2022-08-23 Kailua Village Design Commission Minutes

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There being no further questions of the applicant from the Commissioners, Chairman Roth opened the floor for comments. He first noted that 18 units as proposed seemed to be the maximum number that is allowed based on the water commitments for the property, and that the floor plans appeared relatively modest for the size of the land. He said that he had been hoping for corrugated roof that would have a nice older Kona reference to it, but that closely spaced standing seam would give a similar look. He concluded his comment by saying that he found the overall appearance to be fine. Commissioner Ikeuchi, noting that her role on the Commission is to provide cultural feedback, said that she would be voting no on the application. She said that she wanted to be transparent as to why she could not support the application; she said that she found it disgusting that a lot of development was happening with the purpose of short-term vacation rentals while the COVID pandemic proved the economy based solely on tourism to be detrimental and while there were so many local families with housing crisis. She said that she also found it incredibly alarming to see archaeological sites on the site plan showing that that was the only area to be preserved even though all of it was archaeological, and to see that all around the subject parcel was developed; she said that it was like trying to squeeze out as much profit as possible from every inch of`aina. She also expressed her concern that there would be more stress on the roads and more pressure on the aquifer. She added that people could not eat concrete or drink money. Commissioner Werchick, mentioning that he was impressed by Commissioner Ikeuchi's comments, said that he was not sure that this was the right time to be building short-term rental units, either. He spoke of the housing issue in his own community and said that building more short-term vacation rentals would not provide housing for residents. He also said that he was familiar with the traffic in the vicinity of the subject property, and that without building the new roads that have been talked about, the area was going to become increasingly congested. Commissioner Werchick further commented that although he realized that it might represent old Kona, he was not a fan of metal roofing, which could become an eyesore unless carefully maintained, and short-term vacation rental owners would not necessarily have the same level of interest in maintaining the property. He said that the roofs, though they might leak if not maintained property, generally would not become as much of an eyesore. Commissioner Kilkuskie said that she had similar thoughts about short-term vacation rentals. Noting that this was her first Commission meeting, she asked if the use of the project fell within the scope of the Commission, which she assumed was the aesthetic aspect of projects. She asked whether their votes could be based on personal feelings about things other than the appearance of the project or they should strictly be based on the aesthetic value. Ms. Bugado responded that the premise of the design review is a design review; the Commissioners have their personal views and feelings, but their review is for compliance to the Master Plan for Kailua-Kona ("Master Plan") and the views and aesthetics that the Master Plan conveys for the Kailua Village. Commissioner Werchick asked whether the zoning would allow the unit owners to engage in short-term vacation rental if the proposed units were sold individually. Ms. Bugado answered that the zoning would allow those units to be operated as short-term vacation rental. She further said that the building was designed to be multi-family residential units, but that the use of them as short-term vacation rentals was permitted. Commissioner Werchick recapped that whether 3 Kailua Village Design Commission August 23,2022,Meeting Minutes