2008-10-03 Planning Commission Minutes

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APPLICANT: SONOMURA RENTALS, INC. (REZ 08-000081) a. State Land Use Boundary Amendment from Agricultural to Urban for 6.3 acres of land. b. Change of zone from Agricultural 3-acre (A-3a) to Residential and Agricultural .5 acre (RA-.5a) for 6.3 acres of land. The property is located along the west side of Awa Street approximately 1,300 feet north of the Awa Street – Makalika Street intersection, Panaewa Farm Lots, Waiakea, South Hilo, Hawaii, TMK: 2-2-48:10 and 120. (SEE EXHIBIT C) RECESSED The Chair called a recess at 11:32 a.m. RECONVENED The meeting reconvened at 1:32 p.m. SPP O8-000066 The Commission took this item up at 1:32 p.m. with ROBERT HAMILTON approximately 14 people from the pubic in attendance. KEAAU, PUNA APPLICANT: ROBERT HAMILTON (SPP O8-000066) Special Permit to allow the establishment of a water and beverage bottling plant and related improvements on approximately 14 acres of land situated within the State Land Use Agricultural District. The property is located across from the Keaau HELCO substation (formerly Puna Sugar Company Mill) and east of the Keaau Bypass Road (Highway 130), Keaau, Puna, Hawaii, TMK: 1-6-3: portion of 104. Ms. Cottle 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 request with conditions. The applicant, Robert Hamilton, and his representative, Sidney Fuke, were in attendance. Mr. Fuke stated the Staff’s background report and recommendation were acceptable to the applicant and noted his submittal of an article in the Honolulu Advertiser regarding an increase in demand for bottled water. He briefly explained the applicant’s joint venture request to not only produce bottled water but beverages capsulizing the fruit grown on the premises by having fruit beverages and alcoholic beverages that are fruit based (displaying samples of alcoholic beverages being marketed in Korea). Chairman Watanabe commented simply growing and retailing fruit products itself might not be economically feasible, but one can have something potentially economically viable and help agriculture survive if value is added to it. For Commissioner Housel’s information, Mr. Fuke said as the fruits grown on the property will not be sufficient to meet their future demands, they would have to work with area farmers or people that want to engage in farming. 8