HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN PC 2019/04/23 2018-2020Committee on Planning
81' Session
West Hawaii Civic Center
74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Building A
Kailua-Kona. Hawaii
April 23, 2019
CALL TO The regular meeting of the Committee on Planning was called to order at
ORDER. 1.37 p.m., in the Council Chambers, Kailua-Kona, by Ms. Ashley Kierkiewicz,
Chair.
ROLL. CALL
Present Nis.
Ashley Kierkiewicz, Chair
Ms.
Susan L. K. Lee Loy, Vice Chair
Mr.
Aaron S. Y Chung, Member
Ms.
Maile Medeiros David, Member
Nis.
Karen Eoff, Member
Mr.
Herbert M. "Tim" Richards, III, Member
Ms.
Valerie T Poindexter, Member
Nis.
Rebecca Villegas, Member
Absent & Excused: Mr. Matt Kaneali'i-Kleinfelder, Member
STATEMENTS The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business,
FROM THE Statements from the Public on Agenda Items.
PUBLIC ON
AGENDA ITEMS. The following individuals registered to comment on Bill 47 (Comm. 196). and
came forward when called by the Chair-
Sherry
hair
Sherry Kalaniopio.
Daniel Wadahara.
CHR. KIERKIEWICZ Any other testifiers on Bill 47? Seeing none, I will close
public testimony at this time and move on to order of business for today
C OMMUNI- The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business,
CATIONS. Communications.
(There were none.)
ORDER OF The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, Order
RESOLUTIONS. of Resolutions.
(There were none.)
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April 23, 2019
BILLS FOR The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business,
ORDINANCES Bills for Ordinances.
CHR. KIERKIEWICZ. Mr. Clerk, if you could please read in Bill 47
Bill 47 AMENDS SECTION 25-8-11 (LALAMILO-PU'UKAPU ZONE MAP),
ARTICLE 8, CHAPTER 25 (ZONING) OF THE HAWAII COUNTY CODE
1983 (2016 EDITION, AS AMENDED), BY CHANGING THE DISTRICT
CLASSIFICATION FROM AGRICULTURAL — FORTY ACRES (A -40a) TO
AGRICULTURAL — FIVE ACRES (A -5a) AT PU'UKAPU HOMESTEADS
2 N SERIES, WAIMEA, SOUTH KOHALA, HAWAII, COVERED BY TAX
MAP KEY 6-4-017:043
(Applicant: 64-560 Mamalahoa. LLQ (Area: 10.94 Acres)
The Leeward Planning Commission forwards its unfavorable recommendation
for this change of zone, which would allow the applicant to apply for subdivision
of the parcel and create a flag lot. The commission cites concerns over flood
control and the applicant's request to construct two driveway access points to
Mamalahoa Highway The property is located approximately 42 miles west of
White Road and 150 feet east of Pu'u Manu Place.
Reference: Comm. 196
Intr by Ms. Kierkiewicz (B/R)
Postponed. April 9, 2019
(Note: There is a motion by Mr. Richards, seconded by Ms. Lee Loy, to
recommend passage of Bill 47 on first reading.)
,and
Comm. 196.1 From Planning Director Michael Yee, dated March 19, 2019, transmitting the
draft transcript from the Planning Commission's February 21, 2019, meeting.
, and
Comm. 196.2: From Council Member Susan L. K Lee Loy, dated April 11, 2019, transmitting
proposed amendments to Bill 47
CHR. KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you, Mr. Clerk. As hd noted, there is a motion
and a second on the floor to move this forward to Council with a positive
recommendation. If you recall at our last Planning Committee, we reviewed the
ordinance and noticed there were no conditions attached, and so this is an
opportunity that Council Woman Poindexter took to meet with the Planning
Consultant and meet with neighbors of the property to talk story about those
conditions. So, Ms. Poindexter, if you want to share with us the result of those
meetings, that would be helpful
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MS. POINDEXTER: Thank you. At the same time, if I could ask Zendo (Kem)
and the applicant to come forward because I want you to—oh, Zendo, elaborate
more.
(Note: At this time, Planning Consultant Zendo Kem came forward to
address the members of the Committee.)
