HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PC 104 09/24/2002 2000-2002 REPORT OF TI-IE
COMMITTEE ON PLANNING
DATE: September 24, 2002 Re: C-725/Bill No. 256
PLACE: Councilroom
TIME: 2:10 p.m.
Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Your Committee on Planning, to which was referred Bill No. 256, transmitted by
Arborist Advisory Committee Chair Leonard Bisel, per Communication No. 725, dated
August 20, 2002, regarding exceptional trees, reports as follows:
Bill No. 256 amends Chapter 14, Article 10 of the Hawaii County Code, as amended, by
providing "exceptional tree" status to the following:
1. The Terminalia chebula, owned by the County of 1-Iawaii on property
located at TMK: 2-3-01:2 on Kamehameha Avenue.
2. The Grove of Mango trees, owned by-the County of Hawaii on property
located at TMK: l -4-3, 4, 5, & 28 on Government Beach Road .
The addition of these two trees brings the number of exceptional trees in the County of
Hawaii to thirty-two.
Pursuant to Chapter 58, Hawaii Revised Statutes, each County of the State of Hawaii has
to establish an Arborist Advisory Committee to research, prepare and recommend to the
County Council exceptional trees to be protected by County ordinance or regulation.
Pursuant to Chapter 14, Article 10, Hawaii County Code, the County desires to enact
protective regulations to preserve exceptional trees within the County. In the County of
Hawaii, the Arborist Committee falls under the jurisdiction of the Planning Department,
which enforces Article 10 and has the police power to take appropriate action to ensure
compliance with the provisions of Article l 0.
As defined in the Hawaii Revised Statutes and Section 14-57 of the Hawaii County Code,
"exceptional trees" means a tree or grove of trees with historic or cultural value, or which
by reason of its age, rarity, location, size, aesthetic quality, or endemic status has been
designated by the council as worthy of preservation. The term does not apply to trees
planted for commercial forestry operations.
At today's meeting, three people (Rene Siracusa, Sherry Kelso and Clive Cheetham)
testified in favor of the nominations.
PC-104
PC-104 - 2 - September 24, 2002
In response to a question posed by Committee Member Curtis Tyler, Leonard Bisel stated
that the public had provided their input on this measure at their public hearing.
Committee Member Dominic Yagong agreed with the testimonies, but questioned the
liability aspect of the trees being planted in the 40' right-of--way. In response, Deputy
Planning Director, Roy Takemoto stated that he would check with the Department of
Public Works to see how they could mitigate the liability concerns.
Your Committee also mentioned that if the road were widened, drivers may tend to speed
more, so it would be best to maintain this 40' wide roadway. Gary Safarik mentioned
that signs should be posted to note the exceptional trees, slow traffic and the preservation
of the archaeological sites along the roadway.
Your Chair requested that the Arborist Committee submit more information on the
nominated trees and explain the cultural significance of the trees, if any, on future
nominations.
Your Committee on Planning is in accord with the intent and purpose of Bill No. 256,
and recommends it pass first reading.
AYES NOES A & E F,X
LEITHEAD-TODD x Respectfully submitted,
TYLER X
ARAKAKI x COMMITTEE ON Pt,ANNING .
ELARIONOFF X ~ o- C.. r_Y-
_ c ~ ~ _
JACOBSON X
B BY JEAN LEITHEAD-TODD, CHAIR
PISICCHIO X l ~ 4
SAFARIK X PC REPORT NO.
YAGONG X ADOPTED: u~T O n ZOO2