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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-10-01 Hearing Transcript - Eric Hoota REZ 758 WINDWARD PLANNING COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I HEARING TRANSCRIPT OCTOBER 1, 2015 ERIC HOOTA (Amend REZ 758) A regularly advertised hearing on the application of was called to order at 9:10 a.m. in the County of Hawai‘i Aupuni Center Conference Room, 101 Pauahi Street, Hilo, Hawai‘i with Chairman Myles Miyasato presiding. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Myles Miyasato, Charles Heaukulani, Gregory Henkel, Donald Ikeda, and Raylene Moses. ABSENT & EXCUSED: Donn Dela Cruz. ALSO PRESENT: Duane Kanuha (Planning Director), Danny Patel (Deputy Corporation Counsel for the Windward Planning Commission), Daryn Arai (Planning Program Manager), Jeff Darrow (Staff Planner), Christian Kay (Staff Planner), and Sarah Hata-Finley (Commission Secretary). And approximately 9 people from the public in attendance. APPLICANT: ERIC HOOTA (Amend REZ 758) Request for an extension of time to complete construction of proposed commercial development as required by Condition E of Change of Zone Ordinance No. 94-06, which amended the zoning district for 26,770 square feet of land from a Single Family Residential-10,000 square feet (RS- 10) to General Commercial-10,000 square feet (CG-10). The property is located on the southeast (Puna-makai) corner of the Kinoʻole and Lono Streets intersection in Waiākea House Lots, Waiākea, South Hilo, Hawai‘i, TMK: 2-2-024:008. MIYASATO: Number two on today’s agenda is Eric Hoota. DARROW: Thank you. Again, if I can direct your attention to our presentation. Our next applicant is Eric and Joslyn Hoota, and they are requesting an amendment to an existing Change of Zone. The area of the subject application and property is within the Hilo District or the Hilo—the South Hilo District of Hawaiʽi. More specifically, we’re looking in the area of, along Kinoʽole Street and Lono Street. I’m trying to—okay—there, it’s a little difficult to see, but it’s actually right on the corner here, and it’s with a black outline. The color’s a little dark, but, we’ll zoom in a little bit. Again, the different colors on the map represent zoning, and so we have the yellow representing Single-Family Residential, and the darker colors representing Commercial. There is a green color, and that is representing Open. 1 EXHIBIT B The area is identified for High Density Urban uses in our General Plan in which the subject property is located. This is an aerial photo of the subject property, and the surrounding areas. You’ll see, for reference, Lono Street moving in an east-west direction, and Kinoʽole Street running in a north- south direction, as well as we have the Big Island Federal Credit Union or the credit union across the street with other different types of uses as well as dwellings in the area. The applicant is requesting an amendment to Condition E of Change of Zone Ordinance No. 94-06 on order to provide more time to complete construction of a medical office building or other commercial development. Condition E required that construction be completed by January 26 of 2000. The applicant is requesting a five-year time extension from the date of approval of this proposed amendment to complete construction. This is the preliminary site plan that was submitted when they had submitted Plan Approval previously. So, for reference again, we have Kinoʽole Street running on the bottom of the map. We have Lono Street on the left side of the map with the proposed medical office building and parking. We are in the process of cancelling the Plan Approval that was submitted previously to have them come back in with that particular, with whatever proposed building they’re coming in, in the future. These are some site photos. This is on Kinoʽole Street with the current access. You’ll see that currently there is curb, gutter, and sidewalk. They will, the applicants will be required to have to pave or concrete the area where you see grass currently. This is a picture of the intersection of Kinoʽole and Lono Street. Again, you can see that there are some improvements in place, but along Lono Street, there will be some needed improvements as part of this application. And, this is at the corner of Lono Street looking towards Kinoʽole. The Planning Director is recommending that the Planning Commission forward a favorable recommendation to the Hawaiʽi County Council for this amendment request. With that, that concludes our presentation. Thank you. MIYASATO: Commissioners, any questions for staff? Commissioner Ikeda. IKEDA: Can I ask you a question? Where is the property as compared to like Kamana is the only one that I can think of that’s close to it. 2 EXHIBIT B DARROW: I’m sorry—I missed— IKEDA: Where is the property located? Where is Lono Street as compared to Kamana Street? DARROW: Are you familiar with the Big Island Educational Credit Union? IKEDA: Yes. DARROW: It’s right there. I, I believe this is the property that like once a year they have the fireworks sales. IKEDA: The one right across— DARROW: Right across the street. That side street is Lono Street, and this would be on Kīlauea Street. IKEDA: Okay. DARROW: Yeah, so this, this gives you an idea. The credit union would be just on your left, right over here. IKEDA: Okay. DARROW: And so, yeah, that’s kinda how I was able to recognize this property because of the— IKEDA: I was, I was thinking it was closer to the senior center. DARROW: Yeah, thank you. HEAUKULANI: Sorry, I had a question. And, am I correct in understanding that the initial condition is that construction