HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PWC 042 08/13/1985 1984-1988 REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS
DATE: August 13 , 1985
PLACE: Councilroom
TIME: 10 : 00 a .m.
Chairman and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii
Your Committee on Public Works, to which was referred
Communication 132 relating to a sign variance request , reports as
follows :
Communication 132 from Architect Ronald H. Nagata is a request for a
sign variance for the roof signs of the Safeway and Longs stores in
the Prince Kuhio Shopping Plaza . The Longs sign has an area of
128 square feet and is 41x32' . The Safeway sign has an area of
120 square feet and is 4 ' x30 ' . The applicant, in requesting this
variance , submits that because of the size of the shopping center and
the distance of the buildings from the highway, a 32 square foot
sign , as allowed by ordinance , would appear visually insignificant
and work a hardship upon both Safeway and Longs .
Your Committee on Public Works has received written comments from
both the Departments of Planning (Communication 132.1 ) and Public
Works (Communication 132. 2) . Both departments in their review have
recommended denial of the variance .
Your Committee has received additional testimony from
Mr . Ronald H. Nagata to the effect that the Longs and Safeway signs ,
as originally planned some 5 years ago , were within the legal limits
of the County Code . Because of construction cost escalations over
the years , certain cost cutting modifications were made to the
construction plans for Longs and Safeway. Among these modifications
was the removal of a roof canopy and wall which provided support to
the Safeway and Longs signs . These signs, which have not changed in
size or location are now being supported with a frame on the roof .
Because of this change , these signs are now considered roof signs and
do not conform to the code .
Your Committee is divided on the issuance of a variance to Longs and
Safeway. On one hand there is need for the control of signage and
for the setting of limits . On the other hand, it is questionable how
a seemingly slight structural roof modification can cause a sign to
be redesignated from a wall sign to a roof sign .
PWC REPORT 42
r''DOFTED :
PWC- 42 Page 2 August 13 , 1985
Your Committee on Public Works concludes that the sign variance
request for Longs and Safeway is a very controversial request . Your
Committee believes that because of its controversy, the request for
variance should be left to the decision of the full Council and that
public testimony be allowed on this issue .
tiik OP
M 'LE K. LAI, C'r" 'WOMAN
. 41,4,,
R SSELL KOKUBUN, VICE CHAIRMAN FRANK DE LUZ III, MEMBER
(ABSENT & EXCUSED)
TAKASHI DOMINGO, MEMBER ROBERT N. HERKES, MEMBER
LA/GM