COM 1076.000 2018-2020 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Both the Hilo and Kona International Airports far exceed the 10,000 passenger boardings per year to qualify as Primary Airports per the FAA definition. The County of Hawaii has two international airports: the Hilo International Airport (ITO), which is situated within the County's Limited Industrial (ML) zoning district, and the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole (KOA), which is situated within the County's General Industrial (MG) zoning district. Both are on publicly owned lands. These airports are constantly expanding and require the need to provide additional services- to meet the expansion. Currently, a number of accessory land uses associated with these Primary Airports are not permitted within the Limited Industrial (ML) and the General Industrial (MG) zoning districts, including but not limited to, retail establishments, automobile rentals (not permitted in MG), offices, business services, personal services, etc. One reason for this amendment is to bring these uses in line with the Zoning Code. Another reason for this amendment is the County has received a request from the Department of Transportation -Airports Division to allow for conference centers, and for overnight accommodations (hotel) to support airport operations, which includes airport personnel, visitors and stranded passengers, mainly for the Kona International Airport. A hotel/conference center is identified in the Ellison, Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole's current master plan. The master plan states that "Many airports support hotels on-site in support of flight crews and overnight stays for passengers traveling early the next day." Additionally, FAA regulations require rest periods for pilots between flights and the distance between an available hotel can affect flight scheduling. This amendment will give the flexibility needed for these airports to expand and meet new demands. These accessory uses may be located within the airport terminal or on adjacent public lands that are part of the overall airport operation. The uses/businesses may be privately owned and operated but must be located on the publicly owned lands and support the overall airport operation. Lastly, this new "Primary Airport" land use; along with accessory uses, will be added as a permitted use only within the County's Limited Industrial (ML) and the General Industrial (MG) zoning districts with the requirement that plan approval must be secured by the Planning Director. This means that an applicant will need to submit plans -2-