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Home My WebLink About2016-03-03 Hearing Transcript - Pulama Aina Trust REZ 15-199 WINDWARD PLANNING COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I HEARING TRANSCRIPT MARCH 3, 2016 PULAMA ʽĀINA TRUST (REZ 15-199) A regularly advertised hearing on the application of was called to order at 9:31 a.m. in the County of Hawai‘i Aupuni Center Conference Room, 101 Pauahi Street, Hilo, Hawai‘i with Chairman Charles Heaukulani presiding. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Charles Heaukulani, Donn Dela Cruz, Gregory Henkel, Donald Ikeda, Myles Miyasato, and Raylene Moses. ALSO PRESENT: Duane Kanuha (Planning Director), William Brilhante (Assistant Corporation Counsel for the Planning Director) (from 9:35 a.m.), 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: PULAMA ‘ĀINA TRUST (REZ 15-199) Application for a Change of Zone from a Single Family Residential-10,000 square feet (RS-10) to an Industrial-Commercial Mixed-20,000 square feet (MCX-20) zoning district for 21,050 square feet of land. The property is located along the west side of Kanoelehua Avenue, approximately 300 feet south of Hualani Street in the Waiākea House Lots, Waiākea, South Hilo, Hawai‘i, TMK: 2-2-035:060. HEAUKULANI: All right, we’re going to move to the second item on the agenda, Pulama ʽĀina Trust. That’s REZ 15-199. And, Chris, if you could bring us up to speed on this one. KAY: Thank you, Mr. Chair. As you stated, this is for a Change of Zone for Pulama ʽĀina Trust. The subject 21,050-square foot property is located in the South Hilo District of Hawaiʽi Island. More specifically, located in the Waiākea Houselots area and outlined in red here. For your reference, Kanoelehua Avenue is running generally north-south through the slide, and Kekūanāoʽa is running generally east-west. This is zoomed in, again showing the subject parcel outlined in red here. Again, for orientation, Kanoelehua Avenue and Kekūanāoʽa Street. The subject parcel’s current zoning is Residential – 10,000 square foot. As you can see, the surrounding zoning is some that are RS-10, but we also have an Industrial-Commercial Mixed Use directly to the south that was rezoned in 2006, and some other Limited Industrial and other type of Industrial uses indicated in various shades of gray. Across Kanoelehua is the Hilo International Airport. 1 EXHIBIT B Surrounding uses in the area are a mix of single-family residences. There’s some Light Industrial uses, a gas station here on the corner and some other type of office uses. The State Land Use Boundary designation for the subject parcel and surrounding area is Urban. The General Plan Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide Map designates the subject parcel and much of the surrounding area as Industrial as indicated in gray. There is some High Density Urban and Medium Density Urban to the west of the parcel. Here’s an aerial photograph of the subject parcel. Sorry, it’s a little bit difficult to see, but it’s here outlined in red. Again, for reference Kanoelehua Avenue and Kekūanāoʽa Street. Again, you can see a bit of the runway of the airport. Also, I wanted to point out that Kanoelehua in this area is a split highway, and there’s a grass median in the center of the road, so the access to the parcel will be right in and right out. Moving along, the Applicant is—oh, I’m sorry, I wanted to point out also there’s an existing single-family dwelling on the subject property that will be demolished in order to accommodate the construction of the proposed office building. So, again, the Applicant is requesting a Change of Zone from Residential – 10,000 square feet to Industrial-Commercial Mixed – 20,000 square feet for 21,050 square feet of land in order to construct approximately a 6,000-square foot office building and associated improvements. Concept plans will require a minimum of 37 parking stalls, including two handicapped stalls to be provided on site. And, again, there’s a vacant, dilapidated single-family dwelling toward the rear of the property that is going to be demolished in order to accommodate construction of the office building. Here is the Applicant’s submitted site plan. Again, here, you won’t see it, but here is generally where the existing single family dwelling is, and here’s where the office building will be situated along with parking on the, on site. Here’s a photo looking directly on the subject parcel. Since this picture was taken, these pine trees have been removed, but the rest of it looks just about the