HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-03-20 Planning Commission Minutes
PLANNING COMMISSION
COUNTY OF HAWAIÒI
MINUTES
MARCH 20, 2009
The Planning Commission met in regular session at 1:38 p.m. in the Waikoloa Beach Marriott
Hotel, AliÒi III Room, 69-275 Waikoloa Drive, Waikoloa, HawaiÒi, with Vice Chair Rell
Woodward presiding.
PRESENT: Rell Woodward ABSENT & EXCUSED: Andrew Iwashita
Lani Bowman
Takashi Domingo
Frederic Housel
Shelly Ogata
Rodney Watanabe
Brandon Gonzalez, Deputy Corporation Counsel
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Norman Hayashi, Planning Program Manager
Jeff Darrow, Staff Planner
Maija Cottle, Staff Planner
Kiren Emler, Engineering Div., Department of Public Works (left at 2:25 p.m.)
The Vice Chair introduced the Commissioners and staff to members of the public, and explained
the hearing procedures. He mentioned that this is the last meeting of the current Planning
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Commission since as of April 1 the County will have two Planning Commissions (Windward
and Leeward) according to a recently passed ordinance.
The Vice Chair also stated that Chair Watanabe is recusing himself on Agenda Item No. 1 due to
a conflict of interest, and that it has been agreed that the Vice Chair shall preside over the entire
meeting.
SPP 623 The Commission took this item up at 1:43 p.m. with six p
THE SALVATION from the public in attendance.
ARMYÎ KONA CORPS
RD
KEOPU 3,
NORTH KONA
APPLICANT: THE SALVATION ARMY – KONA CORPS (SPP 623)
Amendment to Special Permit No. 623 by replacing a proposed gymn
Also requested is the deletion of condition nos. 5 and 6 relating to plan approval and construction
deadlines for phase II. The property is the site of the existing Salvation Army complex situated
between Queen KaÒahumanu Highway (Highway 19) and Kalani Street, adjacent to and
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northwest of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints complex, Kailua-Kona, Keopu 3,
North Kona, HawaiÒi, TMK: 7-5-3: portion of 25.
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Ms. Cottle oriented the Commission and public regarding the subject and surrounding properties
on the location map, site plan and aerial photo, and summarized the request noting that the
proposed Thrift Store would replace the originally proposed gymnasium for that location and
also an existing Thrift Store in the Kona Industrial Subdivision. She stated that the Planning
Department recommends approval of the amendment request with conditions.
The applicantÓs representative, Sidney Fuke, was present. Mr. Fuke raised a question whether it
is standard to require applicants to come back before the Planning Commission with an initial
time extension request. He addressed a concern of a neighboring property owner about unkempt
donated items on property, saying that the items would be set aside and the applicant would do
daily removal of them. He mentioned that the amended plan is archaeologically and culturally
more sensitive in that it recognizes an existing burial site and leaves it untouched, while the
original plan had the gymnasium proposed at the site. He also mentioned that although they
have to get approval from the State Department of Transportation, the applicant would like to
include an emergency exit out only to Queen KaÒahumanu Highway in their final design phase.
There was no one from the public wishing to testify on this agen
In response to Mr. FukeÓs earlier question, Mr. Hayashi stated that if the Commission so desires,
the Department has no objections to revising Condition No. 11, so that an initial extension of
time for the performance of Condition No. 3 with respect to construction of the Thrift Store may
be granted administratively by the Planning Director, since the Thrift Store is a new request. For
further clarification he referred the Commissioners to Condition No. 11 of Agenda Item No. 4,
which wording is basically what the Department would recommend as new Condition No. 11 of
this permit.
Commissioner Bowman expressed her concern about the revision as precedent setting. Mr. Fuke
at this time mentioned that it would accommodate the applicantÓs financial concern, if the
wording in Condition No. 3 could be amended from Ðshall be completedÑ to Ðshall commence.Ñ
It was moved by Commissioner Domingo and seconded by Commissioner Ogata that the
application be approved with revised Condition No. 11 as presented by staff. Commissioner
Bowman proposed an amendment to the motion to keep the initially recommended Conditions,
except that Ðshall be completedÑ in Condition No. 3 be replaced with Ðshall begin.Ñ The
amendment failed with no second. A roll call vote was taken and motion carried with five ayes
(Domingo, Ogata, Bowman, Housel, and Woodward) and one absent and excused (Iwashita).
Commissioner Watanabe recused himself due to a conflict of interest.
REZ 875 & SPP 1010 The Commission took up the following two item
GRACE COMMUNITY at 2:05 p.m. with seven people from the public in attendance.
CHURCH
ND
HONOKHAU 2,
NORTH KONA
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APPLICANT: GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH (REZ 875)
Amendment to Condition C (water commitment payment) and Condition D (final subdivision
approval) of Change of Zone Ordinance 98-08, which rezoned approximately 5.055 acres of land
from Agricultural Î 5 acres (A-5a) to the Residential and Agricultural - .5 acre (RA-.5a) district.
The property is located on the east side of Palani Road adjacent to and north of the Kona
Christian Academy, Honokhau 2nd, North Kona, HawaiÒi, TMK: 7-4-006:038.
APPLICANT: GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH (SPP 1010)
Amendment to Condition No. 2 (water commitment payment) and Condition No. 3 (complete
construction) of Special Permit 1010, which allowed the establishment of a church and related
facilities on approximately 3 acres of land. The property is located on the east side of Palani
Road adjacent to and north of the Kona Christian Academy, Honokhau 2nd, North Kona,
HawaiÒi, TMK: 7-4-006: portion of 038.
