HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PC 076 2022/09/06 (2020-2022) REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON PLANNING
DATE: September 6, 2022 Re: Comm. No. 953/Bill No. 205
PLACE: Council Chambers
Hilo, Hawaii
TIME: 11:41 a.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Your Committee on Planning, to which was referred Bill No. 205, reports as follows:
Bill No. 205, submitted by Mayor Mitchell D. Roth, via Communication No. 953, dated
August 15, 2022, amends Ordinance No. 17-65 which reclassified lands from Agricultural—
20 acres (A-20a)to General Industrial—20,000 square feet(MG-20) at Kea`au, Puna, Hawaii,
covered by Tax Map Key: 1-6-141:002. The applicant is Ke`aloha Lani, LLC (formerly Hawaii
Island Distilling, LLC). The project area is approximately 6.505 acres. Bill No. 205 was
introduced by Chair Ashley Kierkiewicz, by request.
The Windward Planning Commission forwards its favorable recommendation for this change
of zone request, which would amend Condition E (Timing of Fire Flow Improvements) and
Condition I (Timing of Roadway Improvements). The applicant proposes to develop a
7,500 square-foot microbrewery that would include a 2,000 square-foot visitor/retail sales/tasting
center with a 300 square foot kitchen and required improvements to the access road and parking
areas. The property is located east of Highway 11 (Volcano Highway), west of Railroad
Avenue, and north of Highway 130 (Kea`au-Pahoa Highway) in Puna.
Planning consultant Sidney Fuke appeared before Your Committee in the Hilo Council
Chambers to represent the applicant. He elaborated on the history of the subject property, noting
that it is next to the old Kea`au kimchee factory. One of the sites of the subject property is
Hawaiian Springs, which bottles artisanal water. Mr. Fuke explained that the founder, Marcus
Bender, envisioned it as a beverage community and had the subject property rezoned to
Industrial to carry out that vision. Mr. Bender developed a solar array to support on-site
activities.
Earlier this year, Ke`aloha Lani, LLC—owner of Waiakea Springs —bought all of Mr. Bender's
interests with the exception of the Hawaiian Springs bottling factory. Waiakea Springs currently
gets its water from Kea`au and trucks it to Keaukaha, but now would like to move operations to
this particular area for easier water access. They have secured plan approval, applied for building
permits, and are hoping to have the project completed by October 2023.
PC Report No.: 76
PC-76 Page 2 September 6,2022
Mr. Fuke explained that Condition E requires extensive water improvements (i.e. fire hydrants
and increasing water lines) be done before any certificate of occupancy is issued. He proposed to
the Planning Department and Planning Commission that the Fire Department have discretion on
what water improvements are necessary for fire protection,to which there was no objection. He
also explained that Condition I, regarding roadway improvements, is not feasible if required to
meet the full set of County dedicable standards, and is requesting less road requirements to fulfill
a minimum 25-feet wide roadway with minimum eight-feet wide gravel shoulders. He noted that
if there is any future subdivision of the property then full dedicable standards would be
required.
Committee Member Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder asked Mr. Fuke what the applicant's intention
for the properties was. Mr. Fuke repeated that the applicant envisions this area as being a
"beverage community" with local breweries or distilleries. He then asked about the property
acreage, to which Mr. Fuke explained that the property was originally 20 acres, but the focus of
the rezone is the conditions attached to the six-acre solar facility.
Committee Member Sue Lee Loy expressed her support, noting that this investment of
infrastructure would pave the way for economic development.
Chair Kierkiewicz thanked the applicant and Mr. Fuke for their time and called for the vote.
The vote was then taken on the motion to move this measure to Council with a favorable
recommendation and passed with six "ayes," and one "no," with Committee Members
Tim Richards and Holeka Inaba absent.
Your Committee on Planning is in accord with the purpose and intent of Bill No. 205, 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.: 76
VILLEGAS X ADOPTED: SEP 2 1 2022