HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PC 049 2022/03/08 (2020-2022) REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON PLANNING
DATE: March 8, 2022 Re: Comm. No. 601/Bill No. 115
PLACE: Council Chambers
Hilo, Hawaii
TIME: 10:31 a.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Your Committee on Planning, to which was referred Bill No. 115, reports as follows:
Bill No. 115, submitted by Mayor Mitchell D. Roth via Communication 601, dated January 18, 2022,
amends Section 25-8-13 (Puak6-`Anaeho`omalu Zone Map), Article 8, Chapter 25 (Zoning) of the
Hawaii County Code 1983 (2016 Edition, As Amended), by changing the district classification from
Open (0), Multiple-Family Residential—4,000 Square Feet(RM-4), Multiple-Family Residential—
6,000 Square Feet(RM-6), Multiple-Family Residential—8,000 Square Feet(RM-8) and Village
Commercial— 10,000 Square Feet(CV-10)to Project District(PD) at Waikoloa, South Kohala,
Hawaii, covered by Tax Map Keys 6-9-008: Por. 013, 022, 025, Por. 029, and 033. The applicant is
Waikoloa Land Company and the subject area is 133.822 acres. Bill No. 115 was introduced by
Committee Chair Ashley Kierkiewicz by request.
The Leeward Planning Commission forwards its favorable recommendation for this change of
zone, which would allow the applicant to construct 900 multi-family residential units,
community centers, commercial/retail center, golf course support facilities, and parks and
recreation areas, and related infrastructure improvements. The properties are located between the
75- and 76-mile markers on Queen Ka`ahumanu Highway and west(makai) of the highway to
the King's Highway Foot Trail, `Aneho`omalu and Waikoloa.
Committee Chair Ashley Kierkiewicz clarified that Bill No. 112 and Bill No. 115 are for the
same project and that discussion would be global, covering both Bills. This matter was
postponed at the February 8, 2022 and February 22, 2022 Planning Committee meetings.
Present in the Hilo Chambers were Zendo Kern, Planning Director; Sidney Fuke, Planning
Consultant; John Plunkett, Vice-President of Waikoloa Land Company; Anne Bouslag, Project
Director with PBR Hawaii & Associates, Inc.; Stanford Carr, Stanford Carr Development; and
Cary Boedekker, Founder and President of the Waikoloa Foundation. Tom Nance, project
hydrologist, and several other project team members were present via Zoom.
Planning Committee Report 48 outlines the discussions that took place during the February 8 and
February 22, 2022 Planning Committee meetings. The resolutions of Your Committee and the
applicant's discussions are outlined in Communications No. 601.3 and 601.6 through 601.10.
Communication No. 601.9 was withdrawn to be rewritten and resubmitted for the March 22, 2022
Council meeting.
PC Report No.: 49
PC-49 Page 2 March 8,2022
Communication No. 601.3 amends Bill No. 115 to require installation of AEDs throughout the
resort commercial and retail properties, adds language which requires the applicant to install
electric vehicle charging stations, and sets a 65-year minimum mandate for the workforce
housing component. Committee Member Heather Kimball thanked the applicants for including
the addition of electric vehicle charging stations. The amendment passed with 8 "ayes,"with
Committee Member Sue Lee Loy absent.
Communication No. 601.6 amends Bill No. 115 to require the applicant to go beyond the 140
affordable housing units currently proposed by pursuing the 201H process. Committee Member
Holeka Inaba clarified the additional affordable housing units will only be built if 201H
exemptions are granted. Chair Kierkiewicz confirmed this; she thanked the applicants for putting
their money where their mouth is and committing to finding ways to build more than 140
affordable housing units. The amendment passed with 8 "ayes"with Committee Member David
absent.
Communication No. 601.7 amends Bill No. 115 to require keeping the remaining 27 golf holes
open and undeveloped space to address the density concerns of Your Committee. The
amendment would allow the applicants to relocate nine holes if other zoning changes impact the
current metes and bounds survey. Committee Member Inaba voiced his concern on capping all
the remaining golf holes which may impact the ability to add more affordable housing units.
Committee Member Kimball voiced her support for the amendment noting that once open space
is developed, there is no going back. The amendment passed with 7 "ayes" and 1 "no"
(Committee Member Inaba), with Committee Member David absent.
Communication No. 601.8 amends Bill No. 115 to require the project achieve a net zero impact
on the potable water resource. Mr. Fuke suggested additional language to require a water
conservation plan so the Planning Department is able to monitor this condition. Director Kern
suggested progress and data on the conservation plan could be reported through the applicant's
required annual progress reports. Committee Members Inaba and Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder
thanked the applicants for their commitment. Committee Member Inaba asked for clarification
on how they would achieve a net-zero impact on the aquifers. Ms. Bouslag elaborated that
converting the existing landscaping to native and drought resistant species and re-naturalizing
lava will require less water, and brackish water will be used for irrigation rather than the
freshwater currently being used now. The amendment passed with 9 "ayes."
Communication No. 601.9 presented language around the amount of proceeds from the sales of
each timeshare unit being allocated to the Waikoloa Foundation as well as to the County for
tourism and housing initiatives. The amendment was withdrawn to be rewritten for better
clarification.
Communication No. 60 1.10 commits the applicant to engaging the State Historic Preservation
Division (SHPD) in order to donate the historic King's Highway Trail. Your Committee voiced
their support for the amendment, which passed with 9 "ayes."
PC Report No.: 49
PC-49 Page 3 March 8,2022
Committee Chair Kierkiewicz thanked the applicants for their genuine willingness to engage and
listen to the community and Committee Members. She noted that they are setting the bar for how
developments can have continuous and constructive dialogues and produce meaningful solutions.
The vote was then taken on the motion to move this measure to Council with a favorable
recommendation and passed with 7 "ayes."
Your Committee on Planning is in accord with the purpose and intent of Bill No. 115, and
recommends its passage on first reading.
jS
AYES NOES ABS Ex Respectfully submitted,
CHUNG X
DAVID x COMMITTEE ON PLANNING
INABA X
KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER X
KIERKIEWICZ X
KIMBALL X
-LV-
LEELOY x ASHLEY L. KIERKIEWICZ, CHAIR
RICHARDS X PC REPORT NO.: 49
VILLEGAS X ADOPTED: MAR 2 3