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HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PC 054 2016/04/05 (2014-2016) REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PLANNING DATE: April 5, 2016 Re: Comm. No. 753/Bill No. 167 PLACE: Council Chambers Hilo, Hawai`i TIME: 9:30 a.m. Council Chair and Members Hawai`i County Council Hilo, Hawai`i 96720 Your Committee on Planning, to which was referred Bill No. 167, reports as follows: Bill No. 167, transmitted by Mayor William P. Kenoi via Communication No. 753 dated March 14, 2016, amends Section 25-8-2 (Puna District Zone Map), Article 8, Chapter 25 (Zoning Code) of the Hawai`i County Code 1983 (2005 Edition), by changing the District Classification from Agricultural— Twenty Acres (A-20a) to Limited Industrial—20,000 Square Feet (ML-20) at Kea'au, Hawai`i, covered by Tax Map Key: 1-6-152:020. The applicant is Milo Street Ventures, and the subject parcel covers 2.082 acres. The bill, along with the companion Bill 166 amending the State Land Use Boundaries Map, would allow the current agricultural uses to continue and allow the applicant to expand to provide service-type light industrial uses on the property. The Windward Planning Commission, at its duly held public hearing on March 3, 2016, voted to recommend approval of this bill. Mr. Ilagan made a motion to amend Bill No. 167 with the contents of Communication No. 753.1. The motion being seconded, Mr. Ilagan stated that under the proposed amendment, the applicant would be required to provide paved shoulder and swale improvements only if the County is to initiate steps to acquire the dedication of Milo Street in the future. At that time the applicant shall cooperate with the county's effort to acquire the dedication by subdividing and dedicating the 10-foot road widening setback and the full dedicable standard improvements, at no cost to the County. Mr. Ilagan stated that W.H. Shipman Ltd., the private owner of the road, is not looking to dedicate the road to the County. Committee Member Kanuha stated his understanding that if in the future W.H. Shipman wants to turn over the portion of Milo Street to the County, the owner would improve to County standards, which would include the swales and whatever else the County deems necessary. Mr. Onishi asked why the condition that the other property owners have are not the same as the conditions that are being applied to the applicant. Brian Nishimura, planning consultant for the applicant, said that the section of Milo Street which fronts the property that is being rezoned is a private road owned by W.H. Shipman Ltd. that is PC Report No.: 54 PC-54 Page 2 April 5, 2016 45 feet wide. The pavement width fronting this property ranges in width from 22 feet to 24 feet and is in fairly good condition. There are three other rezonings and one special permit that has been approved previously in this area. Two of those rezonings do not have requirements for improvements unless the road is going to be dedicated; the special permit is for a private school, which did not have a requirement for county dedicable improvements. Mr. Nishimura said another factor is the way Milo Street is presently constructed; it is not directly in the center of the 45-foot right of way. The top of the road is two feet off, and the bottom of the road is 16 feet displaced from the property line. Thus, if these improvements were to be done as being instructed by the original Condition G, the shoulder width would range from 12 feet at the top to 26 feet at bottom. The shoulder width would be more than the existing pavement. Mr. Nishimura said it did not make sense to require the improvement. The building on site has been used as an anthurium packing facility for 25 years. The plan is to continue the existing use for foreseeable future; however, the owners would like additional flexibility in the event this is discontinued. The applicant anticipates that any new user of the property would not have any significant impact because anticipated use would not be of higher intensity than the 26 employees on 35 trips per day. Mr. Onishi stated this rezoning project is in the Council District that he represents, and asked for support. Ms. Wille asked for more information about the required improvements. Mr. Nishimura said the cost of repaving a shoulder, if that were the only requirement, would be fairly reasonable. However, he said the cost of putting in a drywell and relocating utility and water lines is asking a lot of a landowner when adjacent landowners are not doing the same. Ms. Wille asked about the possibility of improving some of the sidewalk areas, and if this is a place where people walk. Mr. Nishimura said that Milo Street connects with Keaau Bypass Road, a limited-access state highway, so there are virtually no pedestrians walking. The private school, Christian Liberty Academy, is adjacent on the makai side of this property but students are likely being dropped off there because of the limited access. Ms. Wille stated she would support the amendment, but she does not agree with the idea that something that has not been required before is a reason not to do it now. The amendment was approved. There was no discussion on the main motion. PC-54 Page 2 April 5, 2016 Your Committee on Planning is in accord with the purpose and intent of Bill No. 167, as amended to Draft 2 with the contents of Communication No. 753.1, and recommends passage on first reading. ps AYES NOES ABS EX Respectfully submitted, CHUNG X DAVID x COMMITTEE ON PLANNING EOFF X ILAGAN X KANUHA X ONISHI X PALEKA X GGO ' 4AGAN, CV'IR POINDEXTER X PC REPORT NO. 54 WILLE X ADOPTED: APR 2 0 2015