HomeMy WebLinkAbout10_020County of Hawai'i
WINDWARD PLANNING COMMISSION
Aupuni Center.101 Pauahi Street,Suite 3 • Hila,Hawai'i 96720
Phone (808)961-8288 • Fax (808) 961-8742
April 14,2010
Mr. Wayne China
Cascadia PM, LLC
1130 North Nimitz Highway, Suite A-200
Honolulu,HI 96817
Dear Mr. China:
Use Permit Application (USE 10-000020)
Applicant: New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC dba AT&T Mobility
Request: To Allow the Development ofTelecommunication Antennas and Ground
Equipment on an Existing Building in the Single-Family Residential
(RS-IO)Zoned District
Tax Map Key: 2-3-27:2
The Windward Planning Commission at its duly held public hearing on April I, 2010, voted to
approve the above-referenced application to allow the construction ofa new telecommunication
facility on the rooftop ofthe existing Hilo Medical Center building situated within the Single
FamilyResidential-10,000 square feet (RS-I 0) district. The property is the site ofthe existing
Hilo Medical Center complex located at 1190 Waianuenue Avenue,Piihonua,South Hilo,
Hawai'i.
Approval ofthis request is based on the following:
The applicant is requesting a Use Permit to allow the construction ofa new
telecommunication facility on the rooftop ofthe existing Hilo Medical Center building
within the Single-Family Residential (RS-lO) zoned district.The improvements will
include a total ofnine (9) 7-foot high panel antennas and up to 2 GPS antennas. The 9
panel antennas and the GPS antennas will be attached to the walls ofthe mechanical
room. All transceiver equipment cabinets and ancillary equipment will be located within
the rooftop mechanical room.
The property's location will allow AT&T to provide wireless telephone coverage
in the west (mauka) area ofHilo town which will be lost when AT&T's Hilo Lagoon
Howai'i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer
Mr.Wayne China
Page 2
Centre antenna site is deactivated.The site is also at a higher elevation which will allow
for the least amount ofcoverage obstruction and will be suitable for linkage to other
wireless network facilities by line-of-sight,thus permitting wireless carriers such as
AT&T to provide increased coverage through its island-wide system. Lastly, the site will
also provide public safety E-911 service.
In considering a Use Permit for any proposed use,Rule 7 ofthe Planning
Connnission relating to Use Permits,requires that such action conform to the following
guidelines:
A.The granting ofthe proposed use shall be consistent with the general
purpose ofthe zoned district, the intent and purpose ofthe Zoning Code
and the County General Plan;
B. The granting ofthe proposed use shall not be materially detrimental to the
public welfare nor cause substantial adverse impact to the connnunity's
character or to surrounding properties;and
C. The granting ofthe proposed use shall not unreasonably burden public
agencies to provide roads and streets, sewers,water,drainage,school
improvements,police and fire protection and other related infrastructure.
The proposed use meets the guidelines for approval ofa Use Permit,for the
reasons outlined below:
The granting ofthe proposed use shall be consistent with the general purpose
ofthe zoned district,the intent and purpose ofthe Zoniug Code and the County
General Plan.The Use Permit process provides an avenue to review and analyze a
proposed project on a case-by-case basis relative to infrastructure and impacts on
surrounding properties and existing uses, as well as consistency with the goals and
polices ofthe General Plan.According to the Zoning Code,Single Family Residential
districts "provide for lower or low and medium density residential use, for urban and
suburban family life.It appliesto areashavingfacilities,andto carryoutthe abovestated
purpose." Within the Zoning Code,telecommunication antennas and towers can be
permitted within a Single-FamilyResidential zoned district if a Use Permit is approved
for the use by the Planning Commission.
The Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide (LUPAG) Map component ofthe General
Plan is a representation ofthe document's goals and policies to guide the coordinated
growth and development ofthe County.It reflects a graphic depiction ofthe physical
relationship among the various land uses. The LUPAG Map establishes the basic urban
and non-urban form for areas within the County. The General Plan designation for this
Mr. Wayne China
Page 3
property is Low Density Urban, which allows for single-family residential uses,ancillary
community and public uses, and neighborhood and convenience-type commercial uses.
Allowable uses within these areas, with a Use Permit, may include telecommunication
facilities that serve the residents in the area. The request complements and is consistent
with the Land Use, Economic, and Public Utilities elements ofthe General Plan.Based
on the above, the request is consistent with the general purpose ofthe zoned district, the
intent and purpose ofthe Zoning Code and the County General Plan.
