HomeMy WebLinkAboutpcminutes4-24-12 KAUAI PLANNING COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
April 24, 2012
The regular meeting of the Planning Commission of the County of Kauai was called to order by
Chair Jan Kimura, at 9:10 a.m., at the Lihue Civic Center,Mo`ikeha Building, in meeting room
2A-2B. The following Commissioners were present:
Mr. Herman Texeira
Mr. Hartwell Blake
Mr. Jan Kimura
Mr. Wayne Katayama
Mr. Caven Raco
Ms. Camilla Matsumoto
Discussion of the meeting, in effect, ensued:
CALL TO ORDER
Chair: Can I have roll call please?
Mr. Dahilig: Commissioner Blake, Commissioner Katayama, Commissioner Matsumoto,
Commissioner Texeira, Commissioner Raco, Chair Kimura, we have six members present and
we have quorum Mr. Chair.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
On motion made by Herman Texeira and seconded by Camilla Matsumoto, to
approve the agenda, motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
MINUTES OF THE MEETINGS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION
Chair: Minutes of the meeting, the Planning Commission meeting of March 27, 2012 and
April 1, 2012, can I have acceptance of the minutes please?
Mr. Texeira: So moved.
Ms. Matsumoto: I just wanted to make one correction. In the April l Otn minutes in the
list of people present and excused,you can put my name as absent and excused.
Chair: Okay, can I get a second?
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Chair: Any discussion, all in favor say aye,motion carried.
On motion made by Herman Texeira and seconded by Camilla Matsumoto, to
approve Planning Commission meeting minutes of March 27,2012 and April 1, 2012, as
amended, motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
RECEIPT OF ITEMS FOR THE RECORD
On motion made by Herman Texeira and seconded by Camilla Matsumoto, to
receive items for the record, motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
HEARINGS AND PUBLIC COMMENT Individuals may orally testify on items on this
agenda during the Public Comment Period. Please call the Planniniz Department prior to
the meeting or notify Commission Staff at the meeting site. Testimony may also be accepted
when the agenda item is taken up by the Commission at the discretion of the Chair.
Testifiers shall limit their testimony to three 3 but may be extended longer at the
discretion of the Chair. Written testimony is also accepted. An original and twelve (12)
copies of written testimony can be hand delivered to the Planning Department or submitted
to Commission Staff at the meeting site.
Chair: Is there anybody in the public that wants to speak on any agenda item? We are
going to start with Good to Go Living, Kauai Athletic Club.
Mr. Scott McFarland: Good morning, I am Scott McFarland. I am president of Good to
Go Living Incorporated,the parent company for the Kauai Athletic Club. There are a couple of
folks that are testifying in addition to me. First of all I would like to thank the Planning Director
and his team on great service in helping us navigate this process of permitting,we were new to it
and found the group and the team very helpful as we have come through this process, so thank
you. And thank you for your time this morning Commissioners.
Real quickly because I want to be respectful of everyone's time, we acquired the Kauai
Athletic Club which has been here in the community since 1981. It first began on Rice Street in
the Central Pacific Bank building and was moved late in 1982 to its current location across the
street from Kukui Grove Center. Gale and Curly Carswell have owned the club since its
inception in 1981, they approached us to purchase the club late last year and given our
background and our history in owing fitness centers we agreed to acquire the club and have been
operating the club in its current location since that time period.
The building that we currently occupy is in escrow, it will be closing as we understand in
short order and that is really what was the stimulus for the move from its current location down
to this hopeful site at Nawiliwili. We have reviewed the Planning Director's report and are in
agreement. And as part of my public testimony this morning I would just like to acknowledge
and affirm that we will comply with all the recommendations and the best management practices
that are incumbent upon operating at this site. And if there are any questions, comments or
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concerns I will be happy to take any questions from the Commissioners. So with that I will
conclude my testimony.
Chair: Seeing none, thank you, next will be Sandi.
Ms. Sandi Kato-Klutke: Good morning everyone, my name is Sandi Kato-Klutke, hello
Commissioners and I am glad I am on this side of the table and not on that side now. I am here
for a very good cause of Good to Go Living and their athletic club is a much needed facility for
the people of Kauai. I am not a health club person though unless he is going to give
membership at a discounted senior's rate. But I do believe that it is vitally needed. Where they
want to relocate it is going to be an excellent place for everybody to have easy access to. It has
ample parking; if nothing else it has ample parking. 1 know both gentlemen, I have met them
and I know that they will do well for the people of Kauai. Not just for themselves or the athletic
club but the people of Kauai. So with that I ask that you vote in favor of the athletic club. If
there are any questions,thank you.
Chair: Rob Wall.
