HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN PC 2019/07/08 2018-2020Committee on Planning
12" Session
Hawaii County Building
25 4upuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii
Juh 8, 2019
CALL TO The regular meeting of the Committee on Planning was called to order at
ORDER 11 37 p in , in the Council Chambers, Hilo, by Nis Ashley Kierkiewicz, Chair.
ROLL CALI
Present: Ms.
Ashley Kierkiewicz. Chair
Nis.
Susan L. K. Lee Loy, Vice Chair
Mr.
Aaron S Y Chung, Member
Nis
Made Mederros David, Member
Ms
Karen Foff, Member
Mr.
Matt Kaneali'i-Kleurchler, Member
Mr.
Herbert M. "Teti' Richards, III, Member
Ms.
Valerie T Poindexter, Member
Nis.
Rebecca Villegas, Member
STATEMENIS The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business,
FROM'rHE Statements from the Public on Agenda Items
PUBLIC ON
AGENDA ITFMS. The Chair called Brian Shiroma, who registered to speak in support of Rill 85
(Comm. 337), and came forward when called.
CHR KIERKIEWICZ Seeing no other testifiers. I'll close public testimony at
this time and move on to business of the day Mr Clerk, if you could please read
in Bill 85
COMNIUNI- the Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business,
CATIONS. Communications
f There were none )
ORDER OF The Chau directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, Order
RESOLUTIONS of Resolutions.
(I here were none.)
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July 8, 2019
BILLS FOR The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business,
ORDINANCES Bills for Ordinances
Bill 85AMENDS ORDINANCE NO 07-105 WHICH RECLASSIFIED 1.4NDS
FROM SINGI.F-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL – 10,000 SQUARE FEET
(RS -10) TO NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL – 40,000 SQUARE. FF.F F
(CN -40) AT W MAKEA, SOUTH HILO, IWA AI'L COVERED BY TAX
MAP KEY 2-2-039:031, 057, 068. AND 069 (Applicant. AutoZone Parts, Inc.,
formerly Ginner Patch DP LIC) C) (Area approximately 88,317 Square Feet)
The Windward Planning Commission forwards its favorable recommendation
for this amendment, which would allow a five -_Near time extension to Condition
C (Time to Complete Conversion) and moddj 10 conditions to accommodate the
updated request, in which the applicant proposes to construct a 9,046 square foot
commercial development with a minimum of 57 paved parking stalls,
landscaping, and related improycments. 'I he property is located along the north
side of Fact Puainako Street, between Kilauea Avenue and Kekela Street.
Reference. Comm. 337
Intr. by Ms kierkiewicz(B/R)
(Note Comm 377 1, from Planning Director Michael Yee dated June 26, 2019,
transmitting a draft transcript of the R' indward Planning Commission's June 6,
2019 hearing, was circulated )
Motion to Approve: Ms. Medeiros moved to recommend passage of Bill 85 on
first reading Seconded by Ms. Eoff
CHR. GIERKIE W ICZ. Will the applicant and/or their representative please come
forward"
MS. LLE. LOY Chair, if I might ha%e the floor for a minute?
Cl IR KIERKIEWIC'Z Yes, go ahead.
MS LEE LOY Thant. you, Chair IJust want to lake the opportunity—the
applicants, go ahead and get reads This particular application, in my past life I
did prepare and process back in 2007 This time -extension request, I did not
prepare, but the fundamental part of Ordinance 07-105, I did. And so, I did want
to make that disclosure before proceeding with any further conversation between
the applicant and this body Thank you Thank you, Chair
CHR KIERKIEWIC'Z Thank you, Ms. Lee Loy Anybody else on the Council
would like to make a disclosure of being involved in previous ordinance crafting,
or know somebody as part of the project'? Okav, seeing none
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July 8, 2019
(Note: At this time, Attorney Steen S C Lim, Auto Zone, Inc. District
Manager Michael Chastain: and Fehr K Peers Owner Sohrab Rashid,
Traffic Engineer; came forward to address the members of the
Committee )
CHR KIERKIEPIICZ I lello, Mr Lim Good to see you
MR LII Thank you, Madam Chair and members of the Council It's good to
be here again. I am representing Auto Zone Parts, Incorporated.
