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REPORT OF THE <br /> COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND MASS TRANSIT <br /> DATE: February 4, 2020 Re: Comm. No. 714/Bill No. 134 <br /> PLACE: Council Chambers <br /> Hilo, Hawaii <br /> TIME: 2:33 p.m. <br /> Council Chair and Members <br /> Hawaii County Council <br /> Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br /> Your Committee on Public Works and Mass Transit,to which was referred Bill No. 134, reports as <br /> follows: <br /> Bill No. 134, transmitted by Communication No. 714 dated January 15, 2020, and introduced by <br /> Committee Chair Susan L. K. Lee Loy, amends Chapter 3, Article 1, of the Hawaii County Code 1983 <br /> (2016 edition, as amended), relating to Sign Code Variances. <br /> The purpose of this bill is to establish a new process regarding sign variance requests that allows the <br /> Director of Public Works to grant or deny requests for variances, with input from the Planning Director, <br /> adjacent property owners, and any applicable Special District Design Commission. <br /> Chair Lee Loy relinquished the chair to Council Member Maile David, as Vice Chair Matt Kaneali'i- <br /> Kleinfelder had to leave at 2:30 p.m. <br /> Council Member Lee Loy noted that they were going through a comprehensive overhaul of building <br /> codes and this was something that needed tweaking, and that Bill 134 streamlines and refines the sign <br /> code process. She recalled there being "hiccups" a few months back in the sign variance process and <br /> wanted to refine it to make it more efficient. She said that she worked with the Department of Public <br /> Works and Corporation Counsel to create what she hoped to be a more effective and streamlined <br /> process. Council Member Lee Loy also mentioned that when someone applies for a variance, they now <br /> come before the Council, whereas previously,there was an ineffective notification process. <br /> Council Member Lee Loy then called forward Robyn Matsumoto, Acting Building Chief of the <br /> Department of Public Works to, explain further. <br /> Ms. Matsumoto thanked Council Member Lee Loy for introducing the bill. She explained that as with <br /> many of their other codes, once they give their decision, the applicant can appeal it and it then goes to <br /> the Board of Appeals; unlike the new Sign Code, where if the applicant isn't satisfied with the decision, <br /> they go through the County Council. She continued that it is a long process, and in order to streamline it <br /> and make it consistent with the other codes, they are asking for these changes so that they follow the <br /> same process. Also, it has some deadlines in terms of when they should be getting decisions from <br /> design communities like Kailua Village Design Commission(KVDC) and the Pdhoa Village Design <br /> PWMTC Report No,21 <br />