2005-12-08 TKailua Kona Village - Laserfiche WebLink

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ALAMEDA:The motion was made by Commissioner Springer. Seconded by Commissioner Watanabe. Discussion? Commissioner Graham? GRAHAM:I know I was one who voted against it in the last meeting and I have more clarifications today but I still cannot support it and let me try to be clear why. Theres really 2 aspects. One is Im uncomfortable with the issue that the Planning Director tried to discuss a bit about two separate items, one sort of balancing the other and coming to a net conclusion that it is in the public interest. You know I feel like in general the way the State Statutes are written when you do some activity in the shoreline area you know it should meet the criteria of the law not net it up with some other activity the 2 altogether should meet the criteria. And the other part of it is, if I felt this public access improvement to the north small lawn area really outweighed the intrusion into the grass and that would make it a more difficult decision for me. But since facilitating that public access to the north doesnt go anywhere except into that grass and since the area right behind the grass is going to be a seating lanai for a restaurant I have a hard time believingthatmyselfwhosenotinyouknowmobilityimpairedaswellasanybodyelsewould kind of want to choose to leave the lawn which is a real public benefit to the community thats on the south side, would want to leave and go around the corner to be in a lawn where youre right in front of a bunch of people eating lunch out on a seating lanai. Its sort of, not the kind of place youd particularly want to go to I dont think. And theres no further access to the north so its not like utilitarian towards getting anywhere else. So the net of is, I dont think even if we net the 2 together were really coming up with a real plus. I certainly dont feel that its a major problem building this lanai. We dont have a bunch of people here testifying please dont do that and all but you know in the interest of trying to be faithful to the rules of the commission and to the law I cant support it. ALAMEDA:Thank you Commissioner Graham. Commissioner McCall? MCCALL:I guess Ill be speaking in favor of this motion. I do feel that, that we do need to be, to use care in going into the setbacks but I personally feel that the public benefit of gaining more area and having an area in Kailua Kona where you can get out to the ocean is a benefit. I do believe that this area around the Kona Inn has been you know for many years has been while it is a private area has been used as a public open space and I think that this will increase that open space and I think it is, it is definitely a benefit. And the more we can, I dont feel that this intrusion of 8 feet into the area I think theres going to be a net benefit to the public of access to this area and more open space. Thank you. ALAMEDA:Thank you Commissioner McCall. Im going to Commissioner Watanabe and then Commissioner Springer. Commissioner Watanabe? WATANABE: Yeah, Id like to speak in favor also because its my understanding that as private property they are not required to allow the public in there. You know they, they could actually have the public, just exclude the public from the area. But its my own personal knowledge that there, the public is welcome there. And its a nice place to go and visit and you know have your ice cream or coffee and watch the sunset and things of that nature. And like I said, I think youre although you do infringe on the shoreline setback by 8 feet 10 inches, its quite minimal. Besides which I believe theyre going to improve the pool area, that theyre EXHIBIT A 15