Laserfiche WebLink
The second item is, you know, its a rather emotional issue so lets try not to make this a Big <br />Island against Wal-Mart issue. It is an ordinance abouta superstore and not about Wal-Mart. <br />And theres one other item that came up during our last meeting here; and thats in regard to how <br />Hawaiian Home Lands determines their policy and whether, you know, theyre going to allow a <br />Wal-Mart or whatever it is to be developed on Hawaiian Home lands; and this is not the venue to <br />argue that point. We dont have any jurisdiction about how they govern themselves. So Id <br />appreciate it if wed stay away from those issues. With that, while it is customary for the <br />Planning Commission to hear items of this nature on both sides of the island, I dont believe its <br />a requirement in any of our rules. And we did attempt to have a hearing of this nature on the <br />West side. But we were unable to establish a quorum at our last meeting, so that meeting was <br />cancelled. <br />And Ive also been informed that we are up against a timeframe. We have 60 days, I believe, to <br />respond; and so for the Commissioners Im hoping that one way or another, whether its for or <br />against,thatwellbeableto,youknow,gettogetherandforwardarecommendationtothe <br />Council regarding these issues. Yes? <br />SIRACUSA:I just wanted to remind you that before the Kona meeting, the meeting <br />before the Kona meeting, we did take testimony from the public on the superstore issue. <br />WATANABE:Yeah, thats right, youre right. So its not as though it was completely <br />ignored. So with that, I think Id like to turn over the mike over to Mr. Yuen so he can explain <br />the proposed amendments. <br />YUEN:Thank you, Mr. Chair. Good afternoon, Members of the Planning <br />Commission, members of the public. The Planning Commission is here in its role as advising <br />the County Council on changes in the Zoning Code. Unlike most of the things that we look at, <br />which are site specific zoning amendments, these involve changes to the Zoning Law itself, you <br />know, changes of the basic rules of the Zoning Code. The Planning Commission will make a <br />recommendation to the County Council but the County Council makes the final decision. You <br />actually have two recommended bills concerning superstores in front of you. One was initiated <br />by the County Council. Council Member Higa actually drafted the bill and would ban a type of <br />retail outlet that the bill calls a superstore. Essentially thats a grocery store attached to a <br />discount, a retail discount store. <br />Now, and the second bill was something that I put together after reviewing that bill because the <br />Planning Department has to make a recommendation to the Council on any changes that the <br />Council initiates to the Zoning Code. This bill would not ban such stores outright but put them <br />in a special zoning category. So it would be necessary, and since nothing is zoned for a <br />superstore currently, any site for a superstore would have to be rezoned to become a superstore <br />site. So those are the two options that are in front of the Planning Commission. <br />The third option which would be not to change the Code, and I think its worth discussing that. <br />Under the present Zoning Code whats called a superstore in these bills would simply be <br />considered another form of retail establishment, and it would be permitted in a commercial zone <br />or an MCX zone, a Mixed Industrial/Commercial zone. So, for example, it could be opened up <br />on any sufficiently large vacant zoned commercial site, like along Henry Street or the Gateway <br />Center in Keaau or Honokohau Business Park. Where youre at with these two is a little bit <br />2 EXHIBIT B <br /> <br />