Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-12-06 Windward Transcript Mile Marker 12 WINDWARD PLANNING COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I HEARING TRANSCRIPT DECEMBER 6, 2012 MILE MARKER 12, LLC (SPP 12-140) A regularly advertised hearing on the application of was called to order at 9:22 a.m. in the County of Hawai‘i, Aupuni Center Conference Room, 101 Pauahi Street, Hilo, Hawai‘i, with Chairman Pro Tem Dean Au presiding. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Dean Au, Ronald Gonzales, Wallace Ishibashi, Raylene Moses and Stephen Ono STAFF PRESENT: Ryan Kanakaole (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), and Sharon Nomura (Secretary) And approximately 125 people from the public in attendance. \ APPLICANT: MILE MARKER 12, LLC (SPP 12-140) Application for a Special Permit to allow the establishment of a center for well-being, overnight accommodations and related uses situated on an 11.33-acre portion of a 43.57-acre parcel of land within the State Land Use Agricultural District. The property is located approximately 65 feet south from the 12 mile marker on the west (mauka) side of the Pahoa-Kalapana Road (Highway 130), Keahiala, Puna, Hawai‘i, TMK: 1-3-009:018. AU: First order of business, Applicant No. 1. Applicant No. 1 is MILE MARKER 12, LLC (SPP 12-140) Application for a Special Permit to allow the establishment of a center for well-being, overnight accommodations and related uses situated on an 11.33-acre portion of a 43.57-acre parcel of land within the State Land Use Agricultural District. The property is located approximately 65 feet south from the 12 mile marker on the west (mauka) side of the Pahoa-Kalapana Road, TMK: 1-3-009:018. Staff presentation, please. DARROW: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good morning, Members of the Planning Commission, welcome. Our first applicant, first application has been deferred. We have submitted a letter to the Planning Commission dated Nov. 5, 2012 to the applicant’s representative. The reason we’re requesting for a deferral is that we had received a comment letter from the Department of Transportation requesting that the applicant submit a traffic impact analysis report. So prior to going toward with the application, we ask that the applicant come up the report and submit it to DOT, and we’ll wait for the results of that. And the reason is there are many times that the DOT will consider the report unacceptable and so they have to revise it. And at which time they accept it and come up with recommendations, we can move forward and make those recommendations part of the application. So at this time the Planning Department is asking for a deferral. Okay, any questions for staff, Fellow Commissioners? Okay, we do have two people here to testify, Clive Cheetham and Graham Ellis. Is this the correct application that you want to testify for? ELLIS: Yeah. Is it still appropriate to do it? 1 EXHIBIT A AU: Sir, we are taking the items in order. So we are doing Applicant No. 1. CHEETHAM: Oh, I see. Doesn’t a deferment alter -? Is it still okay to testify now? AU: Yes, yes, yes. So you are Clive? CHEETHAM: Yes. AU: Okay, please have a seat. You can sit there. And Graham Ellis, are you going to testify? ELLIS: I’ll wait till they come back in. AU: Okay, I think I jumped the gun here. But what we need to do is we need to -. Is the applicant present? Does the applicant want to do a presentation? Okay, okay, well, the applicant doesn’t seem to be present. So what we’re going to do is we’re going into public testimony. So you do have three minutes. And staff, will be timing you. So can you raise your right hand. Do you swear and affirm to tell the truth on this matter now before the Hawai‘i County Planning Commission? CHEETHAM: I do. AU: Okay. Please state your name and where you reside; and please begin. CHEETHAM: My name is Clive Cheetham and I reside Koa’e which is near Kapoho. I’ve lived down near the lighthouse near Kapoho for 32 years; and I’ve been involved a lot in community action. I’m the chairman of the Community Association for 25 years. And I am also someone who really likes to go to social gatherings, and musical happening, dancing, etc. And the applicant, Steve Lund, who founded the Mile Marker 12 place, he, he came over here from California, he had some money to spend, and decided to attempt public service. And I’m really impressed with what he’s doing there with his assistant, Terra Ann (phonetic), partner, whatever. So, yeah, I just really support them getting their special use permit because they’re, they’re providing a wonderful service for our community. And there’s not many places that are providing that. You know, there are a couple of places in, right in town where you can do things, but not with the same ambiance as there. So, yeah, I don’t need to say much else. It’s a very wonderful thing they’re attempting to do, and quite difficult. And so if they can get your support, that would help it along. Thanks. AU: Any questions for the testifier? Okay we have somebody else who signed up, Denna Smith Givens. Hi, good morning. GIVENS: Good morning. AU: Please raise your right hand. Do you swear and affirm to tell the truth on this matter before the Windward Hawaii County Planning Commission? GIVENS: I do. AU: You may begin. GIVENS: Okay. AU: Please state your name and where you reside. 2 EXHIBIT A GIVENS: Okay. My name is Dena Smith Givens, and I reside in the Kalapana SeaView. I’m not fully prepared this morning and just kind of winging it here. But I do want to just briefly say that I’m in support of Mile Marker 12 getting a permit. They do offer a very valuable service. And our area down there is under- served, and we need to have more gathering places. And I plan to speak more fully when they’re present. I would like to have them hear my testimony. But I do encourage you all to approve their application. So thank you very much. AU: Thank you. Any questions for the testifier? Okay, last testifier, Graham Ellis, are you interested in testifying? ELLIS: As I said I’m going to wait until they come in the next -. AU: Oh, okay, okay. I’m sorry. Okay, with that said, I’m ready to entertain a motion, a motion to continue to the next meeting. GONZALES: Okay, I propose a motion to continue applicant Mile Marker 12, LLC, SPP 12-140. AU: Any second? ISHIBASHI: Second. AU: Okay. Discussion? Okay, well, I see here that the applicant is not here. So, yeah, it would be very appropriate for us to continue this application. So we’ll just go ahead and do a unanimous vote. Everybody in favor say aye. DARROW: Mr. Chairman, I’m sorry to cut you off. If I could ask for a clarification on the motion. AU: Okay, the motion is to continue applicant Mile Marker 12, LLC to the next meeting. DARROW: Yeah, if we could make it so that the continuance is open because we’re not sure how long the process is going to take for the, to work out the, conducting the report as well as working out the resolution with the Department of Transportation. So it might be better to keep it open-ended as far as the continuance. And once they resolve this matter, then we can agendize it back on to the Planning Commission’s -. AU: Okay. Commissioner Gonzales, are you okay with that? GONZALES: I’m okay with that. ISHIBASHI: Yeah. DARROW: Thank you. AU: Everybody in favor say aye. COMMISSIONERS: Aye. AU: Anybody opposed? Okay, applicant will be notified in writing. Thank you. 3 EXHIBIT A The discussion ended at 9:22 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Sharon M. Nomura, Secretary Windward Planning Commission 4 EXHIBIT A