HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PWPC 124 10/03/2000 1998-2000 REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC V1-'ORKS AND PARKS
DATE October 3. 2000 RE COMM NO 920
PLACE Counctlroom
TIME 904am
Chair and ~4embers
Hawaii Coun[y Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Your Committee on Public Works and Pazks, to which was referred Communication No 920.
reports as follows
Communication No 920 is from Mike Schmidt, President of Paradise .Auction. Ltd ,dated
September I I, 2000. requesting a sign variance for their ".Auction Blimp "
Mi Schmidt feels that their bump should not be considered a sign as rt is suspended from a rope
attached to the ground and flown like a banner for not more than (8) eight hours a day, and it should
he exempt from the requtrements for permanent signs as defined by the sign ordinance >vir Schmtdt
also feels that the "Auction Bltmp'~ is vital to the economtc survival of their small locally run
business since most of their business is generated as a direct result of flying their banner He states
that the incorrect interpretation of their "Auction Blimp" causes undue and inequitable hardship and
may he construed as discnmmaton• when economtc damages are considered Flying the blimp is
subject to weather condmons and is stored m their warehouse mghdy, including inclement days
Thee have complied with FAA regulations
~9i Schmidt informed Your Committee that he meets the requtrements of the Code regarding the
height of thing the blimp. and that it is not a hazard to sight distance for motorists because rt is
above the 1~-foot level required by the Code He also confirmed that the blimp is flying under
FAA~s 7~-foot flight height level Although Mr Schmtdt would like to fly the blimp during business
hours 7 days a week. he conveyed a willingness to work with the County to be m compliance with
the Code Mr Schmidt also said that rt is unfortunate the blimp is an issue since banners are being
used m the Kona area at various car dealerships that aze dust as large
Committee on Public Works & Parks
Commumcat~on No 920
October 2000
Paee 2
~4r Jat Ho Cheng of the Public Works Butldmg Drvtston, submitted two Notices of Vtolatton to the
applicant-one on March 21, 2000, and another on April 27.2000 Both notices refer to a vtolat~on
of Chapter 3, Article 1 of [he Sign Ordinance regwnng a sign permit Mr Cheng also informed
Your Committee that the size of the blimp exceeds the 100 square foot regwrement m the Code
Depute Corporation Counsel Scott Lerthead informed Your Committee that the auction blimp does
not fall into compliance with the sign code because it is not a sign based upon the defimt~on of a
sign Mr Lerthead advised Your Committee to first determine whether the blimp is a sign or not
If rt ~s, then rt is m violaUOn of the Code Your Committee ~s trying to regulate Your Committee
would have to consider whether rt should issue a sign variance request or not
Your Committee finds that the "Auction Blimp" is a sign which is m c~olauon of Chapter 3.
Article I, and recommends that the sign variance request of Mike Schmidt 91pAldbe denied as taken
b~ the cote below
la
Respectfully submitted
CO MITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS & PARKS
_ DOMIVIC YAGO IR
PW&PCRE R NO iza
ADOPTED ~ 1 ~ ~