REP PC 006 01/03/2007 2006-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PLANNING DATE: January 3, 2007 Re: Comm. No. 32/Resolution No. 2l PLACE: Councilroom (new locafion) Ben Franklin Building 333 Kilauea Avenue, 2n° Floor Hilo, Hawaii TIME: 2:00 p.m. Council Chair and Members Hawaii County Council Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Your Committee on Planning, to which was refereed Resolution No. 21, reports as follows: Resolution No. 21, transmitted via Communication No. 32 from Council Member Stacy K. Higa, dated December 19, 2006, transmitting a Resolution proposing an amendment to Chapter 25, Article I, Section 25-1-5, Hawaii County Code 1983 (2005 Edition, as amended), by amending the definition for "Retail establishment" and adding definitions for "Stockkeeping Unit or SKU" and "Superstore" establishing limits on permitted retail uses in the Zoning Code. Resolution No. 21 notes that communities across the United States have shown that development of "superstores" occupying more than 90,000 gross square feet, having more than 25,000 stocldceeping units ("SKU"}, and dedicating more than 20,000 gross square feet of floor area to groceries, has tremendous adverse impacts upon the community. Impacts include traffic congestion, increased demand on govemment infrastructure, negative environmental consequences resulting in harmful and often fatal impacts on small businesses. Resolution No. 21 states that Chapter 25, Article 1, Section 25-1-5 of the Hawaii County Code, does not adequately address negative impacts of "superstores" and, therefore, the council-initiated amendment is being referred to the Planning Director and Planning Commission requesting comments and recommendations, and also directing the Director and Commission to process the proposed Ordinance attached to the Resolution. The proposed Ordinance attached to Resolution No. 21 proposed to amend Chapter 25, Article 1, Section 25-1-5, Hawaii County Code 1983 (2005 Edition, as amended) as follows: • Under the definition of "Retail establishment," it provides that "superstores," shall not be permitted in any zoning district in the County of Hawaii; • Adds a new definition for "Stocldceeping Unit" ("SKU"); and • Adds a new definition for "Superstore," meaning a business exceeding 90,000 gross square feet, offering for sale more than 25,000 different SKUs, and dedicating more than 20,000 gross squaze feet of floor azea to sale of groceries. At the January 3, 2006 Committee on Planning meeting, Council Member Stacy Higa was absent due to personal circumstances. Public testimony was presented by Mr. John Yates representing the Kailua-Kona WalMad. Mr. Yates read into the record the testimony of Wa1Mart District Manager, Brian Halsey PC Report No. 6