Mr. Rob Wall: Good morning Commissioners, my name is Rob Wall. I have been a
homeowner here on Kauai since 1988 and a member of the Kauai Athletic Club since 1998. I
personally was the realtor for Scott McFarland and the purchase of their home and I know as a
business person he exceeds in all areas while going through business transactions. I am very
enthusiastic about the move of the Kauai Athletic Club down to the harbor. We have over a
million visitors a year enter the island through that port. To see a fitness ceriter representing the
health of the families of Kauai, I think is very good for the island and I think all of us will
benefit and someday maybe we can get a physical workout course down at the park there by the
harbor as well to show our commitment to family and exercise here on the island,thank you.
Chair: Randy Francisco.
Mr. Randy Francisco: Aloha and good morning, Randy Francisco, Kauai Chamber of
Commerce. I would like to stand on my testimony in support of this application. I just want to
add that anything that we can do to encourage a good business environment is a good investment
for the island of Kauai. Not just about job creation and so on but this is a long term
commitment. I have had the opportunity to know these two gentlemen and understand their
values and what they are centered on and the long term benefit is, although I may not look like I
am a healthy guy I think spiritually I am healthy and I have to work towards a more meaningful
body experience. So that having been said I ask for your support. I think these gentlemen have
surpassed anyone's expectations about what it means to be a member of this.Kaua`i community,
aloha.
Chair: Anymore testimony on this agenda item? Seeing none, I would like to close the
public hearing. Can I have a motion to close the public hearing?
Mr. Texeira: So moved.
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Mr. Raco: Second.
Chair: Any discussion, seeing none all in favor say aye, motion carried.
On motion trade by Herman Texeira and seconded by Caven Raco, to close public
hearing, motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
Chair: Is there anymore testimony on any other agenda item today?
Mr. Texeira: Mike, I have a question, are we going to get back to this item again at the
end?
Chair: Yes.
Continued Agency Hearing: (NONE)
New Agency Hearing:
Class IV Zoning Permit Z-IV-2012-14 and Use Permit U-2012-12 to-operate an athletic
fitness facility within an existing building situated at the intersection of Wilcox Road and
Nawiliwili Road further identified as Tax Map Key 3-2-5:012 and affecting a portion of a 9.28
acre parcel= Good to Go Living dba Kaua`iAthletic Club. [Director's Report received 4/1/12.
Class IV Zoning Permit Z-IV-2012-15 to allow commercial development on a parcel
within Kilauea Town that is Greater than one (1) acre in size situated at the Hookui Road/Kolo
Road intersection, further identified as Tax Map Key 5-2-009•$ and containing a total area of
1.74 acres =Michael M. Dyer Revocable Trust. [POSTPONED 5/8/121.
Continued Public Hearing: (NONE)
New Public Hearing: (NONE)
CONSENT CALENDAR
Status Reports
Status Report of Compliance 1/13/12 from Frances Yamada, Wilson Okamoto
Corporation(Authorized Agent) relating to Condition No. 10 of Special Management Area Use
Permit SMA(U)-208-11 Tax Map Keys (4) 2-6-002.012 & 2-6-03:003 020, Kukui'ula, Kauai=
Kukui'ula Development Company (Hawaii), LLC.
Director's Report pertaining to this matter.
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Annual Status Report(3/16/12) from the State of Hawaii, Department of Transportation,
Airports Division as required by Condition No. 8 of Special Management Area Use Permit
SMA(U)-2008-13 Shoreline Setback Variance SSV-2008-3 Tax Map Key (4) 3-5-001:008,
Lihue Kauai=State of Hawaii,Department of Transportation,Airports Division.
Director's Report pertaining to this matter.
Director's Reports for Project(s) Scheduled for Public Hearing on 5/8/12.
Class IV Zoning Permit Z-IV 2012-16 Use Permit U-2012-13,and Special Permit SP-
2012-37 to allow construction of a new permanent maintenance facility and expansion of the
existing cemetery and associated uses within the Special Treatment District-Public Facility(ST-
P) at the Kauai Veteran's Cemetery faciliy in Hanapepe and Variance Permit V-2012-07 to
deviate from the requirements noted in Section 8-5.5(a) of the Kauai County Code (1987)
relating to the maximum land coverage requirements within the Open (0) Zoning District, on
property situated on the west side of Lele Road approx.. 40 ft. south of its intersection with
Kaumuali`i Highway, further identified as Tax Mop Key(4) 1-8-008:038 and containing a total
area of 11.447 acres =State of Hawaii,Department ofAecountink and General Services
(DAGS) and County of Kauai,Department of Parks and Recreation (DR-).
Director's Report pertaining to o this matter.
