HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PC 049 12/04/2001 2000-2002 REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON PLANNING
DATE: December 4, 2001 RE: C-428/Bill No. 139
PLACE: Councilroom
TIME: 1:18 p.m.
Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Your Committee on Planning, to which was referred Bill No. 139, transmitted jointly with Bill No. 138 by
Mayor Harry Kim per Communication No. 428, dated November 15, 2001, regarding the Change of Zone
request by Jo4sre K. Uolaara, 1VLD., at Kukuau 2nd, South Hilo, Hawaii, TMK: 2-3-50:71, reports as
follows:
Bill No. 139 amends Section 25-8-33 (City of Hilo Zone Map), Article 8, Chapter 25 (Zoning Code) of the
Hawaii County Code, by changing the district classification for approximately 1.782 acres of land from an
Agricultural (A-la) to a Single Family Residential (RS-10) zoned district.
The irregular shaped subject property, owned in fee by the applicant and his spouse, Karen D. Uohara, is
located in the Sunrise Ridge Subdivision, adjacent to the park site at the Lahou Street cul-de-sac, and west
of Sunrise Estates Subdivision and Kukuau Street.
The applicant is proposing to create athree-lot subdivision with lots consisting of 1.244 acres, 15,170
square feet, and 10,250 square feet in size. The applicant intends to subdivide the property within six
months after the necessary approvals are secured. One lot will be retained by the applicant and the other
two will be sold.
The General Plan LUPAG Map designation is Medium Density Urban. Ordinance No. 456 dated July 16,
1979, changed the Alternate Urban Expansion Area to Medium Density Urban, which allows for village
and neighborhood commercial and residential and related functions. This area is located mauka of
Komohana Street, in the vicinity of Mohouli Street/Ainako Street extension to Waianuenue
Avenue/Kaumana Drive. The property is located approximately two miles from the nearest coastline,
therefore, is not situated within the Special Management Area.
The Hilo Community Development Plan adopted in 1975, designates the subject property as Agriculture-1
acre. On November 17, 1994, Subdivision No. 6485 was approved to allow the 28-lot Sunrise Ridge
Subdivision, Unit 2-B, and the designated park site.
The subject parcel is at the extreme southwestern end of Sunrise Ridge Subdivision, Unit 2-B.
Immediately adjacent to the south on Kukuau Street, the two abutting parcels of Sunrise Estates
Subdivision are also zoned Agricultural-I acre (A-la) by the County and designed Agricultural by the
State Land Use Commission. This subdivision and zoning continues across Kukuau Street, to include lots
along the boundary of Sunrise Ridge Estates. To the west are State of Hawaii lands zoned Agricultural
(A-1 a) by the County and designated Agricultural by the State Land Use Commission.
The USDA Soil Survey Report identifies the soil as Keaukaha Series, an extremely rocky muck underlain
by pahoehoe lava bedrock, which is strongly acid with rapid permeability, medium runoff and slight
erosion hazard. The Agricultural Lands of Importance to the State of Hawaii (ALISH) designation is
unclassified. The Land Study Bureau's Soil Rating is classified as "D" or Poor.
The subject property is located within Zone "X", an area determined to be outside the 500-year flood plain.
PC-49
PC-49 Page 2 December 4, 2001
Because the property was graded in 1979 as part of the subdivision, the likelihood of any archaeological
features is remote and there are no endangered or threatened species of flora and fauna.
Access to the subject property is from Kukuau Street, mauka of Komohana Street, to the end of the
cul-de-sac on Lahou Street, a 50-foot wide paved County road with curbs, gutters and sidewalks.
Water is available to the property from an existing 6-inch waterline along Lahou Street.
Wastewater will be disposed of through a County sewer line, which runs along Lahou Street. There are
two sewer laterals available on Lahou Street, so the applicant would be responsible for installing the third
sewer lateral from Lahou Street.
All other services and utilities are available to the subject property.
Bill No. 139, Draft 2, which included some housekeeping changes and new language to prohibit
landscaping which negatively impacts the drainage systems, was circulated and approved by Your
Committee. {--lowever, discussion on the prohibition of the use of gravel placed over plastic was the main
concern of Your Chair because of all the damage encountered in the November 2000 flood. Other
Councilmembers felt that this should not be "standard language" in all new zonings because some areas
were not affected by the flooding, so they should not be affected by it. Some felt the language should be
more specific and clearly spell out the intent of the condition. Bill Moore, agent for the applicant,
proposed that we work on the language a bit more and have it ready for the next Council meeting.
Your Chair further explained that the reason the condition was inserted is because the flood channels were
blocked with the gravel, thereby, causing the water levels to rise and flood the neighboring homes and
roads. If the gravel did not clog the drainage channels, perhaps, some of the flooding could have been
eliminated.
Your Committee concurs with the Planning Commission and the Planning Director for recommending a
favorable consideration for the Change of Zone request.
Your Committee on Planning is in accord with the intent and purpose of Bill No. 139, Draft 2, as amended
to Bill No. 139, Draft 3, and recommends it pass first reading.
AYES NOES A & E E•,X
LGITHEAll-TODD X
TYLER X Respectfully submitted
ARAKAKI X
CIIUNG X COMMITTEE ON ANNI
ELARIONOFF X
.IACOBSON X
PISICCHIO X OBB JEAN LEITHEAD-TODD, CHA[
SAHARIK X
YAGONC, X PC REPORT NO. 49
ADOPTED: