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Home My WebLink About2023-05-04 Windward Planning Commission Minutes WINDWARD PLANNING COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAI`I MINUTES MAY 4, 2023 The Windward Planning Commission met in regular session at 9:12 a.m., in the County of Hawaii, Council Chambers, 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo, Hawaii, with Chairman Dennis Lin presiding with a live stream video for the public to observe the meeting. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Dennis Lin, John Cross, Louis Daniele III, Wayne De Luz, and Chantel Perrin. ABSENT AND EXCUSED: Lauren Balog. ALSO PRESENT: Sinclair Salas-Ferguson, Esq. (Attorney for the Commission), Suzanna Tiapula, Esq. (Attorney for the Planning Department), Zendo Kern (Planning Director), , Jessica Andrews (Planner), Alex Roy (Planner), Christian Kay (Planner), Janice Hata(Zoom Host), Maija Jackson (Planning Program Manager) and Melissa Dacayanan-Salvador (Commission Secretary). Four public members were in the audience. A quorum was present. Chairman Lin called the meeting to order and introduced Commissioners and staff. APPROVAL OF MINUTES At 9:14 a.m. the Commission took up the minutes of the April 6, 2023, Windward Planning Commission meeting. No corrections were offered. It was moved by Commissioner Daniele and seconded by Commissioner Cross that the minutes be approved as submitted. A voice vote was taken, and the motion carried with all in favor. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS At 9:15 a.m. Chairman Lin explained the procedure and Planning Commission Rule 1-5 regarding decorum. Testifiers were given the options of speaking at this time or later at the time the specific agenda item was called to order. There were no in-person or Zoom testifiers. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 1. APPLICANT: HAWAIIAN OLA BREWING CORPORATION (PL-SMA-2022-000025) Application for a Special Management Area Use Permit to convert the existing Wainaku Executive Center into a micro-distillery, restaurant, and bar, and includes grading for new parking and the installation of a wastewater system to accommodate the new uses on 12.31 acres of land situated in the Special Management Area. The subject parcels are Page 1 of 4 Windward Planning Commission May 4,2023 Minutes located along the makai side of Hawaii Belt Road, approximately 200 feet south of its intersection with Hau Street, Portion of Wailua& Mokuhonua, South Hilo, Hawaii, TMKs: (3) 2-6-015:001 & 002. The Commission took up this item at 9:17 a.m. with four public members in the audience. Commissioner Cross recused himself as prior to his appointment to the Commission he assisted the applicant's with the collection of evidence and data for the SMA application. There were no in-person or Zoom testifiers for this agenda item. Action: It was moved by Commissioner Daniele and seconded by Commissioner De Luz that the application for Special Management Area Use Permit No. 2022-000025, be approved based on the Planning Director's recommendation. A roll call vote was taken, and the motion carried with four ayes (Daniele, De Luz, Perrin, and Lin). This item ended at 9:23 a.m.[SEE HEARING TRANSCRIPT EXHIBIT A] Chairman Lin called a recess at 9:24 a.m., and the meeting was reconvened at 9:30 a.m. 2. APPLICANT: BWA LLC DBA BOTANICAL WORLD ADVENTURES (PL-SPP-2023-000033) Application for an amendment to Condition No. 2 of Special Permit No. 04-005 for a 5- year time extension to complete construction. Special Permit No. 04-005 was approved in 2004 to allow a visitor center, parking lot and related improvements on approximately 3.53 acres of land situated within the State Land Use Agricultural District. The project site is part of the existing Botanical World Adventures situated on the north side of Leopolino Road between Highway 19 and the Old Mamalahoa Highway, Kamae`e, North Hilo, Hawaii, TMK: 3-1-001:015 (por.). The Commission took up this item at 9:30 a.m. with five public members in the audience. There were no in-person or Zoom testifiers for this agenda item. Action: It was moved by Commissioner Daniele and seconded by Commissioner Perrin that the application to amend Special Permit No. 2023-000033, be