HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-02-24 TRoyal_ALII_SMA05007
PLANNING COMMISSION
COUNTY OF HAWAII
HEARING TRANSCRIPT
February 24, 2006
ROYAL ALII LLC (SMA 05-007)
A regularly advertised hearing on the application of was
called to order at 11:36 a.m. at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Hotel, 69-275 Waikoloa Beach
Drive, Waikoloa, Hawaii with Vice-Chairman William R. Graham presiding.
PRESENT:ABSENT & EXCUSED: Allen Salavea
C. Kimo Alameda
Hannah Springer
Andrew Iwashita
Fred Galdones
Chris Yuen, Deputy Planning Director
Norman Hayashi, Planning Program Manager
Phyllis Fujimoto, Staff Planner
JeffDarrow, Staff Planner
Ivan Torigoe, Deputy Corporation Counsel
And approximately 10 people from the public in attendance.
APPLICANT: ROYAL ALII LLC (SMA 05-007)
Special Management Area Use Permit to allow the development of a 19-unit single family
residential development and related uses. The property is located on the east (mauka) side of
Alii Drive, across from the Alohi Kai Subdivision and Kamoa Point, Kaumalumalu, North Kona,
Hawaii,TMK:7-7-4:57and58.
GRAHAM:OurnextitembeforeustodayisaSpecialManagementUsePermit,
Special Management Area Use Permit, SMA 05-007. The applicant is Royal Alii LLC. The
application is to allow the development of a 19-unit single family residential development and
related uses. The property is located on the east, mauka side of Alii Drive, across fromthe Alohi
Kai Subdivision and Kamoa Point, Kaumalumalu, North Kona, Hawaii, TMK: 7-7-4:57 and 58.
Norman are you ready for a presentation?
HAYASHI:Yes. Thank you Mr. Chair. Directing your attention to the overall
location map. The subject property is indicated by this blue dot. It is situated along the mauka
side of Alii Drive and this would be heading in towards Kailua-Kona and this would be towards
Keauhou. Across of the subject property is the Alohi Kai subdivision. Its a private residential
subdivision. The White Sands Beach is located at this particular location. It is approximately .3
miles from south of the subject property. The Royal Poinciana Drive where you enter to go to
the school is located here and as far as the colors on the map they represent the various zoning
districts. The subject property is zoned for single family single family residential 7,500 square
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feet. Across of the property are lands that are zoned for resort 1.25. It also includes the vacant
Kamoa Point site owned by the State. Along the length of Alii Drive there are lands that are
zoned for multiple residential use and these are indicated by these brown shaded areas. The
green areas are lands that are zoned for Agricultural 5 acres. The applicant intends to develop a
19 lot residential subdivision consisting of 5,000 to 10,000+ square foot lots. And within the
lots, on the lots the applicant proposes to construct two 1 or 2 story structures with heights of
approximately 19 feet to 27 feet. The house sizes will be approximately 1500 square feet to
2,400 square feet. Parking will be provided for each of the units 2 per lot. And the project will
consist of underground utilities. There will also be a private roadway coming off of Alii Drive at
this particular junction leading into the subdivision. And that roadway will be constructed with
curb gutters and sidewalk. Now if you look at this particular map which is the applicants site
map this is Alii Drive. The area between Alii Drive approximately 120 to 180 feet and thats this
particular area here. That particular area would be left as an archaeological easement.
According to our applicant basically there will no improvements in that area and there will be
handclearingofthatarchaeologicaleasement.TherealsowasconcernaboutwhethertheJudd
Trail was located on the property. Basically the Judd Trail if you look at the map is generally in
this location. Its still questionable as to whether a portion of the Judd Trail traverses through the
southern corner of the property. And thats still undetermined. That determination will be made
by or should be made by the Department of Land and Natural Resources who is the owner of the
Judd Trail. Since the project would be, some of the lots will be less than 7,500 square feet in
size, the applicant has submitted a Planned Unit Development permit to allow the lesser lot sizes.
And that particular request is a administrative request so that will be processed upon issuance of
the SMA permit should the Commission so grant it. The general plan designation for this area is
again density Urban and the zonings are indicated is single family residential 7,500 square feet.
Based on the current density of the property the applicant could technically sub- create 31 lots
based on the current zoning. The property is currently vacant and the surrounding areas are
generally single-family residential. The lots within the, some of the areas are basically used for
single family residential purposes. Now the archaeological preservation plan and the
archaeological monitoring plans were done by the applicants consultant were accepted by the
State Historic Preservation Office. On the property within the proposed archaeological easement
are two burials. One would be at the northern portion of the property at this general location and
the other would be at this location further towards the south side of the property. The Hawaii
Island Burial Council did review the burial sites and their determination was to preserve these
sites burials in place. Again access would be from Alii Drive. Water is available to the property.
The project will be hooked up to the Countys sewer system. We did receive a letter form
Robert Ward expressing some concerns regarding improvements to Alii Drive. The provision of
bike lanes and pedestrian lanes on both sides and no parking within the right-of-way. He also
recommended the protection of the Judd Trail and that the internal roadway should be extended
to the north boundary. The Planning Director is recommending approval. We submitted all of
the conditions and we all submitted to you the amended conditions to conditions 3, 4 and 7 as a
result of further review of those conditions by the Department of Public Works. There are some
slight changes we would like to make to condition 3. Other than that whats submitted to you in
the yellow sheet. And if you look at the last portion of Condition 3 the second to the, the last 2
sentences. It says that the applicant shall provide a widened shoulder along the Alii Drive
frontage extending to the right-of-way property line. And we would like to include if required
by and meeting with the approval of Department of Public Works. Then the last sentence would
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read, provide pavement widening, transition, signs and markings, drainage improvements and
relocation of utilities as required by the Department of Public Works. And also on Condition 7
because the applicant intends to bond the project meaning to grant final, to receive final
subdivision approval this particular condition should be changed to state and this would be the
last sentence. A drainage study shall be prepared prior to the issuance of any construction permit
and the recommended drainage system shall be constructed meeting with the approval of the
Department of Public Works prior to final subdivision construction approval or dwelling
occupancy. So those are the proposed conditions as amended. Are there any questions?
GRAHAM:Any questions from the Commissioners? Yes Commissioner McCall?
MCCALL:Yeah. The architectural easement is that, that property will be owned by
the property owners and, is that how it works or is it dedicated to the?
HAYASHI:Ithinkthatquestionshouldbedirected,wouldbebetterdirectedtothe
applicant as to the ownership and whether its going to be owned by the association or by the
applicant.
MCCALL:Okay Ill hold that. Thanks.
GRAHAM:Any other questions for staff at this time? Could the applicant or his
representative come forward please?
YUEN:While theyre coming up I think we should change Condition 13 slightly.
Thats one of the preservation conditions. The first sentence says, it would say the
archaeological features on the western or makai portion of project site, as identified in the
approved preservation plan, shall be preserved and made a part of the projects open space buffer
from the Alii Highway. This and it should be open space buffer from Alii Drive. And this is to
make it clear that there are, that all the feature zone have to be preserved there. The
preservation, the approved preservation plan has certain areas that have to be preserved but not
the entire, not all the features which I think would actually make access impossible on Alii
Drive.
