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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-08-01 Windward Planning Commission Transcript PD UH WINDWARD PLANNING COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I HEARING TRANSCRIPT AUGUST 1, 2013 PLANNING DIRECTOR (REZ-13-166) INITIATED A regularly advertised hearing on the CHANGE OF ZONE FROM A-1A TO RS-10 TO UNV ZONING DISTRICT was called to order at 10:25 a.m. in the County of Hawai‘i, Aupuni Center Conference Room, 101 Pauahi Street, Hilo, Hawai‘i, with Chairman Wallace Ishibashi presiding. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Wallace Ishibashi, Ronald Gonzales, Charles Heaukulani, Gregory Henkel Myles Miyasato, Raylene Moses, Stephen Ono STAFF PRESENT: Margaret Masunaga (Deputy Corporation Counsel), Duane Kanuha (Planning Director), Daryn Arai (Planning Program Manager), Phyllis Fujimoto (Staff Planner), Maija Cottle, Jeff Darrow (Staff Planner), and Sharon Nomura (Secretary) And approximately 10 people from the public in attendance INITIATOR: PLANNING DIRECTOR (REZ-13-166) Change of Zone from an Agricultural-1 acre (A-1a) and Single-Family Residential–10,000 square feet (RS-10) zoning districts to a University (UNV) zoning district for approximately 312 acres of land that currently accommodates the main campus of the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, its University Park of Science and Technology complex, as well as immediately surrounding lands under the management of the University of Hawai‘i. Also included is the deletion of the proposed 80-foot wide right-of-way connecting Komohana Street and Kumukoa Street as shown on the City of Hilo Zone Map. The affected properties are generally bordered by Komohana, Mohouli, Kumukoa, Lanikāula, Kapi‘olani, Kāwili and Puainako Streets, Waiākea, South Hilo, Hawai‘i, TMK: 2-4-001: 005, 007, 019 (por), 041, 162, 163, 167 and 2-4-056: 017. ISHIBASHI: I would like to relinquish my position as Chair at this time and turn the chairmanship to my Vice-Chair, Commissioner Gonzales. I have to make a disclosure in regards to the University of Hawai‘i. GONZALES: Thank you, Commissioner Ishibashi. I understand our next item on the agenda is initiated by the Planning Director. It’s a Change of Zone from an Agricultural-1 acre and Single- Family Residential to a University zoning district for approximately 312 acres of land that currently accommodates the main campus of the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo. Chairman Ishibashi, is there something you need to say? ISHIBASHI: Yeah, thank you. I just wanted to disclose that I am currently employed by the Office of Mauna Kea Management. I just started that position a week and a half ago, two weeks; and I just wanted to open and disclose my employment with the University of Hawaii and let the Commissioners know my current position as a cultural monitor for the Office of Mauna Kea 1 EXHIBIT B Management. And my kuleana is involved with the mountain, Mauna Kea; and that’s my jurisdiction up there. So I wanted to disclose that to the Commissioners and let everybody know that I can be impartial. And I just didn’t want to jeopardize anything with the University of Hawai‘i -. GONZALES: Well, Commissioner Ishibashi, do feel you can be impartial in chairing over this? ISHIBASHI: Yes. But I do disclose my position as an employee of the University of Hawai‘i. GONZALES: Very good. Does anybody have any objections to this? ISHIBASHI: I’m willing to answer any questions from the Commissioners and -. GONZALES: Okay. Well, if not, I’d like to turn it back over to the Chairman. ISHIBASHI: Thank you. It’s good. Okay. Ready, Mr. Arai? ARAI: Okay, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Anyway, if I may direct your attention to the presenta-, presentation screen before you. The last item on today’s agenda, again, is a Director, Planning Director initiated change of zone request for lands that encompasses the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo. This is a location map that shows the project area. The project area, the area that you’re looking at is in the City of Hilo. This street located on the left side where my pointer is showing is Komohana Street. This street here running a little bit from left to right is Mohouli Street; this is Kumukoa Street which then goes through the University Heights Subdivision and turns into West Lanikāula Street. This street that adjoins this brown area here is Kapi‘olani; and then this is Kāwili Street which bisects the Waiakea High School Complex, as well as the existing University campus, which is basically bordered and perimetered by all of these major roadways within the City of Hilo. And at the very bottom of the map, as you may see where my pointer is showing, is Puainako Street. Off to the left here you may see the Puainako Street Extension that heads up toward the Saddle Road off to your left. Oh, maybe I should, let me back up just a bit. The colors that you see represented on this map that encompasses the University of Hawai‘i campus is Single-Family Residential-10,000 square feet, as indicated by the yellow color. The green color here is Agricultural 1-acre minimum lot size. I should note, and I apologize for not having a graphic on this, the entire lands encompassing the University of Hawai‘i’s main campus is on lands designated Urban by the State Land Use Commission. I should also note that lands to the left of Komohana Street or mauka is currently within the State Land Use Agricultural District. Focusing in on this particular graphic, which is also included in a draft ordinance that I presented to all of you earlier, it shows you the scope of today’s request, which includes designating those lands currently designated Single-Family Residential-10,000 square feet to the University District. On the opposite side of the Waiākea floodway -- which is indicated here by this lighter colored area and which is not a part of this change of zone request, I just want to make that emphasis -- you have some additional lands zoned Single-Family Residential that would be redesignated to the University District. And as you may recall the Agricultural designated area will also be rezoned to the University District. 