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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-02-06HEARINGTRANSCRIPT-SIMPSON SPP 13-155 WINDWARD PLANNING COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I HEARING TRANSCRIPT FEBRUARY 6, 2014 Donald Randal (Randy) & Alison A regularly advertised hearing on the application of Simpson (SPP 13-155) was called to order at 9:37 a.m. in the County of Hawai‘i, Aupuni Center Conference Room, 101 Pauahi Street, Hilo, Hawai‘i with Chairman Wallace A. Ishibashi, Jr. presiding. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Wallace A. Ishibashi, Jr., Ronald Gonzales, Charles Heaukulani, Gregory Henkel, Myles Miyasato, and Raylene Moses. ABSENT AND EXCUSED: Stephen Ono. ALSO PRESENT: Bobby Command (Deputy Planning Director), Molly Stebbins (Deputy Corporation Counsel for the Windward Planning Commission), Daryn Arai (Planning Program Manager), Jeff Darrow (Staff Planner), Maija Cottle (Staff Planner), and Sarah Hata-Finley (Secretary). And approximately 9 people from the public in attendance. APPLICANTS: DONALD RANDAL & ALISON SIMPSON (SPP 13-155) Application for a Special Permit to allow the establishment of a 4-bedroom bed and breakfast operation within an addition to an existing two-bedroom single-family dwelling on approximately one (1) acre of land situated within the State Land Use Agricultural District. The property is located at 29-3825 Pueo‘ihi Road, Hakalau Homesteads, Hakalau, Hawai‘i, TMK: 2-9-002:032. ISHIBASHI: Okay, next agenda item number three. AUDIENCE: Thank you so much—. ISHIBASHI: Thank you, Bill. Good to see you. Donald Randal and Alison Simpson. Special Use Permit 13-155. Darrow? DARROW: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good morning members of the Planning Commission. If I can direct your attention to our next presentation. As mentioned, the applicants are Donald Randal and Alison Simpson. They’re requesting a Special Permit for a bed and breakfast operation. The area of this subject application is within the Hakalau area, more generally we’re looking at the South Hilo district. For reference, you’ll notice the white line running along the, a, the ocean area, this is the Hawai‘i Belt Road. We have different colors on the map. They represent the different types of zonings in the particular area. The dark green and the dark blue represent agriculture. The lighter yellow represents residential type zoning, and then the purple on the Hakalau Point represents general industrial zoning. The subject application, or subject 1 EXHIBIT C property is identified with a black outline. Again, for reference, we have Chin Chuck Road, which is the main road within Hakalau, and then the subject application is on Pueo‘ihi Road. This is a closer view. Again for reference we have Chin Chuck Road and then Pueo‘ihi Road and that’s the subject property identified in the black outline. The darker color green represents Agricultural- 20 acre zoning, and the darker color blue represents Agricultural – 10 acres. The subject property is approximately 11-1/2 acres in size. This is an aerial photo. Again, for reference, we have Pueo‘ihi Road that is the access for the subject property. The subject property is identified with a black outline. Currently, there is an existing single family dwelling that was constructed in 2007, and then there currently is a pro--, an addition occurring on the property. The applicants are requesting a Special Permit to establish a 4-bedroom bed and breakfast operation within an existing 2-bedroom single family dwelling and proposed addition. The proposed 4-bedroom bed and breakfast operation will be accommodated by assigning one bedroom in the existing dwelling for the B&B use, with the other three units to be provided by modifying and expanding the existing carport. The applicants will reside in an additional farm dwelling to be constructed on another portion of the 11.5-acre property. This is the site plan submitted by the applicant. Again, for reference, we have Pueo‘ihi Road on the lower portion of the map. This is the current driveway that comes into the property. You have the existing single family dwelling and the proposed addition that’s occurring off the carport area. Up on the top of the map, you’ll see the location of the future farm dwelling that is proposed. This is a floor plan. Again, the left side of the map shows the existing single family dwelling; the right side shows the proposed 3 bedrooms that will be constructed. These are site photos. This is on Chin Chuck Road looking makai with Pueo‘ihi Road on the right side of the map. This is looking towards Hilo from Chin Chuck Road, and we have Pueo‘ihi Road. It is a gravel road. This is considered a road in limbo, but it is still County owned at this time. This is a little further down on Pueo‘ihi Road. The subject driveway is to the right, and the subject property, you can see in the distance as well as the existing dwelling. Again, another picture of the subject driveway as well as the existing dwelling. This is showing the current dwelling as well as the proposed addition. There is one-two-three proposed dwellings that are being, or units that are being constructed. The Planning Director is recommending that the Planning Commission approve this request with conditions. With that, that concludes our presentation. Are there any questions? ISHIBASHI: Thank you, Jeff. Commissioners, any questions of staff? DARROW: Thank you. ISHIBASHI: I get one question, Jeff-- 2 EXHIBIT C DARROW: Okay— ISHIBASHI: Try go back to that picture we had. Construction started already? DARROW: Correct. They do have a building permit for a proposed addition to a single family dwelling. ISHIBASHI: