HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PC 011 2021/02/16 (2020-2022) REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON PLANNING
DATE: February 16, 2021 Re: Comm. No. 51/Bill No. 11
PLACE: Council Chambers
Hilo, Hawaii
TIME: 3:00 p.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Your Committee on Planning, to which was referred Bill No. 11, reports as follows:
Bill 11 amends Ordinance No. 09-132 which reclassified lands from Agricultural—3 acres
(A-3a) and Open (0)to Project District(PD) at Ka`u, North Kona, Hawaii, covered by Tax Map
Key: 7-2-005:001. The applicant is Palamanui Global Holdings, LLC, Area: 695.284 acres.
The Leeward Planning Commission forwards its favorable recommendation to amend conditions
of approval. The Palamanui Development project includes 1,116 residential units, a 70-acre
business park, 230 acres of open space, a 74-acre dry forest preserve, and a 30-acre university
village town center with a 120-room hotel, retail shopping, commercial amenities, and a 20-acre
regional public park.
Bill 11 was introduced by Committee Chair Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, by request, and postponed
on February 2, 2021 after Committee Member Holeka Inaba asked for more time to discuss the
affordable housing, connector road, hotel, and park components with Mr. Steve Collin and
Mr. Roger Harris, representatives of Palamanui Global Holdings, LLC.
Mr. Inaba moved to amend Bill 11 with the contents of Communication 51.10. Committee
Member Richards seconded the motion. Mr. Collin and Mr. Harris summarized the amendments
to the draft ordinance they agreed to with Mr. Inaba. The affordable housing requirement was
reinforced, with Palamanui agreeing to build affordable housing units that do not exceed
100 percent of the Area Median Income. The hotel will still remain in the plan due to the benefits
outweighing the costs. The first obligation regarding the 10-acre park remains as well, but with
an additional minimum of two acres dedicated to an outdoors performing arts amphitheater. The
Road One obligation language was changed to ensure completion of the road by the time the
900'h housing unit is built. The motion to amend Bill 11 to Draft 2 was carried with seven
affirmative votes, and two members absent.
Committee Members Maile David, Tim Richards, Rebecca Villegas, and Heather Kimball
expressed their gratitude for the amount of work and effort put into the project, and thanked
Mr. Collin and Mr. Harris for Palamanui's investment into the community. Ms. Kierkiewicz thanked
the representatives for their time, and recognized that this project has been in development
throughout several administrations; she then expressed her gratification that it is going forward with
an agreeable resolution.
PC Report No: 11
PC-11 Page 2 February 16,2021
The vote was then taken on the motion to move this measure to Council with a favorable
recommendation, as amended, and passed with 7 "ayes." Committee Members Sue Lee Loy and
Matt Kdneali`i-Kleinfelder were absent.
Your Committee on Planning is in accord with the purpose and intent of Bill 11, as amended to
Draft 2, and recommends its passage on first reading.
is
AYES NOES ABS EX Respectfully submitted,
CHUNG X
DAVID x COMMITTEE ON PLANNING
INABA X
KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER X
KIERKIEWICZ X
KIMBALL X
LEE LOY x ASHLEY L. KIERKIEWICZ, CHAIR
RICHARDS X PC REPORT NO.: 11
VILLEGAS X ADOPTED: MAR 0 3 2021