Class IV Zoning Permit Z-IV-2012-15 to allow commercial development on a parcel
within Kilauea Town that is greater than one 1 in size, situated at the Hookui Road/Kolo Road
intersection further identified as Tax Mai Key 5-2-009008, and containing.a total area of 1.74
acres=Michael M. Dyer Revocable Trust. [POSTPONED FROM 4/24/12.
Director's Report Supplement No 1 pertaining to this matter.
Shoreline Setback Activity Determination
Shoreline Setback Commission Review SSCR-2012-08 for a shoreline setback
determination Tax Map Key (4) 4-2-009.001 Kapa`a Kauai for acceptance by the
Commission=Jeffrey Fleming.
Director's Report pertaining to this matter.
Chair: Are there are two Commissioners who want to move any consent calendar items
to New Business matters? Seeing none can I have a motion please?
Mr. Raco: Chair, I motion to consent agenda items G.La and b, everything on the
consent agenda...
Mr. Texeira: To be placed on the...
Chair: No not to placed,just to be approved.
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Ms. Matsumoto: Second.
Chair: Any discussion, seeing none all in favor say aye,motion carried.
On motion made by Caven and Raco and seconded by Camilla Matsumoto,to
approve consent calendar, motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
EXECUTIVE SESSION (NONE)
GENERAL BUSINESS MATTERS
Presentation from Dan Parolek from Opticos Design to brief the Commission about Form
Based Code re ug latory concepts (information only
Mr. Dahilig: Mr. Chair, let me just give some background on Dan. Dan and I and
Ka`aina Hull was one of our planners that did meet at the New Partners for Smart Growth
Conference in Charlotte North Carolina and we have been in contact since. This past January
some of our planning staff as well as other people that attended the Smart Growth Conference
that was held in San Diego, as well as Dale and Ian was up there and Commissioner Texeira.
Dan provided a presentation for us and what he will be presenting today on is this concept of
Form Based Code. Right now the way we regulate land use is termed as a Euclidian form of
zoning. We look at a bunch of colored zones on a map and we have a list that says you can do
this, this and this in there, maybe you can do this with a permit, and no you can't do this.
The new theory in planning right now is to move to a concept of Form Based Code and it
is around the genre of place making, creating places that people want to live,walk, and play in,
live, work and play. It ties in very well to a lot of the policy concepts relating to complete
streets, safe routes to school and so on, and looking at our communities in that manner. And so
why I have asked Dan to come down, he met with the Mayor yesterday as well, he flew down
from the Bay area to come down and present to us this morning, is because this is potentially the
new framework of regulations that we are looking at to propose in the General Plan. There are a
lot of benefits to it including the element of enforcement, it actually makes enforcement a lot
easier because we can identify it based on the way things look.
What Dan will be doing and he can talk more about it is presenting about this new
concept that we are entertaining as a potential for implementation as part of the General Plan
update as many of you know we are doing. Do without further ado...
Mr. Katayama: I was going to ask to sort of set the framework, how-does this concept of
planning impact the relationship with the State Land Use Commission in how we have sort of a
dual planning role in what we can do at the County level?
Mr. Dahilig: It would still...there would be some adjustment given our dual
jurisdictional issues with the State and us and this would be more from a standpoint of areas that
are zoned urban, areas that are zoned rural. We could touch into areas that are zoned agriculture
but in terms of how the Form Based Code is drawn up it would still have to be in accordance
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with the principals that are laid out under Chapter 205. It would only be able to address
everything that we are then delegated under the State law.
Mr. Katayama: But to the extent the State still has not adopted this planning model, does
that hamper the implementation of developing these communities?
Mr. Dahilig: We suspect that there will be...traditionally on the mainland there is not a
dual jurisdictional issue and so what it means is a lot of the concepts may have to be tailor made
to Hawaii, specifically Kauai, with respect to the jurisdictional bounds that imposed by the State
land use code. And so like anything we would make sure that if we start going down this path
that we were first and foremost making sure that 25 is complied with before we embark on
something that is not in compliance.
Power point presentation given by Dan Parolek.
Mr. Blake: In your(inaudible) around the country have you found a lot of resistance to
this idea?
Mr. Parolek: I think there is typically on first having the conversation people tend to be a
bit apprehensive if they don't understand it but I think the more we work with the community in
terms of education, in conversation about what it is about their history culture and the form of
their places that we are trying to reinforce they get really excited about it. We find that historic
preservationists get excited about it, developers get excited about it if you engage them in the
process, property owners, community members.
