HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-10-06 Windward Exh B (Item 2 County Council Initiated PL-CCI-2022-000002) WINDWARD PLANNING COMMISSION
COUNTY OF HAWAI`I
HEARING TRANSCRIPT
OCTOBER 6, 2022
A regularly advertised hearing on the application of COUNTY COUNCIL INITIATED (BILL
NO. 194) (PL-CCI-2022-000002)was called to order at 9:52 a.m. in the County of Hawaii
Aupuni Center Conference Room, 101 Pauahi Street, Hilo, Hawaii with Chair Dennis Lin
presiding.
COMMISSIONERS IN ATTENDANCE: Dennis Lin, Gilbert Aguinaldo, Lauren Balog, and
Louis Daniele III.
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT AND EXCUSED: John C. Cross, Wayne De Luz, and Michelle
Galimba.
ALSO IN ATTENDANCE: Malia Kekai Esq. (Counsel for the Commission), Jean
Campbell, Esq. (Counsel for the Planning Department), Zendo Kern (Planning Director), Jessica
Andrews (Planner), Clinton Mercado (Planner), Tracie-Lee Camero (Zoom Host), Maija Jackson
(Planning Program Manager), and Melissa Dacayanan-Salvador (Windward Planning
Commission Secretary)
And 2 members from the public in attendance.
INITIATOR: COUNTY COUNCIL (BILL NO. 194) (PL-CCI-2022-000002)
An Ordinance amending Chapter 25, Article 2, Division 4, of the Hawaii County Code 1983
(2016 Edition, as amended), relating to conditions on change of zone actions. The purpose of this
amendment is to clarify that the Planning Director may not extend the time allowed to satisfy
conditions within a change of zone ordinance unless specifically authorized by the County
Council.
Secretary's Note: "—" indicates that there were technical and/or internet difficulties, which made
the conversation inaudible.
LIN: We will move on to agenda Item No. 2. Initiator: County Council (Bill No. 194)
application or PL-CCI-2022-000002. An ordinance amending Chapter 25, Article 2, Division 4,
of the Hawaii County Code 1983 (2016 Edition, as amended), relating to conditions on change
of actions. The purpose of this amendment is to clarify that the Planning Director may not
extend the time allowed to satisfy conditions within a change of zone ordinance unless
specifically authorized by the County Council. At this time, staff are there any testifiers for this
agenda item.
MERCADO: Yes, we do have one(1) testifier Chair, Ms. Cory Harden.
1
EXHIBIT B
LIN: Okay. So, the first testifier I have is Cory Harden. If you could please come to
the table here and I will need to swear you in.
HARDEN: Walked up to the testifier table.
LIN: If you could please raise your right hand. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth
on this matter now before the Windward Planning Commission?
HARDEN: Yes.
LIN: Thank you. You'll have three (3) minutes and go ahead.
HARDEN: Okay, so, good morning, Commissioners and thank you for your volunteered
service. I'm Cory Harden for the Sierra Club, Hawaii Island Group. We are in support of this
bill. I'm a little confused on the Planning Department is saying that the bill does not change the
Planning Department's current practice and I guess Councilmember Inaba is here, and I guess he
will more fully explain what the changes are. I'm also disappointed that the Planning
Department is not saying anything about the impacts on rezoning extensions that go on and on
and I hope that you'll weigh in on that today. It's kind of a definite silence on the actual impacts
of this rezoning the way it's been going for past several decades. As you know there's many
impacts. Conditions can change drastically over the decades. There might be more neighbors,
more traffic, there might be similar development that got done and reduced the demand for the
original type of project, and species may become endangered. You know there are birds that are
going extinct in our lifetimes. Climate change is changing shorelines and flood zones, and a lot
of other things.
