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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-06-20 Planning Commission Minutes PLANNING COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAII MINUTES JUNE 20, 2008 The Planning Commission met in regular session at 10:05 a.m. at the King Kamehameha's Kona nd Beach Hotel, 75-5660 Palani Road, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, with 2 Vice Chairman Alvin Rho presiding. PRESENT: Lani Bowman ABSENT & EXCUSED: C. Kimo Alameda Takashi Domingo Andrew Iwashita Shelly Ogata Rene’ Siracusa Alvin Rho Rodney Watanabe Rell Woodward Ivan Torigoe, Deputy Corporation Counsel Christopher Yuen, Planning Director Norman Hayashi, Planning Program Manager Phyllis Fujimoto, Staff Planner Jeff Darrow, Staff Planner Maija Cottle, Staff Planner neCdo`qsldmsneOtakhbVnqjr'eqnl009//`-l- Kiran Emler, Representative `mckdes`s294/o-l-(  The Chair introduced the Commissioners and staff. USE 08-000012 The Commission took this item up at 10:05 a.m. with CONGREGATION OF approximately 70 people from the public in attendance. JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES WAIKOLOA, SOUTH KOHALA APPLICANT: CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES (USE 08-000012) Use Permit to allow the establishment of a church and related improvements on approximately 1.706 acres of land within the Single-Family Residential 10,000-square foot (RS-10) district. The property is located on the east side of Paniolo Avenue, approximately 130 feet south of the Paniolo Avenue – Hooko Street intersection, Waikoloa Village Subdivision, Waikoloa, South Kohala, Hawaii, TMK: 6-8-18:36. Mr. Hayashi oriented the Commission and public regarding the subject and surrounding properties on the location map and site plan, summarized the request, and noted that the Planning Director recommended approval of the application with conditions. The applicant’s representatives, Greg Mooers, Newton Chung and Roy Figueiroa, were in attendance. Mr. Mooers reiterated the applicant’s request that the access to the property be from Paniolo Avenue rather than Lahilahi Street, and added that based on discussions he had with the 1 Department of Public Works, they seem to agree that Paniolo Avenue would be a preferred access. He also mentioned that the applicant believes the proposed use is appropriate considering the fact that there have been Use Permits for similar uses in the immediate area. In response to Commissioner Bowman’s inquiry, he said that the frontage on Paniolo Avenue where the buildings would be situated is relatively flat, and that there is a significant drop toward Lahilahi Street, which would be problematic if the access were to be from Lahilahi Street. Director Yuen confirmed that the proposed conditions are worded in such a way that access from Paniolo Avenue is permitted as long as the Department of Public Works approves it. There was no one from the public wishing to testify on this agenda item. It was moved by Commissioner Domingo and seconded by Commissioner Bowman that the application be approved based on the Planning Director’s recommendation and proposed conditions. A roll call vote was taken and motion carried with five ayes (Domingo, Bowman, Ogata, Woodward and Rho) and four absent and excused (Alameda, Iwashita, Siracusa and Watanabe). SPP 08-000051 The Commission took this item up at 10:20 a.m. with DR. JOSEPH ALBAN four people from the public in attendance. AND DEEPA ALBAN KAINALIU, SOUTH KONA APPLICANTS: DR. JOSEPH ALBAN AND DEEPA ALBAN (SPP 08-000051) Special Permit to allow the establishment of educational agricultural tours and an accessory retail gift shop/café within a portion of an existing coffee processing facility on two acres of a 10-acre parcel of land situated within the State Land Use Agricultural District. The project site is located between the 113 and 114-mile markers makai of the Mamalahoa Highway, and west of the Kona Lanakila Church, Kainaliu, North Kona, Hawaii, TMK: 7-9-7:72. Mr. Darrow oriented the Commission and public regarding the subject and surrounding properties on the location map and site plan, summarized the request, and noted that the Planning Director recommended approval of the application with conditions. The applicants, Joseph Alban and Deepa Alban, and their attorney, Steven Lim, were in attendance. Mr. Lim stated that the applicants agree with the Planning Department’s proposed conditions for approval. Ms. Alban spoke about their patented trellis method to grow coffee. In response to Commissioner Domingo’s inquiry, she expounded on the advantages of the method, mentioning more even ripening of the coffee cherries, additional support to the coffee trees, easier picking, and more coffee bean production per area. Commissioner Bowman asked about the Hawaiian themed gifts that are to be sold at their gift shop; Ms. Alban said that they try to support local artists and farmers, and especially hope to give the opportunity to kupunas to mingle with visitors and share their talents and crafts. Commissioner Domingo expressed his concern in general as more farmers are considering this ag-tourism concept, and said that he would like to see some method established by the Planning Department to ensure that certain criteria, such as traffic, water availability, noise and other 2 impacts on surrounding neighbors, are met. Director Yuen said that currently the only way to legitimize ag-tourism operations is to go through the Special Permit process, or