HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-06-01 Hearing Transcript - PD Initiated Meeting FacilitiesWINDWARD PLANNING COMMISSION
COUNTY OF HAWAII
HEARING TRANSCRIPT
JUNE 1, 2017
A regularly advertised hearing on the Planning Director Initiated request for an amendment to
Chapter 25 (Zoning), Hawaii County Code 1983 (2016 Edition, as amended) relating to meeting
facilities and community buildings was called to order at 9:31 a.m. in the County of Hawaii
Aupuni Center Conference Room, 101 Pauahi Street, Hilo, Hawaii with Chairman Gregory
Henkel presiding.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Joseph Clarkson, Gregory Henkel, Donald Ikeda, and Myles
Miyasato.
ABSENT & EXCUSED: Donn Dela Cruz, Thomas Raffipiy.
ALSO PRESENT: Michael Yee (Planning Director), Daryn Arai (Deputy Planning Director,
9:16 a.m. to 10:33 a.m.), Amy Self (Deputy Corporation Counsel for the Planning Director, 9:26
a.m. to 10:41 a.m.), Malia Ho Hall (Deputy Corporation Counsel for the Windward Planning
Commission), Jeff Darrow (Planning Program Manager), Ron Whitmore (Project Manager for
the Ka`u CDP, 9:16 a.m. to 10:33 a.m.), Maija Jackson (Planner), Christian Kay (Planner),
Shancy Watanabe (Planner), and Sarah Hata-Finley (Commission Secretary).
And 6 members from the public in attendance.
INITIATOR: PLANNING DIRECTOR
Continued hearing for an ordinance amending Chapter 25 (Zoning), Hawaii County Code 1983
(2016 Edition, as amended), Articles 1, 2, 4, 5 and 7 relating to meeting facilities and community
buildings. The purpose of the proposed amendments is to incorporate the definitions of meeting
facilities and community buildings into a single, comprehensive definition by maintaining and
expanding upon the definition of meeting facilities. Additionally, the amendments will identify
what zoning districts will require a Special Permit or a Use Permit to allow for a meeting facility.
HENKEL: Okay, it's 9:30, so we'll move to Agenda Item No. 3. The Planning Director is
initiator, and looks like Jeffrey will be doing the presentation.
DARROW: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Again, good morning, members of the Planning
Commission. Hopefully, this will be short and sweet. We actually kind of dealt with this at our
Joint Commission [meeting] briefly. We met in April and discussed this change to the Zoning
Code incorporating the definitions of meeting facilities and community buildings into one
definition. And, changing certain aspects of the Code to require a Use Permit when these types
of facilities are proposed, mainly, in Residential zonings.
There was discussion here at Windward, and there was proposed changes. We took those to the
Leeward Planning Commission on April 10th, and they agreed with—the Planning Department
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had proposed some minor changes to the changes that were proposed by the Windward Planning
Commission, and so this is the actual changes that came up at the Windward Planning
Commission that were approved and forwarded to the Leeward Commission. And, then the
Planning Commission or the Planning Department proposed these changes. Mainly, that we took
out this reference to permanent public and privately owned facility. It didn't really make any
sense to be there. We also included the information regarding a kitchen, and then we also
addressed the issue regarding educational purposes.
So, on the bottom here, I'll just read this. This is the proposed definition that will be final, that
we'll be voting on this morning. It states that a meeting facility means, "a facility that is used for
recreational, social, civic, cultural, educational and multi-purpose functions, and may include a
kitchen but has no overnight accommodations. The facility may be used by organizations
operating on a membership basis for the promotion of members' mutual interests or for
community purposes. Typical uses may include private clubs, union halls, community and
association centers, but not schools."
So, hopefully, that addresses all the issues and incorporates it into one definition. If approved
today, we'll go ahead and amend the ordinance and transfer this up to our Hawaii County
Council for our final approval. With that, that concludes our presentation.
HENKEL: Thank you, Jeffrey. Are there any questions from the Commission? Then, we
should look for discussion and a motion for action.
MIYASATO: Chair, I make a motion. I move that a favorable recommendation be forwarded to
the County Council on the ordinance amending Chapter 25. Zoning Code, Articles 1, 2, 4, 5, and
7 relating to zoning district regulations for meeting facilities and community buildings based on
the Planning Director's recommendation and findings which shall be adopted.
CLARKSON: Second.
HENKEL: It's been moved by Commissioner Miyasato; seconded by Commissioner Clarkson.
Would you do a roll call vote, Jeffrey?
DARROW: Sure. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Commissioner Miyasato?
MIYASATO: Aye.
DARROW: Commissioner Clarkson?
CLARKSON: Aye.
DARROW: Commissioner Ikeda?
IKEDA: Aye.
DARROW: And, Mr. Chairman.
EXHIBIT B
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HENKEL: Aye.
DARROW: The motion passes four to zero. Thank you.
The discussion ended at 9:35 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sarah Y. Hata-Finley, Secretary
Windward Planning Commission
EXHIBIT B
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