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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-10-07 Windward Exh C Leila Shimizu REZ 21-000247 WINDWARD PLANNING COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAII HEARING TRANSCRIPT OCTOBER 7, 2021 A regularly advertised hearing on the application of LEILA SHIMIZU (REZ 21-000247) was called to order at 10:09 a.m. via live-stream online meeting, with Chairman John Replogle presiding. COMMISSIONERS IN ATTENDANCE: Gilbert Aguinaldo, Dean Au, Joseph Clarkson, Michelle Galimba, Dennis Lin, Thomas Raffipiy and John Replogle ALSO IN ATTENDANCE: Malia Hall, Esq. (Counsel for the Commission), Zendo Kern, (Planning Director), Jean Campbell, Esq. (Counsel for the Planning Department), Eric Cook (Planner), Maija Jackson (Program Manager), and Melissa Dacayanan-Salvador (Windward Planning Commission Secretary) APPLICANT: LEILA SHIMIZU (REZ 21-000247) Application for a Change of Zone from a Single-Family Residential-10,000 square feet(RS-10) to an Industrial-Commercial Mixed - 20,000 square feet(MCX-20) zoning district for approximately 22,300-square feet of land. The subject properties are located at 755 Kekuanao`a Street and 605 Kalanikoa Street, at the northeast corner of the Kekuanao`a Street- Kalanikoa Street intersection, Waiakea Houselots, South Hilo, Hawaii, TMKs: 2-2-035:049 and 2-2- 035:096. Secretary's Note: "—" indicates that there were technical and/or internet difficulties, which made the conversation inaudible. REPLOGLE: Next, number two on the agenda Applicant Leila Shimizu. Application for a Change of Zone from Single-Family Residential - 10,000 square feet(RS-10) to an Industrial- Commercial Mixed - 20,000 square feet(MCX-20) zoning district for approximately 22,300 square feet of land. The subject property is located at 755 Kekuana6`a Street and 605 Kalanikoa Street, at the northeast corner of Kekuana6`a Street-Kalanikoa Street intersection, Waiakea Houselots, South Hilo, Hawaii, TMK: 2-2-035:049 and 2-2-035:096. Staff presentation will be made by Eric Cook, one of our planners. Mr. Cook? COOK: Thank you Chair Replogle and good morning, Commissioners. As Chair Replogle mentioned this application is for a Change of Zone, and with that I will get into my presentation. Okay, is everyone able to see the opening slide. REPLOGLE Yes. COOK: Okay, thank you. The subject properties are located in Hilo at 755 Kekuana6`a Street and 605 Kalanikoa Street. The subject parcels are outlined in red there and so, on the northeast corner of Kekuana6`a Street, I'm sorry Kalanikoa intersection. Sorry about that, there's the context map there, sorry I didn't realize it didn't go forward. So, the applicant's request. They 1 EXHIBIT C are requesting a Change of Zone from a Single-Family Residential - 10,000 square feet(RS-10) zoning designation to an Industrial-Commercial Mixed - 20,000 square feet(MCX-20) zoning district. The proposed development, the applicant intends to convert an existing single-family dwelling into an office building to either rent out or for private use. And they also plan to construct an accompanying parking area for the office on the adjacent parcel. If the proposed Change of Zone is granted, the applicant intends to consolidate the two subject parcels into a single lot. Here we have the applicant's submitted site plan. You can see there on the left, there is an existing 1,456 square foot single-family dwelling that is proposed to be converted into an office building. The applicant has represented here that the proposed development will provide a minimum of six parking stalls which includes one handicapped parking stall. The properties north of the subject site are zoned Single-Family Residential (RS 10) and the applicant proposes to install additional landscaping along that common boundary to make sure they're in full compliance with the landscaping requirements per the zoning code. The applicant proposes to keep the existing driveway entry on Kalanikoa Street that you see there on the northwestern corner of the property. And so, then you see another proposed driveway there that it's not currently existing on the southern portion of the property on Kekuana6`a Street and that entry would be limited to right turn in and right turn out movements only. Please note that this original site plan that was submitted by the applicant does not currently represent the required road widening setback and roadway improvements both recommended by the Department of Public Works and the Planning Department. Here we have the County zoning map. The subject property is outlined in red as well as properties to the north and south of the subject property, they are all zoned Single-Family Residential - 10,000 square feet. The parcel immediately to the east of the subject parcel is improved with a gas station facility and has the zoning designation Limited Industrial. The surrounding area fronting Kekuana6`a Street is a mix of Residential, Commercial, and Limited Industrial including MCX-20, CN-10 and ML-20 zoning designations. The subject parcel again is outlined in red, and you can see that it as well as the entire surrounding area are all within the State Land Use Urban designation. According to the General Plan LUPAG map the subject property and adjacent properties to the north, east and west have a General Plan LUPAG designation of Industrial. Properties to the south of the subject parcel have the LUPAG designation Medium Density