2008-01-22 Kailua Village Design Commission Minutes

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NEW BUSINESS 1.PLANNING DIRECTOR – Discussion regarding issues concerning the Kailua Village Special District including parking Director Yuen thanked the Commissioners for their services, and mentioned that the Commission’s recommendations and suggestions are carefully considered by the Department as well as the Planning Commission. As one of the County projects in progress, Director Yuen mentioned Mid-Level Road, which will go through the Keahuolu affordable housing project planned by the State; he said that the County is currently working on environmental assessment and preliminary planning. There was a discussion regarding parking issues. Director Yuen stated that the parking bill didn’t pass, but a similar bill could be reintroduced. He said that if a project has a plan approval submitted to the Planning Department and is compliant with the parking requirements, it should be grandfathered at that point from new more demanding parking requirements. In response to the Commissioners’ inquiry about a framework for a sustainable walking community, Director Yuen said that the Community Development Plan should have some language that would provide flexibility on parking, and that there are tools in the Zoning Code, such as PUD, which could be used to change the parking requirements. He added that although on-street parking is an issue, excessive parking requirements are not desirable, as they could result in unnecessary concrete surface. The Commissioners asked about landscape responsibility along Queen Kaahumanu Highway, especially between Palani Road and Makala Boulevard in conjunction with the Highway widening project. Director Yuen mentioned that the role for the Commission to play is as an advocate, not as a regulatory body, if the goal is to have a more beautiful entry to the Kailua Village. The Commissioners agreed to send a letter to the State Department of Transportation to request a copy of the current landscaping plan and schedule for implementation. The Commissioners raised their concern regarding the Sign Code enforcement. Director Yuen noted that part of enforcing something is to have regulation that fits the area; for example, the Sign Code that was created for the Kailua Village, a picturesque walking community, doesn’t serve well the expanded area of the Kailua Village Special District, namely the Old Industrial area or the Crossroads commercial area. They discussed the relevancy of Sign Code standards to the Kailua Village Special District. Director Yuen mentioned that prioritizing areas can also help enforcement efforts. Director Yuen suggested the Commission try to base its recommendation on some overall principle, and added that the Kailua Village Master Plan contains good basic principles. He noted that people are consciously trying to meet the design theme suggested in the Master Plan, and that the Commission can advocate for the design of the Kailua Village. He mentioned that the Commission can also watch for government projects being carried 2