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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-12-09 Leeward Planning Commission Minutes LEEWARD PLANNING COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAIÒI MINUTES DECEMBER 9, 2009 The Leeward Planning Commission met in regular session at 9:42 a.m. in the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Hotel, AliÒi III Room, 69-275 Waikoloa Drive, Waikoloa, HawaiÒi, with Chairman Rodney Watanabe presiding. PRESENT: Rodney Watanabe Brandi Beaudet Lani Bowman Fdq`kchmdFheehm Frederic Housel Wayne Iokepa Aq`mcnmFnmy`kdy , Deputy Corporation Counsel BJ Leithead Todd, Planning Director L`qf`qdsL`rtm`f`+CdotsxOk`mmhmfChqdbsnq Norman Hayashi, Planning Program Manager Phyllis Fujimoto, Staff Planner Jeff Darrow, Staff Planner Maija Cottle, Staff Planner JhDlkdq+DmfhmddqhmfChuhrhnm+Cdo`qsldmsneOtakhbVnqjr The Chair introduced the Commissioners and staff to members of the public. The Commission took up the following item at 9:42 a.m. with approximately 13 people from the public in attendance. APPLICANTS: STEVEN & LORETTA MILNER (REZ 09-106) Change of Zone from a Single-Family Residential-15,000 square feet (RS-15) to a Village Commercial-10,000 square feet (CV-10) district for approximately 1.16 acres of land. The property is located on the west side of Hw Road, approximately 420 feet south of the Akoni Pule Highway Î Hw Road intersection, KaÒauhuhu, North Kohala, HawaiÒi, TMK: 5-5-1 (SEE EXHIBIT A) The Commission took up the following item at 10:15 a.m. with approximately ten people from the public in attendance. APPLICANT: OFFICE DES POSTES ET TÉLÉCOMMUNICATIONS DE POLYNÉSIE FRANÇAISE (SSV 09-4) Shoreline Setback Variance to allow the installation of an inter-island subsea fiber optic cable and related improvements within the 40-foot shoreline setback area. The project site is at 1 Samuel M. Spencer Park and is located at the end of Spencer Beach Road, Kawaihae 2nd, South Kohala, HawaiÒi, TMK: 6-2-2: portion of 8. Ms. Cottle oriented the Commission and public of the subject and surrounding properties on the location map and aerial photographs, summarized the request, and noted that the Planning Director recommends approval of the application with conditions. She added that the applicant has already secured a permit from the Department of Land and Natural Resources for the work makai of the shoreline, and that this application deals only with the shoreline setback area where most of the trenching and backfilling work would occur. The applicantÓs representative, Maui Sanford, and Denise Toombs with Environment Resources Management were in attendance. Ms. Toombs stated that they have reviewed the Planning DirectorÓs recommendations, and that they would continue to work with the Department of Parks and Recreation on coordinating the work throughout the process. In response to Commissioner BowmanÓs question, Ms. Toombs said that there are several existing cables crossing the tide pool area but, since there isnÓt a conduit that could have been used for an additional cable, they would rather not disturb the tide pool area, which is already congested; the proposed landing area is sandy and the cable can be buried. Commissioner Giffin asked about the significance of the proposed connection between HawaiÒi and Tahiti, and Mr. Sanford responded that they cannot move forward with a satellite to meet the technological demand due to its high cost, and the proposed connection to HawaiÒi made most sense among other options considered, adding that they partner with Pacific LightNet who would host their equipment and monitor the system for them. In response to Director Leithead ToddÓs inquiry, Mr. Sanford said that the applicant is a public-owned company whose obligations include serving all the French Polynesia islands with decent communication means. He also answered Commissioner House the project started about two weeks ago on Bora Bora Island and the target is to reach the subject site the end of February, and that the actual construction activities on the beach including restoration will be for a period of two days. There was no one from the public wishing to testify in regard to this application. It was moved by Commissioner Housel and seconded by Commissioner Giffin that the request be approved with conditions as