2013-10-3 Windward Planning Commission Minutes

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APPLICANT: MICHELLE A. MITCHELL (USE 13-042) Application for a Use Permit to allow the establishment of a medical clinic and accessory uses on 1.278 acres of land situated within the Multiple-Family Residential (RM-5.5) zoning district. The subject property is located on the south side of Ponahawai Street approximately 600 feet east of its intersection with Komohana Street, Ponahawai, South Hilo, Hawai‘i, TMK: 2-3-037:015. The Commission took this item up at 11:16 a.m. with 8 people from the public in attendance. Mr. Darrow oriented the Commission and public of the subject and surrounding properties on the location map and site plan, summarized the request, and noted the Planning Director’s favorable recommendation, with conditions as amended. He noted that a letter of support was received from Frederick Nitta, an adjoining property owner. The applicant, Michelle A. Mitchell, her attorney, Thomas Yeh, and the Manager for the development, Tom Belcher, were in attendance. Mr. Yeh said that Dr. Mitchell will play an important part in boosting the availability of physicians on the island, noting the shortage of physicians affecting the level of health care available to residents, which will probably keep increasing. Dr. Mitchell said she is trying to provide space for physicians coming out of residency who want to be on the Big Island but face the difficulty of opening up a practice because they do not have sufficient funds, or unable to get a bank loan, and/or have no business training. She noted she completed her residency five years ago as a primary care physician and had always wanted to practice in a rural community that needed physicians, noting she has hired another physician to help her. She said a study released last year showed that there is a shortage of over 600 physicians in Hawai‘i, noting that the study significantly underestimates the shortage because it was done by only looking at the licensure of physicians. She added there was another study showing that from the time of the initial study done a couple of years ago they will lose 1/3 of the physicians within five years, which she was trying hard to find a way to mitigate that. She said the residency program being assisted by the Legislature and Hilo Medical Center will provide trained doctors but they will then need a place for them establish themselves. Mr. Yeh added that it made sense to establish the facility in this area because of the existing infrastructure. Mr. Ishibashi thanked the applicant for undertaking this very much needed project, especially in the field of mental health. He agreed it is very challenging to recruit physicians and noted the key focus for this project is to take care of the community. There was no one from the public wishing to testify on the application. It was moved by Commissioner Gonzales, and seconded by Commissioner Moses, that the application be approved as recommended by the Planning Director with conditions, and Condition No. 13 amended to read, “If the applicant should require an extension of time for Condition No. 4, the Planning Department shall submit the applicant's request to the Planning Commission for appropriate action.” A roll call vote was taken and motion carried with six ayes 5