HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-02-24 TKona_REZ05026
PLANNING COMMISSION
COUNTY OF HAWAII
HEARING TRANSCRIPT
February 24, 2006
A regularly advertised hearing on the application of was
SCD KONA 108, LLC (REZ 05-026)
called to order at 2:30 p.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: SCD KONA 108, LLC (REZ 05-026)
Change of Zone from Agricultural 5-acre (A-5a) to Residential and Agricultural 1-acre (RA-1a)
and Multiple Family Residential 3,500 square feet (RM-3.5) for 108.2 acres of land. The
property is located mauka of Queen Kaahumanu Highway, adjacent to and ending mauka of
st
Lowes,approximately400feetnorthofMalulaniGardensSubdivision,Lanihau1 and
stnd
Moeauoa 1 and 2, North Kona, Hawaii, TMK: 7-5-3:7, 8 and 9.
GRAHAM:All right the Hawaii County Planning Commission will now come back to
session. Our next agenda item is SCD Kona 108, LLD. This is a change of zone application so
the commission will be making a recommendation to the County Council who will take final
action. This is for a change from agricultural 5a to residential and agricultural 1a and multi-
family residential 3500 square feet for 108.2 acres of land. The property located mauka of
Queen Kaahumanu Highway, adjacent to and ending on the mauka side of Lowes approximately
ststnd
400 fee north of Malulani Gardens Subdivision, Lanihau 1 and Moeauoa 1 and 2, North
Kona,Hawaii,TMK7-5-3:7,8and9.Normancouldyougiveusastaffpresentationofthis
application?
HAYASHI:Yes, thank you Mr. Chair. Directing your attention to the overall site
locationmapthesubjectpropertyisindicatedandoutlinedbythisredstrip.Itconsistsof108
acres. The applicant intends to rezone approximately 97 acres from agricultural 5 acres to RA 1
acreandRM,approximately11acrestoRM3.5.ThisistheQueenKaahumanuHighway.
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Lowes Home Improvement Center is located adjacent to and makai of the subject property.
This is Henry Street that would hook up to Palani Drive at this particular location. The darker
purple shaded areas are areas that are zoned for general commercial and that basically includes
the commercial areas, which include Borders and some of the commercial facilities at the corner
of, excuse me off of Henry Street. Malulani Subdivision or Garden Subdivision is indicated in
this general area. It consists of 120 plus residential lots. The green shaded areas are other areas
that are currently zoned agricultural 5 acre. These lands are still within the State Land Use
Agricultural district. Going to the applicants site map again as a matter of orientation, this is
Queen Kaahumanu Highway going towards Kau and this would be in the Kawaihae direction.
Access to the property would be from Malulani Drive and this is Malulani Gardens Subdivision.
It would hook up in this general configuration and provide access to this particular property.
Lowes again is situated here and includes their large parking area. At this particular location
there would be the Walmart and Safeway complex. The applicant intends to again rezone the
lower section of the property to a RM 3.5 zoned district. A proposal is to provide approximately
5acresfortheSalvationArmytouseasitsfacility.Shouldthechangeofzonerequestbe
granted then the land will be turned over to the Salvation Army. The Salvation Army would
have to come in for a separate use permit to establish their particular use. Mauka of that on the
additional 5 acres the applicant intends to construct a 13 unit affordable housing project and that
would be at this location. The adjacent area which would be zoned Residential Agricultural 1-
acre will be used for the development of 57, 1-acre size lots. The construction time period
schedule for this particular project will be to commence construction beginning 2007. The
current General Plan for this particular area is Urban Expansion Area. Again the entire property
including the area proposed for RA-1a is within the State Land Use Urban district. The property
is currently vacant. And as I indicated earlier going to this map there are commercial areas, in
this section of, the lower section, lower properties. We also have some multiple residential
zoned properties and thats basically the area thats referred to as Hamburger Hill above
McDonalds. The Mormon Church is located in this particular location and it is makai of the
subject property. Again access would be from Queen Kaahumanu Highway through Malulani
Drive and extending to the subject property. Water is available to the property. The Planning
Director is recommending approval with conditions and we recently provided you with a copy of
amended conditions and thats the yellow sheet. The amended condition was for condition M at
the suggestion of the Department of Public Works. Are there any questions?
GRAHAM:Commissioners do you have some questions of Norman? Should we wait
a second while you? Well just wait a minute Norman if thats all right; people look through
their things a little bit more.
HAYASHI:Commissioners there was also an amendment to proposed condition H as
requested by the Department of Public Works.
GRAHAM:Thats an amendment beyond what we have on the yellow sheet?
HAYASHI:No thats indicated on the yellow sheet.
GRAHAM:Commissioner Springer?
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SPRINGER:Im looking at appendix D of the application and is it proper to question
staff just about what the department accepts. Maybe let me just (inaudible) my questions. Im
looking at appendix D of the application and thats entitled StateHistoric Preservation approval
letters. And those letters are dated 1996 and 1998, which were before the Public Access
Shoreline Hawaii and Ka Paakai O Kaaina decisions were rendered. So Im wondering again if
we have sufficient information before us and is that something that I should have in my mind?
GRAHAM:Norman if you have comments go ahead otherwise well pass it onto the
applicant when the applicant comes up.
YUEN:We, the procedures of SHPD as far as archaeological review were roughly
the same then as now so we would still accept it in terms of the archaeological review. We
should have a, some separate, because theres more to the PASH and then just archaeology we
should have separate information about that but the age of the archaeological reports from 96,
98isokay.
SPRINGER:Thankyou.
GRAHAM:Anyquestionsfromanyothercommissioners?Willtheapplicantandhis
representative please come forward? And again I remind the public anyone who hasnt signed
up to testify yet please pick up one of those slips out there and stop over at the corner of the
table. So we have 3 of you if you all might be testifying.
FURFARO:Theres 5.
GRAHAM:All those who will be speaking on behalf here would you-. I guess what
Im going to do now is swearing in the applicant and his representative not so much the public
testimony. So the 3 of you who will be speaking on behalf of the applicant would raise your
right hand and Ill swear you in.
UNKNOWN:Theres 5 of them.
GRAHAM:Okay all of the applicants. Sorry. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth
on the matter now before the Hawaii County Planning Commission?
APPLICANTS:I do.
GRAHAM:Thank you. So each of you who will provide testimony please give your
name and your address before giving your testimony but you can just go ahead one at a time as
you wish.
CARR:Good afternoon Chairman Graham and members of the Planning
Commission and Director Yuen. My name is Stanford Carr. Im one of the principals of SCD
Kona 108, LLC, which is the applicant here before you for the Change of Zoning. Next to me is
Marissa Furfaro from PBR our Planning Consultant and to the left of me here is Richard
Wheelock also one of the principals of SCD Kona 108 LLC. Were here before you today to
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request our change in zoning. That will be taking a 108-acre piece of property and designing a
57 unit Ag-1 parcels. As well as in addressing the needs of the community providing a 5-acre
site for the Salvation Army for a community center, pre-school in which Major Glen Doss of the
Salvation Army is here to elaborate and speak about their plans. And also to address our
affordable housing requirements with respect to proposing to build 16 multi-family apartments.
GRAHAM:Thank you.
CARR:Youre welcome.
GRAHAM:So this is your chance to you know explain about the project or whatever
youd like to before the Commissioners here and then we can ask you questions thereafter so if
you or any of the others wish to elaborate on any particulars you think will be helpful please do
so at this time.
WHEELOCK:Thank you Commissioner. Im Richard Wheelock, 1607 Mokulua Drive,
Kailua,Hawaii.Stanfordindicatedwereheretopresenttheproposedproject.Wevenamedit
Kona Coffee Estates. Its conceived as a transition project above Lowes as has been pointed
out. We intend to incorporate a number of affordable housing and a civic service, which is going
to be provided by the Salvation Army. Theyve outgrown their existing facilities and along with
the community that they serve they have greater needs. Weve been working with them for
several years and hopefully well be able to help them achieve their new facilities. Above that is
conceived a low-density agricultural residential component. As has been pointed out this land is
designated urban not agricultural by the State Land Use Commission. We have all the utilities to
the site including sewer, water, telephone and electrical. The conception of the project is a low-
density, low-impact, transitional area focused on keeping the hillside as green as possible at
higher elevations and keeping the more dense use to the lower elevations. Thats about all Ive
got thank you.
GRAHAM:All right thank you. And, Marissa did you have anything to offer? Okay.
Do we have some questions from the Planning Commissioners then? All right now reading of all
this material I sort of had 2 separate elements that I was concerned. One was what I call the land
use element by itself is it appropriate to zone more densely this area thats otherwise surrounded
by all Ag-5 lands. And the other of course are the infrastructure issues relating to water and
roads and stuff like that. So I think the commissioners we all have read this so Im sure we have
all these issues in our mind but I just wanted to put forth thats, both of those were concerns that
I was feeling when I was reading through it. Commissioner Springer?
SPRINGER:Good afternoon. I wonder if you could direct me in your application to
any figure or map that I might have missed that shows the arch sites that are intended for
preservation in the context of a master plan.
FURFARO:Good afternoon Commissioner and Chairman. I apologize; Im losing my
voice so bear with me. My address is 39 Kaapuni Loop, Hilo, Hawaii. Commissioner Springer
there is figure 2 in the archaeological appendix. However the sites that are chosen for
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preservation are listed in the text. I can take a moment to pick them out and circle them but I do
need a moment to do that.
SPRINGER:May we take that moment Mr. Chair?
GRAHAM:Certainly Marissa. You want to just take a moment to do that and then
you can address us again? Fine.
SPRINGER:Marissa is that figure shown in the arch report
FURFARO:Yes.
SPRINGER:I have that before me. Im wondering if theres a illustration that shows
the arch sites in the context of the development plan?
FURFARO:Youre speaking about on our concept plan?
SPRINGER:Mm hm.
FURFARO:That map up there? No we dont have an overlay.
SPRINGER:Thank you.
GRAHAM:Any other questions from the-? Marissa did you have something for us?
FURFARO:No I was just going to apologize. Im not; I havent refreshed myself on
the report lately so it will take me a moment if you want to move onto another question then I
can-.
GRAHAM:Okay, you want, you were going to address the question in respect to the,
like this other map here.
FURFARO:To the sites selected for preservation.
GRAHAM:Okay sure. Do we have any other questions from the Commissioners?
Commissioner Watanabe?
WATANABE:Im not sure who I should address this to but we do have I guess a letter of
testimony from the public thats saying that possibly he should consider making that road a
mauka-makai connector. Or having the potential to become a mauka-makai connector, which
would sort of like reconfigure your subdivision. Right now it stubs off at the mauka side of the
subdivision plan yeah and that wouldnt allow for a mauka-makai connector. Would you have
any objection to kind of like flipping those lots around?
CARR:Commissioner Watanabe. Its our intent and Ill address this later in the
current amendment before you on the Change of Zoning conditions. Its our intent to have a
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public access dedicable roadway coming up in through the entry of our community and
terminating, if I may have a moment to illustrate to you.
GRAHAM:Yeah go right ahead. So Mr. Carr is going to be pointing out on the map
on the left
CARR:Commissioner Watanabe, this is our proposed continuation of the existing
roadway that will traverse through the community. Its our intent if youll note on one of the
conditions from public works in the amendment was to have dedicable roadways. We wanted to
clarify that this would be dedicable County standard roadways up until the terminus of this
intersection where theres a planned north/south connection and from thereafter going further
mauka that it would be private Ag standards for the reason being that it will be serving 57
agricultural lots. We do not have, or have any knowledge as to the intent of the owners above us
of their intentions to rezone their property. Im not even quite sure if theyre in the urban
boundary.AsstatedbyMr.Hayashithispropertyisintheurbanboundary,StateLandUse
Urban, County Ag. We are requesting a change from Ag-5 to Ag-1 (sic) only because the
previous developer had intended and had planned to propose to develop about 400 somewhat
units there. But in taking a step back and looking what has been built to date with respect to
Malulani Gardens across the way here as well as the existing Lowes and other commercial sites
surrounding the property along the highway. We felt that we needed to mitigate any future
density because of traffic and vehicular access. And for that reason we felt that an
Ag-1 (sic)subdivision would be more appropriate but also addressing some of the community
needs with respect to the Salvation Army as well as some affordable multi families.
