2009-06-05 Windward Planning Commission Minutes

Home

APPLICANT: CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS (SPP 09-79) Special Permit to allow the construction of a telecommunication facility consisting of a 130-foot monopole and equipment shelter on approximately 2,000 square feet of land situated within the State Land Use Agricultural District. The area involved is located near the 38-mile marker and on the south (mauka) side of the Highway 19, Kaumoali, Hamakua, Hawaii, TMK: 4-3-6:portion of 6. Mr. Darrow oriented the Commission and public of the subject and surrounding properties on the location map and site plan, summarized the request, and noted the Planning Director recommended a favorable recommendation on the application, with conditions. He stated that the Department has received a propagation map showing the linking of the existing tower site th with the new tower site and Danette Mettler’s May 16 correspondence regarding a community meeting held in Paauilo on April 23rd, along with an email from Councilman Dominic Yagong. He added that in light of a late correspondence from the US Department of Interior, US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Planning Department is recommending a new Condition 6, with the remaining conditions renumbered accordingly. Regarding the new Condition 6, Commissioner Iwashita suggested using the language proposed by the US Department of Interior, US Fish and Wildlife Service by inserting the word “initiation” to make it clear that the applicant would have to address whatever issues arise from the presence of the Newell’s shearwater. In response to Commissioner Domingo’s inquiries, Mr. Darrow said the US Department of Interior’s comments and proposed condition have been included in the Planning Department’s backgrounds and recommendations on similar applications, wherein the applicants would have to complete consultation with the US Department of Interior before initiation of construction of a project, and that there is no FAA requirement to install lighting on towers if they are under 200 feet. The applicant’s representatives, Mike Beason and Corey Shaffer, were in attendance. In light of Commissioner Kern’s inquiry, Mr. Beason said the location of tower from the highway is 800 to 900 feet off the highway and quite a ways in elevation. In response to a June 4, 2009 communication from L. S. Oshiro, adjoining property owner, Mr. Beason said he earlier commented that the chainlink fencing was extensive because he thought the fencing would be all along the property line from the highway up but he now understands they are talking about a fenceline at the road, noting as there is a gate down at the bottom it is not an easy drive-through access point there. He said the project is proposing a painted tower that will not stand out and they have submitted a photograph taken from a spot that the tower will actually be visible, noting the closer one gets to the site one loses sight of the tower because of the hillside. He said if they went to a pine tree pole design they would have to increase the height of the pole 10 to 15 feet to get a conical shape that would actually fit in, and it would cost several times more because of the additional weight and windload factors. He stated they have been trying to design the pole at a minimum height and yet meet their coverage objective between Hamakua and Ookala. 2