recommended by the Planning Department. Ms. Cottle at this time requested that Condition 8 be deleted since it is a standard condition regarding a time extension, which doesnÓt apply in this case because none of the conditions have a performance deadline. Both Commissioners Housel and Giffin agreed to the deletion and the motion was revised accordingly. A roll call vote was taken and motion carried with six ayes (Housel, Giffin, Beaudet, Bowman, Iokepa and Watanabe). The Commission took up the following item at 10:35 a.m. with five people from the public in attendance. APPLICANT: CHARLES G. BOCKUS (REZ 09-105) Change of Zone from Agricultural 5-acre (A-5a) to a Family Agricultural 2-acre (FA-2a) district for approximately 5.275 acres of land. The property is located at the end of Nohealani Street, 2 approximately 600 feet east (mauka) of the Walua Road-Nohealani Street intersection, nd Kapalaalaea 2, North Kona, HawaiÒi, TMK: 7-7-7: 47. (SEE EXHIBIT B) RECESSED The Chair called a short recess at 11:20 a.m. RECONVENED The meeting reconvened at 11:25 a.m. The Commission took up the following item at 11:25 a.m. with one person from the public in attendance. APPLICANT: RT’S SERVICE, LLC (SPP 1247) Amendment to Condition No. 2 (life of permit) of Special Permit establishment of an office and storage uses for investigative/collection services, a towing service, and short term parking for repossessed or disabled vehicles on approximately 14,273 square feet of land in the State Land Use Agricultural district. The property is located along the west side of Kauakea Road, approximately 400 feet north of the Kauakea Road amalahoa Highway (Highway 19) intersection, and abutting the Nani Waimea Subdivision, PuÒukapu Homesteads, South Kohala, HawaiÒi, TMK: 6-4-17: Portion of 64. Mr. Darrow oriented the Commission and public of the subject and surrounding properties on the location map and site plan, summarized the request, and noted that the Planning Director recommends that a five-year time extension be granted rather than the ten-year time extension requested by the applicant. The applicant, David McCollough, and his representative, Greg Mooers, were in attendance. Mr. Mooers stated that the applicant has no objections to the Planning DirectorÓs recommendations, and said that the reason for the request is because the applicant has made substantial improvements on the property to accommodate the current use, and wishes to avoid the need to come back every five years to re-apply for a permit. He also mentioned that although the use is a non-agricultural use on Agricultural land, the property is unsuitable for agriculture since it was a site of a diesel spill; the property was permitted for trucking business in the past. In response to Commissioner HouselÓs questions, Mr. Mooers said that there are eleven employees, including the applicant who resides on site, and that Kauakea Road has been re- paved as required by the previous permit and does meet County standards. Also in response to Commissioner HouselÓs inquiries, Mr. McCollough said that once his two tow trucks leave the property in the morning, they donÓt return until the afternoon, and that his operations include temporary storage of towed vehicles that are deemed a total loss by insurance companies, but do not provide repair work. There was no one from the public wishing to testify in regard to this application. It was moved by Commissioner Giffin and seconded by Commissioner Housel that the request be approved as recommended by the Planning Department, with conditions. A roll call vote was 3 taken and motion carried with six ayes (Giffin, Housel, Beaudet, Bowman, Iokepa and Watanabe). ELECTION OF OFFICERS Î The Chair nominated Fred Housel as Chairman and Geraldine Giffin as Vice Chairman. The nomination was unanimously affirmed by a voice vote. th MINUTES Î The Commission postponed approving the minutes of the November 20 meeting until the next meeting. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS Î There was nothing taken up under Administrative Matters. ANNOUNCEMENTS Î There were no announcements. ADJOURNMENT Î There being no further business, the Chair adjourned the meeting at 11:40 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Noriko Sauer, Secretary A T T E S T: Rodney Watanabe, Chair Leeward Planning Commission 4