HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-11-01 Planning Commission Minutes
PLANNING COMMISSION
COUNTY OF HAWAII
MINUTES
NOVEMBER 1, 2006
The Planning Commission met in regular session at 9:05 a.m. in the County of Hawaii,
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Aupuni Center Conference Room, 101 Pauahi Street, Hilo, Hawaii, with 1 Vice-
Chairman Bill Graham presiding.
PRESENT:Bill GrahamABSENT & EXCUSED: C. Kimo Alameda
Fred Galdones Jeffrey McCall
Andrew Iwashita
Alvin Rho
Allen Salavea
Rene Siracusa (Left at 12:15 p.m.)
Rodney Watanabe
Ivan Torigoe, Deputy Corporation Counsel
Christopher Yuen, Planning Director
Norman Hayashi, Planning Program Manager
Phyllis Fujimoto, Staff Planner
JeffDarrow,StaffPlanner
TheChairintroducedtheCommissionersandstafftomembersofthepublic.
SPP06-000038TheCommissiontookthisitemupat9:07a.m.with
DONALD GRAFTapproximately 7 people from the public in attendance.
& KAY LEE
VOLCANO
CYMBIDIUM ACRES,
OLAA
APPLICANT: DONALD GRAFT & KAY LEE (SPP 06-000038)
Special Permit to allow the establishment of a 4-bedroom bed and breakfast operation
within an existing single-family dwelling on 1.138 acres of land within the State Land
UseAgriculturalDistrict.ThepropertyislocatedalongthesouthwestsideofRoadE,
approximately 200 feet from the Road E Laukapu Road intersection, Volcano
CymbidiumAcresSubdivision,Olaa,Hawaii,TMK:1-9-19:23.
Mr.DarroworientedtheCommissionandpublicofthesubjectandsurrounding
properties on the location map and site plan, summarized the request, and noted the
PlanningDirectorisrecommendingapprovaloftheapplicationwithconditions.
Theapplicantsrepresentative,LoriMikkelson,saidthePlanningDepartments
background report and recommendation were totally acceptable and understood by the
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applicants who are very excited about the project, noting she felt the project would be a
good thing both for the community and applicants.
In response to Commissioner Siracuasas inquiry, Ms. Mikkelson said she was not aware
of a community association in the Volcano Cymbidium Acres Subdivision, noting the
area is sparsely populated.
There was no one from the public wishing to testify on the application.
It was moved by Commissioner Watanabe and seconded by Commissioner Galdones that
the application be approved as recommended by the Planning Director. A roll call vote
was taken and motion carried with seven ayes (Watanabe, Galdones, Iwashita, Rho,
Salavea, Siracusa and Graham) and two absent and excused (Alameda and McCall).
REZ06-000045TheCommissiontookthisitemupat9:17a.m.with
GLENN T. NAKAMURAapproximately 8 people from the public in attendance.
WAIAKEA,
SOUTH HILO
APPLICANT: GLENN T. NAKAMURA (REZ 06-000045)
a.State Land Use Boundary Amendment from Agricultural to Urban for
2.649 acres of land.
b.Change of Zone from Agricultural 3-acre (A-3a) to Residential and
Agricultural .5-acre (RA-.5a) for 2.649 acres of land.
The property is located on the west side of Awa Street, approximately 400 feet
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north of the Mamaki Street-Awa Street intersection, Panaewa House Lots 2
Series, Waiakea, South Hilo, Hawaii, TMK: 2-2-56:23.
(SEE EXHIBIT A)
REZ 06-000047The Commission took this item up at 10:10 a.m. with
MALULANI, INC.approximately 12 people from the public in attendance.
PONAHAWAI,
SOUTH HILO
APPLICANT: MALULANI, INC. (REZ 06-000047)
Change of Zone from Agricultural 1-acre (A-1a) to Multiple-Family Residential 1,500
square feet (RM-1.5) for 1.278 acres of land. The property is located on the south side of
Ponahawai Street approximately 600 feet east of the Komohana Street Ponahawai
Street intersection, Ponahawai, South Hilo, Hawaii, TMK: 2-3-37:15.
The applicants representative, Brian Nishimura, requested the hearing be continued to
allowforadditionaltimetoreviewtheDepartmentsrecommendationbecauseofan
illness of a family member that affects the Board of Directors.
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Carol Davis, surrounding property owner, expressed her concern of runoff from the
proposed project affecting her property, noting a swampy area in the vicinity.
The Chair stated this matter is continued until the applicant informs the Planning
Department when it is ready to proceed further.
RECESSEDThe Chair called a short recess at 10:23 a.m.
RECONVENEDThe meeting reconvened at 10:33 a.m.
