HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-06-17 DLNR 05-002
PLANNING COMMISSION
COUNTY OF HAWAII
HEARING TRANSCRIPT
June 17, 2005
A regularly advertised hearing on the application of STATE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND
NATURAL RESOURCES (REZ 05-002) was called to order at 11:15 a.m. in the King
Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel, Kamakahonu Ballroom, 75-5660 Palani Road, Kailua-Kona,
Hawaii, with Chairman Fred Galdones presiding.
PRESENT:Fred GaldonesABSENT & EXCUSED: Hannah Springer
Jeffrey McCallC. Kimo Alameda
Rene Siracusa
AndrewIwashita
Allen Salavea
William R. Graham
Rodney H. Watanabe
Chris Yuen, Deputy Planning Director
Norman Hayashi, Planning Program Manager
Phyllis Fujimoto, Staff Planner
Jeff Darrow, Staff Planner
Kiran Emler representing Department of Public Works
And approximately 17 people from the public in attendance.
APPLICANT: STATE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES (REZ 05-
002) Application for a Change of Zone from Open (O) to the Industrial-Commercial Mixed one-
acre (MCX-1a) district for approximately 1.32 acres of land located approximately 1,200 feet
northwest of the junction between the Kawaihae Road and the Akoni Pule Highway at
Kawaihae, South Kohala, Hawaii, TMK: 6-1-3:15.
GALDONES:Will the Hawai i County Planning Commission be back in order.
Commissioners as indicated earlier this morning agenda item number 2 will be continued and we
will be moving on to agenda item number 3. The application is State Department of Land and
Natural Resources, REZ 05-002. This is an application for a change of zone from Open (O) to
the Industrial-Commercial Mixed one-acre (MCX-1a) district for approximately 1.32 acres of
land located approximately 1,200 feet northwest of the junction between the Kawaihae Road and
the Akoni Pule Highway at Kawaihae, South Kohala. Norman.
HAYASHI:Thank you Mr. Chair. Members of the Commission, the subject property
is indicated by this orange shaded, orange dot on this overall location map. This particular area
which is shaded in gray is the Kawaihae Harbor area. This is the Kawaihae Road coming from
Waimea and this would be the intersection with Queen Kaahumanu Highway leading towards
Kona and Akoni Pule Highway which goes to Kohala. The colors on the map indicate the
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various zoning districts and as I indicated the gray shaded areas are zoned for general industrial.
The blue area, darker blue areas are areas that are zoned agricultural 40 acres. We have open
zoning in this darker shaded green. We also have, this would be the Mauna Kea Resort area
where we have resort zoning, multiple residential, single-family residential. The Applicant
intends to rezone the property into a mixed commercial industrial zoning 1-acre for the 1.3-acre
property and that would be this particular property, which is situated along the makai side of
Akoni Pule Highway. Surrounding the subject property are lands owned by the, well actually
its government land which is a, an Executive Order was issued to the County of Hawai i and
this would be this 4+ acre area which wraps around the subject property. Immediately to the
north of the property is the Kawaihae lighthouse property. So this is actually a shoreline
property except for this portion here, which is owned by the County by Executive Order. The
Applicant is requesting the zone change in order to offer long term leases or lease to, by public
auction to any individual or individuals. At this particular time the specific uses are unknown
and when the Applicant issues those leases to the, to an individual then the individual will have
tocomeinforaseparateSpecialManagementAreaUsePermitapplicationsincethepropertyis
situated within the SMA. The land is currently vacant. There are kiawe trees as well as buffalo
grass. Prior to 1959 the property was used as a temporary cattle-holding pen for, by Parker
Ranch for shipping to the cattle out of this, the Kawaihae Harbor area. The again, the adjacent
shoreline property is owned by the County by Executive Order and a portion of that property is
being utilized by Kawaihae Canoe Club. The Kawaihae Canoe Club in the review of the draft
environmental assessment did indicate that they had no objections to the proposal by the State.
The General Plan for this particular area is Industrial and again the property is within the SMA.
Since the property is State owned they had to comply with Chapter 343 which was to do an
environmental assessment as I indicated and they did publish that environmental assessment
back in December of 2004 in the OEQC Bulletin. Water to the property is available and
wastewater would be by individual wastewater system as approved by the Department of Health.
The Planning Director is recommending approval of the request with proposed conditions. Are
there any questions at this time?
