HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-04-01 Planning Commission Minutes
PLANNING COMMISSION
COUNTY OF HAWAII
MINUTES
APRIL 1, 2005
The Planning Commission met in regular session at 9:17 a.m. in the County Building,
Councilroom - Room 201, 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo, Hawaii, with First Vice-Chairperson Hannah
Springer presiding.
PRESENT:Hannah SpringerABSENT & EXCUSED: Fred Galdones
C. Kimo Alameda
William Graham
Andrew Iwashita
JeffreyMcCall(Leftat4:58p.m.)
Allen Salavea
Rene Siracusa
Rodney Watanabe
Ivan Torigoe, Deputy Corporation Counsel
Christopher J. Yuen, Planning Director
Norman Hayashi, Planning Program Manager
Phyllis Fujimoto, Staff Planner
Jeff Darrow, Staff Planner
The Chair introducedthe Commissioners and staff to members of the public.
All those testifying were duly sworn in.
PUBLICThe Commission at this time, 9:17 a.m., took up a Public
STATEMENTStatement, with approximately 13 people from the public in attendance.
(SEE EXHIBIT A)
ORD. 92-7The Commission took this item up at 9:41 a.m. with
PULUWAI, LLCapproximately 13 people from the public in attendance.
WAIAKEA,
SOUTH HILO
APPLICANT: PULUWAI, LLC (ORDINANCE NO. 92-7)
ContinuationontherequestfortimeextensionstocomplywithConditionB(submissionof
water commitment payment), Condition C (submission ofsubdivision plans) and Condition O
(submissionofannualreport)ofOrdinanceNo.92-7,whichrezonedapproximately6.0003acres
of land from an Agricultural 3-acre (A-3a) to a Single Family Residential 10,000 square foot
(RS-10)district.ThepropertyislocatedalongthenorthsideofKawailaniStreet,adjacenttoand
east of the Life Care Center complex, Waiakea, South Hilo, Hawaii, TMK: 2-4-3: portion of 21.
(SEE EXHIBIT B)
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SPP 04-020The Commission took this item up at 10:15 a.m. with
YARROW SMITHapproximately 35 people from the public in attendance.
AND MARTHA
HOLMAN-SMITH
KAPOHO,
PUNA
APPLICANTS: YARROWSMITH AND MARTHA HOLMAN-SMITH (SPP 04-020)
Special Permit to allow the operation of a fruit stand on 4.996 acres of land situated in the State
Land Use Agricultural District. The property is located along the east side of the Kaimu-Kapoho
Road (Highway 137), approximately 600 feet south of the Highway 137 and Kapoho Beach Lots
Road intersection, Vacationland Hawaii Subdivision, Unit II, Kapoho, Puna, Hawaii, TMK: 1-4-
72:33.
Mr. Hayashi oriented the Commission and public of the subject and surrounding properties on
the location map and site plan, summarized the request and noted the Planning Director
recommended approval of the application with conditions.
In response to Commissioner Siracusas inquiry, Director Yuen said he felt the State Land Uses
January 10, 2005 letter was not really one of objection but one of requesting additional
information, which the Planning Department has provided.
In response to Commissioner Iwashitas inquiry, Mr. Hayashi indicated on the presentation map
the location of the existing and proposed access to the facility.
The applicant, Yarrow Smith, stated he did receive the Planning Departments Background
Report and Recommendation. He said that access to the facility is through an existing 28-foot
widedrivewaywhichhasadoublegate,withalargeparkingareaofftotheleftofthe
warehouse. He added that there is another gated access on the property but that it will not be
utilized.
Regarding Commissioner Siracusas concern of ensuring that the local farmers are being helped
and that there be no importing of produce from outside the State, Mr. Smith said his main
objective is to accommodate the needs of the local farmers to provide an outlet to sell their
produce in this area.
Commissioner Graham questioned whether the Director could foresee any kind of road issues
that may come up in 5 or 10 years if this becomes a highly popular place, which the Commission
should consider at this time. Mr. Yuen said it would be difficult for the Commission to limit the
number of visitors in this situation, noting the Commission has approved permits that limit the
number of visitors to a facility, but they were not drop-in situations but people who were booked
in advance to come. Mr. Yuen said the Commission could limit the square footage involved.