WATANABE:Thank you.
GRAHAM:Commissioner Springer I think Marissa is ready for a more detailed
explanation of your question.
SPRINGER:Thank you.
FURFARO:Okay there are 2 sites marked for preservation. One site falls within the
Lowes area site 19039 and that preservation plan has been completed. The second site falls on,
on this subject property and its 19056 and its above the scale. If you see the scale at the bottom
of the page. And for the location of that site on this preliminary concept its approximately the
rd
3
lot down on that southern edge of the property. Now whomever purchases that lot will be
made aware of the site and be required to follow the preservation plan. Now the preservation
plan is now in the planning stage. The data recovery plan, field work is to commence at the end
of March. Do you have any further questions on that topic?
SPRINGER:Not at this time thank you.
FURFARO:Okay thank you.
GRAHAM:Okay.DoyouhaveanyotherquestionsfromCommissioners?
Commissioner Iwashita?
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IWASHITA:Im generally aware in the past there was an issue about the Mauna Lani,
Malulani, Im sorry, Road, Roadway. And, I, so Im has all of that been resolved in terms of-. I
dont know if there was threatened litigation or actual litigation involved in that whole, how that
was done and the owners of Mauna Lani had issues with the use of what they perceived as their
subdivision road.
WHEELOCK:Commissioner Iwashita thank you for the question. There was litigation.
It was commenced in Judge Ibarras court by the concerned citizens of Malulani Gardens group,
which was a non-profit group, organized to fight the Lowes project, which was built below this
project. The access off of Queen Kaahumanu Highway which is currently known as Malulani
Drive was the only access lot that the State DOT when they built that road back in the I guess the
80s to serve both the property that is now Malulani Gardens, the Kanuha property, which is the
70 acres immediately north of Malulani Gardens and between our project and them, and our
project.AsyouprobablyknowStateDOTtriestolimitaccesstothehighway.Sofromthevery
beginning I was with Hawaiian Development Corporation at that time and they sold the 24 acres
to Brian Cook that became Malulani Gardens. That was always intended to be the access road
for the Kanuha property and this project. We obtained urban designation for the entire property
in 1997, I think it went on to rezone the lower portion to commercial in 1998. During that period
of time Malulani Gardens was under development and many of the people who had bought their
homes later in the stage were not aware from I guess the developer didnt tell them or whatever.
They were not aware that it was zoned commercial or that that road was going to be extended.
When the Lowes project commenced construction there was a lot of shock and consternation
expressed on their behalf. After numerous meetings and discussions various resolutions of some
of the issues were made. The resolution to the roadway had to go through the legal channels.
There was 2 arbitrations. First arbitration was about ownership of the road and the arbitrator
ruled that Brian Cook and Hawaiian Development did have the right to build that road, use it and
dedicate it. The second arbitration was about a residential use restriction that should be applied
to that road. That arbitrator ruled that there was no residential use restriction. Many of the
opponents from Malulani Gardens have become if not supportive of it theyve resigned
themselves to the fact that that area is growing in accordance with the General Plan that was
approved in 1971 urban expansion. Some of the residents have not resigned themselves to that
and Im sure that youll hear their opinion later on. But, there is some concern from some of the
residents there about the use of that roadway. From a legal standpoint its my understanding its
my understanding and belief that we have every right to use that road and we intend to do so.
Does that answer your question sir?
IWASHITA:So the litigation has ended?
WHEELOCK:Yes.
IWASHITA:Thank you.
GRAHAM:Thank you Mr. Wheelock. Any other Commissioners have questions for
the applicant? Commissioner Springer?
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SPRINGER:Im looking at 2.0 the project description page 9 of your application. And
there are 3 bullets there one regarding the creation of a high quality residential development that
compliments site and surrounding area. Another that talks about provision of expanded
residential opportunities for the north Kona area in a manner that improves economic and social
well being of the community and thats clearly represented those two elements are well
represented in your application. Im wondering if you can tell me a little bit more about how this
project will be developed in a way thats sensitive to the cultural historic and environmental
conditions of the site and the surrounding area.
GRAHAM:Mr. Wheelock?
WHEELOCK:Thank you. Ill take this one as well. The sensitivity to the cultural aspect
is primarily on the mauka portion the RA section the residential agricultural and were going to
focus on the emphasis on the Kona Coffee theme and emphasis. So from a cultural standpoint as
farasthataspectofIthinkthatprimarilytheKonaCoffeethemetheemphasisonlocalresidents
being able to live and have their children live near work and school is our focus there.
Historically we, the original consultant on this was Mary Springer, she named the project Mohala
which was to blossom forth. And subsequent to that weve consulted with the Kanuha ohana,
Jerome, Zachary, Jr., Joe, theyve had a lot of input into this. Were working with them as far as
improving their property in between ours and Malulani Gardens as well. From those sources we
determine that there was extensive agriculture historically there but that there was not, theres no
ongoing cultural gathering activities or other great historic sites present there. So other than the
one site that we intend to preserve in conjunction with the State DLNRs approval that would be
the historic aspect. Environmentally we intend to keep it green as possible up mauka. We intend
to focus the emphasis on agricultural use and have a low density, low impact project. Thank
you.
GRAHAM:Commissioner Springer?
SPRINGER:Thank you. I hope that as you develop any interpretive elements and
perhaps educational elements that you include that Leleiohoku was the alii who chose those
lands at the time of the Mahele and thats right out of your archaeological report. And that we
not lose the place names of Lanihau or Moeauoa on the property or any interpretation of it. And
was that the elder Mary Springer who helped with the name Mohala?
WHEELOCK:Yes.
SPRINGER:Thank you. Were not related but by marriage.
GRAHAM:Commissioner Watanabe?
WATANABE:Yeah I have a question with regard to the traffic portion and Im referring
tocommentsfromthePublicWorks.AndtheyhaveindicatedthattheTIARdidnotaddressbut
should have addressed you know left turn lanes and at intersection of Malulani Drive and what is
thatKuakini?
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WHEELOCK:Hale Kapili Street and Malulani and Malulani.
WATANABE:Yeah, could you respond to that I mean I had, I know theres some
separation there already but I think they were looking at whether the length of those turn lanes
were sufficient given the added density.
WHEELOCK:Thank you Commissioner Watanabe.
GRAHAM:Mr. Wheelock go ahead.
WHEELOCK:Im sorry. After we got that response we did request our traffic consultant
M & E Engineering to make an addendum and study those 2 intersections. Id like to introduce
Warren Yamamoto our traffic engineer who did complete that study. Thank you.
GRAHAM:Mr.Yamamotocouldyougiveyournameandyouraddressbeforeyou
testify so we have it on the record please?
YAMAMOTO:Okay.
GRAHAM:Thank you.
YAMAMOTO:My name is WarrenYamamoto at M & E Pacific Inc. 833 Bishop Street,
Honolulu, Hawaii. And per Mr. Wheelocks request we did prepare an addendum to identify the
traffic impacts at the 2 internal unsignalized intersections along Malulani Drive and did the
County receive it Mr. Emler? Okay. And we found that due to the low volume of traffic on the
road that there would not be any adverse traffic impact. The, a concern was the length of cues
along Malulani Drive from Queen Kaahumanu backing up and possibly blocking the access from
Malulani Gardens and during the p.m. peak hour our forecast estimates are that the cue lengths
would be about 6 vehicles. And we have storage for 7 to 9 vehicles there so, thats 90% cue
length will be at 6 vehicles so, there should be sufficient room for the vehicles from Malulani
Gardens Subdivision to get onto Malulani Drive.
GRAHAM:Thank you Mr. Yamamoto. Is that clear?
WATANABE:Thank you.
GRAHAM:Sure. Mr. Yuen.
YUEN:We got a letter from Mark Norman dated, I guess we just got it its
February 20, 2006 talking about a Kealakawila Road. Did you get to look at that letter?
WHEELOCK:No we didnt. But I did speak with Mark Norman earlier. He was here
with his mother and we went over the issues. He owns the property immediately east or mauka
of the mauka end of our project.
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YUEN:Yeah, maybe you could take a look. Maybe we should wait till he testifies
because the letter refers. They gave us a visual that has a lot of color use of color and I just cant
figure it out because we copied it in black and white. So Im not sure where, what is going on
with the maps. You want to say anything about it right now?
WHEELOCK:Sure Ill address that. Thank you Director Yuen. Mark Norman owns the
property along with his mother immediately mauka of ours. Its one of numerous agricultural
zone lots that are accessed from Mamalahoa Highway down the long driveway next to Onizuka
Store. He has expressed a desire to create an access for lots mauka of our project including his
and others owned by families such as Yokoyama and some others old time families up mauka
and has come up with several grid patterns for roadway access. It would actually extend our
road project up to that area. In discussions with some of the other owners up mauka they did not
share his enthusiasm for providing that roadway access. And I cannot speak for those owners
nor for Mark for that matter, as hes not here now. But I did speak to Mark and his mother at
lengthandwehaveagreedtoworkwiththemtoprovidethemlimitedaccessacrossourproject,
which is what he was after for his own goal if such be his desire.
YUEN:And can you show us where that Kealakawila Road is that he mentions?
WHEELOCK:Mr. Normans property is, I think its about 8 acres right here and the
roadway goes up to Onizuka store and Mamalahoa Highway. On the old tax maps and in fact
physically existing across the very mauka end of this property extending across Clarence
Rapozas property on the QLT property and going south across Kanuhas toward the old train
track there is a double wall that is marked trail or roadway on various maps. I didnt know it had
a name but Im assuming that thats the one that hes talking about. We dont intend to build a
new roadway there. As you know we intend to work with the County to build or to grade that
section of the planned extension of Hienaloli Road at the lower elevation. What he was talking
about taking this driveway, expanding it across the mauka end of our property and allowing
Yokoyama, himself, some other owners above him and the owner of this property over here to
access through the project.
YUEN:Do you know what the legal status of this road is?
WHEELOCK:I do not pretend to know the legal status of any road on the Big Island.
YUEN:Is it physically located on your property?
WHEELOCK:Yes it is.
YUEN:Is it a exception to your title?
WHEELOCK:No its not.
YUEN:Okay thank you.
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GRAHAM:Any other Commissioner questions? Actually I could make a question of
Mr. Yamamoto if you want to come forward again for a second. This is only somewhat related
to this application but its sort of a general issue I run into with Traffic Analysis Reports that we
get before us all the time on larger application for rezonings. And it relates to the way you folks
typically classify category A, B, C, D of whatever level of service. We typically, the Traffic
Impact Analysis Reports are sort of long and tedious to try to read through for us and understand
and all and so you tend to jump to conclusions and try to get a sense of the whole thing before
you go into detail. And then we always see in the conclusions sort of to the effect that well
currently levels of service is at D at some intersection and you add this project its still level D so
theres no adverse impact. To me that kind of reads like you classify a poor man as a guy who
has less than $20 in his pocket, a middle class man who has 20 to 100 and a rich man as over a
100 and you say well I now had 80 and they stole 40 but hes still middle class so theres no
adverse impact. Well obviously there is adverse impact and for me when theres less traffic on
the roads whether its still in category C or not theres adverse impact. The adverse impact may
beveryminimallikeyouonlyhavetowait3secondsormaybeyouhavetowaitanextra20
seconds. And I would really appreciate it if you would make a little more specific thing saying
the level of the wait during rush hour will extend from so and so and so and so rather than just
saying theres no adverse impact which we all know doesnt make common sense. So Im
opening it up just for you to comment on that rather than me just put forth my gripe. Please do.
YAMAMOTO:Okay and in the United States of America the Federal Government, U.S.
Department of Transportation through its various research agencies has developed standards for
highway performance. And the Traffic, Transportation Research Board, which is one of the
research arms, has developed different levels of standards for different types of roadways. For
signalized intersections they develop one standard and like you say you go from say for
signalized you go from 40 seconds to 41 seconds you change a level of service. And if you want
to be die hard about it that, you had a change of level of service. And that is just the definitions
that are set forth in the United States. Other countries do not use level of service they just use
say delay, which is whats the definition of (inaudible) based on. In our reports we also get
besides the level of service we do give the delay alongside so you can compare that it went from
34 to 37 seconds. So you can see that there was a 3 second increase in delay and again that may
be when you say that may not be an-. Thats the magnitude of change and thats not really
considered an adverse impact. Do I?
