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Home My WebLink About2023-09-01 Windward Planning Commission Minutes WINDWARD PLANNING COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAI`I MINUTES SEPTEMBER 1, 2023 The Windward Planning Commission met in regular session at 9:00 a.m., in the County of Hawaii, Council Chambers, 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo, Hawaii, with Chairman Dennis Lin presiding. This meeting was streamed live on YouTube. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Dennis Lin, Louis Daniele 111, John Cross, Wayne De Luz, and Chantel Perrin (from 9:43 a.m.). ABSENT AND EXCUSED: Lauren Balog. ALSO PRESENT: Suzanna Tiapula, Esq. (Counsel to the Commission), Jean Campbell, Esq. (Counsel to the Planning Department), Jeffrey Darrow (Deputy Planning Director), Jessica Andrews (Planner), Clinton Mercado (Planner), Alex Roy (Planner), Tracie-Lee Camero (Zoom Host), Christian Kay (Acting Planning Program Manager), and Melissa Dacayanan-Salvador (Commission Secretary). Eight public members were in the audience. A moment of silence was taken for those who lost their lives in the Maui tragedy. A quorum was present. Chairman Lin called the meeting to order and introduced Commissioners and staff. APPROVAL OF MINUTES At 9:03 a.m. the Commission took up the minutes of the August 3, 2023, Windward Planning Commission meeting. No corrections were offered. It was moved by Commissioner Cross and seconded by Vice Chair Daniele 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 9:04 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. It was moved by Vice Chair Daniele and seconded by Commissioner Cross that public testimony be closed. A voice vote was taken, and the motion carried with all in favor. Page 1 of 4 Windward Planning Commission September 1,2023 Minutes NEW BUSINESS 1. APPLICANT: SHAWN & STEPHANIE CHING (PL-REZ-2023-000044) Application for a Change of Zone from a Family Agricultural-3 acres (FA-3a) zoning district to an Agricultural-5 acres (A-5a) zoning district for 34.559 acres of land. The subject property is located at 47-5211 Old Mamalahoa Highway, approximately 0.5 miles southeast of its intersection with Mamalahoa Road, Por. Parker Ranch, Kapoaula, Kamoku, Hamakua, Hawaii, TMK: (3) 4-7-007:048. The Commission took up this item at 9:06 a.m. with eight public members in the audience. There were no in-person or Zoom testifiers for this agenda item. Action: It was moved by Commissioner Cross and seconded by Commissioner De Luz that a favorable recommendation be forwarded to the County Council on the application for Change of Zone PL-REZ-2023-000044. A roll call vote was taken, and the motion carried with four ayes (Cross, De Luz, Daniele, and Lin), no noes and one absent and excused (Balog). This item ended at 9:17 a.m. [SEE HEARING TRANSCRIPT EXHIBIT A] 2. APPLICANT: SANDRA KANESHIRO (PL-REZ-2023-000046) Application for a Change of Zone from an Agricultural-3 acres (A-3a) to a Family- Agricultural-1 acre (FA-la) zoning district for 3.16 acres of land. The subject property is located at 605 Makalika Street, approximately 540 feet southwest (mauka) of its intersection with Railroad Avenue, Pana`ewa Farm Lots, South Hilo, Hawaii, TMK: (3) 2-2-048:092. The Commission took up this item at 9:17 a.m. with eight public members in the audience. There were no in-person or Zoom testifiers for this agenda item. Action: It was moved by Vice Chair Daniele and seconded by Commissioner Cross that a favorable recommendation be forwarded to the County Council on the application for Change of Zone PL-REZ-2023-000046. A roll call vote was taken, and the motion carried with four ayes (Daniele, Cross, De Luz, and Lin), no noes and one absent and excused (Balog). This hearing item ended at 9:30 a.m. [SEE HEARING TRANSCRIPT EXHIBIT B] Chairman Lin called a recess at 9:30 a.m., and the meeting was reconvened at 9:43 a.m. 3. APPLICANT: ALOHA KIA (PL-SMA-2023-000032) Application for a Special Management Area Use Permit to allow for the development of a new car dealership and service station on 1.795 acres of land situated within the Special Management Area. The subject property is located at 92 Kalaniana`ole Street approximately 760-feet northwest of its intersection with Kanoelehua Avenue, Waiakea, South Hilo, Hawaii, TMK: (3) 2-1-006:002. Page 2 of 4 Windward Planning Commission September 