2 EXHIBIT B Also, part of this request is a portion of an 80-foot wide proposed road as depicted on the City of Hilo Zone Map. As you can see, that alignment will connect Komohana Street with Kumukoa Street near the University Heights Subdivision. We are asking, as part of this change of zone request, to reclassify the University lands to the University zoning district. We also want to eliminate this 80-foot wide proposed roadway that would basically bisect the University’s main campus. As you can see here, this is the General Plan LUPAG (Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide) Map which provides the policy direction for land use within the County of Hawai‘i. The blue color indicated here depicts those lands where the County has envisioned university-related uses. You can barely see it, but that’s where Komohana Street is, where my pointer is showing. While the General Plan depicts lands both makai and mauka of Komohana Street, the subject of today’s request is really only on those lands situated makai of Komohana Street. And within the area makai of Komohana Street, you not only have the University of Hawai‘i main campus but you have the Komohana Ag Station, which is located just in this vicinity here where my pointer is showing. You have the University Park complex where you have the Imiloa complex, the University School of Pharmacy complex located there, as well as other facilities associated with observatories on Mauna Kea, like the Gemini complex and Subaru. This is a map showing, depicting the City of Hilo Zone Map and the proposed roadway alignments that are shown on the City of Hilo Zone Map. And what these road alignments do is help plan and program in the future roadway alignments within the City of Hilo. One of them is, as you can see at the bottom in the purple dash line is the proposed realignment of Puainako Street so that it connects with the existing Puainako Street Extension, where my pointer is showing. And as you can also see it shows that 80-foot road extension that we’re asking to be deleted as it goes through the University’s main campus. As you can see this road continues on further mauka to eventually connect with the existing Mohouli Street Extension which is located here off to the top left of the map. So in essence it renders this alignment here somewhat redundant because you already have Mohouli Street extending and connecting with the existing Mohouli Street here, which then provides circulation throughout this section of Hilo. And due to that basic redundancy and the fact that you’re proposing an 80-foot roadway right through the main campus of the University of Hawai‘i, we are asking that that alignment be deleted from the maps. So it would no longer be programmed into our planning efforts in the future. Again, just to recap, we are asking for a change of zone from Single-Family Residential-10,000 square feet, and that should also say Agricultural 1-acre zoned lands, to the University District for approximately319 acres of land. The main campus itself includes approximately 115 acres of land and accommodates a University Park and Techonology complex. The expansion area, I’m sorry, that’s not correct. It shouldn’t be mauka of Komohana Street. As I mentioned, everything is going to be occurring makai, the rezoning. And it does also include the UH Agricultural Park. The reasons for this request are to make it consistent with the General Plan designation that I showed you earlier, as well as to allow flexibility of uses that will help support the existing University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Complex. 3 EXHIBIT B And, again, by allowing this University designation to occur it would allow the flexibility to provide other mix of uses, such as student houses, commercial uses such as restaurants, markets, medical office, financial institutions, theaters, research facilities, basically creating a comprehensive college-like campus at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo. So with that, the Director is recommending a favorable consideration of this change of zone request. So I stand ready to answer any questions that you may have. And before I leave the microphone, I wanted to also note that I did provide this sheet; and basically it was taken out of the Zoning Code. And it does highlight some of the minimum requirements and permitted uses within the University zoning district - just so you can get a sense of the type and range of uses that could be permitted. So with that I stand ready to answer any questions that you may have. ISHIBASHI: Questions, Commissioners? Commissioner Ono? ONO: Yes. Could you go back to the diagram of the area that’s, you’re trying to, the makai side of the -? The land is, today as it exists, it’s not improved at all, it’s just vacant land basically? ARAI: The main campus currently exists in this area here, the light gray color that’s on the makai side of the Waiākea floodway or flood channel, I should say. Waiakea High School is in this particular area located off to the right of the map. And over here is where you may have noticed the construction of the new university village apartment complexes that are just coming up. Ash Housing is located on the lower portion of this map, right near Puainako Street. In this particular area on the left side of the floodway is largely vacant, although there are some portions of the existing University Park and Technology Campus where you have the Imiloa and Gemini facilities. It’s located in this particular location here. So there are portions within this existing planned zoned area that have been improved. But there are a significant amount of vacant lands that do remain, like in this particular location to the northwest where I believe it remains vacant. ONO: And that’s the area that’s zoned Residential today? ARAI: Currently, as you can see the two different colors of gray. The light gray depicts the Residential-10,000 square feet and the darker gray represents the Agriculture-1 acre, as it’s currently zoned. ONO: And the Rural on the left side is the Komohana? ARAI: On the left side is Komohana Street. Mohouli here is at the top left. And Kumukoa Street is at the very top of the map. ONO: And the request, the recommendation today is? ARAI: We’re asking for a favorable recommendation to the County Council for a change of zone from Ag-1a and Single-Family Residential to the University zoning district. 