MS. POINDEXTER. With several phone conversations, well, I did with the
Onoderas and then we had, I would say, four face-to-face including today before
this meeting. i think two of which were on the subject property: and the
Onoderas' property—that we went—we met once, on Good Friday, so we didn't
have a holiday
And I think I want—Zendo, if you could explain about what—when we met, you
know, what they offered in good faith, to start up with and then I'll go from there.
So if you could talk about the good faith effort that is being made.
MR. KERN: Thank you. Zendo Kem, Planning Consultant. Good afternoon,
Madam Chair and members of the Planning Committee.
Yes, we ended up having a, like Council Woman Poindexter said, we had a
meeting that first took place in her Council office. That was great. And that then
went into a meeting on site, so both the members of—applicants and the
Onodems, and Sherry, was there. We had an opportunity to basically sit down,
and talked story about what was going on. Got to go walk the site, look at the
area, look at the maps, and whatnot. It's clear there's flooding issues that exist
with or without this change of zone. At the end of it, we looked at it and said
there's got to be a way to make this better. And so, the applicant definitely agreed
to work with the surrounding property owners, which is also part of Condition K
that's coming up.
Further, we submitted a letter that basically outlines the letter's going to get
worked on, but it basically shows the commitment from them. The applicant said
that they would be more than willing to work with the Onodera property to make
sure that whatever is going in there actually makes the flooding situation better.
They also even actually offered to put in a potential drywell or French drain,
down lower, which would help mitigate a situation. So it turns out to be one of
these situations that it's actually going to make it better. Almost a blessing in
disguise. Because as it sits now, its a bad situation. When it floods, it sits there.
So through this action, it would obviously create neighbor camaraderie, but it will
help make the Onodem property much better.
I did submit kind of a couple of drawings for you folks to see, just to kind of give
some spacial awareness of where the properties are, where the Onodera property
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is There's a Google image as well as the proposed subdivision map showing the
various properties where the flood zone is, et cetera.
I also gave the Onoderas my personal guarantee that I'm there, they can call me.
or whatever is happening, any questions, that I'll be there to help and work
through anything that's going on. I know a big part for Mr Wadahara is to be
part of it.
So this, what's being submitted, doesn't go to just satisfy Condition K. That's
it, this is just kind of the beginning talk story about it, to make sure that we
have—the intent is there. So when we do have the Civil Engineer come out, he'll
be there on site. We can look at it, because there's nothing like local knowledge
to where the flooding comes from. It appears to be an issue of where the flooding
does come from and that's something we can maybe get into later.
At the end of the day, I think we have a good compromise, a willingness on all
parties. And at the end it will make it better for both the applicant as well as the
Onoderas.
NIS. POINDEXTER: To just reiterate on what you said, about what they
submitted as their good faith, that it will not be considered as satisfying
Condition K, which Condition K talks about the consultation with the neighbors
during the development of this and the drainage plan and all of that. If that
happens, I know some of the concerns that testifiers came up with was during the
development plan stage, right? Because we're at the rezoning stage
So when we had our meetings, I explained to them that's why the conditions were
very important. Because once it's—if it's rezoned, it doesn't come before the
Council anymore, right? So it's important the conditions are on here so that it
holds our Planning Department's feet to the fire on following these conditions.
Also with this memo, it just kind of secured that, yeah? And this alsoprobably
Planning Department will also look at this, too
So, I understand the concerns of flooding issues. And talking with Ms Onodera
and Mr. Wadahara—and we keep saying the Onodera property, too. But husband
and wife—and Wadahara, we never hear that name. But thank you, with no
disrespect, 1 keep referring it to the "Onodera property" because for generations,
it's been the Onoderas' Like I told the other neighbors, yes their matters, but to
me the voice that carries the weight is the Onoderas' because they are the ones
being directly impacted by the flood, and their home is at risk.
So a rezoning—something will be done with drainage. It cannot—the law doesn't
allow it to get worse, right? We're looking at making it better. And we even
went as far as talking about, how do we look at this flood zone area and how do
we get rid of that flooding? Something's happening at the top. You know, the
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water is coming from some place. How do we make it less? I don't know if
that's even possible. But I know that what can be possible is that we can make
less flooding as it comes down through French drains, through drywells, whatever
we do to lessen the water as it comes down.
