REP PC 053 06/18/2012 2010-2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

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PC -53 Page 2 June 18, 2012 Council Member Ford expressed concern about the traffic that could be generated and the number of parking stalls, and is not supportive of this rezoning: She stated that if it is rezoned to Village Commercial there is no control over what could be built, for example,. a fast food restaurant would be allowed. Council Member Yoshimoto clarified that it is in Council Member Blas's district, and he is not available for this meeting; he asked Ms. Mikkelsen to expound on her conversation with Council Member Blas. Ms. Mikkelsen stated that Council Member. Blas is supportive of the project and had made suggestions regarding an American Disability Act (ADA) compliant bungalow and perhaps adding a gift shop to the office. Council Member Yoshimoto confirmed there would be three ADA parking stalls in addition to fourteen regular parking stalls. He asked Ms. Mikkelson to discuss the water flow issue relating to the Fire Department and he asked Ms. Sandra Song what her concerns are regarding the water. Ms. Mikkelson stated that they are working with the Fire Department and an engineer and will meet all requirements for the project. She added that there is a fire hydrant approximately 300 feet from the project and the plans are to have fire extinguishing sprinklers installed in the ceiling of the overnight bungalows. Ms. Song stated that the water concern is a lack of pressure not volume and that` 1500 psi vs. 2000 psi of pressure. is needed. She added that this issue should have been resolved, prior to this bill being heard at Committee. Council Member Onishi requested Planning Director Bobby Jean Leithead Todd and Planning Program Manager Daryn Arai to give an overview of the parking and traffic impact from the Planning Department's perspective. Ms. Leithead Todd explained that the Planning Department only reviews applications to verify they are compliant with the County Code and Community Development Plans and then make their recommendation at the plan approval stage. She stated that the parking requirements can change to require more or less based on the square footage of the building and intended use of the property, adding that if a project creates a parking deficiency it will not be approved without a downsizing of the project. She further stated that the Pahoa Village and the Malama Market areas have commercial development and that a subcommittee of the Pahoa Community Development Plan Action Committee is just beginning to create.a Pahoa Village Regional Plan through a grassroots effort of volunteers. Mr. Arai confirmed that the Code sets minimum parking requirements but the director can and has required more than the minimum, if needed, in the past. He also stated that the current plan does not generate enough traffic to trigger a Traffic Impact Analysis Report. Council Member Ford expressed concern that employees of the shops will use the parking stalls and stated the remaining stalls would be insufficient for customer parking; she asked what the County parking requirements are.