HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-05-22 Planning Commission Minutes
PLANNING COMMISSION
COUNTY OF HAWAII
MINUTES
MAY 22, 2008
The Planning Commission met in regular session at 9:05 a.m. at the King Kamehameha's Kona
Beach Hotel, 75-5660 Palani Road, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, with Chairman Rodney Watanabe
presiding.
PRESENT: Lani Bowman (from 9:10 a.m. ABSENT & EXCUSED: C. Kimo Alameda
and left at 3:58 p.m.)
Takashi Domingo
Andrew Iwashita (left at 12:30 p.m.)
Shelly Ogata
Alvin Rho (left at 6:07 p.m.)
Rene’ Siracusa
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
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Kiran Emler, Representative
The Chair introduced the Commissioners and staff.
SPP 08-000052 The Commission took this item up at 9:05 a.m. with approximately
REUBEN LELAH 60 people from the public in attendance.
KALOKO,
NORTH KONA
APPLICANT: REUBEN LELAH (SPP 08-000052)
Special Permit to allow the establishment of a psychological counseling clinic and related
improvements on approximately 2 acres of land situated within the State Land Use Agricultural
District. The property is located along the west side of Huehue Street, approximately 1,600 feet
north of the Kaloko Drive – Huehue Street intersection, Kaloko Mauka Subdivision, Kaloko,
North Kona, Hawaii, TMK: 7-3-48: portion of 4.
(SEE EXHIBIT A)
RECESSED The Chair called a recess at 10:30 a.m. to afford the Commission
the opportunity to review the material of the next agenda item,
which was presented to the Commission that morning.
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RECONVENED The meeting reconvened at 11:00 a.m.
SLU 07-000018/ The Commission took this item up at 11:00 a.m. with
REZ 07-000075/ approximately 30 people from the public in attendance.
SMA 07-000024
KONA HEIGHTS, LLC
KAPALAALAEA,
NORTH KONA
APPLICANT: KONA HEIGHTS, LLC (SLU 07-000018/REZ 07-000075/SMA 07-000024)
a.State Land Use boundary amendment for 11.054 acres of land from an Agricultural to an
Urban District.
b.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.
c.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 B)
PUNA COMMUNITY The Commission took this item up at 4:13 p.m. with eight people
DEVELOPMENT PLAN from the public in attendance.
PUNA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Review of the draft Puna Community Development Plan submitted by the Puna Community
Development Plan Steering Committee and its Consultant, PlanPacific, Inc.
(SEE EXHIBIT C)
RECESSED The Chair called a short recess at 5:52 p.m.
RECONVENED The meeting reconvened at 5:56 p.m.
The Chair announced at this time that the Commission will now take up Agenda Item No. 6
regarding H.O.V.E. Road Maintenance Corporation, SPP 740, due to the fact that Commissioner
Rho must be excused about 6:00 p.m. and Commissioner Woodward will abstain, which will
result in a lack of quorum for that application. At 6:07 p.m., the Commission continued the
hearing on the Puna Community Development Plan (SEE EXHIBIT C).
SPP 740 The Commission took this item up at 5:56 p.m. with two people
H.O.V.E. ROAD from the public in attendance.
MAINTENANCE
CORPORATION
KAHUKU,
KAU
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APPLICANT: H.O.V.E. ROAD MAINTENANCE CORPORATION (SPP 740)
Amendment to Special Permit No. 740 by increasing the area for the road maintenance facility
and baseyard from 4 acres to approximately 10 acres, and adding an office building, storage
building and related uses. The property is located on the northwest side of Aloha Boulevard
between Lotus Blossom Lane and Lehua Lane in Hawaiian Ocean View Estates, Kahuku, Kau,
Hawaii, TMK: 9-2-20:41-46 and 69.
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
recommended approval of the application with conditions.
The president of H.O.V.E. Road Maintenance Corporation, Loren Heck, gave some background
information. He stated that a large portion of the proposed 6-acre expansion would be taken up
by a cinder holding area for the residents of Hawaiian Ocean View Estates, and that everything
the applicant is requesting is a result of votes by the community. He mentioned that a few
residents raised concerns including dust problem and view obstruction, and that they have
discussed and addressed those concerns.
In response to Commissioner Siracusa’s inquiry, Mr. Heck stated that he has reviewed the
Planning Department’s recommendation, and he has no problem with the proposed conditions.
There was no one from the public wishing to testify on this agenda item.
