PD Background Report (PL-SPP-2023-000040)

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AMENDMENT TO SPECIAL PERMIT (SPP 538) APPLICANT: WDC Properties, LLC REQUEST: Time Extension Request WAIKOLOA, SOUTH KOHALA,HAWAI'I.,TMK: 6-8-001: 043 INTRODUCTION On May 21, 2015.the Leeward Planning Commission approved an amendment to extend the life of Special Permit No. 53 8 ("SPP 538")to allow the continued use of a heliport and related facilities to June 30, 2025. The permit affected 9.8+/- acres of a 13.007 acre parcel identified by TMK: 6-8-001: 043. (Exhibit A) WDC Properties, LLC, ("Applicant") is the fee owner of the subject property whose business address is 69-150 Waikoloa Beach Drive, Waikoloa, HI 96738. The Applicant has a license with Blue Hawaiian Helicopters to use the subject site. The licensee, Blue Hawaiian Helicopters, wishes to make a major investment in the construction of a hangar consisting of approximately 3,500 square feet. As such, to help amortize the cost of the proposed improvement, the Applicant and licensee wish to extend the life of the heliport by an additional ten(10)years to June 30, 2035. However, as Condition 4 of SPP 538 limited the use to June 30, 2025, the Applicant is seeking to have this extended for an additional ten(10)years to June 30, 2035. I. PROJECT LOCATION The 9.8+/- acre project site is located at the southeastern corner of the Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway and Waikoloa Road intersection in Waikoloa, South Kohala, Hawaii, TMK: 6-8-001: 043 (portion). It is the site of an existing heliport/air strip and related improvements.(Figures 1 and 2) 11. GENERAL PERMITTING BACKGROUND AND NATURE OF REQUEST A. Special Permit No.538 On October 12, 1983,the subject permit was approved to establish an airplane landing strip, terminal and related improvements, subject to a number of conditions. Relative to the expiration date, Condition 7 stated that -it shall be effective for a one-year period starling from the date of commencing operations.._The permit may be extended by the Planning Commission at its discretion. " The commencement date was determined to be July 1, 1984, when Princeville Airways started its operation and began using the runway at the site,making the termination date July 1, 1985. 1. First 5-year extension to June 1990 On May 22, 1985,in response to the new owner's (Waikoloa Ranchlands, Inc.)request,the then Planning Commission and now Leeward Planning 1 Planning Dept. Exhibit 1