approved based on the Planning Director's recommendation and the proposed amendment by the applicant to Condition No. 6. A roll call vote was taken, and the motion carried with five ayes(Daniele, Perrin, Cross, De Luz, and Lin). This hearing item ended at 9:44 a.m. [SEE HEARING TRANSCRIPT EXHIBIT B] 3. APPLICANT: PUNALEI MAKAI LIVING TRUST (PL-SMA-2023-00026) Application for a Special Management Area(SMA) Use Permit to demolish an existing dwelling and construct a new single-family dwelling, a first farm dwelling and related improvements on 9.51 acres of land situated in the Special Management Area. The subject parcel is located at 36-2676 Old Mamalahoa Highway, approximately 1,000 feet Page 2 of 4 Windward Planning Commission May 4,2023 Minutes south of Stevens Road/Hawai`i Belt Road intersection on the east(makai) side of the highway, Waipunalei Homesteads and Portion of Kahoahuna Homesteads, North Hilo, Hawaii, TMK: (3) 3-6-005:002. The Commission took up this item at 9:44 a.m. with three public members in the audience. There were no in-person or Zoom testifiers for this agenda item. Action: It was moved by Commissioner De Luz and seconded by Commissioner Perrin that the application for Special Management Use Permit No. 2023-000026, be approved based on the Planning Director's recommendation and additional condition to rescind the `Ohana permit. A roll call vote was taken, and the motion carried with five ayes (De Luz, Perrin, Cross, Daniele, and Lin). This hearing item ended at 9:59 a.m. [SEE HEARING TRANSCRIPT EXHIBIT Q PLANNING DIRECTOR'S REPORT Report on Special Management Area (SMA) determinations, minor permits action issued by the Planning Director. At 9:59 a.m. Chairman Lin introduced this item and stated the Short-Form Assessment Log and the SMA Assessment Log were emailed to the Commissioners. There were no questions about the log from Commissioners. AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING At 10:00 a.m. Chairman Lin introduced this item. Program Planning Manager, Maija Jackson stated there are two (2) agenda items for the June meeting and informed the Commission the purpose of this agenda item is to see whether the Commissioners have any items they wish to add to the future agendas. Chair Lin stated the Commission would like to be informed of any anticipated contested case petitions or anything like that. Ms. Jackson answered the department is unaware of any petitions at this time. ANNOUNCEMENTS Chairman Lin announced the second Joint Leeward and Windward Commission meeting is scheduled on Friday, June 2, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. and coincides with the regular Windward Planning Commission hearing on that day. He stated the Commission will be reviewing amendments to the Planning Commission Rules 8 and 9 prior to the monthly meeting. He also mentioned the Windward Commissioners will be participating in-person in the County Council Chambers in Hilo and the Leeward Commissioners remotely via Zoom. The Windward Planning Commission's next monthly meeting is tentatively scheduled for Friday,June 2, 2023, at the County of Hawaii County Council Chambers and the public may provide verbal testimony by interactive video conference via Zoom or at the physical location. Page 3 of 4 Windward Planning Commission May 4,2023 Minutes Chair Lin inquired whether it is possible to have the Leeward Commissioners participate in person if they wished to do so. He stated at the last joint meeting it was hard to communicate back and forth as the Leeward Commissioners were on the dais and the others were on Zoom. Ms. Jackson answered it can be offered but we cannot tell them to attend in person and will keep that idea in mind for future joint meetings and not use the Zoom platform for the Commission. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, it was moved by Commissioner Daniele and seconded by Commissioner Cross that the meeting be adjourned. A voice vote was taken, and the motion carried with all in favor. Chair Lin adjourned the meeting at 10:02 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Melissa Dacayanan-Salvador Secretary ATTEST: Dennis Lin, Chairman Windward Planning Commission Page 4 of 4 Windward Planning Commission May 4,2023 Minutes