The idea is to get everybody interested, engaged and excited about this as a way to
reinforcement characteristics so I think the initial apprehension is just part of a new concept and
a paradigm shift that you need to very carefully think about how you engage and respond to that
concern and make sure that you can build the support of your various stakeholders and
community members throughout the process. I would say that we have yet to work in a location
where after several months of this education outreach that, we will often find that the biggest
opponent early on is the person who is standing up at the Planning Commission or the Council
meeting at the end of it real excited about it.
Ms. Matsumoto: When you look at Kauai and other island communities there are often
towns,then a long stretch of road, and then another town and another stretch of road. What are
some of your thoughts of connecting these towns because many of us really drive in to do
business and as you said it is going to take a while for communities to change but what are some
solutions that you have seen elsewhere of places with similar situations?
Mr. Parolek: I think we approach that issue quite a bit where it is about the development
of the towns and what happens in between both from a roadway design concept as well as land
use and what we found is historically a lot of these corridors have been zoned one type of use.
There is usually like a long stretch of C-1 or some sort of commercial zoning and there is
typically not enough market for that entire stretch of a corridor for commercial zoning. So we
think about creating a hierarchy of where you want a specific type of development or a form to
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happen whether it be in existing towns or a concentration of new development. And then we
need to think very closely about then what happens in between them and is it a connection or is it
a transition in something different. 1 will often show a diagram in my presentations that show
that change of no hierarchy; you have two towns and no hierarchy in between, actually the Form
Based Code introducing a hierarchy of form and character similar to what 1 showed on that urban
to rural transect which I think is an important tool to think about that.
This is not about assuming everybody is going to get rid of their car or get out of their car
this is simply taking a step back and saying there is a lot of research that says in any community
you go into there is at a minimum ten percent and it tops out at about twenty five percent of any
residential market people want to live in a compact, walkable environment. So it is simply
saying let's simply take that ten percent and calculate what that number is of home purchasers or
renters and let's give them a really good choice in terms of living in a walkable compact context.
Ms. Matsumoto: Thank you.
Chair: Any other questions for Dan?
Mr. Katayama: This sort of intrigues me and not going into too much detail how does
form based planning address things like growth, infrastructure development and also diversity of
the economy? A lot of times we want to get away from a mono-economic situation at least at
some unit whether it is a county of an island or a state. And how does this sort of address those
issues? Again there are a lot of other questions but sort of from a planning perspective and the
Form Based development of a community plan?
Mr. Parolek: That is a really good question and it is kind of the big picture question and
that needs to be addressed in your General Plan. When I talked about the creation of community
types, maybe you have five or six different ranges of community types, and not everything is
going to fit within those community types. Like if there are large tracks of industrial land for
example that is important for your economy, the long term function of your economy, they could
get a community type but they still are set aside as industrial. You still need to think about those
types of uses and how they plug into this system of reinforcing your existing communities and
building new ones.
So there is still an aspect of use especially for uses that really are not compatible with a
lot of other uses so that would need to have designated areas but that all needs to be thought
about and economically assessed in your General Plan process. The community types that I
talked about were really about reinforcing the walkable compact and there are going to be areas
that aren't that and you just need to decide where specifically those are so that when a project
comes to you your first question is, is it in a walkable compact community type or is it outside
and you can make your judgment based on that simple initial designation of what the intent
ultimately is.
Chair: Any more questions, thank you.
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Mr. Dahilig: I just want to thank Dan for his time on this. A lot of the stuff that he has
presented actually he absorbed on his own and it wasn't through any kind of direction from us.
It is fun to see him go through this case study with us and just wanted to thank him for his time
to come down here.
Mr. Parolek: Thank you.
Commission recessed at 9:25 a.m.
Meeting called back to order at 9:35 a.m.
COMMUNICATION (NONE)
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Subdivision
Mr. Texeira: I would like to report the subdivision committee, we had only one item at
today's meeting and that was final subdivision action for S-2012-07 and this is for Kukui'ula
Development Company, it received approval, 3-0.
Chair: Thank you, can I have a motion please?
Mr. Texeira: Move to approve.
Mr. Raco: Second.
Chair: Any discussion on the subdivision committee report? Seeing none all in favor say
aye, motion carried.
On motion made by Herman Texeira and seconded Caven Raco, to approve
Subdivision Committee Report, motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS (NONE)
NEW BUSINESS
Class IV Zoning Permit Z-IV-2012-14 and Use Permit U-2012-12= Good to Go Living
dba Kaua`i Athletic Club.
Staff Planner Dale Cua read staff report(on file).
Chair. Any questions for the planner? Seeing none is the applicant here?
Mr. Scott McFarland: Aloha again, Scott McFarland, president of Good to Go Living
Incorporated,the holding company for the Kauai Athletic Club.
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Chair: Any questions for the applicant?
