HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PC 016 2019/03/27 2018-2020 REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON PLANNING
DATE: March 27, 2019 Re: Comm. No. 120/Bill No. 32
PLACE: Council Chambers
Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i
TIME: 1:23 p.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawai`i County Council
Hilo, Hawai`i 96720
Your Committee on Planning, to which was referred Bill No. 32, reports as follows:
Bill No. 32,transmitted by Mayor Harry Kim via Communication No. 120, dated February 5, 2019, is
an ordinance amending Section 25-8-3 (North Kona Zone Map) Article 8, Chapter 25 (Zoning) of the
Hawaii County Code 1983 (2016 Edition, as amended),by changing the district classification from
Agriclultural-5 acre (A-5a)to a Family Agricultural-1 acre (FA-1a) zoning district. The property is
located south of Hi`olani Street, at the end of Lalei Place, O`oma 1st,North Kona, Hawai`i, covered by
Tax Map Key: 7-3-005:112.
The Leeward Planning Commission held a public hearing on January 17, 2019 and notes in its report
that the applicant intends to subdivide the 5.966 acres of property into five (5) 1+acre-sized parcels and
extend Lalei Place through the property to connect it to Hane Street. The applicant would then keep one
or two of the lots for family purposes, selling the remaining to pay for infrastructure costs associated
with road connectivity.
Planning Consultant Sidney Fuke appeared before Council on behalf of the applicant, Martin M. Ohan
Trust. Mr. Fuke provided a brief overview of the project, also noting that the project would benefit road
connectivity within Kona in an area that is targeted for continued residential development. He stated that
both the Planning Department and the Leeward Planning Commission voted favorably for the zoning
reclassification and hoped the Council would follow suit.
Council Member Karen Eoff stated she was supporting the request. She noted that the project was in
complete concurrence with the regional community development plan, as it is infill targeted for this type
of residential expansion.
Council Member Rebecca Villegas stated she was concerned with the tax implications as a result of the
property's zoning changes when the current five-acre lot is subdivided into the proposed one-acre lots.
Mr. Fuke explained that the property would still be considered an agricultural lot and the value of the
land would in fact be higher than if it remained a single 5-acre lot. Council Member Villegas
acknowledged that she needed to further research this topic.
Committee Vice Chair Sue L. K. Lee Loy asked if someone from the Planning Department was
available for questioning via videoconferencing from Hilo Council Chambers. She wanted to ask if the
project was in conformance with state and county plans, and specifically the Kona Community
PC Report No.: 16
PC-16 Page 2 March 27,2019
Development Plan and Concurrency Zone "D."Planning Director Michael Yee turned the question over
to Planner Maija Jackson, who confirmed that the project was in line with the Kona CDP and does meet
its connectivity standards as laid out in Concurrency Zone "D,"citing the proposed North-South
connector,the extension of Holoholo Street-Kealaka`a Street, approximately one-half mile west from
the subject property. Committee Vice Chair Lee Loy thanked Mr. Fuke for assisting with the
development of the project and its conformance to address the connectivity issues that Kona struggles
with.
Council Member Herbert M. "Tim" Richards said he would support the measure as there is a"crying
need"for housing and responsible development such as this project.
Your Committee on Planning is in accord with the purpose and intent of Bill No. 32 and recommends its
passage on first reading.
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AYES NOES ABS EX Respectfully submitted,
CHUNG X
DAVID x COMMITTEE ON PLANNING
EOFF X
KIERKIEWICZ X
a(4
KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER X
LEE LOY X
POINDEXTER x ASHLEY L. KIERKIEWICZ, CHAIR
RICHARDS X PC REPORT NO.: 16
VILLEGAS X ADOPTED: APR 1 0 2019