HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PC 116 10/19/2004 2002-2004REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON PLANNING
DATE: October 19, 2004 RE: Communication 793/Bill No. 344
PLACE: Councilroom
TIME: 9:08 a.m.
Chair and Members
Hawaii Cowity Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Your Committee on Planning, to which was referred Communication No. 793 and Bill No. 344,
transmitted by Mayor Harry Kim, dated September 29, 2004, regarding a Change of Zone
request application by WKSP Limited Partnership, at Waiakea, South Hilo, TMK: 2-2-32:93
reports as follows:
Bill No. 344 seeks to amend Section 25-8-33 (City of Hilo Zone Map), Article 8, Chapter 25
(Zoning Code), Hawaii County Code by changing the District Classification from
Neighborhood Commercial 10,000 square feet (CN-10) to Industrial-Commercial Mixed 20,000
square feet (MCX-20) for approximately 59,356 square feet.
Communication No. 793 reports the Hawaii County Planning Commission, as required by the
Hawaii County Charter, Chapter 4, Section 6-4.3(C), considered the above request on
September 16, 2004. At this meeting, the Commission concurred with the Planning Director's
favorable recommendation for your approval of this matter. Communication No. 793, in
synopsis, also reports the Planning Director's findings and recommendations as the following:
The applicant, WKSP Limited Partnership, is requesting a Change of Zone from
Neighborhood Commercial (CN-l0) to Industrial-Commercial Mixed (MCX-20) for
approximately 59,356 square feet. The applicant is the Lessee of the property. American
Trading Co. Ltd., is the owner.
2. The property is located along the northwest corner of Kanoelehua Avenue and Kuawa
Street and is the site of the existing Waiakea Kai Shopping Plaza. The Waiakea Kai
Shopping Plaza is 59,356 square feet in size with a total of 108 parking stalls. Map
F,xhibit "A" Further delineates the subject parcel.
According to the applicant, the present Neighborhood Commercial zoning limits the
scope of commercial uses and is a reflection of the area when residences were present.
This does not exist today. The immediate vicinity of the subject parcel is dominated by
businesses and operations zoned MCX and ML..
4. The applicant is requesting a Change of Zone to MCX in order to utilize the property
more intensely. The applicant cites no specific plan for use in the request.
5. Access to the site is proposed through the existing Kanoelehua and Kuawa Street
intersection.
Report No. 1 16
Communication 793
Bill 344
Page 2
6. All essential utilities are or will be made available to the site as part of this project.
The approval of the Change of Zone request from Neighborhood Commercial-10,000 square feet
(CN-10) to Industrial-Commercial Mixed-20,000 square feet (MCX-20) would result in an
appropriate land use pattern that will further benefit the public based on the following:
• 7~he rezoning action complements the Economic Element goals, objectives, and/or
policies articulated in the Hawaii County General plan, particularly those relating to
diversification of economic activities and providing land for such uses. The subject
request proposes to develop industrial-commercial uses on the subject parcel.
The rezoning action complements the Land Use Element of the Hawaii County General
Plan and the LUPAG Map designation for the area. The LUPAG Designation for the
area is Medium Density until Kuawa Street. Opposite and mauka of the Waiakea Kai
Shopping Center are Mixed Commercial and Industrial zonings. Because surrounding
land uses, designations and zoning are compatible with the MCX zoning, this request is
to be considered as consistent with the General Plan.
• The Land Use Study Bureau's Overall Master Productivity Rating for the parcel is
"Urban."
• The approval of the Change of "Lone Request will not be violative of Chapter 205A,
Hawaii Revised Statutes. The property is not situated within the Special Management
Area. It is located approximately one mile away from the coastline.
• As the site is already fully developed, no archeological sites, cultural, historical
resources, nor species are expected to be adversely affected because of this request.
• The Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) identifies the parcel "X" outside the 500-year
flood plain.
7. Requisite of the Planning Director's favorable recommendation for the Change of Zone
request are approximately eight conditions contained in Bill No. 344 that delineate access
routes and other requirements for the proposed project.
At today's meeting, Chris Yuen, Director of the Planning Department and Sidney Fuke,
representative of the applicant, provided this Committee with background information about the
origins and purpose of Bill No. 344.
Mr. Yuen explained that the subject parcel is in an area with mixed commercial and industrial
uses. Mr. Fuke added that the current zoning was a reflection of previous residential
establishments that no longer dominate the area.
Communication 793
Bill 344
Page 3
During discussion, members of this Committee questioned the interpretation of the General
Plan's LUPAG Map. In response, Mr. Yuen reiterated information relayed in Communication
No. 793. He further added that the General Plan map, the LUPAG, does not reflect precise street
boundaries like that of the Zoning Code and that the area in question is suited for the MCX
Designation.
Post discussion, Your Committee voted to amend Bill 344 with the following:
Condition }.} ~TI'n °~pr,l:cR:• ~".,n ,. ..,., ..,:." °n °....r.°°,.,° ,°...,, _..,,.~ ° .,,°.:,..,.. °~a
°~~°~'° °F'"° °F'°°'°a °°°~°~°°' The applicant shall comply with all applicable
County, State, and Federal laws, rules, requirements, and reeulations.
Your Committee concurs with the Planning Commission and the Planning Director's favorable
recommendation for approval of this Change of Zone request.
Your Committee on Planning is in accord with the intent and purpose of Bill No. 344, as
amended to Draft 2, and recommends it pass first reading.
Ctd
AYES NOES A&E EX
ARAKAKI X
CHUNG X
ELARIONOFF X
HOLSCHUH X
JACOBSON X
REYNOLDS X
SAFARIK X
TULANG X
TYLER X
COMMITTEE ON PLANNING
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PC REPORT NO. 1 16
ADOPTED: NOV 1 0 2004