HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-12-17 Planning Commission Minutes
PLANNING COMMISSION
COUNTY OF HAWAII
MINUTES
DECEMBER 17, 2004
The Planning Commission met in regular session at 9:05 a.m. in the County of Hawaii Aupuni
Center Conference Room, 101 Pauahi Street, Hilo, Hawaii, with First Vice-Chairman Earl
Fujikawa presiding.
PRESENT:Earl Fujikawa ABSENT & EXCUSED: Fred Galdones
C. Kimo Alameda
William Graham
Jeffrey McCall
ReneSiracusa
Francis Smith
Hannah Springer
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 introduced the Commissioners and staff to members of the public.
All those testifying were duly sworn in.
USE NO. 126The Commission took this item up at 9:02 a.m. with approximately
NANI MAU INC.four people from the public in attendance.
WAIAKEA,
SOUTH HILO
APPLICANT: NANI MAU INC. (USE NO. 126)
Request for revocation of Use Permit No. 126 which allowed the establishment of a9-hole pitch
and putt golf course on approximately 15 acres of land. The property is located adjacent to the
NaniMauGardenscomplexalongMakalikaStreet,PanaewaFarmLots,Waiakea,SouthHilo,
Hawaii, TMK: 2-2-48: portion of 13.
Mr. Hayashi oriented the Commission and public of the subject and surrounding properties on
thelocationmapandsiteplan,summarizedtherequest,andnotedthePlanningDirector
recommended approval of the application with conditions.
The applicants representatives, Kenneth Fujiyama and Chian Hsu, were in attendance.
Ms. Hsu gavesome background information and explained their request to revoke the use permit
as they have no intention to pursue the9-hole pitch and putt golf course.
There was no one from the public wishing to testify on this agenda item.
It was moved by Commissioner Springer and seconded by Commissioner Alameda that the
permit be revoked as recommended by the Planning Director. A roll call vote was taken and
motion carried with seven ayes (Springer, Alameda, Graham, McCall, Siracusa, Smith, and
Fujikawa) and one absent and excused (Galdones).
SP 73-159The Commission took this item up at 9:13 a.m. with approximately
NANI MAU INC. four people from the public in attendance.
WAIAKEA,
SOUTH HILO
APPLICANT: NANI MAU INC. (SP 73-159)
Request to delete condition no. 7 (Highway 11 Makalika Street intersection improvements) of
State Land Use Commission Docket SP 73-159 which allowedthe establishment of the Nani
Mau Gardens complex, including a commercial arboretum for public tours and the sale of
agricultural products on approximately 23 acres of land within the State Land Use Agricultural
District. The Nani Mau Gardens complex is located along the north side of Makalika Street
within the Panaewa Farm Lots Subdivision, Waiakea, South Hilo, Hawaii, TMK: 2-2-48: portion
of 13.
(SEE EXHIBIT A)
RECESSEDThe Chair called a short recess at 10:00 a.m.
RECONVENEDThe meeting reconvened at 10:05 a.m.
ORDINANCE NO. 92-7The Commission took this item up at 10:05 a.m. with
PULUWAI, LLC approximately four people from the public in attendance.
WAIAKEA,
SOUTH HILO
APPLICANT: PULUWAI, LLC (ORDINANCE NO. 92-7)
Request for time extensions to comply with Condition B (submission of water commitment
payment), Condition C (submission of subdivision plans) and Condition O (submission of annual
report) of Ordinance No. 92-7, which rezoned approximately 6.0003 acres oflandfrom an
Agricultural 3-acre (A-3a) to a Single Family Residential 10,000 square foot (RS-10) district.
The property is located along the north side of Kawailani Street, adjacent to and east of the Life
Care Center complex, Waiakea, South Hilo, Hawaii, TMK: 2-4-3: portion of 21.
The Commission took this item up at 10:11 a.m. with approximately 26 people from the public in
attendance.
Throughatelephoneconversationthismorningwiththestaff,theapplicantsrepresentative,
Hank Correia, requested that the hearing be continued to review the conditions being proposed
bythePlanningDirector.
Staffdispensedwiththebackgroundreportandrecommendationandtherewasnoonefromthe
public wishing to testify on this matter.
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It was moved by Commissioner Springer and seconded by Commissioner McCall that the
hearing be continued to the next Hilo meeting. Motion was unanimously carried by a voice vote
of all Commissioners in attendance.
