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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-09-01 Windward Exh C (Item #3 & #4 Aloha Kia) WINDWARD PLANNING COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAI`I HEARING TRANSCRIPT SEPTEMBER 1, 2023 A regularly advertised hearing on the application of ALOHA KIA (PL-SMA-2023-000032 AND PL-REZ-2023-000047) was heard at 9:43 a.m. in the County of Hawaii Council Chambers in Hilo, 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo, Hawaii with Chair Dennis Lin presiding. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Dennis Lin, Louis Daniele III, 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). And two public members in the audience. 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. 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, Waimea, South Hilo, Hawaii, TMK: (3) 2-1-006:002. Secretary's Note: [indecipherable] indicates that there were technical and/or internet difficulties, which made the conversation inaudible. LIN: It's now 9:43 a.m. and I will note that for the record Commissioner Perrin is now here. We'll move on to agenda Item No. 3 which is applicant Aloha Kia. I do want to state for the record that for agenda Items No. 3 and 4, Commissioner De Luz has a conflict and if Commissioner, if you could make a statement and we can you recuse your from these items. DE LUZ: Sorry Chair, you want me to make a statement. 1 EXHIBIT C LIN: Yeah,just stating the conflict and then you can recuse yourself from this. DE LUZ: Oh yeah, yes. My conflict is buy Hyundai and Subaru. Sorry, I had to throw that in. He's not here. No, it was just determined in talking to Corp Counsel that it would be better to recuse myself. With your permission. LIN: Okay, with that you can recuse yourself for the rest of the meeting and step yourself down — TIAPULA: I want to clarify that— LIN: Go ahead. TIAPULA: —the reasons for that recusal are an existing financial relationship or an existing business relationship between you and the applicant. DE LUZ: So, the conflict is we mutually do business. TIAPULA: Okay. Thank you. LIN: Thank you Commissioner. With that stated, I was waiting for Commissioner De Luz to recuse himself. [indecipherable] so, we can start taking up these 2 agenda items. Okay, so will start with agenda Item 93. Applicant Aloha Kia, application number 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 parcel number 2. Are we doing both at the same time? Yeah. Okay, okay and we're also doing agenda Item 94. Applicant is also Aloha Kia, application PL-REZ-2023-000047 an 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 parcel number 2. Okay, staff presentation, Alex. ROY: Okay. Good morning, Commissioners, thank you. As the Chair said this for a, this is for two applications. One Special Management Area Use Permit application or SMA Major and the Change of Zone or rezone application. Here's a map of the project site. You can see it's located right here in Hilo, south of Banyan Drive and Ice Ponds next door to the Suisan Warehouse site and across the street from the newly named SCP Hotel. The applicant is requesting a Change for Zone from Resort-Hotel to Limited-Industrial to allow for the development of a new car dealership, the Aloha Kia. They're going to convert an existing commercial building to accommodate the showroom, sales office, and parts department. A 120 square foot addition will be included to support additional offices and a lounge. They're going to 2 EXHIBIT C construct a new 6,770 square foot building to house eight(8) service bays and a detailing area, and then the remaining property will be developed to a 135 parking stalls for customers, employees, and of course the inventory for Aloha Kia. Additional work includes landscaping, paving, and ingress/egress improvements to both Kalaniana`ole and Kamehameha. County sewer and water is provided inadequate for the project. Here's a County zoning map of the area. As we see right now the property is zoned Resort-Hotel with Limited-Industrial and General-Industrial on the south side of Kalaniana`ole. You have Open zoning that includes the Banyan Drive area and the Ice Ponds across the street and then some Neighborhood-Commercial and Industrial-Commercial located nearby. State Land Use is primarily Urban with the Ice Ponds area being within the Conservation district. LUPAG shows the entire area including the subject parcel, south of Kalaniana`ole as Industrial. The Resort area is across the street includes the hotel and some of the restaurants, Open zoning of Banyan and then some Medium Density Urban nearby. Here's one aerial photograph of the project site. You can see the existing building and the majority of the parcel is just kind of cleared with some gravel parking, things like that. Two entrances are also visible and then you see the Ice Ponds across the street, on the top of the picture the hotel, SCP Hotel of course on the left-hand side. Here's another