4 EXHIBIT B ONO: So that’s the upper left-hand corner of the map? ARAI: No. The entire area, the two light gray colored areas, the dark gray and the light gray, those are the lands that we want to see rezoned to the University zoning district. And as I mentioned earlier, it would exclude the Waiākea Floodway. And the reason why we excluded it is because it’s actually under separate management. It belongs to the State. The University and the floodway belongs to the State but different agencies. The floodway, I believe, is under the Department of land and Natural Resources; and it’s not with the University of Hawai‘i. ISHIBASHI: Commissioner Moses? MOSES: Daryn, the change of zone would also include the deletion of the proposed 80-foot right-of-way? ARAI: That is, the 80-foot right-of-way, correct. ISHIBASHI: Any further questions, Commissioners? Okay, thank you. We have one testifier. If I could have Hans Santiago. Please come forward. Could you raise your right hand. Do you swear and affirm to tell the truth before the Windward Planning Commission over this matter? SANTIAGO: I do. ISHIBASHI: Okay, thank you. Mr. Santiago, go ahead. SANTIAGO: My name is Hans Santiago and I live at 572A Mohouli Street. So I’m here not to testify against the rezoning, but I’m here to ask that you reconsider the deletion of the 80-foot future roadway that would pretty much connect Lanikāula up to Komohana Street. Right now I live at the top of Mohouli, and traffic can get really, really bad in the morning. So I know the University has a plan to extend -. Well, right now Nowelo Street is, would be considered their main street that runs through the University. But, really, Nowelo Street does not provide for any traffic flow throughout the University. When you really think about it, all the parking is down at the lower end by Kapi‘olani Street. So traffic either needs to go up Puainako and come back around to the top where Imiloa is or go up Kumukoa, come out Mohouli and come back down. I know Nowelo connects through the University in the back side by the dorms, but that’s impractical. There’s a lot of speed bumps and, you know -. I’m sure everybody ate at Imiola. If you’re going up, you’re not going to go through Nowelo cause it takes too long. You’re going to go up Mohouli and you’re going to come to Komohana and come back down. So that, to me, puts more traffic congestion on Mohouli. Then, as a resident, any type of alleviation of traffic would be wonderful on Mohouli. So, really, I would like to see some comprehensive plan from the University that would have a major roadway come through the University that can actually connect to the major parking areas that currently exists in the University. Unless they’re going to revamp that whole area and put all the major parking in the middle of the campus and have Nowelo, and then have some connectors in between, to me it’s kind of like they’re pushing all the traffic from the University 5 EXHIBIT B off to either Puainako or Mohouli; and they don’t want to deal with the major traffic that the University generates. So, that being said, if the 80-foot right-of-way gets deleted at least get some comprehensive plan to alleviate traffic on Mohouli, and maybe not just a road widening. So, you know, I know Mohouli had a plan at one time to add another turning lane that goes down to Kumukoa and another turning lane up by the Mohouli-Komohana Extension. But now that means if I want to come out of my driveway I’ve got to cross three lanes of traffic instead of two. So it really doesn’t alleviate anything for me. It’s just kind of, you know, makes the traffic go faster through the residential neighborhood. I do understand that, you know, I live on a busy road and I’ve got to deal with that, the consequences of that. You know, I purchased my home there. But I also do believe that the University has a responsibility to mitigate some of the traffic that they generate. And I love the University. You know, I’m an alumni, I graduated from there. And, you know, it’s not, I’m not testifying against the University by any means. I just would like to see a better traffic plan where they connect their upper campus to the lower campus parking areas instead of shoving the traffic off to the side roads to get to the parking. And that’s it. ISHIBASHI: Thank you, Mr. Santiago. Any questions for the testifier? Okay, thank you. Any further testifiers from the public? Anybody interested? Okay, if we can have-. ARAI: Mr. Chairman, and I note that there doesn’t appear to be anyone else from the public who wishes to testify. But I would like to also mention that while this is a Director-initiated effort there are representatives from the University of Hawai‘i in attendance, should you feel that, you know, you have any questions specific to maybe their planning efforts for the UH campus itself. I should also note that in response to concerns about the proposed elimination of the 80-foot wide right-of-way through the main campus that we are offering, we appreciate and understand the concerns being expressed. But we also wanted to draw your attention to Exhibit D as in David