GRAHAM:Thank you Mr. Yuen. Since I have the applicant and representative before
me could you please raise your right hand and swear or affirm to tell the truth on this matter now
before the Planning Commission?
APPLICANT/
REPRESENTATIVE:Yes.
GRAHAM:Thank you. If you can state your name, residence address and proceed
with your testimony as you wish the two of you.
LAU:Thank you Mr. Chairman. My name is Christopher Lau. Im the
President of Town Development of Hawaii, one of the members of the Royal Alii LLC. My
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address is 3764 Old Pali Road, Honolulu, 96817. To my left is Larry Smith who is also a
member of the Royal Alii LLC. Larry will state his address for you.
SMITH:77-6393 Alii Drive, Kailua-Kona.
GRAHAM:Thank you. Go ahead. If youd like to make some presentation to the
Commission about your project.
LAU:Thank you Mr. Chairman. Really after listening to Mr. Hayashis
presentation we concur with all of the items that he has presented to the Commission. I would
like to add that Mr. Smith is the owner of 2 of the adjacent properties. On the south side Mr.
Smith has his primary residence and on the mauka side he has his, he has another piece of
property so he certainly supports our application. With respect to the changes to the conditions
that Mr. Hayashi mentioned earlier we do concur with the changes in number 3. With respect to
thechangesinnumber7,IjustwanttoclarifyperhapsI,IdidnthearcorrectlybutwhatI
thought we would, you were doing is in the last line, were going to strike the words final
subdivision approval or. So the last phrase would be, prior to dwelling occupancy.
HAYASHI:Basically the, I discussed it with the, Mr. Emler, Department of Public
Works representative and he basically stated that we should, instead of doing that we should just
add the word construction after final subdivision. So, what the sentence, last portion of the
sentence would read would be, prior to final subdivision construction approval or dwelling
occupancy and I think that would serve your purposes as far as your intent to bond the property
and get final subdivision approval. But before you can, before we do our final construction
approval of the subdivision and all of the improvements are done that you would have to provide
this drainage system if its required. So basically I think thats the same thing that you were
discussing.
LAU:So as I understand it, so long as we construct the improvements we can
obtain occupancy?
HAYASHI:Yes.
LAU:Yes, okay then were fine with that.
YUEN:Can I?
GRAHAM:Director Yuen?
YUEN:Is the right term inspection of construction improvement of subdivision
improvements? Because it says a drainage study, did we rewrite this again from whats in
yellow here?
HAYASHI:Yes.
YUEN:Okay would you, would you read that again for me?
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HAYASHI:Okay, that would be Condition 7 and were amending the area that is
underscored and it will read, A drainage study shall be prepared prior to the issuance of any
construction permit and the recommended drainage system shall be constructed meeting with the
approval of the DepartmentofPublic Works prior to final subdivision construction approval or
dwelling occupancy. So weadded the word construction after subdivision, between subdivision
and approval. So basically you can grant the final subdivision approval, bond improvement but
before we issue final construction approval that the drainage system has to be installed.
YUEN:Yeah, when you say final construction approval you mean that the
improvements, that the improvements have been inspected. Built and inspected. Thats what Im-
HAYASHI:Inspected as approved by Department of Public Works.
YUEN:Right,Kis,whatdowecallthat?
EMLER:Finalsubdivisionconstructionapproval.
YUEN:Thatistherightlanguage?Okay.
EMLER:ThatswhatIwoulduse.
YUEN:Okay thank you.
HAYASHI:Yeah I got the words from Ki.
GRAHAM:Do we have any more from the applicant?
LAU:No thats it. Nothing more Mr. Chairman.
GRAHAM:Okay and Mr. Smith you have no particular testimony at this moment?
SMITH:No. Id like to say, the last time I was here in front of the council it was
about 7 years ago and Chris and I were on the opposite ends of the table, I was stopping his
development because I wanted to park in Keauhou area. So its kind of ironic that 7 years later
were here together. But, I bought this property and brought Chris in as my partner. This is, I
own the 6 acres behind and the 5 acres on the one side and its a family. This is my family that
lives there, my son and my daughter and myself. So, I bought the property to protect our family
and I want something nice there that works in the area cause Ive lived here. You know I was
here when they only had one stop light and a lot has changed since then and I know theres a lot
of problems with traffic and development and I feel for you guys cause I know where youre
going through with all of this cause it takes me an hour now to get from Keauhou to the airport
where it used to take a few minutes so. Im concerned as much as you guys are in development.
I dont feel that this, this small project has a, has a major impact in the area so thats why Im
going through with it this way. And weve cut down the, you know it was zoned for 31-units
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and were only going to, we only want to put 19 in. And its going to be set back 100 feet from
the street and I think itll be an improvement for the area thats there right now.
GRAHAM:Thank you. Do we have any questions from any of the commissioners?
Commissioner McCall?
MCCALL:My question was on the preservation of the archaeological features. Is
that going to be held like in by the association ownership or how would that?
LAU:Correct.
MCCALL:Okay.
LAU:Yes.
MCCALL:So they would (inaudible) that along with the road lot?
LAU:Correct.
MCCALL:Okay thank you.
GRAHAM:Any other questions? Mr. Smith I had a question I think thats probably
easiest to address to you. We were given by the County earlier this year a sort of a geographic
information system to where we can look at TMKs and things on the island for our own
background information. And I think when I looked in this area theres what is I believe a
delineation of the Judd Trail appears like one long skinny TMK and I think your name is on the
TMK. But Norman said earlier that its owned by the DLNR. And I also believe that some
number of years ago when the mauka properties where I guess you have your residence went
before the State Land Use Commission there was some kind of issue. And maybe Mr. Yuen was
on the, not the State Land Use Commission the DLNR Land Board maybe Mr. Yuen was sitting
at that time that it was going to be relocated and diverted in some ways. So, I wonder if you can
give me your understanding of how the Judd trail exists both physically and legally right now?
SMITH:Yes. The Judd Trail runs from Alii Drive it runs right along parallel with
my property my 5 acres and then it runs parallel with the 6 acres behind me. And, when I built
on those 2 pieces of property the stipulation was that that has to be theres a 10 foot buffer that
had to be fenced off and it couldnt be touched it was part of the conditions of my building
permit. So and it, and that has been in effect. Theres been, weve put fences up that 10 foot
area on the Judd trail and it runs from Alii Drive on my property it runs all the way up through
Hoomalu which is the subdivision behind my property. And theres been 2 different groups
from the County there. I went with them and we walked it and I showed them everything. And
about the first hundred feet it has the cattle, it has everything there, it hasnt been touched. And
then the back 6-acres it was bulldozed but it was bulldozed before I even bought the property.
So, yes that, the Judd Trail runs through there.
GRAHAM:So it runs straight mauka from Alii Drive through there?
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SMITH:Yes.
GRAHAM:And it is owned by the DLNR as far as you know?
SMITH:Im not sure who owns it but its there and its where, its straight, it hasnt
been moved.
GRAHAM:Okay and then I believe that Judd Trail was like 15 miles long or
something so it should continue up to Kuakini Highway at least. Are you aware whether that
continuation is in place?