SPP 04-015The Commission took this item up at 10:11 a.m. with
JERRY GARDNER/approximately 26 people from the public in attendance.
MARKLYN WILSON
KEAAU,
PUNA
APPLICANTS: JERRY GARDNER/MARKLYN WILSON (SPP 04-015)
Special Permit to allow the establishment a 3-bedroom bed and breakfast operation within an
existing single family dwelling situated on 3 acres of land within the State Land Use Agricultural
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District. The property is located along the southwest side of 39 Avenue, approximately 0.85
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mile from the 39 Avenue Orchidland Drive intersection, Orchidland Estates Subdivision,
Keaau, Puna, Hawaii, TMK: 1-6-12:121.
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 the Planning Director
recommended approval of the application with conditions.
Ms. Siracusa questioned whether the Orchidland Community Association and surrounding
property owners were notified about this application. Mr. Darrow noted the first notification to
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surrounding property owners was on October 12 and the second notification was on
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November 19. He said it does not appear the Orchidland Community Association, specifically,
was notified.
Commissioner Springer questioned if there were occupancy or room dimension limits.
Mr. Darrow responded by saying that there is a limit of 10 guests under Section 25-4-7 of the
Bed &Breakfast Ordinance. Mr. Yuen said there is a Housing Code that regulates the size of the
bedrooms, noting the Planning Department relies on applicants to comply with County
requirements.
CommissionerSpringer,notingthedifficultyofenforcement,saidthatalthoughthereareCounty
requirements, there is no requirement that there should be x number of people in one room,
whereinconceivablytherecouldbetenpeopleinoneroom.ShesaidinthepasttheDirectordid
say that rather on a case-by-case basis he would like to approach concerns of this nature as a
policymatterandquestionedwhetherthePlanningDepartmentwilldevelopaguidelineofhow
many people would be allowed in one room. Mr.Yuen said that two people to a standard sized
bedroomwasareasonableguideline,butaddedhewouldnothaveanyobjectionstohavinga
4-person couple- or family-type shared room if guests are trying to save on expenses.
Commissioner Springer noted that what is proposed today is a three-bedroom facility with a
maximum of ten guests, and asked the Director for guidance. Mr. Yuen said he would not have a
problem if the maximum number of guest would be limited to six people, but noted the
Commission should seek the applicants comments.
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In response to Commission Siracusas inquiries, Mr. Yuen said that cesspools come under the
jurisdiction of the State Department of Health and there is a 5-bedroom limit on cesspools or
individual wastewater systems, unless another one is installed. He noted, however, that there is
no limit on the number of people.
Commissioner Graham commented he felt dealing with the number of people should be dealt
with as a policy item in the future, but he saw no reason to impose a limitation of less than ten
guests on the application today.
The applicants, Jerry Gardner and Marklyn Wilson, were in attendance.
Ms. Wilson commented that they did not formally notify the community association of their
application; however, they know almost everyone in the association so she did not see
notification as a problem. She then requested they be allowed ten guests inasmuch as they plan
toadvertisetheirB&Baswheel-chairaccessibleandchildfriendly,notingnormallytherewould
be two people in each room.
Mr. Gardner informed Commissioner Siracusa said that they do not plan to clear any more of the
forest as they have a large grassed section behind the existing home to use for the orchard.
There was no one from the public wishing to testify on the agenda item.
In response to Mr. Yuens inquiry, Ms. Wilson said the upstairs rooms are approximately 14 by
16 and the downstairs room is 15 by 25 feet.
It was moved by Commissioner Springer and seconded by Commissioner Graham that the
application be approved based on and incorporating the Planning Directors recommendation, as
well as discussion held today. A roll call vote was taken and motion carried with seven ayes
(Springer, Graham, Alameda, McCall, Siracusa, Smith, and Fujikawa) and one absent and
excused (Galdones).
SPP 04-014The Commission took this item up at 10:27 a.m. with
CANDEE CORWIN/approximately 28 people from the public in attendance.
TERESA REYNOSO
KAMAILI,
PUNA
APPLICANTS: CANDEE CORWIN/TERESA REYNOSO (SPP 04-014)
Special Permit to allow the establishment of a 2-bedroom bed and breakfast establishmentand a
massage wellness operation within an existing single family dwelling situated on 5.06 acres of
landwithintheStateLandUseAgriculturalDistrict.Thepropertyislocatedalongthenorthside
of Opihikao Road, Kaueleau Farm Lots Subdivision, Kamaili Homesteads, Puna, Hawaii, TMK:
1-3-10:1.