With better review the public can weigh in and the Council can take an updated look at what the
community needs and what the requirements should be for the developer. It seems like some
developers keep doing extensions until there's a Planning Commission or Council or Mayor that
will go along with it and then they put in new conditions. I often see things like eliminating bike
paths or dispensing those traffic studies and we're building less affordable housing. And some
developers also seem to get rezoning for the sole purpose of selling the property at a profit and
buyers know they are going to have time to work on development plans since extensions are
fairly easy to get. It's a system that treats land as a commodity that works against people
developing connections with the land and caring for the land.
There's a tortured history for many developments. There was a recent housing scandal, there's a
lot of stuff going on that probably should not be going on. So, I hope this bill will help by
requiring developers to be more realistic with their proposals and again looking forward to
seeing exactly what will change under this bill and discussing the impacts of current practices.
Thank you.
LIN: Thank you Ms. Harden. Are there any other in-person testifiers?
MERCADO: Chair, she's the only one. Thank you.
2
EXHIBIT B
LIN: Seeing none. Tracie are there any Zoom testifiers?
CAMERO: There are currently no Zoom testifiers Chair.
LIN: Okay, thank you. Seeing that there is no other public testimony, can I please ask
for a motion to close?
AGUINALDO: I make a motion to close public testimony at this time.
LIN: Thank you Commissioner Aguinaldo. Is there a second?
DANIELE: I'll second that.
LIN: Okay, it was moved by Commissioner Aguinaldo and seconded by Commissioner
Daniele to close public testimony. Any discussion on the testimony? If not, all in favor to close
public testimony please say aye.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Aye.
LIN: Any opposed? [None] Okay,public testimony for this agenda item is now
closed. Okay, is there a staff presentation? Yes, okay. Go ahead Jessica.
ANDREWS: Yes, I'll go ahead with the staff presentation now for this County Council
Initiated Bill, Bill 194 relating to conditions on Change of Zone actions. The request and
purpose is the Hawaii County Council has introduced Bill No. 194, which seeks to amend
Chapter 25 of the Zoning Code, Article 2, Division 4, of the Hawaii County Code 1983, 2016
Edition, as amended, relating to conditions on Change of Zone actions.
The purpose of this bill is to clarify that the Planning Director may not extend the time allowed
to satisfy conditions within a Change of Zone ordinance unless specifically authorized by the
County Council. Now, I'll go through the proposed amendments, item by item.
So, Section 25-2-44(b) it's summarized by, so, the changes proposed for this section include
modifying language to clarify that requests to change or alter conditions of any Change of Zone
ordinance shall be processed in the same manner as a new zone change. Furthermore, new
proposed language indicates that unless specifically authorized by the County Council,
extensions of time to satisfy conditions of a Change of Zone ordinance may not be allowed by
the Planning Director.
And below you'll see the actual changes that are proposed for this Section 25-2-44(b) so it would
be removing the first phrase there (Changes or alterations of) and adding language that is
underlined is added language that is crossed out is deleted just to clarify. So, added would be
Request to change or alter the and then conditions of any Change of Zone ordinance shall be
processed in the same manner as a zone change, unless the Council authorizes the changes or
alterations to be made by the Director. That language is existing and then following is language
that's added unless specifically authorized by the Council, extensions of time to satisfy
3
EXHIBIT B
conditions may not be allowed by the Director. And the remaining existing part of this section is
deleted and actually added as a section on its own. Which you'll see as follows.
So, this section is 25-2-44(c) and changes proposed for this section include the deletion of all
current language on failure to fulfill Change of Zone conditions within specific time limitations
and the addition of submittal instructions for a Change of Zone amendment, which is currently
found in the previous section, in section (b). So, essentially this section is deleted. All of this
former language deleted out and here you'll see the new proposal for 25-2-44(c) which was
existing language from section (b) and is just now made into section (c). Having to do with the
process of applying for an amendment.
Okay, the next Section 25-2-44 (d) is summarized by the draft bill proposes to add this new
section to clarify that if the applicant fails to fulfill any conditions of the Change of Zone
ordinance within the specified time limitations. The Planning Director or County Council may
initiate the process for enactment of an ordinance reverting the affected property back to its
original zoning designation or a more appropriate zoning designation in accordance with Section
25-2-43.
