2017-11-02 Hearing Transcript - Celestial Sanctum 501(C)3 SPP 17-192

Home

bathroom, and two -half bathroom 3,880 -square foot single-family dwelling into the main area for the lodge and retreat center use. In addition, the Applicant plans to convert existing storage space in the existing dwelling into four additional bedrooms totaling nine bedrooms within the existing dwelling. The Applicant will occupy one bedroom, and the remainder will be available for guests. The Applicant also is proposing to build six detached bedrooms, two of which will be ADA compliant, to accommodate additional guests and staff members clustered around a gazebo designated as a formal gathering area, and a 600 -square foot yoga pavilion adjacent to the existing dwelling. The Applicant is proposing to offer 13 retreats a year for approximately five to seven days per retreat. According to the Applicant, the facility will not be available to non -retreat guests while a retreat is in session. During the periods when retreats are not being conducted, the Applicant is proposing to offer their lodge to the public for overnight accommodations for up to 21 guests. The Applicant will provide 15 on-site parking stalls to accommodate guests, including two ADA compliant parking stalls. The Applicant is proposing to construct several greenhouses to grow organic food for their guests, and to that end, develop a certified kitchen to provide meal service to guests. The operation of classes and workshops will be offered between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Non -retreat guests are required to check in at 4 p.m. and check out at 11 a.m. As the lodge and retreat center are fully built out, the Applicant plans to hire up to ten employees. The Applicant's reason for their request is in October of 2016, the owners purchased the subject property with the intention to create a wellness retreat center. They decided to purchase the subject property after searching Hawaii Island for many months trying to find the right type of location and environment for the retreat center. Both have a history working in the spiritual health and healing arenas and have experience operating a similar retreat center previously in California. The owners feel that the property's pristine beauty and relative seclusion make this the ideal location for their wellness and retreat center. The owners relocated to Hawaii Island in 2016 and are currently living on the property and operating the facility as a four-bedroom transient vacation rental. The County zoning designation for the subject parcel is Agricultural — 5 acres along with much of the surrounding land. Again, for reference, we've got Volcano Road, Highway 11 running generally north -south through the slide. Access to the subject property is off of Luna Ikena Road, which is a private easement with approximately 10 to 12 feet wide of gravel surface within a 50 -foot right-of-way. We'll get into it a little bit later, but access from the highway is through this Parcel 22. There's a little jog to the left, and then it hooks back up to Luna Ikena Road. All of the owners within this, within this development have access rights across the road. And, again, here's the subject property outlined in red and the permit area in the dashed line. EXHIBIT A 2