that was made a part of the report that was provided to you. It does, while it is a preliminary master plan, it does show some preliminary vision on how -. ONO: This map? ARAI: That’s right, the colored map. It does provide some indication of how the University is looking at tying in the roadway networks within the area, within that main campus, as well as the upper campus that is on the mauka side of Komohana and which is not a part of today’s request. I can also direct you to comments from the State Department of Transportation which was also made a part of your background report. One moment, and that was Exhibit G as in Gary. And while they did support and had no objections to the proposed change of zone request, they are asking that the UH conduct a more comprehensive traffic impact analysis as development proceeds within, upon its lands. And over the years, everything that you see existing on the UH campus right now, as these facilities are constructed, they have to go through an environmental assessment at the very least because it’s using State lands. It’s using State funds; and that’s a trigger for an environmental assessment. So every time a project is proposed, they have to do all 6 EXHIBIT B these separate reports and analysis. It’s available to the public for review and comment. And then the University will then decide, you know, whether to accept or issue a finding of no significant impact.” And as part of those reports are always traffic impact analysis reports, so they can weigh the traffic being generated by any specific project against the background traffic levels and forecast levels during the development of that particular project. So there are mechanisms in place to assess traffic as projects come on line. And if you have more specific questions beyond that, again, the University representatives are here; and they could elaborate further if needed. ONO: Mr. Chair, question. ISHIBASHI: Yes, Commissioner Ono. ONO: Thank you. You mentioned in your presentation the concept of a college town. I’m not too familiar with that. Would you elaborate more on what that means in terms of the development of the total area? ARAI: Well, as with any university campus you have a high density of student population, as well as faculty population. And when you concentrate that number of people on campus, it’s not simply a means of providing facilities for instruction, like classrooms and libraries. It is a population, it is like a community onto itself in many ways. And as part of any community, you would have to look at providing the basic support and needs for that particular community, which is if you’ve ever been like to the campus at Manoa and USC and other campuses throughout the nation, they actually look like mini villages. They have apartment complexes not only for the students but for faculty and visiting faculty and their families. They may have a Star Bucks, a Panda Express, things that serve the immediate needs of the students. Right now if you look at the existing campus, aside from maybe the book store and some limited on-site facilities, the only real, and the UH representatives can correct me, the only thing nearby is maybe the 7-Eleven just down the street. But it’s off campus and they would probably have to walk there to get some basic things. I think the University is looking at providing that mix and range of uses and accommodations on campus so students don’t have, and faculty, don’t have to walk off campus. It’s all right there for them. In fact, if I remember correctly the university villages complex where the apartment complex is coming up just above the high school, Waiakea High School, that had a commercial component envisioned in it as well. So, again, students right in the dorms can go right down and get some of their basic necessities taken care of without having to hop in a car and drive. ONO: So are you saying there’s some kind of future dream plan for the University campus, total campus, to be developed, where the residential areas are going to be for the faculty -? ARAI: Right. The Exhibit D as in David does show in colors some general concept uses. And, again, it talks about housing, commercial uses, where the parking areas are going to be, where the sports facilities are going to be, your research facilities, and so forth and so on. So I hope -. ONO: That would be a better development if that 80-foot -? NOMURA: Microphone, please. 7 EXHIBIT B ONO: Oh, I’m sorry. That roadway that you’re asking to be removed would be better served if that were removed, the whole total concept of the campus development? I’m asking. ARAI: Our main, our main focus is not necessarily to serve the campus. We were looking at it from a general roadway network concept. Again, looking at this ordinance map, of which you all have copies, the 80-foot right-of-way is in this location. It’s basically placing a very large collector road, it’s basically putting an 80-foot collector road from Komohana to Kumukoa Street. Again, this roadway is really just servicing a residential area here, University Heights; and other uses, and multiple family uses down here at the lower section of Lanikāula. We understand that Nowelo Street is somewhere in this vicinity here, which currently operates more as a driveway than an actual road. But we also realized that, let me see if I can back it up. This map here, this is the section we want to delete makai of Komohana. But you can see where it connects to Mohouli further up off the map. To have two major roadways in close proximity like this, especially when it’s basically dumping itself and terminating on a road that services a subdivision area we question the practicality of doing so. Again, these roadways are all inter-connecting. You have Puainako here, Kāwili Street, Kapi‘olani Street, Kumukoa, Lanikāula, Mohouli, all serving the area. And we feel basically constructing another major road that basically splits