HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-08-19 Leeward Exh B (Public Testimony on Item 2, discussion on time extensions) LEEWARD PLANNING COMMISSION
COUNTY OF HAWAII
TESTIMONY TRANSCRIPT
AUGUST 19, 2021
Public testimony regarding discussion and recommendation on Planning Department
procedures for processing time extension requests was called to order at 9:42 a.m. via live
stream online meeting, with Chairman Michael Vitousek presiding.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Michael Vitousek, Shani Armbruster, Barbara DeFranco,
Clement"CJ" Kanuha III, and Faith"Faye" Yates
EX-OFFICIO MEMBER PRESENT: Robyn Matsumoto (Department of Public Works,
Engineering Division)
ALSO IN ATTENDANCE: Sinclair Salas-Ferguson, Esq. (Counsel for Department of Public
Works), Dalilah Schlueter, Esq. (Counsel for the Commission), Jean Campbell, Esq. (Counsel
for the Planning Department), Zendo Kern (Planning Director), Jeffrey Darrow (Deputy
Planning Director), Christian Kay (Planner), Tracie-Lee Camero (Planner), and Noriko Sauer
(Leeward Planning Commission Secretary)
Discussion and recommendation on Planning Department procedures for processing
requests for time extensions on permit and rezone ordinance amendments heard by the
Planning Commission.
VITOUSEK: We'll move on to number 2, Elizabeth Dunn. The discussion on the time
extension process.
DUNN: Yes, thank you. So, again, I've said I'm kind of a, you know, citizen planner. I got, I
started to look at the Planning Commission agendas a number of months ago and happened to
see something, I think in December, about a project in town on Alii Is it Kahakai Drive?—and
it just kind of piqued my interest and curiosity as to why there had been so many, you know,
extensions of, of a project. There is a project near us, I'm sorry I shouldn't say that,property
near us that got a planning approval about 30 years ago, also has water commitments, you know,
it was a rezoning, so it, I'm familiar with, you know, sort of a beginning, start, middle and end to
a project, or there is a timeline that a project should at least reasonably start to proceed. So I'm
just kind of wondering what the thought process is for time extensions and rezonings, if there is,
you know, further discussion that the commission is going to take on, on how they want to
proceed with that.
Additionally, we, I live in a neighborhood where we anticipate a rezoning, and we do have some
concerns about that project for, for multiple reasons. I think one of the key things is we, we have
some local water pressure issues; we are wondering where water may come from. I've been here
long enough to know that there is an issue with, I think, sewer capacity and wastewater treatment
capacity, and that properties when they are sold, if they are on septic or cesspool, they are
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supposed to switch over into a sewer system. So I'm, I wonder how a, the more comprehensive
view of a rezoning change in, in the language in the code is going to reflect infrastructure and
making sure that those basic features of rezonings are clearly identified and included in an
environmental review, and that that kind of language would be in the updated language for
zoning code. So I think that's it. I'm just trying to understand where the commission may be
going with those two topics. Thank you.
VITOUSEK: Thank you very much.
The public testimony ended at 9:45 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Noriko Sauer, Secretary
Leeward Planning Commission
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