So, the exact language is as follows: If the applicant fails to fulfill any conditions of the zone
change within the specified time limitations, the Director or Council may initiate the process for
enactment of an ordinance reverting the affected property back to its original zoning desi ne action
or a more appropriate zoning designation in accordance with Section 25-2-43.
And with that said, the Director's recommendation is that the Planning Director recommends that
the Planning Commission send a favorable recommendation of Bill 194 to the County Council.
And with that my presentation is over and I'll hand it back to the Chair.
LIN: Thank you staff. Commissioners do have any questions for staff at this time? If
not, Councilmember Inaba, would you be willing to come up and give a brief background and
discussion on this bill?
COUNCILMEMBER INABA FROMAUDIENCE: Made his way to the testifier table.
INABA: Yes.
LIN: Yes, I'll need to swear you in. Please raise your right hand. Do you swear or
affirm to tell the truth on this matter now before the Windward Planning Commission?
INABA: I do.
LIN: Thank you, go ahead.
INABA: Chair Lin, members of the Windward Planning Commission, good morning. I'm
Councilmember Holeka Inaba, I represent North Kona, District 8 on the Hawaii County
Council. And I think to get us started I stayed an extra day in Hilo because the language in the
bill, the Director forwarded a favorable recommendation and we have had discussion both the
4
EXHIBIT B
Director and Maija but the language I think still is in the process of being worked out. And with
that I wanted to make sure that you folks knew the intention and that the Director, we are all in
the same space. If they should choose to revoke a positive recommendation based on the
intention, they can do that.
But basically, what we are seeing here is within different rezoning ordinances the Planning
Department inserts language that grants and the authority to grant the applicant an
administrative, we will call it an administrative extension. Usually, its towards the end of a
rezoning bill. So, what I'm trying to do here is to remove that authority, or to remove that ability
of the Department to insert that language. So, typically right now, if it's a simple rezoning
they're saying five (5)years with the potential of another additional 5 years granted by the
Planning Director with certain conditions needed to be met.
What I would like to see however, is if we know that a rezoning process is going to take more
than 5 years, let's give the applicant more than 5 years but upon expiration of that rezoning
ordinance there is no ability of the Planning Department to grant an administrative extension
outside the process. This process here before the Commissions and at the Council. So, really,
it's a matter of transparency and ensuring that applicants will agree to complete conditions
within a specific amount of time. So, it's 5 years right now, they are going get it done in those 5
years and they can't for a lack of a better words, offline just with the Department get an
additional 5 years.
So, with that I think that's why I really needed to be here because that's the intent of the bill and
whether the language before truly represents that intent. Currently, I think that perhaps why the
positive recommendation has come because I'm not sure that the Planning Department would
actually support the intent of the bill but, the language needs to perhaps they'll be worked out. I
have some recommendations for that but, that's truly the intention of the bill. It really is
transparency and I do always want to go back to the expertise and professional experience of our
Planning Department.
So, if we know that things are taking longer now, let's give people more time to get that done.
But, when we look back at a document as a Council and as, yeah, when we look back at the
public record, and it says that an ordinance expires 5 years from today. We should be able to
know that 5 years from today its done and we don't have to try and go to the Planning
Department to see if someone got an extension for another 5 years. I do also want to state that
anyone for example who got a rezoning ordinance passed yesterday at Council with that
language inserted would still be entitled to that administrative extension. So, this would only be
for rezoning ordinances that comes before the Council and you folks moving forward. But not
for anyone who had that language and were granted that entitlement in the past. And I'm so
happy to answer any questions that you folks might have.
LIN: Thank you Councilman Inaba. Any questions or comments Commissioners?
Director Kern?
KERN: Thank you. Good morning. Good morning, Councilmember, good to see you.
5
EXHIBIT B
INABA: Good morning.
