HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PC 040 2022/01/05 (2020-2022) REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON PLANNING
DATE: January 5, 2022 Re: Comm. No. 549/Bill No. 100
PLACE: Council Chambers
Hilo, Hawaii
TIME: 9:00 a.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Your Committee on Planning, to which was referred Bill No. 100, reports as follows:
Bill No. 100, submitted by Mayor Mitchell D. Roth via Communication 549, dated
November 18, 2021, repeals Ordinance No. 97-106, which amended Section 25-8-33
(City of Hilo Zone Map), Article 8, Chapter 25 (Zoning Code) of the Hawaii County Code
1983 (2016 Edition, As Amended), by changing the District Classification from Limited
Industrial—20,000 square feet(ML-20)to Industrial-Commercial Mixed—20,000 square feet
(MCX-20) at Waiakea, South Hilo, Hawaii, covered by tax map key: 2-2-032:023, 101, 102,
103 and 104. The area is approximately 147,736 square feet. Planning Director Initiated.
The Windward Planning Commission forwards its favorable recommendation to repeal
Ordinance No. 97-106, which would reclassify the property back to its original designation of
Limited Industrial—20,000 square feet. The property is located on the southeast corner of
Kalanikoa and Kuawa Streets in Hilo.
Representing the applicant in the Hilo Chambers was Ron Kim, of Yeh & Kim. Mr. Kim
explained that upon purchase of the property, the applicant was not aware of the existing
conditions on the original ordinance; they were discovered while trying to secure a grading
permit. The applicant was advised by the Planning Department that work could not proceed until
the conditions of approval were addressed, either by requesting a time extension or reverting
back to the original zoning.
Deputy Director Jeff Darrow was present in the Hilo Chambers to answer questions and provide
further background.
Committee Chair Ashley Kierkiewicz disclosed that she had worked with the applicant's wife
10 years ago. She then asked Mr. Darrow why this was Planning Director Initiated, to which
Mr. Darrow explained that there is typically a condition in each ordinance that states if the
applicant does not comply with the conditions, then the Planning Director may change or revert
the classification. This was Planning Director Initiated because the applicant requested it be
reversed after discovering he could not do any work on the property.
PC Report No.: 40
PC-40 Page 2 January 5,2022
Committee Member Heather Kimball asked if there is a way to flag conditions for rezone
requests, or to monitor if they are being complied with or not. Mr. Darrow responded that is
something the Department is looking at and is interested in doing but does not currently have the
staff capacity to monitor.
Chair Kierkiewicz asked Mr. Darrow if he knew whether there were prohibited uses for this
parcel. Mr. Darrow responded that there was a list of permitted uses for each Zoning District, but
what the applicant wanted to do was not included such as commercial offices or retail
establishments.
Chair Kierkiewicz mentioned that there should be a mechanism in place to better inform
applicants on original Conditions. She also noted that if the applicant wanted to do a project on
the parcel not listed in the original zoning,they would need to submit another application and
appear before Your Committee again; Mr. Darrow agreed.
The vote was then taken on the motion to move this measure to Council with a favorable
recommendation and passed with 9 "ayes."
Your Committee on Planning is in accord with the purpose and intent of Bill No. 100, and
recommends its passage on first reading.
'S
AYES NOES ABS EX Respectfully submitted,
CHUNG X
DAVID x COMMITTEE ON PL NNING
INABA X
KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER x
KIERKIEWICZ X
KIMBALL X
LEE LOY x ASHLEY L. KIERKIEWICZ, CHAIR
RICHARDS x PC REPORT NO.: 40
VILLEGAS x ADOPTED: JAN-! 9 2022