HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PC 077 2022/09/20 (2020-2022) REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON PLANNING
DATE: September 20, 2022 Re: Comm. No. 945/Bill No. 201
PLACE: Council Chambers
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
TIME: 9:30 a.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Your Committee on Planning, to which was referred Bill No. 201, reports as follows:
Bill No. 201, submitted by Mayor Mitchell D. Roth, via Communication No. 945, dated
August 10, 2022, amends the State Land Use Boundaries Maps for the County of Hawaii by
changing the district classification from the Agricultural District to the Urban District at
Kealakekua, South Kona, Hawaii, covered by Tax Map Key: 8-1-008:004. The applicant is
Amy Hagen-Cowell Trust. The project area is approximately 6.875 acres. Bill No. 201 was
introduced by Chair Ashley Kierkiewicz, by request. Bill No. 201 is a companion bill to
Bill No. 202, to which discussion is open globally.
The Leeward Planning Commission forwards its favorable recommendation for this amendment
to the State Land Use Boundaries Map and change of zone, which would allow the applicant to
subdivide the property into a total of 15 lots, with a minimum lot size of 14,000 square feet, with
one existing single-family dwelling and supporting infrastructure on each lot. The property is
located on the east(mauka) side of Hawaii Belt Road(Highway 11) at its intersection with Alii
Drive and Napo`opo`o Road, Ka`awaloa(mauka) in South Kona.
Planning consultant Sidney Fuke, present before Your Committee in the Kona Chambers,
explained that the property is surrounded by Residential Zoned lots, and he noted that an Urban
designation of the subject property falls in line with the General Plan and Kona Community
Development Plan to keep the area low-to-medium density. There are 25 water credits available
on the property, and the applicant intends to subdivide the property into 15 one-acre lots to
provide adequate lot sizes without making the area too dense. Mr. Fuke continued to explain that
the applicant has agreed to the $124,000 Fair Share Contribution for local infrastructure
improvements. The applicant is working with the Hawaii Department of Transportation on a
traffic assessment to address ingress-egress sight issues.
The applicant, Bob Cowell, appeared before Your Committee via Zoom. He noted that this
property has been in his family for many years and wanted to use it in a way to benefit the
community. He explained that his intention for the subdivision is to be large enough for families
to have the option to farm and grow their own food.
PC Report No.: 77
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PC-77 Page 2 September 20,2022
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The September 6, 2022 Committee meeting addressed concerns brought up by Committee
Members Matt-Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Rebecca Villegas, and Heather Kimball regarding the
project's affordable housing credits, fair-share contributions, and infrastructure requirements.
Committee Member Maile David asked how long the traffic assessment would take and how to
ensure recommendations were carried out.
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Committee Chair Ashley Kierkiewicz called for a postponement to facilitate a meeting with the
Hawaii Department of Transportation and refine Condition E in Bill No. 202.
Bills No. 201 and 202 were postponed during the September 6, 2022, Planning Committee
meeting. Since then, the applicant has met with the Hawaii Department of Transportation to
discuss specificity around process, recommendations, and timeframe for implementation of
traffic assessment and appropriate mitigation measures.
The vote was then taken on the motion to move this measure to Council with a favorable
recommendation and passed with eight"ayes,"with Committee Member Heather Kimball
absent.
Your Committee on Planning is in accord with the purpose and intent of Bill No. 201, and
recommends its passage on first reading.
S
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 VLEYKIERKIEWICZ, CHAIR
RICHARDS x PC REPORT NO.: 77
VILLEGAS x ADOPTED: QUA 5-2022
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