KERN: So,just to kind of talk about this. I'm actually happy that this conversations come
up because I think it'll eliminate some of the misperceptions that are out there and hopefully drill
down into a practice that works for everybody in a transparent way. I know that the language
still gives the Council flexibility which I do think is important in the County Council perspective.
With this going forward, with I know what your intention is so, if it's a 5 year, say with a 5-year
administrative time extension and we think it's going to be ten (10) years. We say this is a 10
year you know, and then it expires at that time there is no administrative time extension for that.
So, we just work on trying to get the best time frames in general for that condition. Which is
then as you say it's known if it was 5 years, or 10 years or if it was twenty (20)years that is what
it is. Right! And so, I don't have, we don't have a problem with that, and we are happy to work
with you on that.
I do think though the language still gives the Council some flexibility on that which is the
Council's ability. Right, which I think is a good thing. I do want to state though for the record.
That from the Planning Department we do, as a director, we do not issue time extensions beyond
what was allowed within the ordinance which was approved by Council. There is a
misperception out there that time extensions are handed out over and over and over again and
there's no diligence in what's being done. So, what we see are time extensions once that
administrative time extension is done then they have to go through the entire process again.
They'll submit an application for a time extension to the Department. We look at it holistically
in all ways. So, if they needed a new TIAR, we have them do a new TIAR. If there is an
environmental impact that's changed, we look at that impact that's changed. Sometimes
conditions are changed based on the new findings that are there.
So, I just really want it for the record that we do comprehensively look at that coming through
and I feel that's important for everybody to know because we all just trying to work here and be
diligent on maintaining and creating a home that we love. So, I'm happy that the conversation
has come up, happy to work with you on that again, we still support that, and I do support the
intention of hey, let's name it for what it is and if its 10 years, it's 10. As you were saying, if its
10 years its 10 years, right. So, overall, I'm supportive of this and we are happy to work with
you guys.
INABA: Thank you. Chair if I may.
LIN: Sure, go ahead.
INABA: I just want to add in this is not a bill, this is a bill that is in response to a lot of
community outreach, especially in West Hawaii. But it's that language being inserted into the
rezoning bills as the Director states in his recommendation has been a long-standing practice,
longer than I've been alive. You too Dennis. [giggling] And for us and for the people that I
represent it's about ensuring that what is stated on the record is going to be on the record and for
one Planning Department to perhaps say well we won't include the language anymore one
administration and then four(4)years from now we might a new administration who chooses to
insert that language again. That's the reason for putting it in the Code, so that its specifically
6
EXHIBIT B
does not allow Director or Planning Department to insert that language for an administrative
extensions and that's the only way we can ensure that that practice doesn't happen even if this
Planning Director and this Planning staff right now would be nice enough not to include that.
But it's a not struggle and I think that Council or you folks should have to face every time we see
a rezoning bill, but I have to make the motion to remove Condition V which grants that, it
shouldn't have to be like that. If we can be on the same page and the applicant knows what time
and again going back the experience and the direction of the Department. If the Department
knows that it's going take 10 years, let's kokua the applicant and make sure that they have an
understanding of what it is going to take and how long things may take. So, I'm happy to answer
any questions you folks may have.
LIN: Okay, any comments/questions, yeah.
AGUINALDO: Mr. Chair, I get one, oh—
LIN: Go ahead Commissioner Aguinaldo.
AGUINALDO: I get one for Director Kern. What if um', you know like say the discussion right
now we are having, yeah. What if that we grant say one applicant, now what if the applicant
passed away or is selling the parcel. Would that change the dynamics of the extension you
think?
KERN: No. So, the conditions—
AGUINALDO: Yeah.
KERN: — run with land and not the owner. So, if somebody sells it, they passed away,
conditions change those conditions are maintained all the way through, or whatever the timing
would be or whatever other conditions would have to be adhered to period.
AGUINALDO: And is that going to be, is that in language right now? Like even in the bill.
KERN: Yeah, the applicants, their successors or —
AGUINALDO: Okay.
KERN: —assigned, that's always language in there. Yes.
