2011-11-17 Leeward Planning Commission Minutes

Home

approximately 3,500 feet east (mauka) of Hawai‘i Belt Road in the vicinity of mile marker 90, ‘Alikā ahupua‘a, South Kona, Hawai‘i, TMK: 8-8-001: portion of 003. The Commission took this item up at 10:01 a.m. with three people from the public in attendance. Ms. Cottle oriented the Commission and public of the subject and surrounding properties on the location map and site plan, and summarized the request. She pointed out that the applicant had brought to her attention that the Site Sketch within the application erroneously indicated the proposed tower on the makai side of the existing tower, and that it would actually be located mauka of the existing tower. She noted that the Planning Director recommended approval of the application with conditions. In response to Commissioner Whittemore’s question as to whether or not there was any input from the surrounding property owners, Ms. Cottle said that she had received one phone call from the owner of the nearest residence, which is approximately 1,000 feet from the subject site, who wanted to make sure that his line of sight would not be affected. The applicant’s consultant, Les Young, stated that because of its terrain, siting towers for continuous coverage on the Big Island had always been a challenge to cell phone companies, and that the purpose of the proposed tower was to improve the wireless communication coverage, which would benefit the community, as well as tourists. In response to Chair Giffin’s questions, he further said that the current network had a tendency to give intermittent signal especially when there were many users at the same time, and that they had not received any inquiries about collocation from other wireless carriers. Commissioner Hickcox’s asked whether or not the tower would be accessible by government agencies for an emergency or any other reasons, he said that the tower would be built for potential additional usage, but that he was not involved in and therefore could not comment on the area of financial arrangements. There was no one from the public wishing to testify in regard to this application. It was moved by Commissioner Beaudet and seconded by Commissioner Whittemore that the application be approved for the reasons and with the conditions as recommended by the Planning Director. A roll call vote was taken and motion carried with six ayes (Beaudet, Whittemore, Bowman, Hickcox, Iokepa and Giffin) and one absent and excused (Nelson). APPLICANT: HOLUALOA LIKANA, LLC (AMEND SMA-06-000015) 4. Request for an amendment to allow for a 5-year time extension to Condition No. 3 (complete construction) of Special Management Area Use Permit No. 06-000015, which allowed the development of a commercial parking lot with 128 stalls and landscaping improvements on approximately 1.23 acres situated within the County’s Special Management Area (SMA). The property is located on the makai side of Kuakini Highway at the junction of Kuakini Highway and Henry Street, Kailua-Kona, North Kona, Hawaii, TMK: 7-5-006: 001. The Commission took this item up at 10:17 a.m. with one person from the public in attendance. Mr. Darrow oriented the Commission and public of the subject and surrounding properties on the location map and site photographs, and summarized the request. He noted that the Planning Director recommended approval of the amendment with revised conditions. In response to Chair Giffin’s inquiry, he clarified that the applicant had received a two-year administrative extension when the original permit expired and was now asking for an additional five-year extension due to the current unfavorable economic condition. 3