(SEE EXHIBIT A)
SPP 09-74 The Commission took this item up at 2:37 p.m. with five people
COUNTY OF HAWAIÒI from the public in attendance.
DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC WORKS
KAUPULEHU-KAU,
NORTH KONA
APPLICANT: COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
(SPP 09-74)
Special Permit to allow the establishment of a fire station and related uses on approximately 2.80
acres of land within the State Land Use Agricultural District. The project site is located along
the east side of Mmalahoa Highway (Highway 190), immediately north of the Highway 190 Î
Makalei Drive junction, Kaupulehu-Kau, North Kona, HawaiÒi, TMK: 7-2-007: portion 001.
Ms. Cottle oriented the Commission and public regarding the subject and surrounding properties
on the location map, site plan and aerial photo, and summarized the request, and noted that the
Planning Department recommends approval of the application with conditions.
The applicantÓs representative, David Yamamoto, was present to answer questions, and indicated
that the recommended conditions are acceptable to the applicant.
Joel Gimpel testified on behalf of the Kona Traffic Safety Committee. Mr. Gimpel said that
while they appreciate the proposed fire station in the area, they recommend that careful study be
made to assure that the traffic on Mmalahoa Highway has adequate warning when emergency
vehicles exit the fire station driveway. He further suggested that consideration be given to
reducing the southbound speed limit to 45 mph at least a quarter mile earlier than the point where
it already is reduced to 50 mph, so as to afford motorists sufficient time to stop in response to the
flashing warning lights; he mentioned that the northbound speed limit toward that area is 45
mph. He responded to Commissioner WatanabeÓs comment, saying that even if Mmalahoa
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Highway falls under the StateÓs jurisdiction, the County could certainly draw attention to the fact
that that needs to be looked at because of this new use.
It was moved by Commissioner Watanabe and seconded by Commissioner Ogata that the
application be approved subject to all the conditions as specified by the Planning Department. A
roll call vote was taken and motion carried with six ayes (Watanabe, Ogata, Bowman, Domingo,
Housel and Woodward) and one absent and excused (Iwashita).
SPP 09-75 The Commission took this item up at 2:48 p.m. with six people
KAHUA RANCH from the public in attendance.
LIMITED
KAHUANUI,
NORTH KOHALA
APPLICANT: KAHUA RANCH LIMITED (SPP 09-75)
Special Permit to establish the retail sales, service and training of All Terrain Vehicles (ATVÓs),
Utility Vehicles (UTVÓs), and other agriculturally useful vehicles on 1.269 acres of land in the
State Land Use Agricultural District. The project site is within the existing Kahua Ranch
operational headquarters area, approximately ½ mile east from the Kohala Mountain Road
(Highway 250) between the 11.5 and 12 mile markers, Kahuanui, North Kohala, HawaiÒi, TMK:
5-9-002:Portions of 2 & 3.
(SEE EXHIBIT B)
USE 08-14 The Commission took this item up at 3:03 p.m. with nine people
T-MOBILE WEST from the public in attendance.
CORPORATION
KURTISTOWN,
PUNA
APPLICANT: T-MOBILE WEST CORPORATION (USE 08-14)
Action on an application for a Use Permit to allow the construct
telecommunication tower and associated equipment on approximately 900 square feet of land
situated within the Single-Family Residential 20,000 square feet (RS-20) zoned district. The
property is the site of the Kurtistown Assembly of God Church, which is located on the mauka
(northeast) side of Highway 11 directly across the Highway 11- Kuauli Road Junction,
Kurtistown, Puna, HawaiÒi, TMK: 1-7-6: portion of 31.
(SEE EXHIBIT C)
WORKSHOP FOR The Commission took up this item up at 3:20 p.m. with three
PLANNING people from the public in attendance.
COMMISSIONERS
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Status and discussion on the new Leeward and Windward Planning Commissions.
Director Leithead Todd reported that although a number of names have been submitted to the
Mayor for consideration, as it stands, the new Leeward Planning Commission has only three
members and cannot hold a meeting, while the new Windward Planning Commission has four
members, which is the bare quorum. She added that one of the difficulties is that the ordinance
requires the Commissions to have one member, but no more than two, from each judicial district,
and most of the applicants happen to live in the same district.
Update of Planning Department activities.
No report was made.
MINUTES The Commission took up the following minutes at this time,
3:25 p.m., with three people from the public in attendance.
February 19, 2009 Î It was moved by Commissioner Watanabe and seconded by Commissioner
Domingo that the minutes be approved as circulated. Motion was unanimously carried by a
voice vote of all Commissioners in attendance.
ADMINISTRATIVE The Commission took up the following at this time, 3:26 p.m.,
MATTERS with three people from the public in attendance.
Status of appeals filed on Planning Commission decisions - Corporation Counsel Î Mr. Gonzalez
had nothing to report to the Commission.
ANNOUNCEMENTS Mr. Hayashi announced that there are no meetings scheduled in
April for either the Windward Planning Commission or the Leeward Planning Commission.
ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the Vice Chair declared the
meeting adjourned at 3:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Noriko Sauer, West HawaiÒi Secretary
A T T E S T:
Rell Woodward, Vice Chair
Planning Commission
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