2008-04-04 Planning Commission Minutes

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In response to Commissioner Siracusa’s inquiry, Mr. Nishimura said that based on a review of a traffic study done for the project, the State Department of Transportation worked with the design engineer to come up with an approved channelized intersection plan. Commissioner Siracusa said by the number of accidents and some very close calls, a traffic signal light, with turning arrows, in the area should be required. Mr. Yuen said the Commission could put it in as a condition but it would be up to the State as it is a State highway, noting there are professional traffic engineers working on the project. Mr. Yuen then noted that Commissioner Siracusa referred to traffic problems that exist at other intersections and although he agreed a signal needs to be placed some place, it was not in this area. Mr. Yuen then said that there is a signal light planned at the Kahakai-Highway 130 intersection, to which Commission Siracusa then said this would certainly do some traffic calming in the area. There was no one from the public wishing to testify on this application. It was moved by Mr. Domingo and seconded by Commissioner Rho that the application be approved based on the Director’s recommendation with conditions, a new Condition 4, to state, “The applicant shall install a channelized intersection with left- and right- turn lanes to the project site to mitigate any potential traffic impacts of the proposed project meeting with the approval of the Department of Transportation,” and renumbering of all the remaining conditions. A roll call vote was taken and motion carried with six ayes (Domingo, Rho, Ogata, Siracusa, Wooodward and Watanabe) and three absent and excused (Alameda, Bowman and Iwashita). RECESSED The Chair called a recess at 4:00 p.m. RECONVENED The meeting reconvened at 4:08 p.m. SPP 08-000048 The Commission took this item up at 4:08 p.m. with COUNTY OF HAWAII three people from the public in attendance. DEPT. OF PUBLIC WORKS KOHOLALELE, HAMAKUA APPLICANT: COUNTY OF HAWAII DEPT. OF PUBLIC WORKS (SPP 08-000048) Special Permit to allow the development of a highway maintenance baseyard and related uses on 14.9 acres of land situated within the State Land Use Agricultural District. The property is located approximately one mile east of Paauilo Village along the south (mauka) side of the Hawaii Belt Road (Highway 19) at Koholalele, Hamakua, Hawaii, TMK: 4-2-5: portion of 1. 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, Brian Nishimura and David Yamamoto, were in attendance. In response to the Commission’s inquiries, Mr. Yamamoto said the dotted line on the presentation map is the AC pavement curve data; and he noted the highway right-of-way extends 8