HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PC 035 2019/11/05 2018-2020 :
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PORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON PLANNING
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DATE: November 5, 2019 Re: Comm. No. 545/Bill No. 111
PLACE: Council Chambers
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Hilo, Hawaii 3
TIME: 4:31 p.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
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Your Committee on Planning,to which was referred Bill No. 111, reports as follows:
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Bill No. 111, transmitted by Mayor Harry Kim via Communication No. 545, dated October 10, 2019, an
amendment to Change of Zone Ordinance No. 09-090A (REZ 09-000090), requesting a Time Extension 3
to Condition D (Time to Complete Construction) and.F (Dedicate Future Road-Widening Setback). The
subject property is located along the North side of East Kawili Street at the corner of Laukapu Street and
across the street from Central Supply, Waiakea Houselots, Waiakea, South Hilo, 'Hawai`i. a
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The Windward Planning Commission, at its duly noticed meeting on October 3, 2019, forwarded to
Your Committee a favorable recommendation of the proposed amendments relating to Chapter 25 of the
Hawaii County Code. The Commission further noted that, "the applicant proposes to construct a
veterinary clinic, as well as two other buildings for commercial office and warehouse space in the future.
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The Final Plan Approval indicates a 6,438 sq. ft. building with 25 parking stalls for the veterinary clinic.
The applicant is requesting condition amendments to accommodate longer than expected Building
Permit and Plan Approval process times, and the passing of the "end construction" deadline of July 22,
2019."
Appearing before Your Committee was Planning Director Michael Yee, along with Planning Consultant
Sidney Fuke on behalf of the applicant, Dr. Trevor Rodriguez. Mr. Fuke explained the measure was a
time extension request, noting that the infrastructure had been completed, and that the financing to
complete the building was approved, but:hinged on the time extension being granted.
Planning Committee Chair Ashley Kierkiewicz pointed out that after reading the transcript of the
Planning Commission meeting, the recommendation was complete removal of the timing element and
wanted to hear Director Yee's thoughts on this. Director Yee stated that commissioners felt the zone
change was consistent with the vision for the area, and that even if the applicant did not finish this
project in the short term, there was little risk that it would not be completed. He further stated that he
could understand the hesitancy around removing the timing element, but that this was not put forth
frivolously by the Commission, who he believes is heavily in tune with time extensions. He did not
expect or have concerns that the removal of timing elements would become standard practice for
projects.
Committee Vice Chair Lee Loy agreed that this project, which is located in her district, is the type of
revitalization that all wanted to see for the area, and that she appreciated the Planning Commission
PC Report No.35 r
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PC-35 Page 2 November 5,2019
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"rumbling"with time extensions. She pointed out that the processes around the permitting and
reviewing of projects continues to have shortcomings, and expectations must be reasonable as applicants
wrestle with these system inefficiencies. She urged her colleagues to support the measure.
Council Member Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder expressed his appreciation that the project had curbs,
gutters, and.sidewalks.
Council Member Herbert "Tim"Richards said that he would support the measure knowing that the I
representative of the district was in support and that it would be an "economic generator."
Chair Kierkiewicz pointed out that she was in support of the project, but that of the 20 bills that had
come forward to the Planning Committee this term, 11 of them had been requests for time extensions.
She stated that during her time as Planning Chair she had learned a great deal about the issues
surrounding planning and development and wanted to find solutions and creative ways to improve
system processes. She made note that in the last six months she had been working to find ways to
address the severe backlog of the State Historic Preservation District, issues she was intimately aware of
because of the various time extensions that came before the committee. She stated she was comfortable
with removing the timing element in this case but had reservations about potentially setting a precedent
to create a practice whereby the Planning Commission would remove timing elements from projects.
Director Yee stated he was in agreement with her and was in the process of doing more extensive work
to revise rules around time extensions.
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Council Member Maile David said that she was happy to hear from Director Yee that the removal of the
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timing element was for this project only and that both the Planning Department and the Planning I
Commission were confident with doing this. She,too, noted.that applications for projects should adhere
to a timeframe otherwise.
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Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder sought clarification around the timing element being removed.
Mr. Fuke explained that there was no legislation in the Zoning Code, or otherwise, mandating a
five-year time limit for projects, as believed by Council Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder.
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The vote was taken on the motion to move this measure to Council with a positive recommendation and
passed with eight"ayes."
Your Committee on Planning is in accord with the purpose and intent of Bill No. 111, and recommends
its passage on first reading.
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AYES NOES ABS EX Respectfully Submitted,
CHUNG X
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DAVID x COMMITTEE ON PLANNING
EOFF X
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KIERKIEW ICZ X
KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER X
LEE LOY X
POINDEXTER x ASHLEY L. KIERKIEWICZ, CHAIR
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RICHARDS X PC REPORT N • 35
VILLEGAS X ADOPTED: I
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