COM 0795.001 1996-1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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It was moved by Commissioner McIntosh and seconded by Commissioner Katayama that the public hearing be continued. Motion was unanimously carried by a voice vote of all Commissioners in attendance. CHANGE OF ZONE The Commission took this item up at 4:33 p.m. with JAMES M . Y approximately 7 people from the public in attendance. KEAAU, PUNA APPLICANT: JAMES MCCULLY - Application for a Change of Zone by changing the district classification from Limited Industrial (ML-20) to Industrial-Commercial Mixed (MCX-20) for approximately 14.234 acres of land. The property is located approximately one mile east of the Keaau Town Center at the end of Milo Street, in the vicinity of the former Puna Sugar Company Mill site at Keaau, Puna, Hawaii, TMK: 1-6-3:5. Ms. Gagorik oriented the Commission and public of the subject and surrounding properties on the presentation map, summarized the request, and noted the Planning Director's denial recommendation. The applicant, James McCully, and his representative, Sidney Fuke, were in attendance. Mr. Fuke gave some background information, noting the applicant would have requested MCX zoning if it existed at the time they applied for a rezoning last year. He distributed a colored copy of the existing General Plan LUPAG Map for the City of Hilo and Keaau areas, noting the areas zoned industrial, and, also, an excerpt from the County General Plan regarding rural and urban designations, noting that the designations correspond to the kinds of uses that could be considered with the GP designations for high, medium, and low density areas. He questioned if the MCX zoning is not allowed in this area where it says on the General Plan it can be considered, then where can it be considered in the town of Keaau based on the existing General Plan? He stressed that they were requesting industrial zoning, not commercial zoning, categorized by the letter "M." Mr. Fuke said the issues they have to look at is that if it is consistent with the General Plan in terms of where growth should be directed to and then how would the growth match up with the policies of impact to infrastructure and surrounding areas. Regarding the infrastructure, he said the Keaau Bypass road will be a reality in two or less years and the impacts would be the same whether it is MCX or ML zoning, referring to the traffic study recommending installation of ducts, and installing the traffic lights when warrants (number of accidents or volume of traffic) justify it. Regarding the impacts to surrounding area, he said it would be positive and referred to the settlement agreement with Helco and the petition in support of the application from the camp residents submitted into the record. Regarding the impact to the Keaau commercial core, he noted that what was being proposed was an industrial rezoning request and even if it were for commercial uses, the General Plan talks about providing -12-