PD RECOMMENDATION REPORT (PL-SPP-2022-014)

Home

RWatson-Kabe i.cm.8.25.22 COUNTY OF HAWAI`I PLANNING DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION GRETCHEN I. WATSON-KABEI SPECIAL PERNHT APPLICATION NO. PL-SPP-2022-000014 Upon review of the request against the guidelines for granting a Special Permit, the Planning Director is recommending that this request to allow the use of a portion of an existing dwelling as a real estate office on approximately 5.16-acres of land situated within the State Land Use Agricultural District be approved by the Planning Commission. Since this recommendation is made without the benefit of public testimony, the Director reserves the right to modify and/or alter this position based upon additional information presented at the public hearing. This approval recommendation is based on the following findings: The applicant is requesting a Special Permit to allow a home occupation for a real estate office establishment within a 75-square foot portion of an existing 2,696-square foot two (2)bedroom single-family dwelling. The office space will be used primarily to communicate with clients electronically. In-person meetings will be conducted at the respective locations of real property interest. The requested space is currently being used to maintain sales and marketing purposes of an existing coffee farm operation which is located on the subject property. According to the applicant, the private real estate business operation will require no additional employees or agents. Additionally, the applicant is doing business as a "Buyer's Agent"who assists family and friends as needed that are interested in purchasing real property. Therefore, the anticipated hours of operation may vary from 1- 2 hours per week and at most 1-2 transactions per year. The request is being made in response to the current Covid-19 pandemic that caused the applicant an involuntary retirement due to the downsizing of a corporate office where she conducted business. As a result, the applicant is requesting a Special Permit to allow a home occupation for the sole purpose of maintaining her real estate brokers license of 30+years to assist family and friends interested in buying real estate. With the approval of the Special Permit it would allow the applicant to transact her real estate business and to operate the coffee farm business without leaving the property. -1-