Mohouli Street, one going to the existing alignment here at the north, and another alignment, and then comes right into the University campus is somewhat redundant. I mean, that’s our general thought, especially when you have existing Nowelo Street here that hopefully in the future could be enhanced to provide a better traffic flow through the campus. And if I were to back this, sorry for jumping through so many maps. I thought there was a better site plan. I apologize. But I guess what I’m saying is the need for such a large road in this particular vicinity is questionable when it’s already being served by so many other roadway networks in the immediate area. ISHIBASHI: Commissioner Henkel. HENKEL: I think Mr. Santiago has some real legitimate concerns, and I also see your point of view Daryn about having, you know, redundant roadways in there. And I guess we should hear from the University people. But I’m wondering if they do have any plans for improving Nowelo Street to mitigate the traffic. ONO: Mr. Chair? ISHIBASHI: Commissioner Ono. ONO: Before, would you go back to the diagram again. The upper portion or the upper left- hand corner of the map you’re saying to eliminate the proposal. What about the upper, that section which seems to me, I’m not sure that you’re following me, but upper left-hand corner, that road leading to Mohouli, that -. ARAI: This one? ONO: That road, that portion. What you’re going to do with that? 8 EXHIBIT B ARAI: The reason for the request on the makai, sorry, on the makai side of Komohana Street is because it was within that same area that’s part of this rezoning request for the University designation. There will have to be further discussion of this alignment mauka of Komohana Street. But, at that part, we may want to take a broader look at it to see how the larger circulation pattern is in this particular section of Downtown Hilo. ONO: Okay, I’m just looking at it from a layperson’s view. That proposal is really not going to have any benefit in the future if you remove the lower portion. ARAI: That is, oops, sorry. You’re right, by removing this section down here, it further, I would argue, debilitates the necessity of maintaining this upper portion here, although this upper portion was, I believe, -. You see Nowelo Street here on the mauka side? This is actually going to connect. If you look at the applicant’s master plan, Exhibit D, it does connect to a roadway that is within the Sunrise Ridge, I think it’s Sunrise Ridge, Subdivision. So there is this proposal for interconnectivity with an existing road within the Sunrise Ridge Subdivision. ONO: Okay. I guess it seems to me that we’re doing it piecemeal. If your proposal were to eliminate that upper portion it would make more sense to me to say okay. But for you to come back later and say, you know, this is really, doesn’t fit, I have a hard time -. I guess what I’m looking for is a broader plan to say that this is what we’re really looking at, rather than doing it piecemeal and say we’re going to eliminate this portion and then come back five years from now and say we want to eliminate the other half. ARAI: That is a valid argument. And you may, you’ve -. I think some of you have experienced specific amendments to the City of Hilo Road Map. I think you may recall the Stainback Highway, we were looking at eliminating Stainback Highway. There was the one up Haleloke Street off Akolea Road where because Haleloke Street was constructed we moved a proposed roadway and scooted it further to the north to designate Haleloke as that interconnecting road. Granted if, it can appear piecemeal at the time and we’re just, there are times when we just look at it and try to resolve certain issues that arise as we address certain projects. This is just, happens to be one of them. I should note that if the Commissioners feel that this is sort of like parceling out and you’re not too comfortable with it, I mean, you have the privilege of taking separate actions. I mean, again, this is a proposal before you. You could possibly support one. We hope you would support the University zoning district proposal. But you could also make a motion otherwise regarding the 80-foot roadway alignment. ONO: One more question. The upper portion which I’m concerned about, who owns that property today, the mauka side of that? ARAI: This side here? ONO: Yes. ARAI: I believe that’s part of the UH -. 9 EXHIBIT B ONO: That is part of the UH? ARAI: Right. ONO: Okay, thank you. ARAI: And, again, we do have representatives here from the University, so if you have -. ISHIBASHI: Yeah, we would like to invite them up for some questions. YADA: Good morning. Harry Yada. ISHIBASHI: Good morning. Could you raise your right hand. Do you swear and affirm to tell the truth before the Windward Planning Commission over this matter? YADA: I do. TAKEMOTO: I do. ISHIBASHI: Thank you. Could you state your name and address for the record, please. YADA: Harry Yada, Director of Real Property, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo. TAKEMOTO: Roy Takemoto, 1790 Haleloke Street, PBR Hawai‘i, Consultants to the University, Hilo. ISHIBASHI: Thank you so much. You have heard the discussion so far in regards to the traffic and trying to mitigate the traffic. YADA: Yeah, I guess –. ISHIBASHI: And by eliminating this 80-foot road, how would that help? YADA: I guess what we can offer -. The University is currently in the middle of updating its long-range development plan; and that’s sort of an early concept that you see there in your information. As part of that process, we will be doing an environmental impact statement for the plan once we have it down and we will also, part of that will be a traffic impact assessment of all the traffic around the University. So we would be more than happy to convey, you know, Han’s concern to our engineer when they look at that. I mean, as Daryn says, there have been multiple environmental