The granting ofthe proposed use shall not be materially detrimental to the
public welfare nor cause substantial,adverse impact to the community's character
or to surrounding properties.The property is the location ofthe Hilo Medical Center
complex, which is situated along the north side ofthe Waianuenue Avenue just west of
Rainbow falls.Surrounding properties are zoned RS-IO, RS-15, Open and A-20a. The
surrounding uses in the immediate area are mainly medical facilities. The Kaiser
Permanente facility is located to the west. The Hale Anuenue Restorative Care facility,
Veteran Affairs Office and parking area for the hospital are located across Waianuenue
Avenue to the south. The Yukio Okutsu Veterans Home and the Hilo Dialysis facility are
located on the same property to the east ofHilo Medical Center. Wailulcu River borders
the property to the north and further north are larger agricultural properties.
The surrounding properties are mainly used for medical facilities. There are
residential properties located further east and west, but the antennas should not have a
substantial negative impact to their viewplanes. Additionally, the antennas will be
painted the same color to match the existing building to further minimize any visual
impact ofthe antennas to surrounding properties.
The proposed facility will be developed entirely upon an existing structure and
there will be no new ground disturbance or displacement ofexisting vegetation.There is
no evidence of any traditional and customary Native Hawaiian rights being practiced on
the site, nor existence ofany known valued cultural, historical or native resources on the
property. The Department ofLand and Natural Resources - State Historic Preservation
Division has issued a no-effect letter dated January 30,2009 stating that they concur that
there will be no effect to historic properties.
Based on the above, it is not anticipated that the approval ofthe
telecommunication antennas will have a major negative impact in the community.
The granting of the proposed use will not unreasonably burden public
agencies to provide roads and streets,sewer,water,drainage,school improvements,
police and fire protection and other related infrastructure.Water and sewer are not
needed for the antennas. Only electricity is required for the requested use, which is
available to the project site. Access to the project site is proposed to be from Waianuenue
Mr. Wayne China
Page 4
Avenne,which is a Connty owned and maintained roadway with an approximate 22-foot
pavement within a 60-foot wide right-of-way.Therefore,the requested use will not
burden public agencies to provide additional services.
Based on the above, the request to allow the construction ofa new telecommunication facility on
the rooftop ofthe existing Hilo Medical Center building within the Single-Family Residential
(RS-IO) zoned district is approved by the Windward Planning Commission subject to the
following conditions:
1.The applicant,successors or assigns shall comply with all ofthe stated conditions
of approval.
2.Construction ofthe proposed development shall be completed within five (5)
years from the effective date this permit.Prior to construction,the applicant,
successors or assigns shall secure Final Plan Approval for the proposed
development from the Planning Director in accordance with Section
25-2-71(c)(3),25-2-72,25-2-74 and 25-4-12,Chapter 25 (Zoning Code),Hawai'i
County Code. The antenna plans shall be stamped by a structural engineer.
3.Co-location or any expansion ofthe antennas shall be allowed on the rooftop of
the existing Hilo Medical Center.
4.Within 120 days ofthe permanent abandonment ofthe antennas,the applicant
shall remove the antennas and accessory structnres.The applicant shall provide
written notification to the Planning Director ofsuch removal.
5. The applicant shall comply with all applicable County,State and Federal laws,
rules,regulations and requirements,including the Federal Aviation
Administration and the Federal Communications Commission.
6.An initial extension oftime for the performance ofconditions ofthe permit may
be granted by the Planning Director upon the following circnmstances:
A.Non-performance is the result ofconditions that could not have been
foreseen or are beyond the control ofthe applicant,successors or assigns,
and that are not the result oftheir fault or negligence.
B.Granting ofthe time extension would not be contrary to the General Plan
or the Zoning Code.
Mr.Wayne China
Page 5
C.Granting ofthe extension would not be contrary to the original reasons for
the granting ofthe permit,
D. The time extension granted shall be for a period not to exceed the period
originally granted for perforrnance (i.e., a condition to be performed within
one year may be extended for up to one additional year).
7.Should any ofthe conditions not be met or substantially complied with in a timely
manner, the Planning Director may initiate the revocation ofthe permit.
This approval does not,however,sanction the specific plans submitted with the application as
they may be snbject to change given specific code and regulatory requirements ofthe affected
agencies,
Should you have any questions,please contact the Planning Department at 961-8288.
Sincerely,~tJG v ve ..(
Rell Woodward,Chairman
Windward Planning Commission
LnewcingularuselO-000020PC
cc:Hawai'i Health Systems Corporation
AT &T Mobility
Department ofPublic Works
Department ofWater Supply
County Real Property Tax Division
Mr.Gilbert Bailado /