Mr. Smith said he would have no problem to limiting the square footage to perhaps 10,000
square feet as long as it did not limit his ability to raise produce on the property as the land is
zoned Agriculture, to which the Director said this limitation would strictly be the area occupied
by the fruitstand, sales and parking areas. Mr. Hayashi noted that the Commission could also
just limit it to the size of the existing 1800 square foot warehouse, to which Mr. Smith said he
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would have no problem as he has no intention of expanding the existing warehouse. Mr. Yuen
then suggested the following condition be added, The facility shall not exceed the size of the
existing warehouse.
Commissioner Graham said he was not attempting to constrain the applicant in any way but that
he was concerned about the long-term (5 or 10 years) situation, where in a normal review
process over a lengthy period of time requirements may be imposed if the traffic or any other
situation becomes a problem. Mr. Yuen said there were time limits imposed on some special
permits because the Commission did not want to a long-term use of intrusive operations or the
Commission just wanted to allow a use until properly zoned areas became available in the area,
but not for what Commissioner Graham is considering. Mr. Yuen added it was really up to the
Commission if they wanted to have a time limit, but then the applicant would have to ask for a
time extension when the life of the permit is to end, adding that given the scale and the area he
did not have big concerns about granting the special permit with an indefinite time frame.
CommissionerGrahamthensaidhewassatisfiedwiththeDirectorsresponse.Commissioner
Siracusa said she knew the area well and could not see this fruitstand growing into a large
supermarket use.
Julie Foster, Vacationland resident, said she wholeheartedly supported the request.
No further testimony was presented and there was no further discussion.
It was moved by Commissioner Siracusa and seconded by Commissioner Alameda that the
application be approved as recommended by the Planning Director with conditions. In response
to Mr. Yuens inquiry, Commissioner Siracusa made a friendly amendment and Commissioner
Alameda agreed with the amendment to include the following as Condition No. 4 and the
remaining conditions renumbered accordingly: The facility shall not exceed the existing 1,800
square foot warehouse. A roll call vote was taken and motion carried with eight ayes (Siracusa,
Alameda, Graham, Iwashita, McCall, Salavea, Watanabe and Springer) and one absent and
excused (Galdones).
REZ 04-028The Commission took this item up at 10:38 a.m. with
JEFFREY HUNTapproximately 38 people from the public in attendance.
PAHOA,
PUNA
APPLICANT: JEFFREY HUNT (REZ 04-028)
Application for a Change of Zone for 10,410 square feet of land from a Single- Family
Residential 10,000-square foot (RS-10) to a Village Commercial 10,000- square foot (CV-10)
district.ThepropertyislocatedonthenorthsideofPahoaVillageRoad,acrossfromthePahoa
Cash and Carry Store employees parking lot at Nanawale Homesteads, Pahoa, Puna, Hawaii,
TMK:1-5-11:10.
Mr.HayashiorientedtheCommissionandpublicofthesubjectandsurroundingpropertieson
the location map and site plan, summarized the request, and noted the Planning Director
recommendedapprovaloftheapplicationwithconditions.
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Mr. Hayashi noted that during the plan approval process the applicant would have to reconfigure
their parking layout and possibly have the parking in the rear of the building because cars
reversing onto the main government road is disallowed under the current Zoning Code.
The applicant, Jeffrey Hunt, stated he did receive the Planning Departments Background Report
and Recommendation.
In response to Commissioner Siracusa, Mr. Hunt said he has not yet figured out if he will flatten
out the frontage of the property, which has rockwork and orchids, for parking or to have parking
in the rear of the building. Commissioner Siracusa then question if the applicant had any idea
how to prevent people visiting the shop from backing out onto the road, to which Mr. Hunt said
he is considering a turn-around area so that people would not have to back out of the property.
In response to the Chairs inquiry, Mr. Yuen said that during plan approval the applicant will
havetoshowaparkinglayoutthatworkswithoutbackingintothepublicright-of-way.
Therewerenofurtherquestionsatthistime.
Therewasnoonefromthepublicwishingtotestifyonthisagendaitem
ItwasmovedbyCommissionerSiracusaandsecondedbyCommissionerAlamedatosenda
favorable recommendation to the Hawaii County Council as recommended by the Planning
Director, with conditions as stated therein. A roll call vote was taken and motion carried with
eight ayes (Siracusa, Alameda, Graham, Iwashita, McCall, Salavea, Watanabe and Springer) and
one absent and excused (Galdones).
RECESSEDThe Chair called a short recess at 10:48 a.m.
RECONVENEDThe meeting reconvened at 11:00 a.m.
