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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-20-2010 SKCDP AC Minutes 1 Meeting of South Kohala CDP Action Committee December 20, 2010 Waimea Senior Center Committee Members Present: Nancy Alvord, Mike Fischer, John Hoover, Leonard Absent: Librizzi, Jeannie Palermo,. Margaret Horwatt, Robin Inaba, Achahn Schulze Others: Project Manager Allen Salavea; Recorder Judith Graham; Member of the public Anne Field-Gomes Handouts: Permit Activity Report for November 2010; CIP Program (2010-2011) The meeting began at 5:05 pm. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC None. Approval of Minutes The minutes of November 22, 2010 were approved as previously distributed with this correction by Mike Fischer: Page 3, Liaison Reports, paragraph 2, should read: Mike and Achahn Schulze met with the president of the South Kohala Traffic Safety Committee in private session. Shuttle routes and strategies for Waikoloa are to be discussed with Tom Brown of the County Transit Agency. Mike also attended a Waikoloa Land Use Committee meeting. 1) SKCDP Action Committee Vacancy Allen Salavea reported that nominations for two vacancies have been submitted to the Planning Director and are being forwarded to the Mayor. Appointments could occur within two months. Allen encouraged AC members to contact the Mayor’s Office about moving the nominations forward. Leonard Librizzi noted that he has a two-year term and therefore nominations for 2012 ought to be considered before long. Allen Salavea will solicit a new round of applicants later in the spring. 2) Land Use Permit Activity Report 2 Allen Salavea advised that the South Kohala CDP states that any rezonings that will affect small farm and ranching areas need to be carefully evaluated. The CDP concept maps were designed to protect these areas. However, last week the Planning Commission approved three special permit applications which the Planning Department itself had opposed on the grounds that they did not conform to the CDP in this regard. These special permits have no time limits and will run with the land, effectively equivalent to zoning. By contrast, the CDP promotes locating businesses in the town center area. The applications were: SPP 06-34 Jason DeLuz dba Deluz Auto Body Repair on Mamalaohoa Highway SPP 10-109 Tyson and Sandra Caitano Auto Maintenance Shop, Alanui Ohana Place SPP 417 Lextron Animal Health (sale of related supplies) on Mana Road An observation made by an applicant’s representative was that the CDP process was not comprehensive with respect to the variety of people involved; many involved were older Caucasians, it was said. [At a later point of the AC meeting, chair Mike Fischer observed that such a justification was offensive and unlawful. He noted the widely diverse participation that actually occurred as the CDP was created. Jeannie Palermo agreed with his view.] Allen Salavea stated that the CDP language was too vague in this area. Many more applications can be expected given these approvals will be regarded as precedents. The CDP language should provide a concrete justification to rule out projects that would substantially change the ranching and farming character of these areas. Nancy Alvord believed that the Waimea Design Review Committee did support one of these projects. Allen Salavea noted the applicants also mobilized community support at the hearing. 3) Liaison Report from Various Meetings and Events Waikoloa: Mike Fischer attended a meeting of the North Hawaii Drug Free Coalition; he had been named to a committee. Parks and Recreation representatives were present and expressed interest in improving Waikoloa facilities. Mike said youth needed alternatives, and referred to both an ice problem and a youth prostitution problem in Waikoloa. His efforts to set up a meeting with the Director of Parks and Recreation and Councilman Hoffmann regarding master planning for Waikoloa did not elicit a response. He requested a letter of recommendation from the AC to the Village of Waikoloa supporting an extended lease for dryland forest restoration of 275 acres. There are several endangered species and rare trees on the property, a project of the Outdoor Circle. The 3 project would not impact any already approved developments; the land is zoned agricultural. It is presently leased to the Outdoor Circle for one dollar per year; the Outdoor Circle wishes to assign the lease to a new, related 501c3 organization. John Hoover noted that this was a longstanding project. The lease extension seemed a logical step forward. Vote: Jeannie Palermo noted this dryland forest restoration is specifically mentioned in the CDP. She moved that the AC send a letter of recommendation to extend the lease. Leonard Librizzi seconded. Support by voice vote was unanimous. Mike Fischer will submit a draft for the AC’s review to Allen Salavea, who will distribute it. 4) Status Report on Draft Operating Guidelines The chair stated that, in the absence of any lawful objection, this item would be removed from future agendas because the guidelines have been adopted. 