SPP 06-000036The Commission took this item up at 10:33 a.m. with
VERIZON WIRELESS &approximately 12 people from the public in attendance
CINGULAR WIRELESS
KEAAU,
PUNA
APPLICANT: VERIZON WIRELESS&CINGULAR WIRELESS
(SPP 06-000036)
Special Permit to allow the construction of a 120-foot monopole telecommunications
tower, two equipment shelters and chain link fence enclosure on approximately 1,983
square feet of land within the State Land Use Agricultural District. The area involved is
on the site of the Church on a Sure Foundation situated along the west side of the Keaau-
Pahoa Road (Highway 130), Orchidland Estates Subdivision, Keaau, Puna, Hawaii,
TMK: 1-6-10: portion of 114.
Mr. Darrow oriented the Commissioners and public of the subject and surrounding
properties on the location map, gave some background information, and summarized the
request, noting the Commission denied a special permit request by the applicant on
anotherparcelaftergoingthroughacontestedcasehearing.Henotedthat
correspondence received into the record were from Dave Smith, Hawaiian Paradise Park
Subdivision, Orchidland Subdivision, as well as from community members. He then
stated that the Planning Director is recommending approval of the subject application
with conditions.
For Commissioner Siracusas information, Mr. Darrow said the applicant is in the process
at this time to consolidate the parcels, and that there does not appear to be any problems
with the consolidation.
Les Young representing Verizon Wireless said as the Planning Commission denied their
previous request, both Verizon and Cingular explored other alternatives that would work
based on their coverage needs. He then addressed the following concerns brought up by
the Commissioners:
1.Tower falling onto a neighboring property: They have placed the tower
approximately 130 feet from the parcel closest to the east side of the property
owned by Mr. Lodge.
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2.Aesthetics: They have located the tower in an area surrounded by mixed uses
(agricultural and residential) rather than an area that is primarily in residential
use. They have located the tower closer to the Keaau-Pahoa Highway where
there are a considerable number of fairly tall powerlines such that the presence
of their tower would not stand out as visibly as it would be at the first site they
proposed.
3.Working with the community associations in the area: They have met with
both the Orchidland Community Association and the Hawaiian Paradise Park
Owners Association prior to the submittal of the proposal to gain their
support, noting the Orchidland Community Association did send a letter of
support and the Hawaiian Paradise Park Community Association although not
necessarily supporting the project, simply acknowledged the application and
thank the applicants for presenting their proposal to them.
4.Looking at alternative sites: They did look at a total of five sites (Vern
WoodssatOrchidlandTradeCenter,MauriceThomassonthemaukasideof
Wiki Wiki Mart, Wiki Wiki Mart itself, JJ Storages, as well as another
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property further in the Orchidland Subdivision at the corner of 39 and
Orchidland) and for a number of reasons, some of which amounted to not
being able toreach an agreement with the landlord, lack of sufficient space,
and the site not being able to provide sufficient coverage, they did not
aggressively pursue those sites. He added that it was through the Orchidland
Community Associations efforts that the Church on a Sure Foundation site
was selected.
Tommy Goya representing Cingular said they were looking at the Orchidland location as
it would substantially improve cellular communication between the Pahoa and Keaau
areas. He said after awaiting the contested case decision on the previous application,
both Mr. Young and he approached the Church on a Sure Foundation; and as the
landownersaidtheywereacquiringanadjoiningparcelduringtheirnegotiationsthey
chose the subject site since it is 10 to 15 feet higher than the one they previously
considered, noting because of the additional elevation of the lot there could possibly be a
third provider.
Mr. Young and Mr. Goya stated they have received and reviewed the Departments
recommendation and the conditions were acceptable.
Commissioner Siracusa thanked the applicants for taking the time to address the concerns
expressed by the public and Commission. She then suggested the applicants consider
painting their chain-link fence in matt black or dark green to minimize the visual
intrusion.
In response to Commissioner Galdoness inquiry, Mr. Young once all the proposed or
future sites are in place there will still be several coverage gaps since the sites contained
on their development plan are those that are budgeted only for the next year. He said
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once these sites are on air, if they receive the necessary approvals, they will then be better
able to determine other coverage gaps that may exists around the island. He said prior to
the site coming up and during the application process, propagation maps for the particular
antenna and the area that the particular antenna covers will be presented; and as far as
what it would look like if all of those future sites were developed now, he did not have
that information available.
For Commissioner Galdoness information, Mr. Young said Exhibit G for Verizon shows
an area that has been identified as a key part of the Big Island that they would like to
install a new facility and not intended to show what the coverage would be should a site
be placed there.
Mr. Goya said currently Cingular is attempting to equip all of its existing sites with back-
up generators. He said they are hoping to speed through some of the planning issues by
co-locatingonexistingsites;howeverinlookingatsomeoftheexistingsitesandthe
vegetation that has grown over the past 5 to10 years, it behooves them as representatives
of cellular providers to try and ask for increased height. He agreed with Mr. Young that
the primary consideration would be to provide necessary communication around the
island for existing customers.