1,2023 Minutes 4. APPLICANT: ALOHA KIA (PL-REZ-2023-000047) Application for a Change of Zone from a Resort-Hotel-750 square feet(V-.75) zoning district to a Limited-Industrial-20,000 (ML-20) square feet zoning district for 1.795 acres of land. The subject property is located at 92 Kalaniana`ole Street approximately 760-feet northwest of its intersection with Kanoelehua Avenue, Waiakea, South Hilo, Hawaii, TMK: (3) 2-1-006:002. The Commission took up these two items simultaneously at 9:43 a.m., with two public members in the audience. Commissioner De Luz recused himself due to the existing business relationship with the applicant. There were no in-person or Zoom testifiers for this agenda item. Action for ALOHA KIA (PL-SMA-2023-000032): It was moved by Commissioner Cross and seconded by Commissioner Perrin that the application for Special Management Use Permit No. PL-SMA-2023-000032 be approved based on the Deputy Planning Director's recommendation. A roll call vote was taken, and the motion carried with four ayes (Cross, Perrin, Daniele, and Lin), no noes, one recused (De Luz) and one absent and excused (Balog). Action for ALOHA KIA (PL-REZ-2023-000047): It was moved by Commissioner Perrin and seconded by Vice Chair Daniele that a favorable recommendation be forwarded to the County Council on the application for Change of Zone PL-REZ-2023-000047, based on the Deputy Planning Director's recommendation. A roll call vote was taken, and the motion carried with four ayes (Perrin, Daniele, Cross, and Lin), no noes, one recused (De Luz) and one absent and excused (Balog). This hearing item ended at 10:08 a.m. [SEE HEARING TRANSCRIPT EXHIBIT Q PLANNING DIRECTOR'S REPORT Report on Hawaii County Council Resolution No. 203-23 adopting the County of Hawaii Integrated Climate Action Plan. At 10:09 a.m. Chairman Lin introduced this item and stated the Hawaii County Council Resolution No. 2023-23 were emailed to the Commissioners. Planner Alex Roy commented on highlights of the Hawaii County Integrated Climate Action Plan or ICAP. He stated the ICAP introduces the County strategic roadmap for implementing climate action and identifies actions County can take and holds the County accountable for some of those actions. The plan also includes the climate action framework which shows the complex interactions between global climate change and local systems. Chair Lin asked how that impacts the Planning Department operations and the interaction between the Commission and the Planning Department. He also asked if it would have any influence on how the reports will be written in the future and will it affect the decision making or what kind of things the Commission have to look at while making decisions. Mr. Roy answered Page 3 of 4 Windward Planning Commission September 1,2023 Minutes "yes" and recommended the Commission to look at the information and that these are potential impacts. Currently one of the key changes is that the Planning Department looks at sea level rise within the Special Management Area(SMA) as well as climate change and storm surges. Commissioner Cross commented that the plan recommends increased water storage capacity, including reservoirs. He stated we need more reservoirs, but reservoirs are being shut down by State of Hawai`i Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) more often than they are being approved and that DLNR is recommending reservoirs be destroyed and deregulated. Report on Special Management Area (SMA) determinations and minor permits issued by the Planning Director for the month of August 2023. At 10:20 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 10:20 a.m. Chairman Lin introduced this item. Acting Planning Program Manager, Christian Kay stated there are two (2) agenda items tentatively scheduled for the October meeting. ANNOUNCEMENTS Chairman Lin announced the Windward Planning Commission's next monthly meeting is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, October 5,2023, 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. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, it was moved by Vice Chair 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 10:21 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Melissa Dacayanan-Salvador Secretary ATTEST: Dennis Lin, Chairman Windward Planning Commission Page 4 of 4 Windward Planning Commission September 1,2023 Minutes