2013-10-3 Windward Planning Commission Minutes

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The Commission took this item up at 9:28 a.m. with 6 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 said the Planning Director recommended approval of the application with conditions, including the condition that signs not be visible from Highway 130, and added that a correspondence from the Department of Water Supply was received into the record. The applicant, Carnor Sumida, and his attorney, Sandra Song, were in attendance. Ms. Song said the applicant, who has been operating for a long time, requested he be allowed to have a sign along Route 130 that would comply with the County’s sign ordinance, noting the original permit approved in 2008 did not have this restriction. Ms. Song said the applicant agrees with the condition requiring landscaping along Route 130. She noted the 1-foot high plants are now 5 to 10 feet high, and the corner of the property where the plants kept dying and are now planted with larger plants that hopefully will survive. He said the area on the Hilo side is not planted in trees as he has an agreement with his neighbor to watch out for each other’s property in cases of vandalism, noting it would also provide better air flow. For Commissioner Gonzales’s information, Ms. Song said the applicant has taken down the temporary sign, and there are other signs along Highway 130, noting one person has a big advertisement and phone number on his truck parked near the highway. Regarding signage, Ms. Masunaga said the Department of Public Works upon receiving a complaint investigates to see if there is a violation. Ms. Song said a permanent sign requires a permit application to be submitted and approved by the Department of Public Works, which her client is willing to obtain. Ms. Cottle said this is the only area along the stretch of Highway 130 that does have some light industrial uses or uses other than farm dwelling and the Commission has to decide whether they want this stretch of Highway 130 to have signs for these businesses or keep this portion of Highway 130 more consistent with the surrounding agricultural lands. Ms. Cottle added that if the Commission decides to allow signage on Highway 130, then should the two other landowners of special permits in this area come in to extend the life of their permits in the future, the Department would probably remove that condition from their permits to be consistent. Ms. Song said that the Hawai‘i Island Humane Society, the Credit Union, Greenhouse Specialists, Keaau High School all have signages along Highway 130, although the area is designated for agriculture; and she added that there have been discussions about rezoning rd the strip of land along 33 and Maku‘u to light industrial. It was moved by Commissioner Henkel and seconded by Commissioner Gonzales that the amendment to Special Permit No.08-053 be approved with the deletion of proposed Condition 5 on signage, because the County already has sign ordinance. A roll call vote was taken and motion carried with six ayes (Henkel, Gonzales, Heaukulani with reservations, Miyasato, Moses, and Ishibashi) and one absent and excused (Ono). 3