HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PC 050 01/19/2006 2004-2006 REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON PLANNING
DATE: .lanuary 19, 2006 Re: Comm. No. 609/Bill No. 197
PLACE: Councilroom
TIME: 1:30 p.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii
Your Committee on Planning, to which was referred Communication No. 609 and attached
Bill 197, reports as follows:
Bill No. 197, transmitted by Communication No. 609 from Bruce C. McClure, P.E., Director
of Public Works, dated December 19, 2005 presents an Ordinance to amend Ordinance No.
93-8, relating to Exceptional Trees.
The purpose of Bill No. 197 is to remove one (1) mango tree from a grove of 600 mango
trees located adjacent to Pohoiki Road. The Grove of Mangoes, Mangifera indica, was added
to the list of"Exceptional Trees of the County of Hawaii" pursuant to Ordinance 93-8,
effective March 2, 1993 and appears as item number 26 of Section 14-65, Hawaii County
Code 1983 (2005 Edition).
The Department of Public Works is working on the "Pohoiki 13ypass Project" that involves
realignment of approximately half a mile of the Kaimu-Kapoho Road that will bypass an area
that increasingly floods during high tides and sinking almost an inch per year.
The project includes construction of an intersection at Pahoa-Pohoiki Road and Kaimu-
Kapoho Road and will impact the Pohoiki grove of mango trees by the necessity of removing
one of the mango trees in the grove that it situated directly on the centerline of the proposed
intersection.
Upon review of the County's request to remove the affected mango tree from the grove of
mangoes at Pohoiki, the I lawai`i Arborist Advisory Committee at its October 20, 2005
meeting, recommended approval of the Department of Public Work's proposal to remove one
mango tree, with the caveat that the recommendation shall not set any precedent to remove
any other tree in the Pohoiki grove.
l~he purpose of Bill No. 197 is to permit removal of one mango tree from the grove of
approximately 600 mango trees and amend Ordinance No. 93-8 reflect one grove of 599
mango trees to the existing list of exceptional trees.
At the January 19, 2006 Planning Committee meeting Safarik reiterated a constituent's
concern and that he would support this notion for safety and realignment issues, but not to set
a precedent with the other exceptional tress unless they meet this type of criteria. Confident
PC REPORT NO. 50
that this is on a case-by-case basis because the people that live in the area who brought
forward the exceptional trees legislation need to know and be secure in that.
Director McClure clarified this was brought before the committee previously as a resolution
because initially thought a resolution was sufficient. However, on advice of Legislative
Auditor staff, their department has revised it into an ordinance and once the bill passes, will
be in compliance.
Council Member Jacobson stated because this involves one tree he reluctantly supports this
because he trusts the judgment of Public Works and Council Member Safarik's desire to have
a safe intersection in his area.
There were no statements from the public on this matter.
Your Committee on Planning is in accord with the intent and purpose of Bill No. 197 and
recommends it pass first reading.
and
nves~ Noes nae ex Respectfully submitted,
ARAKAKI X
RICA X COMMITTEE ON PLANNING
ROFFMANN Ji( ~ / l
HOLSCHUtI X ~ ~
IKEDA X
IsBELL X K. Angel Pilago Chairman
JACOBSON
PILAGO X
.
SAFARIK X
PC REPORT NO. 50
ADOPTED: FEB 0 1 2006