GALDONES:Commissioner any question of Norman? Commissioner McCall?
MCCALL:Norm do you know the, Kawaihae, the boat launch facility is that on this,
the County parcel thats in front or is that over on the natural zoned-?
HAYASHI:The boat launching area?
MCCALL:Yeah.
HAYASHI:I believe its on the State property, which is indicated by this gray and that
would be south of the subject property.
MCCALL:Okay thank you.
GALDONES:Commissioner Siracusa?
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SIRACUSA:I was wondering if its standard procedure for when an EIS or an EA is
done for something like this that we not be copied on that?
HAYASHI:Thats not a normal procedure as far as the reviewing agency. The
Planning Department is a reviewing agency and we did provide I believe yeah we did provide
comments on this Environmental Assessment.
SIRACUSA:No I meant that the Commissioners never received copies of the EA. Is
that standard procedure then?
YUEN:Its in there. Its supposed to be in there. Right? Its in my set. Maybe
we omitted it from your set, Im sorry if we did.
SIRACUSA:Sorry, sir I had missed the title page on that. I read through the whole
thingwithoutnoticingthattitlepage.Imsorry.
GALDONES:Noproblem.
HAYASHI:ImsorryImisunderstoodyourquestion.
GALDONES:TherebeingnofurtherquestionsofNormanwilltheapplicantorits
representative please step forward. All right Mr. Nishimura. Could you please raise your right
hand? Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth on this matter now before the Hawai i County
Planning Commission?
NISHIMURA:I do.
GALDONES:Could you please state your name and your residence address?
NISHIMURA:Brian Nishimura. 1174 Awiki Place, Hilo, Hawai i, 96720.
GALDONES:Mr. Nishimura have you received a copy of the background report and the
recommendation and do you have any comments to them?
NISHIMURA:Yes I have and the Applicant has also reviewed the background and
recommendation, proposed conditions and has indicated a willingness to comply with all of the
stated conditions. With me here today is Keith Chun from the Department of Land and Natural
Resources and he will also be available to answer any question that you may have.
GALDONES:Thank you Mr. Nishimura. Commissioners any question of Mr.
Nishimura? Commissioner Graham?
GRAHAM:This might be a question better for Mr. Chun I dont know but I guess its
as part of the environmental, finding of no significant impact that you did with Environmental
Assessment under the alternatives on page 18, the no action alternative. The last sentence in the
first paragraph Ill just quote says, It should also be noted that the DLNR as trustee of public
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lands owes a fiduciary duty to the trust beneficiaries in its managementof public lands. The
proposed rezoning is in furtherance of DLNRs efforts to put its lands to the highest and bestuse
and maximize revenues for the trust. So I guess without trying to parse the words you know
like Bill Clinton or something. It sort of sounds like the DLNR is saying that our best use for
public duty for the public benefit of the people of the State of Hawai i is to maximize the
revenues from our lands which feels to me is a little bit amiss if thats the case but Im probably
reading more into it than what was intended so I wish youd comment on that statement a little
bit please.
GALDONES:Mr. Chun will you be responding to this?
CHUN:Yes I will.
GALDONES:Could I have you sworn in then? Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth?
Couldyoupleaseraiseyourrighthand?Doyouswearoraffirmtotellthetruthonthismatter
now before the Hawai i County Planning Commission?
CHUN:I do.
GALDONES:Could you please state your name and your residence address?
CHUN:Keith Chun. 3432 Oahu Avenue, Honolulu, 96822.
GALDONES:You may proceed.
CHUN:Okay. I think as the manager of the public trust, similar to maybe a lot of
the other trust that you know. Theres a lot of missions we have public resources which we
manage. We also have I guess a duty as well as to maximize use of the land or generate
revenues to help support some of the other functions. You know if you look at some of the other
trusts for example Kamehameha School Bishop Estate you know they invest their funds, use
their lands to generate revenues to support some of their other programs and this is one of ours.
GALDONES:Commissioners any further questions of the applicants? Commissioner
Graham?
GRAHAM:Just you know since Im familiar with the area since I live out that part of
the island you know its all kind of kiawe growth there now. I remember when the old feed lots
were around that area and its the road is relatively close to the ocean there. Theres not a long
distance and I know the canoe clubs activities are down below. Anyway, it struck me, as first
impression was that its very inappropriate place for an industrial zone or a commercial zone.