same. Again, toward the back of the property, you’ll see the existing single-family dwelling. And, here are some photos of Kanoelehua Avenue again looking south with the subject parcel on the right hand side, and looking north with the subject parcel on the left-hand side and showing that grassed median in between. The Planning Director is recommending that we forward a favorable recommendation to the County Council. With that, I’m happy to take any questions that the Commission may have. HEAUKULANI: Thank you, Chris. Commissioners, any questions for staff? Thank you. 2 EXHIBIT B KAY: I did want to point out just one more thing. I’m sorry—a couple days ago, we emailed out a proposed amended Condition C, and this is a water condition basically indicating that based on water calculations that will be provided to the Department of Water Supply should there be a need for an additional water meter, then the Applicant will be required to do the reduced pressure-type backflow prevention assembly within five feet of that. We wanted to clarify it just so it didn’t seem like it was absolutely going to be required, but just should it be required. So, that’s why we added the language, “if required.” HEAUKULANI: And, Chris, the amended proposed Condition C was also emailed to the Applicant? KAY: Yeah, correct. Thank you. HEAUKULANI: Thank you. Commissioners, any questions? Can the Applicant or their representative, please come forward? Good morning, sir. FUKE: Good morning. HEAUKULANI: Could I get you to raise your right hand? Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth on this matter now before the Planning Commission? FUKE: Yes, I do, Mr. Chair. HEAUKULANI: And, if you could please state your name, the area you reside in, and what’s on your mind this morning. FUKE: Thank you very much. My name is Sidney Fuke. I’m a planning consultant. I’m here assisting the Applicant. The Applicant is here, Ms. Kristen Brilhante. We have reviewed the staff’s Background Report and the proposed recommendation with conditions, as amended, and we have found them, well, the Applicant has found them to be totally acceptable. As the staff has noted, like this is almost like a, an Industrial infill. This is the remaining parcel among other Light and MCX kind of zoned properties that are in that area, and it’s pretty much straightforward, so if you have any questions, we’d be more than happy to respond. HEAUKULANI: Commissioners, any questions? Seeing none, thank you, sir. FUKE: Thank you. HEAUKULANI: We have, again, no one signed up to testify from the public. Is there anyone here that wants to testify or be heard on this matter? Seeing none, Commissioners, I would entertain a motion to close the public testimony part of this matter. IKEDA: Move to close public testimony. 3 EXHIBIT B HEAUKULANI: Thank you, Commissioner Ikeda. DELA CRUZ: Second. HEAUKULANI: Sorry— DELA CRUZ: Second. HEAUKULANI: Commissioner Dela Cruz. We have a first by Commissioner Ikeda; a second by Commissioner Dela Cruz. Any discussion? Commissioners, all in favor of closing public testimony in this matter, please signify by saying aye. COMMISSIONERS: Aye. HEAUKULANI: Any opposed? Hearing none, motion to close public testimony carries. Commissioners, a motion for action is appropriate. MIYASATO: Chair, I make a motion. I move that a favorable recommendation be forwarded to the County Council on the application for Change of Zone Docket No. REZ 15-199 based on the Planning Director’s recommendations, findings, and proposed conditions which shall be adopted. IKEDA: Second. HEAUKULANI: Thank you. I’m sorry, who was the second? We’ve got a motion by Commissioner Miyasato; a second by Commissioner Ikeda. Commissioners, any discussion? Hearing none, I’d ask Chris, if you would, do roll call vote and restate the motion for us. KAY: Okay, we have a motion to forward a favorable recommendation for the subject rezone to the County Council, as amended, with that Condition C, and I’ll start with Chair Miyasato, pardon me, Commissioner Miyasato. MIYASATO: Aye. KAY: Okay, and Commissioner Ikeda? IKEDA: Aye. KAY: Okay, Commissioner Dela Cruz? DELA CRUZ: Aye. KAY: Commissioner Henkel? HENKEL: Aye. 4 EXHIBIT B KAY: Commissioner Moses? MOSES: Aye. KAY: And Chair Heaukulani. HEAUKULANI: Aye. KAY: Okay, thank you. Motion carries six, nothing. HEAUKULANI: You will be notified of the Commission’s decision in writing. Thank you. The discussion ended at 9:40 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Sarah Y. Hata-Finley, Secretary Windward Planning Commission 5 EXHIBIT B