SMITH:Its in place through my 5-acres and my 6-acres and then I believe
Hoomalu was developed by Mr. Gomes and Im not sure they were 5 acre Ag parcels above me
andIbelievethattheyhadthesamerequirementsthatIdidbecauseIalsoboughtapieceup
there. And I know that the people behind me that they had the same stipulations but Im not sure
if its enforced now or not. I know, I know nothings been, no bulldozing or no building has been
done all the way up to Kuakini, yes.
GRAHAM:Thank you very much for your testimony on that.
SMITH:Thank you.
GRAHAM:Commissioner Springer?
SPRINGER:Good morning. I have a few questions. Could you tell me if Keolanahihi
is across of Alii Drive from your property? The State Historic Park?
SMITH:No, its. No, its not across the street fromthe property.
SPRINGER:Thank you.
YUEN:Keolanahihi is a little bit north just alittle bit north of the property there.
Their property is more toward the south end of the point on the other baby on, not Holualoa Bay
but the next Bay south.
SPRINGER:Thank you. Is it true then that the arch sites but for Alii Drive are not
contiguous or part of the Keolanahihi and Keakealaniwahine complexes? Its not clear from the
archaeological report.
LAU:I dont know but I think that most of those sites that you refer to are
further north.
SPRINGER:Okay thank you. I have no further questions at thistime.
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GRAHAM:Thank you. Any other Commissioners? Mr. Emler did you have
something you could show us?
EMLER:Just a-. I have a question for the Planning Director. I thinkId like to
have some clarification and some, on the issue here of whether the PUD, Planned Unit
Development as shown in the exhibit is something that is being accepted here by this procedure
or if its, it still has to go through the PUD process and the subdivision process?
YUEN:It still has to go through the PUD and subdivision process.
EMLER:So we can defer some of our comments on some issues. One issue I have,
one issue or one concern I have is whats the long term plan for this area? In other words, I
noticed on the zoning map that this is, its zoned RS-7.5 and the area surrounding it are Ag-5.
Whats the long term zoning plan for this area and what would be the long-term plan for access
fromupmaukaofthisareabetweenAliiDriveandAliiHighway?AndIhavethisconcern
because I want to know how those lots mauka of this area if they are planned for urban zoning
are going to get access? And whether it would be needed to take access off Alii Highway which
we are trying to restrict?
GRAHAM:Thank you Mr. Emler. Mr. Yuen?
YUEN:Well the, this does have to still have to go through PUD and subdivision.
EMLER:Thank you so we can still consider connections then and so forth?
YUEN:Right.
EMLER:Thanks.
GRAHAM:Do we have any other? Yes, Commissioner Iwashita?
IWASHITA:I guess Im looking at the-, and I understand SMA does not usually say it
doesnt include traffic concerns. But Mr. Emlers comment and the Kona Traffic Safety
Committees comments talk about SMA process having to be compliant with the General Plan
and the reference to the General Plans specific provisions that safe and efficient transportation
be considered or be part of the what theyre building in the overall planning for this County. I
just need a clarification I guess is that these concerns and I share the concerns about traffic
circulation and how this and the surrounding properties you know 20, 30 years down the road are
going to be all connected. That those concerns and issues will be addressed in the
PUD/subdivision approval process? Is that correct?
YUEN:To an extent. Just on the question of traffic, its not that traffic can
absolutely not be considered on an SMA permit. Its that if, to consider a traffic issue you have
to determine that its of a degree that affects some other interest protected by the SMA law. For
example, it is to the point where it affects the use of a highway thats the public access to the
ocean. That it becomes so congested that people cant or are discouraged from going to the
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ocean for recreational use. Another example would be that where we could consider access
would be if the access is so bad it affected the ability to evacuate people from the site. So we
have some ability to consider traffic but not just traffic per say, as we would in a you know,
rezoning.
IWASHITA:Thank you. As a follow up then. Again looking at the long range
perspective on safety and evacuation and those kinds of concerns that as this area develops and
the area around it behind the mauka of it develops youll see that you know the access issues
evacuation routes and all of those kind of issues would be impacted by how this parcel is
developed. And I guess a suggestion that consideration be given to long-term looking at using
part of the access to this property to get mauka and provide access and possible evacuation routes
for mauka properties. Or actually for this property and the people who live here in the tsunami
kind of scenario in the future where Alii Drive is totally built out and not necessarily the safest
way to go especially if theres a locally generated tsunami you would want an immediate
evacuationroutethatwouldtakeyoustraightmaukafromthisproperty.Iwould.IfIhavehalf
an hour to get out of where I am because of the locally generated tsunami you dont want to be
stuck on Alii Drive with a 20-foot wall of water coming down on you. So, I think that these
traffic, those kind of concerns seems to me, you know should be properly addressed in this
proceeding.
GRAHAM:All right Commissioner, excuse me Director Yuen?
YUEN:Yeah I just wanted, the long term, the long term access plan to the area as
far as mauka-makai access would be down where, the extension of Lako Street, which would
intersect with Alii Drive a little bit to the north about, probably about a half a mile to the north of
this. That, that is the project that the Department of Public Works is actively pursuing.
GRAHAM:Were also, I gotta remind you that were on the part of questioning the
applicants not working on all of the issues that we need to work out at this point in time. So, Id
like to keep it at that and then we can move on and get testimony from the public and all. So do
we have any further questions for the applicant?
IWASHITA:I want to direct this?
GRAHAM:Fine.
IWASHITA:I would like the applicant, you know your thoughts now about you know
these long term kind of issues which I, personally I think come directly into play. And
considering this permit approval of this (inaudible) because I think if you talk to Harry Kim
based on his civil defense background that you know it is not an unlikely scenario that you know
we have a locally generated tsunami where we wont have hours to respond that itll be minutes.
Itll be less than an hour and it can be a rather devastating, you know weve never seen one
recently. The most recently is like Hanape which you know didnt generate a real large tsunami
but in that scenario I dont think you know we can ignore that potentiality and if there are no
provisions today in the long term for a mauka-makai access and evacuation routes that you know
frankly. Today on Alii drive I think if you had a locally generated tsunami many people would
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not be able to get out today. High enough, with a large, you know with a large enough wave
being generated by a local geological event. So, Id like your comments on whether you would
consider, you know your considerations about making some provision now in your development
for that.
GRAHAM:Mr. Smith go ahead.
SMITH:Yes. On the 5 acres south of this property is Hoomalu and Hoomalu has
access all the way up to the future Alii Parkway.
GRAHAM:So Ho-?
SMITH:Which is, which is right next door.
GRAHAM:CouldyoutelluswhatHoomaluis?
SMITH:Hoomaluisasubdivisiontothesouthofmyproperty.SoAlii,Royal
Alii, I dont know if someone could show you on the map. Royal Alii its, and then I have 5
acres to the south and then right next to that is Hoomalu, which is a subdivision and theres-.
GRAHAM:Would that maybe be that little yellow finger thats sticking into the green
there on the map on the left?
SMITH:I cant see.
GRAHAM:Okay. I cant see too good either.
SMITH:But anyway its within, within 300 yards of the proposed property that
will give access for a tsunami. And you know Im just throwing this out but you know theyve
built hundreds of condos down Alii Drive. I ride my bike every night down there. Ive been hit
twice on Alii Drive okay so I know the traffic problem and I know that. But you know they built
all these condos, there was no access for those condos and anyway you can see my frustration so
I gotta stop talking. But you know within 300 feet we have access for a tsunami to evacuate
people.