Mr. Texeira: What is the reason for you leaving the present site?
Mr. McFarland: The reason is the building which is owned actually by...the company
that owns the building presently is the Kauai Athletic Club LLC and the members of that LLC
are Don Curly Carswell and his wife Gail. That building is in escrow. It is going to be closing
in the days ahead. The new owners of the building have a different vision for that building and
they will be implementing on that vision. I am sure they will be before the Planning
Commission sharing that in the weeks ahead so we do need to transition out of our current
location.
Mr. Texeira: You didn't have a choice then.
Mr. McFarland: No. We considered buying the building. Our expertise is really
operating great fitness facilities, good programing, and providing good resources for the
community. I am not sure I wanted enter into commercial real estate owning right now at this
stage.
Mr. Texeira: So in comparing the previous operation to the proposed operation in terms
of the swimming pool and the racket ball courts, you won't be having anything like that at your
new facility?
Mr. McFarland: That is correct. There will be no swimming pool or racket ball courts in
the current get up to operation. The racket sports are certainly an important component to the
existing facility,we are working with the group that does play handball and racket ball to
hopefully find them a suitable place here on the island or possibly at a future date being able to
reconstruct those courts somewhere near either within our footprint or somewhere else on the
parcel. But the racket ball courts,the plan is for right now not to have racket ball or handball at
the current open for the new site.
Chair: Any more questions? I have a question; the square footage is a lot smaller than
what you have right now.
Mr. McFarland: Yes.
Chair: But the location is ten times better because you can pick up the people that are
coming off of the ships and stuff, right?
Mr. McFarland: That is right. The interesting thing is and let me address the issue of
location. Presently our building that we have operational use of, not all of it-has a second floor,
is 16,534 square feet. Almost sixty percent of that square footage area is racket ball courts and
handball courts. In 1982 when the club was opened certainly the trend was racket sports and
hand sports,wally-ball, internal court sports were certainly on trend. We have not really seen an
expansion of that trend; in fact it has been a big contraction. Most of our space in our current
club is dedicated toward those courts and there has been a lot more expansion of group exercise,
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a lot more expansion of also free weights and circuit training. The kind of on-trend item for the
fitness industry is actually small group training.
So what we are doing and you can see if you take a look at the internal build-out that we
just handed out, the entire lower level where it says "Gym", those areas will be dedicated to a
new cardio studio which will be larger than our existing facility which is about 20 by 40, so that
is currently in 800 square feet. The circuit machines will be in the center area as well as, I will
characterize it as an adult jungle gym if you will. There will be a large facility where people can
do a lot of small group exercise training similar to the boot camps and the cross-fit models; we
will have that in the center of the club. The free weights which are an important part of the
existing membership of the club, it is by far our largest users of the club are the free weight users
which will be on the left side of the club in both that small kind of private are back there as well
as in the open area to the front.
The second floor will be group exercise,the group exercise room will up on the second
floor where we plan on continuing to offer all the great things like cycling and low impact
aerobics for the senior groups and we also have a lot of yoga and Pilates that take place as well.
And we will also be expanding the group exercises offered as well. So there will be a reduction
of some amenities and some services but we will definitely expand a number of services so that a
wider range of folks can take advantage of physical activity and the equipment we are putting
into the new facility.
Mr. Texeira: In terms of your operation you have discussed or implied some kind of
expansion, some kind of ideas for expanding some of your activities. Do you see this as a
phased project will include like a phase two or phase three utilizing the existing space?
Mr. McFarland: That is a good point. There could be future expansion at this site. I
can't speak to specificity simply because we are a bit...we are not under the gun but there is
certainly a motivation for us to get out of our existing building in Kukui Grave. We had
originally quite honestly thought to actually lessen the footprint in Lihue and open a second
Kauai Athletic Club in Kapa`a and then also one in the Princeville/Kilauea area as well as the
Koloa area. So really taking and building a network where one membership gives you access all
over the island.
Hobie Beck, president of Hale Kauai Limited has been great to get to know during this
process and when we were paired with this building,this great existing building we really saw
the vision of the building. I won't say that we will be expanding services specifically in that
building but I will say the vision and the plan is to expand to a second location later this year,
somewhere else,probably Waipouli/Kapa`a area which is exciting. But when this building
became available and the building sold in Kukui Grove that was really the motivation to invest
significantly in this Hale Kauai building. We think it makes a lot of sense. Not sure how much
additional expansion we will do there but we will certainly be serving other communities on the
island.
Chair: Any more questions?
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Mr. Blake: I am looking at E.1, where are the showers or are you going to have showers?
