2010-11-10 TPD_USE PERMIT _TELECOM

Home

WINDWARD PLANNING COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I HEARING TRANSCRIPT NOVEMBER 10, 2010 PLANNING DIRECTOR’S AMENDMENT TO A regularly advertised hearing on the CHAPTER 25 RELATING TO USE PERMITS AND TELECOMMUNICATION TOWERS was called to order at 11:58 a.m. in the County of Hawai‘i Councilroom , County Building, 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo, Hawai‘i, with Chairman Rell Woodward presiding. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Rell Woodward, Dean Au, Takashi Domingo, Zendo Kern, and Wallace Ishibashi. STAFF PRESENT: Gerald Takase (Deputy Corporation Counsel), BJ Leithead Todd (Planning Director), Daryn Arai (Planning Program Manager), Jeff Darrow (Staff Planner) and Maija Cottle (Staff Planner). And 5 people from the public in attendance. ABSENT AND EXCUSED: Stephen Ono INITIATOR: PLANNING DIRECTOR Amendment to Chapter 25 (Zoning Code), Articles 2, 4 and 5 of the Hawai‘i County Code, 1983 (2005 Edition, as amended), relating to Use Permits and Telecommunication Towers within the Open-zoned district. WOODWARD: The final item on the agenda is No. 7, Initiator:Planning Director, Amendment to Chapter 25 (Zoning Code), Articles 2, 4 and 5, relating to Use Permits and Telecommunication Towers within the Open-zoned district. Mr. Arai. ARAI: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The proposed bill before you is, again, simply to implement a mechanism where a Use Permit is required prior to the establishment of telecommunication towers and antennas within the Open- zoned district. As currently written, the Zoning Code outrightly permits the erection and construction of a cell tower on Open-designated lands. And that by just its face value strikes contrary to what we believe is the intent of the Open-zoned district, which is to provide for open space recreational opportunities, to preserve scenic vistas and to preserve archaeological sites. We feel that this measure is basically a check and balance to ensure that those concerns and the preservation of the Open-zoned district, not preservation but the intent of the Open-zoned district is maintained. So with that we hope for your favorable consideration of this bill. WOODWARD: Very good. Any questions? DOMINGO: Just -. 1 EXHIBIT C