GRAHAM:Good thank you. Mr. Lau?
LAU:Mr. Iwashita. There is also another emergency access or another access
on the south side approximately 3/8 of a mile south of the Royal Alii property is Laaloa Avenue.
And there are 2 things that are happening with respect to Laaloa. Number one there is presently
a emergency access through the Keauhou View Estates and Alii Heights subdivision. But there
is also work being done by the County with respect to planning an extension of Laaloa Avenue
that would include access all the way to Kuakini Highway. So two things number 1 presently
there is emergency access to Kuakini and then number 2 there is a regular access being planned.
GRAHAM:Thank you Mr. Lau.
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YUEN:Yeah just a comment. We know the situation is bad on Alii Drive. You
can as Chris Lau said, you can drive if you want to get out of here you can drive up Laaloa,
which is roughly a half mile south. And if you were just going to get out of the tsunami
inundation area you can get up to a subdivision road thats out of the inundation are. And the
County is working on a regular access, making Laaloa connect to Kuakini and being a regular
way out of, a full mauka-makai from Kuakini to Alii Drive. And then the second one would be
the Lako Street extension, which is just to the north of that purple point there at Holualoa Bay,
which is also is a project that the County is actively pursuing and has done an EIS for. Im sorry
an EA for in front of that of that project. So we are looking on ways to get people out. Finally
well this is, theres a private subdivision road thats immediately adjacent to this. Just to the
south of this property. It serves the Hoomalu Subdivision, which is a subdivision of 5 acre lots.
Thats gated you wouldnt be able to drive it. Im not sure if the police or the first responders
have a way of getting through there. It would probably be a good idea if they did but somebody
wanting to walk or run out of in case of a locally generated tsunami will be able to go up that
privateroad.
GRAHAM:ThankyouCommissionerIwashita?
IWASHITA:Youknowtodayis,whatwehavetodayandmyconcernisnotsomuch
you know what there is today and what there is going to be in the next 5 years or whats already
planned you know in place as it is. I think the concern is you know if we were looking as been
suggested earlier right and that yours is but you know the tip of the tip of the tip of the iceberg in
that large green area were looking on the map thats ultimately going to be developed right?
And you know then therell be thousands of people now in this area that some consideration has
to be in. I know Mr. Smith that you know yours is relatively speaking not a large development
but again to echo Mr. Emlers concerns in the long run you know it, I think its legitimate to look
at how this area is going to really be built out. And if in considering that theres going to be
thousands of people along Alii Drive right? Hundreds if not thousands of people, then mauka-
makai access has to be considered in each development. You know in a total big picture sense so
that you know we dont run into or we dont create actually problems you know when we know.
Its just a question of time. Its not if its going to happen its when its going to happen. So,
you know we live on a very dynamic island and we need to be very cognizant of that.
LAU:Yeah Commissioner Iwashita I believe that when the other properties
come in for-.
GRAHAM:Could you speak a little more closely in the mike.
LAU:Oh Im sorry yeah. When the other properties come in for their Land Use
Boundary amendments as well as rezoning. I think that at that point in time it would be a proper
subject of inquiry of the Planning Commission as well as the County Council to ensure that there
are other mauka-makai roadways. But I believe that our position today is that we believe that
with the existing roadway network there is adequate emergency access.
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GRAHAM:Thank you Mr. Lau. If we dont have further questions for the applicants
maybe I could ask you all to step back now and we could take our public testimony? Oh excuse
me Commissioner Springer?
SPRINGER:Thank you Commissioner Graham. Sirs Im wondering if you are
satisfied with the archaeological work that was done for you? As Im reviewing it theres an
absence of ethnographic information in it that I really look to to give me the most complete data
set to do analysis of these resources. And so Im just wondering if you have any other
supplemental information or if youre satisfied with the work?
LAU:We dont have any other supplemental information. In talking with the
archaeologist who prepared the various reports and discussing items like (inaudible) I was
satisfied with what he had prepared.
SPRINGER:Okay.
GRAHAM:CommissionerSpringerfollowup?
SPRINGER:Thankyou.Justinthesamewaythatwerelookingatthebigpicturewith
regard to the evacuation routes. Im looking for the big picture of the not only the archaeological
but cultural context in which these sites occur. So thats the reason for my question. Thank you
for your comments.
GRAHAM:Thank you. Commissioner Iwashita you had another question of the
applicant?
IWASHITA:I need a clarification. I dont know what Commissioner Springer is
talking about?
GRAHAM:Did, I dont think we need that at the moment or do we need that at the
moment?
IWASHITA:Oh no at some point Ill need that.
GRAHAM:Yes well get that. Well have discussion amongst us about all these
issues that have come forth. Thank you very much both of you. I only have one public testifier
signed up at the moment which is Joel Gimpel. If you could come forward Mr. Gimpel and if
anyone else is here. All right anyone else here please come forward and we can take your
testimony even though you didnt sign up. Thank you Mr. Gimpel I did swear you in before so I
dont think I need to do that again. So you can go forward-.
GIMPEL:I promise to tell the truth thats okay.
GRAHAM:Do tell the truth please.
EXHIBIT
12
GIMPEL:Thank you and good afternoon Mr. Chairman. The Kona Traffic Safety
Committees comments to Mr. Yuen regarding this application I believe are part of your record
so Ill summarize them here without taking too much of your time. And although we understand
that, the Planning Department doesnt consider traffic-related concerns in conjunction with SMA
applications unless shoreline access is affected, which doesnt seem to be the case here, we
believe that the Hawaii Revised Statutes warrant somewhat broader interpretation. Those
statute dictate that the development be consistent not only with the County General Plan and
zoning but that the, and our General Plan is quite specific about providing safe and efficient
transportation and I believe Mr. Wards letter to you outlines some concerns that are more
specific. In any event because of that weve looked closely at this proposed development.
First, the applicants site plan shows only one access point which is a gated entry on Alii Drive,
which could pose a danger to residents if its blocked and must provide adequate space for
vehicles waiting for the gate to open in order to avoid blocking Alii Drive. We urge, therefore,
that occupancy be conditioned on County approval of the design and position of the access point
and gated entry to assure that adequate sight lines exist and that there is waiting space in order to
make entrance to the subdivision. Now although the size of this development doesnt warrant a
second access to Alii Drive, we believe that the need for potential connectivity dictates that
changes in the proposed site plan should be required. The internal road appears to extend to the
south boundary, which would provide pedestrian access to the Judd Trail. The internal road,
however, stops short of the north boundary, which is adjacent to raw land that is destined for
urban expansion. Accordingly, we recommend that the internal road be extended to the north
subdivision boundary as well to allow for a future second access route. Second, we note that
although the application states that a TIAR was prepared, it wasnt included in the materials
furnished us for review. We assume, however, that 19 residences will generate between 150 and
160 trips per day, which will add significantly to the traffic on Alii Drive. Now although we
dont support the expansion of Alii Drive with additional vehicle lanes, we recommend that it be
improved adjacent to the development and beyond using some of the fair share contributions,
and even further if the developer would be willing to enhance the safety of the committee,
community excuse me, by providing at least 5-foot bike lanes and a 5-foot pedestrian ways on
both sides of Alii Drive and no parking within the road right-of-way. I note that the that one of
the developers has indicated hes already been in a couple of bike/car accidents on Alii Drive.