close up showing the building, the entrance to Kalaniana`ole Street and then you can see the entrance to Kamehameha Avenue. You can see that the property is pretty much cleared, graded, and very little vegetation if any and a couple palm trees. Here's a site plan, a proposed site plan for the project. So, they did the color coding which is kind of nice. It shows the yellow is the proposed new building. That would be down here. This is that service bay and detailing area and you've the existing structure. They're going to utilize the entire structure and then the pink showing the proposed addition to that and of course you can see the layout of the parking and then some landscaping. And then here's kind of a cross section showing the heights and the facade of the building,just for reference. Here's some site photos of the visible site and walked all around. So this is from Kamehameha looking towards makai. You can see the back of the existing building. On your left would be the new service bay area and then pretty much the majority of this picture would be parking for their vehicles. Here's kind of a close-up of the structure and then the entrances off to your right picture. Here's the entrance too, this is looking west along Kalaniana`ole Street. This is one of the entrances here. They just repaved and redid as well know Kalaniana`ole. So, that street is new. There's existing sewer grades that all been redesigned. There's two actually on just off this property right on the road. So, two to collect drainage so there really wouldn't be any kind of drainage going across the street into Ice Ponds. It'll all be captured by the sewer grades. This is a view of the property entrance; this is looking west along Kamehameha. You can see the entrance to the property on the right and then on the left-hand side and the majority of that is all the airport property. And then here just for reference a view of the entrance on Kalaniana`ole looking east. You can see the Ice Ponds the proximity of the Ice Ponds on the left-hand side of the photograph. 3 EXHIBIT C At this time, the Deputy Director's recommendation for PL-SMA-2023-000032 is approval with stated conditions and then for PL-REZ-2023-000047 a favorable recommendation be forwarded to the County Council. I can take questions. LIN: Thank you Alex. Any questions Commissioners for staff? DANIELE: I have one question. Is that building occupied at the present time that's on the property? ROY: It is. There are a couple of small businesses, restaurant, a couple small other businesses that have been notified that they'll have to make other arrangements. But in speaking with the applicant and their agent they have some time. So, this is the first step. So, they'll have a little bit of time but they're well aware they need to move. DANIELE: Thank you. LIN: Okay. PERRIN: Good morning, I have a question. LIN: Go ahead Commissioner Perrin. PERRIN: I just wanted to make sure that that development is not going to have any adverse effects on the environment. Hence, we have that icy ponds across the street that our children all love to utilize and then number two because it's Aloha Kia moving into that area. Is there any way they could adopt that highway and maybe assist in the maintaining of that area. Something to consider. ROY: Aw', that you might have to ask the applicant as far as the adoption of a highway is concerned but, as I'm a Senior SMA Planner for this County. I definitely environments first and foremost in my mind and that was my first concern. Was any impacts to Ice Ponds. The new construction of that road installed a lot of storm water catchment drainage and that's why I was happy to see that there were two storm water catchment drainage area grates right up at the edge of the property on Kalaniana`ole Highway. So, anything coming. I mean they don't have to get a grading permit; they have to get a discharged and a storm water management. But, if anything does it would be captured right there and would not cross the street. So, that was one of my concerns because on the day I was there, there was a ton of kids diving off the bridge so, we know that's a very popular spot. But yeah, I did take a look at that. PERRIN: Thank you. LIN: Thank you. Any other questions Commissioners? Okay, if not let's move on to the applicant. So, if the applicants and their applicant's representative, please come forward. [Two males from the audience went up to the testifier's table]. If you could please raise your right hand, I'll swear both of you at the same time. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth on this matter now before the Windward Planning Commission? 