HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PWIRC 022 05/31/2007 2006-2008 REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
DATE: May 31, 2007 RE: Comm. 434/Res. 219-07
PLACE: Councilroom
Ben Franklin Building, 2"d Floor
333 Kilauea Ave.
Hilo, Hawaii
TIME: 2:30 p.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Your Committee on Public Works and Intergovernmental Relations, to which was referred
Resolution 219-07, reports as follows:
Resolution 219-07, transmitted by County Clerk Casey Jarman, via Communication 434, dated
May 16, 2007, would permit Mr. Gary O'Brien, on behalf of Hale Hana Partners, to erect a
30-foot sign at the Hale Hana business center located at 74-5605 Luhia Street, Kailua-Kona.
This sign would exceed the 22 square feet allowed in Chapter 3, Section 3-58(a) (1)(B), Hawai`i
County Code, 1983 (2005 Edition, as amended).
Gazy O'Brien, applicant; and Sandi Fassbender, Property Manager, for the Luhia I and II and
Hale Hana Partners Centers, were present via videoconference from the Kona Council Office.
Mr. O'Brien stated that this variance would make this directory sign lazger so that the business
names would be easily readable from the street. Because Hale Hana I has 18 tenants, the
existing sign has letters are only one-inch tall. He said that the merchants use sandwich board
signs and banners to attract customers, creating an eyesore. Mr. O'Brien stated that the Kailua
Village Design Commission had approved the sign. Ms. Fassbender stated that she has notified
the tenants to remove their temporary signs once the new sign is installed.
Mr. Pilago stated that he would be consistent in voting "no" for sign ordinance vaziances. He is
concerned about the increasing temporary signs in Kona, which are unsightly and ruin the
ambiance of Kailua Village. He termed these signs as blight on our community." He feels that
all merchants should work within the existing limits required in the law. He thanked the
property manager for telling the tenants to remove the signs.
Mr. Jacobson suggested that the measuring for the sign may be confusing and that they might be
able to comply with the law with a few adjustments. Mr. Higa asked Public Works Director
McClure what the department's policy was for sign variances; he raised a concern regazding
PWIRC Rept. No. 22
enforcement of the sign code. Director McClute stated that his department has no involvement
in vaziances from the Sign Code.
Mr. Ikeda does not support the variance. He feels that enforcement is needed and the current law
should be followed. He asked Director McClure why there was no enforcement of the sign code.
Director McClure replied the inspectors aze over-burdened with the current backlog of building
permits, and it is impossible to give them more assignments; however, he does recognize the
need for enforcement. Mr. Ikeda said that this is an enforcement issue. Mr. Yoshimoto and
Ms. Naeole stated they would vote against the variance in support of Mr. Pilago, as he is the
Council person for the district.
Mr. Yagong and Chair Ford support the installation of the new sign. They recognize that the
applicant has made an effort to aesthetically fit the sign in with the landscape, and to alleviate the
issue with the temporary signs. There is a safety issue as well. The customers entering the
center in their vehicles strain to see the current directory, slowing traffic, which causes traffic
problems; the new sign with larger letters will solve this problem.
Your Committee on Public Works and Intergovernmental Relations is not in accordance with the
purpose and intent of Resolution 219-07 and forwards it to Council with a negative
recommendation.
BF/dh/ja
AYES NOES A&E EX Respectfully submitted,
FORD X
RIGA x COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND
HOFFMANN X INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
IKEDA X ,j _
JACOBSON g ~Gx~
NAEOLE x BRENDA J. FORD, CHAIRPERSON
P[LAGO x PWIRC REPORT NO. 22
YAGONG x
YOSHIMOTO x ADOPTED: _JUN 1 O 101