HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PC 053 2020/08/18 2018-2020REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON PLANNING
DATE: August 18, 2020 Re: Comm. No. 1024/13ill No. 183
PLACE: Council Chambers
Hilo, Hawaii
TIME: 10:17 a.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Your Committee on Planning, to which was referred Bill No. 183, reports as follows:
Bill No. 183, introduced by Committee Chair Ashley L. Kierkiewicz at the request of the
Administration via Communication No. 1024, dated July 27, 2020, amends Ordinance No. 10-19
which re-classified lands from Agricultural 1 -acre (A -la) to Neighborhood Commercial 20,000
square feet (CN -20) at Ponahawai, South Hilo, Hawaii covered by TMK 2-3-037:019. The
applicant is Brian Sugai, and the subject parcel is 43,560 square feet.
The Windward Planning Commission, at its duly noticed meeting on July 2, 2020 forwards its
favorable recommendation for this amendment via Communication 1024.1 from Planning
Director Michael Yee, Dated July 29, 2020, which would allow a six-year time extension to
Condition D (Time to Complete Construction). The applicant plans to develop an 8,900 square -
foot, two-story office building, including one residential unit and a 36 -stall parking lot. The
property is located adjacent to the Alenaio drainage channel on the east side of Komohana Street
approximately 700 feet south of the Komohana Street-Ponahawai Street intersection.
Appearing before Your Committee was Mr. Sidney Fuke, planning consultant representing the
applicant, Dr. Brian Sugai, and Mr. Jeff Darrow of the Planning Department.
Mr. Fuke provided an overview of the request, sharing that Dr. Sugai, a local podiatrist, has the
intention of relocating his office from its current location to the subject site. Mr. Fuke noted that
the property was rezoned in March 2010, and that the applicant secured the building permit and
plan approval in 2011. He shared that a series of unfortunate events including, miscommunication
with the Department of Public Works, and litigation with a contractor prevented the project from
moving forward. Litigation was resolved in 2019, at which time the administrative time extension
that had been granted had come to an end. Mr. Fuke noted that the applicant obtained the grading
permit and building permit, and that financing was in place with a bank loan ready to consummate
upon approval of this time extension. Thus, the applicant is seeking favorable action on this
request.
Planning Committee Chair Ashley Kierkiewicz noted that there is a positive recommendation
from the Planning Commission.
PC Report No. 53
PC-53 Page 2 August 18,2020
Committee Member Aaron Chung stated his support and mentioned that he recently noticed the
clearing on the aforementioned site. Mr. Fuke confirmed that there is a pad constructed on the
back end of the property.
Chair Kierkiewicz confirmed with Mr. Fuke that the planning report mentioned past issues that
the applicant had cleared it up prior to review by the Planning Commission and is able to
complete the project in the next couple of years as well as handle the new water commitments
and conditions. Mr. Fuke also confirmed this.
The vote was taken on the motion to move this measure to Council with a positive
recommendation and passed with eight "ayes."
Your Committee on Planning is in accord with the purpose and intent of Bill No. 183, and
recommends its passage on first reading.
jb
AYES NOES ABS EX Respectfully submitted,
CHUNG X
DAVID x COMMITTEE ON PLANNING
EOFF X
KIERKIEWICZ X
KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER X I
LEE LOY X
POINDEXTER x ASEY L. KIERKIEWICZ, CHAIR
RICHARDS X PC REPORT NO.: 53
VILLEGAS X ADOPTED: SEP 0 2 2020