That stuff that would be better on the mauka side. But then again I see the letter in support from
the Kawaihae Canoe Club which is the most impacted public people down there. Im just
wondering if the other public bodies, public interest bodies like the boating club, then like surfers
down there were they contacted were they part of any discussions that you had with the
community before when you brought these plans forth?
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NISHIMURA:The Environmental Assessment and the requestfor comments were
directed specifically to the Kawaihae Canoe Club. We didnt identify any other specific group.
We did receive an inquiry from someone on the Fisheries Counciland a draft environmental
assessment was transmitted to that individual for his review and no comments came in
subsequent to his reviewing the environmental assessment. The only other I guess public body
dealing with recreational resources was Department of Parks and Recreation and they didnt
indicate any objections to the application.
GRAHAM:Was there ever a public meeting advertised and held down in the
Kawaihae area where the interested people around there could come and hear the States plans?
NISHIMURA:No there wasnt any public meeting.
GRAHAM:Thank you.
GALDONES:Mr. Yuen?
YUEN:This is let me start make a little statement and then Ill turn it into a
question.WearerecommendingapprovalofthisandIrevieweditandIsignedoffonthe
recommendation for approval. I do have some misgivings about this application from the state
and that has to do with the fact that this is currently its an open area along a shoreline. Its not
exactly shoreline; its very close to the shoreline. If this rezoning went through actually it would
be by far the closest to shoreline property to be rezoned in the current administration. I cant
think of any other properties that you would consider shoreline or close to shoreline that have
been rezoned to a higher use in the current County administration. It is next to a sandy beach.
You have, theres a are EOd for County recreational use next to it. Im just wondering if the
potential gains to the State from leasing this out outweigh the fact that you have a-. We have the
government busily spending money now to acquire coastal lands in many areas along both in this
County and in the State and general public policy in trying to keep open space along the
shoreline. How do you weigh, Id like to hear your weighing of the States interest here in
potentially leasing this out as a revenue generating facility versus just keeping it as it is in open
space.
CHUN:Well I think one of the new functions weve taken on at DLNR and then in
part to support not only the State in general but DLNRs mission with its public resources is to
identify lands with revenue generating potential. This is one that we did. We acknowledge it is
near the shoreline but through our Hilo office I think we effectuated the set aside to the canoe
club or the County to maintain all of the immediate shoreline area and I believe useable area.
Its a little difficult for us at times to deal with some of these things because we unlike a regular
developer or proper owner we are subject to public land laws which means the property has to go
out for auction. So we get demands or questions or inquiries from interested parties and yet we
can never really be assured that thats going to be the ultimate user, which does put us in a little
catch 22. You know were here with you trying to discuss certain things and we cant tell you
what will be built. All I can say is were trying to do the best we can with the processes we are.
We think that some of the mechanisms that are in place will help for example you know the set
aside and in addition that when the auction is held number 1 if there really is no demand for the
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property or the people that have expressed demand decide they cant make it happenthe property
wont go. Second when they do, if the auction is held we get a successful bidder they will be
before you again for an SMA to address impacts to that coastal area.
YUEN:Well that is true that this isnt the end of the story and that even if you I
presume you have to award it at auction and then thewinning party would then submit an SMA
application. There would be some, they would, youd have to put probably some kind of clause
that they can surrender the lease if they dont get the SMA permit application. Its my, I know
that theres a reference somewhere in the application to a restaurant being interested in this. And
there are, theres some, certainly there are more and less compatible kinds of developments that
could take place here but youre going to be constrained to award it to the highest responsible
bidder at auction and then when it does come, if and when it does come for SMA permit and we
have a range of things that we can look at in the SMA and within the MCX zone which is one of
the broadest as far as what is allowed then I can imagine there are some kinds of uses that would
notbeoffensivetothecurrentpublicuseofthebeachareathereandthecanoeclubs.And
theres some that might really be problematic. Is there any, the State has any ability at all to
specify a range of uses in a commercial lease. I should know this having been there but I dont
know that we ever really dealt with this as a question.
