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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-10-08 Kailua Village Design Commission Minutes KAILUA VILLAGE DESIGN COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I MINUTES Meeting Date: October 8, 2013 Time: 5:18 p.m. Place: West Hawai‘i Civic Center nd Planning Department Conference Room – Building E, 2 Floor 74-5044 Ane Keohokālole Highway Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i, 96740 CALL TO ORDER Commissioners Present: John Hetherington, Theresa Andreae, Fanny Au Hoy, Paul Bleck, Adam Broderson, Nancy Burns and Shane Kitchens Absent and Excused: Alvin Akina, Jr. and Sammie Stanbro Applicant/Representative: Laura Rogers Office of Corporation Counsel: Margaret Masunaga Planning Department: Bennett Mark, Keola Childs and Noriko Sauer A quorum was present. Chair Hetherington called the meeting to order and the Commissioners introduced themselves. It was moved by Commissioner Au Hoy and seconded by Commissioner Bleck that approval of the minutes of the September 17, 2013, meeting be moved to the end of the agenda. However, at the suggestion of Mr. Childs that the Commission take up the minutes while his computer was starting up, Commissioners Au Hoy and Bleck withdrew their motion and second, respectively. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Minutes of the Meeting of September 17, 2013. It was moved by Commissioner Andreae and seconded by Commissioner Au Hoy that the minutes be approved as submitted. The motion was unanimously carried by a voice vote of all Commissioners present. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS – There was no one from the public in attendance. NEW BUSINESS 1. Design Review of a proposed telecommunication tower, accessory communications building and stand-by generator for Hawaii Electric Light Company. Applicant: Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc. Landowner: Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc. Property Tax Map Key No.: 7-4-010:022. Location: 74-5519 Kaiwi Street, Kailua-Kona. Mr. Childs oriented the Commission of the subject property on a location map, an aerial photo and site plans, and described the proposal. Using site photographs, he identified structures on the subject 1 parcel, which had previously been reviewed and supported by the Commission, as well as a few existing communication towers in the vicinity. He noted that the architectural design guidelines of the Master Plan for Kailua-Kona were difficult to apply in this case for the reason that the proposed improvements were dedicated to a core industrial function, and located in a general industrial zoning district and a considerable distance from public streets. The applicant’s representative, Laura Rogers, clarified that existing rooftop antennas on their customer service building would be removed once the proposed tower and antennas were constructed and operational. During discussion she presented additional information, which included the following:  Tower antennas work better than rooftop antennas, and also the tower can accommodate future needs for co-location of cell phone antennas.  They cannot totally rely on the fiber-optic communication for their 24/7 operations.  This location is critical for mobile communication with their trucks. Also, the proposed tower height and antenna diameter are nonnegotiable due to the low elevation of the property.  The proposed improvements will contribute to future smart-grid operations.  The proposed antenna dishes are too big for a stealth design, such as a fake palm tree. The dish is constructed like a drum with a white vinyl-canvas cover. The applicant will ask the supplier about different color options.  The proposed accessory building to store communication equipment is a pre-fabricated structure with no windows, and although air-conditioned, the building is not intended for an office or any other purposes.  The accessory building will be painted off-white to match the existing engineering building, with no logo or name displayed.  There is an abandoned communication tower called GST tower in the southeast corner of the property, which is supposed to have already been removed. The applicant will make sure this happens without delay. It was moved by Commissioner Andreae that a recommendation for approval of the proposed project be sent to the Planning Director, with suggestions that the applicant make their best effort to remove the existing rooftop antennas as soon as possible, and that the applicant look into color options for the antenna cover, such as blue-gray, in lieu of the bright white color proposed. Commissioner Kitchens suggested that the motion also include prompt removal of the abandoned GST tower. Commissioner Andreae pointed out that the Commission should be made aware of any such non-operational towers in the Kailua Village Special District (KVSD). She amended her motion to include the following comments: 1)that the proposed facility is to replace the existing antennas and support structures on the roof of the main warehouse/customer service building, and that the applicant will remove these 2 existing structures from the roof of the main warehouse/customer service building as soon as possible; 2)that the non-operational freestanding GST tower and antenna in the southeast corner of the property will be removed as soon as possible; and, 3)that the applicant will make a good faith effort to investigate and consider the feasibility of installing dish antenna fabric covers having blue, gray or other similar color options in lieu of the standard white antenna covers proposed. Commissioner Burns seconded the motion. There was no further discussion on the motion. A roll call vote was taken and the motion carried with six ayes (Andreae, Burns, Au Hoy, Bleck, Broderson and Kitchens) and two absent and excused (Akina and Stanbro). 2. Verbal report regarding 2013 Hawai‘i Congress of Planning Officials (HCPO) conference from commissioner-attendees. HCPO conference was held September 18 through 20, 2013 at the Sheraton Kona Resort and Spa. Commissioner Bleck who had attended the conference along with Commissioner Akina, gave a verbal report, with emphasis on workshops that had prompted him to think about the Commission’s role in the growth and expansion of the Kailua-Kona area. Mr. Mark spoke about the importance of design review in implementing the “Smart Growth” concept, and made reference to the County Code for the Commission’s powers and duties. In response to the Commissioners’ question about appropriateness of the current KVSD boundaries, he said that the best way for the Commission to explore the subject would be to form a committee for that specific purpose. He also mentioned some other topics that had been raised by the Commission in the past, such as Sign Code enforcement and compliance monitoring, which might be better undertaken by committees rather than the Commission as a whole. The Chair requested that discussion on the Commission’s priority and the possibility of establishing committees as a result, be put on the next meeting agenda. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS The Commissioners agreed to plan their annual recognition dinner in January next year. Mr. Mark made the following statements: 1.Come January the Commission will have two more positions to fill in addition to the current two that holdover members are serving. The County has been trying to recruit new members with little success. 2.The Commission received no applications for the next scheduled meeting of October 22, 2013. The Commissioners agreed to cancel the October 22, 2013, meeting and agendize the aforementioned discussion item for the following meeting. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mr. Childs displayed a photograph of a bicycle rack in the shape of a car, which he had personally acquired, and said that this type of bicycle rack made into a shape to fit with the Kailua Village, such 3 as a canoe or a paddle, would be attractive and inspiring to bicycle users. The Chair commented that the suggestion could well be forwarded to the Kailua Village Business Improvement District that might be able to accomplish the idea with their funds. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, at 6:55 p.m., it was moved by Commissioner Au Hoy and seconded by Commissioner Kitchens 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: John Hetherington, Chair Kailua Village Design Commission 4