We dont want him to be in a third. Finally, we not that the historic Judd Trail, which has a long
history of abuse and neglect, lies between this property and property owned by Mr. Smith, one of
two members of the applicant. This trail must be preserved and restored to promote pedestrian
access to the shoreline which indeed is within your purview to look at in an SMA application.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment and Ill be happy to answer any questions.
GRAHAM:Thank you Mr. Gimpel. Do we have some questions from the
Commissioners? I guess not, thank you again.
GIMPEL:Thankyou.
GRAHAM:Wouldtheapplicantanditsrepresentativeliketocomeforthagainjustin
case theres any follow up from having received our public testimony? Id also like to just let the
publichereknowthatwhenwerefinishedwiththisitemwewillbebreakingforlunch.And
since its like 12:30 now were going to be taking an hour for lunch so itll be probably be
EXHIBIT
13
quarter to or 2 or something like that at least before we get back for our next agenda item. So,
my sense at this time is if any of you are here waiting for the next agenda item be sure to be back
by 2 and youre not going to miss your opportunity. All right thanks. Mr. Lau, Mr. Smith, Im, I
guess this is your last time before us before we discuss amongst ourselves and take action so as a
result of what youve heard or Mr. Gimpels testimony if you have any further remarks youd
like to make?
LAU:No we have no further comments.
GRAHAM:All right thank you. So you may go back and I guess well go into our
discussion now. Do any of the Commissioners have anything to put forth at the moment for our
discussion? I guess we could wait for motion but I think we have a number of issues in there so
maybe its good to just discuss a little bit first. Commissioner Springer?
SPRINGER:If Commissioner Iwashita may ask his question of me now?
GRAHAM:Yes, I believe the question was you wanted clarification of what
Commissioner Springer meant when she made her last question to the applicant regarding
ethnographic?
IWASHITA:Yeah and explain it to me like I was a 6 year old.
SPRINGER:Okay.
GRAHAM:All right thank you. Commissioner Springer?
SPRINGER:We have before us an archaeological report which discusses in very
clinical fashion the physical remains that are on the subject property. An ethnographic report
would draw upon archival including written and cartographic materials and then also include
interviews with local informants, kamaaina of the region in which the subject property is
situated. In general in order to have an understanding of the cultural context in which a site
occurs the archaeology may not be sufficient to provide that context and when I look at our rules
regarding the SMA theres a discussion about identifying the scope of valued cultural, historical
or natural resources in the petitioned area including the extent to which traditional and custom
native Hawaiian rights are exercised in the petitioned area and theres not a discussion of that but
that I was able to find. My interest is in particular peaked because of the presence of the
Keolanahihi and Keakealaniwahine complexes in very close proximity to this subject property.
And but for recent innovations and developments including Alii Drive I have reason to believe
that this site may have at one time been contiguous with those complexes but I have no
discussion of that before me. Also the presence of the Judd Trail peaks my interest because
althoughwecallittheJuddTrailduringthelatteryearsofthereignofKamehamehatheIII,
Judd was commissioned to go and build a highway from the West side to the East side. And that
hechosethislocationtoconductthisworkpeaksmyinterest.Andagaintheresnodiscussionof
it except for the physical remains of it in this brief area where it traverses the subject property.
Andtherecertainlyisa,aninterestingproposalforarchaeologicalpreservationthatissubmitted
as part of the application. I just dont find the discussion as deep as it might be with regard to
EXHIBIT
14
again the cultural context. And although the State Historic Preservation Officer has accepted the
report Im looking at the logo for Joseph Kennedys company and it says mea ike hana lima o
ke au i hala and I was hoping hed be here so he could translate that for us because Im not sure
what it means and Im not sure if I agree with the statement contained there. But without him to
be here I cannot ask him about that.
GRAHAM:Commissioner Iwashita does that satisfy your question?
IWASHITA:I think I have a better understanding of. So the Commission is concerned
that or is the Commissioner concerned enough so that you would ask that, eth-, what is it ethno?
SPRINGER:Ethnographic.
IWASHITA:Ethnographic component or work be done before we take further
consideration of this application.
GRAHAM:Commissioner Springer?
SPRINGER:I guess I would look to the Director to join us in this conversation at this
time because clearly the State Historic Preservation Office has accepted this material. They
apparently do find it sufficient and have, have submitted correspondence to that effect. Mr.
Director does the application stand as it is or could we ask for more information despite the
Historic Preservation Office having given their approval?
YUEN:I know that often times they do actually ask for backgrounds, historical
ethnographic background information along with the archaeological report. I dont know why
they didnt in this case. But if, I mean I stand by our recommendation they have approved the
site preservation plan. Most, and you see that there, there was some, reading the letters there was
some concern about it and because it-. If you look at, probably the best thing to look at is in the
archaeological book; theres figure 4 site location map. You notice that practically the whole
frontage of Alii Drive is comprised of archaeological sites. Theres another map that shows that
a couple of these are burials. And if theres a letter to the effect that was very difficult to find a
way to get into this property. They also, they Im familiar with the area because this, this is just
south of the Blasman property that was a contested SMA permit. Theres one property in
between which is owned by Pukopo. I have looked at actually the archaeological reports for
Pukopo that also has a lot of archaeological sites. Im not sure that theres a way in from the
north even and so SHPDA did agree to that access corridor, its sort of in the middle of the
property at site 8025. I think no doubt that they regarded these sites as significant. No doubt
that, no doubt they are. And we have preservation requirements which essentially preserve the
frontage of the site except for a 50-foot wide access way through one of these sites.
GRAHAM:Could I just personally throw my, as a Commissioner my concerns in the
samedirectionforwardandIthinkmaybeIevenamgoingatleastasbroadoralittlebroader
which is we do see on our site location map you know what looked like a fairly intense
communityhereinthepast.Andthentheapplicantisgoingtopreservemajorsectionsofthat
community but in breach the community with his entryway and as we see on our map to the right
EXHIBIT
15
up there. And I guess my concern; my interest or concern is what is the State Historic
Preservation Division trying to do. Where do we aim? What are we aiming for when we do
these set-asides? Are we aiming kind of in a museum way to just put certain stuff that will stay
there that people can come and examine it in the future and so were not losing some history
thats already there? Or are we trying to do anything more than that? Are we trying to maintain
any integrity of this community? Are we trying to look forward to some use that doesnt much
seem to be going on now but may go on in the future? I really have never seen written down
really well or spoken really well just what it is were trying to do. Maybe the Planning Director
can offer up a few of his thoughts.