CHR KILRKIFWICZ. Mr Lim, if you could fust state your name for the record.
Thank Nou
NIR. TM Steven Lim, with Carlsmith Ball, representing Auto Zone Parts,
Incorporated With me to my right is the Auto Zone Real Estate Manager,
Mr. Michael Chastain; and also to the rear is the District Manager, Jose Quintero
Also with us today are the family members from 11, Shiroma, Inc , the fee owners
of the subject property who hate entered into a long-term ground lease with Auto
Zone Parts for the operation of their store
We would especially like to thank Brian Shiroma, Clarisse Suzuki, and of course,
\Its. Amy Shiroma who's here with us today, and has been at every single
meeting we've had on this project So, we really appreciate their support.
We also have our Traffic Engineer from Fehr & Peers His name is
Sohrab Rashid, and he'll make a very short presentation on the traffic issues
Because 1 know every boil} is familiar with this area, I'll go over with the—real
shortly, Just to kind of orient everybody and make sure that we're all aware of
things.
(Note. At this time, Paralegal Katherine Luga came forward to displav a
large map of the proposed project site To view of the map, please see the
DVD cope of the meeting proceedings on file in the Clerk's Office.)
MR. LIM: The proposed project area is directly across the street from the KTA
superstores in Waialsea and is bounded on the lower side is—towards the water,
KTA store is the south side. East side is the shopping center, and the west side is
Kilauea ANenue So the proposed project is in the L -shape piece here, with the
building itself being this square The yellow highlights you see are the traffic
improvements that will come in this area, that Mr Rashid will discuss, which will
help the existing traffic conditions
So we'll first lead off with statements by Mr Chastain regarding Auto Zone, you
know, who they are and what they do in the Hawaii Community, and then we'll
follow that up with Mr Rashid on the traffic issue
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Jul, 8. 2019
NIR. CI IAS 1 AIN- Goodmorning Thank you for your time this morning. My
name is Michael Chastain 1 work for Auto Zone Parts, Incorporated. We've
been working on this project with the Shiromas' for a little over three years. so 1
really appreciate getting to this point
W c're ver} excited about coming to Hilo We have a location in Ilona, which
opened roughly about two years ago. We have l 1 stores in the State of I Iawai'i:
this will make our 12"', and we will continue to took for locations. l his store, as
Mr. Lin mentioned, is about 9,000 square feet So a little bit larger than our
apical store, about 7,000 square feet, and that's to accommodate for what we
expect the sales here are.
Auto Zones major competitors, just in case am body is not aware of Auto Zone,
what we do, who we arcO'Reilly, our national competitorsO'Reilly
arhanced auto parts back in the mainland NAPA (National Auto Parts
Association) is what we would consider a minor competition, lhey're a little bit
different twist to what we do and the services we provide
Our background was the first parts retailer to bring auto parts from the dingy, dark
auto -part outlets that existed back in the 70's into the bright -lit retail locations,
and then our competitors soon followed our path. You have kind of what you
ha%e in the national auto -part seen now
We proaide our customers with not just parts, but also knowledge how to make
the repair as efficiently and effectiNcly as they possibly can to get their vehicle
back on the road
We offer recycling in our stores to accommodate any used fluids that a customer
mai have that the} need to dispose of, as well as batteries and some other
products But if you buys have an} questions, we're glad to address them Thank
you
MR. RASHID- Good morning, Chair and members of the Committee.
Sohrab Rashid, with Fehr d Peers We are a transportation planning and traffic
engineering firm and did the impact analvsis for the proposed Auto Zone store
U e did a I ransportation Impact Analysis Report, or TIAR, consistent with the
guidelines set forth by Hawm'i County, as well as the State Department of
transportation who has jurisdiction over Puamako Street. directly in front of the
proposed slore.