Kerry Burrell, public health nurse working for Hospice, spoke in support of the
application for the safety and health of her clients, noting many times she is out in remote
areas and situations come up where she is unable to make any contact with physicians or
a pharmacy and end up driving back into Pahoa or into a coverage area to make calls,
noting it was a healthy and safety issue for her clients.
Dave Smith noted he submitted written testimony into the record.
Commissioner Galdones questioned if there were any regulations set up for planning of
cell towers so that the Commission can plan towers throughout the island to obtain the
best coverage, noting the Commissioners and public would appreciate such a plan.
Mr. Yuen said in 2001 the Planning Department, along with various tower providers, did
attempt to do an overall master planning to see if there could be some coordination of
plans to have certain areas done in advance rather than have individual applications;
hoever, it turned out to be a really difficult project, noting even if the Department
attempted to do it in-house if money were budgeted it still would be very difficult. Mr.
Goya said Cingular would be interested in discussing this matter further but noted it
would take a lot more from their end to see if they can get together with the other
providers to move some of their short-term planning forward and maybe enhance future
planning by maybe providing more cell sites.
Commissioner Galdones commended Verizon and Cingular in doing this as a joint
venture to provide the best coverage throughout the island and said he would be
supporting the application.
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Mr. Young at this time noted that because of the landowners request, the access to the
site may be changed from along the property line between the Churchs property and
Mr. Lodgess site to the original driveway for Parcel 14, noting if it is revised it will be
reflected in the building plans. Mr. Darrow said stated this change would not affect the
specific conditions in the recommendation.
For Commissioner Siracusas information, Mr. Young said they were awaiting the
Commissions decision on the matter before discussing this change on the access with
Mr. Lodge. He said if there should be a problem in the relocation, which he did not
believe would be the case, they would go back to discuss it with the church, noting in
either case the access will either be at the driveway that goes through the middle of the
property or along the property line. He added that because of Mr. Lodges concern, they
will jointly share the cost of providing a fence between their properties, noting the
existing trees on the property will remain.
It was moved by Commissioner Galdones and seconded by Commissioner Siracusa that
theapplicationbeapprovedasrecommendedbythePlanningDirector.Commissioner
Iwashita commended the applicants on working with the communities involved to get to
this point. A roll call vote was taken and motion carried with seven ayes (Galdones,
Siracusa, Iwashita, Rho, Salavea, Watanabe and Graham) and two absent and excused
(Alameda and McCall).
GENERAL PLANThe Commission took this item up at 11:05 a.m.
AMENDMENTwith five people from the public in attendance.
COUNTY COUNCIL
PROCEDURES
COUNTY COUNCIL
INITIATOR: COUNTY COUNCIL
Review and comment on a draft ordinance regarding the General Plan amendment
procedure.
(SEE EXHIBIT B)
SPP 06-000032The Commission took this item up at 1:42 p.m. with
PAT FAY &4 people from the public in attendance.
MARY ROBLEE
KEAAU,
PUNA
APPLICANT:PATFAY&MARYROBLEE(SPP06-000032)
Special Permit to allow the establishment of a 2-bedroom bed and breakfast within an
existingsinglefamilydwellinglocatedon0.5acreoflandsituatedwithintheStateLand
Use Agricultural District. The property is located along the west (mauka) side of
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Paradise Ala Kai Street, approximately 1 mile from its intersection with Paradise Drive,
Hawaiian Paradise Park Subdivision, Keaau, Puna, Hawaii. TMK: 1-5-59:28.
(SEE EXHIBIT C)
MINUTESThe Commission took this item up at 2:28 p.m.
September 7, 2006 It was moved by Commissioner Salavea and seconded by Iwashita
that the minutes be approved as circulated. Motion was unanimously carried by a voice
vote of all Commissioners in attendance.
ADMINISTRATIVE The Commission took this item up at 2:29 p.m. with
MATTERStwo people from the public in attendance.
Status of appeals filed on Planning Commission decisions - Corporation Counsel
Mr. Torigoe reported that D-Bar Ranch, LLC has appealed the Planning Commissions
denial to the Third Circuit Court on their Special Management Area Use Permit
Application (SMA 06-000009).
ANNOUNCEMENTSThe following announcements were made at this time.
Commission Meetings Mr. Hayashi announced that the next meetings were scheduled
for Dec. 1, 2006 in Hilo and Dec. 6 & 7, 2006 at the Hapuna Prince in South Kohala. He
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added that the November 17 meeting has been cancelled.
ADJOURNMENTThere being no further business, the Chair declared the
meeting adjourned at 2:32 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sharon M. Nomura, Secretary
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