YUEN:Yeah I think Im familiar enough with what they do to say that theyre
looking, they have to look at these applications as they come in. There isnt an overall historic
preservation requirement over a region so when the application comes in they have a review and
comment function. They, when they have their site significance criteria in this case the sites
were considered significant. One of them is believed to be a possible heiau and other burials and
one site is an example of a walled compound. In other words a little, probably a house area but
with a wall completely around it and they didnt want to see the wall breached. They do feel that
in making the recommendations they have to be reasonable to that. So, if they require complete
preservation of the Alii Drive frontage in effect theyre blocking off the property. And then if
you get from, I mean if you (inaudible) from southside then you have to cross the Judd Trail so it
becomes you know all these things become very difficult. But as far as what theyre trying to
accomplish theyre trying to accomplish the physical preservation of the sites that are on this
property so that they are, so that they are preserved. I dont how much interpretation, signage
and the like theyre looking for on this. I dont think there was much if anything in the
preservation plan. As far as the overall context I can tell you cause weve looked at this area
before. If you look at the page facing that to the left. The page-facing figure 4 is figure 3
location of the subject property on a TMK map. Immediately across the street on the makai side
of Alii Drive you have a big area that was a subdivision that was largely bulldozed. The whole,
the whole general area was a very rich and very important settlement area in Old Hawaii that is
sometimes called the Holualoa Royal Center. But immediately across the street everything is
pretty much gone. On the, across the street on the north side is the State Historic Park at
Keolanahihi where there is still a lot of archaeological features. And then you cant see it quite
on this map but just a little bit to the north again on the mauka side of Alii Drive theres the
Blasman property that was just purchased. And the Blasman property, I think theres another
figure in the back that we can look at. If you turn back to this map figure 2 about 10 pages
farther on. That shows, it says 774 in the corner, where it says 12 across the street where it says
12 and 51 and 52 those are all part of the, those are all the State Park. On the mauka side of Alii
Drive where it says 26 thats the Blasman property thats recently been purchased by the State
for a park addition. Where it says 11 is Keakealaniwahine complex which was purchased
actually donated to the State several years ago and its a huge walled complex in there. Where it
says97isthePukobopropertywhichiscurrentlyzonedAg5doeshavequiteafew
archaeological sites. And where it says plat 24 is that subdivision that was, where it was
bulldozed.Sothatsthe,thatsthecontextaroundit.
EXHIBIT
16
GRAHAM:Thank you very much. I know as Commissioner Im always looking for
the right since thats where (inaudible) to, either of the Commissioners on my left side have any
comments or, put into this conversation? Commissioner Springer?
SPRINGER:I guess either to the Director or the staff on page 3 of the recommendation
in the narrative section. It says there is no evidence of any traditional and customary native
Hawaiian rights being practiced on the site. What is the evidence for that?
YUEN:Im not sure, Mr. Hayashi?
HAYASHI:What page was that?
SPRINGER:Thats on page 3 in the narrative section.
GRAHAM:Down the next to the last paragraph this is on the orange papers Norman
the recommendation. Page 3 on the recommendation.
SPRINGER:Its the last sentence of the as Commissioner Graham was saying the
second to the last paragraph.
HAYASHI:Well basically we took that off of the, since the archaeological report were
accepted and basically were stating that from that report there does not seem to be any evidence.
SPRINGER:May I?
GRAHAM:Yes please. Commissioner Springer?
SPRINGER:You know one of the things traditional and customary practitioners is they
may conduct those practices in such a way that they are not observed. And again lacking any
interviews with kamaaina or local informants to tell me that practice hasnt been abandoned. I
dont have evidence of that because the archaeological report does not discuss that per say.
Thanks.
GRAHAM:Thank you. Any other comments from the Commissioners? I personally
was still concerned about the Judd Trail and I think the Judd Trail is both a historical
consideration and also like a public access live consideration right now. And I know on the same
page in the recommendations and the same paragraph Commissioner Springer is speaking of
right after the highlighted text it says theres no public access to shoreline or mountain areas and
then farther on in this, in the area. And clearly I view that Judd Trail is a important public
access. And I guess I wanted to ask the Director seems like the Judd Trail has been overlooked
asfarasthepublicinterestofpreservingitandbringingitbacktousethroughlandusechanges
over the last number of years. Is the Judd Trail so far gone that its kind of a you know an
eclecticexerciseyousitandtalkaboutusingtheJuddTrail?Orshouldwebeconcernedthat
now may be the moment where its forth putting our attention on the Judd Trail to get proper
meetsandboundsandtogetwhatmightbenecessarytobringtheJuddTrailbacktosome
functional use or do you feel like thats too much water over the dam already?
EXHIBIT
17
YUEN:No the Judd Trail alignment is still there and is still useable in the area.
The reason for not focusing on it. I thought we had determined that it was not on the property?
HAYASHI:We did receive a letter from Stephen Menezes who is the applicants
representative. And that is, no its a memo from Stephen Menezes. Its a memo date February 9,
2006 and basically enclosing the, a letter from Joseph Kennedy of Archaeological Consultants of
the Pacific dated February 2, 2006. And if you look at the last sentence, I believe all of you have
a copy of that, it does state here that the and Ill read it, Subsequent field checks with State
DLNR personnel has determined that a portion of the trail is just within the southern boundary
and is within the area approved for preservation with site 8027 and 2828 and is therefore
protected by it. And look sincerely. But there are no maps, map attached to that. So I really
dont know the status of whether the Judd Trail is, a portion of Judd Trail is in fact in the
property or its not in the property. I did do a physical check of the property and it indicated that
if this were the southern end of the property there is a pin at this location. Then there seems to
be a area that is lower than the elevation of the subject property. And it seems like its perhaps
where the Judd Trail is but Im not the expert so. You know until survey is done you know I
think that was one of the responsibilities of DLNR to identify where the Judd Trail is, the exact
location.
YUEN:Given that we, we should probably put in a condition that says something
like public access consistent with requirements of the Department of Land and Natural
Resources shall be allowed over the portion over any portion of Judd Trail lying within the
subject property.
GRAHAM:Commissioner Iwashita?
IWASHITA:I guess I have a thought that maybe the owner can clarify this because if
the legal description of the property along, that adjoins Judd Trail basically says that the calls are
along the trail then it would seem clear that the trail wherever its located right? And I dont
know if theres a modern survey or not. But if the call is along the trail then there seems to me
there would have been a modern done. I dont know maybe Mr. Smith-?
GRAHAM:Mr. Smith if you and Mr. Lau would like to come forward and respond to
the question thats fine.
SMITH:Yes there is pins showing property line and where the Judd Trail is. On
my property from Alii Drive all the way through my property it has property pins and it has
where the Judd Trail is.
GRAHAM:Thankyouisthatallyouneeded?
IWASHITA:No.SoitsyourunderstandingMr.Smiththatthepinswherevertheyre
located show the boundary. On one side of the pin is your property on the other side of the pin is
theJuddTrailisthatyourunderstanding?
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18
SMITH:The Judd Trail is on my property on one side. I have 2 pieces there and
my neighbor mauka of me put up a fence and I have a fence. So theres actually theres a fence
on both sides and theres a 10-foot area thats the Judd Trail that neither one of us. But I believe
that its on my property. Okay the pins are pinned. The surveyor pinned the pin and then on
their property and then theres a 10 foot its kind of hard to explain but cause theres 2 pieces of
property and ones different from the other. So on the Royal Alii side its on one side and then
as you go up my 6 acres on the back its on the other side but theres pins. The property from
Alii Drive on the first 5 acres theres pins and also the 6 acres behind it theres pins. And it
shows that right of way or whatever it is, easement, and its all, if anybody was to walk that
property you wouldnt have any problem seeing the Judd Trail.
