2013-11-21 Leeward Planning Commission Minutes

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LEEWARD PLANNING COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I MINUTES NOVEMBER 21, 2013 The Leeward Planning Commission met in regular session at 9:33 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, Richard Nelson, III, Barbara Nobriga and Thomas Whittemore ALSO PRESENT: Bobby Command (Deputy Planning Director), Margaret Masunaga (Deputy Corporation Counsel), Jeff Darrow (Planner), Maija Cottle (Planner) and Noriko Sauer (Commission Secretary) And nine people from the public in attendance. A quorum was present. Chair Giffin called the meeting to order and introduced the Commissioners and staff to members of the public, and described the procedure for public testimony. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC – No statements were presented under this section of the agenda. NEW BUSINESS APPLICANT: COUNTY, PARKS & RECREATION (SMA 13-054) Application for a Special Management Area (SMA) Use Permit to allow the establishment of a new neighborhood park and related improvements on approximately 1.63 acres of land in the Special Management Area. The property is the site of a vacant lot located between Lehua Road and Pakalana Road in the Ali‘i Kai Subdivision, Hōlualoa, North Kona, Hawai‘i, TMK: 7-6-019:034. The Commission took up this item at 9:35 a.m. with seven people from the public in attendance. Ms. Cottle oriented the Commission and public of the subject and surrounding properties on the location map, aerial photo and site plan, and summarized the request. She said that the Planning Director recommended approval of this request, subject to conditions. In response to the Chair’s request, she expanded on a comment letter from the United States Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, expressing their concern about the federally endangered Hawaiian hoary bat, and she also noted that the Planning Director included their recommendation in his proposed conditions of approval. The applicant’s representatives, Aubrey Summers and James Komata, were present. Mr. Komata said that the applicant was looking forward to constructing this long-awaited park, and added that the Mayor and the district’s Councilman Kanuha were supportive of the project. He also stated that 1