HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-09-01 Applicant's Response to PD RecommendationsDaryn Arai
Land Use Planning Consultant
P.O. BOX 4501, HILO HAWAII 96720
PHONE: (808) 895-3218 EMAIL:
September 1, 2026
Mr. Louis Daniele III, Chairman and
Members of the Windward Planning Commission
101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3
Hilo, HI 96720
Dear Chair Daniele and Members of the Windward Planning Commission
Applicant’s Comments regarding Planning Director’s Recommendation regarding
Use Permit Application No. PL-USE-2026-000046 and
Special Permit Application No. PL-SPP-2026-000136
Applicant: Hilo Benioff Medical Center
TMKs -1-6-0003:007 (por) and 127 (por); Keaʻau, Puna, Hawaiʻi
On behalf of the Applicant, Hilo Benioff Medical Center and the landowner,
W.H. Shipman, Ltd., we would like to extend our collective gratitude to the members of the
Windward Planning Commission for their thoughtful consideration of the requested applications
before you that would, if approved, establish a much-needed health and wellness resource that
will dutifully serve the residents of East Hawaiʻi.
Our appreciation also extends to Planning Director Jeffrey Darrow and his capable team
of planners and support staff for their professional and effective guidance through this process
that has led Director Darrow to offer a recommendation of approval of both of our requested
applications. We could not be more pleased with the accurate and thoughtful analysis and we
accept the Director’s recommendations for both the Use and Special Permits and the proposed
conditions of approval, with one single exception as further discussed below.
For both permits and proposed conditions, the Planning Director has elected to not
include an “administrative time extension” option that has historically be incorporated in past
permits issued by the Windward Planning Commissions. Typically, the administrative time
extension would allow the Planning Director to give an Applicant, for good cause, additional
time to satisfy its performance requirements for a period not to exceed the original time period.
This is understandable for the Special Permit that would allow the access driveway since it
contains no recommended compliance deadlines.
However, for the Use Permit that would allow the proposed health center, we are worried
about Condition No. 4 that requires payment of the water commitment fee within 180 days of its
approval, or by March 2, 2027, if the Use Permit is approved on the date of your meeting. If the
Applicant, for whatever reason, is unable to meet this deadline, they will have to appear before
the Windward Planning Commission once again to amend Condition No. 4 and secure more
time, potentially delaying activities associated with the construction of the health center.
Item #3 & #4 Hilo Benioff Medical Center PL-USE-2026-046 & PL-SPP-2026-136
Applicant's Response to PD's RecommendationsInfo Given at WPC 9-3-26 Meeting
Mr. Louis Daniele III, Chairman and
Members of the Windward Planning Commission
September 1, 2026
Page 2 of 3
The Applicant has diligently tried to anticipate the requirements of the County and has
already prepared water demand calculations that were submitted to the Department of Water
Supply (DWS) in early August 2026. Once the water demand calculations are approved by
DWS and the required water commitment deposit fee is determined, the Applicant will make
prompt payment of the required deposit fee no later than March 2, 2027. While the Applicant is
reasonably comfortable that it will not encounter any difficulties in meeting this deadline,
unforeseen circumstances could arise given the significant complexities of developing a project
of this nature.
In the end, the Applicant is compelled to meet all requirements of the DWS in order for
potable water to be made available to support the operations of the proposed Keaʻau Benioff
Health Center. To place a hard and fast deadline solely on the payment of the water commitment
deposit is, in this particular instance, unreasonable.
Therefore, the Applicant is requesting that Condition No. 4 of Use Permit No. PL-USE-
2026-000046 be amended as follows by striking out reference to the 180-day deadline as
demonstrated below (material to be deleted is bracketed and struck-out):
4. Prior to the issuance of a water commitment by the Department of Water Supply (DWS),
the Applicant(s) shall submit the anticipated maximum daily water usage calculations as
prepared by a professional engineer licensed in the State of Hawaiʻi to the DWS. A
water commitment deposit shall be paid to the DWS [within one hundred and eighty
(180) days from the effective date of this ordinance ]in accordance with Rule 5 of the
Department of Water Supply’s Rules and Regulations. The Applicant is responsible for
maintaining valid water commitments to support the proposed use until such time that
required water facilities charges are paid in full.
Once again, thank you for your consideration of the requested applications and this
proposed amendment to Condition No. 4. We look forward to our appearance before you where
we will be more than happy to answer any questions that you may have.
With kind regards,
Daryn Arai
Land Use Planning Consultant
cc: Dan Brinkman, East Hawaii Regional CEO, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation
Margaret “Peggy” Farias, President, W.H. Shipman, Limited