2022-10-25 Kailua Village Design Commission Minutes

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UNFINISHED BUSINESS 1. PL-KVD-2022-000018: The applicant, Walua Partners LLC, is requesting design review of proposed 18 residential/vacation units in two 2-story buildings and three 1-story buildings at 75-5885 Walua Road. The exterior colors include a combination of gray and tan, and use of metal roofing, stucco walls with horizontal bevel siding, entry porch, and windows with vinyl trim. The proposed development also includes off-street parking,pool, office with storage, and landscaping. This application was previously reviewed at the August 23, 2022, meeting where the Commission voted to defer to the next available meeting. Applicant: Walua Partners LLC Landowner: Walua Partners LLC TMK: (3) 7-5-018:095 Location: 75-5885 Walua Road, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 The Commission took up this item at 2:15 p.m. The Commission had reviewed this application at its August 23, 2022, meeting and voted to defer so that the Commissioners who were absent then could have the opportunity to participate in decision-making. Ms. Newlon went over the PowerPoint presentation that she had previously given. Asked by Chairman Roth, she confirmed that no changes had been received from the applicant since the previous meeting. She also noted that the Commission's main discussion at that meeting had been on the use of the proposed project as vacation rental, and that the Commission had not requested any changes to the design. There being no questions of staff from the Commissioners, Chairman Roth called upon the applicant's representatives for their presentation. Mr. Tinguely, apologizing that he had not been available at the previous meeting, provided additional background information, including the following: His group has owned the property for 18 years during which they worked with the County agencies to develop a commercial mixed-use project but eventually decided to cancel it for economic reasons; in 2019 the property was in escrow with the buyer being a hospitality group who was planning to develop a higher density tourist accommodation project; the buyer called off the transaction, but it seemed to his group that the property was an obvious location for the buyer's intended plan; his group then decided to develop a lower density residential project, with the opportunity to make vacation rental available within the Kailua Village corridor; they understand the value of water and look at aggressive means of managing landscape irrigation usage by using artificial grass and more rocks; with respect to the archaeological sites, they have implemented mitigation reports done by Alan Haun & Associates and inputs from people like Curtis Tyler; they have worked with the Department of Public Works, Engineering Division, and dedicated a pedestrian pass on the north side of the property over the existing sewer line, which will connect with an existing trail in the Ali`i Cove project across the street and allow the public to traverse between Kuakini Highway and Ali`i Drive; the zoning allows the project as proposed in this urban core community where people can walk and bike, rather than rely on automobiles, and they feel that this will be appealing to tourists, as well as those who want to live close to town and activities; the architectural elements are more contemporary, which they believe is the 2 Kailua Village Design Commission October 25,2022,Meeting Minutes