AGUINALDO: Okay. Okay, we good.
LIN: I actually would like to ask the Planning Department or Director Kern a question.
In regard to when an applicant comes in for an extension, what does the Planning Department
confirm or verify?
7
EXHIBIT B
KERN: Sure. So, when the applicant comes in for a time extension and it's typically, they
had 5 years to do something, and they had a 5-year administrative time extension and that
administrative time extension either not granted or it expired. That application comes in, and we
look at like a new application. We look at top to bottom, have conditions changed, has traffic
changed, has environment changed, has the settlement pattern changed, has the General Plan
changed, has the Community Development Plan changed, has anything changed? And then we
look at amending conditions or possibly changing the recommendation. They could come in and
say, things have changed so much that we do not recommend the time extension, and this should
no longer be valid.
So, we look at just like how we look a new one that comes through. We look at every single
component of it and then adjust conditions or request them to do additional. Such as, typically
it's like a Traffic Impact Analysis Report and other cases we've seen a EA come up. So, we
really look at it complete.
LIN: Thank you Director Kern and my second question would be on the lines of what
Commissioner Aguinaldo had asked. So, say if I was a developer and I got the ordinance
approved by County Council to develop a 200-unit development and I decide to sell that parcel
to another developer, and they decide to hold off on that project because they do not have
funding or what not for another 10 years. What happens to that ordinance if they decide to
suddenly say, oh well, we have money now we now want to start up this development again.
KERN: Sure, so, we see that and so if that were the case and the ordinance were expired
unless let's just assume it's expired. Then they would have to come into the Department submit
an application for a time extension and then we would go through the entire review of that. It
would come through the appropriate Commission; it would go to County Council and the County
Council would make the final decision to approve that or not. But, again, we still look at
holistically all the way through top to bottom again.
LIN: So, I think that's the I guess the contention point with the community is. We have
those situations that there is somebody who gets an approval for a development, but they decide
to sell it, or something changes, and the new owner decide not to build it for another 10-15 years.
So, at that time, they would come back to the Planning Department request for the time extension
and then would come back to Commission.
KERN: Correct and when we are looking at it, we would say, yeah, you know 15 years
ago you did a traffic impact analysis report but, currently you need one now. So then, they
would have to hire an engineer, they would give us a new TIAR(Traffic Impact Analysis
Report). Those conditions would then be potentially adjusted depending on the level of service.
So, it's not just come back through, and it's just timed, it's really, we factor, and things change,
the General Plan change.
LIN: So, I guess my thought would be wouldn't it be more fair to have them come
again and apply because it's a new owner and maybe they don't have the same idea of what the
previous owner development was. So, maybe like Ms. Harden said, maybe they don't want bike
8
EXHIBIT B
paths, maybe they want something else. But wouldn't it be more I guess; my term would be fair
to have them come in again as a new application because the ordinance is now expired.
KERN: It's kind of the same thing whether they are coming back through and it's, I guess,
it's just a difference of semantics in the way, right? They have to come back in, and they have to
submit in a fresh application, they have to submit what they're requesting, are there any other
deviations from that existing zoning, is there any supporting elements that will help with that.
Sometimes it comes in and its light meaning that it doesn't have the information we need so then
staff would request that. So, the challenge we that we run into is that it's not just a simple open
and shut case. Where, let's say you have rezoning that went from Ag 1 to RS-10. So,
Agricultural-1 acre to Residential-10,000 square feet. When the zoning ordinance expires, or
that condition expires. The zoning doesn't just automatically revert back. The zoning is actually
in the state of limbo. Where it's zoned Ag-10, excuse me, zoned RS-10 but they can't actually
do anything with it. They can't subdivide it; they can't do anything because the conditions
haven't been met so the ordinance is what we call stale. They also can't go in and use it for Ag-1
because that's no longer the zoning that it has.