CHUN:Normally, well like again this is a new function for us to try and actively
go and market some of our properties. And to date we have not tried to limit just because it
would limit potential lessees. Again we think that as far as the rezoning its in place its
consistent with the General Plan. As far as impacts to the shoreline and what have you that will
be your purview during the SMA. And youre right, successful bidder we give them a window
to go and get the SMA and if they cant, actually we never enter into the lease. You know so we
give them a timeframe to go and process and obtain an SMA. Usually well ask them to submit
within an X amount of months, obtain it within you know a year or what have you. And if they
cant everybody walks away.
GALDONES:Commissioner Siracusa?
SIRACUSA:Yes, your Appendix A in the EA, permitted uses in the MCX zoned
district and my question I guess is of the Director at this point. If this means that these are uses
that dont have to require an SMA permit because theyre already permitted?
YUEN:No, all of these. If it werent any, these are the things that you could do if
it werent in the SMA. Any applicant wanting to do really any significant development on the
site would have to get, still have to get an SMA permit for any of these uses to go ahead with the
project. You would have to tie back you know again wed be like we were in the previous
application. If we wanted to deny the SMA permit or to put conditions on it that would, those
conditions or that denial would have to be tied to something in the SMA law that you are allowed
to consider. Like if there were some kind of industrial facility that there was a potential for
pollution that could be denied on that grounds. But it wouldnt, it isnt although there is this
other step I dont want us to just say well and I dont want the Commissioners or the Council on
this when they come to look at this to think we have unfettered discretion and like it dont like it,
yes, no, when the SMA permit comes in.
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SIRACUSA:So, in that case if we approve this then any of thosepermitted uses would
have to apply for an SMA permit and then our hands would be tied. We could only look at the
SMA pertinent issues and not other side issues as we were discussing in the previous case.
YUEN:Thats correct. Well, I dont want to say your hands are tied either but you
are limited to the SMA permit issue. Yes, you- it wouldnt be a categorical rejection of any of
these possible uses that are in the MCX zone.
GALDONES:Commissioner Iwashita?
IWASHITA:Thank you. I just want toclarify your earlier statement that or maybe its
my misunderstanding of your earlier statement. Am I to? My understanding now is that as far as
rezoning this property this is the only way you can do it? Cause Im thinking actually from our
perspectiveandtheconcernsthatarebeingexpressednowwewouldyouknowIwouldmuch
rather have a specific kind of project on the table that conceptually anyway right that were
looking at in terms of doing the rezoning application. Because in that you know in this process
in the rezoning process right then we have the most control as it were in terms of you know
addressing the concerns of what type of development this is going to be. Whether or not you
know its compatible in the area. Whether or not the zoning thats being requested is really the
one we want to do. So I guess Im asking you know why cant you do it that way?
CHUN:Well, two of them, one is I think we get a bigger bang for our buck as far
as return on the property if we offer out rezoned property. Second I really think that during in
the actual rezoning process itself you know Id always been led to understand that when you
rezone the property youre looking at all potential impacts including all potential uses. In other
words I could come to you with the one guy that says hes going to build you know a 500 square
foot restaurant and then 5 years from now its torn down its rezoned and all of this thing is open
for him as well. You know so, as far as analyzing the impact of that immediate or proposed use I
dont think you would- I would hope you wouldnt limit it to only that in the rezoning right?
Cause once it gets, if it is zoned to MCX doesnt it make it available to all?
GALDONES:Commissioner Siracusa?
SIRACUSA:I see where Commissioner Iwashitas coming from and Im really feeling
like were being asked to approve a pig in the poke here and I dont feel comfortable with that.
GALDONES:Commissioner Iwashita?
IWASHITA:Cause you know normally I guess, Ive only been doing this for a little
while but what Ive seen you know. Kamehameha Schools have come before us with rezoning
requests and it you know. We see plans we see you know basically a specific project that were
looking at in the process and you know. We have another item on our agenda basically similar
kind of situation so it is just a general concern really that you know. Coming in without any
specific kind of proposal and there are a multitude of different kind of uses that are allowed in
the zoning change that youre asking for. And sure rezoning is something you know an upgrade
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in zoning obviously makes the property worth more. But I think as a general proposition I agree
with the Directors concern that you know from the States, from the perspective of the
government and the State and the proper use of thelandthat we really ought to be looking at
why are we changing it. Or you know why arent we using it for a more general public use you
know. Makea park or whatever right? That kind of thing.
