2011-05-04 Windward Planning Commission Hearing Transcript SMA 221

Home

WINDWARD PLANNING COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I HEARING TRANSCRIPT MAY 4, 2010 HU HONUA BIOENERGY LLC (SMA 221) A regularly advertised hearing on the application of was called to order at 11:36 a.m. in the County of Hawai‘i, Aupuni Center Conference Room, 101 Pauahi Street, Hilo, Hawai‘i, with Chairman Zendo Kern presiding. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Zendo Kern, Dean Au, Taka Domingo, and Stephen Ono STAFF PRESENT: Julie Mecklenburg (Deputy Corporation Counsel), BJ Leithead Todd (Planning Director), Daryn Arai (Planning Program Manager), Phyllis Fujimoto (Staff Planner), Maija Cottle (Staff Planner), and Jeff Darrow (Staff Planner). And approximately 23 people from the public in attendance. RECUSED: Wallace Ishibashi APPLICANT: HU HONUA BIOENERGY LLC (SMA 221) Discussion and action on the Hearings Officer’s report and recommendation on amendment to Special Management Area Use Permit No. 221 which originally allowed the establishment of a coal storage area and a coal burning energy plant and related improvements. The amendment request is to allow a change in fuel source from coal to biomass, to upgrade the existing facility and to construct support facilities and infrastructure at the former Pepe‘ekeō Power Plant, Makahanaloa, South Hilo, Hawai‘i, TMK: 2-8- 8:104 (formerly 2-8-7: Portion of 53). KERN: Okay, now the next item on the agenda, unfinished business, Applicant: Hu Honua Bioenergy LLC, SMA 221, discussion and action on Hearings Officer’s report and recommendation on amendment to Special Management Area Use Permit No. 221. Just give me one moment to get organized. We’ll start out with the staff’s presentation just to bring us up to speed on anything that has occurred since our last hearing. So this would be pretty short and sweet, I take it. So, Jeff? DARROW: Thank you Mr. Chairman. Good morning, Mr. Chairman and Members of the Planning Commission. COMMISSIONERS: Morning. DARROW: This is a continued hearing for HU HONUA SMA amendment application. Our last hearing was on April 7, 2011. Since our last hearing there have been four pieces of correspondence that have been submitted to the Planning Department and also forwarded to the Commission. These involve the, a submittal from the law offices of Steven Strauss, this is Sixteen Intervenors’ Motion to Disqualify Planning Commissioner Ishibashi; additionally we have received two e-mails from Bridget Rapoza; and lastly a submittal from Hu Honua Bioenergy, and the Planning Director’s Joint Statement of the 1 EXHIBIT C