So, you actually get into a state where the property is not usable. And so, at that point in time,
they have to come in and say, I want to revert it back to its original zoning or I want to get an
extension of time, I want to bring it back up to its current zoning or I want to do something
completely different. If it's completely different they have to submit a completely fresh new
application. If it's just for the same the thing and they want to do say, extend the time, then that
would be time extension request. In this case, the ordinance based on the intention of where this
is going, I want to say it's 10 years, that 10 years have expired, that zoning ordinance basically is
expired but the property still in limbo.
LIN: Mr. Inaba?
INABA: Thank you. Director, in terms of this administrative extension. When we look at
the language it says that we insert into the bills currently. It says, "An initial extension of time
for the performance of conditions within the ordinance maybe granted by the Planning Director
upon the following circumstances". And it goes into what Director Kern already covered. If
someone is granted 5 years, and they come to you six(6) years later. So, technically its expired
are they able to get an administrative extension since technically the rezoning ordinance has
expired? But would you retroactively, technically you could give 5 years, but would you give 5
years from the day the ordinance expired, or would you not give an extension at all since the
rezoning ordinance is not expired?
KERN: I don't believe I have had to deal with that personally. Maija, could you maybe
explain previous practice.
JACKSON: Yes. So, if the ordinance say you have 5 years to construct and there's an
administrative time extension condition if the person comes in at year 6, we would grant the
administrative time extension because they're within that 10-year period. Provided that
conditions haven't changed right, like infrastructure or the plans for the area and then once they
hit year eleven (11) let's say and they come in and say, "Well, we have a project now, we want
9
EXHIBIT B
to move forward" and we say, " No, you have to go back to Council, because you are way
beyond the administrative time extension frame".
KERN: So, in that case if it were 5 year and they came in at 6 and it's granted its only for
the 5 from the date of the expiration and it's not for 5 from that date.
JACKSON: Correct.
KERN: So, they're not picking up an extra year, it still no longer than was originally
granted.
AGUINALDO: Within that 10, yeah.
KERN: Correct. Correct.
INABA: So, with that, I mean I think it kind of shows where things can get a little wonky
sometimes you know, because if see on documents is the only official record that if everything is
supposed to be completed within 5 years and in the year 6, they come back to the Department.
None of us will ever see it and I think that's kind of the point in 6 years a lot of things can
change. Again, in 10 years a lot of things can change but if we're going to say 10 then we know
in 10 years they are granted all of the entitlements within this rezoning bill for 10 years and at 10
years they will come back and there will be no further extension outside of the Commission and
Council process.
LIN: Commissioners, any other comments or discussion points? I guess, oh,
Commission Balog?
BALOG: Um', so, it says that extensions of time will be authorized by the Council?
INABA: So, Commissioner, what section are you referring to?
BALOG: Um' Section (b).
KEKAL B as in boy?
BALOG: Yes.
KEKAI: Okay.
BALOG: So, I was wondering how that process would work.
INABA: And you're saying unless specifically authorized by the Council?
BALOG: Yes.
10
EXHIBIT B
INABA: Okay and I think that's kind of the wording that is messing up that intention
versus the language. Because technically right now and I spoke with Maija right before we got
started. Language is being inserted into the bills that does grant the Director the ability to give
these administrative extensions so, one of the recommendations on language change on this bill
before us would be to remove that word. Unless, specifically authorized by the Council because
currently if the Department puts in that language and we approve it as is the Council is
authorizing the Director to grant an administrative extensions later. So, if we were to remove
that language that you referred to it would just say "extensions of time to satisfy conditions may
not be allowed by the Director". That may be problematic too however, because now we're
saying the Director may never grant extensions.
So, that you know, the language is still being worked or another version would just be removing
what's in condition (b) or Section (b) sorry, and just say language granting extensions of time by
the Planning Director shall not be included in any Change of Zone ordinance. So, it's specific to
what we are prohibiting. But again, I think the language has to be worked out and whether we
want to hash it out here. I think the main thing is that you folks know the intention of what's
before us and loved to hear from Corporation Counsel.
