2012-08-02 Windward Transcript Poloke Farms

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This is an aerial photo. It identifies the particular uses on the property, as well as in the general area. You’ll notice again, running through the middle of the map is Hawai‘i Belt Road or Mamalahoa Highway. We have the existing equestrian center or covered arena with access from Mamalahoa Highway to the facility. As you’ll notice, around the subject property there are agricultural uses, mostly pasture, as well as scattered farm dwellings. Again, we have Mud Lane running along the left side of the map. The applicant is requesting an amendment to Special Permit No. 09-95 which originally was approved to allow the operation of a weekly country market to provide local farmers and ranchers a venue to sell their produce and livestock, as well as local vendors to sell their products to the general public. Additionally, it also allowed for occasional special events for nonprofit agencies. All this was within the existing covered arena. The request is for a two-year time extension to comply with Condition 2, which is the condition that requires the applicant to secure final plan approval. The reason for the request is that the applicant has been diligently working with the Department of Transportation to comply with access requirements over two, for over two years and has not been able to receive final sign-off. This has prevented the applicant from proceeding with the plan approval process. Condition number 11 of the special permit requires the applicant to comply with the requirements of the Department of Transportation for access. This is a site plan that was submitted by the applicant. Again, you see the overall property identified in the black outline. You have Mamalahoa Highway on the left side of the map. You have access coming from the Highway, and we have the location of the covered arena. This is on an approximately 2.3-acre portion of a 73-acre property. So it is a small portion. These are some site photos that were taken. This is the covered arena. You might be familiar with it as you are coming into Waimea on the right side or the makai side of the road. This is the access from the Highway looking makai. This, the applicant has also made efforts to plant trees to minimize visual impacts of the arena; and so that’s, these were taken recently. This is looking south towards Hilo on Mamalahoa Highway with the access on the left. And this is looking towards Waimea or north with the access on the right. The Planning Director's recommendation is that the Planning Commission approve this amendment request. Additionally, for your information, we have received a letter from a surrounding property owner, Joanne Frederick; and in the letter there are several questions asked. I'm not sure if the Commission is going to ask specific questions, but if I could just briefly touch upon something that I can answer. Condition number, or question number three, the applicant is asking per condition number, she says eight but it is actually number three, it says “Prior to the continuation of the Country Market and associated uses, the applicant shall secure and finalize any building permits required by the Department of Public Works Building Division.” She's asking if this happened. When a particular use is going to change its original function to another particular use, the applicant is required to submit for a change of use permit to the Building Division; and applicant has done that. The applicant actually had to go through an appeal process for part of that regarding the requirements for sprinklers in the facility; and he was able to resolve that. The applicant thought that everything was okay, but unfortunately there are still, I think what needs to happen is just an inspector needs to go out there and confirm and just sign off on the final, cause there is no construction involved with the change of use. So that's just something that he was made aware of today, and he's going to be working on that. 2 EXHIBIT A