YUEN:If I could just make a couple of statements here. Although its true that
very often and particularly private rezonings that have come before us, the applicant presents a
specific project. They may say that they want a commercial zone and they plan to do an office
building. Its, the Commission should always remember that unless special conditions are put on
you rezone the property, the plan changes they can still go in and do the full range of uses that
are allowed under the zoning. Thats in fact the theory behind zoning is that you make a
decision that these uses are okay on that particular piece of property and you go ahead and
approve that. Otherwise you, I dont anyplace that has this but you could theoretically have a
landusesystemwhereyouapprovedeveryprojectandifyouhaveanofficebuildingyouneedto
come before a body like this to change it to a commercial store or something like that. The SMA
system, you know here in the SMA it is like that. So there is that level of control for this later
but this would have a range of uses thats possible. One other question I wanted to make, I
wasnt sure and I didnt, I dont know, I didnt realize this before but I want to make sure now
Im understanding it right that the set aside of the 4 acres was done in conjunction with this.
This was fairly recent the EO?
NISHIMURA:Thats correct.
YUEN:So, so the DLNR did make a decision that the bulk of the property they
would set aside for recreational use but they wanted to hold this parcel and offer it out for a
commercial, the possibility of commercial venture.
NISHIMURA:Thats correct. There was in fact a consolidation and re-subdivision
action, which reconfigured the properties and the end result being that this 1.32-acre parcel was
separated out and the remaining balance was kept for the recreational purposes. And, I was
going to elaborate a bit on the response to your initial question that at the time that the discussion
about the Executive Order was taking place the needs for the Kawaihae Canoe Club were of
specific concern. And, they made sure that the area necessary to take care of those needs and the
area that could be conveyed to the County was set aside you know specifically for that purpose
and any other recreational use that the County wanted to pursue. This area kept by the State to
develop for potential commercial or industrial use was done so recognizing the existing general
plan designation of industrial. And so that went into the decision making process in their minds
in terms of pursuing the rezoning action. You know the question of you know whether its
appropriate or not was really looked at from the standpoint of okay weve made a decision
regarding a portion of this property to be kept open and set aside for recreational use. Is there
any potential value in the remaining portion of the property? And because of the General Plan
Industrial designation it was decided that there was this value and they wanted to pursue that.
GALDONES:Commissioner Watanabe?
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WATANABE:Could you tell me exactly how close is the closest point to the shoreline?
Well, you know approximately lets put it thatway?
NISHIMURA:Well, the closest point is that, the point jutting out in the, near the middle
of the property. And if you were to just scaleit off on that map its 50 feet. However to be
honest with you if you were to go on the site and if a certified shoreline survey were to be done
today I doubt that it would be that far. I mean its, its going to be closer than 50 feet. There is
however you know I would say there is sufficient land that, in front of the property that there will
always be an ability to traverse that area and to cross the entire width of the frontage of that
property on the remaining County land.
GALDONES:Any further discussion? Any further questions? Commissioner
Watanabe?
WATANABE:Ihaveonemorequestionyouindicatedthattherewasapproximately4-
acres that was designated for public recreation that adjoins this parcel.
NISHIMURA:Yes.
WATANABE:Does that also front this beach that was referred to?
NISHIMURA:Yes.
WATANABE:And so-
NISHIMURA:It includes the beach.
WATANABE:Okay, thank you.
GALDONES:There being no further questions I do not have anyone from the public
signing up for, to testify on this subject matter. That being the case. Mr. Yuen in light of your
statement that you had made earlier is it still your recommendation that the Planning
Commission give it a favorable recommendation and forward to the County Council?
YUEN:Ill stick with the recommendation with the understanding that we can
look at this again at the SMA stage. On the question of balance I do appreciate the fact that the
State set aside the bulk of this parcel for long, permanent, at least long term for public recreation,
recreational use.
GALDONES:Thank you. Commissioners as indicated by the recommendation from the
Planning Director that the Planning Commission give it a favorable recommendation to the
County Council. Commissioner Iwashita.
IWASHITA:I have one follow-up question. I guess my understanding is that the
request for this MCX including industrial use is based upon reference to the General Plan
designation in that area.
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NISHIMURA:Thats correct.
IWASHITA:What? My simple view of this is that if youre surrounding this area, this
1-acre with 4-acres of basically a park it doesnt, an industrial use in my mind doesnt really
seem appropriate. And so Im thinking more along the lines of a commercial or commercial
village kind of zoning change that would have you know. You can have restaurants and shops
and more uses that are more in my mind related to that kind of a park recreational are. Cause
thats all youre going to have in that area right?
