2004-04-02 Planning Commission Minutes

Home

(SP 04-002)The Commission took this item up at 9:50 a.m. with STATE OF HAWAII approximately 52 people from the public in attendance. DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTING AND GENERAL SERVICES KAHUIHUI, NORTH KOHALA APPLICANT: STATE OF HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTING AND GENERAL SERVICES (SP 04-002) Special Permit to allow the construction of a 70-foot high self-supporting communication tower with mounted antennas, equipment building, and supporting facilities on approximately 7,200 square feet of land situated within the State Land Use Agricultural District. The area involved is approximately 0.9 mile mauka of the Kohala Mountain Road and in the vicinity of the Kahua Ranch complex, Kahuihui, North Kohala, Hawaii, TMK: 5-9-2: portion of 2. Mr. Darrow oriented the Commission and public of the subject and surrounding properties on the location map and site plan, and summarized the request to install a modern high capacity digital interconnect to replace existing analog radial channels to be used by various governmental agencies for public purpose. He stated the Planning Department is recommending a favorable consideration of the application. Commissioner Springer disclosed for the record that she was interviewed for the cultural impact statement section of the EIS because of her familys association with the land but received no compensationfortheinterview.Ms.OToolestatedshesawnoproblemwithCommissioner Springer participating on the matter. The applicants representative, John Sakaguchi, stated they did receive the Planning Departments Background Report and Recommendation and had no objections to the proposed conditions. He said the Kahua Ranch site is a State facility that will be also used by the County of Hawaii, County of Maui, Federal Agencies, including National Park Service and Coast Guard, and it is an attempt to cooperatively use a single site rather than scattering sites all over the County. He said the final Environmental Assessment of no significant impacts was filed by the applicant to meet statutory requirements of Chapter 343, HRS, and Title 11, Chapter 200, Environmental Impact Statement rules and that surrounding property owners were notified of the filing of the application and this public hearing. In response to Commissioner Fujikawas inquiry, Mr.Sakaguchi said there are some unassigned towers to allow for future users. There was no one from the public wishing to testify on this agenda item. It was moved by Commissioner Springer and seconded by Commissioner Smith that the application be approved based on and incorporating the Planning Directors recommendation. Commissioner Graham said his concern of the visual impact of the tower has been mitigated by 2