GRAHAM:But theres nothing in the Department of Transportation or theres nothing
in the United States Rules that say as long as you stay within a certain level theres no adverse
impact is there? Is that not your own, your own value judgement?
YAMAMOTO:Every jurisdiction can make their own you might say call on level of
service what they want. And, in some places that Ive worked in say in California cities they
have different acceptable standards for a urban say a heavy urban area like a downtown area.
You may have level of service E as being acceptable. But in residential areas, level C you know
this is in the same town that then you define level C as acceptable in a residential area but if you
come downtown level of service E is acceptable. And the reason that they may not want to say,
give too high a level of service for places they know that should be you know always
congestions associated with say downtown areas is that if they said level, you have to have level
EXHIBIT E
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C thatmeans that they would have to put the money to provide infrastructure to create that level
of service C condition. So you know we have that-.
GRAHAM:Well thank you for the impact. I certainly dont want to, I mean for the
comments, I certainly dont want to prolong the (inaudible). I just was hoping for more
readability in the Traffic Impact Analysis Report because we do try to read all this material thats
all. Any further questions? Commissioner Springer?
SPRINGER:Im not going to ask about traffic. Thank you. But I am looking at Mr.
Normans letter and in his discussion of the Kealakawila he mentions water lines that apparently
use the corridor of the, of the alakawila. Will those easements continue on for the cattle
ranchers? If not at that location at some other site on the property?
WHEELOCK:Those are technically not easements. Clarence Rapoza was ranching cattle
onthispropertywhenitwasownedbytheNakaharaEstateformanymanyyears.Hecontinues
to be our neighbor to the north. And we dont have any problem working with Mr. Rapoza and
his needs. He is still ranching cattle to the south. And we have, as stated earlier were
proponents of culturally and historically sensitive development, part of that is the cattle industry.
And the Rapoza family themselves are kind of cultural so well support them.
SPRINGER:Thank you.
GRAHAM:Any further questions? Commissioner Iwashita?
IWASHITA:Thank you. I dont know if you were here earlier and I expressed
concerns in the prior matter about, in the need to you know provide-. Your look in the long term
right? How this area is going to be developed and providing for the transportation needs of the
area and how that would impact the particular in this case, this application. So my sense now in
terms of where this is and with the, thank you for the additional information about the mauka
properties and what exists today. You know theres obviously the present infrastructure such as
it is I think in the long term and if you look at you know future development in this area were
looking at-. Personally I think its important to look at the interconnectivity and to provide
multiple access and just as a matter of good transportation planning. All right? And so, my
sense is that that personally I would like to see a commitment to work with that. And in this
particular case you know since historically there appears to have been this 2 wall enclosed
infrastructure for access that that, and there is interest at least on one mauka landowner about this
and-. But I think in the big picture our job is to not look at each individual landowners needs
not just that we need to look at the big picture. That I would like to see that perspective given
you know, being taken into account. And some connectivity or commitment to connectivity with
the mauka parcels and the mauka road. And so that in the end, 20 to 30 years from now
whenever it is you know that we have in your community, right, I dont know what you got a
consensus but you know a traffic infrastructure set up where you know there is connectivity and
youre not you know limited to one way to get out from where you live and so on. So Id like
you to readdress that because you know we addressed it earlier.
GRAHAM:Mr. Carr do you want to respond?
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12
CARR:Thank you. Commissioner Iwashita may I go back up to the board sir to
respond to this.
GRAHAM:Sure.
CARR:Again you know and I appreciate what your concerns are Commissioner
Iwashita and the other members of this Commission and the Planning Department because what
you have today in looking at Kona and I mean south of Henry Road is the missing linkages and
connectivity between mauka-makai and north-south roadway systems which has caused a major
problem today in gridlock. I can appreciate that. Im, were an advocate of responsible planning
and urban development and I think this is whats happened or transpired over the decades with
Kona area. And going south of Henry Road is an exemplification sometimes you need to plan
long term. And I think all of your concerns are so that this doesnt repeat itself again. In
addressingthatwehaveprovidedforthenorth-southcorridorsthatareplannedforthefuture.
Thats either subject to the adjacent landowners either north or south of us and their intentions to
either urbanize their property or to develop it, come before the commission or for the County or
the State to look at some condemnations in order to make those connections. With respect to
what has already transpired with this piece of property and this community and the adjacent
uses? Again as I said earlier this is an urban piece. Its a 108 acres urban. There are actually
people advocating a more urban community meaning single-family homes, 7500 square foot lots
more multi-family, more need for affordable housing because were close to town. But one of
the problems is and we had 2 meetings with the Malulani Gardens Association. And you hear
their concerns because they live here now; they live in this community. And so obviously
theyre concerned about any impact on traffic. But their problem right now is that they got a
gated community here, which they really like having gated. And the gate is very close to this
Malulani Drive right-of-way. And their concerns about the additional traffic is to how it will
impact their neighborhood. One of the unfortunate things if I go back is that if you could, if your
hind sites always 20/20. But had this entrance been moved up further, further mauka or had this
gate been located further in the entrance so theres a longer ramp for cueing just like-. As
consistent with this condition now on the amendment that within any right-of-way no gate as
well as having the turnaround be located no less than 60 feet within the public right-of-way.
That would have addressed their concerns. There wouldnt be as much of a problem today.
Now for us to do on a 108 acres even a lower density community of 10,000. Homes with 10,000
square foot lots okay. You would still be looking at approximately 3, 300 houses right? And
that would have, that much more of an adverse impact to their community as well as the existing
infrastructure and transportation and vehicle access that we have today. I mean its kind of like
the babys born. What can we do here that will not severely or adversely impact the community
but can yet make economic sense that addresses needs of the community such as the Salvation
Army and what their needs are? As well as some affordable housing components. So given
what we have and that it is the urban designation. We took what we felt was the least impact
with 1 acre plus lots or the rural setting than an urban setting. And like I said earlier if I recall I
think the lands mauka above us is not even within the urban boundary and really have no control
on the mauka-makai access here. Again we will be designing our collector road to County
dedicable standards up to this first terminus of this intersection here that will provide for the
north-south connections. And then the future north-south connection here further upland of the
EXHIBIT E
13
property. But what I see thats the extent really. I hear you. I think you know many of us thats
involved with the long-range plans north of Kona in the Kaloko area are looking at how-. In fact
all of the landowners there we have all collaboratively worked with the Planning Department and
the County to plan long range vehicular connections both mauka-makai as well as north/south.
IWASHITA:Let me try ask you a specific, a more specific question. On the proposed,
on the map with the proposed development. Currently you show us what I would call stub outs
mauka for the north-south routes that you talked about right? I guess what Im asking is would
you be agreeable to basically doing a stub out at the mauka end similar to the north-south ones
for you know basically possible future mauka-makai connectivity?
CARR:Would we consider this? Yes. What kind of impact if that was ever to be
implemented would have in the area? Id have to defer to the traffic engineer as well as what
would be the position of the Planning Department long term.
IWASHITA:Thank you.
GRAHAM:Thank you Mr. Carr. Do we have any questions further from the
Commissionersorwecangotopublictestimony?Didyouhaveaquestion,no?Marissa?
MARISSA:IfImayChairmanGraham,wehavesomeconcernswewantedreflected
in possibly in amendment to the conditions if I can just go through them if that the appropriate
time to do it or-?
GRAHAM:Its always a question of whether it should be now or it should be after
public testimony but if youre ready lets do it now.
st
MARISSA:Okay. If you look on page 4, its the last sentence of the 1
paragraph,
which we addressed earlier. The TIAR should but does not address the operation of the
intersection of Halekapili Street and Malulani Drive or the existing Malulani Gardens
Subdivision private road. If we could just have it reflected we did amend the TIAR according to
the request from Public Works and unfortunately it came in after the staff report. The Planning
DepartmentdoeshaveacopyaswellasPublicWorks.So,wejustwantedtoreflectthatwedid
address those 2 concerns in traffic.
GRAHAM:Okay I think we here today have a new set of conditions so Im not sure
wecanfindwhatyourereferringtoinourconditionseventhoughI-.
MARISSA:Itsactuallynotpartoftheconditionsitspartoftherecommendations.
GRAHAM:Okay.
MARISSA:So its the staff report the background.
GRAHAM:Okay. Norman do you want to comment on that? Is that accurate?
EXHIBIT E
14
HAYASHI:I wasnt quite sure I couldnt find a place in my-.
GRAHAM:I think she was saying the TIAR at the time when you wrote up this report
maybe it wasnt in but it is in now, it has been in.
MARISSA:It is page 4 of your recommendation the paragraph at the top, the last
sentence.
HAYASHI:Basically what-. The recommendation was done and sent out to the
parties as well as the Commissioners prior to receipt of the amended TIAR.
GRAHAM:Okay.
HAYASHI:So on that basis then we can make that change before its forwarded to the
CountyCouncil.
GRAHAM:Okay.
MARISSA:Okaythankyou.Aswelltheparagraphbelowshowthearchaeological
inventory survey dated 1992. There were 2 revisions, 1996 and 1998 the references are in our
appendix. The next item 9 just below that it says according to the landowner on and on, there are
no existence of any known valued cultural, historical or native resources and we just wanted to
reconfirm that we do acknowledge there are valued cultural, historical and native resources on
the property as evidenced by our archaeological inventory survey. So we didnt want any
confusion on that part. Condition M regarding restrictive covenants. Ric Wheelock can you
address that?
WHEELOCK:Yes, Condition M as contained in the recommended conditions of
rezoning there is a portion of the southern boundary towards the makai end of the project that is
within the floodway designated area. This condition states there should be no construction of
dwellings and related improvements in that flood area. Thats fine. It goes on to state the
restrictive covenants in the deeds of all lots shall give notice to the terms of this rezoning
condition. Wed like to request the commission consider changing that to the lots that contain
the flood zone. We dont know what effect having that restrictive covenant in lots that dont
have the flood zone on them would have since they cant do anything about others property.
GRAHAM:Mr. Yuen would you have any comment on that?
YUEN:Thats fine. Im not sure youre looking at the most-. Youre not, the
yellow is the most recent though and not the goldenrod. That sentence is still in the yellow one
though. That, thats fine thats not right to say that it should be all lots.
WHEELOCK:Thank you.
MARISSA:And I just have one last item.
EXHIBIT E
15
GRAHAM:Sure.
MARISSA:Condition Q. The first sentence says should any remains of historic sites.
We would like to request a language change to should any unidentified remains or undiscovered
remains cause our archaeological reports clearly state there are remains. So we just wanted it to
clarify unidentified or undiscovered if thats possible. And thats my last request.
GRAHAM:Thank you is that also okay with you Mr. Yuen.
YUEN:Yes.
GRAHAM:Mr. Carr?
CARR:Thank you Chairman Graham. I have a couple of clarification comments
aswellontheyellowamendmentonConditionI,whichreadsprovideconcretecurb,guttersand
sidewalks in the RM-3.5 zoned area. No, that ones okay, that ones okay. Condition H. The
previous condition. Provide roadway connections to adjoining parcels meeting with the approval
of the Planning Director in consultation with the Department of Public Works. All roadways
shall be constructed to dedicable standards, be open to public traffic and be dedicated to the
County upon request at no cost to the County. We, our intent is to, and its picked up in
Condition I that we will do County dedicable standards with curb, concrete curb gutters and
sidewalks within the right-of-way adjacent to the RM 3.5 zone at which it terminates at that first
north-south connection. Thereafter it is our intent to have agricultural standard roadways to this
mauka up above.
GRAHAM:So then the question perhaps for the Planning Director is if you do have
agricultural standard roads at what (inaudible) conform to this condition. Is that correct?
CARR:Correct. If-.
GRAHAM:Mr. Yuen.
YUEN:Let me hear Ki Emlers comments on this.
