2013-08-01 Windward Planning Commission Transcript PD UH

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And, again, by allowing this University designation to occur it would allow the flexibility to provide other mix of uses, such as student houses, commercial uses such as restaurants, markets, medical office, financial institutions, theaters, research facilities, basically creating a comprehensive college-like campus at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo. So with that, the Director is recommending a favorable consideration of this change of zone request. So I stand ready to answer any questions that you may have. And before I leave the microphone, I wanted to also note that I did provide this sheet; and basically it was taken out of the Zoning Code. And it does highlight some of the minimum requirements and permitted uses within the University zoning district - just so you can get a sense of the type and range of uses that could be permitted. So with that I stand ready to answer any questions that you may have. ISHIBASHI: Questions, Commissioners? Commissioner Ono? ONO: Yes. Could you go back to the diagram of the area that’s, you’re trying to, the makai side of the -? The land is, today as it exists, it’s not improved at all, it’s just vacant land basically? ARAI: The main campus currently exists in this area here, the light gray color that’s on the makai side of the Waiākea floodway or flood channel, I should say. Waiakea High School is in this particular area located off to the right of the map. And over here is where you may have noticed the construction of the new university village apartment complexes that are just coming up. Ash Housing is located on the lower portion of this map, right near Puainako Street. In this particular area on the left side of the floodway is largely vacant, although there are some portions of the existing University Park and Technology Campus where you have the Imiloa and Gemini facilities. It’s located in this particular location here. So there are portions within this existing planned zoned area that have been improved. But there are a significant amount of vacant lands that do remain, like in this particular location to the northwest where I believe it remains vacant. ONO: And that’s the area that’s zoned Residential today? ARAI: Currently, as you can see the two different colors of gray. The light gray depicts the Residential-10,000 square feet and the darker gray represents the Agriculture-1 acre, as it’s currently zoned. ONO: And the Rural on the left side is the Komohana? ARAI: On the left side is Komohana Street. Mohouli here is at the top left. And Kumukoa Street is at the very top of the map. ONO: And the request, the recommendation today is? ARAI: We’re asking for a favorable recommendation to the County Council for a change of zone from Ag-1a and Single-Family Residential to the University zoning district. 4 EXHIBIT B