The strange thing is when I went to your property the first time, it was—how
water usually flows all downhill, right? But as it gets to your property, it shoots
left. You know, it comes down and it shoots left. And I'm going, "How is that
possible?" Everything goes into their property
The other thing I want us as a County to look at, too—we have the County road
fronting their property We keep repaving, and repaving, and repaving over the
years, so the road is high now. When the flooding used to take place in that area,
it used to flow across the highway, not allowing it to puddle as much as it does
now, and flow across the roadway, relieving them a little bit. But now it's coming
up to his knees, it's up to my waist, because you're taller than I am.
So, what are we doing as a County? Do we have a drywell down on that area,
fronting their property? It flows out and it pushes back into their garage because
our County road is higher there, too.
So, there's a lot of things that we are going to be looking at. Rezoning is a
different subject, right? Because the flooding, we've still got to address that.
That's we always said—I mean, we talked about how this is a blessing in
disguise. You know, this applicant came forward, and now how do we make it
better? You know, we all have a part in this, not only the landowner but other
neighbors and our County
So, I like that. We came together. We work together. We even talked about
creating a kumiai there, you know, like we did back in the day Because we're
having new people moving, right? We need to start being good neighbors. And
I really appreciate that. Thank you, Zendo. Thank you, Sherry, Gail, and
Mr. Wadahara. Thank you so much. And of course, the applicant, too, thank you
so much for taking the time on Good Friday to come and make it.
MR. KERN: Yeah. You're very welcome. I'm really pleased actually with the
outcome of this. I just—hos. Onodera shared with me earlier that she actually
been trying to reach out to DPW (Department of Public Works) regarding this
flooding issue. So in a way, this 1s a really good thing because it's the friction
that's going to create, I believe, a positive change and a positive outcome.
MS. POINDEXTER: And I have one more thing to say I know that
Gail Onodera had asked our Planning Department to keep them updated, you
Mow, when this application was going through. And this is one thing I think we
as government need to work on; if somebody doesn't have an email and you can
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receive text, there's some way that we should be able to communicate with them.
Because she was told by someone in the Planning Department that we've got to
just watch the papers. Is that correct? Watch the papers for any communication
and anything that's going on because they cannot get (inaudible).
Communication is important, especially in things of rezoning. Thank you.
MR. KERN And iwe should touch real brietly on the road set aside, future road
set aside going through there, that was a Planning Department function to have
those in there for something that may or may not occur, many years in the future.
Trying to look at proper planning, where other lateral roads may at some point
come across. There's obviously no intention with this property, right? It makes
no sense to do anything like. It's actually cumbersome for this property But
that's the intention for that. It's kind of that 20, 30, 40, 50 year outlook of
whether it comes about or not. But that's why it's there, yeah, from the Planning
Department subdivision section.
CHR. KIERKIEWICZ. Thank you, Ms. Poindexter, for your work in
coordinating meetings with the applicants and the community so that we can
come to a resolution that everybody can feel good about. I think, Zendo, that's a
good segway into asking Jeff Darrow I see you and Christian Kaye in the Hilo
office from Planning Department. I think you heard some of the testimony, so
I'm hoping that you can address some of that and also provide feedback if you
had a chance to read the proposed amendments to this bill. I believe it is
verbatim, the conditions that the Planning Department recommended be included.
But I just wanted to make sure that you had a chance to review, and that these are
in line with previous requests for rezones.
(Note: At this time, Planning Manager Jeff Darrow came forward to
address the members of the Committee.
MR. DARROW Thank you. Good afternoon, Chair Kierkiewicz and also
Council Members. Jeff Darrow with the Planning Department. Also with me
today is Christian Kaye, Planner with the Planning Department.
Correct. Looking at the introduced conditions under Communication 196.2, these
basically are the introduced conditions previously that were recommended by the
Planning Director and forwarded to the Planning Commission With the addition
of some changed language in Condition E, that was also requested to be amended
at the Planning Commission hearing, as well as an additional Condition K, which
was at our last hearing at Planning Committee. We discussed using Condition K
as a pertinent condition relating to working with the surrounding property owners
regarding the drainage matter.
CHR. KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you, Mr. Darrow. Any comments?