EMLER:Yes on Condition H we did make the recommendation and its based on
the standards of the subdivision code. So if the Planning Director and the Planning Commission
prefer to make the condition so that it did not reflect the subdivision code and this could be
deferred to subdivision code later then it would be up to the discretion of the Planning Director
and not the County Council. So what we did was we reflected what the requirements are in the
subdivision code to provide dedicable roadways for serving lots of less than 3 acres. 3 acres and
above is what the Ag standard roadway standard is for.
YUEN:Yeah thats correct.
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16
EMLER:The reason why we recommended that they be dedicable is because if
theyre going to be open to public and available for the County to request dedication of then they
need to be constructed to our dedicable standards.
YUEN:I think, we need a, I agree that it should be constructed to dedicable
standards. There isnt-. To construct an Ag 1-acre lot road to non-dedicable standards would
require a variance.
CARR:Okay, may I ask you a question?
YUEN:Sure.
CARR:Based on the topography and the grades that were dealing with on this
hillside if we were to design dedicable standard roadways does that meet the conditions of the
inclineoftheCountydedicableroadway?
YUEN:Thatsa-.Howsteepistheroad?Howsteepisyourroadgoingtobe?
WHEELOCK:Theaveragegradeisabout12%.Thereareportionsthatexceed17%,one
area in particular. Can I ask a question? At what point in time would we request a variance to
not build to dedicable standards? We have no problem leaving it open for public use but the
concept here is not to maximize the width of the roadway or to create an urban experience.
Wed like to go with more of a rural feeling up in the mauka end. Weve also had a number of
our neighbors to the mauka side express concern about the urban feeling. In fact theyre going to
express their own feelings about putting a through road through their property at some point in
time as well. Our goal is not to go that route if possible.
YUEN:The-, well the variance will be requested during subdivision process if you
were to request a variance. On the question of grades, the subdivision code currently has a
provision of maximum grades that says it can be altered under unusual circumstances. One of
the amendments Im proposing to the subdivision code is to delete that because its more been
honored in the breech rather than in being followed over the years. There have certainly, there
have been roads dedicated to the County in excess of 17%. The top portion of Hinalani being a
good example. Theres also a DPW; theres a DPW policy manual that was done in the mid-70s
that has generally been the guideline. I believe the maximum grade in that policy manual is
18%. So, and thats the best answer I can give you as far as what is the maximum grade that can
be constructed to dedicable standards. It depends on the classification of the road. This would
be classified as a minor street and 17% is potentially dedicable.
GRAHAM:Go ahead Mr. Carr.
CARR:Thank you Director Yuen and its only because a lot of times conditions
are imposed with dedicable standards without being cognizant of the grades. And so we end up
accepting the conditions and then when were going through the process to effectuate and
complete the project were getting hung up because now they wont dedicate, they wont accept
dedication of the roadways. And I just (inaudible) a community on Maui. We cant dedicate the
EXHIBIT E
17
roadways because the County hasnt accepted dedication yet but yet theres community pressures
to have it open because it opens up another transportation corridor. We still own the property
someone gets into an accident we end up getting sued and we have to pay the price at the end of
the day. And so Im speaking of past experience in other neighborhoods or communities that
issues that we have faced as well as the scars on my back that I have.
WHEELOCK:The issue weve run into in the past is although the County may decide
that they can accept a 17% grade, we will not be able to make Federal ADA code requirements
and sometimes the County personnel involved dont want to recommend acceptance of the
property if you cant meet ADA standards unless you can get approval from the grade
differential, if theres a sidewalk. Quick question I had is if we did not go forward with the
subdivision which is youre saying I think Mr. Emler that the code requires this. If we went with
a Planned Unit Development project would that also require dedicable roads?
YUEN:Wellyourealso-.ThePUD-.YoumeanaPUDandownthelotsina
condominium form? A PUD-. Because a PUD you still end up needing a subdivision. A PUD
rolls the variances into the PUD. But you still end up with a subdivision. I dont think youre
gonna have an ADA problem because the County standard is not going to require a sidewalk.
Let me think about this a little bit more while we hear public testimony.
GRAHAM:(inaudible) Mr. Carr?
CARR:Yes, right now the condition provides for concrete curbs, gutters and
sidewalks. And in our experience cause were facing the same conflicting issues on Maui with
respect to public works as well as ADA requirements and have run into this where the ADA and
the Counties are now deferring a lot of it to the State Commission of Persons with Disabilities.
And weve got an ADA consultant on this. Is that we (inaudible) into that intersection when
theres a County dedicable roadway standards which is what were required to provide.
Especially on a hillside and Im speaking about our Kea Lani Master Plan on Maui. They almost
want you at, coming up at the incline whenever you hit the intersection to have a tabletop
plateau. So another bench in the site in order to meet the ADA and then continue on picking up
embankment going further mauka on our roadways. It ends up having a lot of cut and
embankment requirement as youre, when youre dealing with these types of hillsides.
YUEN:Well the curb gutter sidewalk is only for the RM portion. How steep is
that RM portion?
CARR:Its actually you know when Ric had referred to the RM-3, the lower
portion of the site has a more gentle slope. As you get further up the incline is a little tougher
than that. I cant attest to the 17% grade at the moment.
WHEELOCK:At one section.
CARR:Well it-. Go ahead.
WHEELOCK:Just one section is 17%.
EXHIBIT E
18
CARR:Ric is saying that theres an area thats 17%.
YUEN:Not low down though? Low down-?
CARR:Low down were okay its the upper portion.
YUEN:Yeah so its as I said the sidewalk portion is only in the RM.
CARR:Correct. But again coming back to the-. As far, it was our intent to do a
much more rural community with Ag standards 1-acre plus lots on the average. If it is the policy
or the amendment now to ask us to say that all of the roadways be dedicable to the extent of
meeting all our County standards. You know what my concern is, the impact on the cost and do
I want to come in for more units in order to pro rate that cost. You know thats the issue. It
alwayscomesbacktookaywhatstheeconomicimpactontheseadditionalimprovementsinthe
community. See were trying to keep the cost down in order-. You know one perspective will
say to go make more money and the other perspective is to mitigate costs for what were doing in
public improvements and public benefits as well.
GRAHAM:Can we leave this for now and get public testimony and then when you
come back again after public testimony and then Mr. Yuen will have more time to think about it
by then? Thank you all very much.
EMLER:Commissioner Graham?
GRAHAM:Yes.
EMLER:While Im up here may I bring a couple of things to your attention? I was
going to ask that Condition L have a slight revision. The second sentence, Im sorry third
sentence. During, this is the same as the last application, yeah the last application Royal Alii we
had this change made. Drainage improvements shall be constructed meeting with the approval of
the Department of Public Works prior to the issuance of final subdivision construction approval
or. So final subdivision construction approval or is the added amendment and then continue as
is.
GRAHAM:All right thank you.
EMLER:There was one other thing Id like to point out and that is in the
application, Figure 10 showing the flood map it depicts what theyre saying is the current flood
insurance rate map. That is not how the current flood insurance rate map would look if you
included the revisions that had been made using map revision, letters of map revisions over the
past few years for Malulani Gardens and the Lowes project. So that map is shown in Figure 10 I
think its on page 39, is not, would not be the current map. And as stated in the narrative which
is I think on page 37 it does reflect the correct status of the project in that a portion of it does lie
within zone A. And its just the map does not.
EXHIBIT E
19
GRAHAM:Okay. So even though this map reads at the bottom January 2005 that
doesnt mean its the current map.
EMLER:Thats correct.
GRAHAM:Thank you. Well thanking the public for your patience. You had to wait a
long time but I guess the good side to waiting is that your public testimony will come closer to
when the Commissioners are actually deciding on the application. So I have 4 of you let me find
the names and Ill ask you to come forward to the table. I have Joel Gimpel, Walter Kimura,
Sammie Stanbro and Wattie Mae Hedemann. If any or all of you are here would you please
come forward? Thank you. Id like to swear you in. Could you raise your right hand and wait
just a second.
HEDEMANN:I didnt know you wanted us to come up at the same time.
GRAHAM:Im sorry.
HEDEMANN:Thats all right.
GRAHAM:Could you raise your right hand? And do you swear or affirm to tell the
truthonthismatternowbeforetheHawaiiCountyPlanningCommission?
TESTIFIERS:I do.
GRAHAM:Thank you. On my list I have Joel Gimpel. Would you like to testify first
Joel?
GIMPEL:Yes, thank you Mr. Chairman.
GRAHAM:I dont suppose you need to give address and all again so go ahead.
GIMPEL:I suppose not and I appreciate the opportunity to testify. First I have to
leave in a little while because I have to head down to Kailua-Kona and actually to Kainaliu in
traffic to conduct this evening. Anyway, thanks for
Joseph the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
the opportunity to testify on this application. We note that it differs primarily from the first
application that was filed by this applicant regarding which we did submit comments to both the
Planning Department. Well to the Planning Department in June last year, in that the Salvation
Army Complex and affordable housing units have been added, and also the affordable housing
units will be on site. In December of last year, we filed comments with the Planning Department
regarding the revised application, but as we noted then there were no changes designed to
alleviatethetrafficsafetyandcongestionconcernsthatwedraised.Accordingly,ourprevious
comments regarding those issues still apply. Indeed, the addition of 16 housing units and the
SalvationArmyComplex,whichwilladdatleast100vehicletripsperdaytothe250ormore
trips that will be generated by the 57 residential units, will exacerbate the concerns we first
expressedlastJune.Iwontiteratethetraffic-relatedcommentswenotedinthoseJuneand
December 28 letters other than to say that they should be in your record and you can refer to
EXHIBIT E
20
them. I will note however that signalization of the Malulani Drive and Route 11 intersection the
lane for drivers turning right from Malulani Drive onto Route 11, which is shared with
northbound drivers on Route 11 seeking to turn right onto Henry Street, remains a dangerous
situation that signalization wont solve. So although signalization will help make a bit safer
drivers wanting to make a left turn into Malulani Drive from Route 11 it wont help those, that
other situation. We therefore recommend that the applicant be required to provide additional
access to the property because theres only one road Malulani Drive that would access the
subdivision. If that road happens to be blocked by a brush fire by accident or something else
emergency vehicles couldnt enter and residents couldnt leave. So, we need additional access to
the property and to facilitate eventual connection to future subdivisions in the area in order to
improve traffic flow. In that regard the applicants proposal to reserve a right-of-way for a
crossover to Malulani Gardens is admirable, but Malulani Gardens is a gated community. We
doubt whether access will be permitted. We also urge that you require the main road through the
subdivision be built to dedicable standards, with no more than an 8% grade. When its too steep
and I live on Hina Lani Street, its too steep. And Hina Lani Street was originally just a dead end
street from Mamalahoa Highway. Now its a nice through street with about a 17 or 18% grade at
the top. What could happen here? I dont think we want the same thing to happen. There are a
number of connectivity and access issues that could be addressed on a concurrent basis. And we
outlined in our testimony and youll be getting copies of that that there are four north-south
corridors that are emerging. Ill name them but I wont go into them; Kawena/Welo Street,
Kakalina Street, Melelina Street and the Hienaloli Road/Kealakaa Corridor. That one however
has 1.7 million dollars that has been allocated by Public Works for study, and we are investing as
a County 5.3 million dollars in the intersection at Palani Road and Kealakaa. So in view of
those issues we recommend that the developer be required to build County standard collector
roads from the Kona Coffee Estates Development to connect to the corridors of Kawena/Welo,
Kakalina and Melelina. That he be required to build a County standard arterial through the
development along the Hienaloli Road corridor and that building permits not be issued until
another access is provided specifically the Hienaloli Road is completed between Palani Road and
Nani Kailua Drive. Finally, we urge that sidewalks be required in the development in order to
encourage pedestrian use and facilitate their walking rather than driving to nearby stores
including Longs and stores in the Crossroads Shopping Center. Thank you for the opportunity to
comment.
GRAHAM:Thank you Mr. Gimpel. Do we have any questions from the
Commissioners for Mr. Gimpel? No. Thank you.
GIMPEL:If youll excuse me Ill take my leave now because I got a long drive.
GRAHAM:Thanks for coming. The next testifier could you speak your name and
your address so we have that on record and then give your testimony.
STANBRO:All right. My name is Sammie Stanbro. Actually legally, Sharon Stanbro.
