HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-08-18 Leeward Planning Commission Minutes
LEEWARD PLANNING COMMISSION
COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I
MINUTES
AUGUST 18, 2011
The Leeward Planning Commission met in regular session at 9:33 a.m. in the West Hawai‘i Civic
Center, Community Center, Building G, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Kailua-Kona,
Hawai‘i, with Wayne Iokepa, Chair Pro Tem, presiding.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Wayne Iokepa, Thomas Hickcox, Richard Nelson and
Thomas Whittemore
ABSENT AND EXCUSED: Brandi Beaudet, Lani Bowman and Geraldine Giffin
STAFF PRESENT: Julie Mecklenburg (Deputy Corporation Counsel), BJ Leithead Todd (Planning
Director), Jeff Darrow (Staff Planner) and Maija Cottle (Staff Planner)
Ms. Mecklenburg advised the Commission that a presiding officer be elected since neither the Chair
nor the Vice-Chair was present. It was moved by Commissioner Nelson and seconded by
Commissioner Hickcox that Commissioner Iokepa be designated Chair Pro Tem for this meeting.
The motion was unanimously carried by a voice vote of all Commissioners present.
The Chair Pro Tem introduced the Commissioners and staff to members of the public, and
described the procedure for public testimony.
NEW BUSINESS
APPLICANT: A HUI HOU TRIBUTE CENTER, LLC (USE 11-26)
1.
Application for a Use Permit to allow the establishment of a full service cremation facility on
property zoned General Industrial (MG-1a). The property is located at 74-5616 Luhia Street,
which is situated along the north side of Luhia Street at the junction of Luhia Street and Eho
Street, Keahuolu, North Kona, Hawai‘i, TMK: 7-4-15:22.
APPLICANT: A HUI HOU TRIBUTE CENTER, LLC (USE 06-04)
2.
Revocation of Use Permit No. 06-04, which was approved to allow cremation within a mortuary
facility on property zoned Village Commercial (CV). The property (former 7-Eleven Store) is
located along the east side of Kuakini Highway, approximately 100 feet northwest of the
Kuakini Highway - Hualālai Road intersection, Honuaula, Kailua Village, North Kona, Hawai‘i,
TMK: 7-5-22:3.
The Commission took up Agenda Items No. 1 and No. 2 concurrently at 9:37 a.m. with
approximately 40 people from the public in attendance.
Mr. Darrow oriented the Commission and public of the subject and surrounding properties on the
location map, site plan and photographs, summarized the requests, and noted that the Planning
Director recommended that the Commission approve the request to allow the establishment of a full
service cremation facility on property zoned General Industrial, with conditions, as well as the
request to revoke Use Permit No. 06-00004, which allowed cremation within a mortuary facility on
property zoned Village Commercial.
1
The applicant’s representatives, Penny Brumbaugh and Connie Brumbaugh, stated that there had
been no complaints in the past about their operations at the current location, that they would be
using the same crematory equipment, and that the proposed conditions of approval were acceptable
to the applicant.
There was no one from the public wishing to testify in regard to this application.
It was moved by Commissioner Nelson and seconded by Commissioner Hickcox that the request
for a Use Permit to allow the establishment of a full service cremation facility on property zoned
General Industrial be approved, with conditions proposed by the Planning Director. A roll call vote
was taken and motion carried with four ayes (Nelson, Hickcox, Whittemore and Iokepa) and three
absent and excused (Beaudet, Bowman and Giffin).
Commissioner Nelson then moved and Commissioner Hickcox seconded that the request to revoke
Use Permit No. 06-00004 be approved. A roll call vote was taken and motion carried with four
ayes (Nelson, Hickcox, Whittemore and Iokepa) and three absent and excused (Beaudet, Bowman
and Giffin).
In response to the representative’s inquiry, Director Leithead Todd said that the applicant would be
allowed to operate their cremation business at the new location once the conditions set forth in the
Special Permit were satisfied.
3.APPLICANT: HAWAI‘I ISLAND HUMANE SOCIETY (SPP 11-120)
Application for a Special Permit to allow the establishment of an animal sheltering facility and
related uses on 12 acres of land within the State Land Use Agricultural District. The property is
the former Fuku-Bonsai site and is located on the mauka side of Māmalahoa Highway,
northwest of the Ha‘awina Street - Māmalahoa Highway intersection, mauka portion of
Keauhou 1st, North Kona, Hawai‘i, TMK: 7-8-006:065.
4.APPLICANT: HAWAI‘I ISLAND HUMANE SOCIETY (formerly JOHN KOBAYASHI
AND FUKU BONSAI INC.) (SPP 581)
Revocation of Special Permit No. 581, which was approved by the Planning Commission on
April 10, 1985 to allow the establishment of a bonsai visitor center, which included the charging
of admission fees, the sale of unrelated agricultural, commercial and food items, and related
improvements; and was amended on July 16, 1990 to allow the establishment of a coffee
processing facility for exhibit, museum and retail sales; and was further amended on December
26, 2000 to allow the establishment of an indoor and outdoor self-storage facility on 12 acres of
land within the State Land Use Agricultural District. The property is the former Fuku-Bonsai
site and is located on the mauka side of Māmalahoa Highway, northwest of the Ha‘awina
Street - Māmalahoa Highway intersection, mauka portion of Keauhou 1st, North Kona, Hawai‘i,
TMK: 7-8-006:065.
The Commission took up Agenda Items No. 3 and No. 4 concurrently at 9:45 a.m. with
approximately 45 people from the public in attendance.
(SEE EXHIBIT A)
2
RECESSED The Chair Pro Tem called a recess at 10:10 a.m.
RECONVENED The meeting reconvened at 10:17 a.m.
5.PLANNING DIRECTOR INITIATED
An ordinance amending Chapter 25, Article 6, Division 4, Section 25-6-43 of the Hawai‘i
County Code 1983 (2005 Edition, as amended), relating to permitted uses in the Project
Districts (PD).
Mr. Darrow requested that the Commission defer this item to a future meeting, as the Planning
Director needed more time to prepare her proposal. There were no objections.
MINUTES – The Commission took up approval of the following minutes at this time, 10:18 a.m.:
July 21, 2011 – It was moved by Commissioner Hickcox and seconded by Commissioner Nelson
that the minutes be approved as circulated. Motion was unanimously carried by a voice vote of all
Commissioners in attendance.
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS – Mr. Darrow suggested that the Commission let the staff know
of their preferences between Thursday and Friday for scheduling meetings for next year.
Ms. Mecklenburg said that there was nothing new to report on the Parker School (USE 05-001)
court case, appealed by Wille et. al.
ANNOUNCEMENTS – None.
ADJOURNMENT – There being no further business, the Chair Pro Tem declared the meeting
adjourned at 10:20 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Noriko Sauer, Secretary
Leeward Planning Commission
A T T E S T:
Wayne Iokepa, Chair Pro Tem
Leeward Planning Commission
3