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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-05-04 Windward Planning Commission Hearing Transcript WINDWARD PLANNING COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I HEARING TRANSCRIPT MAY 4, 2011 A regularly advertised hearing on the PLANNING DIRECTOR INITIATED AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 25 OF THE HAWAI‘I COUNTY CODE RELATING TO ADDITION OF CIVIL DEFENSE SIRENS TO CONCURRENCY REQUIREMENTS was called to order at 11:26 a.m. in the County of Hawai‘i, Aupuni Center Conference Room, 101 Pauahi Street, Hilo, Hawai‘i, with Chairman Zendo Kern presiding. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Zendo Kern, Dean Au, Takashi Domingo, Wallace Ishibashi, and Stephen Ono STAFF PRESENT: Julie Mecklenburg (Deputy Corporation Counsel), Daryn Arai (Planning Program Manager), Phyllis Fujimoto (Staff Planner), Maija Cottle (Staff Planner), and Jeff Darrow (Staff Planner). INITIATOR: PLANNING DIRECTOR Amendment to Chapter 25 (Zoning), Article 2, Division 4, Section 25-2-46 of the Hawai‘i County Code 1983 (2005 Edition, as amended) relating to the Addition of Civil Defense Sirens to . Concurrency Requirements KERN: Item number three, amendment to Chapter 25(Zoning), Article 2, Division 4, Section 25-2-46 of the Hawai‘i County Code relating to the Addition of Civil Defense Sirens to . Concurrency RequirementsDaryn. ARAI: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Commissioners. As you recall the recent Chilean tsunami events in 2010 and the more recent earthquake in Japan in March of 2011 underscored the need for a comprehensive civil defense warning system for the island, for the island and throughout the State for that matter. To that end, the State has taken the initiative, in coordination with the County Civil Defense Agency, to install new civil defense sirens throughout the island. On March st 1 of this year the State Civil Defense even went out to bid to install sirens at certain locations like Mauna Lani Resort, Waikoloa Beach Resort, and Kona Village. So it is quite obvious there is a need to provide these warning systems commensurate with development and as developments proceed on this island. You have seen a previous bill by Council that attempted to introduce legislation to require these sirens as part of plan approval. The Commission did not, forwarded an unfavorable recommendation of that request, as you may recall. And what you have before you is the Planning Department’s proposal to tie in the provision of these warning sirens as part of our current currency requirements. 1 EXHIBIT B The current concurrency requirements contained within the Zoning Code ties it in with the provisions of roadways and water systems commensurate with development. We would like to see that civil defense warning sirens also been made a part of the concurrency requirements. So with that, please note that on page 2 of your report that the requirement shall only apply to certain types of projects. One being 25 or more residential units; number two commercial space, industrial space, or a combination thereof equal to or greater than 30,000 square feet of gross floor area; and third a combination of residential units, commercial space and industrial space equal to or greater than 35,000 square feet of gross floor area. So with that, I stand ready to answer any questions you may have. KERN: Are there any questions for staff? DOMINGO: Mr. Chairman? KERN: Commissioner Domingo. DOMINGO: Mr. Arai, would this be applicable in any part of the island? ARAI: Yes. It is an amendment to the County Code so it would be applicable island wide. DOMINGO: Okay. And I mean, I mean the installation of those sirens would it be just along the, nearest to the seacoast where development has taken place? ARAI: No, it won't be limited. The previous bill that was sent out to you from Council had applied only to the SMA area, if I remember correctly, and within a one-mile radius. DOMINGO: Okay, thank you. KERN: I have a question. What is the intent of putting these sirens all over the island? If somebody wanted to do something in Volcano they’d have to put one up there, and potentially trying to tie into the siren system may be very hard from Volcano, not to mention if a tsunami is coming that big I’ve got to probably drive up to Volcano where we’re going to be safe. LEITHEAD TODD: The siren system is not just a tsunami warning system. It is for all types of Civil Defense warnings. So in theory depending on where State Civil Defense determines these should be, these could be for, when I was a kid it was the deck-and-cover air