SLU 04-012/REZ 04-027The Commission took this item up at 11:00 a.m. with
JOHANNA LEAIRD/approximately 38 people from the public in attendance.
KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS
PUUEO,
SOUTH HILO
APPLICANTS: JOHANNA LEAIRD/KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS
(SLU 04-012/REZ 04-027)
a.State Land Use Boundary Amendment for 1,771 square feet from the Urban to the
Agricultural District and 20,084 square feet from the Agricultural to the Urban District.
b.ChangeofZonefor1,771squarefeetfromaMultiple-FamilyResidential1,000-square
foot (RM-1) to an Agricultural 20-acre (A-20a) district and 20,084 square feet from an A-
20atoaRM-1district.
The properties involved are located along the west side of Wainaku Street, adjacent to and north
ofDodoMortuary,Puueo,SouthHilo,Hawaii,TMK:2-6-8:portionof22and2-6-9:portion
of 8.
(SEE EXHIBIT C)
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SPP 04-019The Commission took this item up at 11:48 a.m. with
VOLCANO approximately 28 people from the public in attendance.
ASSEMBLY OF GOD
VOLCANO,
PUNA
APPLICANT: VOLCANO ASSEMBLY OF GOD (SPP 04-019)
Special Permit to allow the establishment of a church and related activities on approximately 1.5
acres of land situated in the State Land Use Agricultural District. The property is located on the
corner of Wright Road and Road A, adjacent to and northwest of Volcano Cymbidium Acres
Subdivision in Volcano, Puna, Hawaii, TMK: 1-9-1: portion of 45.
(SEE EXHIBIT D)
RECESSEDThe Chair called a recess at 12:50 p.m.
RECONVENEDThe meeting reconvened at 2:30 p.m.
The Commission granted Hawaii Island Development Co., Inc.s request to take this matter up at
this time.
REZ 04-034Upon the applicants request, the Commission took this item up at
HAWAIIAN ISLAND2:30 p.m. with approximately 29 people from the public in
DEVELOPMENT attendance.
CO., INC.
MOHOKEA, MOAULA,
KOPU AND MAKAKA,
KAU
APPLICANT: HAWAIIAN ISLAND DEVELOPMENT CO., INC.
(REZ 04-034)
Change of Zone for approximately 2,048.05 acres of land from an Agricultural 20-acre (A-20a)
district to an Agricultural Project District. The nearest portion of the property is located
approximately 1 mile northwest of Pahala Village and includes the former Higashi and Middle
Moaula Camps, Mohokea, Moaula, Kopu and Makaka, Kau, Hawaii, TMK: 9-6-3:2 & 22; 9-6-
5:10,12,13,15&56;and9-6-6:5,6,7&8.
(SEEEXHIBITE)
SPP04-016TheCommissiontookthisitemupat2:43p.m.withapproximately
PATRICK AND THERESA28 people from the public in attendance.
MOYLAN
KEAAU,
PUNA
APPLICANTS:PATRICKANDTHERESAMOYLAN(SPP04-016)
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Special Permit to allow the establishment of a cabinet shop on 2 acres of land situated in the
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State Land Use Agricultural District. The property is located at the southern corner of 37 Street
and Melia Street, Orchidland Estates Subdivision, Keaau, Puna, Hawaii, TMK: 1-6-8:102.
(SEE EXHIBIT F)
SPP 04-017The Commission took this item up at 3:06 p.m. with approximately
JOHN AND JEANNE16 people from the public in attendance.
VURICH
KEAAU,
PUNA
APPLICANTS: JOHNAND JEANNE VURICH (SPP 04-017)
Special Permit to allow the establishment of a self-storage facility with perimeter chain link
fencing and landscaping on one acre of land situated in the State Land Use Agricultural District.
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The property is located at the northwestern corner of Kaloli Drive and 14 Avenue, and adjacent
to the existing JJs Self Storage facility, Hawaiian Paradise Park Subdivision, Keaau, Puna,
Hawaii, TMK: 1-5-46:120.
(SEE EXHIBIT G)
RECESSEDThe Chair called a short recess at 4:44 p.m.
RECONVENEDThe meeting reconvened at 4:58 p.m.
SMA 303The Commission took this item up at 4:58 p.m. with 7 people from
DENISE NORMANthe public in attendance.