to have a County ordinance that specifies how one can do it; he mentioned that a bill to allow some smaller scale ag-tourism operations to be approved administratively was introduced to the County Council, but received some opposition from Council members who were against these kinds of operations and from farmers who thought it was too strict. He added that the Department is trying to come up with an alternative bill, and mentioned that the real issue is where to draw the line between administrative approval and the Special Permit process. In response to Chair Rho’s inquiries, Ms. Alban confirmed that all the facilities indicated on the Coffee Processing Facility floor plan (Exhibit 6 of the application), including the “Proposed Retail Gift Shop,” are existing, that there are no signs that must be removed (ref. Planning Department Exhibit 2), and that neither buses nor 40-foot containers that come to the farm daily have had trouble making the turn at the Mamalahoa Highway intersection (ref. Planning Department Exhibit 2). In response to Chair Rho’s inquiry about building permits cited by the Department of Public Works (Planning Department Exhibit 2), Mr. Lim said that Permit Nos. B2007-0769K and B2007-0260K are pending final action by the Department of Public Works, and B2005-1800K is completed, and that the applicants submitted a letter to that effect to the Planning Director on th June 16. Chair Rho noted that the hours of operation specified in the proposed condition differ from those in the application; Mr. Lim stated that the applicants are accepting the hours of operation from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily, as recommended in the condition. In response to Commissioner Bowman’s inquiry about their café service, Ms. Alban said that they are hoping to legally serve sandwiches with vegetables and fruit from their own gardens, as they frequently receive requests for lunch from visitors. There was no one from the public wishing to testify on this agenda item. It was moved by Commissioner Woodward and seconded by Commissioner Domingo that the application be approved based on the Planning Director’s recommendation and proposed conditions. A roll call vote was taken and motion carried with five ayes (Woodward, Domingo, Bowman, Ogata and Rho) and four absent and excused (Alameda, Iwashita, Siracusa and Watanabe). RECESSED The Chair called a recess at 10:53 a.m. RECONVENED The meeting reconvened at 11:10 a.m. SMA 08-000027 The Commission took this item up at 11:10 a.m. with no one from E. COMMERCE the public in attendance. ENTERPRISES CORPORATION PAHOA, NORTH KOHALA 3 APPLICANT: E. COMMERCE ENTERPRISES CORPORATION (SMA 08-000027) Special Management Area Use Permit to allow the construction of an approximately 2,000 lineal feet pedestrian path and landscaping. The properties involved are a part of the Pahoa Beach Estates Subdivision located along the western banks of Waipiele Gulch, Pahoa, North Kohala, Hawaii, TMK: 5-5-8:66 and 67. Mr. Darrow stated that the applicant has requested a continuance of this hearing until the August nd 22 West Hawaii meeting by the letter dated May 22, 2008, due to their inability to attend. The applicant’s representative, Steven Lim, was in attendance. In response to his request, the Chair confirmed with Mr. Darrow that the Department has not received any petitions for standing in a contested case hearing, and that since this is the first hearing, no such petitions can be accepted past this point. There was no one from the public wishing to testify on this agenda item. It was moved by Commissioner Domingo and seconded by Commissioner Woodward that the nd Commission continue this matter to the August 22 West Hawaii meeting. A roll call vote was taken and motion carried with five ayes (Domingo, Woodward, Bowman, Ogata and Rho) and four absent and excused (Alameda, Iwashita, Siracusa and Watanabe). RECESSED The Chair called a recess at 11:14 a.m., as the next item was scheduled for 1:30 p.m. RECONVENED The meeting reconvened at 1:35 p.m. REZ 07-000075/ The Commission took this item up at 1:35 p.m. with approximately SMA 07-000024 14 people from the public in attendance. KONA HEIGHTS, LLC KAPALAALAEA, NORTH KONA APPLICANT: KONA HEIGHTS, LLC (REZ 07-000075/SMA 07-000024) a.Change of Zone for 11.054 acres of land from an Agricultural 5-acre (A-5a) to a Single- Family Residential 7,500-square foot (RS-7.5) district. b.Special Management Area Use Permit to allow the development of a 65-lot single-family residential subdivision and related improvements. The property is located at the south end of Naniloa Street and adjacent to the White Sands Beach Estates and Keauhou View Estates Subdivisions, Kapalaalaea, North Kona, Hawaii, TMK: 7-7-8:121. (SEE EXHIBIT A) RECESSED The Chair called a recess at 3:50 p.m., as the next item was scheduled for 6:00 p.m. RECONVENED The meeting reconvened at 6:10 p.m. 4 KONA COMMUNITY The Commission took this item up at 6:10 p.m. with approximately DEVELOPMENT PLAN 60 people from the public in attendance. KONA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN Review of the draft Kona Community Development Plan (CDP) submitted by the Kona CDP Steering Committee and its Consultant, Wilson Okamoto Corporation. (SEE EXHIBIT B) ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the Chair declared the meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Noriko Sauer West Hawaii Secretary A T T E S T: nd Alvin Rho, 2 Vice Chairman Planning Commission 5