HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-10-05 Wndward Planning Commission Minutes WINDWARD PLANNING COMMISSION
COUNTY OF HAWAI`I
MINUTES
OCTOBER 5, 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, Lauren Balog, John Cross,
Wayne De Luz, and Chantel Perrin.
ALSO PRESENT: Suzanna Tiapula, Esq. (Counsel to the Commission), Jean Campbell, Esq.
(Counsel to the Planning Department), Zendo Kern (Deputy Planning Director), Norren Kato
(Planning Program Manager), Clinton Mercado (Planner), Alex Roy (Planner), Janice Hata
(Zoom Host), Maija Jackson (Planning Program Manager), and Melissa Dacayanan-Salvador
(Commission Secretary).
Six 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 9:02 a.m. the Commission took up the minutes of the September 1, 2023, Windward Planning
Commission meeting. No corrections were offered. It was moved by Vice Chair 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 9:03 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 testifiers who wished to speak at
this time.
NEW BUSINESS
1. APPLICANT: CONSTANCE IMAMURA (PL-REZ-2023-000048)
Application for a Change of Zone from an Agricultural-3 acres (A-3a) to a Single-Family
Residential-20,000 square feet(RS-20) zoning district for a 21,780-square feet portion of
a larger 5.1 acres of land. The subject property is located at 1212 West Kawailani Street,
approximately 190 feet west(mauka) of its intersection with Puhau Street, Waidkea
Homesteads, South Hilo, Hawaii, TMK: (3) 2-4-079:002.
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The Commission took up this item at 9:04 a.m. with six 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 Perrin that a
favorable recommendation be forwarded to the County Council on the application for Change of
Zone PL-REZ-2023-000048. A roll call vote was taken, and the motion carried with six ayes
(Daniele, Perrin, Balog, Cross, De Luz, and Lin), no noes.
This item ended at 9:20 a.m. [SEE HEARING TRANSCRIPT EXHIBIT A]
2. APPLICANT: HANA U`I LLC (PL-SMA-2023-000034)
Application for a Special Management Area Use Permit to construct a primary farm
dwelling, an additional farm dwelling, conduct agricultural uses (Ulu Orchard), and
related development on 7.35 acres of land situated in the Special Management Area. The
subject parcel is located along the makai side of Hawaii Belt Road along a private access
easement, approximately 1,300 feet south of the intersection of Leopolino Road and
Hawaii Belt Road, Kamae`e & Wailua Government Tract, North Hilo, Hawaii,
TMK: (3) 3-1-001:008.
The Commission took up this item at 9:20 a.m. with four public members in the audience.
Two individuals (Diane Marshall and John Hammerstrom)provided testimony in-person.
Action: It was moved by Vice Chair Daniele and seconded by Commissioner Perrin that the
application for a Special Management Area Use Permit, Docket No. PL-SMA-2023-000034 be
approved based on the Planning Director's recommendation. A roll call vote was taken, and the
motion carried with six ayes (Daniele, Perrin, Balog, Cross, De Luz, and Lin), no noes.
This hearing item ended at 9:55 a.m. [SEE HEARING TRANSCRIPT EXHIBIT B]
PLANNING DIRECTOR'S REPORT
Report on Special Management Area (SMA) determinations and minor permits issued by
the Planning Director for the month of September 2023.
At 9:56 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 9:56 a.m. Chairman Lin introduced this item. Planning Program Manager, Maija Jackson
stated there are zero items tentatively scheduled for the November meeting and the meeting will
be cancelled.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
Director Zendo Kern gave an update on the General Plan. He announced the Draft General Plan
was released and the Department is currently obtaining public comments as well as having
upcoming public meetings. He mentioned if anyone is interested at looking or wishes to
download the draft General Plan it can be found at cohplanning.konveio.com. Director Kern
also stated a hard copy may be provided if requested, and the Plan is available at the Planning
Departments and will also be provided to the libraries on the island.
The Director mentioned there will be a public meeting on Saturday, October 7, 2023 at the Aunty
Sally's Luau House in Hilo from 1:30 p.m. through 3:30 p.m. It is a public workshop with
various departments, Directors and staff members collecting feedback. He stated there will also
be Zoom meetings on October 10t' and October 18t' from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. as an online
Zoom workshop with the similar platform in-person. He thanked the Planning Staff and the
other departments for participating. Chair Lin asked when the public comment period ends, and
Director Kern answered it is planning to end on November 30, 2023. Chair Lin also asked when
the last time was the General Plan was updated. Director Kern stated the current General Plan
was adopted in 2005.
Planning Program Manager, Maija Jackson stated the Windward Planning Commission's next
monthly meeting will be on Thursday, December 7, 2023 with currently one (1) item tentatively
scheduled.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, it was moved by Vice Chair Daniele and seconded by
Commissioner Perrin that the meeting be adjourned. A voice vote was taken, and the motion
carried with all in favor. Chair Lin adjourned the meeting at 10:00 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Melissa Dacayanan-Salvador
Secretary
ATTEST:
Dennis Lin, Chairman
Windward Planning Commission
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