4 EXHIBIT C MALES AT TESTIFIER TABLE: I do. I do. LIN: Okay, please speak directly into the microphone and state your name and the area you reside in and whom you represent. And also, have you received the background and recommendation reports from the Planning Department, and do you agree with the recommendations including the proposed conditions? PIPAN: John Pipan, Land Planning Hawaii assisting the applicant, Aloha Kia. Represented today by Russ Wong to my right. I live outside of Honoka`a and Mr. Wong lives on Oahu. He's flown in this morning We have reviewed and received the Deputy Director's recommendation and proposed conditions. We appreciate all the hard work that's gone into those proposed conditions. We don't have any issues with accepting those conditions as they've been stated. Thank you, Commissioners, for being here. Thanks Commissioner Perrin for making the extra effort to come in this morning. So, this is a straightforward request to my eye. I think staff, Alex Roy, presented well a summary of the request. It fits into the area; it complies with the General Plan Industrial designation and all of the administrative ministerial permits that we will have to comply with. Beyond this point we'll ensure that there's no impacts on the environment again. The grubbing, grading permits, those storm water pollution protection plans that we'll develop and implement, we'll control the runoff, connect to the sewer system the properties already serve by all required utilities. We've been mindful of scenic impacts due to the development. We'll be beautifying the site with landscaping and shading the parking spaces with trees and so on. We think this is an important step for Aloha Kia and this area it'll allow them to improve their facilities and enhance their employment options opportunities. Aloha Kia and I'll have Russ speak to this more if he'd like too is a leader in EV adoption. And so, we'll be complying of course with the new EV parking requirements so that will be addressed at the Plan Approval stage which will come after the rezone. So, with that, we're um', thank you very much for being here today. We appreciate the work that you do on these projects. It's not taken for granted and with that we're ready to answer any questions you might have. Appreciate your time. LIN: Thank you Mr. Pipan. Any questions or actually if the applicant you want to provide any further comments or a statement to the Commissioners before we ask questions. WONG: We're proud to be here in Hilo. I've been here for 20 years, right on Kanoelehua. Looking forward to the opportunity of improving the service level and the facility that we could offer our customers and I do think the automotive industry is a leader in making sure the environment is properly handled and as it's transitioning more and more towards EV's. There's a lot less fluids, it's, I think, right opportunity at the right time for us and appreciate all the work you guys have done. LIN: Thank you. Commissioners, maybe Ms. Perrin if you want to re-ask your question to the applicant. 5 EXHIBIT C PERRIN: Thank you. Thank you so much. Welcome to Hilo. I'm myself is from Oahu originally, I've been here for 4 years, and I love it. Reason why I love it is just the natural, the forest and it's not over developed like Oahu, and you can still live, and I want to try to maintain as much of that as we possibly can for future generations to come. So, I asked the two, I'm sorry the gentleman that was up there before you. What can you folks do as far as that highway. Are you folks able to adopt the highway and help maintain that area. A lot of times we have these big-name companies that come in and they kind of just develop, leave it, and they don't do anything in the community to help preserve what we have. We're on an island. It's all we've got. Is there anything Aloha Kia can do to help our community out? WONG: Um' the company is very committed to community involvement and making sure we participate in the community. I have a lot of family that lives up here in Hilo. My sister, I have aunts and uncles, and a lot of big families in the Hilo area that I'm related to. Definitely, we do get involved with, when you say, "Adopt a Highway". You know there's programs that I'm aware of where they adopt a two-mile stretch and regularly go and pick up trash and stuff. Don't know exactly what opportunities would be available. But for us to be successful in selling cars, we have to be a part of the community, or the community is not going to want to buy cars from us. So, that is something that's very important. Our General Manager looks at ways that you know, he's on site, lives here and tells us "Hey, this is what we need to do". So, yes, to answer the question is definitely like you said, a business that comes to town and just builds something and just takes money out of the community generally is not going to last for long. LIN: You're good? PERRIN: Yes, okay. So, you'll do your part to kind of look into it and make sure just like your name Aloha Kia that Aloha is move forward into the community. WONG: Absolutely. PERRIN: Awesome. That's what I want to hear. Okay. LIN: Thank you, thank you Commissioner Perrin. Commissioner Daniele did you want to repeat your question to the applicant regarding