REP LAAC 013 2025-04-15 2024-2026

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REPORT OF THE LEGISLATIVE APPROVALS AND ACQUISITIONS COMMITTEE DATE: April 15, 2025 Re: Comm.No. 207/Bill No. 40 PLACE: Council Chambers Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i TIME: 3:16 p.m. Council Chair and Members Hawai`i County Council Hilo,Hawai`i 96720 Your Committee on Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions,to which was referred Bill No. 40, reports as follows: Bill No. 40,transmitted by Managing Director William V. Brilhante, via Communication No. 207, dated March 20, 2025, amends Section 25-8-33 (City of Hilo Zone Map), Article 8, Chapter 25 (Zoning) of the Hawai`i County Code 1983 (2016 Edition, as amended), by changing the Zone Map Classification from Agricultural— 10 acres (A-l0a)to Agricultural—5 acres (A-5a) at Pana`ewa, Hilo, Hawai`i, covered by Tax Map Key: 2-2-048:013 (por.) (Applicant: Ho`oulu Lahui) (Area: approx. 12.043 acres). The Windward Planning Commission forwards its favorable recommendation for this requested change of zone, which would allow the applicant to subdivide the property that currently houses Kua 0 Ka La New Century Public Charter School and enable the school to transition from a lease agreement to a fee-simple ownership. The property is located at 345 Makalika Street. Jeffrey Darrow, Planning Director; John Pipan, Planning Consultant for Ho`oulu Lahui; Susie Osborne, founder of Kua 0 Ka La New Century Public Charter School; Sidney Fuke,Planning Consultant for property owner Nani Mau Gardens Group; and Tom Yeh, counsel for property owner and applicant, were present in the Chambers. Mr. Darrow provided a PowerPoint presentation via Communication 207.1,which outlined the favorable recommendation of the Windward Planning Commission and the Planning Director. The Windward Planning Commission provided the favorable recommendation with the deletion of two conditions; Condition"B" (to comply with the State Land Use Special Permit,which they would be released from with the rezone process), and Condition"I" (for a traffic analysis report, which will be addressed by the Planning Department with the applicant's request for a Special Permit). Committee Member Dennis "Fresh" Onishi inquired if the applicant could change the use of the property in the future, as it is agriculturally zoned but is also in an urbanized area. Mr. Darrow replied that although the property is in the State Land Use Map and zoned as agricultural, across the street is in fact urban, and therefore, in the long term,there is a possibility that this specific property could be considered as urban in the future. Committee Member Ashley L. Kierkiewicz shared that both Kua 0 Ka La and Ms. Osborne were in her council district prior to the 2018 lava event and that her son is a student at the school. She also shared her deep appreciation of Ms. Osborne and her dedication to keiki and community, while enduring the loss of her own home in addition to the school, and added Ms. Osborne is a true visionary, creating an educational space with a resiliency hub for our keiki and community, and this rezoning is a great opportunity to expand the school even further. LAAC Report No. 13