HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PC 046 2020/02/18 2018-2020 REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON PLANNING
DATE: February 18, 2020 Re: Comm.No. 728 /Bill No. 137
PLACE: Council Chambers
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
TIME: 10:05 a.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Your Committee on Planning,to which was referred Bill No. 137,reports as follows:
Bill No. 137,transmitted by Mayor Harry Kim via Communication No. 728, dated January 23, 2020,
an amendment to Change of Zone Application(REZ 19-000239),requesting a change of zone from
a Single-Family Residential—20,000 square feet(RS-20)to a Village Commercial— 10,000
square feet(CV-10) zoning district. The subject property is located on the north side of Old Volcano
Road, approximately 500 feet west of its intersection with Wright Road, '01a'a Summer Lots, Block
"B", Puna, Hawaii.
The Windward Planning Commission, at its duly noticed meeting on January 8, 2020, voted to
forward a favorable recommendation to the County Council for Change of Zone Application
REZ 19-000239 with changes to Condition F (Roadway Frontage Improvements), which changed
the timing and mechanism for the applicant's provision of roadway frontage improvements as
recommended by the Department of Public Works for commercial zoning.
Appearing before Your Committee was Planning Director Michael Yee, Planner V Christian Kay,
and Planning Consultant Zendo Kern on behalf of the applicant,RTA Kilauea Lodge, LLC.
Mr. Kern.provided an overview of the request, sharing that it is an extension of the Kilauea Lodge
operation that would add additional retail space,three cottages, and consolidated parking space for
employees. He noted an agreement that was made with the neighboring owners regarding a 12-foot
wide access easement on the Hilo side of the property which would serve as a third point of entry.
He added that the referenced agreement was currently reflected in the Bill.
Mr. Kern shared that Condition F was refined during the Planning Commission meeting, stating
that Volcano is a unique town and it would be odd to require standard commercial zone road
improvements for 120 feet along a road where such improvements do not exist. He explained that
when those improvements are made by the County in the future,the applicants would pay their
fair share for that construction at the time it is completed. Mr. Kern added that it would not make
sense to require the applicant to pay for sidewalk, gutter, and pavement-widening improvements
at the current time when the two adjoining properties have only grass along the roadway.
PC Report No.:46
PC-46 Page 2 February 18,2020
Council Member Tim Richards raised a question regarding Condition M,which states"to protect
any Hawaiian hoary bats in the vicinity of the property,barbed wire fencing shall not be used in
the permit area and woody vegetation woody vegetation over 15 feet in height shall not be
removed during bat breeding season of June 1 st to September 15th without first conducting
surveys for bat nests and coordinating with US Fish and Wildlife Service if nests are found."
Mr. Richards said this might be a"debatable condition."Director Yee noted this language is a
standard recommendation from U.S. Fish& Wildlife (USFW). Mr. Richards expressed concern
around USFW requirements and asked Director Yee to provide further information at a later
date.
Council Member Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder asked for clarification around why barbed wire was
prohibited per Condition M. Mr. Kay outlined that, regarding most projects in the Volcano area,
it's a standard practice for the Planning Department to request comment letters from USFW and
other agencies regarding protection for endangered species and processes to mitigate concerns
regarding those species. Prohibition of wire fencing is part of what they had recommended.
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. 137, and
recommends its passage on first reading.
cc
AYES NOES ABS EX Respectfully submitted,
CRUNG X
DAVID x COMMITTEE ON PLANNING
EOFF X
KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER X
KIERKIEWICZ X
LEE LOY X
POINDEXTER X ASHLEY L. KIERKIEWICZ, CHAIR
RICiIARDs X PC REPORT NO.: 46
VILLEGAS X ADOPTED: MAR 1 1 2020