HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-04-02 Planning Commission Minutes
PLANNING COMMISSION
COUNTY OF HAWAII
MINUTES
APRIL 2, 2004
The Planning Commission met in regular session at 9:03 a.m. in the County Building,
Councilroom - Room 201, 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo, Hawaii with First Vice-Chairperson Earl
Fujikawa presiding.
PRESENT:Earl FujikawaABSENT & EXCUSED:Fred Galdones
William GrahamChristian Alameda
Francis Smith `Jeffrey McCall
Hannah Springer
Bill Thibadeau
Pat OToole, Deputy Corporation Counsel
Chris Yuen, Planning Director
NormanHayashi,StaffPlanner
Phyllis Fujimoto, Staff Planner
Jeff Darrow, Staff Planner
All those testifying were duly sworn in.
REZ 04-001The Commission took this item up at 9:05 a.m. with
J. OSHIRO approximately 10 people from the public in attendance.
WAIAKEA,
SOUTH HILO
APPLICANT: J. OSHIRO (REZ 04-001)
Change of Zone for 12,787 square feet of land from an Open (O) to an Industrial-Commercial
Mixed (MCX-10) district. The property is bordered by Kanoelehua Avenue, Hualani Street, and
Railroad Avenue, Waiakea, South Hilo, Hawaii, TMK: 2-2-35:73.
(SEE EXHIBIT A)
(SP 04-002)The Commission took this item up at 9:50 a.m. with
STATE OF HAWAII approximately 52 people from the public in attendance.
DEPARTMENT OF
ACCOUNTING AND
GENERAL SERVICES
KAHUIHUI,
NORTH KOHALA
APPLICANT: STATE OF HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTING AND
GENERAL SERVICES (SP 04-002)
Special Permit to allow the construction of a 70-foot high self-supporting communication tower
with mounted antennas, equipment building, and supporting facilities on approximately 7,200
square feet of land situated within the State Land Use Agricultural District. The area involved is
approximately 0.9 mile mauka of the Kohala Mountain Road and in the vicinity of the Kahua
Ranch complex, Kahuihui, North Kohala, Hawaii, TMK: 5-9-2: portion of 2.
Mr. Darrow oriented the Commission and public of the subject and surrounding properties on the
location map and site plan, and summarized the request to install a modern high capacity digital
interconnect to replace existing analog radial channels to be used by various governmental
agencies for public purpose. He stated the Planning Department is recommending a favorable
consideration of the application.
Commissioner Springer disclosed for the record that she was interviewed for the cultural impact
statement section of the EIS because of her familys association with the land but received no
compensationfortheinterview.Ms.OToolestatedshesawnoproblemwithCommissioner
Springer participating on the matter.
The applicants representative, John Sakaguchi, stated they did receive the Planning
Departments Background Report and Recommendation and had no objections to the proposed
conditions. He said the Kahua Ranch site is a State facility that will be also used by the County
of Hawaii, County of Maui, Federal Agencies, including National Park Service and Coast Guard,
and it is an attempt to cooperatively use a single site rather than scattering sites all over the
County. He said the final Environmental Assessment of no significant impacts was filed by the
applicant to meet statutory requirements of Chapter 343, HRS, and Title 11, Chapter 200,
Environmental Impact Statement rules and that surrounding property owners were notified of
the filing of the application and this public hearing.
In response to Commissioner Fujikawas inquiry, Mr.Sakaguchi said there are some unassigned
towers to allow for future users.
There was no one from the public wishing to testify on this agenda item.
It was moved by Commissioner Springer and seconded by Commissioner Smith that the
application be approved based on and incorporating the Planning Directors recommendation.
Commissioner Graham said his concern of the visual impact of the tower has been mitigated by
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theproposed height of the tower and the various uses proposed. A roll call vote was taken and
motion carried with five ayes (Springer, Smith, Graham, Thibadeau and Fujikawa) and three
absent and excused (Galdones, McCall and Alameda).