assessments that have been done for all the major buildings you see at the University, and every one had a traffic impact study done. In the case that I’m describing, it’s a comprehensive plan for the entire University, including lands above Komohana and below. So it will, you know, look at all of the surrounding roadways, including Mohouli in terms of traffic. But maybe Roy can add. 10 EXHIBIT B TAKEMOTO: Yeah, I’ll just add a little bit more details on the, what we are considering for the long-range development plan in relation to circulation and traffic. But, first, let me just make a point that, you know, there may be a question in your mind, this piecemeal kind of thing -. Why are we are looking at this rezoning when the University is in the process of doing a long-range master plan for its entire areas under its control, including the lands mauka of Komohana? Now the answer to that question is whenever you’re doing a long-range plan, it doesn’t mean that everything stops. The University is actively working to improve its facilities on campus within the area that is being proposed for, initiated for rezoning. Several new buildings have already come up. The highly desired college of pharmacy that didn’t happen but was supposed to happen, and hopefully will, falls into this area. The University Village, that is as you’re driving up Kāwili on the left side, you see construction going on, that is the University Village; and that is just a first phase of several that hopefully will be coming on line. So there is a lot happening within this area that is being proposed for rezoning that doesn’t fit a residential existing zoning or Ag, which is a portion. So all we’re trying to do is, one, is expedite what is actually happening on the ground today; and, two, make it consistent with what is there today. Residential is not what you see today, or Agriculture. It’s University. So that’s the point about, you know, why are we acting today on this in light of a long-range plan that is in process. Now as far as the long-range plan and circulation, there are a couple of things that we are really kind of focusing on. And, you know, a popular word today is “sustainability”; and part of that catch-word is trying to reduce dependency on driving, automobile traffic. We, and the way we are doing this for this plan is, couple things about, well, realizing that there is a lot of traffic and parking problems today -- so looking at the whole parking situation and trying to cite parking in a more strategic place that makes sense, and then linking those parking places with other means for the students to get around within the campus. So one of the ideas is a fancy term called “people movers.” And when you think, dream in the end, it could be like a monorail. But the immediate implementation of that concept may be an electric shuttle bus. So students park away from Mohouli Street, and they’re able to jump on this shuttle and get within the University itself. Cause it is a big area, it is kind of uphill, so we don’t expect students to run to their class or walk extra fast. We try to make it convenient. And for the existing roadways, we are trying to link up so that Nowelo does function better as a way to circulate within the campus without having to go on Mohouli and to other perimeter streets around the campus. And, you know, if that 80-foot road does go through the campus, it is going to be a major impact. It will just divide that campus and kind of destroy all that cohesiveness and trying to get to a more pedestrian environment of the campus. That 80-foot would just destroy that concept. Now as far as the mauka connections that Commissioner Ono was talking about, it may be a good idea to keep that for now because it is, the land is under the control of the University, it is part of our long-range master plan. And these lines on the General Plan are just concept only. So, as Daryn was alluding to, the concept that it’s trying to tell long-range developers like that, like us, is that there may be, it may be a good idea to, in your master plan, to look at a connection between Komohana and Mohouli or somewhere in Sunrise to kind of complete a circulation in that mauka area. If you, and that we can look at in the process of this long-range development plan. But to eliminate the makai portion, segment now really would help the projects that are on- going on the books right now. 11 EXHIBIT B ISHIBASHI: Any questions, Commissioners? YADA: I guess I can offer that, you know, I asked Hans feel free to contact us, and we can put him in contact with our traffic engineers as they work through the analysis of traffic around; and we’ll do, we’ll consider what we can as part of that process. ISHIBASHI: Thank you. ARAI: Mr. Chairman? ISHIBASHI: Yes. ARAI: Mr. Santiago asked if, you know, he would be able to address the Commission once again. So if you’re willing -. ISHIBASHI: Yeah, sure. Come up, Mr. Santiago. You bring up legitimate concerns and –. SANTIAGO: Yeah -. ISHIBASHI: Tried to mitigate this way. SANTIAGO: I assume I’m still sworn in? ISHIBASHI: Yes. SANTIAGO: That exhibit that was submitted to you that shows the future planning of the University, it show connectivity up to the, to Sunrise Estates; and it shows other kind of activity, and a lot of future development, different ag parks, you know -. Looks like they may put in some major athletic stadiums, housing. But yet they kept Nowelo deadending right into the University. And anybody that has been at the University knows that Nowelo doesn’t serve any purpose to move traffic at all. It’s only going to move traffic just within the University. I do understand that you don’t want a major roadway running through the University and bisecting it, but you also don’t want major traffic running through the neighborhood, you know. People are at the University five days a week, people are in my neighborhood seven days a week, every single hour. So