KEKAI: Yeah, I was just going suggest an effective date. So, even though you left
extensions of time to satisfy, um' may not be allowed for ordinances granted from this date
forward. So that he still has the authority for what has already been granted, yeah. So,
something like that basically just putting in an effective date so that we know when, we can
clearly look at an ordinance and know whether the Director has administrative extension powers
or not.
INABA: And that's for Section 4 of Bill 194, right?
KEKAI: Yep.
INABA: Okay. Yes, I'll agree.
LIN: Commissioners, any other comments, questions? If not, is there a motion for
action?
AGUINALDO: Mr. Chair,just to clarify again.
LIN: Sure.
AGUINALDO: Like what Ms. Balog indicated, on Section 1 (b), unless specifically authorized
by the Council, extensions of time to satisfy conditions may not allowed by the Director. So, in
the Planning standpoint what I see here is, is County Council have the authority to you know, go
above our Planning Director for time extensions. Am I interpreting it correctly, its unless
specifically authorized by the Council. Saying the Council is authorizing, you know, that means
it's empowering our Planning Director that County Council can kind of what they got to do.
How's that? Am I interpreting it correctly or wrong?
11
EXHIBIT B
KEKAI: Um', yeah, so, this is rezone applications right in ordinances.—
AGUINALDO: Yeah.
KEKAI: — so the Council is the ultimate authority like you pass recommendations—
AGUINALDO: Yes, yes.
KEKAI: —the Director passes recommendations.
AGUINALDO: Yes.
KEKAI: — So, initially yeah, the Director does not have the authority to just pass a zone
change on his own. It has to go through Council—
AGUINALDO: Oh, so, okay.
KEKAI: So, this as, Holeka pointed out this already occurs actually with language, you
know, the Council does approve time, technically administrative time extensions when it's
included in an ordinance, right. So, the Council does have the authority to do that.
AGUINALDO: Oh, so they don't work with Director Kern on that?
KEKAI: I wouldn't say they don't work with the Directors;I think that there is a full
discussion at Council, and it is fully vetted out and but at the end of the day the Council has the
ultimate authority whether to approve the recommended conditions or not.
AGUINALDO: Oh, okay.
KEKAL Yep.
AGUINALDO: Okay. Thank you.
LIN: Go ahead Councilman.
INABA: One more thing,just on the language. I know you the represent the Commission
but I'm not sure what the appropriate action is. Whether to like have the proposed changes to
this language now or advance it with the understood intention?
KEKAI: Um' I think either way, I mean this is basically the Commission would be a
recommendation right, so they could say we recommend the following language. So, it's really
up to the Commission on how they want to do it, if they want to pass it through here with the
record and just say, you've heard what we had to say or not. Yep. So, depended on the motion
made.
LIN: So, go back to is there a motion? [giggling]
12
EXHIBIT B
AGUINALDO: Okay. I make a motion for County Council Bill No. 194, PL-CCI-2022-
000002, a favorable recommendation. I move that a favorable recommendation be forwarded to
County Council on Bill No. 194, based on the Planning Director's recommendation, which shall
be adopted.
DANIELE: I'll second that.
LIN: Okay, so it was moved by Commissioner Aguinaldo and seconded by
Commissioner Daniele to send a favorable recommendation for this agenda item. So, now
discussion? Is there a specific language that we want to add into this proposal right here? I like
Malia's idea of putting an exact time, you know, effective date. Saying that your application will
expire on this date or is effective from here to here anything after that you'll have to come in and
reapply or go through the process again. I welcome anybody's feedback regarding that.
INABA: Chair if I may.
LIN: Yeah, go ahead.
INABA: Sorry, I just want to clarify to make sure that we are all on the same page. What
Corporation Counsel referred to I believe was Section 4 of Bill 194 as to the effective date of Bill
194 if passed. So, were clear as to moving forward and somebody or somebody yesterday who
get their rezoning bill passed, they still have the administrative extension that was approved in —
AGUINALDO: Um' moving forward, right?