UP 04-001 The Commission took this item up at 10:10 a.m. with
EDMOND AKIONA approximately 45 people from the public in attendance.
ARCHITECT
PONAHAWAI,
SOUTH HILO
APPLICANT: EDMOND AKIONA ARCHITECT (UP 04-001)
Use Permit to allow the establishment of a church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day
Saints) and related improvements on 4 acres of land zoned Agricultural 1-acre (A-1a) and
situated within the State Land Use Urban district. The property is located along the northwest
side of Ponahawai Street,approximately 1,360 feet east (makai) of the Ponahawai Street
Komohana Street intersection, Ponahawai, South Hilo, Hawaii, TMK: 2-3-36:19.
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.
The applicant, Edmond Akiona, and his representatives, Leonard Tanaka and Roy Bower, were
in attendance.
Mr. Tanaka stated they have received the Planning Directors background and recommendation.
Mr. Akiona said the staffs report was very good.
Mr. Tanaka thanked the staff and noted for the record that there were a number of church
members in the audience, including bishops from the different wards, in support of the
application.
Mr. Bower noted that their proposal is to have two of their four congregations meet on the site,
with one ward having an attendance of approximately 150 people and the other approximately
130 people on Sundays.
StephanieBathreadandpresentedwrittentestimonyinsupportoftheapplicationonbehalfof
herself and her family
Commission Graham suggested a continuous visual buffer of a hedge row or trees be provided
alongthestreetsidetoaddresshisconcernofoneviewingtheasphaltparkingarea.Mr.Akiona
said it is possible to provide hedging or trees along the street side of the property. Director Yuen
notedtheintentofitsproposedconditionistoaddressvisualimpacts.Mr.Tanakasaidhe
believed Condition 2 would address Commissioner Grahams concern and they will do their best
toaddressthisconcern.
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Mr. Tanaka said that the proposal will not only be wonderful for their two wards but it will
enhance and enrich the community as well.
It was moved by Commissioner Springer and seconded byCommissioner Smith that the
applicationbe approved based on the Planning Directors recommendation with conditions. A
roll call vote was taken and motion carried with five ayes (Springer, Smith, Thibadeau, Graham,
and Fujikawa) and three absent and excused (Galdones, McCall and Alameda).
SP 04-001 The Commission took this item up at 10:28 a.m. with
MICHAEL AND approximately 10 people from the public in attendance.
MISATO MORTARA
KEAAU,
PUNA
APPLICANT: MICHAEL AND MISATO MORTARA (SP 04-001)
Special Permit to allow the establishment of an art studio on 39,608 square feet of land situated
within the StateLand Use Agricultural District. The property is located between the Volcano
Highway (State Highway 11) and the old Volcano Road, approximately 200feet west (Kau side)
of Alii Kane Street and approximately 1 mile east (Keaau side) of the Volcano Solid Waste
Transfer site, Royal Hawaiian Estates Subdivision, Keaau, Puna, Hawaii, TMK: 1-1-17:88
and 89.
(SEE EXHIBIT B)
MINUTESThe Commission took up the following minutes at this time,
10:56 a.m.
January 16, 2004 It was moved by Commissioner Springer, and seconded by Commissioner
Graham, that the minutes be approved as circulated. Motion was unanimously carried by a voice
vote of all Commissioners in attendance.
February 6, 2004, February 20, 2004; March 5, 2004 The Chair announced that these minutes
were approved at prior meetings of the Commission.
ADMINISTRATIVEThe following was discussed under administrative matters:
MATTERS
Status of appeals filed on Planning Commission decisions - Corporation Counsel - Ms. OToole
noted she had nothing new to report at this time.
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ADJOURNMENTThere being no further business, the Chair declared the meeting
adjourned at 11:01 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sharon M. Nomura, Secretary
A T T E S T:
Earl Fujikawa, First Vice-Chairman
Planning Commission
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