Mr. McFarland: Absolutely. Looking at E.1, if you come into the men's and women's
restrooms you will first see the sinks; you will next see the water closets, the toilets and the
urinals. On that second row,those are showers and those showers, we have a handicap
accessible or ADA compliant shower in the far back area and then three showers in front of that
is the vision. So right there would be the showers and then behind that are the lockers so there
will be lockers as well.
Chair: Any more questions? I have a question. When you purchased the athletic club
did you know that the Carswells were selling the building at the time?
Mr. McFarland: Yes we did. The building I believe has been on the MLS since I think
October or maybe November of 2010 so we were aware that there was a potential that we would
have to relocate at some point. And we looked long and hard at buying the building it is just we
weren't comfortable with the financing scenarios that we would have to undertake.
Chair: Thank you, Hartwell, any more questions?
Mr. Blake: You said you exercise rooms will be up on the second floor?
Mr. McFarland: One of them will be up on the exercise so a lot of the group exercise
classes will be up there. There will also be a stretching area as well as an ADA compliant
exercise area on the first floor as well and it will be back sort of behind where the locker rooms
are in an area designated back there.
Chair: If this application is approved how soon do you think you will get started?
Mr. McFarland: The good news is one of the containers of the equipment arrived April
16th and Matson is on me to get that equipment delivered so we want to know where we need to
deliver it or where we need to store it. So we think that we can have a very expeditious path
forward. The build-out here is not overly complicated, it is basically some paint, some rubber
flooring, installation of some equipment, some cardio machines, a few TV's on the wall. The
most labor intensive and quite honestly the most costly is the bathrooms, the restrooms, the
locker rooms. We think we have a good implementation plan, our hope is to be open certainly
before July. I know that would please the future new building owner at Kukui Grove but we are
working with that new building owner on a solid transition strategy. The last thing we want to
do is interrupt services to the members of the community who have been exercising there for
over thirty years. And so we are working diligently to get the new club open and pending the
approvals and the permit process which we feel comfortable with that we are going to be on
schedule to get that delivered in a timely manner.
Chair: So you are not taking all the equipment from the previous athletic club down to
your new site?
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Mr. McFarland: Correct. The new site,the Nawiliwili site pending approval, that will
have all brand new cardio, will have all brand new circuit, will have all brand new free weights,
they will be urethane covered, they are safer,they last longer in this climate. The existing free
weights, what we are doing there is we are going to actually resurface them, refurbish them,
paint them and have them ready for deployment at the second location that will opening later this
year. So we will basically refurbish a lot of the existing equipment, that is the right thing to do
from a recycling perspective and we want to make sure that we open with really a pop with the
new equipment there.
Chair: Thank you, Hartwell.
Mr. Blake: You said you weren't immediately planning a court and swimming pool, are
you going to have steam rooms here?
Mr. McFarland: We could potentially do a dry sauna much easier than a steam sauna,
that is really going to get to a capacity issue with where we come in with fixture counts, where
we come in with infrastructure. At open our plan is to not have stream or not have sauna, those
are traditionally what we call a spa type service. In modern fitness center trends those amenities
are not as prevalent in modern design. But again a lot of our members would like to have that so
we thought that if we had the ability to do that, we could better understand the site and its
limitations, we could possibly expand that gym area back there and put steam and sauna up
against the wall behind the showers and then just move the lockers back. So that is sort of the
flex idea that we were thinking there.
Mr. Texeira: How you talked to your neighbors, Honsador, how do they feel about your
operation and the mixed use within that complex?
Mr. McFarland: They have been great actually. They are excited about their employees
having the opportunity to have something so close for working out as are a lot of employers
down in that area. The Banyan Harbor condominium and the Banyan Harbor resort kind of
hotel, they are very excited too to have that amenity. The Marriot which isn't too far around the
curve, very excited because I think guests who stay there may feel a bit limited by some of the
traditional hotel and resort type exercise areas and love the fact that there is within walking
distance a full service fitness center to serve that. Cruise ship crews, those folks, many of them
buy day passes for our existing club and on Thursdays when the Pride of America is in or
whenever many of those crew members use our club because they actually as crew members
aren't allowed to use the passenger workout areas. So we think there will be good opportunity
for us to have that consistent relationship with the cruise ship companies to have that offering as
well. Haven't received any negative feedback from the neighbors in the area and of course we
did deliver all the notifications, some of which I hand delivered personally and others we sent
through the mail. So that has been positive.
Mr. Texeira: And lastly will your rates be comparable to the previous operation?
