COM 0706.001 2010-2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The Honorable Dominic Yagong, Chairman and Members of the County Council Page 2 The Planning Commission, in its 2008 recommendation to the County Council regarding the amendment of the change of zone ordinance to accommodate a proposed visitor center,proposed Condition E to address concerns expressed by the Department of Public Works regarding access, traffic and drainage concerns: "E. For commercial uses other than the visitor education center, the applicant shall provide improvements to the road lot that runs along the entire southeast frontage of the subject property, consisting of an intersection with Mamalahoa Highway, a 20-foot wide pavement lane and concrete curb, gutter and sidewalk, drainage improvements, and any relocation of utilities meeting with the approval of the Department of Public Works prior to Certificate of Occupancy." The County Council subsequently approved the amendment to change of zone ordinance to accommodate the proposed visitor center along with the following modification to Condition E: "E. This amendment to change the district classification of property is limited to a visitor center and related and accessory uses of a visitor center in substantial conformance to the description in the current application for reasons of public health, safety, and welfare due to flood hazards in the area." By restricting use of the property solely to a visitor center and its related uses, the County Council waived the need for further improvements to the unimproved County road lot that runs along the southeast side and provides access to the project site. However, with the proposed deletion of Condition E, all uses permitted within the CN zoning district will be allowed on the project site with no provision for improvements to this substandard access roadway to accommodate the anticipated increase in traffic. The Department of Public Works has provided comments regarding the amendment request that specifically references the need to improve this unimproved County road lot with a 20-foot wide pavement with concrete curb, gutter and sidewalk improvements along with drainage improvements, traffic signage and markings and necessary relocation of utilities. These were the very improvements that the Planning Commission recommended to the County Council in 2008, only to be eliminated with the restriction of use of the project site to a visitor center.