Urban. Here we can see an aerial photo of the subject site as well as the surrounding context. The location of the site is an urbanized and fully developed area with minimal flora. Several commercial businesses are in operation surrounding context of the subject site, including the gas station Aloha Island Mart to the east and Finance Factors Mortgage Lenders down the block to the west. Moving into some site photos here. The photo on the left, shows the subject property frontage from the corner of Kekuana6`a Street and Kalanikoa Street and facing north. Denoted there with the blue marker is the existing dwelling. The photo on the right is a view facing west on Kekuana6`a Street from the eastern edge of this subject property. Again, the blue denotes where the existing structure is. Just a couple more site photos here. The subject parcel, parcel 049 because this is a two-parcel project"—" Kekuana6`a Street frontage facing north and the existing Kalanikoa Street driveway access to the subject site facing north up Kalanikoa Street is 2 EXHIBIT C the photo on the right. This is the driveway access that they proposed to keep for full access to the site. Based on the preceding, the Planning Director does recommend that the Commission forward a favorable recommendation to the County Council for Change of Zone application number 21- 247. And with that I will turn it back over to you Chair Replogle. REPLOGLE: Thank you, Mr. Cook. We will now have the applicant's presentation, Mr. Fuke for the applicant and possibly Leila Shimizu will also be joining him. Have you received the background recommendation from the Planning Department, and do you agree with the Director's recommendation including the proposed conditions? FUKE: Good morning, again, Mr. Chairman and members of the Commission. This is the first time I'm meeting Eric Cook in person so, hi Eric nice meeting you. COOK: Nice to meet you. FUKE: I'd like to also acknowledge the presence of the applicant Leila Shimizu and she'll be available only to answer questions if there are any. But I've had a chance to discuss in detail the staff's proposed recommendation, as well as the conditions and they found them totally acceptable. The background report as always was very comprehensive. I have very little to add, except to just provide you with some little bit more background to the reason behind this request. Ms. Shimizu is one of three siblings, surviving siblings of the property. The parents recently passed away so, now the question becomes how to best utilize the land. And so, then I had discussion with the members of the family and the decision was to proceed with this Change of Zone. The initial intent was to possibly convert the existing dwelling into like some office space or whatever have you and eventually making it possible for some alternative uses in the future. As a result, the proposed site plan basically reflects the conversion of the existing dwelling into some office type of use or uses consistent with the MCX zoning. But your conditions kind of reflects those kinds of accommodations so we are appreciative. If there any other questions that Commissioners may have, we would be more than willing to answer. REPLOGLE: Thank you, Mr. Fuke. Fellow Commissioners any questions for the applicant? Okay, Commissioners I will entertain a motion for action? LIN: Chair Replogle I'll make a motion. REPLOGLE: Please. LIN: I move that a favorable recommendation be forwarded to the County Council on the application for a Change of Zone Docket Number REZ 21-000247, based on the Planning Director's recommendation, which shall be adopted. RAFFIPIY: Second. 3 EXHIBIT C REPLOGLE: Okay it's been moved and seconded by Commissioner Lin— COOK: Sorry, Chair could you— REPLOGLE: I'm sorry. COOK: Go ahead. REPLOGLE: And seconded by Commissioner Aguinaldo. Is there any further discussion on the motion? AU: Yes, Mr. Chair. Really quickly, this is Commissioner Au. REPLOGLE: Mr. Au go ahead please. AU: I see Ms. Shimizu patiently waiting if she wants to say something, I would like to hear if she has anything to say before we take the vote, thank you. SHIMIZU: "—" (vaguely could hear while speaking) JACKSON: Ms. Shimizu try to hit mute and unmute again on your computer. We can't hear you. And then now hit unmute. No. REPLOGLE: No, I don't think her things is working. JACKSON: Yeah. FUKE: Leila, maybe you can just use sign language like yes or no. REPLOGLE: Well, thank you, Ms. Shimizu that was very interesting. Commissioners anything further? Staff, would you call for a vote, please. COOK: Okay, thank you Chair. So, we'll take the roll call vote now. On the motion to approve as recommended by the Planning Director and forwarding a favorable motion. Chair Replogle? REPLOGLE: Aye. COOK: Vice-Chair Aguinaldo? AGUINALDO: Aye. COOK: Commissioner Dean Au? AU: Aye. COOK: Commissioner Joseph Clarkson? 4 EXHIBIT C CLARKSON: Aye. COOK: Commissioner Michelle Galimba? GALIMBA: Aye. COOK: Commissioner Dennis Lin? LIN: Aye. COOK: And Commissioner Thomas Raffipiy? RAFFIPIY: Aye. COOK: Okay, thank you. The motion carries with (7) aye and(0) no and I'll turn it back over to you Chair. REPLOGLE: Thank you. You will be notified of the decision in writing. FUKE: Thank you very much again Commissioners. REPLOGLE: You're welcome. The item ended at 10:22 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Melissa Dacayanan-Salvador Secretary Windward Planning Commission 5 EXHIBIT C