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MR. DARROW, Yeah, if I could. Yeah, I wasjust going to comment on the
earlier testifier regarding the extension of how Hauhoa Street, from Kipahele.
What the Planning Department does, is try to look, as Zendo had mentioned, long-
term. This is to provide road connectivity, and that is one the goals objectives and
policies of the General Plan when creating future alignments as we go through
subdivisions.
In this particular case, we've had a previous rezone, in between the applicant's
property and Kipahele Street We've had actually two previous rezones that
they've brought through, a 50 -foot road and utility easement. And again, that's
just for future planning; if in the future this area turns into smaller lots, then it
would provide more connectivity The objective is to minimize the amount
access points along the highway and focus those on particular roadways that are
most likely dedicable standards, and then bring them up and across. So again,
trying to alleviate some traffic along the highway and not increasing access
points.
CHR. KIERKIEWICZ. Thank you, Mr. Darrow Council Members, any
more questions for Mr. Kern or Mr. Darrow? If not, I'm going to ask my
colleague, Ms. Lee Loy, for a motion to amend Bill 47 with the contents of
Communication 196.2.
Motion to Amend: Ms. Lee Loy moved to amend Bill 47 with the contents
of Communication 196.2. Seconded by Mr. Richards.
CHR. KIERKIEWICZ. Any discussion?
MS. LEE LOY Chair, if I may?
CHR. KIERKIEWICZ. Please.
MS. LEE LOY Thank you And again, just to clarify Mr. Darrow, Mr. Kaye,
the contents of Communication 196.2 has the support and the direction of the
Planning Department, is that correct?
MR. DARROW Yes, that's correct.
MS. LEE LOY Thank you You guys look really sharp with those leis Must be
Merrie Monarch that's why
MR DARROW That's why
MS. LEE LOY. Mr. Kern, thank you. Please, the contents of
Communication 196.2, has the applicant read the Conditions of Approval and
support the Conditions of Approval?
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Vote on Motion to
Amend:
(Approved)
Vote on Bill 47
Draft 2
(Approved)
April 23, 2019
MR. KERN: Yes and yes.
MS. LEE LOY: Thank you. I don't have any other discussion. But I will be
supporting this amendment. It really looks like a great collaborative effort on the
applicant's part: and then our Council Member from the district, understanding
the needs of the district and working with the community Sometimes there are
blessings in disguise I have to point to sometimes rocks and hard places to get
people to talk. So those rumbles are a good place to be sometime. So with that,
thank you. I yield.
CHR KIERKIEWICZ. Thank you, Ms. Lee Loy All in favor to amend Bill 47
with the contents of Communication 196.2 please say "aye."
The motion to amend Bill 47 with the contents of
Comm. 196.2 was carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Committee Members Chung, David, Eoff,
Lee Loy, Poindexter, Richards, Villegas, and
Chair Kierkiewicz — 8.
Noes: None.
Absent: Committee Member Kaneali`i-Klemtelder — 1.
Excused: None.
CHR. KIERKIEWICZ. Any further discussion on Bill 47 in its amended state?
No? Okay, all in favor to move Bill 47 to the Council with a positive
recommendation please say "aye."
The motion to recommend passage of Bill 47, as amended
to Draft 2, on first reading was carried by the following
voice vote:
Ayes: Committee Members Chung, David, Leff,
Lee Loy, Poindexter, Richards, Villegas, and
Chair Kierkiewicz — 8.
Noes. None.
Absent: Committee Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder— 1.
Excused: None.
CHR. KIERKIEWICZ. Thank you all for being here.
MR. KERN: Thank you very much.
CHR KIERKIEWICZ. Motion to adjourn?
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ADJOURN- There being no further business, at 2:00 p.m., Ms. Eoff moved to adjourn the
MENT meeting. Seconded by Ms. Poindexter and carried by the following voice vote:
Ayes: Committee Members Chung, David, Leff.
Lee Loy, Poindexter, Richards, Villegas, and
Chair Kierkiewicz — 8.
Noes: None.
Absent: Committee Member Kaneali'i-Kleinfelder — 1.
Excused: None.
CHR. KIERKIEWICZ. Meeting is adjourned at two o'clock. Thank you
1�7/l
ApprovO,n�
Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Chair
Planning Committee
AK/na
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