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Mr. McFarland: I am glad you brought that up. We are certainly not going to raise rates
and hopefully once we have got two or three months of operating experience in the new building
we can take a look at lowering rates. I had an accidental quote in the paper about three weeks
ago, I learned a powerful lesson. It was a quote about KIUC energy bills on the island and
believe it or not the power bill that we have the opportunity to pay is quite high, it is always
above ten thousand and some months it has been as high as twelve thousand five hundred at the
Kauai Athletic Club. So in working with our landlord and the great team that we have we are
going to put infrastructure in there that is energy efficient. Our present infrastructure is not
energy efficient and unfortunately most of our dues that we are paying to the Kauai Athletic
Club presently are going to pay the electricity bill.
So I look forward to getting some experience with that new electric bill and hopefully
delivering a really solid message that yes, we are not wanting to...we want to make fitness
accessible and affordable to everyone. I can't envision and of course our Chief Operations
Officer is back there, I can't envision us raising rates. I can envision after two or three months
hopefully coming up with a rate that is reflective of the electricity costs.
Mr. Blake. Do you have any green plans?
Mr. McFarland: Any green plans, the green plans that we have around operations are we
basically going to refurbish the existing equipment and then put it into use at a second location.
We are in terms of one of the big drivers for our costs at the present location, we actually had a
towel service and with that towel service we were having to collect all the towels every day, do
three or four loads of towels a day, dry three or four loads of towels a day. And it was almost
like a small hotel and we very quickly learned a lesson there that many people can bring their
towels from home so we are encouraging people now to bring their towels from home. Most of
our green plans are around operations and things that we can do to minimize our impact to the
utilities and to the cost of operating the center so that has been our focus to date .
In terms of green plans for the infrastructure the air conditioning units, I think we have a
very, very solid plan with a great vendor, working closely with the landlord on getting air
conditioning in place initially that is energy efficient. The landlord is here and I understand if
you would to ask him any of those questions he might be available for comment there. Hobie, do
you want to comment on that?
Mr. Hobie Beck: We have several quotes out on doing photovoltaic system on the roof,
160 kilowatts, and what we are going to do is provide power to our tenants fifteen percent below
what KIUC charges so that is our plan. Use of existing building, can't get any greener than that
for us in that regard without any structural changes to the building. We have changed out our
whole, well we have torn out the old AC systems which was running the County Council
upwards of ten thousand a month to AC that vacant spot so we are redoing the whole AC in
there. Other than that, those are our improvements.
Mr. Blake: What about solar hot water?
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Mr. Beck: We are using on demand water heaters, gas water heaters-so there is no
electric water heaters. Actually electric water heaters may be more efficient with the PV system
but we are going to on demand gas.
Chair: I have one last question. With the membership that you have right now will the
parking down there be sufficient?
Mr. McFarland: Great question. The parking will actually improve believe it or not on
the space count. The counts that we have done for the existing facility, we think our highest use
is maybe about forty two, maybe forty three cars at really a high peak time and that counts both
employees as well as members. I believe we have eighty seven or eighty nine, eighty seven
spaces at present for the existing facility so we feel really good about parking. And that is one
thing too, the traffic flow down there, our members are excited because with the construction and
some of the directional issues to get into the present club it is really an easy in and easy out down
there in Nawiliwili for the members of the club so they are excited about that. Parking should
not be an issue.
Chair: Any more questions?
Mr. Katayama: One sort of a technical, in your submission 2.1.1, is the total lease 9,550
square feet or is it 14,000 square feet?
Mr. McFarland: What we are going to do is re-measure the lease upon...
Mr. Katayama: One says 10,000 and 4,000 and the sum of those two should be 14,000.
Mr. McFarland: The building's square footage is 10,000 with a 4,000 foot Messene and
so we are going back and forth on how much of that building they are going to accommodate.
What I have offered them is a flex space also that they can occupy until down the road.
Mr. Katayama: I think my question, more concerning question is relating to
Commissioner Texeira's is that you will now have a mix of traffic. If Honsador maintains their
business which is basically construction you are now having really a pedestrian or sort of an
individual basis and probably a lot of people who are not used to being in and about moving
heavier types of equipment. How are you going to delineate the two activities so you don't
have...to minimize interaction between the two whether it be construction people picking up
materials or contractors or even delivery of bulk materials into Honsador?
Mr. Beck: The whole property was designed as one, Hale Kauai was one construction
yard with retail up front. As we move into this next phase becoming a landlord, now we rent out
spaces to individuals. I am in negotiations with Honsador to back them off the front edge and
recoup more of that front building with common road all the way around and an industrial
designated entryway and the front become more retail. This is phase one that,that second with
Honsador. Their lease expires in 2015 so we are renegotiating that use and traffic flow of that so
that is on the table for us. Right now Honsador is in a completely separate entryway that is
fenced off and further down on Wilcox road.
