2007-02-02 Planning Commission Minutes

Home

RECESSED The Chair called a short recess at 2:35 p.m. RECONVENED The meeting reconvened at 2:40 p.m. GENERAL PLAN The Commission took this item up at 2:40 p.m. with no one PLANNING DIRECTOR from the public in attendance. AMENDMENT PROCEDURES INITIATOR: PLANNING DIRECTOR Action on a draft ordinance regarding the General Plan amendment procedures. There was no one from the public wishing to testify on this agenda item. Commissioner Siracusa stated she was not prepared to act on this item today as she did not receive the revised agenda. It was then moved by Commissioner Watanabe and seconded by Commissioner Galdones to continue this item to a future Planning Commission meeting. Motion was unanimously carried by a voice vote of all Commissioners in attendance. MINUTES The Commission took this item up at 2:42 p.m. January 5, 2007 – It was moved by Commissioner Siracusa and seconded by Commissioner Rho that the minutes be approved as circulated. Motion was unanimously carried by a voice vote of all Commissioners in attendance. ADMINISTRATIVE The Commission took up the following under Administrative MATTERS Matters at 2:43 p.m.: Status of appeals filed on Planning Commission decisions - Corporation Counsel – Mr. Torigoe noted that he received a preliminary decision from Judge Hara on the Ainaloa Development case wherein the Commission denied the applicant’s request for relief of Condition 7 to improve Ainaloa Boulevard to dedicable standards and instead be allowed to pay $1,000,000. He stated that the Judge denied the appeal and upheld the Planning Commission’s decision; and that he is in the process of drafting the Findings of Fact, and Conclusions of Law, which will be made available to the Commission shortly. Other Commission matters - Commissioner Watanabe expressed his grave concern of the Planning Commission spending an inordinate amount of time in micro-managing various aspects of the permit process and, also, still being unable to obtain the necessary votes to approve or deny an application. He said he did not feel comfortable approving or denying an application without professional help, especially from the government sector. He added his additional concern of the Commission constantly repeating their same positions for a lengthy period of time on several applications. He pointed out that applicants have commented they would prefer to just go directly to the Council since the Commission spends hours delving into areas that are 4