the current tenants in the commercial structure. DANIELE: Yeah, as I had stated before I was inquiring if the building on the said property is occupied and that was my question. PIPAN: Yes. Thank you for the question, Commissioner Daniele. It is occupied. The currents are aware of the proposal to move Aloha Kia there. It looks like assuming, presuming we get through our Planning Commission meeting with a favorable recommendation and approval for the SMA permits today. We're looking at another couple few months of meetings with the County Council to finalize the Change of Zone. Then Plan Approval, then we can begin building permits, so there's still a lot of time perhaps a year, a year and a half before work would begin to impact those tenants. They'll be given plenty of time to make other arrangements to move to another site. 6 EXHIBIT C DANIELE: Thank you. LIN: Any other Commissioners have any questions? No. Okay, I guess my question is similar on the lines of Vice Chair Daniele. So, currently Aloha Kia is the landowner of this property? No. PIPAN: Bay Lighting. So we have also reviewed the recommendations with the current landowner as an agreement. So, this is as often happens in real estate transactions kind of a contingent sale on the Change of Zone being granted. LIN Okay. Okay. Because my question was kind of in the minds of, what is the landlord going to help out with those tenants, right. Cause I mean, you guys are coming in but ultimately, it's the landlord who decided to come into a disagreement with Aloha Kia. Just worried about how much time they have to get their matters, their affairs in order and any financial assistance that landlord is providing them in terms of"hey, we're terminating your lease early or whatnot". WONG: I can speak to that. PIPAN: Please. WONG: So, the longest lease left expires in October of 2025. We will honor every remaining lease. We've also told the landlord because we recognize when people are looking for something else, if they choose to find something and move sooner. You know, we would honor whatever commitments that they have remaining to the landlord. So, nobody will be impacted adversely by a lease. If and we haven't discussed this with any of the tenants but, I am thinking that the length of time it takes to get permits and stuff. If it takes longer, we would more than be willing to allow them to continue to operate, probably on a month to month. If they aren't, if they don't have things by October 2025 and we're not ready to go by then. But hopefully things will move along, and we'll be ready to go. But we will honor any remaining lease that's there. LIN: Okay, thank you. Sorry any other questions or comments. All right, do we have take the vote on separate items. Okay. So, we'll start with Item No. 3, is there a motion for action and this is the application for a Special Management Area Use Permit. CROSS: I can make the move to approve. I move that the application for the Special Management Area Use Permit, Docket No. PL-SMA-2023-000032, be approve based on the Planning's Director's recommendation, which shall be adopted. LIN: Thank you, it's been moved by Commissioner Cross, is there a second to that motion? PERRIN: I second. LIN: Seconded by Commissioner Perrin. Any discussion? Okay, seeing none. Alex, if you could do the roll call vote for agenda item No. 3. 7 EXHIBIT C ROY: Commissioner Cross? CROSS: Aye. ROY: Commissioner Perrin? PERRIN: Aye. ROY: Vice Chair Daniele? DANIELE: Aye. ROY: And Chair Lin? LIN: Aye. ROY: This is for the SMA, which passes four to zero. LIN: Okay, thank you. We'll now move on to the agenda Item No. 4, which is the Change of Zone from Resort-Hotel to Limited-Industrial. Do I have a motion for action on this agenda item now. PERRIN: I move that a favorable recommendation be forwarded by the County Council on the application for Change of Zone, Docket No. PL-REZ-2023-000047 based on the Planning Director's recommendations, which shall be adopted. LIN: Okay, it's been moved by Commissioner Perrin. Is there a second to that motion? DANIELE: Aye. LIN: Okay, it's been seconded by Vice Chair Daniele. Is there any discussion? Okay, seeing no discussion. Alex, roll call vote on item No. 4. ROY: Commissioner Perrin? PERRIN: Aye. ROY: Vice Chair Daniele? DANIELE: Aye. ROY: Commissioner Cross? CROSS: Aye. 8 EXHIBIT C ROY: And Chair Lin? LIN: Aye. ROY: This is for the rezone; motion carries four to zero. LIN: Okay, you'll be notified of the Commission's decision in writing. I just want to say thank you Aloha Kia for supporting our community for so long. I think we're all appreciative that you guys bring local jobs here and it's not just solely reliant on tourism and diversifying our economy is so important. So, I just appreciate that. PIPAN: Thank you all very much. LIN: Thank you. The item ended at 10:08 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Melissa Dacayanan-Salvador, Secretary Windward Planning Commission 9 EXHIBIT C