you want to take away the traffic through the University and put it onto the neighborhood, so -. I mean, it’s, you’ve got to deal with the traffic either way. So I still would recommend that either the 80-foot right-of-way be there and stay there, or some plan to connect Nowelo to Lanikāula so that you cannot have that mauka-maki traffic. So say if you were up, you’re a professor at the University, you have one of these residential places that they plan to develop and you want to get down to the plaza or somewhere down in Hilo, you can’t come down Nowelo Street and connect to all the businesses all in the industrial area. You’ve got to go Puainako or you’ve got to go to Mohouli. Well, Puainako is fine because they plan on taking the road behind of it, the buildings, you know behind the homes - great, great. But Mohouli Street, there’s no plans to mitigate any extra traffic coming down that roadway. 12 EXHIBIT B Now getting rid of the 80-foot road widening or future roadway is great conceptually and you can say, well, in the future we’re going to do plans and studies and so forth. But what if those plans and studies say, well, the bridge to connect Nowelo to Lanikāula is going to cost us several million dollars so it’s not feasible. Well, I mean, somehow they got enough money to build the bridge for Nowelo which really goes nowhere and serves no purpose. So the idea is that if you keep the 80-foot right-of-way on some kind of government documentation, they cannot later say, well, we did the study and it’s not working to our benefit so we’re not going to put it in. So once you get rid of the 80-foot roadway there’s nothing to keep them from committing to alleviating traffic in that area. So, I mean, they can, you know -. Again, I’m not against the University. I’m just against extra traffic down my roadway. And by getting rid of another major roadway that could connect mauka-makai that could alleviate some traffic off of Mohouli with no comprehensive plan currently in place to alleviate traffic on Mohouli, it just makes no sense to me because you’re getting rid of an opportunity for the community to help improve traffic congestion. So that would be my concern. It’s just not, they won’t have anything to hold them to making sure something like that happens if you get rid of the 80-foot future roadway. ISHIBASHI: Questions for the testifier? Okay, thank you. Okay, Commissioners, Agenda Item No. 6 on the docket right now. What is the pleasure of the Commission? MOSES: Chair? ISHIBASHI: Yes, Commissioner Moses. MOSES: You know, I hear what testifier Mr. Santiago is saying. And I, I am in support of changing the zone for the University; but I am not, at this time, in support of deletion of the proposed 80-foot right-of-way for that very reason that he stated. I understand that the Department of Transportation will be requiring that they do environmental impact statements but there is nothing that will hold the University to having to actually do something that will address Mr. Santiago’s concern, as I’m sure other people who utilize that. So that’s just my feeling. ISHIBASHI: Thank you, Commissioner Moses. Yeah, those who drive that road, yeah, you see the traffic up Mohouli. It’s kind of, it’s one of the famous sign waiving locations. So you know the traffic is there if you’ve got to waive signs. So it’s a good one. Commissioner Henkel, please. HENKEL: Yeah. If we leave the, or if the 80-foot right-of-way is left, that’s, that doesn’t necessarily mean that there’s going to be a road built there, right? ARAI: Because it’s prescribed on the zone district map, even though it may not follow that specific alignment, any development in that area has to accommodate and maintain the functionality of that alignment. It may not follow the precise alignment, but somehow the UH will have to program in its development plans a connection from Komohana Street to Kumukoa Street, basically implementing what that alignment is intending to accomplish, as shown on your Zone District Maps. So in the future if it remains on the Zone District Map, we’re going to be looking at seeing something hard and fast on the ground, in one way, shape or form. 13 EXHIBIT B HENKEL: If the 80-foot right-of-way is left on the map, could they, if they improved the Nowelo Street access, will that satisfy the requirements of providing a right-of-way through there? ARAI: I think that’s what Mr. Santiago is alluding to, I mean, basically saying, you know, keep it on the maps for now and hopefully that will drive home -. And I’m sorry I’m paraphrasing, but hopefully it will drive home the point where if they want to utilize and take advantage of Nowelo Street as sufficiently or substantively meeting and satisfying the intent of the 80-foot right-of-way, then sure. Then I think we as a department could basically say it satisfies what the intent of this proposed alignment is hoping to accomplish. HENKEL: It’s, I find it ironic Nowelo Street is wider than Mohouli, I think; and it has got speed bumps, you know, the upper end, and no traffic. And then Mohouli, you know, is choke cars. So, I mean, I can really sympathize with Mr. Santiago. But I’m hoping that the University, like they’ve said, can, you know, work out a satisfactory solution. ONO: Mr. Chair? ISHIBASHI: Yes, Commissioner Ono. ONO: Daryn, you know, in the previous request for approval, was -. And I’m really embarrassed by not knowing the name of the street where the Medical Center is further towards Hamakua side where we had approved earlier -. ISHIBASHI: Ponahawai? ONO: Ponahawai, is that -? ARAI: Kawena Lapa’au. ONO: Did we not approve a development in that area where there will be a diversion of traffic feeding into that Ponahawai? ARAI: Yeah, I think I know what project you’re talking about, but I don’t think I have a map that shows, no I don’t have a map, sorry. I think that is the Wailani project, if I remember correctly. It’s in between Mohouli Extension and Komohana Street right across or mauka of Kawena Lapa’au, which is the Ponahawai Medical Complex. They were required, I think, by their change of zone ordinance to extend Puainako, not Puainako, Ponahawai Street mauka of Komohana and eventually tie in with Mohouli Street. So that would be another connector road providing an enhanced circulation pattern within this particular area. It is located off the map to the top of where this project site is situated. ONO: So the concern for traffic as being expressed in the future, it is possible that that development or that road development may, would help with the diversion of traffic outside, away from Mohouli? 