raid warning -- it could be a hurricane which would impact the entire island, it could be lava flow, you know, trying to warn people to turn on, sometimes the sirens are more about turning on your radio and finding out what the warnings are for, more than anything else. But it is envisioned as an island-wide system that addresses not only tsunami. I think we’re most concerned about those areas. But, you know, if you’ve been to Kauai when the hurricane hit, it 2 EXHIBIT B hit the entire island regardless of whether you were next to the coast or not. And so we want a system that is island wide and takes care of all kinds of contingencies. KERN: Thank you. Any other questions from staff? Seeing none, would you like to add anything else, Madam Director? LEITHEAD TODD: No. KERN: Okay, then for the record nobody signed up from the public to testify. ONO: I -. KERN: Commissioner Ono. ONO: I’m sorry, I’m just thinking off the top of my head. You know, when we make these recommendations, my concern is, are we looking at where the funding is going to be coming from? KERN: I can answer or you can answer. This one is built in. That is it is basically the developer’s responsibility or kuleana to build it. If they are going to do a subdivision of 25 lots or more, they have to put in an alert system in there. If they’re doing a commercial building of certain size or more or mixed use, then it triggers that. LEITHEAD TODD: There is a plan for the State to provide funding for a number of sirens, and we are going to be implementing that, and there are a number of critical areas first. The concern is that if someone wants to kind of get ahead of the State putting these sirens in and thereby increase the density in an area, the traffic in an area, and thereby increase the need to evacuate people, that if they want to go ahead and build before the State builds the siren, then they need to put the siren in first when they get to a certain density. That’s basically -. Otherwise, they need to wait for the State to come in and build it. ONO: One more question. KERN: Yes, go ahead, Commissioner Ono. ONO: Daryn mentioned the thing about these resort areas. Are they grandfathered to be excused or will they have to put in one of these siren things? ARAI: Well, the way I see it, there is no such thing as grandfather. I mean it’s a matter of providing these types of needed warning systems in place to address existing development. The reason for concurrency is basically before any additional development is approved, making matters worse, that these types of minimum standards or minimum facilities are provided in the area, no different than road, no different than water. Those facilities must be in place to provide adequate support as development commences, pursues. So -. 3 EXHIBIT B ONO: What about established resorts? ARAI: No different than, well, Kona Village is unfortunately gone. But Mauna Lani and Waikoloa Beach Resorts did not have adequate warning systems in place, which is why the State is taking an initiative to secure funding and provide these things. So they are addressing these so- called grandfathered areas that did not have sirens when they were developed. ONO: Thank you. KERN: So by this, this amendment will not trigger them having to do that? LEITHEAD TODD: Well, what it would mean is that if Mauna Lanai has land on which they could do further development, or Mauna Kea Beach has land they could do further development, they couldn’t do the additional development beyond what they already have if it met one of these triggers either, you know, 25 units in a subdivision or commercial space. And it’s basically that we have a status quo right now where it is inadequate. We just don’t want to make it worse, that’s all. That’s what this is about. KERN: Okay, any other questions? Seeing none, nobody signed up from the public to testify. So with that, I’d be willing to entertain a motion. Commissioner Au? AU: I make a motion to send a favorable recommendation to the Hawai‘i County Council for the amendment to Chapter 25, Article 2, Division 4, Section 25-2-46. KERN: Is there a second? DOMINGO: Second. KERN: Okay, motion has been made and seconded. Any discussion? Seeing none, Daryn. ARAI: Thank you. Mr. Chairman. Commissioner Au? AU: Aye. ARAI: Commissioner Domingo? DOMINGO: Aye. ARAI: Commissioner Ishibashi? ISHIBASHI: Aye. ARAI: Commissioner Ono? ONO: Aye. 4 EXHIBIT B ARAI: And Mr. Chairman? KERN: Aye. ARAI: Mr. Chairman, motion carried with five aye votes. The discussion ended at 11:36 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Sharon M. Nomura, Secretary Windward Planning Commission 5 EXHIBIT B