Mr.DarrownotedthattheapplicantsintheirNovember24,2004letterrequestedthehearingbe
continued to the next Hilo meeting as they were off-island today.
There was no one from the public wishing to testify on this matter.
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Commissioner Siracusa noted if the hearing is continued the State Department of Health should
be allowed time to comment on the application; and, also, the 15 property owners within the
community, even though they are outside the 300-foot perimeter boundary, should be informed
of the continued hearing. Mr. Darrow noted the applicants will submit a response to the
Department of Healths comments prior to the next meeting. Upon Commissioner Grahams
suggestion, Mr. Darrow said he will inform the applicant that the Commission has suggested he
notify the 15 property owners within the community of the continued hearing.
It was moved by Commissioner Springer and seconded by Commissioner Alameda that the
hearing be continued to the next Hilo meeting. Motion was unanimously carried by a voice vote
of all Commissioners in attendance.
USE 04-005The Commission took this item up at 10:33 a.m. with
STEPHENANDapproximately28peoplefromthepublicinattendance.
RAE WELSH
ALAE,
SOUTH HILO
APPLICANTS: STEPHEN AND RAE WELSH (USE 04-005)
Use Permit to allow the establishment of a 1-bedroom bed and breakfast operation within an
existing single family dwelling situated within the Single Family Residential 15,000 square
foot (RS-15) zoning district. The property is at the corner of Nahala Street, Makakai Place and
Kahoa Street, Alae, South Hilo, Hawaii, TMK: 2-6-25:5.
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 the Planning Director
recommended approval of the application with conditions.
The applicants, Steven and Rae Welsh, were in attendance.
Mr. Walsh requested the Planning Commissions approval of a 600-square foot suite at the lower
leveloftheirhomeforabedandbreakfastoperation.
Therewasnoonefromthepublicwisingtotestifyonthisagendaitem.
ItwasmovedbyCommissionerSpringerandsecondedbyCommissionerMcCallthatthe
application be approve based on and incorporating the Planning Directors recommendation,
withconditions.Arollcallvotewastakenandmotioncarriedunanimouslywithsevenayes
(Springer, McCall, Alameda, Graham, Siracusa, Smith and Fujikawa) and one no (Galdones).
SPP 04-010The Commission took this item up at 10:38 a.m. with
DAVID AND approximately 23 people from the public in attendance.
SHARON PETTUS
KAAUHUHU,
HAMAKUA
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APPLICANTS: DAVID AND SHARON PETTUS (SPP 04-010)
Special Permit to allow the establishment of a Wellness Center Retreat and related improvements
on 12.157 acres of land situated within the State Land Use Agricultural District. The property is
located along the southeast side of Velez Road, approximately 700 feet from the Velez Road
Honokaa-Waipio Road (Highway 240) junction, Kaauhuhu, Hamakua, Hawaii, TMK: 4-7-2:15.
(SEE EXHIBIT B)
ADMINISTRATIVE At12:24 p.m., the following were discussed under administrative
MATTERSmatters:
Status of appeals filed on Planning Commission decisions - Corporation Counsel -
Mr. Torigoe said Ainaloa Development Corp. has filed an appeal of the Planning Commissions
decision to Use Permit No. 106 to the Third Circuit Court, noting he will be preparing a
response shortly and the record on appeal is currently being prepared. Mr.Torigoe noted that the
contested case for Wayne Blasmans SMA 02-003 is still pending, there is an effort by the State
to purchase the property.
Other Commission Matters Mr. Hayashi expressed the Planning Departments appreciation to
Commissioners Smith and Fujikawa for serving on the Planning Commission, noting although
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their term ends on December 31, they will be asked to serve for another 90 days or until a
replacement is named.
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ANNOUNCEMENTSMr. Hayashi noted the next meeting is scheduled for January 21
in Kona.
ADJOURNMENTThere being no further business, the Chair declared the meeting
adjourned at 12:30 p.m.
A T T E S T:Respectfully submitted,
Earl Fujikawa, First Vice ChairmanSharon M. Nomura, Secretary
Planning Commission
Hawaii County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer
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