I live off of Mamalahoa Highway just north of and mauka of the proposed development. I came
to this totally against this development. I was able to find out a lot of information. I dont think
its as bad as it was when I came provided things are done. I live on a really prolific Hawaiian
site. And I know all the places around me are very prolific Hawaiian sites. And it disturbs me
EXHIBIT E
21
greatly to see bulldozing done when the sites are so special. I also live on an Ag level that
according to the maps and you know these maps I wanted to point out that the tax map which
says January 2005 is ancient. I mean I know theres been more recent ones done because it
shows Mr. Normans property is being this huge big long property. It was broken up years and
years ago I think 30 years ago, you know its a long time ago. So this tax map is ancient. I
wanted to address a few things on here first of all. I want to address that because it is in the
book. I wanted to ask a question and maybe I should ask that first so that people can find it. Id
like to know where site, archaeological site 19056, where the description is. In their outline here
I couldnt find it I got to 15053 and then it jumped to 1136. So if the description of that one that
theyre planning on saving can be found Id appreciate that. Thats why I have the notebook
here. Im going to make several comments because there has been some things that are being
addressed here and one of the things asking about Mr. Normans letter and his request and his, he
does when he sold his land he kept easements a 40 foot easement on the properties. Its kind of
an isolated easement because the Komos and the Otas up above him in no way are going to give
a40-footeasement.Butalsoifyouaskforastubout,thestuboutwouldcomerightinthemidst
of the property and that stub out does not connect with Mr. Normans easements that he was
proposing in that multi-colored sheet that he gave you.
GRAHAM;Excuse me Ms. Stanbro, are you talking about the very mauka end of the
parcel?
STANBRO:Very mauka end of the parcel. The where you were wanting to do the stub
out that stub out would be on the road, I dont know exactly what its referred to but its where
the old Onizuka Store is. Thats an extremely, extremely narrow little road, which has houses
right up to the edge of the road. And theres no way and theyre very long skinny properties.
Theres no way that you would be doing a continuation mauka-makai road there because its
peoples homes. On the other side of Mr. Norman where he was proposing it if you look at the
map his land is, borders where his easement might be, borders clear over on the far left corner of
the property there. So, the thing that he was giving you is not feasible. I do know that the
properties mauka of him I am on the north side. Ive asked the Bertrams, Peters and Otas are all
people that are concerned about his proposed increasing our roads. Our farms are very
productive farms. We have coffee, avocado, you name it right up to the border of that narrow
old road. And in fact Komos property if you ever thought of continuing up there would be
totally obliterated. So, Im you know Im thinking that the plan that they have of finishing at the
top of the road as a very viable one and if youre considering a mauka-makai corridor you go
back over to Keauhou or Keopuka and make use of that huge corridor thats already there. And
come on down to wherever youre going to be coming down with that corridor already there. If
you step out to the end theres no place to go once you get, once you head up towards
Mamalahoa Highway. Are there any, is that at all clear if you look at the map? And if you look
at the map you can see how narrow the Onizuka property is right there then to widen to do a
County road there would be-.
GRAHAM:Hold on a second please. Commissioner Iwashita?
IWASHITA:No, when shes done I had a question.
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22
GRAHAM:Oh okay. Ms. Stanbro you want to, since Im not following directly on the
map say which map it is youre referring to.
STANBRO:The tax key map. The one that I was saying was so old.
GRAHAM:Right.
STANBRO:Thats probably the best one is for showing the extent of the true ahupuaas
going on up to Mamalahoa.
GRAHAM:Okay thank you.
STANBRO:And like I said its quite old. The property is directly above the
development. Those were broken up, theyre not the big long slots that appear on the map. Mr.
Normansistheonethatstothefarnorthandthatsonly8acres.Thereshouldbealineacross
that then you go 8 acres more and put a line across there and then go up about 10 acres and put a
line across there. So thats all broken up. I dont know about the other 2 parcels that are north. I
do know theres been a lot of breaking up going on in there though. So if you look at the little
line that goes up from the middle of the property Im assuming that that may be an old trail that
goes up and then eventually gets up to the Onizuka Store, which would come to the middle of the
property were looking at.
GRAHAM:As far as how your testimony reflects on our conditions you were quite
clear that you didnt feel it was important to put a condition carrying a stub out is that correct?
STANBRO:Thats right.
GRAHAM:Okay.
STANBRO:I think that what the one that they have what they have there with the cul-
de-sac?
GRAHAM:Mm hm.
STANBRO:I think that is, would be, would suffice considering that theyre giving the
road across, they are giving the County road going across the upper fifth of the property where it
connects across there. You know that could connect to another mauka-makai like could connect
to Keopu. That makes more sense. Also when youre asking about the road that has the two, the
two-walled road that has the waterline that was mentioned? Thats going north/south? I believe
that waterline, its a white plastic, very small waterline. I believe that actually went to Uncle
Johns old shack. And if you look at the tax map theres a little square sitting in the middle of
Clarence Rapozas property just at the far corner, north corner at the top there? You see that
little square? I believe that was the water source for him. Theres a white plastic pipe and it
goes along the road and I believe it went to that spot. I think that was that, that water source for
him. But I dont think its Clarences house. I think they get their water source in another spot.
EXHIBIT E
23
Butthat water line is you know just a little white pvc and I dont, dont even know if theres
water in it anymore. But it was in question and I just wanted to mention.
GRAHAM:All right thank you.
STANBRO:What that was. One of the things that in looking at this whole layout in
the General Plan and seeing how the General Plan lays out that that lands up to the top of theres
youre planning on having that rural and that the lands above that remaining Ag. Id just like
you to know when youre looking at that if youre not familiar with the area that every farm that
continues up from there, the Otas, the Kunitakes, myself, the Bertrams to an extent, Loraine
Peters to an extent. Those properties are all well productive farms. I know a couple of those
people their entire income is off their farm. In fact Mako Ota if you ever got green onions at
KTA and who knows what else he has a truck farm right there in (inaudible) soils. And the
Hawaiians did a very very good job of moving the rocks to open up areas for planting. My entire
property,the2longskinnyparcelsthatareontheedgeofLanihaunumber1ahupuaa.Ivegot
huge huge mango trees, kukui trees, hao trees and very very productive deep deep soil extending
into Liliuokalani Trust Lands and south of me. The coffee is wild and its huge and its
everywhere. So the idea that these are not that productive Ag is really silly. I mean the soil is
incredible there. And so when youre looking at these other maps that are the soil county maps
kind of take them with a grain of salt because the minute you move, pick up a rock and move it
theres tons of soil underneath and the rock actually helps hold the moisture in. So rocks are not
bad things and the Hawaiians knew that and they used them really in clever ways. On my
property I have a lot of graves I have a lot of raised bedding areas. I have home sites. I have a
lot of sites like what is in this in the manual here. And Im preserving them. Theyll be
preserved forever. I would like to see more lands around preserved in that way. And actually
talking to the developer of this property, how they plan on doing their acre and a half is selling
them with as little disturbance as possible other than putting the roads in which is a breath of
fresh air. Because if you happen to have a site on your acre plus land hopefully youll keep it
and youll preserve it. And so if, you know if at all Id love for it to stay 5 acres. But if were
looking at developing these lands doing the one plus acre sounds okay to me. But Id like to see
a heavier density at the bottom. I think we have to really look at the availability to that big
Crossroad Center. And walking and cycling. You know I think it would be very smart to make
that a higher density at the bottom if anything and maybe a lower density at the very top maybe
go up to 5 acre parcels at the top and do more density at the bottom. And with a road, the
connector road that they have on there that goes over to you know that connects that theyve put
into effect. I have a concern that the Salvation Army site seems to be on the largest
archaeological site. And Im just would like to see them not get into hu hu later on when they go
to develop that site because it is, it seems to be the most involved site. The footpath, the, I think
I covered everything that I wanted to but I also have a question for the developer of where that,
the description is of the sites that they do plan to keep. And I would like to suggest keeping
more than just 1 or 2 sites if that can be done since were dealing with 1 plus acre parcels.
GRAHAM:We can hold that question and ask that ourselves to the direct when he
comes back up. Thank you Ms. Stanbro. Do we have any questions from the Commissioners?
Yes Commissioner Iwashita?
EXHIBIT E
24
IWASHITA:Thank you very much for coming today and sharing all of your knowledge
on the local area I think its very important that we get your kind of input. As far as this I dont
want to mess up, this roadway that Mr. Norman refers too, is it actually being used? He refers to
it as being the access for these kuleana parcels so I wanted to know if you know if its actually
being used by those kuleana parcels.
STANBRO:Im not sure. I only briefly he just kind of held it up and I saw the colors
like Chris was mentioning. I dont know which road youre talking about.
IWASHITA:Theres a that wall that double-walled area? Its at the very very mauka-.
STANBRO:Oh that goes north and south.
IWASHITA:Yeah north and south Im sorry.
STANBRO:Not the mauka-makai okay north and south right?
IWASHITA:Yeah north and south.
STANBRO:Right uh huh.
IWASHITA:And then I think you made reference to this kuleana which is tax map key
parcel 26 that you said the waterline goes to?
STANBRO:Oh its the little, the little tiny postage stamp?
IWASHITA:26 or 25?
STANBRO:You know I cant see this map is so small I cant see the number. But it is,
it floats in the middle of Rapozas pasture.
IWASHITA:Yeah thats 26 then looks like.
STANBRO:Okay mm hm.
IWASHITA:So its that north/south roadway that apparently this waterline is located
on.
STANBRO:Mm hm.
IWASHITA:Is that actually used for access?
STANBRO:Actually it would be nice to be able to use it for access but the person that
has the cattle in Keopu where they put the drainage ditch there theres actually a cement bridge
to drive over. Whoever has the cattle land right in there has put all their corrals and structures
and everything right in the road. So you have to climb over fences and corrals and everything to
EXHIBIT E
25
get on the first part of that road. But once you get pass where he put all those corrals, he did it
intentionally so people wouldnt use the road. Its just right after you go over the bridge. Then
its a really nice little road thats double walled but no one uses it.
IWASHITA:And so this, the corral is where which? Is it near the Kuleana parcel or on
the other end?
STANBRO:The corral? The corral is just and this map is really bad because its so
old that you dont even have the parcels of Keopu in it. But if you, if you look at the map, I
dont know if theres a better map here.
IWASHITA:Maybe I can, is it, is it on the northern, northern end or the southern end?
STANBRO:Its on the north side of Keopu. If you go right behind the houses that are
rightlocatedrightonKeopumakai.Ifyougorightbehindthehousestheresastormdrainage
ditch that they had to put in when they had massive flooding. And about a little more than half
way down from Mamalahoa theres an actual cement bridge that I dont know if the County put
it or if they had to put in but that starts you on that road.
IWASHITA:So this bridge is along the-?
STANBRO:That all houses, the house sits there and the people behind it all try to
discourage people from going on it so they have gates and fences and stuff but its a road.
IWASHITA:And so in the maps that Mr. Norman provided to us it shows the road
extending from the Kuleana on the Rapoza property, actually 2 Kuleanas and then going-.
STANBRO:To Keopu. It goes all the way through to Keopu south.
IWASHITA:South. South to Keopu.
STANBRO:Right.
IWASHITA:Okay. And then, and so you can walk that entire but there are gate, people
have put up gates and things but-.
STANBRO:You can walk there but you have to climb over some corrals and some
gates and-.
IWASHITA:Okay.
STANBRO:You know and there might even be a small kind of shed barn or something
placed in the way but it was an effort to stop people from using that. But after you get through
the first property coming from Keopu. Theres actually a, not a llama but a vicuna ranch kind of
thing. People have brought vicunas at Keopu and thats right where the road leaves Keopu and
goes north.
EXHIBIT E
26
IWASHITA:So it, it, this road on the southern end connects with the Old Mamalahoa
Highway. Is that, is that, no?
STANBRO:It connects with Keopu.
IWASHITA:Keopu Road?
STANBRO:Yeah.
IWASHITA:Okay. Thank you. Can I have a different line of questioning?
GRAHAM:Certainly go ahead. For this testifier?
IWASHITA:Yes.
GRAHAM:Sure.
IWASHITA:Mysenseisyouvelivedinthisareaforalongtimeandyoufarmyour
property.
