2009-01-15 Planning Commission Minutes

Home

REZ 08-000087 The Commission took this item up at 11:33 a.m. with MICHAEL & PEGGY approximately 15 people from the public in attendance. KONANUI TOKUNAGA WAIAKEA, SOUTH HILO APPLICANTS: MICHAEL & PEGGY KONANUI TOKUNAGA (REZ 08-000087) Change of Zone from a Single-Family Residential 10,000 square feet (RS-10) to a Neighborhood Commercial 10,000 square feet (CN-10) district for approximately 22,500 square feet of land. The property is located on the southeast corner of Manono and Hualani Streets, Waiakea House Lots, Waiakea, South Hilo, Hawaii, TMK: 2-2-34:88. 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 approval of the application with conditions. The applicant’s representative, Sidney Fuke, stated the staff’s report adequately covered the request. Besides an ingress/egrees on Hualani Street, he renewed their request to also allow an ingress only on Manono Street. He said it was only a question of time before Manono Street becomes commercialized with possibly a third lane with dedicated left- and right-turn lanes like on Kaumana Drive, Kilauea Avenue and Kinoole Street. He noted Manono Street has a right-of- way of 50 feet and eventually through acquisition of additional rights-of-ways, 5 feet on each side, there would be a 60-foot right-of-way. He pointed out Manono Street has a good sight distance as the roadway is straight in that area and it was the primary access point to the property before the house was torn down. Mr. Arai noted that Manono Street was designed as a local street to service the residential area and not designed as a collector road to service a commercial area. He, however, questioned how allowing a right-turn in access on Manono Street would hamper the effectiveness of Manono Street to operate as a thoroughfare. He clarified his only concern is whether the access point on Manono Street would create a potential traffic concern, and that he would defer to the Department of Public Works to comment. Mr. Fuke said in a perfect world the applicant would want to have full movements on Manono Street but if there has to be some limitation the applicant would be acceptable to a right-turn in movement only. He said part of the rationale for an access from Manono Street is to capture some customers wanting a drive-through service wherein they do not have to get out of their cars. Kelly Gomes said Manono Street is designated as an arterial for high volume traffic and Hualani is designated as a minor or collector street which collects traffic and send them to arterial streets. He agreed that if there is a right-turn lane only on Manono Street as proposed, traffic concerns would be limited to the subject property. He said, however, as Manono Street is designated as an arterial on the zoning map, and roads are based on traffic standards and are part of the Subdivision Code, he is unable to withdraw their recommendation of not allowing access on Manono Street. He noted that ultimately it was up to the Commission to recommend conditions to the County Council and the Council to impose whatever conditions they wish. 2