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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-09-20 Leeward Planning Commission Minutes LEEWARD PLANNING COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I MINUTES SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 The Leeward Planning Commission met in regular session at 9:35 a.m. in the West Hawai‘i Civic Center, Community Center, Building G, 74-5044 Ane Keohokālole Highway, Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i, with Chair Geraldine Giffin presiding. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Geraldine Giffin, Brandi Beaudet, Thomas Hickcox and Richard Nelson, III ABSENT AND EXCUSED: Lani Bowman, Wayne Iokepa and Thomas Whittemore ALSO PRESENT: Ivan Torigoe (Deputy Corporation Counsel), BJ Leithead Todd (Planning Director), Daryn Arai (Planning Program Manager) and Noriko Sauer (Commission Secretary) And four people from the public in attendance. A quorum was present. The Chair called the meeting to order and introduced the Commissioners and staff to members of the public, and described the procedure for public testimony. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC – No statements were presented under this section of the agenda. NEW BUSINESS APPLICANT: BARBARA DEFRANCO dba PALEAKU PEACE GARDEN SANCTUARY (SPP 12-137) Application for a Special Permit to allow existing greenhouses for visitor displays and retail plant and statuary sales, and to hold special events within the pavilion and on grassy areas on approximately 2 acres situated in the State Land Use Agricultural District. The property is located nd within the Ke‘ei 2 Subdivision on the west side (mauka) of the Painted Church Road, and approximately 2,150 feet south from its intersection with Middle Ke‘ei Road, Ke‘ei 2nd, South Kona, Hawai‘i, TMK: 8-3-008:009. The Commission took up this item at 9:37 a.m. with three people from the public in attendance. (SEE EXHIBIT A) APPLICANT: COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS (SMA 12-051) Application for a Special Management Area (SMA) Use Permit for the extension of La‘aloa Avenue as a two-lane, 60-foot wide collector roadway for approximately 1,900 feet to connect with Kuakini Highway (Alternative Alignment 3, Cross Section Alternative B), La‘aloa 1 and 2 and Pāhoehoe, North Kona, Hawai‘i, TMK: 7-7-004: 68, 7-7-008: 029, 114, 120 and 7-7-28: 007. The Commission took up this item at 10:21 a.m. with two people from the public in attendance. 1 Mr. Arai requested that the hearing be postponed to the next meeting, tentatively scheduled for October 18, 2012, for the reason that the applicant had failed to post a notice on the subject property in a timely manner. The Chair called up Mr. Bob Ward, who signed up to testify regarding this agenda item. (SEE EXHIBIT B) With no objections from the members of the Commission, the Chair stated that this hearing be postponed to the next meeting scheduled for October 18, 2012. INITIATOR: PLANNING DIRECTOR (Revoke SPP 1120) Revocation of Special Permit No. 1120 (SPP 1120) issued to Mana Christian Ohana which allowed the establishment of a church and related improvements on approximately 2.5 acres of land in the State Land Use Agricultural District. The property is located on the south side of Māmalahoa Highway, approximately 275 feet west from its intersection with Mana Road, and directly across of st the Hawaiian Home Lands Hall, Pu‘ukapu Homesteads 1 Series, South Kohala, Hawai‘i, TMK: 6- 4-001: Portion of 129. The Commission took up this item at 10:32 a.m. with two people from the public in attendance. Mr. Arai stated that the Planning Director, with the concurrence of the applicant, was requesting the revocation of the subject special permit since the applicant was no longer pursuing the construction of the proposed church and related improvements as approved by the special permit. It was moved by Commissioner Hickcox and seconded by Commissioner Beaudet that the revocation of Special Permit No. 1120 be approved as recommended by the Planning Director. A roll call vote was taken and motion carried with four ayes (Hickcox, Beaudet, Nelson and Giffin) and three absent and excused (Bowman, Iokepa and Whittemore). MINUTES – The Commission took up approval of the following minutes at 10:22 a.m.: August 16, 2012 It was moved by Commissioner Hickcox and seconded by Commissioner Nelson that the minutes be approved as submitted. Motion was unanimously carried by a voice vote of all Commissioners in attendance. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS 1.Status of applications heard by Leeward Planning Commission that are pending before County Council – Mr. Arai gave an update regarding Bill 255 (Council initiated amendment to Ordinance No. 08-150, relating to use of the Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden property), of which the Commission had recommended in favor, with some modifications to the original bill from the Council. He said that the bill had passed the Planning Committee and was now before the full Council. Director Leithead Todd also informed the Commissioners of the following:  Bill 266 (amendment to the Zoning Code, relating to agricultural tourism) was deferred by the Council to allow for a public hearing due to a new draft submitted by Councilperson 2 Ford. As a result, the bill that will be considered by the Council is going to be significantly different from what was reviewed by the Commission. She is expecting the revised bill shortly, and has alerted the Hawai‘i Agri Tourism Association, who is instrumental in this matter, to give them an opportunity to review it.  The Commission can expect a Council initiated amendment to the Zoning Code regarding the planned unit development permit process sometime next spring. The proposed amendment would require those applications, which are currently processed administratively, to be processed as ordinances where the Commission would review them and forward recommendations to the Council. The Planning Department is considering various aspects of the proposal, including the possibility of reorganization within the Department.  Also under consideration is a bill to amend the code regarding community development plans. The Director is trying to determine whether the amendment could be done by one bill covering all community development plans or it should be done individually. ANNOUNCEMENTS – None. ADJOURNMENT – There being no further business, at 10:45 a.m., it was moved by Commissioner Beaudet and seconded by Commissioner Nelson that the meeting be adjourned. The motion was unanimously carried by a voice vote of all Commissioners in attendance. Respectfully submitted, Noriko Sauer, Secretary A T T E S T: Geraldine Giffin, Chair Leeward Planning Commission 3