NISHIMURA:Well, the uses that you just eluded to are allowed in the MCX zone.
IWASHITA:What Im concerned about is allowing also industrial use and which I
dont think is you know. Off hand I dont think its really compatible with the park use.
CHUN:You know I think youre right and actually the site itself you know the
topographyandthelocationorwhathaveyou.Youknowasapracticalmattertheinquiries
weve gotten have been from commercial people but I dont it even extends to the as far as I
know of a strip mall type of thing. Its more of a stand-alone type of stuff. So I think you know
while it may have a whole list in Exhibit A of a bunch of stuff and then industrial as a practical
matter we have not fielded inquiries for a lot of this type of use or any actually.
IWASHITA:So my, I guess my suggestion or my thought is that it would be more
appropriate to be like CV, Commercial Village kind of zoning. And that would incorporate
pretty much the types of uses that you know all of these shops or restaurants or you can make a
little. Things like that where itd be you know, we all think would be compatible and not have
the possibility of an industrial use if somebody came along and said oh this is industrial I want to
make a base yard for my business.
YUEN:If I could comment on that. What makes this difficult is that there are
only, there are only so many cubbyholes in the zoning code and the General Plan. Because this
would be industrial in the General Plan we, the Department would not support a CV zoning
which would be. We would look at the CV zoning as going into medium density areas in the
General Plan or urban expansion areas. So really to do a commercial, their option is the MCX
zone. And as far as what is this in the General Plan, the Kawaihae area by the harbor is, there are
2 designations in the General Plan. Theres a band of open along the shoreline like there is all
around the island. And then theres ending in Kawaihae, then theres industrial behind that band.
The band has a width but its always been the interpretation that the width is not something you
nd
can scale off. In other words you cant say well its a 32 of an inch wide and that translates to
300-feet in the General Plan. So, the site itself would be compatible with being called either
openorindustrialintheGeneralPlanbutnothingelse,therearenootherpossibilities.Theone
thing that we have, we have had rezonings where we have excluded some uses as being
incompatible.That,wehavedonethatinthepast.Itsnotthekindofthingyounormallywant
to do but we have done it.
GALDONES:Commissioner Graham?
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SIRACUSA:I have some concerns that when you, when you have industrial generally
you have big steel buildings and theyre ugly. And they dont, they have, theres a lot of cement
and they dont usually do much in the way of landscaping and I think that that is incompatible
with open space and park areas. And I dont know how we can get around this. We just adopted
this General Plan but of course that doesnt mean we all like every bit of it does it?
GRAHAM:I certainly from what Ive heard so far feel like I could not support this
rezoning. One thing that caught my eye when I was reading the material last night was kind of
right at the beginning of the application made by the Planning, made to the Planning Department
which is only like 3 or 4 pages into our background. Question number 4 says if youve
performed any study which would demonstrate a need for the proposed building and please
elaborate on your findings. And the last sentence in the response sort of says to take advantage
of the propertys proximity to the ocean and spectacular views of the South Kohala coastline.
Andthatswhenreferencedforusingitasaleaseoutforarestaurant.Sotomeitfeelslikewell,
we got spectacular views, which the public kind of likes. Weve got proximity to the ocean and
what were going to do is were going to lease that out to somebody to have a restaurant so that
when people pay to eat there they get those but its going to cut away those views from the rest
of the public. And the benefits going to be added revenue to the State. And it just feels to me
that the views and the open space are much more important to the public in general at this point
in time than you know that some extra revenue will come from leasing out a restaurant site. I
also when the Director was mentioning the conjunction of the set aside of the 4-acres along with
this rezoning request, it sort of tickles my ear a little bit. I dont know what Manny Veincents
reasons were for supporting this project but I sort of feel like well maybe he was in a little
situation where he felt like we could get our particular piece of ground where were using our
canoe club kind of guaranteed by going along with this rezoning. And, I dont know when you
look at the, where the road goes up there, this is the land is all up. The canoe club is right down,
right close to sea level. It feels to me that theyre looking at a situation that theyre going to have
some kind of development looking right over them. I dont know I feel like I could support this
is in fact you did have a public meeting down there and the different stake holders like the
boating group and the surfing group and the canoe group all knew what was coming forth and
they said that was okay with them then I would surely go along with it. But failing that I cant
see supporting it.