14 EXHIBIT B ARAI: It could to a limited extent. I think people trying to really get down quickly to Ponahawai Street could use that Ponahawai Extension instead of coming all the way down Mohouli Street and taking a left on Komohana to get to Ponahawai. So it could help, you know. ONO: Okay. I guess -. I live on Kaumana so I noticed that the development that took place, it really relieved our traffic where I sit. So I’m just thinking that the future development of that Ponahawai may, well, I’m suspecting that it would help relieve traffic down Mohouli. So I’m kind of, tend to disagree with the concern in that the future development of that road could help with the traffic flow. Thank you. ISHIBASHI: Thank you, Commissioner Ono. Any further questions, comments? Okay, motion is in order. We can either amend or accept the proposal as is. What’s the pleasure of the body, Commissioners? GONZALES: Mr. Chairman? ISHIBASHI: Commissioner Gonzales. GONZALES: For the sake of discussion, I’d like to propose a favorable recommendation to the County Council for a change of zoning from Agricultural 1-a and Single-Family Residential to University zoning. ONO: Second. ISHIBASHI: Okay. It has been moved by Commissioner Gonzales and seconded by Commissioner Ono. Open for discussion. ARAI: Mr. Chairman? ISHIBASHI: Yes? ARAI: Sorry for interrupting. The motion only addresses the University zoning district. Is there going to be a motion or clarification on the 80-foot wide, deletion of the 80-foot wide roadway connection between Komohana and Kumukoa, which is also part of this request? ISHIBASHI: I believe the motion was -. MASUNAGA: As is. ISHIBASHI: As is. MASUNAGA: As is. ISHIBASHI: With the 80-foot width -. ARAI: Oh, okay. 15 EXHIBIT B ISHIBASHI: With the deletion of the 80-foot. ARAI: Oh, okay, so as recommended by the Director. ISHIBASHI: Yes. GONZALES: As recommended, yeah. I’m not proposing any, no need to amend the motion. ARAI: My apologies, sorry. MASUNAGA: Daryn, you’re not listening. ARAI: My apologies. ISHIBASHI: It’s the motion and seconded by Commissioner Ono. Open for discussion, Commissioners? GONZALES: Mr. Chairman, if I can, the phrase he used was a university town with what they wanted to kind of create? ARAI: I think it was like a university campus, I think, was what I said. GONZALES: So in theory, you know, you were saying maybe in the future there’s going to be some commercial development. Wouldn’t that actually keep people from driving, would not alleviate cars, some traffic, cause people would no longer have to be going on and off campus as much? ARAI: That’s the theory. And which is why the University zoning district was actually created in 2007. Maybe just a brief, I don’t mean to belabor this. But what you see on site now was accomplished even though the zoning is Single-Family Residential. You know, and you see what is currently on campus now, including the university park. But it tends to sometime leave out the support facilities, like certain types of commercial uses. And this proposal here if approved would provide that much greater flexibility to address the needs of the students. And, you know, to be honest with you, there may be even some commercial uses allowed on campus that serves the students, and it could also service some of the residents in the immediate area. Because I’ve gone to Manoa Campus and I’ve partaken some of their restaurants on campus. So, again, it’s a benefit not only to the university campus but maybe even to some of the residents in the surrounding area. GONZALES: Okay, thank you. And I appreciate your concerns, Mr. Santiago. I would like to trust in the University to be good neighbors and address these problems in the future if it does get worse. ISHIBASHI: Thank you, Commissioner Gonzales. Any further discussion? Okay, go ahead. 16 EXHIBIT B ARAI: Okay. So the motion on the floor is to approve the change of zone from Agricultural 1-acre and Single- Family Residential-10,000 square feet to the University District, as well as the deletion of the 80-foot, proposed 80 foot right-of-way connecting Komohana Street to Kumukoa Street for the reasons and as recommended by the Planning Director. So with that, I’ll call the roll. Commissioner, sorry, Commissioner Gonzales? GONZALES: Aye. ARAI: Commissioner Ono? ONO: Aye. ARAI: Commissioner Heaukulani? HEAUKULANI: Aye. ARAI: Commissioner Henkel? HENKEL: Aye. ARAI: Commissioner Miyasato? MIYASATO: Aye. ARAI: Commissioner Moses? MOSES: No. ARAI: And Mr. Chairman? ISHIBASHI: Aye. ARAI: Mr. Chairman, motion carries with six ayes, one no. ISHIBASHI: Okay, thank you, Commissioners. This is a very important topic as the UH is the economic hub of our, of our island. So, when tourism is down, we still got students working. So it’s a good one. ARAI: And just a reminder that this is a favorable recommendation to the County Council. And the Council itself will have a number of meetings before its Planning Committee as well as the full Council. So at the very least there will be a minimum of three additional readings on this bill. ISHIBASHI: Okay, thank you. 17 EXHIBIT B The discussion ended at 11:24 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Sharon M. Nomura, Secretary Windward Planning Commission 18 EXHIBIT B