STANBRO:I first sailed to Kona in 1964. Ive come back over and over, over the
years, Ive sailed back from Tahiti. Ive come into Kona many times. Ive only owned this land
for about 10 years.
IWASHITA:Okay, and what youve testified to you learned about this area just in the
last 10 years? Or over the, your many visits?
STANBRO:Oh well no. Just you know you always knew it was up there and its a
special place but when we found the place we were looking for a place that hadnt been
bulldozed, hadnt been touched. And fortunately the hui that we purchased the land from was
given it in the Great Mahele. So we were able to other than invasive species that kind of took
over Christmas berry and rose apple. We were able to slowly over the years clear that back and
just constantly find amazing sites.
IWASHITA:I like to focus on the big picture I call it. And so when looking and
assuming you were here earlier you heard my questions about 20, 30, 40 years from now. How,
you know how is the area going to be. I guess its, seems like its you would like to have it kept
in this agricultural use that it is now in your area which is directly mauka of this property.
STANBRO:Well I think for the future we need to preserve all our Ag thats why in the
wisdom of the people that set up the 5 acre Ag for the Holualoa area they were very wise in
doing that. And, my sons will inherit my property. They feel even stronger than I do, which I
dont know if you can but my husband is buried on the property. Theres numerous graves that
the land will be, if everything else is bulldozed around me mine will still be there. Im also
EXHIBIT E
27
passionate about preserving Liliuokalanis land next door to me because theres many sites there.
And I just think the more that we preserve once its gone we never get it back.
IWASHITA:Thank you.
STANBRO:So that 30 year yes for sure I think all this Ag land, I mean we dont know
theres so little good Ag land especially on this side of the island, we dont know when were
going to really depend on that. Like I say everything grows so well where we are. The idea of
paving over anything up there just seems kind of silly. And fortunately everybody up in my area
theyre handing their lands down to their families you know. There will probably be nothing
ever to buy up there because the families know the richness of the land.
IWASHITA:Id like to see what your comments are as far as my concern about and the
general concern to have more than one access to this property. And earlier I think you heard me
talkaboutyouknowhavingthestuboutorsomeotherwayrighttohavealternateaccessormore
than one access to this particular development. Id like your input on how-.
STANBRO:You know I, I-.
IWASHITA:-you dont want, I dont want to do it in a way it sounds like that would
adversely effect your lands and the other lands that are productive in agriculture today.
STANBRO:No. I couldnt agree more. Some of people here if they know me Im
usually always against the developer. I see it as a huge problem. Actually the same developer
when they developed another property down on Alii I was at a, the Council meeting where
everyone was calling for to have other openings for the development. And the Council turned us
all down. And you know it was just, it was amazing. And then there was 2 places where they
couldve had easy egress. In fact the places are still there and the County didnt require it of
them. And so I always speak out. I think you always need an in and out. Unfortunately with the
ahupuaas, theyre long narrow properties and it really kind of restricts being able to do things.
And thats our big problem here in Kona. Is that I think our planning could be better if we
werent limited by this you know you only put a road where your development is. And then
thats one thing I think the County. I mean Ive been squawking about Lako Street for 10 years
and realizing the problems with the previous administration. And I, I mean Ive gotta commend
you guys. Just the fact that youre concerned about the things that youre concerned about that I
listened to today is just a breath of fresh air from the last planning people. And so I agree. I
think were kind of other than them giving, them giving that upland right-of-way for a County
Road and giving them mid right-of-way and I think definitely in fact here just looking at my
notes that they should definitely be connected with Mahulani that one road that Malulani has that
someday should connect somewhere? So that the people from that subdivision can get over onto
their street and get over onto their street and get into the Crossroads possibly walking. I think
thats a definite thing that that connection should be made. That should be part of the
development. So then they have a way out, walking. But I dont know, I know Clarence Rapoza
is a pretty healthy guy and hes going to run his cattle as long as he can. So, unless the County
just takes over part of this land to run something out to the north I dont know where that can be.
I do know that going up, unless you went off to Keopu and connected up with Keopu and then
EXHIBIT E
28
run on up. There really with all the farmlands you cant have that stub out you really cant go
farther up. I mean if you had the time, if you look at the map if you look at the top where the
stub out would connect up if you follow that line up and go all the way up to Mamalahoa youll
see the Onizuka property on the north side of that little line. If you made a County road, youd
take out the old Onizuka store, youd take out the house, youd take out 2 dwellings that are, that
I know of that are right there on Onizukas property, its for sale. You know if the County wants
to buy it for a million and a half that lands for sale. But and you get down further and you have
to deal with what 1, 2, 3, 4 about 7 property owners.
IWASHITA:Is this road that goes to Keopu road is that one thats, how wide is it do
you know?
STANBRO:The double walled road that you were asking about?
IWASHITA:Yes.
STANBRO:Itslikeforacart.Imeanacar,anoldcarcouldyouknowacarcandrive
on it. Yeah 12 feet.
IWASHITA:Okay thank you.
STANBRO:At the most 12 feet.
GRAHAM:Do we have any other questions from Commissioners? Thank you very
much for your testimony. Again Ms. Hedemann?
HEDEMANN:I wont take too long. Wattie Mae Hedemann. 78-6863 Kuakini
Highway, Kailua-Kona. I am talking, I am speaking in behalf of myself but Im on the Board for
Salvation Army. And even though we were intending to exchange properties to Lowes but
possibly Im hoping as a private individual to retain both properties because I think theyre very
badly needed in the Community. Salvation Army does an awful lot and right now they have a
Thrift Shop that theyre leasing in the Industrial, Old Industrial Area. Theyre paying over
60,000 dollars a year for the lease which could be better spent in the community. And whether
we can extend the thrift shop on the present site of Salvation Army by getting access into Queen
Kaahumanu Highway across the Malulani Gardens thats a possibility. Were hoping perhaps
that might be possible. Or putting the nursery school up above Lowes but Im very pleased with
the developers and what theyre planning to do for us here and Im hoping that wed be able to
use both properties and thats what Im speaking about today.
GRAHAM:Thank you for your testimony. Do we have any questions from the
Commissioners for Mrs. Hedemann? Maybe we could just take a quick 5-minute recess and then
we can have the applicant come forward again?
RECESSED:The Chair called for a recess at 4:22 p.m.
RECONVENED:The meeting reconvened at 4:35 p.m.
EXHIBIT E
29
GRAHAM:Will the Planning Commission please come back to order? Were still on
the Change of Zone Application REZ 05-026 by SCD Kona 108 LLC. And at this time if the
applicant and representatives could come forward? So youve heard some testimony so if you
would like to respond to the testimony further in any way or if you have some unfinished matters
on with regard to conditions that the Planning Departments recommending. And I do know that
our Ms. Stanbro one of the testifiers had some questions about the location of the sites to be
preserved so maybe you could address that. Thank you. Go ahead.
WHEELOCK:Thank you Commissioner Graham. Richard Wheelock again. Lets start
with Ms. Stanbros comments and she shared her manao with me outside earlier. Specific
answer to the question she had about site number 19056. That site is contained in the
archaeological inventory report revised September 1996 on page 114. That site has been
recommended by the archaeological consultants in conjunction with working for DLNRs Office
nd
ofHistoricPreservationforpreservation.ItsinMoeauoa2 ahupuaa. It consists of 5 features
including an enclosure, a wall and 3 terrace. Its at the 780-foot elevation and made up of about
1,312 square meters or roughly 12,000 square feet. Its on the southern border of the property
rd
about the 3 lot makai of the southeast boundary. The other 2 areas that were recommended for
preservation have already been preserved. Those are on the Lowes site. And its not clear on
this map and in fact she asked if we had an overview of the archaeological sites on the
subdivision plan. We do not. The large site that she referred to as being in the location of the
Salvation Army is actually site 19039. That site used to exist where Lowes is now. The
archaeological map that you have is comprised of the entire 129 acres that was originally done
for this archaeological report. And that site is already gone. We appreciate her concern about
preserving as many sites as possible and we shared with her that we hoped to build a Ag standard
road and minimize the grading and clearing on the mauka portion leaving that up to each
individuallotowner.Inhercaseshehaschosentoleaveherpropertyasisandthatsadmirable.
Others may choose to farm or do other things with theirs as allowable under the code but as far
as the sites on this property we are preserving the sites that have been deemed worth preserving
by the State. I hope that answers her questions if not her concerns.
GRAHAM:Thank you I think so.
WHEELOCK:I have a comment as well regarding Joels comments from the traffic
safety committee. His first concern expressed was the Queen Kaahumanu Highway. The
sharing of the on ramp and off ramp from Malulani Drive and then that same road lane goes off
onto Henry Street. He may not know as its a recent development but the State Department of
Transportation is widening Queen Kaahumanu Highway from Henry Street to Malulani Drive.
Theyre adding a second northbound lane. Its now 4 lanes, 2 mauka. Or its 2 north 2 south and
the turn lane is separate. So its actually going to help substantially alleviate the issue that he
was concerned about. Regarding his additional roadway accesses. We are working with the
State, Im sorry with the County Planning Department and the County Department of Public
Works. We share their concern about adding roadways as best as possible to alleviate the traffic
congestion. Primarily in this area, there seems to be a north-south alignment and those are the
ones that were working with. As far as being able to build those roads now, its really not
feasible because to build a road you need the entire alignment it has to go to and from
EXHIBIT E
30
somewhere it cant just be a segment on our property. Were not sure about archaeological
features. We dont control the adjoining property owners, lands and know engineering work as
far as the grade and topo of the road layout has been done. As well as what were looking at
doing on this property is the road reserve and doing the rough grade so that the County has the
flexibility when they do get to the point of building the road to go ahead and build it within that
right-of-way. To actually build it now, wouldnt be feasible. Thank you.
GRAHAM:Thank you. Do we have any question from the Commissioners of the
applicant?
GALDONES:Mr. Chair?
GRAHAM:Yes Commissioner Galdones?
GALDONES:ThankyouMr.Chair.Mr.WheelockalsoMr.Gimpelhadmentioned
something about making the grades at 8% is that feasible to do that?
WHEELOCK:If we only build on the lower one-fourth of the property we can make the
grades at 8%. As was mentioned in earlier testimony I believe by Ms. Stanbro the ahupuaa
system is frequently long and narrow. The Hawaiian culture lived to a large degree moving
mauka-makai and our western culture with a car and vehicles tends to move more on level land.
Its put them at juxtaposition to each other 90 degrees. In order to get 8 % grade we would have
to wind the road and that would take us off at our land onto at least 1 or 2 other adjoining
property owners who in this case are not inclined to develop. We have Clarence Rapoza to the
north and hes not inclined to do any development. To the south we have the Kanuha Ohana and
the Burgess Ohana and they dont seem to be inclined to do a whole lot development at the
mauka portion of their properties either. Therefore in order to build a road within our project we
have to work within our property lines and it will definitely exceed 8% at numerous places.
GRAHAM:Thank you. Commissioner Watanabe?
WATANABE:Yeah I have a question but I think this is like more for the Director
however any conditions we would want to see that you would agree with. So, and its to do with
the roads and whether they should be County dedicable or not. And they had mentioned that
they would take the lower section up to the, the higher density area to County dedicable
standards and provide the right-of-way for the 2 north/south connectors that more than likely you
have a pretty good chance of meeting respectable grade. Would that be acceptable and still have
that mauka makai road since its not going to be a connector from the testimony that weve heard
or not likely to be a connector would that be acceptable as a Ag type of road?
YUEN:Well actually for an Ag, for a RA 1 acre road any-. You need a variance
to do a non-dedicable road anyway. What I was going to suggest as a alternative to the way the
condition is worded is-, if you look at the yellow? And this is H the second sentence in H? It
would say all roadways in the RA zone shall be constructed to dedicable standards and dedicated
to the County upon request at no cost to the County or, if not constructed to dedicable standards
shall be open to public traffic including access from neighboring properties. And what this, the
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31
reason, what this does is it gives them an alternative if-, we were not really. Whats going to be
dedicable is something that is really in process right now where we want to revise the
subdivision code and change the road standards. The road that they have in mind is not because
the way the shoulders are going to be treated its not a dedicable road right now. The idea
behind this is our goal is that there be able to, that there be able to be access to their spine road.