INABA: Yes, only moving forward. So, somebody yesterday came in, they got their
rezoning with the 5-year admin extension language in, they still have rights to that 5-year admin
extension. So, if someone comes in 2 weeks from now or sorry after Bill 194 is passed, if it
passes, they will not be entitled, there will be no language allowed and they would not be able to
have a 5-year admin extension.
KERN: Right, so, what we would do is we would look at the application, we would look
at the general overall time, and in this case if it's a 5 and 5 we would look at it as 10 and we
would just put 10 years. There is no language of administrative time extensions in there, it's just
10 years and at the time 10 years is up and if it hasn't been complied with then it goes back to the
process. Back to the Department, back to the Commission and back to Council for reapproval
essentially.
LIN: Okay, got it.
INABA: And just on the language as intended. If we look at condition, sorry, I'm getting
mixed up, conditions and sections here. Um' within Bill 194, Section (b)that last part the
additional language "Unless specifically authorized by the council, extensions of time to satisfy
conditions may not be allowed by the director". I'll just state on the record if want to remove
that language and replace it with the language that is truly intended, I could read that language to
13
EXHIBIT B
you folks and that would be"language granting extensions of time by the Planning Director shall
not be included in any Change of Zone ordinance". So, it's very clear as to the intention.
KERN: If I may add to that. Um' to me that is almost more of a Council directive
because you guys as Council as a former Councilmember have that authority to do that. And so
when a rezoning is approved or not approved like that's your guys found decision. So, to me
that's limiting the Council's ability not so much limiting the Director's ability if its, obviously, it
has an impact on it for sure, but there's no latitude left at Council at that time would be my read
of that.
INABA: With that I still don't think that we should be including language that grants the
authority again, the time is the time. So, if the Department says 10 years and you folks forward a
favorable recommendation to us for 10 years, it's 10 years and I don't think at the last stage of
the game a Councilmember should say oh no, but let's put language in that says the Director can
give another 10 years. Then, you folks didn't have the opportunity to vet that language and of
course, we can do things at the last stage of the game of course but, that runs contrary again to
the intention. So, I do understand what Director Kern is saying though, but I don't want even the
Council to be putting in language like that at the end.
LIN: So, I think based on what I've heard from our fellow Commissioners and Director
Kern. The understanding of this Planning Commission is, we agree with what you have to say
regarding that language and I think maybe having it hashed out a little bit more at the Council
level to make sure that your Corporation Counsel understands that it's not limiting or your power
for that specific section.
INABA: And I will add that I didn't have the opportunity to send language to you folks
prior to today and we don't do like that right. It just goes through and the language that was in
the Bill is what is in the Bill before, and it will remain the same. I'll have the same conversation
with the Leeward Planning Commission, but I just want to make sure that when it comes back to
the Council to make a decision on Bill 194, were not stuck up on the idea that you folks passed it
with the current language and knowing the intention but didn't correct the language. You put us
in kind of a funky place and of course everyone could look back at the record, which is provided
to us when it comes back, but yeah. Just food for thought.
LIN: So, any other discussion? Okay, if not, staff roll call vote.
ANDREWS: So, at this time the motion is a favorable recommendation to County Council with
the Director's recommendation.
KEKAI: Yep.
ANDREWS: Okay, Commissioner Aguinaldo?
AGUINALDO: Aye.
ANDREWS: Commissioner Daniele?
14
EXHIBIT B
DANIELE: Aye.
ANDREWS: Commissioner Balog?
BALOG: Aye.
ANDREWS: Chair Lin?
LIN: Aye.
ANDREWS: The motion passes four votes aye, three votes excused.
LIN: Okay, thank you Councilmember Inaba.
INABA: Chair and Commissioners thank you so much for service to our County and happy
your folks are pau early today. Mahalo.
LIN: Thank you.
The item ended at 10:36 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Melissa Dacayanan-Salvador, Secretary
Windward Planning Commission
15
EXHIBIT B