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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-01-10 Kailua Village Design Commission Minutes KAILUA VILLAGE DESIGN COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I MINUTES Meeting Date: January 10, 2017 Time: 5:15 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: Peter Dahlberg, Alvin Akina, Jr., Theresa Andreae, Fanny Au Hoy, Ann Kern, Shaun Roth and Zon Sullenberger Absent and Excused: Mark Van Pernis Planning Department: Bennett Mark (Planning Program Manager), Terry Dunlap (Planner), Keola Childs (Planner) and Noriko Sauer (Commission Secretary) Applicant/Representative: Riley Smith (Lanihau Properties, LLC) Public: None A quorum was present. Chair Dahlberg called the meeting to order. The Commissioners introduced themselves. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Minutes of the Meeting of December 6, 2016 Chair Dahlberg asked if there were any corrections to the minutes. No corrections were offered. The Chair assumed the motion to approve and the motion passed by unanimous consent. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS There was no one from the public in attendance. NEW BUSINESS 1. Lanihau Properties LLC is proposing to construct a 6’-0” high interim additional chain link fence, with green infill slats, around the former sewage pumping station site on Kuakini Highway next to American Savings Bank. (COR-16-108914) Applicant: Riley Smith Landowner: Lanihau Properties LLC TMK: (3) 7-5-005: 067 Location: Next to American Savings Bank on Kuakini Highway, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 1 Mr. Dunlap displayed site photographs to familiarize the Commissioners with the subject property and the current condition of the site, and described the proposal. He noted absence of landscaping, and referred the Commissioners to landscape guidelines and requirements under the Master Plan for Kailua-Kona, the Zoning Code and the Planning Department Rules. He suggested the following two options for the Commissioners’ consideration: 1) Allow the fence at the proposed location, namely, on the property line up against the sidewalk, have it painted black with no slats, and have inside the fence landscaped; or 2) have the fence set back ten feet from the property line, with that strip landscaped. The applicant, Riley Smith, introduced himself as president of Lanihau Properties, LLC (“Lanihau”). He gave the history of the property, and mentioned that Lanihau had expected the property to be returned from the County of Hawai‘i seven years ago, but that that only had happened three months ago. He said that the former County sewage pump station on the subject parcel was currently no use to anybody, including to Lanihau, and that the property had become a place where the homeless congregate and sleep. He said that he had been working with Officer Fontes of the Police Department, who was authorized by Lanihau to evict the homeless from the property, but that unless there was a security guard throughout the night, vagrants would continue to camp there and harass residents and visitors. He explained that placing the fence along the sidewalk would prevent vagrants from using the fence as a lean-to for their tents, and if they still did, that would enable the police to evict them, as they would be on the public right-of-way. He further stated that the proposal was an interim solution to the problem about which he was receiving calls from various entities every day, and that Lanihau’s plan was to eventually demolish the structure and redevelop the property. In response to the Commissioners’ questions, Mr. Smith said that the abandoned structure housed underground pumps and a sewage wet well, and that it had never been broken in. The Commissioners asked about the future use of the property. Mr. Smith stated that the interim period could be anywhere between six months to a few years, and that parking requirements for commercial uses would reduce the usable area of this 2,248-square foot parcel, which would be too small for most businesses. He added that a logical option would be for the adjacent Kamehameha Square Mall to put it to use. In response to Chair Dahlberg’s suggestion to build a police sub-station, Mr. Smith said that that would still require parking and a restroom facility, but that he would be happy to talk to the police chief. Commissioner Andreae, commenting that any so-called temporary features seemed to have the tendency to become permanent, suggested that the property be given to the Kamehameha Square Mall for their use. Mr. Smith responded that the property was still an asset to Lanihau, and that because their plan for the property would be market-driven, he could not say what that was at the moment. With respect to the proposed fence, Mr. Dunlap suggested that instead of green vertical slats the fence be painted black and some landscaping be done inside the fence. Mr. Smith opined that that option, although doable, would be unsightly, and explained that the reason for the proposed design with slats was to match the addition with the existing fence. Commissioner Roth commented that see-through fencing might be beneficial to the police for their patrolling purposes. Messrs. Childs and Dunlap suggested false posts of a different material to soften the chain link fence appearance. Mr. Smith responded that since false posts could not be used for the swinging gates, only a few false posts would not make much of a difference to the overall appearance. Other suggestions from the Commissioners included fence made of other materials, wrought iron fence, shade cloth in lieu of 2 slats, and fence painted green. Mr. Smith said that he would not recommend flammable material such as wood, and that shade cloth would deteriorate fast in the sunny weather. He said, however, that he would be happy to paint the entire fence green, including the existing portion. The consensus of the Commissioners was that the property was located in the focal intersection of the Kailua Village and therefore required landscaping. Commissioner Andreae commented that if there was thick foliage in front of the existing fence, it should deter unwanted activities. Mr. Smith said that since Lanihau could not provide daily landscape maintenance, the plants and irrigation would likely be destroyed quickly. Commissioner Roth pointed out that landscaping could be done behind the fence. Commissioner Andreae also said that she would like to see vine plants on the fence, if typical landscaping was problematic. Mr. Smith responded that it would be either slats or vines, as he did not believe vines would do well on a fence with slats. Commissioner Andreae acknowledged that vines could not grow on the swinging gates, and said that she would prefer a landscaping strip behind the fence. Chair Dahlberg noted that landscaping for this property would be required sooner or later through the permit process. Mr. Smith said that he would welcome the Commission’s recommendations now, and that whatever was required in the permit process, he would comply. He said, however, that his preference would be to plant a couple of trees for now, which could be transplanted and saved in the future. Additionally, he offered to replace the old slats in the existing fence with new ones and paint the entire fence green. It was moved by Commissioner Roth and seconded by Commissioner Kern that the Commission recommend the Planning Director’s approval of the proposed fence as submitted, provided that some amount of landscaping foliage be planted. Commissioner Andreae questioned whether or not the location of landscaping should be specified. Commissioner Roth said that he would rather allow for the flexibility of the location and amount, especially since the County had failed to transfer the property back to Lanihau in a timely manner, which seemed to have created the current situation. A roll call vote was taken and the motion carried with five ayes (Roth, Kern, Akina, Andreae and Sullenberger), one no (Au Hoy), and one absent and excused (Van Pernis). ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS None. ANNOUNCEMENTS 1. Next meeting tentatively scheduled for January 24, 2017 Mr. Mark announced that there were no applications to be placed on the agenda of the January 24, 2017, meeting, and that the Commission’s annual appreciation dinner was planned for that day. The consensus of the Commission was that a continued discussion on the Sign Code enforcement should be postponed until February 7, 2017. Mr. Mark also announced that one individual had applied to serve on the Commission to fill the vacancy created by Mr. Cartwright’s resignation. He said that six Commissioners had completed their terms and were currently holding over, and requested the Commissioners’ assistance in finding volunteers in every category of the membership. 3 ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, at 6:20 p.m., Chair Dahlberg declared the meeting adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Noriko Sauer, Secretary A T T E S T: Peter Dahlberg, Chairman Kailua Village Design Commission 4