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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-27-2010 SKCDP AC Minutes 1 Meeting of South Kohala CDP Action Committee September 27, 2010 Waimea Senior Center Committee Members Present: Nancy Alvord, Mike Fischer, Margaret Horwatt, Robin Absent: Inaba, Jeannie Palermo, Achahn Schulze. Leonard Librizzi, Fran Tabor. Others: Project Manager Allen Salavea; Recorder Judith Graham; Member of the public: John Hoover The meeting began at 5:05 pm. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Margaret Wille: Margaret advised that, on the pu‘u preservation matter, the 240-acre parcel is the Buster Brown piece. There are three different parcels; the Kohala Mountain Road divides one. The AC could send a letter to the board of the Department of Land and Natural Resources and request a temporary entry permit. This would provide actual access and the right to be working on the matter, and put the AC on the board’s radar screen. There are differing views about whether action needs to be taken early on or is technically possible at any time. Margaret served on a conservation committee during the outreach phase of the SKCDP process and did not get a NIMBY sense from neighbors or others. She had suggested cultural public access. Others had wanted “real” public access. Approval of Minutes Minutes from the meeting of August 30, 2010 were approved as distributed to the AC members in advance of the September meeting. REPORTS 1) SKCDP Action Committee Vacancy Allen Salavea advised that John Hoover, who was present, had been nominated by the Mayor to fill the AC vacancy. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the County Council. Allen anticipated confirmation by the end of October. If there is another vacancy, it is up to the Planning Director to decide whether to re-open the application process or choose from an existing pool of applicants. 2 2) Land Use Permit Activity Report There was no report this month. 3) Liaison Report from Various Meetings and Events Design Review Committee of the Waimea Robin Inaba has been asked to be on the Community Association. She said that a draft letter from the Planning Department clarified responsibilities of that committee. The committee was to review any projects, primarily commercial or multi-family, coming up for Plan Approval. Its scope does not include any reference to the CDP. There is a question whether the CDP should be part of the review process. The review now has mostly to do with the Waimea Design Plan. This would be a good time for the AC to provide input. Allen Salavea noted that the Design Review Committee was formed by resolution. Any modifications would require County Council action. According to the original resolution, the committee is not involved in land use or zoning matters. Robin advised that, regarding Plan Approval, the Planning Director must respond in 30 days; therefore the committee must act quickly. She explained that a Plan Approval application will show parking, floor plan, drainage, landscaping, hazard potential, and so forth. Plan Approval comes very late in the process, prior to a building permit. Allen Salavea added that Plan Approval focused only on what is inside a parcel. He noted that the CDP does not go into great detail. The Capital Improvement Program is the construction/infrastructure program through which the County allocates money to improve infrastructure. So, in answer to a question from Jeannie Palermo regarding pedestrian friendly streets, a CDP concept, the CIP and subdivision process are where such concepts can be implemented. Mike Fischer acknowledged the CDP’s guidelines are general. How can the AC be involved in the process at an earlier stage? Allen Salavea suggested the AC could create an infrastructure plan—such and such a road is high priority for pedestrians and should be tree-lined, for example. Allen said a plan was needed to delineate specific things and could be submitted to the Planning Department. Applications to change the use of the land in South Kohala are routed through him, so Plan Approval isn’t the right timing for such matters. Allen Salavea saw no conflict of interest for Robin Inaba to join WCA’s Design Review Committee. Conflicts could occur about items one could realistically anticipate coming before the AC. But Plan Approvals will never come before the AC. Robin’s reports to the AC can be included among subcommittee reports. 3 Mike Fischer noted that it was the sense of the AC that Robin’s efforts as a member of the Waimea Design Review Committee include ensuring that the committee’s reviews reflect CDP principles. 