Thank you. Okay, can the applicant come up, please? Good morning. SIMPSONS: Good morning. MIKKELSON: Good morning. ISHIBASHI: Good to see you again. Could you raise your right hand, please? Do you swear and affirm to tell the truth before the Windward Planning Commission over this matter? MIKKELSON: I do. SIMPSONS: I do. ISHIBASHI: Thank you. Go ahead. Can go. Can you introduce yourself and address, name and address for the record? SIMPSON: I’m Alison Simpson. I’m from 29-3825 Pueo‘ihi in Hakalau. SIMPSON: And I’m Randy Simpson. It says Donald on there but I go by Randy, and the same address. MIKKELSON: And I’m Lori Mikkelson. I live in Laupāhoehoe. So-- ISHIBASHI: You reviewed all of the conditions and— MIKKELSON: Yes, we have. These folks have really put their heart and soul into their property and a lot of money. And they’ve done a lot of planting. You really couldn’t see from the overhead picture of what they’ve done. There’s a lot or work that’s been going on there. And I was teasing him yesterday about his farmer tan that he’s gotten. You know, their idea is to have a place that is country, and have a place where guests could come and be quiet and in the country and get away from it all. That’s their idea. Also, speaking for myself, I live also in the country and occasionally we have guests that come to our house to stay, and we end up with more people then we have room for. And rather than having them to go all the way to Hilo, it’s nice for them to be able to stay close by. So, that’s just my thought on that. ISHIBASHI: Thank you. Anything you want to say? AUDIENCE (Perkins): I wanted to say something. 3 EXHIBIT C SIMPSON (Randy): Oh-- ISHIBASHI: Okay, if you can—okay, you can hang on— AUDIENCE (Perkins): --I don’t know if you-- SIMPSON (Randy): Oh, sorry I think this is one of our neighbors but I think you’re going to call her up to speak shortly. AUDIENCE (Perkins): Do I have to come up then? ISHIBASHI: Yeah, try hang on. Thank you. Is there any questions of our applicants Commissioners? Seeing no questions, and you okay with the conditions? SIMPSON (Randy): Yes. MIKKELSON: Go for it. ISHIBASHI: Okay, you may be seated. MIKKELSON: Thank you. ISHIBASHI: Okay, anyone wishing to testify on the public hearing besides Sheree Perkins? Sheree, if you can come up, please? Thank you-- PERKINS: Good morning. ISHIBASHI: --for coming this morning—. You can use the mike when you speak, please. If you could state your name and address for the record. PERKINS: My name is Sheree Perkins, 29-3812 Pueo‘ihi. My husband, Norman and I, own the farm directly below the Simpsons. And Norman is on the mainland or he would be here. So I am representing us. When we met the Simpsons, the property was in disarray. We’ve watched it go from old cane land to individual farmers trying taro to trash trees to now invasive bamboo. There was over four acres of invasive bamboo that was heading towards our farm. So, when the previous owners decided to sell, they just bit off more than they could chew. Had the farm idea both with full- time jobs, could not take care of the property. When we found out the Simpsons were interested, and Norman was speaking with Randy, the first thing he asked him was if you buy this property, I will hold you accountable for the bamboo. They bought the property. Within a few weeks, he had a tractor. He has completely cleared almost five acres of invasive bamboo, and Hulili Farms is safe. That was our main concern. Randy and Alison really have worked hard. They don’t have a white picket fence dream of Hawai‘i. They know how to get out there and sweat. We lived here three years before local farmers talked to us and stopped by and said okay, we’ll stick, you know how to work. These people know how to work. They’ll do it right. They have hotel 4 EXHIBIT C and restaurant experience in Canada for ten years. They’ll run a great B&B and they are working on their orchard. They’ve already trimmed it back. They’ve removed trees. They’ve removed Albizias. They’ve removed African Tulips. These are the kind of neighbors you want in the country. They’re taking good care of their land. ISHIBASHI: Thank you, Sheree. Any questions of the testifier? Okay, thank you. Okay, Commissioners? A motion is in order. MOSES: I move that the application for a Special Permit SPP 13-155 be approved based on the Planning Director’s recommendation and proposed conditions. ISHIBASHI: Okay, thank you. Motion by Commissioner Moses. MIYASATO: Second. ISHIBASHI: Seconded by Commissioner Miyasato. Open for discussion, Commissioners. Any questions? Comments? GONZALES: I have a comment. ISHIBASHI: Commissioner Gonzales. GONZALES: What a gorgeous property, and I’m envious. Beautiful. Good job. ISHIBASHI: Yeah, I worked in that area for many years for the plantation so it’s a beautiful piece of property up there. Special people deserve special properties You earned it, thank you so much. Okay, Commissioners? Any questions? Seeing none, Jeff. DARROW: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The motion before us is to approve this Special Permit request. With that, we’ll take the roll call. Commissioner Moses? MOSES: Aye. DARROW: Commissioner Miyasato? MIYASATO: Aye. DARROW: Commissioner Gonzales? GONZALES: Aye. DARROW: Commissioner Heaukulani? HEAUKULANI: Aye. DARROW: Commissioner Henkel? 5 EXHIBIT C HENKEL: Aye. DARROW: And Mr. Chairman. ISHIBASHI: Aye. DARROW: The motion passes six to zero. ISHIBASHI: Okay, thank you so much. You’ll be notified in writing of the decision. Thank you. Keep up the good work. The discussion ended at 9:49 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Sarah Y. Hata-Finley, Secretary Windward Planning Commission 6 EXHIBIT C