The proposed project is estimated to generate on the order of about 570 daily
vehicle trips. about 20 trips in the morning peak hours or the highest one-hour
period in the morning as well as 56 almost 60 trips in the evening peak hour. So
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Jul)8, 2019
Just for understandingso it's not a large number of trips on the order of
magnitude—imagine In the et ening, about a new car et cry minute or so on the
network, and then in the morning, it would he a new car even three minutes. So,
Just to gn e some perspective to those numbers
We identified potential impacts from the proposed project and then identified
potential mitigation. "Phe two mitigation improvements that we worked on, in
coordination with both the County and the State DOT (Department of
Transportation), the first of which is the restriping of Kekela Street, which would
provide access to the eastern driveway I hat restriping—right now this is
essentialb, just a two-lane road, and what we wanted to do is better define the
outbound movements. R also have residential neighbors that we want to
accommodate, as well
So in order to sort of improve the situationit wasn't possible to put in a traffic
signal at this location, lust because of the proximity to Kanoelehua (Avenue).
And so here what we want to do is prat ide, sort of define storage areas for both
vehicles moving through, turning left in one lane and then those turning right in
the other I here's sort of enough room to do it now, but it's not very well
defined And so that's going to sort of improve the understanding of where
driven need to be before they make the move onto Puainako
There s also going to be dedication that the project is going to do in terms of
mitigation related to the future widening of Puainako, which is tinder again DOT
jurisdiction There s not a defined plan as to exactly what that configuration is
going to be, but the dedication is going to help contribute to the—or facilitate the
dei elopment of that improvement.
And then the last portion wasn't really a mitigation measure per se. We went
through a couple of iterations on the access to the proposed project site, and what
was ultimately determined to be sort of the in the best interest of everyone is to
formali7c K fA actuallt has two drivew'ays, so to formalize the western
dnvewav into maintain the full access that occurs there today And then the
project driveway nn Puainako Street, serving the proposed Auto Zone store,
would be a right -m, right -out only So what you see on this plan in the highlights
is just sort of abetter definition of that. So essentially, those are the
transportation improtements there
And then we've been incoordination with DOT The most recent version of the
traffic study which sort of formulize this plan )on see here. was submitted on
May '_0'" of this }'ear State DOT actually has a draft letter in process for
signature that approves the proposed configuration and the TI\R, as published.
I'd be happy to answer any question you might have
CHR KIERKIEWICZ Thank you, Mr. Rashid. Mr Lim, anything further"
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July R, 2019
MR LIM. R c've reN iewed the report to the Chair. dated June 13. 2019 from the
Windward Planning Commission, which contains the proposed conditions of
approval, and Bill No 85, and we're in agreement with all changes Thank you
very much W e ask for your support.
CHR. KIERKIEWTCZ Thank you for that statement Council Members,
any questions for the applicant? W e also have representatives from
the Planning Department. Deputy Director Duane Kanuha is here;
Jeff Darrow and Christian Kav are all available to answer any questions.
Nfr. Kaneali'i-Klcinfelder.
MR KANEALI'I-KLEINFELDER. Well, gentlemen. Ilow are you doing'
Question, why are we amending some of these conditions to eliminate'? Like,
Condition G to eliminate pave and stripe, pedestrian walkway from Kekela Street
to KPlauca Avenue' What was the thought behind that'
MR. LIM The traffic improvements that will be put in are going to be the paced
right-of-ways. At this nine, as Sohrab (Rashid) indicated, the State Department of
Transportation knows theN have to plan Puainako Street to connect up to the
mauka extension, but they haven't got the plans done yet. Su all they're asking at
this point in time is for us to leaN e the right-of-way open And they thought that
placing permanent improvements such as sidewalks and those type of things
wouldn't he a good idea because you don't have to tear them up afterwards
We're going to be contributing the nght-ol-way for the full extension of the width
of Puainako Street. I lowever, they'll do it free of charge, so that s why the
C ondition was changed.
