HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PC 024 06/14/2005 2004-2006 REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON PLANNING
DATE: June 14, 2005 Re: Comm. No. 106/Bill No. 29
PLACE: Council Chambers
TIME: 1:10 p.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, I~[awai`i 96720
Your Committee on Planning, to which was referred Communication No. 106 and Bill No. 29.
transmitted by Mayor Harry Kim, dated February 8, 2005, regarding a State Land Use Boundary
Amendment request by Suffolk Investment, ~.LC, at Puapua`aiki 1" and Puapua'anui 1 Notth
Kona, Hawaii. TMK: 7-5-017:019 reports as follows:
Bill No. 29 seeks to change the State Land Use District Boundaries Map, H-7 and H-8, by changing
the District Classification of approximately 14.87 acres of land from Agricultural to Urban District.
Communication No. 106 reports the Hawaii County Planning Commission, as required by the
Hawaii County Charter, Chapter 4, Section 6-43(C), considered the above request and
accompanying Bill No. 30 on January 21, 2005. At this meeting, the Commission's vote to approve
the Planning Director's favorable recommendation was recorded as two "ayes" to three "noes".
Because there was not five affirmative votes, Che vote constitutes a "no action" and, therefore, is
recorded as an unfavorable recommendation. Communication No. 106 also transmits the favorable
recommendation of the Planning Director: Communication No. 106 reports, in synopsis, The
following:
I. 'I~he applicant, Suffolk Investment, LLC, is requesting a State Land Use Boundary
amendment for 14.87 acres from the Agricultural District to Urban District.
2. The subject property is located between Hawaii Belt Road (Highway I I) and Kuakini
Highway, directly west (makai) of the Pualani Estates Subdivision.
3. The applicant is also requesting a concurrent change of wne (Bill 30) from an
Agricultural 5-acre (A-Sa) to a Multiple Family Residential 2,500 square foot (RM-2.5)
district.
d. The applicant proposes to develop a 250-unit market rental housing project.
5. "I~he reclassification action will not be inconsistent with the County General Plan as the
request conforms to the Economic and Land Use goals and policies of the Plan and also
contorms to the General Plan Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide (LUPAG) Map which
designates the area as Urban Expansion Area.
6. 'I~hc State of t lawai' i ALISI I Map classifies a small portion of the southern section of the
property as "Other Important" Agricuhural bands with the remainder of the property as
Unclassified. The Land Use Study Bureau's Overall Master Productivity Rating for the soils
in the area is "E" or "Very Poor". While the potential for agricultural uses may exist, the soil
conditions within the site and surrounding area would preclude such. It is also not currently
being used for active agricultural purposes. Therefore, the reclassification of this 14.87 acres
of land from the Agricultural to the Urhan designation will not be detrimental to the
reduction of this area from the agricultural land inventory in the County of Hawai' i.
PC REPORT NO. 2a
Communication 106
Bill 29
Page 2
This matter was first heard on March I5, 2005. At that meeting, Planning Director Chris Yuen
explained why he recommended approval of the application, which findings and conclusion are set
forth in Communication No. 106. He then explained that the Planning Commission's unfavorable
recommendation was due to the housing and rental housing needs in the Kailua-Kona district, and
that housing should be geared towards the middle-income family at a minimum of 20 percent.
At a Planning Committee site visit held on April 12, 2005, Mr. Sidney Puke, Planning Consultant.
and Mr. Brian Cook, applicant for Puaa Investments and representative of Suffolk Investments
explained the logistics and placement of the intersection for the proposed development, which will be
directly adjacent and across from the entrance to Kahakai Estates/Nakukui Street.
Mr. Cook also explained that this proposed mauka-makai connector with Queen Ka'ahumanu
Highway is an eight percent grade through the subject property which curves into the proposed site
for the neighborhood shopping center at the north end of the property before continuing up to
intersect at Queen Ka'ahamanu across from the entrance to the Pualani Estates Subdivision. Ile went
on to say that at the Queen Ka'ahamanu intersection immediately across from the entrance to Pualani
Estates, a three-sided traftc signal is proposed to be completed within the next year.
At a subsequent Planning Committee public hearing held on April 12, 2005 for the purpose of
receiving public testimony, approximately I L°~ members of the public attended. Mc Sidney Fuke.
Planning Consultant, and Mr. Brian Cook, representative for both applicants, made a presentation
about the project, proposed traffic considerations, infrastructure and affordable housing
considerations.
Heard again on May 17, 2005, this measure was postponed to allow Co-Chair Angel Pilago and
Co-Chair Pete Hoffmann to meet with the applicant and Planning Consultant Sidney Fuke to discuss
amendments to accompanying Bill No. 3Q that were brought forward during the meeting.
Your Committee met today, and concurs with the Planning Director's favorable recommendation for
approval of the State band Use Boundary Amendment.
Your Committee on Planning is in accord with the intent and purpose of Bill No. 29 and recommends
it pass first reading.
smc
.wes Nors n.~H: H;x Respectfully submitted,
ARAKAKI _ X
HICA _ _ x COMMITTEE ON PLANNING
HOFFM.4NN X _ _
HOLSCHUH X _
IKF,D.4 X _ _ _
IsRFLL X Pete Hoffmann, Co- Ir
JACORSON _ _ X
PILAGO X
r
SAF.4RIK X
_ K. Angel Pila o-Chair
PC REPORT NO. 24
ADOPTED: .II I~ ~-~-Z~~~