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Home My WebLink About2012-11-09 Windward Planning Commission Minutes WINDWARD PLANNING COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I MINUTES NOVEMBER 9, 2012 The Windward Planning Commission met in regular session at 9:00 a.m. in the Hilo State Office Building, Conference Rooms A, B & C, 75 Aupuni Street, Hilo, Hawai‘i, with Chairman Zendo Kern presiding. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Zendo Kern, Dean Au, Ronald Gonzales, Raylene Moses and Stephen Ono STAFF PRESENT: Ivan Torigoe (Deputy Corporation Counsel), B. J. Leithead Todd (Planning Director), Daryn Arai (Planning Program Manager), Phyllis Fujimoto (Staff Planner), Maija Cottle (Staff Planner), Jeff Darrow (Staff Planner), Sarah Hata-Finley (Staff – left at 11:45 a.m.) and Sharon Nomura (Secretary) ABSENT AND EXCUSED: Wallace Ishibashi The Chair introduced the staff and Windward Planning Commissioners to members of the public and described the procedures to be followed for today’s meeting. NEW BUSINESS – 9:00 a.m. APPLICANT: DIEN-JUNG LIN (REZ 12-158) Application for a Change of Zone from Single Family Residential-10,000 square feet (RS-10) to Limited Industrial-20,000 square feet (ML-20) for 21,050 square feet of land. The property is located along the west side of Kanoelehua Avenue, approximately 295 feet north of its intersection with Hualani Street, Waiākea Houselots, Waiākea, South Hilo, Hawai‘i, TMK: 2-2- 035:045. The Commission took this item up at 9:05 a.m. with approximately 135 people from the public in attendance. Mr. Arai oriented the Commission and public of the subject and surrounding properties on the location map and site plan, summarized the request, and noted the Planning Director recommended approval of the application with conditions. The applicant, Dien-Jung Lin, and her representative, Norman Hayashi, were in attendance. Mr. Hayashi stated the applicant has received the Department’s background report and recommendation and is agreeable with the proposed conditions of approval. He commended the staff for its presentation and thanked the Planning Department for a favorable recommendation. There was no one from the public wishing to testify on the application. It was moved by Commissioner Au and seconded by Commissioner Gonzales to send a favorable recommendation to the County Council as recommended by the Planning Director, with conditions. A roll call vote was taken and motion carried with five ayes (Au, Gonzales, Moses, Ono and Kern) and one absent and excused (Ishibashi). APPLICANT: OCEAN VIEW SENIORS ASSOCIATION (SPP 12-139) Application for a Special Permit to allow the establishment of a senior center with a certified kitchen, which will also be used as a community center and an emergency shelter, on a two-acre parcel of land situated within the State Land Use Agricultural District. The project site is located at 92-8718 Lotus Blossom Lane, approximately 250 feet southeast of the Lotus Blossom Lane - Princess Ka‛iulani Boulevard intersection, Hawaiian Ocean View Estates, Ka`u, Hawai`i, TMK: 9-2-084:052. The Commission took this item up at 9:17 a.m. with approximately 140 people from the public in attendance. Mr. Darrow oriented the Commission and public of the subject and surrounding properties on the location map and site plan, summarized the request, and noted the Planning Director recommended approval of the application with conditions. For Commissioner Ono’s information, Mr. Darrow said within Ocean View Estates there are a number of vacant lots with sparsely scattered dwellings in the area; however, the Ocean View Estates and Ranchos Subdivisions have been actively growing within the last 10 years. Director Leithead Todd noted that the nature of the community is changing from retirees to a significant segment of younger families and people who commute to Kona and Waikoloa because the lots have been inexpensive to purchase. The applicant’s representative, James S. Stutheit, stated he received the background report and recommendation with conditions and requested approval of their application. In response to Commissioner Au’s inquiry, Mr. Stutheit said the community is very much aware of their proposal, which was started from a group of senior citizens meeting for the nutrition program. He said they have been looking forward to its completion for approximately five years. There was no one from the public wishing to testify on the application. It was moved by Commissioner Au and seconded by Commissioner Moses that the application be approved as recommended by the Planning Director with conditions. A roll call vote was taken and motion carried with five ayes (Au, Moses, Gonzales, Ono, and Kern) and one absent and excused (Ishibashi). RECESSED – The Chair recessed the meeting at 9:28 a.m. RECONVENED – The Chair reconvened the meeting at 9:45 a.m. NEW BUSINESS – 9:30 a.m. 2 APPLICANT: CONNECTIONS NEW CENTURY PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL /CBESS (SPP 12-138) Application for a Special Permit to develop a K to 12 charter school campus with dorm facilities and related uses on approximately 70 acres of land situated in the State Land Use Agricultural District. The property is located on both the southwest and northeast sides of Edita Street near its intersection with Kaūmana Drive and adjoining the Pacific Plantation Subdivision in Kaūmana, South Hilo, Hawai‘i, TMK: 2-5-006:141. The Commission took this item up at 9:45 a.m. with approximately 180 people from the public in attendance. (SEE EXHIBIT A) NEW BUSINESS – 10:00 a.m. INITIATOR: PLANNING DIRECTOR Discussion of possible amendments to Planning Commission Rule No. 12 regarding the Geothermal Asset Fund relating to procedures and guidelines for the processing of proposed community approved geothermal impact mitigation projects within the District of Puna. The Commission took this item up at 4:21 p.m. with approximately 10 people from the public in attendance. It was moved by Commissioner Au and seconded by Commissioner Gonzales that this matter be continued to the December meeting. Motion was unanimously carried by a voice vote of all Commissioners in attendance. MINUTES – The Commission took up the following minute at this time, 4:22 p.m. Approval of Minutes of the October 4, 2012 meeting – It was moved by Commissioner Au and seconded by Commissioner Gonzales that the minutes be approved. Motion was unanimously carried by a voice vote of all Commissioners in attendance. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS 1.Continuing discussion regarding letter dated August 2, 2012 from Council Chairperson Dominic Yagong to Windward Planning Commission Chairperson Zendo Kern requesting information on the process for requesting use of the Geothermal Asset Fund to fund a health study as a community approved mitigation project for the Puna community to address the alleviation or attenuation of direct detrimental effects of geothermal operations permitted under Geothermal Resources Permit No. 2. 2.Continuing discussion regarding letter dated August 8, 2012 from Councilperson Fred Blas to Windward Planning Commission Chairperson Zendo Kern requesting information on procedures for requesting use of the Geothermal Asset Fund to fund a health study for Puna to determine the possible negative impacts of geothermal power producing activities at the Puna Geothermal Venture Plant. 3 3.Status of applications heard by Windward Planning Commission that are pending before County Council. The Commission took up the above three items simultaneously at 4:23 p.m. with approximately ten people from the public in attendance. It was moved by Commissioner Au and Seconded by Commissioner Gonzales that the Commission defer all three items to the December 6, 2012 meeting. Motion was unanimously carried by a voice vote of all Commissioners in attendance. ANNOUNCEMENTS – Mr. Arai noted a schedule for the 2013 meetings will be distributed to the Commission shortly. ADJOURNMENT – There being no further business, at 4:24 p.m., it was moved by Commissioner Au and seconded by Commissioner Gonzales that the meeting be adjourned. Motion was unanimously carried by a voice vote of all Commissioners in attendance. Respectfully submitted, Sharon M. Nomura, Secretary A T T E S T: Zendo Kern, Chairman Windward Planning Commission 4