GALDONES:Commissioner McCall?
MCCALL:Yeah, has there been any, I just I dont know particularly in the Kawaihae
area is there a shortage of industrial-commercial zoned property or is there stuff waiting to be
leased? Is the State, is all the State properties leased in the Kawaihae, in the harbor area?
NISHIMURA:The State property is limited primarily to the harbor, harbor-related area.
There are vacant industrial zoned lands owned by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands not
by the State of Hawai i. And my understanding is part of the development constraint on some of
the DHHL lands is the lack of adequate water for those parcels.
GALDONES:Commissioner Watanabe?
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WATANABE:I have a question, they keep referring to topography. Is the topography so
steep that it would indeed limit the type of industrial uses that might occur there?
NISHIMURA:No the property itself is not unusual in terms of topography.
GALDONES:Any further questions? Commissioners are we prepared for a motion?
Commissioner Graham?
GRAHAM:I would make a motion that the Planning Commission send an unfavorable
recommendation to the County Council with regard to rezoning application 05-002 by the State
Department of Land and Natural Resources.
IWASHITA:Second.
GALDONES:It was moved by Commissioner Graham and seconded by Commissioner
IwashitathattheStateDepartmentofLandandNaturalResourcesChangeofZoneapplication
REZ 05-002 be given an unfavorable recommendation and be forwarded to the County Council.
Further discussion? Commissioner Salavea? Seeing none, Norman.
HAYASHI:This is a motion to send an unfavorable recommendation to the County
Council. Commissioner Graham?
GRAHAM:Aye.
HAYASHI:Commissioner Iwashita?
IWASHITA:Aye.
HAYASHI:Commissioner McCall?
MCCALL:Aye.
HAYASHI:Commissioner Salavea?
SALAVEA:Nay.
HAYASHI:Commissioner Siracusa?
SIRACUSA:Aye.
HAYASHI:Commissioner Watanabe?
WATANABE:Nay.
HAYASHI:Commissioner Galdones?
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GALDONES:No.
HAYASHI:Motion does not pass, the motion was 4 ayes for an unfavorable
recommendation and 3 nos.
GALDONES:Norman procedurally where does this go right now? It still, it still is
forwarded to the County Council without a recommendation?
HAYASHI:It could be forwarded to the County Council or you can ask the Applicant
whether they would like to have it deferred until you have a more-.
YUEN:Are they up against their timeframe? Are they up against the timeframe?
HAYASHI:Pardon?
YUEN:Wherearetheyatinthetimeframebecausetheycanonly-.Itstayswith
the Planning Commission until there is a favorable recommendation or an unfavorable
recommendation by 5 votes for I believe 120 days.
HAYASHI:I believe its the Planning Director sends the application to the Planning
Commission within 120 days. The application first came in and was completed and accepted on
th
March 17, 2005 so July 17 would have been 120 days.
YUEN:Yes, what I- after- let me not just do this off-, could you bring me the
Chapter 25 for a second so I can just double-check this? This is the question of whether this is
deferred now or whether you have the option of taking it to the County Council with a negative
recommendation.
GALDONES:Commissioner Watanabe?
YUEN:The question is when did they receive it, when did the Commission
receive it from us?
HAYASHI:Technically the Commission received it today.
YUEN:Yes,theCommissionhas90daysafterreceiptoftheapplicationfromthe
Director unless a longer period is agreed to by the applicant to transmit the proposed change of
ordinancetogetherwithitsrecommendationstotheCouncil.TheCommissionshallrecommend
approval at whole or in part or with or without modifications or rejection. If the Commission
doesntactwithin90daysthepetitionshallbe-theapplicationshallbeconsideredan
unfavorable recommendation by the Commission and the application shall be transmitted to the
Councilwithsuchrecommendation.Soitremainsherefor90daysuntil,andwouldbeputback
on the agenda. After 90 days if the Commission, because this is not a denial, this vote is an
unfavorablerecommendationbutitsnotaconclusiveaction.Afterthattimeperiodthe
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applicant has it since so it doesnt- but its not going to stay down here forever. After that time
period the applicant has the opportunity to send it back up, send it up to the Council.
GALDONES:Commissioner Watanabe?
