2021-02-18 Leeward Planning Commission Minutes

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Commissioner Van Pernis expressed his desire to have the Planning Department proceed with addition of a rule concerning the time element in various permits and recommendations to the County Council, as a follow-up to the discussion that had taken place at the December 17, 2020, Commission meeting. He said that he had since talked with some members of the County Council, and that they shared the concern and would like to see such condition recommended. Chairman Vitousek advised that nothing further on the subject be discussed at this time so as not to violate the Sunshine Law, and that he would be in support of placing the matter on a future meeting agenda. Commissioner Van Pernis said that he had drafted a clause that he would like to present to the Commission for consideration. Ms. Jackson stated that staff was currently working on amendments to the SMA and shoreline setback variance rules as necessitated by Act 16 that the State Legislature had passed last year. She further said that once those amendments were adopted, staff would be able to proceed with the timing condition of permits and ordinances, and with a rule addressing recusal of commissioner due to conflict of interest as well, and to bring the full matter before the joint planning commission, but that if the Leeward Planning Commission found it important to start having the discussion in the meantime, such discussion could be agendized sooner. Chairman Vitousek suggested that discussion on the timing condition, including Commissioner Van Pernis's proposed clause, be agendized at the Commission's next meeting. He said that it would be of benefit to discuss it in open session and come up with language that the Commission could include in conditions of approvals while going through the full process of rule change. It was agreed that Commissioner Van Pernis provide his proposal to staff for distribution to the Commission. In regard to the rule addressing recusal of commissioner that Ms. Jackson had mentioned earlier, Commissioner Van Pernis moved to table the matter, as his understanding was that their discussion at the meeting of December 17, 2020, had resulted in a consensus that such rule was unnecessary at this time. Chairman Vitousek accepted it as Commissioner Van Pernis's opinion in this instance and did not call for vote. ANNOUNCEMENTS Ms. Jackson stated that the Mayor's Office was actively working on filling the forthcoming vacancies with Commissioners Carr Smith and Kealoha leaving, and that she was expecting the names of candidates to be announced shortly. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, it was moved by Commissioner Carr Smith and seconded by Commissioner Kealoha that the meeting be adjourned. A voice vote was taken, and the motion carried with all in favor. Chairman Vitousek adjourned the meeting at 12:24 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ATTEST: Noriko Sauer, Secretary Michael Vitousek, Chairman Leeward Planning Commission 3 Leeward Planning Commission February 18,2021,Meeting Minutes