2008-06-20 Planning Commission Minutes

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impacts on surrounding neighbors, are met. Director Yuen said that currently the only way to legitimize ag-tourism operations is to go through the Special Permit process, or to have a County ordinance that specifies how one can do it; he mentioned that a bill to allow some smaller scale ag-tourism operations to be approved administratively was introduced to the County Council, but received some opposition from Council members who were against these kinds of operations and from farmers who thought it was too strict. He added that the Department is trying to come up with an alternative bill, and mentioned that the real issue is where to draw the line between administrative approval and the Special Permit process. In response to Chair Rho’s inquiries, Ms. Alban confirmed that all the facilities indicated on the Coffee Processing Facility floor plan (Exhibit 6 of the application), including the “Proposed Retail Gift Shop,” are existing, that there are no signs that must be removed (ref. Planning Department Exhibit 2), and that neither buses nor 40-foot containers that come to the farm daily have had trouble making the turn at the Mamalahoa Highway intersection (ref. Planning Department Exhibit 2). In response to Chair Rho’s inquiry about building permits cited by the Department of Public Works (Planning Department Exhibit 2), Mr. Lim said that Permit Nos. B2007-0769K and B2007-0260K are pending final action by the Department of Public Works, and B2005-1800K is completed, and that the applicants submitted a letter to that effect to the Planning Director on th June 16. Chair Rho noted that the hours of operation specified in the proposed condition differ from those in the application; Mr. Lim stated that the applicants are accepting the hours of operation from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily, as recommended in the condition. In response to Commissioner Bowman’s inquiry about their café service, Ms. Alban said that they are hoping to legally serve sandwiches with vegetables and fruit from their own gardens, as they frequently receive requests for lunch from visitors. There was no one from the public wishing to testify on this agenda item. It was moved by Commissioner Woodward and seconded by Commissioner Domingo that the application be approved based on the Planning Director’s recommendation and proposed conditions. A roll call vote was taken and motion carried with five ayes (Woodward, Domingo, Bowman, Ogata and Rho) and four absent and excused (Alameda, Iwashita, Siracusa and Watanabe). RECESSED The Chair called a recess at 10:53 a.m. RECONVENED The meeting reconvened at 11:10 a.m. SMA 08-000027 The Commission took this item up at 11:10 a.m. with no one from E. COMMERCE the public in attendance. ENTERPRISES CORPORATION PAHOA, NORTH KOHALA 3