5) Status Report on Ad Hoc Parks Committee for Waikoloa The topic was not addressed because Achahn Schulze, the point person on the project, was absent. 6) Subcommittee Reports and Updates Puako: John Hoover reported that he attended the Puako Community Association monthly board meeting. One topic was maintenance of the firebreak; PCA will hire someone to finish the maintenance. They would like to implement an annual plan for maintenance. The association has arranged for a lease with the state to take care of the firebreak. The County Fire Department has been cooperative and helpful. This project has received generous donations from some well-to-do Puako residents. John proposed a March 28, 5 pm, AC meeting at Hokuloa Church. Some PCA members will attend although this is not a joint meeting. John noted that the PCA is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Kawaihae: There were no meetings to report this month, Leonard Librizzi said. Waikoloa: Mike Fischer, a former board member of the Waikoloa Village Association, attended a WVA meeting. 4 Open Assignment: Nancy Alford was unclear which subcommittee she serves on, due to some recent changes. She will await election of a new chair to commit to an area or project she wants to work on. 7) Discussion of Handout: CIP Budget Members had been provided with a hard copy of the CIP Budget 2010-2011. The chair asked if any members had any recommendations for the next CIP. He noted that next month the AC would need to submit a report on what was done during 2010. He expressed uncertainty about what could have been accomplished given: a) lack of an AC budget; b) lack of cooperation from elected and appointed officials; c) limitations set by the Planning Department. However, 2010 was partly an educational process. Nevertheless the AC needs to do better, he said. If he is re-elected as chair, he will take a stronger leadership role to help drive the group to accomplishment. He asked members to bring to the next meeting a few items taken from the CDP which could be the focus of a CIP request for 2011-2012. Leonard Librizzi noted that the AC’s role was not only to introduce such items, but also to lobby for items the AC wished to support. Upon request, Allen Salavea reviewed the sections of the CIP document. There are summaries of the priorities for each County department in each section, followed by a detail page for each project. He noted that the CDP document would count as a “legal mandate” for requests based upon CDP language that included “shall” or “should.” The deadline for submittals is May of the year. The departments’ staff makes the presentations before the County Council. Mike observed that the AC could formulate a proposed CIP item as a group but he did not believe this was an efficient process. Nancy Alvord agreed and suggested some additional communications on this topic in between meetings, through Allen Salavea. NEW BUSINESS 8) Election of Chair and Vice Chair Vote: Nancy Alvord nominated Mike Fischer as chair; Jeannie Palermo seconded. Mike thanked the group for its confidence in him. He said if selected he would be demanding that the group work hard in the coming year. By a voice vote, Mike Fischer again became the chairperson. Vote: For vice chair Jeannie Palermo nominated Nancy Alvord, with Leonard Librizzi seconding. Members unanimously supported Nancy. 5 STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Anne Field-Gomes asked if there was anything she could do to provide support to the AC with the County and County officials. She was distressed to learn that the AC was not being acknowledged. Initially she suggested a letter to the editor on the subject, but several members demurred from this. Mike Fischer viewed it as unforgivable that elected or appointed officials did not respond to the public when contacted. John Hoover would like to see the AC’s support letter for the Waikoloa dry land reforestation issued as a press release. However, Allen Salavea expressed that could cause conflict in this sense: all correspondence on the Planning Department’s letterhead needs to be signed by the Planning Director. A decision was taken to copy the Planning Director on the reforestation letter. DATE, TIME AND LOCATION OF NEXT MEETING The next meeting will be on Monday, January 24, at 5 pm at the Waimea Senior Center. February’s meeting will also be in Waimea, with the March meeting tentatively scheduled for Puako. This meeting adjourned at 6:47 pm.