Access from the neighboring properties that will and if you have access from the neighboring
properties and they also need to use the spine road? For example if, if theres a stub out to, if a
neighboring property uses that Hienaloli Road then they might, we would want them to be able
to come down their spine road. Say the Rapoza property to the north is developed. We would
want that to be able to be part of a gridded system. So, they have to be able to come down the
spine road. But if the spine road is private you cant do that. So if theyre willing to allow
public use of a privately owned road thats okay with us.
WATANABE:That said though what about the issue of liability? It would still belong to
themright?AmIright?
YUEN:Theywouldhavethealternative.Becauseiftheymakea,iftheymakea
dedicable road you can make the County take it.
WATANABE:Oh I see I see. So either you dont make a dedicable road but then you
accept the liability because it is, you will allow public access or you make the dedicable road and
you can give it to the County and then you get rid of the liability. Okay, okay.
YUEN:Im seeing the same from Mr. Carr.
WATANABE:That dedicable road one of his concerns was about the curbing and also
whether handicap accessible, ADA and so if the ADA and the curbing and all of that for the most
part just applies to the north section anyway right?
YUEN:Right.
GRAHAM:Do we have further questions from Commissioners?
WATANABE:Oh no thank you.
GRAHAM:Commissioner Springer?
SPRINGER:Do I understand correctly that there will be minimal grading of the lots so
some of the archaeological sites even though theyre not designated as deserving of or being
required for preservation may be left on the lots.
CARR:Thats correct.
SPRINGER:Will you gentlemen be the brokers for the lots or are you the sellers of the
lots?
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32
CARR:Icould say yes we are.
SPRINGER:Would there be any possibility that at the, buyers of lots might be
informed of the sites of the features on their properties and be informed of them and educated as
to their presence and although not required to preserve them be encouraged to preserve them?
CARR:Definitely so.
SPRINGER:Thank you. Mr. Director? Would it, youve heard this indication from the
applicants. Im not sure if its proper to put it in the form of a condition or not.
YUEN:We could say something like a copy of the archaeological inventory
survey shall be given to buyers of lots that have sites shown on the survey and the seller shall
encourage the buyer to protect the sites. And that way its not mandatory so its just an
expressionofintent.
SPRINGER:Wouldthatbeacceptabletotheapplicant?
CARR:Definitely.
SPRINGER:Thankyouverymuch,bothofyou,allofyou.
GRAHAM:Other questions from the Commissioners? Thank you very much and did
you have a comment?
CARR:Yes Mr., Chairman Graham I have one more comment for clarification or
amendment to this, this amendment. Weve already stated for the record of and accept the
condition with respect to public access through our roadways. With respect to Condition J,
vehicular security gates shall not be located within 60 feet of any existing or future public right-
of-way and a turnaround shall be provided on the public roadside of any such gate. Its not our
intention to have a gated community here because our acceptance of conditions to have public
access. But with respect to the individual lot owners adjacent to this, as the Director said spine
road, that they be precluded from this condition or this be carved out or you know with the
consideration that we are accepting a public access without any gates that this be, this condition
be omitted completely.
YUEN:Well if you want clarification this weve, I, this hasnt come up before as a
question. This really applies only to the subdivision roads. It doesnt apply to a security gate on
an individual property for which somebody. You can, and Im looking at Mr. Emler, I mean we
never meant this to apply to. Somebody wants to gate their driveway at the property line they
can do so. Right? Right.
GRAHAM:Did we understand you correctly Mr. Carr that was your concern?
CARR:Thats right because the language speaks that that it does say that it needs
to be, any security gate needs to be located within, not no security gate be located within 60 feet
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33
of the public roadway. And that a turnaround shall be provided on the public roadside of any
such gate so its-.
GRAHAM:So maybe we either need to remove that or change the words that way it
doesnt apply to the individual property owners?
CARR:Thats correct. I just dont want the ambiguity become an issue in the
future.
GRAHAM:Mr. Emler?
EMLER:Well we would prefer to see some setback but 60 feet I believe with a
turnaround is probably, is definitely excessive for individual houselot. So yes we did intend the
condition for the subdivision roadways. It depends on how wide the right-of.
YUEN:Yeah, I dont think that we have ever put a condition on what somebody
doeswiththeirprivateparcelonceitsbeenpurchased.Soiftheywanttofenceoffthewhole
thing and, on their property line including their driveway I just cant see us. I wouldnt put in a
special condition for that so to the point that we need a clarification here I would say vehicular
security gates for any subdivision road.
EMLER:Subdivision road or commercial access.
YUEN:Thats fine.
CARR:Thank you.
GRAHAM:Anything further from the applicant or from the Commission?
Commissioner McCall?
MCCALL:Maybe just a clarification. So Chris on the road situation? The roads in
there will allow them to go with the Ag standard roads or I mean your recommendation?
YUEN:They still, if they do a non-dedicable road they still are going to need a
variance or in which could be in a PUD to do that. But we will, the ordinance will allow them to
do that but then they have to allow the public to drive over these private roads.
GRAHAM:Commissioner Watanabe?
WATANABE:I have one last question. It seems like youre quite familiar with you
know the roadway improvements on what is that Queen K and Malulani Drive. And I was
wondering if you were familiar with the timing with which those improvements would occur as
well as the traffic light that is scheduled to go there? Or, or some?
WHEELOCK:Ouch! Thank you Commissioner Watanabe. The traffic signal is
scheduled to start construction by T & T Electric next week. Thats at the intersection of
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Malulani Drive and Queen Kaahumanu. The widening of Queen Kaahumanu Highway from
what I understand from the DOT they started up towards the northern boundary of this particular
section near the entrance to Honokohau and are moving south. I dont know the exact timing for
this particular area.
WATANABE:Thank you but we know its coming so its physically being done.
WHEELOCK:Theyve awarded the contract and it is underway. Yes sir.
WATANABE:Thank you.
GALDONES:Mr. Chair?
GRAHAM:Yes, Commissioner Galdones?
GALDONES:Just for clarification maybe Mr. Carr you might be able to answer this.
TheroadhookuptoMalulani,isthatbeingbuiltasarequirementorisitbeingbuiltforwhose
convenience Malulani or is it for your project? Because Malulani is a gated community right?
CARR:Thats correct. And in fact the existing improvements go beyond
Malulanis entrance and so we will continue that roadway up the hillside so.
GALDONES:No about half, almost about 2/3 way up on Malulani theres that
intersection that youre going to hook up, youre providing that intersection that road there?
CARR:Were providing just the stub outs for the accommodation of that in the
future. Thats correct.
GALDONES:Now is that a requirement or is that you just building that for the
convenience of the Malulani?
CARR:No that is being in the spirit of the long range plan of north-south
connectors.
YUEN:Theres an existing cross right-of-way through Malulani Gardens. But and
the and in improving this subdivision we would make them put that across their property. But
there is an intervening Kanuha property and there is a drainage-way between the two.
GALDONES:Thank you.
GRAHAM:Thank you. Commissioner Iwashita?
IWASHITA:Im looking at the legal description, meets and bounds description which
is part of the conditions of approval. And, Im not a surveyor but it appears that this description
starts at the mauka end of the property and works its way down. And on page 2 of the
description call number 9 has the calls there and then it is called for 17.38 feet along the
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remainder of road to a point. Is that reference to this 12 foot double walled road that has been
testified to before?
WHEELOCK:I believe that is correct.
IWASHITA:So at least on this call it appears that the road is mauka or this property,
your property, the mauka boundary of this property adjoins this north/south double wall road that
ends up at Keopu. Is that correct?
WHEELOCK:Actually the majority of this road appears to be on the property that we are
currently before you on. And our intent is to leave that entire roadway segment alone unless
required to do otherwise. There will be, that roadway will continue to exist at the mauka
boundary of the lots at the top of the subdivision. And depending on the legal status of the road
or trail or what its determined to be then that could be a required preservation or it could be at the
optionoftheowners.Wedontintendtodoanythingtothatroad.Butitisonthepropertyas
best I know.
IWASHITA;I understand what youre saying but it appears at this point anyway for-.
Well its hard for me to say but the calls total-, if you add up all of the footage of the calls before
the last one and assuming that all of you know all of them are along the remainder of the road
then they have, one, two-fifty, three-fifty, four-fifty, five. Like about over 500, 550 feet of your
property is basically along this road so the road is not on your property for that 550 feet. Does
that appear to be correct?
WHEELOCK:I think the 550 I believe is correct. I think thats the approximate width of
the top of our property going from north to south.
IWASHITA:So from this description then it appears to be that this double wall road is
actually outside of your property line.
WHEELOCK:Yes it would (inaudible) that from this description. There are 2 walls up
there and perhaps the makai more, makai most wall is our property line Im not sure to tell you
the truth.
IWASHITA:Okay, so have you gone to check the, well I guess there are no pins this
only talks about points. Did you go look at the pink flags that they put up when they built, when
they shot this?
WHEELOCK:Yes I did but it was about 8 years ago and I dont recall exactly.
IWASHITA:Okay the flags arent there anymore.
WHEELOCK:The pins probably are but the flags Im certain are not.
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IWASHITA:Has it, has it been pinned because all of the references in this survey are
not to pipes in the ground theyre all just to points. It doesnt appear that they have pinned or
put any markers any physical markers when they did this survey.
WHEELOCK:Theydid put pins or pipes, I did see those I do recall those.
IWASHITA:So now each of these points has a inch pipe?
WHEELOCK:No but the corners do. I know the corners do.
IWASHITA:Given, assuming theres some correctness in what Ive observed I would
like to see some condition and I dont know if this is the place to put it. But Id like the applicant
to address whether or not you know if this ultimately that this 12-foot double wall roadway you
know at least in your area it appears to be maintained. And based on the prior testimony there is
atleast,youknowitsuseableifnotactuallyusedthatsomeprovisionbemadeinthis
development so that you know it may be accessible. It might be a historic trail or you know be
used to end up having Ag tourism so you can walk to all these great farms you know. But there
seems to you know it seems like we should try and make some provision for that. Would the
applicant be open to-? You know I use the word stub out maybe thats an over broad term but
some provision so that there is access through your development up you know to get to this what
appears-. Its obviously a paper road. It historically was there and that you know may be of
benefit to this community in the future you know when its further developed. Would you be
open to, to having some sort of access Im not sure. Not necessarily vehicular access but you
know access similar so that you know the public would be able to use this road.
WHEELOCK:We would not have a problem providing pedestrian access to it. Vehicular
access may be problematical because of the lack of our knowledge as to whether theres historic
value there. Whether it was a trail, whether it was a road, liability issues as far as encouraging 4-
wheelers to go up there and try make a 90 degree turn and not have a turnaround. Do we
demolish the wall to make a turnaround? That would be hard. To allow public access to go up
there and hike around and see an archaeological feature what may be historic we would not have
a problem with that aspect of it.
YUEN:Yeah I see where youre going with this and I have a suggested condition
which will say that before final subdivision approval the applicant shall determine the ownership
of the north-south road near the mauka end of the property. After consultation with the State of
Hawaii, County of Hawaii and adjoining owners if it is a public right-of-way the applicant shall
quit claim any portion of their property within their right-of-way to the appropriate public
owner.
IWASHITA:Thats fine as far as it goes. I would like to see a, as far as the condition of
approval to include a-, some measure of access. And not vehicular, not access in terms of having
a County standard road but access so that-. So that assuming that this does end up being a road
that can be used, you know pedestrians, bicycles, you know other kinds of uses like that. That
you know that it, it, to the extent that it-. If its, to the extent as represented in Mr. Normans
little drawings and all of that and you know it might be a substantial, it can be a substantial asset
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interms of the future of this area and the surrounding property owners. Although you know its.
I can understand the testimony each private owner might not be you know. Everybody wants
their privacy I guess as it were but to the extent that this has always been there you know and in I
think from the big perspective again that as this area is developed it can be used for the benefit of
the public that a condition preserve that.