be completed by January 26, 1997? DARROW: Correct. HEAUKULANI: And then there was a single extension moving that deadline for completion of construction to January 26, 2000? DARROW: This would have been, the original construction would have been five years from the date of the original ordinance. So, the original ordinance was passed in January of 1994. So, then, we would have gone to 1999. Correct? Let’s see. Maija asked me if I would cover for her this morning, so please be patient with me. Oh, no I’m sorry. You’re right. The original Condition E required three years and then they received an additional three years for an administrative time extension. So, currently there is the administration time extension has been 3 EXHIBIT B granted as well. And, that’s why from ’94 to, January of ’94 to 2000, you have both the time that the ordinance gave as well as the administrative. So, there has been some time that have lapsed, but the applicants are in a place that they can proceed with this development at this time. HEAUKULANI: Thank you. MIYASATO: Any further questions, Commissioners? If not, thank you. Will the applicant or its representatives, please come forward? Could you please raise your right hand? Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth on this matter now before the Hawaiʽi County Planning Commission? HOOTA: Yes, I do. MIYASATO: Please use the microphone, and state your name and residence. HOOTA: My name is Eric—is it on? My name is Eric Hoota, and I’m a resident here of Hilo. MIYASATO: Okay, do you have any presentation or anything further to add? HOOTA: No, not much, except if you need any explanation as to why, you know, the project wasn’t taken care of. I ran into a lot of difficulties along the way as well as some medical problems, and that’s why it’s taking so long, yeah, to get it done, but I think at this time, you know, I’ve reached a point in my life where I have a bucket list. Things to take care of. And it’s a project that I’ve wanted to do, and I think I’m in a better position right now to take care of it, so I’d like to try and do it. MIYASATO: Commissioners, any questions for the applicant? HEAUKULANI: Yeah, I have a couple questions. Good morning, sir. HOOTA: Good morning. HEAUKULANI: Yeah, I’m not so concerned about why it’s taking so long to get to this point, but I would like to know what you have in place that makes you confident that you’re not gonna be back here in five years asking for another extension. I saw in your report that you talked about market and financial environment are better now for you. And, what, where are you on this project. HOOTA: Well, I’ve already looked at designing a new portion of building and spoken with a contractor, and I must say at least now after 20 years, my finances are a little better. And, you know, going to the bank and asking for a loan is very tough because they always want you to have the money in hand before they let you borrow it. And, so, that’s one of the toughest things to do, but at least now I can say I’m, I’m better off financially, and I think the bank would be more willing to let me the money without even having to get--. You know, one of the requirements that they were always asking for was that I had tenants for the building. And, in the past, I had a main tenant which was this Veteran’s Administration, and I was working for two 4 EXHIBIT B and a half, three years trying to get them tied in so that I could do the project earlier. But, you know, without having a tenant that’s already, you know, signing a letter of commitment, it’s almost impossible for the bank, you know, to let you do it unless you have a business that’s large enough or can sustain or has, you know, revenue—enough to, you know, maintain or pay, you know, a mortgage, right? So, in any case, that being said, it’s time for me to move. My business, it’s starting to pick up, and my wife has her business, and, you know, we’re in need of space, too, so rather than just renting, we might as well take advantage of this and put something up. HEAUKULANI: Thank you. MIYASATO: Commissioners, any further questions for the applicant? Have you had a chance to review the conditions? HOOTA: Yes. MIYASATO: Are you in agreement with the conditions and improvements? HOOTA: Yes. MIYASATO: Okay, thank you. No further questions? Thank you. Anyone wishing to testify on this application? Can I have a motion to close public testimony on this application? IKEDA: Move to close public testimony. MOSES: Second. MIYASATO: All in favor? COMMISSIONERS: Aye. MIYASATO: Any opposed? I call a close to the public testimony for this application. Commissioners, any discussion on this application? If not, I’ll accept a motion. IKEDA: Mr. Chairman, I move that a favorable recommendation be forwarded to the County Council on the application to amend REZ 758 based on the Planning Director’s findings, recommendations, and proposed conditions which shall be adopted. HEAUKULANI: I’ll second. MIYASATO: I have a motion by Commissioner Ikeda, a second by Commissioner Heaukulani. Any discussion on the motion? You can call the roll. DARROW: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With that, we’ll take the roll call. Commissioner Ikeda? 5 EXHIBIT B IKEDA: Aye. DARROW: Commissioner Heaukulani? HEAUKULANI: Aye. DARROW: Commissioner Henkel? HENKEL: Aye. DARROW: Commissioner Moses? MOSES: Aye. DARROW: And Mr. Chairman. MIYASATO: Aye. DARROW: The motion passes five to zero. MIYASATO: You’ll be notified in writing. The discussion ended at 9:22 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Sarah Y. Hata-Finley, Secretary Windward Planning Commission 6 EXHIBIT B