GRAHAM:Commissioner Iwashita?
IWASHITA:Has the trail been delineated by what appears to be rock walls on a portion
of this map that Im looking at?
SMITH:Its a- its a wire fence.
IWASHITA:The fence doesnt show up on this map. Is the fence inside or outside the
rock wall Im looking at?
SMITH:Theres no rock wall except on Alii Drive theres a small rock wall and
then the, and then from there theres a wire fence to keep the pigs out cause theres a nursery
there. I have a nursery and my neighbor does and so and basically a pig fence so that it will keep
the pigs out. But theres property pins put in the property right adjacent to the Judd trail. And,
and the County had 3 or 4 people there at different times and we walked it and I showed them, I
showed them where exactly it was cause they didnt know. It was people from the County over
in Hilo.
IWASHITA:You know I know this body cannot determine title kind of questions or
(inaudible) locations and all of that. So, Im not sure what we can do I guess in terms of
conditions as far as the Judd trail. And I guess it sounds like Mr. Smith is saying that it appears
to him that a portion of the trail is within the property that is subject to this SMA application is
that right?
LAU:Commissioner Iwashita perhaps a condition that would satisfy everyones
concern would state that the applicant will be required to have a licensed survey preparing meets
and bounds, description of the Judd trail and to the extent that the Judd trail is within the subject
property that there shall be public access over that portion.
YUEN:Thatworksforme.
IWASHITA:IguessIwouldwantthatbecausepresumablytheJuddtrailisownedby
the State, that the survey be acceptable to the State also.
YUEN:I think thats a good addition.
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19
GRAHAM:Do we have any further questions or comments from the Commissioners?
Commissioner McCall?
MCCALL:I guess just in discussion I am somewhat uncomfortable with the
archaeological report. It seems you know I would like to get more information before I would be
willing to give a favorable vote on this. I dont know whether, I mean Im certainly not an
expert in you know in deciding where the Judd trail I mean weve got but I feel we need better
information. I dont really know that a site visit would really do anything you know cause Im
not an expert at this. But I feel like we, like theres some deficiencies in their archaeological
report. That a little more information I think is needed some more you know to (inaudible) my
concerns about what is really there. Because theres no going back from you know from the
SMA approval. It stops with this body.
LAU:Commissioner McCall if I may respond to that. Its our position that if
there are remnants of the Judd trail within our property. That those remnants are within the
preservation area that has been approved by the State. So I think the, the protection that, that at
least that I see is that if the trail is there its within the preservation area, that there will be no
development. And what we are willing to offer is a mapping of the Judd trail and also public
access over that portion of the Judd trail thats on the property. With respect to the cultural
aspects that Commissioner Springer raised we would also be willing to live with a, or accept a
condition whereby prior to development a cultural survey be conducted to supplement the reports
that were already submitted to the State.
GRAHAM:Mr. Lau, just procedurally at this point I only brought you folks back to
answer specific questions. So if you would refrain even though your comments were very
helpful there, refrain unless theres a direct question.
LAU:Okay.
GRAHAM:Thank you. Do we have anything more from the Commissioners?
Commissioner McCall?
MCCALL:Maybe to respond. That is all and good but my concerns are for the
overall. I mean I think that there needs to be a little more look at the overall area and whether
you know whether-. I would at the very least would like to for myself be able to talk to the
archaeologist or get some more feedback on whether this is really, whether everything is here.
So just at this point I dont feel I have enough information to give a positive vote.
GRAHAM:Thank you. Commissioner Iwashita?
IWASHITA:I have similar concerns to Commissioner Springer and Commissioner
McCallandyouknowIlljustpointoutoneIguessIdontknowifitssmallorbigbutitshere
in the record in the comment of the writing by Charles Rhodes it looks like. Discussing the
basicallythisisPalacegroundsweretalkingabout.Andyouknowwehavenoother
information about, about that the ethnographic type of evidence that Commissioner Springer
EXHIBIT
20
talked about and I concur with Commissioner McCalls concerns and I share them and if you
have any. You know I guess what I would like to know from the applicant is whether or not
youre willing to you know have this additional ethnographic information provided really before
we consider the approval of this SMA application?
GRAHAM:Go ahead please Mr. Lau.
LAU:Thank you. Yes we are willing to have the information prepared. Perhaps
the best way to handle this would be to defer any decision that you make until the next Planning
Commission hearing assuming that we can get on the calendar for the next hearing. And at that
time I will have our archaeologist here and hopefully by that time he will be able to give us some
information to address the concerns that Commissioner Springer had.
GRAHAM:Thank you Commissioner Springer?
SPRINGER:Great, thank you, thank you for that initiative on your part. And so Id
like to make some additional comments.
GRAHAM:Please.
SPRINGER:And Commissioner Graham with regard to your concerns thats one of the
reasons that I would have hoped for at least a general discussion of the trail beyond the bounds of
this parcel being considered. Im not necessarily in favor of exercising authoritative muscle and
requiring public access for the point of flexing that muscle. I dont know the disposition of the
trail beyond the bounds of the subject property so I, I would hope that that would be included in
the discussion so that we have that bigger picture of the trail. That would be very helpful for me
at least in analyzing that portion of my concerns so thank you Mr. Lau and Mr. Chair as well.
GRAHAM:Do we have anything further from the Commissioners? Mr. Lau my only
thought on the discussion weve had is that there may be more that were kind of asking for than
what you can just pull together for the next meeting. I certainly have the Judd trail concerns as
well as well as the whole site base concerns here. Mr. Torigoe I dont run into it. It seems
likely, unlikely to me that were going to if we voted on the application now regardless of the
conditions that we would have a clear decision one way or the other. Can you give us an idea of
what our options might be? I dont want to overrun Statute of Limitations or.
TORIGOE:Okay looking at your Planning Commission rule 9, (inaudible) steps of
permits. Boy this is a long rule. 9-11 E speaks of the time limits basically youre supposed to
make a decision within 30 calendar days after the conclusion of the hearing. At this point the
hearing is not concluded sounds like youre planning to continue or defer it. So the clock really
wouldnotbetickingatthispoint.
GRAHAM:SoCommissionerSpringer?
SPRINGER:Finish,Imsorry.
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21
GRAHAM:So I was just going to say that if were agreed to defer the hearing Im sure
we could do that. I mean I believe we could do that if the Commission wanted. Then it would
seem to me to be incumbent upon us as Commissioners to let you know, you know what we were
expecting so that at least in the meantime you can work towards what we feel we need.
Commissioner Iwashita?
IWASHITA:I dont know if its in order or not I would move that in the further, that this
hearing be continued on this application to the next date that staff can fit this in.
GRAHAM:I would suggest maybe that we do it until the applicant feels ready to
continue once weve let him know what were needing to have.
IWASHITA:Oh either way I guess my sense was that Mr. Lau was wanting to keep the
process moving and but if its the sense of the body that you know that I guess further
information should be considered by (inaudible) and maybe checking with your archaeologist so
forth to get a better sense of what kind of time frame youre looking at for a continuance and
thats fine too. So but I just wanted to make it clear by the motion by the statements from the
applicant that the applicant agrees to the continuation of this hearing and then we do it by
motion.