4) Subcommittee Reports and Updates Capital Improvements Program: Achahn Schulze saw the CIP as basically a paper process. Presumably each subcommittee would handle projects in their district. Achahn requested a flow chart for the CIP process because he understood an application would be a large task and he wanted to present the facts in the best way possible. He would like to see an example. Allen Salavea stated the submittals were now beginning for 2011-2012 and would be needed by January. Research needed to be done to support elements of a project—what would make a project tangible so the County can budget and manage it. Allen may ask Councilman Pete Hoffmann to come again to an AC meeting to further detail the CIP process. Mike Fischer asked AC members to consult the CDP for their subcommittee areas and pick infrastructure projects out of the CDP. Puako: Jeannie Palermo and Nancy Alvord have updated their work plan. They attended a community association meeting and then took a several-hour tour of Puako with the association president. The community is very active. Kawaihae: No report. Waimea: Subcommittee members were not present. Waikoloa: On October 15 there will be a community Talk Story devoted to the CDP. Waikoloa Village Association and Waikoloa Community Development Corporation are cosponsors. On AC letterhead the subcommittee invited the Mayor, Planning Director and a representative of Housing and Community Development to attend. So far, the Planning Director has accepted. Agenda topics will include: Transportation plan Master plan for parks Affordable housing plan Pu‘u Preservation: Achahn Schulze moved to put this matter relative to a DLNR lease among subcommittee reports as its proper category. It will be shown that way on the next agenda. 4 Margaret Horwatt met with Debbie Chang and also Mike Fischer on the topic. Debbie Chang is on a committee for open access that advises the DLNR. Margaret has learned that the DLNR can at any time apply for a withdrawal of an easement in a lease. The process of obtaining public access will be a two to five year process involving paperwork, public meetings, fence lines and reports on historic value. The AC does not want to hinder Parker Ranch, Margaret said, because they have been fine stewards. She wants the community to take ownership of the matter and is reaching out to the community for this purpose. She is contacting trails people, PATH and others. More research will be critical to successfully developing an easement. Discussion: Mike Fischer agreed the AC should serve as a liaison and not as the leader. Achahn Schulze spoke of a possible prescriptive easement. Deborah Chang had suggested holding a public information night with expert guest speakers, including speakers on Hawaiian values, to learn about the pu‘u’s. Another public meeting would be needed for the neighbors. Parking and entry and exit are among issues. Margaret supported both of Debbie’s ideas. OLD BUSINESS 5) Review Draft Operating Guidelines A copy of draft guidelines incorporating AC members’ comments but not including CDP language had been circulated. Discussion followed: If the AC acts, then the Deputy Corporation Counsel will need to review the document for legality. The AC will operate on a calendar year, not a fiscal year. The relevant statute is unclear about whether the AC may temporarily fill a vacancy. Members of the public, who have not been appointed, are not supposed to engage in debate with the AC. Members of the public give presentations or statements. Motion: Jeannie Palermo made a motion, which Margaret Horwatt seconded, to adopt the guidelines as distributed. Further Discussion: Achahn Shulze observed that section 5(h) allows the AC to make a request for final plan review. What is the procedure? If a request is made, must the Planning Department accept it? Mike Fischer referenced section 16-6(5) of the statute which said the AC can make requests. The AC’s requests should be reasonable and well defined, he believed. 5 Nancy Alvord commented that the the AC needs to spend time looking at the Land Use Activity reports. Allen clarified that the North Kohala AC asked to receive the reports two weeks prior to their meetings. If there are new applications, this gives the relevant North Kohala subcommittee time to approach the applicant and ask the applicant to attend an AC meeting. Upon request, Allen advised he could send an Excel version of the report to this group two weeks in advance. Vote: All AC members present voted in favor of the guidelines as circulated. ANNOUNCEMENTS Jeannie Palermo announced that the Waimea Relay for Life is set for Saturday, October 2. She also wished happy birthday to AC member Nancy Alvord. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Anne Field-Gomes strongly approved of an AC member attending Waimea’s Design Review Committee meetings. As a board member, she is aware that the board is reconstituting with more experts in design and planning. She recommended that the AC send a letter to the committee pointing out some CDP items that the AC wants the committee to respect. DATE, TIME AND LOCATION OF NEXT MEETING The next meeting will be on Monday, October 25, at 5 pm at the meeting room in the Waikoloa Community Association offices. SET AGENDA FOR NEXT MEETING One item will be when and where the annual meeting is to be held. Allen Salavea noted that North Kohala’s annual meeting is scheduled for January 2011. Another item will be the ad hoc subcommittee report on the two-acre park proposed in Waikoloa’s affordable housing area. Other items are covered in these minutes. The meeting concluded at 7:05 pm.