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HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PWMTC 021 2020/02/04 2018-2020 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND MASS TRANSIT DATE: February 4, 2020 Re: Comm. No. 714/Bill No. 134 PLACE: Council Chambers Hilo, Hawaii TIME: 2:33 p.m. Council Chair and Members Hawaii County Council Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Your Committee on Public Works and Mass Transit,to which was referred Bill No. 134, reports as follows: Bill No. 134, transmitted by Communication No. 714 dated January 15, 2020, and introduced by Committee Chair Susan L. K. Lee Loy, amends Chapter 3, Article 1, of the Hawaii County Code 1983 (2016 edition, as amended), relating to Sign Code Variances. The purpose of this bill is to establish a new process regarding sign variance requests that allows the Director of Public Works to grant or deny requests for variances, with input from the Planning Director, adjacent property owners, and any applicable Special District Design Commission. Chair Lee Loy relinquished the chair to Council Member Maile David, as Vice Chair Matt Kaneali'i- Kleinfelder had to leave at 2:30 p.m. Council Member Lee Loy noted that they were going through a comprehensive overhaul of building codes and this was something that needed tweaking, and that Bill 134 streamlines and refines the sign code process. She recalled there being "hiccups" a few months back in the sign variance process and wanted to refine it to make it more efficient. She said that she worked with the Department of Public Works and Corporation Counsel to create what she hoped to be a more effective and streamlined process. Council Member Lee Loy also mentioned that when someone applies for a variance, they now come before the Council, whereas previously,there was an ineffective notification process. Council Member Lee Loy then called forward Robyn Matsumoto, Acting Building Chief of the Department of Public Works to, explain further. Ms. Matsumoto thanked Council Member Lee Loy for introducing the bill. She explained that as with many of their other codes, once they give their decision, the applicant can appeal it and it then goes to the Board of Appeals; unlike the new Sign Code, where if the applicant isn't satisfied with the decision, they go through the County Council. She continued that it is a long process, and in order to streamline it and make it consistent with the other codes, they are asking for these changes so that they follow the same process. Also, it has some deadlines in terms of when they should be getting decisions from design communities like Kailua Village Design Commission(KVDC) and the Pdhoa Village Design PWMTC Report No,21 PWMTC-21 Page 2 February 4,2020 District to give the applicant definite deadlines as to when they would expect a response. Ms. Matsumoto went on to explain that the notification process wasn't previously achievable, and with new changes,the applicant now has more time to present their comments or attend in person. Council Member Lee Loy recalled that the number one complaint that they get is how long the process takes. She described that the way the bill is structured, it now provides hard deadlines and timing requirements for the department to act, and if it is appealed, to be heard by the Board of Appeals. Council Member Lee Loy asked Ms. Matsumoto if there were already applications in the process and Ms. Matsumoto confirmed that there was one that will be on the agenda for the next committee meeting. Council Member Lee Loy went on to add that at the end of the bill in Section 6, it states, "This ordinance shall take effect upon its approval," and based on the application that is already in the process, she will amend that section to make it effective on June 1St and asked if the department could support that. Robyn concurred, as it would give the applicant time to go through the process. Council Member Lee Loy added that it would also provide opportunity to educate the larger stakeholder community that this change is coming and about any forms that need to be revised. Ms. Matsumoto agreed that it was an opportunity to send a message to their customers about the new changes and indicated that they had some outdated forms and this would be a good opportunity for them to do "housecleaning." Council Member Lee Loy asked for support and said she was working with the department to fix some of the "kinks in the links of the chain" at the Department of Public Works. There were no further questions or comments for either Council Member Lee Loy or Ms. Matsumoto. Acting Chair David thanked Council Member Lee Loy and agreed that this process belonged with the department that is making the decisions on variances and that months' worth of processing for a sign variance is over burdensome. She thanked and praised Ms. Matsumoto for the new streamlining process. Your Committee on Public Works and Mass Transit is in accord with the purpose and intent of Bill No. 134, and recommends its passage on first reading. daw AYES NOES ABS_ EX Respectfully submitted, CHUNG X DAVID X COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS EOFF X I -, ND ND MASS TRANSIT , MASI, KANEALI'l-KLEINFELDER X KIERKIEWICZ X LEE LOY X POINDEXTER X SUS . K. LEE LO RICHARDS X SUS REPORT VILLEGAS X ADOPTED: FEB 1 9 2p2n