MR KANEALI'I-KLEINFELDLR. So you re going to (cave them the land, but
theN're going to pay for the changes if there are any9
MR. LIMCorrect We assume that's going to be a Federal Aid Highwa,s
improvement, Iu,t like the rest of the Puainako extension up mauka side above
Komohana was. This is. I think, the planned route for the military vehicles that
would go up to Pohakuloa.
MR KAN EALI'I-K LFINFFLDER. And then you have that arca in general
morning, and well, actually all times of the day is a little bit hurry to get across
between w hoecei is pulling out of wherever on that street
NIR LIM That's correct In a 2007 rezoning effort, that was the main issue, and
that project was probably twice as big as this one. The lower sides of of the
project and the improvements that were marked on the map in yellow, where
we're actually delineating shelter lanes, and the things that people normally
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Jul} 8, 2019
do. anyway, will help with the traffic I think it you ce been n the western
exit from KTA, everybody pulls out when you're going up mauka, you pull
mtoessentially, you pull into the stripe arca, as like a shelter -lane Now, we'll
have an actual shelter lane. So the improvements will help to some degree with
the traffic in that area
NIR KANEALI I-KLEINFELDER. Okay, thank you. That's good. And then as
far as changing Condition F. looks like there was some back and forth between
Planning and the proposed amendments, which is basically doing the exact
opposite of "hat the original "as; "as no project access to the site shall be
allowed. to access will be allowed for general delivery
MR LIM That's correct The history
MR. KANEALI'[-KLEINFELDER I sa" some back and forth between Planning
and these amendments here. So "hat was that? )'on, know, what happened"
NIR. LINT The history of that "as the thought back in 2007, when they first
did this, where the) "anted to restrict the project traffic to coming in on the
Puainako Street side only We actually got a'I raffic Impact Analysis Report
during this last process approved fora full access driveway at Puainako Where
Non could turn right, turn left, Win kno", come out all kinds of directions
K I A s "estern driveway caused some problems with that. They made us aware
of that So we said, "Okay, we change our mind We'll go back to the right -in,
right -out." That's "h} "e changed to lull access on Kekela Street, and the
County Department of Public Works had no comment on that change.
MR KANF'AI.I I -KI F.INFFI DFR. is that right guys'.' Okay So when 1 pull
into the proposed area, I'm pulling into Kekela Street or I'm pulling into�off of
Puainako Street into the ne"
MR LIM You could do either no"
NIR KANEALI'[-KLEINFELDER. Fithcrone?
MR. LIM Yes.
MR. KANLALI I-KLEINFELDER Okay But left turns nog Out of your area,
no lett turns
NIR. LIM: No left turns from the Puainako driveway yes.
MR. KANEALI'[-KLEINFELDER. Okay Oka}', thank }'ou
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CHR. KILRKIEWICZ Thank Nou, Mr Kancali'i-Klemfelder Anyone else^
Jeff, anyone trom Planning want to say any thine for the record9 We're good?
Thank you for all being here Okay, sve have a motion on the floor All in favor
of furn ardmg Bill 85 to the Council with a posmve recommendation please say
..ave.,.
Voce on Bill 85 The motion to recommend passage of Bill 85 on
(Approved) first reading was carried bNthe following voice Note
Ayes. Committee Members Chung, David, Eoff,
Kaneah'i-Kleintelder. Lee Loy, Poindexter,
Richards, Vdlegas, and Chair KlerkicNNicz-9
Noes None.
Absent. None
Excused None.
NIR. LIM: Thank you very much
CHR. KIERKIEWICZ. Thank you MaN I have a motion to adjourn"
ADJOURN- I here being no further business, at 11:55 a.m., Ms. Lee Lo% moved to adjourn
MENT the meeting Seconded by Ms toff and carried by the following voice vote:
\yes. Committee Members Chung, Dal id. Loff,
Kaneah'i-Klemtelder. Lee Loy, Poindexter,
Richards, Villeeas, and Chair KlerkleN rcz — 9
Noes. None.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
CHR. KIERKIE WIC'7 Thank you We are adjourned at 11'55 p m.
Approved &I&k
Ms. Ashley I Kierkiewicz Chair ---
Planning Committee
AK,'na
/11 s Datll
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