MANOWAIOPAE,
NORTH HILO
APPLICANT: DENISE NORMAN (SMA NO. 303)
Request for revocation of Special Management Area Use Permit No. 303 granted on October 25,
1990, for the construction of four single family dwellings and related improvements on 1.6 acres
of land. The property is located along the northeast (makai) side of the Mamalahoa Highway,
between Kilau Gulch and Laupahoehoe Gulch, Manowaiopae Homesteads, North Hilo, Hawaii,
TMK: 3-6-1:13.
Mr. Hayashi summarized the applicants request to revoke SMA No. 303 as she no longer
intendstoconstructthefoursinglefamilydwellingsandrelatedimprovements.Headdedthat
the Planning Director administratively granted the applicant an SMA Use Permit to do a 3-lot
subdivision,withtheconditionthattheapplicantobtainsarevocationoftheSMAUsePermit.
Speakingonbehalfoftheapplicant,SidneyFukeexplainedthattheactionbytheCommission
would really be a perfunctory matter because if the permit is not revoked then there will be two
SMAPermitsrelatingtothesameproperty.
Therewasnoonefromthepublicwishingtotestifyonthisagendaitem.
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It was moved by Commissioner Watanabe and seconded by Commissioner Alameda that the
permit be revoked. A roll call vote was taken and motion carried with seven ayes (Watanabe,
Alameda, Graham, Iwashita, Salavea, Siracusa, and Springer) and two absent and excused
(Galdones and McCall).
USE 05-002The Commission took this item up at 5:00 p.m. with 7 people
WORLD HEALINGfrom the public in attendance.
INSTITUTE
KANAHOANUA AND
WAIKOEKOE,
HAMAKUA
APPLICANT: WORLD HEALING INSTITUTE (USE 05-002)
Use Permit to allow the establishment of a childrens convalescent facility on 31 acres of land
situated within the Resort-Hotel 25,000 square foot (V-25) zoned district. The property is the
site of the former sugar plantation managers home located along the north (makai) side of the
Honokaa-Waipio Road, Kanahoanua and Waikoekoe, Hawaii, TMK: 4-8-06: 3, 13 and 69.
(SEE EXHIBIT H)
SPP 04-018The Commission took this item up at 5:18 p.m. with 9 people from
GERALD AND WENDYthe public in attendance.
YAMADA
KEAAU,
PUNA
APPLICANTS: GERALD AND WENDY YAMADA (SPP 04-018)
Special Permit to allow the establishment of a commercial retail and office complex (gas
station/convenience store, auto repair and sales store, supermarket, financial institution, personal
services, restaurant, hardware supply, medical and dental office, other professional services such
as real estate, attorney, insurance, etc.) on approximately 3.17 acres of land situated in the State
Land Use Agricultural District. The property is located at the northwest corner of the Keaau-
PahoaRoad(Highway130)andAuliiDriveintersection,OrchidlandEstates,Keaau,Puna,
Hawaii, TMK: 1-6-9: 418 (portion), 419, 420 and 421.
(SEE EXHIBIT I)
AMEND CHAPTER 25The Commission took this item up at 5:38 p.m. with no one from
PLANNINGDIRECTORthepublicinattendance.
AGRICULTURAL
TOURISM
INITIATOR:PLANNINGDIRECTOR
Amendment to Chapter 25 (Zoning Code) of the Hawaii County Code relating to Agricultural
Tourism.Thepurposeofthedraftbillistospecificallyaddressthepermissibilityofagricultural
tourism or its impacts in the various zoning districts.
(SEE EXHIBIT J)
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MINUTESThe Commission took up the following at 5:56 p.m. with no one
from the public in attendance.
March 4, 2005 - It was moved by Commissioner Graham and secondedby Commissioner
Alameda 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 5:57 p.m. with
MATTERSno one from the public in attendance.
Status of appeals filed on Planning Commission decisions - Corporation Counsel Mr. Torigoe
said he had nothing new to report.
ANNOUNCEMENTSThe Commission took up thefollowing announcement at this time,
5:58 p.m.
Hearings Officers for Contested Cases Mr. Hayashi announced that becauseof concerns raised
by the parties, a new hearings officer is to be selected next week for the contested cases of
PARKER SCHOOL TRUST CORPORATION (USE 04-006) and PARKER SCHOOL BOARD
OF DIRECTORS (USE 05-001).
Commission Meeting Mr. Hayashi announced that the next meeting is scheduled for April 22,
2005 at 9 a.m. in the King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel.
ADJOURNMENTThere being no further business, at 6:03 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sharon M. Nomura, Secretary
A T T E S T:
Hannah Springer, First Vice-Chairman
Planning Commission
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Hawaii County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer
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