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Mr. Katayama: So for the parking that is designated for the Athletic Club would that be
solely for their use?
Mr. Beck: At the present they are the only ones using that.
Mr. Katayama: Is there a potential of contractors using that as well?
Mr. Beck: Honsador will have their own parking inside of their fenced area.
Mr. McFarland: We will also message to our members, safety first is always our
obligation in our fitness center operations so we will make sure that we emphasize that message
with the members as they transition down there.
Mr. Katayama: I think with the mix of cliental that you just described they will walk up
from the ships, you will have residents that are members that are attending class and hopefully as
well as from the hotels nearby. I think the traffic type will certainly change from a purely
construction/commercial oriented person that has been going to Hale Kauai to pick up material
versus somebody that is service oriented.
Mr. McFarland: I did ask Ka`aina, when the County occupied the building for the
County Council I don't think there were any instances where there was infractions or any type of
accidents there when the County was in there.
Mr_ Beck: Not that I am aware of and all the crosswalks and the walking along the road
and whatnot is all towards the intersection so none of it is next to Honsador,the sidewalk ends in
front of the retail area. If they are walking across traffic they are walking on the sidewalk or
anything set aside for pedestrians.
Mr. Raco: Can you also answer some of the...when there is a boat there are all those taxi
drivers and limousines and it seems like they are cueing in front of your area. How are you
going to resolve that when you have all three functions?
Mr. Beck: Right now it is chained off so they don't park in there. If I take the chain
down sometimes they do pull in there and really there is a not a lot of infrastructure for them to
go. I think they are fenced out of being able to allow...they are fenced out of Honsador. Other
than members only signs I am not exactly sure how to deal with them already being there at
present. I would imagine they would still be there.
Mr. Raco: That could be a potential...I have gone down there in the morning and when
there is a boat there they all just cue up on that side. Even in the afternoon when I return they are
still...
Mr. Beck: For a few hours they are parked along the road in front of Honsador.
Mr. Texeira: This is to Mr. Beck. Are you working with the Harbor's Division in terms
of their master plan for the area, parking, some of the problems?
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Mr. Beck: I have asked them for their plan. I haven't seen their plan yet. I don't know
how far it is developed. We have talked to them about sewer systems and the infrastructure there
and they haven't developed that. Nobody has a real clear picture of where it goes so we are up
on individual wastewater systems which we are designing specifically for Good to Go Living.
As a landlord we are putting that infrastructure in for them. We have not worked with Harbor's
Division. I just got a card from the urban planner who just left,he seems like a great contact to
make as we get into phase two of our development plan and creating maybe a corridor that is
safe for the cruise ships and whatnot to have to not walk along Matson's chain link fence with
heavy industrial traffic. So I would like to see a different vision of the whole area really so
hence I grabbed his card and hopefully we can come up with a better solution than what is
happening right now.
Mr. Texeira: I have one more question. Do you have any further plans...I don't know if
I read anything that shows that you are renting out your entire space, do you have some space
available to rent out besides what you are renting to the Athletic Club?
Mr. Beck: We do, we have flex space that is being offered to them at a cheaper rent until
we find another industrial tenant or whatnot and some Messene space.
Mr. Texeira: So you are looking for other tenants.
Mr. Beck: Yes.
Mr. Texeira: And if you do, how does that relate to your parking needs for those other
tenants?
Mr. Beck: Right now we are under count for parking, for commercial recreation they
have so many parking allotted to them right now, we have over the amount required. I think it is
a lighter use than office space which the County Council was so it is less use but we have
amount of parking. Then with our next phase of construction or redevelopment with the property
and a common road area we have Lloyd Sato with Project Design on Oahu designing specific
parking for everybody, Honsador has their own for their offices. There is common road coming
around with additional parking. So as we separate that out every parcel will have designated
parking. And it is our goal to try and let the industrial properties stay industrial. I don't want to
turn that over to retail and coffee shops and that kind of stuff,that is not really what...it is a
headache on my part for one and I think Kauai has a lack of industrial space. Harbor industrial
space is what it is so that is kind of what I am after.
Chair: So what does the Commission want to do?
Mr. Raco: Chair, I motion to approve for Class IV Zoning Permit Z-IV-2012-4 and Use
Permit U-2012-12.
Ms. Matsumoto: Second.
Chair: Any discussion, seeing none all those in favor say aye, motion carried.
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On motion made by Caven Raco and seconded by Camilla Matsumoto, to approve
Z-IV-2012-4 and Use Permit U-2012-12, motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
ADJOURNMENT
Commission adjourned the meeting at 10:55 a.m.
Respectfully Submitted.
Lani Agoot
Commission Support Clerk
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