?
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Puna NEEDS way more commercial zoning, but pahoa is the last place for it. unless they do something about the on street parking, people are going to get run over. it's like a slalom trying to get thru there in the afternoon dodging people and cars.
As for the crunchy aesthetic, only developers and chain stores have the money and time to go thru the counties hoops. so guess what your going to get.
( someone is dumping a lot of money in that lot across from the post office )
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....I enjoy the fact that there is "pedestrian traffic" in town, and if people who are driving would just slow down and not drive like they are on #130 it would be a better solution.
...across from the post office, my understanding is that there are two lots. One zoned commercial and one residential. That the owner has "no plans at this time to develop the property". Although there are no permits to develop/build at this time that I know of, it does seem a lot of ground work being done if no future plans are in play. Of course if the owner is holding his cards close to his chest that's their right and seeing the bickering over simple zoning/business issues can't say I blame them.
riverwolf
riverwolf
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Good point, Jerry. It is at this juncture that we have to wonder what the effect of a design aesthetic would have on prospective businesses. My experience in other locales of character is that the imposition of architectural guidelines has no ill effect on business.
Either way, you are right.....those of us who favor a design district and some guidelines need to get busy.