YUEN:Well, I agree that it should be preserved but rather than even saying that
there has to be public access across it at this point the issue that I have with that is that if its a
public, if it is not a public right-of-way I dont know that we should be saying that they should
allow access across it. Then if its not a public right-of-way you have, then its theres this, then
none of it probably is a public right-of-way including properties of the other side so it just hangs
there. If it is a public right-of-way then whoever if its for example its a state owned trailed.
The state should make a decision on how they want to manage access on it. Maybe they may not
want to open it up who knows. I think its premature for us to say here that there shall be access
acrossit.Theremaybemanagementissueswiththat.Ifitsapublicright-of-wayIthinkwe
ought to have that determined because sometimes these things if it were not for the letter that
came in it possibly could have disappeared in the course of all of this and you do a subdivision
that ends up with a map that doesnt have it across there and is gone and forgotten about. And I
think we should determine that. But I dont think we should say right here that there should be
access across it because we just dont know how it fits into any other kind of access system, trail
network and the like.
IWASHITA:Can you read what you-? Did you write down what you suggested, can
you read it again?
YUEN:Prior to final subdivision approval the applicant shall determine the
ownership of the north/south road near the mauka end of the property after consultation with the
State of Hawaii, County of Hawaii and adjoining owners. So theyd have to show that theyve
made inquiries of them. And then it says, if it is a public right-of-way the applicant shall quit
claim any portion of their property within the right-of-way to the appropriate public owner. And
thats just to clear up any questions about title and then if it either is for example a State owned
trail then the State will have it and the State can decide whether they want to, whether theyre
going to mark it down as a public trail or whether maybe they dont want to do that.
IWASHITA:I would suggest that a provision be added that to have the applicant, if it is
a public road or right of- whatever, you know if its public and theres public access over it that
the applicant provide comparable access from the mauka portion of this property to that right-of-
way, or road or whatever it is.
GRAHAM:Commissioner Watanabe?
WATANABE:Can I chime in a little bit here? Lets assume that this is a trail, road,
whatever and the only time you would have, it would really be affected by what youre
concerned about is if it turns out to be public correct? That trail leads somewhere. Apparently it
leads to the Rapoza lots, which eventually leads to Henry Street yeah. So access actually could
come from there because if you determine that we have a public road its not a public road that
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just crossesthisparticular ahupuaa. It something that crosses several yeah. And so to me access
would be from really Henry Street. And whether theyre going to park, whether theyre going to
park you know, I dont know at, Lowes or someplace. You know causeparking is going to be
another issue if youre going to provide access from this particular subdivision where are they
going topark? And then were going to walk across an individuals lot? I dont think so.
IWASHITA:Well thats what, thats why Im saying wedont want you know right
now the way the subdivision is laid out is basically is a terminus at the end andseveral lots right?
That the mauka side of each of those lots would be along this roadwayright? So each of those
individual lot owners would have access to that right of way. What Im suggesting is that- that
that be reconfigured so that there will be-. I dont think it should be like Mauna Kea Beach
Hotel or whatever but public access to a public right-of-way. Its like public access to a beach
you know. Its a- and I dont think it should be limited to the terminus of this right-of-way
because historically obviously all of the landowners along this roadway had the use of it. Right
soanditsnotgoingtobeusedinthesameway.ButifitstherethenIthinkinthebigpicture
basically you know were going to preserve as much of the, of the utility of it for the community
as possible. And-.
GRAHAM:Ms. Stanbro were not taking more public testimony now I hope you dont
mind.
STANBRO:Okay, I just was going to clarify how far the road goes. It actually
terminates at (inaudible) house.
GRAHAM:Okay. Thank you.
YUEN:What I have, am looking at is a road that historically only provides a
lateral access and I dont see a reason to open to have access for somebody to drive up to the top
of this subdivision, walk across one of the lots and get to this lateral trail.
IWASHITA:I dont, I dont you know I dont know all the answers and Im not
suggesting theres an answer right? All Im saying is that basically we dont have enough
information-, right now we dont have enough information. The Directors suggestion is lets go
get more information to figure this out as a condition for final subdivision approval. Im saying
thats well and good however if it turns out its a public right-of-way to me then theres more
that is on the table than the historical use. Because I you know, frankly again the big picture Im
looking at how this entire area including the mauka side of your proposed subdivision is going to
end up being and how its going to use and how-. And its mainly for the community right, the
local you know-. I dont know this community. Stanford knows in this room probably most
about this community and the mauka end of your property as anyone in this room. And and so I,
all Im saying is that keep options open. And if we approve the subdivision if it ends up the
subdivision being approved and no options were held open right as far as access through your
development to this road. Im going to call it a road because thats what it is right now. And
then weve lost it like the Director said right? If we approve the subdivision and they cut it off
thats the end of it. Right? So Im saying Im not comfortable doing that. Not knowing what
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this road is, what the extent you know the full extent of it is, the legal aspects of it and all of that.
And so, I would like to see some language to keep the options open.
GRAHAM:Could we have a suggestion from Ms. Springer?
YUEN:If I can just comment on that. First the options are open in the sense that
before final subdivision approval of the property well determine where the stub out should go.
But in terms of the, of how the major lateral connection, we do want to have a major lateral
connection near the top of this property but its not right at the top of the property. Its for
various reasons its more like where theyre showing it. It wouldnt be, its showing on the site
map as 4 lots down there. And its not something that we are just looking at today. Okay. We
looked at where the road should, where the cross road should go and it wouldnt be at the top of
the property.
IWASHITA:AndImnotsuggestingthatitbe.Imjustsayingthatthereareyouknow
lateral connections are one thing. To me there are other you know if youre looking at-, the
mentality of roads and planning for roads is we end up with what we got today. And on Oahu
we end up with what they got today. And thats all planning for the car. Build a freeway, widen
the road, theyre adding another lane to the freeway right. Thats going to add, they say its
going to cut down the time for commute, yeah, right, how many of us really believe that?
Because when you add another 50,000 cars there goes the lane right so. You know to me again
the big picture right. Were planning laterals are fine for planning for roads and cars and all that
stuff. What Im saying is that in this community right we dont know sitting here today how its
going to pan out 20, 30, 40 years from now. I personally I dont live in this community but I
wouldnt want this community to end up with just you know the options being where do you
want your lateral, where you want connectors thats it. Where you want your sidewalks and
thats how were going to go right? Historically theres this road. It was it has apparently not
been used recently for any regular purpose but its legally a road. Right? That the State or the
County owns. Then its something that the community can end up taking advantage of in some
form right? And not necessarily to be used as a lateral, Im not saying that thats, thats how its
going to be. But we should not in this process cut off access to this road from this property by
going through this process and getting that result. All Im saying is we should preserve some
ability to get access you know and define it when we know more and you know maybe the
subdivision approval. This process the subdivision process is too cumbersome a way to do it and
we cant do it but. Im saying we should consider doing that.
GRAHAM:All right Commissioner maybe the way to handle this would be when
were doing up a motion for approval or denial or whatever on this. And you can make a
suggestion amendment in light of what youre thinking and see if the Commissioners want to go
along with that. Commissioner Springer?
SPRINGER:Im wondering if Commissioner Iwashita is leaning towards a preservation
of this corridor for recreational purposes?
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IWASHITA:I dont know the answer and maybe I can address the applicant and ask if
you have-. You hear me talk enough I dont want to talk anymore. If you have a suggestion
what might be acceptable to you if anything.
CARR:Okay. Commissioner Iwashita. Condition H of the amendments of the
yellow sheets provides for that roadway connections to adjoining parcels meeting with the
approval of the Planning Director in consultation with the Department of Public Works. I was,
can you clarify cause you were talking about one-. We need to determine whether the ownership
of the roadway for one thing, which we will we will do subject to the proposed amendments that
Director Yuen has suggested. And were okay were amenable to that. I was a little fuzzy on the
issue cause if we, if you are asking for pedestrian access to this road because of historical
cultural heritage were okay with that, Im amenable to that.
IWASHITA:Thank you very much for that. I really appreciate that. So Mr. Director is
paragraphHsufficientsothatifinfactthereis,thisisaroad,itsapublicroad.Thatsome,
something can be worked out with the applicant toward you know in getting to final subdivision
approval? To provide pedestrian or if you know if its determined that more than pedestrian you
know, bicycle access whatever else that you know should be allowed that something can be
worked an approved through paragraph H?
YUEN:Yes.
IWASHITA:Thank you. Thank you for your pointing that out, it was very helpful.
GRAHAM:Do we have any further questions for the applicant or the representatives
of the applicant? You all can go back. Thank you very much. You certainly were well prepared
today to deal with (inaudible) of questions I appreciate that. Well I think its up to the
Commissioners now. Weve had a lot of discussion on this and Id be open for a motion or if
someone wants to throw out their thoughts in the meantime thats all right also. Commissioner
Springer?
SPRINGER:Id just like to clarify what conditions have have been amended. I have H,
I, L, M. Im not sure if P is going to be amended to reflect the discussion on encouraging
preservation of archaeological sites or if theres going to be a new condition to address that. So
Im just wondering whats being amended.
WATANABE:I believe J was amended too.
YUEN:J was also amended. I think we would also have, we could amend P as we
just discussed on encouraging preservation of sites. And we would add the condition about the
ownership of the north/south road.
SPRIINGER:Okay. Thank you.
GRAHAM:Commissioners? Further discussion or a motion on this application for
rezoning? Commissioner Watanabe?
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WATANABE:I move that a favorable recommendation be forwarded to the County
Council on application for Change of Zone REZ 05-026 based on, inclusive of the revisions that
were just discussed. Based on the Directors recommendations.
SPRINGER:Second.
GRAHAM:Its been moved and seconded. Seconded by Commissioner Springer. Do
the Commissioners want to do any discussion of this motion for favorable recommendation? I
myself cannot vote in favor for 2 distinct reasons. One being regarding the testimony that this is
agriculturally productive area and to down zone from Ag 5 to Family Ag 1 in an agriculturally
productive area is not something that I can support. And also a long standing concern about the
infrastructure in Kona and specifically traffic issues. Certainly common sense says will add
traffic and so because of the (inaudible) I think whats commonly called concurrency factor I
cannotsupportitforthatreason.AnyotherCommissionerswanttomakecommentsatthis
time? Norman I guess were ready for roll call.
HAYASHI:Excuse me. Commissioner roll call.
GRAHAM:Norman hold a sec please? Commissioner McCall?
MCCALL:I just want to go on record. Im probably going to vote in, Im still
deciding. Im probably going to be voting in favor of this I-. In general I do agree with what
youre saying Bill but. I do want to commend, I do on the other side though want to commend
these people for both for their, their public spiritedness if you want to say with, with helping out
with the Salvation Army. I do also think that the idea of trying to preserve as much as possible
the archaeological site the Kona field system I think is is a very commendable thing. And so I
mean I am voting to (inaudible) of this I think. Thank you.
GRAHAM:Any other comments by Commissioners? All right Norman thank you.
HAYASHI:Yes just want to say just for clarification. The amended conditions would
be conditions H, J, L, M, Q, a new condition regarding the ownership of the north/south road and
I believe there was condition B or D I wasnt quite sure as to-?
WATANABE:P.
HAYASHI:P?
WATANABE:With regard to encouraging preservation of sites.
HAYASHI:Oh okay. Okay Condition P. Okay.
SPRINGER:I? Did you say I?
WATANABE:No he said J.
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YUEN:We did say I when we were talking about it but I dont see what the
amendment would be to I. I think that I was fine?
SPRINGER:I think it was about the gates and putting some language that differentiated
the residential?
WATANABE:That would be J.
YUEN:Thats J, we did mention J.
HAYASHI:Yes initially the applicant referred to Condition I but then again he
decided not to pursue that. Okay with that Ill call the roll call. Commissioner Watanabe?
WATANABE:Aye.
HAYASHI:CommissionerSpringer?
SPRINGER:Yes.
HAYASHI:CommissionerGaldones?
GALDONES:Aye.
HAYASHI:Commissioner Iwashita?
IWASHITA:Aye.
HAYASHI:Commissioner McCall?
MCCALL:Aye.
HAYASHI:Chair Graham?
GRAHAM:No.
HAYASHI:Mr. Chair 5 to 1 motion carries.
GRAHAM:Thank you we will notify you in writing of the decision today.
This discussion ended at 5:19 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lynette Marushige, West Hawaii Secretary
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