It was moved by Commissioner Siracusa and seconded by Commissioner Rho 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 (Siracusa, Rho,
Domingo, Ogata and Watanabe) and three absent and excused (Alameda, Bowman and
Iwashita). Commissioner Woodward abstained due to a conflict of interest.
SMA 379 The Commission took up the following two items simultaneously
KOHALA LLC at 6:25 p.m. with no one from the public in attendance.
PLANNING DIRECTOR
ST
KAHUA 1,
NORTH KOHALA
APPLICANT: KOHALA LLC (SMA 379)
Reconsideration on the Planning Commission’s action on an amendment to Condition 4 (time to
secure final subdivision approval) of Special Management Area Use Permit No. 379, which
allowed the development of a 50-lot single-family residential subdivision. The property
involved is located along the southwest (makai) side of Akoni Pule Highway and the Kohala
st
Ranch Subdivision, Kahua 1, North Kohala, Hawaii, TMK: 5-9-1:8.
INITIATOR: PLANNING DIRECTOR (SMA USE PERMIT NO. 379)
Reconsideration on the Planning Commission’s action on the revocation of Special Management
Area (SMA) Use Permit No. 379, which allowed the development of a 50-lot single-family
residential subdivision. The property involved, owned by Kohala LLC, is located along the
st
southwest (makai) side of Akoni Pule Highway and the Kohala Ranch Subdivision, Kahua 1,
North Kohala, Hawaii, TMK: 5-9-1:8.
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Mr. Darrow gave a brief overview, noting that neither the motion to deny the applicant’s request
nor the motion to approve the Planning Director’s initiative passed at the last meeting.
Commissioner Woodward suggested that the Commission defer action on the matter until the
County Council has taken action on rezoning of the subject property. In response to
Commissioner Woodward’s inquiry, Mr. Torigoe said that the provision of Planning
Commission Rule 9-11, F. 3. notwithstanding, the Commission could do so, if the parties were to
stipulate to deferral.
The applicant’s representative, Steven Lim, was in attendance. He stated that the applicant
would be willing to extend the final decision on the SMA Use Permit until the Commission has
taken up the County Council initiated rezoning.
Director Yuen pointed out that the delay has to be until the County Council has taken action on
its initiated RA-15a zoning, adding as a reason that if the County Council zones the property to
something other than RS-15, the SMA Use Permit would essentially be void. The Chair then
confirmed with both parties that they are willing to defer decision on the matter until such time.
In response to Commissioner Woodward’s question on whether the Commission can amend the
SMA Use Permit in the event the County Council rezones the property to RA-15a, Director Yuen
said that the Commission should revoke the SMA Use Permit and have a new application since
they would have a completely different project.
There was no one from the public wishing to testify on this agenda item.
In light of the fact that both parties agreed to deferral, the Chair, by the authority of Commission
Rule 4-5 (c), continued this matter to the first West Hawaii meeting following the County
Council’s decision on zoning and fulfillment of any notification requirements.
MINUTES The Commission took up the following minutes at this time,
6:33 p.m., with no one from the public in attendance:
April 18, 2008 – It was moved by Commissioner Siracusa and seconded by Commissioner
Domingo that the minutes be approved. Motion was unanimously carried by a voice vote of all
Commissioners in attendance.
ADMINISTRATIVE The Commission took this item up at 6:33 p.m. with no one from
MATTERS the public in attendance.
Status of appeals filed on Planning Commission decisions – Corporation Counsel – Mr. Torigoe
had nothing to report.
ANNOUNCEMENTS The following announcement was made at this time, 6:34 p.m.,
with no one from the public in attendance.
Mr. Hayashi announced that the Commission will have a site inspection in Kapoho Vacationland
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Subdivision on June 5 at 1:00 p.m. followed by a meeting in the Aupuni Center Conference
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Room at 3:30 p.m., and that there will be a regular meeting on the following day, June 6, at
9:00 a.m. in the Aupuni Center Conference Room.
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Mr. Hayashi also announced that the next Kona meeting is scheduled for June 20 at 10:00 a.m.
in the King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel, and added that the agenda includes review of the
Kona Community Development Plan starting at 6:00 p.m.
Mr. Hayashi reminded the Commissioners to notify the staff as soon as possible if they plan to
attend the Hawaii Congress of Planning Officials conference to be held in September on Maui.
ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the Chair declared the meeting
adjourned at 6:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Noriko Sauer
West Hawaii Secretary
A T T E S T:
Rodney Watanabe, Chairman
Planning Commission
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