WATANABE:I have a question for the Director as well as the Applicant. However
unusual it may be to place restrictions on the zoning change is that some way that we might be
able to come to agreement on this particular parcel?
YUEN:Its a possibility we- in doing so we would have to, we would have to state
reasons for it. I mean it would, there would have to be some finding that theres a, there are
special conditions on this property that make it suitable for some uses that normally are allowed
in the MCX zone but not for others. So we have done that I believe when, to give an example
we did a commercial rezoning in Volcano where the idea was that we, was to allow more
commercialexpansion,abusinessexpansioninVolcano.Butitwasntasuitablelocationfora
multi-family dwelling because of lack of water system in the area. So we, normally you rezone
to multi- to commercial and multi-family or even single family dwellings are permitted use in
that zone so we did put a condition on that that you couldnt do that. So
WATANABE:I brought that up because it seems as though theres an informal meeting
of the minds as far as what would be allowable in that area. And if the Applicant and the County
are in agreement in that way maybe you all can work that out within that 90 day period and you
might be able to get a favorable recommendation.
YUEN:If thats something that- we can explore that with the Applicant. And if
the Commission, if the Commissioners would give an idea of the kinds of things they dont want
to see then right now then I think that would help us in trying to do that.
WATANABE:Well personally I think Im more concerned about you know like
something really heavy industrial. I dont really particularly have a problem with the restaurant
per say although it might be income producing because I think although it would be income
producing the State would benefit, indirectly the County and all of us would benefit also. Also I
dont see that much of a problem with the shoreline issue because they are providing what
amounts to about 70 some odd 80% of that parcel for public recreation in which also has access
to the shoreline so. I guess as long as you dont have some kind of obtrusive industrial type of
commercial activity going on there.
GALDONES:Commissioner Iwashita?
IWASHITA:Thank you Mr. Chair. Is the suggestion being made or procedure that the
Applicant is amenable to or not?
CHUN:Well again Im looking at the list you know this isnt the MCX zone is not
something that really has heavy industrial uses. By the same token were open to discussion
again were seeking the Commissions favorable recommendation so if there are certain types of
uses that you see in the zoning that really stick out and we can look at that.
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IWASHITA:I guess the other concern I had was is the 90 days sufficient time because
in looking at the statute it appears a longer period of time can be applicable if the Applicant
agrees to a longer period of time.
YUEN:I think if we were going this route on the Department side we could
certainly get it back on the agenda with someuses knocked out and for the consideration of the
Commission. Again it would be helpful if the Commissioners who are opposed to it, if they
were amenable to a favorable recommendation with some kinds of reduction in uses would give
us a hint on what youd like to see out because this would be an effort to try to get a favorable
recommendation from the Commission. The Department did make in the end a favorable
recommendation.
GALDONES:Commissioner Siracusa?
SIRACUSA:I would be willing to do that right now actually. Looking at the permitted
usesnumbers1,5,9,14,23,24,34,41and47aretheonesthatIwouldliketoseedeleted
simply because of the- I just feel that those are inappropriate for park and beach areas especially
that type of architecture that they require.
YUEN:Well take that into consideration in working with the Applicant and
bringing this back to the Commission. Is there any other comments the Commissioners would
like to make at the present time?
GALDONES:Commissioner McCall?
MCCALL:Maybe just to make sure so I guess our options at this point are as a
Commission our option is to defer this until the next meeting when we can come to a majority
decision on whats going on. And I believe the other option is that the Applicant could decide to
just take it on to the Council on his own is that correct?
YUEN:I think they have to wait 90 days before taking it to Council on their own.
GALDONES:Okay any other guidance that the Commission would like to give the
Director and the Applicants in trying to have this be accepted by the Commission?
Commissioner Graham?
GRAHAM:Well the only guidance with me would be if you guys would schedule
some kind of a public meeting down in the Kawaihae area.
GALDONES:Commissioner Iwashita?
IWASHITA:Ill give you my list of uses that I think should not be included. 1, 4, 5, 7,
11, 41, 42, 47 and 48 basically on the same concerns expressed by Commissioner Siracusa.
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GALDONES:Any other comments? Hearing none then Mr. Nishimura you will be
informed in writing of todays actions.
NISHIMURA:Thank you.
This discussion ended at 12:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lynette Sanemitsu, West Hawaii Secretary
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