GRAHAM:Thank you so that is a motion?
IWASHITA:Yes.
GRAHAM:And do we have a second?
MCCALL:Second.
GRAHAM:Seconded by Commissioner McCall. Should we finish the motion and
then discuss what wed like to have brought forward? Okay any discussion on the motion?
IWASHITA:Id just like to make clear on the record Mr. Lau you agree with the
continuation on this hearing and so we can have these further considerations addressed?
LAU:Yes we agree to the continuation.
IWASHITA:Thank you.
GRAHAM:My sense is procedurally that we would vote on having the continuation
and then before we close the hearing on this matter that we let Mr. Lau know what it is were
hopingtoreceivebeforewetakeitupagain.Isthatagreeable?Isthatwhatyouallunderstand
over here? Mr. Watanabe?
WATANABE:Might you just make Mr. Lau aware of what you want him or what you
wouldexpectduringthediscussionofthis,themotionthatsalreadythere?Andthenonceyou
vote on that then were done with this.
EXHIBIT
22
GRAHAM:Its okay with me.
WATANABE:I think that might be simpler.
GRAHAM:Fine. Mr. Galdones is this all okay with you?
GALDONES:Thank you Mr. Chair. I havent said much about this because reading the
background report and the recommendations I was prepared to take action on this. But because
my fellow Commissioners want, they have some certain concerns that they would like to take
care of Im willing to go along with the motion that is before us. But I think along with that
motion we should also include what are we looking for. So we should that include that in the
motion so that we all know what we are voting and what we are expecting out of the motion.
GRAHAM:Fine. So lets do it, is that fine well do it that way?
IWASHITA:I will defer to initially to Commissioner Springer to set forth what that is
specifically.
GRAHAM:Commissioner Springer would you please?
SPRINGER:I look to Mr. Torigoe cause I suspect I may be walking a fine line between
testifying and making a request of the applicant. But fundamentally I would like to see a
discussion of this parcel within the context of the Kaumalumalu Ahupuaa and also its
relationship to, if any, to the Keolanahihi and Keakealaniwahine complexes. And also any
identified traditional and customary practices whether past or ongoing. And I believe that the
State Historic Preservation Officer should be able to help with this given the close proximity to
the historic park situated on Kamoa Point and also the Judd Trail not only as it appears on the
subject parcel but what any potential public access upon that or over it would be connecting the
users to. We know that it went from the ocean until it was terminated by the 1859 Mauna Loa
flow. So maybe DLNR can help with ownership issues also that we asked about. Thank you.
GRAHAM:Thank you Commissioner Springer. Commissioner McCall did you have
anything else beyond that that you wanted included?
MCCALL:That certainly more than covers what Im hoping for.
GRAHAM:Commissioner Iwashita?
IWASHITA:I just want to make sure that Mr. Lau and the applicant understands
everything.IhavesomesenseofitbutisthatacceptabletoyouwhatCommissionerSpringer
stated?
LAU:I may have to call her for the spelling of those two complexes but
otherwiseIgenerallyunderstandwhatsheslookingforandwewillcomply.
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IWASHITA:And we are talking about the ethnographic, development of the
ethnographic evidence correct?
SPRINGER:Yes.
IWASHITA:Okay.
GRAHAM:Id also like to put in with respect to the Judd trail. I know in many of our
applications like in Mr. Ebys earlier today where we asked him to donate 5 feet of frontage to
the highway corridor and stuff like that. I say that in regard to, I dont know that just passive
treatment of the Judd trail is adequate in this circumstance. So Id like whatever you feel you
could offer in the direction that wed like to see which is that the Judd trail be restored for use in
some way and whatever you think might be appropriate for you folks to do. And Id like the
Planning Department to kind of weigh in on that also as to their recommendation of what they
think is appropriate and are appropriate for as to ask of an applicant in a situation where this
important historic trail abuts the property on one side.
LAU:May I respond Mr. Chairman?
GRAHAM:Yes you may.
LAU:With respect to the Judd trail I hope that the, that your thoughts with
respect to any active work on the trail would only be on the portion of the trail that we control.
You know certainly we dont have control over others property and we would be willing to
work on the Judd trail as it relates to our. Oh excuse me, as it is located within our property.
GRAHAM:Yes I certainly understand your consideration and it sounds quite sensible
to me. I dont walk into this with firm ideas in my mind. I just want to look at the whole picture
the same way Commissioner Springer does and then listen to what the Planning Department and
you have to say and hopefully come out to a reasonable conclusion. Yes Mr. Smith.
SMITH:Oh Id just like to say that one of my family members have married a Judd
so Ill try to get as much information as I can.
GRAHAM:That would be appreciated.
SMITH:Tough family.
GRAHAM:Do we have any more comments from the Commissioners? So maybe
were ready to take action on the motion? Norman if you would like to do a roll call on our
motiontocontinuethepublichearing?Continuethisapplication.
HAYASHI:Justforclarificationnospecificdatehasbeengiven?
GRAHAM:Thatscorrectisthatacceptabletotheapplicant?
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LAU:The question that I would have is how do we get back on the calendar?
GRAHAM:Norman could you help us with that?
HAYASHI:Well you know it all depends whether the Commission wants a report
done or do they do it orally at a meeting?
GRAHAM:I think our sense of the Commission is that when the applicant is prepared
to respond to the concerns weve put forth then you would get them on the next possible agenda.
And maybe you could let him know how much advance notice for each agenda you need to get
him.
HAYASHI:Okay as far as this, this is a continued hearing at least 6 calendar days
prior to the meeting.
GRAHAM:So if he wanted to have it on the meeting hed have to be sure to let you
know at least 6 calendar days ahead.
HAYASHI:Well its going to be a little more than that because we have to put it into
the paper and normally its about 5 days prior to the actual publication date.
GRAHAM:So Mr. Lau is that acceptable to you or would you rather that we schedule
it for some hearing?
LAU:So Norman, excuse me Mr. Hayashi excuse me what youre saying is 5
days prior to the 6 days?
HAYASHI:Yes.
LAU:So 11 days prior to the hearing? Why dont we leave it that way.
GRAHAM:Fine.
LAU:So 11 days prior to a hearing we will ask the Planning Department to put
us on the calendar.
GRAHAM:Fine. So I think were ready for the roll call.
HAYASHI:Okay with that.
GRAHAM:Forthemotiontocontinue.
HAYASHI:CommissionerIwashita?
IWASHITA:Aye.
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HAYASHI:Commissioner McCall?
MCCALL:Aye.
HAYASHI:Commissioner Springer?
SPRINGER:Yes.
HAYASHI:Commissioner Watanabe?
WATANABE:Aye.
HAYASHI:Commissioner Graham?
GRAHAM:Aye.
HAYASHI:Im sorry. I guess my stomach is calling. Commissioner Galdones?
GALDONES:Aye.
HAYASHI:And Chair Graham?
GRAHAM:Aye.
HAYASHI:Thank you. Motion to continue passes.
GRAHAM:Thank you Mr. Lau and Mr. Smith for long hearing here.
This discussion ended at 1:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lynette Marushige, West Hawaii Secretary
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