2013-06-20 Leeward Exh A - Vipassana

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LEEWARD PLANNING COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I HEARING TRANSCRIPT JUNE 20, 2013 VIPASSANA HAWAI‘I (SPP 1091) A regularly advertised hearing on the application of was called to order at 9:47 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 Thomas Whittemore ABSENT AND EXCUSED: Richard Nelson, III ALSO PRESENT: Duane Kanuha (Planning Director), Ivan Torigoe (Deputy Corporation Counsel), Daryn Arai (Planning Program Manager), Jeff Darrow (Planner) and Noriko Sauer (Commission Secretary) And approximately twelve people from the public in attendance. APPLICANT: VIPASSANA HAWAI‘I (SPP 1091) Amendment to Condition No. 2 (establish meditation center) of Special Permit No. 1091, which allowed the establishment of the Hawai‘i Insight Meditation Center on 15 acres of land situated in the State Land Use Agricultural District. The project area is approximately 2,000 feet makai of Akoni Pule Highway and adjacent to (west of) Halawa Gulch, Napapa‘a, North Kohala, Hawai‘i, TMK: 5-3-007: Portion of 043 (formerly portion of 001). GIFFIN: If the members of the public would please excuse us for just a minute because, as you can see, we just received some information that I think it’s best that we read first. Commissioners and members of the public, we are now on Agenda Item No. 2. It is an amendment to a condition, presented by Vipassana Hawai‘i. And it is an amendment to a former special permit that they, the number was 1091, and what they are asking for is an amendment to Condition No. 2. Daryn? ARAI: Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. If I may direct your attention to the presentation screen. I wanted to first orient the Commission as to the location of this project site. We are looking at the District of North Kohala. This line, red line running to the left and right of the screen is the Akoni Pule Highway, and this particular area is the Kapa‘au area, and then this is the Halawa area in this particular location. As you may see, the project site here is outlined in black. It is situated on lands designated Agricultural, minimum lot size 20 acres by the County, as well as Agricultural by the state Land Use Commission. Zooming closer in, to give you a further sense of orientation, this yellow area here represent some residentially zoned lands, and right in this corner here on the bend of Akoni Pule Highway is the Wo On Store; so that hopefully will give you a really good point of reference as to where this project site is located. As you can see, it’s located on the makai side of the Akoni Pule Highway, roughly 1,800 to 2,000 feet makai of the highway itself. Access to the property is from the highway onto the road, which is basically an extension of Pratt Road that leads 1 EXHIBIT A