2004-07-02 Planning Commission Minutes

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In response to Commissioner Smiths inquiry, Mr. Erickson said they would be happy to entertain the idea of large tour buses if they are able to accommodate them on site, and not on the Mamalahoa Highway. Commissioner McCall said there was some indication that Leopolino Road was inadequate, and questioned if it was possible to bring that road up to County standards. Director Yuen said what the Department would be looking for in the traffic impact analysis report is a statement by the engineer as to adequacy of the sight distance, primarily for cars turning out; and if it turns out the sight distance is unsafe and there is not anything the applicant can do, the Department would say the applicant cannot do the project. Director Yuen added that although he did not think the TIAR would recommend improvements to the roadway like turn lanes, certainly at some level like if the visitor count went to 1,000 visitors turn lanes very well might be warranted in that location, notingtheconditioniswordedinsuchawaythatthePlanningDirectorcanrequest additional work and improvements at that time if there is increase in the traffic or the County can deny the project. Commissioner Graham noted the dangerous situation of the project being in a high speed area with traffic backing up for people to turn left. He said former Planning Commission Chairman Mike Luce once expressed his desire of having things ironed out in public so the public could provide their comments, rather than passing it on to something in the future. In response to Commissioner Grahams inquiry, Mr. Yuen said because it takes five votes for a motion to pass and since Commissioner Graham is indicating his is not inclined to vote in favor of the project unless he hears something different regarding traffic, his recommendation at the present time is to schedule this item for the next meeting to allow other Commissioners to vote on the matter, noting if neither side prevails at the next meeting that terminates the application. He added that another option would be to defer action until there is a traffic study conducted. Commissioner McCall said as a traffic impact analysis report would be required anyway, he did not see a problem with just deferring this matter until it is prepared. Commissioner Smith said he was not against the project but a traffic study would settle his apprehension about large buses, noting an alternate route going further up around the old road could be negotiated. Commissioner Alameda concurred with Commissioners McCall and Smith. Mr. Erickson said with the staffs concurrence they decided not to prepare a traffic impact analysis report at this time because they were anticipating this project to grow over a long period of time, perhaps 20 years, and that they felt it would be better to agree to do it based on a yearly review of the project and make the changes as required, noting at any time their special permit can be revoked. He pointed out that the Hawaii Tropical 5