2006-09-22 Planning Commission Minutes

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AMENDMENT TOThe Commission took this item up at 3:25 with no one RULE 9 (SMA)from the public in attendance. PLANNING DIRECTOR EA OR EIS INITIATOR: PLANNING DIRECTOR Amendment to Section 9-11 of Planning Commission’s Rule No. 9 relating to Special Management Area, to designate the Planning Department, on behalf of the Planning Commission, as the accepting authority of all environmental assessments and/or environmental impact statements, which are prepared in accordance with Rule No. 9. A Special Management Area Use Permit application is incomplete until such time the Planning Department has complied with the requirements of Chapter 343, HRS and Title 11, Chapter 200, Hawaii Administrative Rules. Mr. Hayashi explained the proposed amendment to clarify the Rule designating the Planning Department, on behalf of the Planning Commission, as the accepting authority of all environmental assessments and/or environmental impact statements, which are prepared in accordance with Rule No. 9. In response to Commissioner Graham’s inquiry, Mr. Yuen explained that accepting environmental assessments and/or environmental impact statements are more of an administrative processing matter. He said the Planning Department staff, that has the background on these matters, checks on whether proper things have been considered and looked at in these documents. He noted that the Land Use Commission approves the impact statements; however, their hearings often takes a great deal of time as public testimony is geared more toward these documents rather than the merits of the project itself. In response to Commissioner Iwashita’s suggestion, the Chair stated that there was no one from the public wishing to testify on this agenda item and the hearing is therefore closed. It was then moved by Commissioner Galdones and seconded by Commissioner McCall that the amendment be approved. A roll call vote was taken and motion carried with six ayes (Galdones, McCall, Rho, Graham, Iwashita, and Alameda) and three absent and excused (Salavea, Siracusa and Watanabe). MINUTESThe Commission took up the following minutes at this time, 3:32 p.m., with no one from the public in attendance. August 25, 2006 – It was moved by Commissioner Galdones and seconded by Commissioner McCall that the minutes be approved as circulated. Motion was unanimously carried by a voice vote of all Commissioners in attendance. 3