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HomeMy WebLinkAbout21015pcMinKAUAI PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING February 10, 2015 The regular meeting of the Planning Commission of the County of Kauai was called to order by Chair Anderson at 9:18 a.m., at the Lihue Civic Center, Moikeha Building, in Meeting Room 2A /2B. The following Commissioners were present: Chair Angela Anderson Vice Chair Sean Mahoney Mr. Louis Abrams Absent and Excused: Mr. Hartwell Blake Mr. Wayne Katayama Mr. Jan Kimura Ms. Amy Mendonca The following staff members were present: Planning Department — Dee Crowell, Leslie Takasaki, Dunce Nakamatsu; Deputy County Attorney Ian Jung. CALL TO ORDER Chair Anderson called the meeting to order at 9:18 a.m. ROLL CALL Mr. Crowell noted there were three members present. Mr. Jung stated that with only three members present there was no quorum. The OlP Sunshine Law was recently amended that allows for the acceptance of testimony at meetings that are cancelled. The public can present testimony for the record and the Commission will receive that record at the next meeting. The Commission can have questions answered or presentations on any agenda items, but they cannot discuss, deliberate, or take action on those items. Chair Anderson stated that they will move forward with acceptance of public hearing testimony. HEARINGS AND PUBLIC COMMENT Continued Agency Hearing VA2015 Master riles\ Commissions \Planning\Minutcs \2015 -2 -10 Planning Commission Minutes Class IV Zoning Permit Z -lV- 2015 -8, Proiect Development Use Permit PDU- 2015 -7, Variance Permit V- 2015 -1 and Special Management Area Use Permit SMA U - 2015 -6 to ermit repair and reconstruction of the former Coco Palms Resort including but not limited to: 350 hotel units, Lotus Restaurant and Flame Room Bar, the Lobby Building, the Commercial Buildiniz, three swimming pools, Queen's Audience Hall, the Palms Lanai, Sea Shell Restaurant, Chapel in the Palms 2 of 4 Brid e Crossin s• the construction of a new Utility & Maintenance Building and a new Queen Luroon Building into a spa and gym facility on the site of the previously demolished structure. The project is situated in Wailua and located at 04 -241 Kuhio Highway, further identified as Tax Map Keys 4 -1 -003: 004 (por.) 005 007 011 and 017 and 4-1 -005: 014 and 017 and containing a total area of aPprox. 28.523 acres = Coco Palms Hui LLC. Mr. Crowell noted there were three members signed up to provide testimony. The Commission heard testimony from Bill Gaus, manager of the IIanalei Inn for the last 10 years. When he thinks of Coco Palms a lot of people come to mind: Queen Deborah Kapule, Lyle and Grace Guslander, Larry Rivera, and Elvis Presley. Blue Hawaii was filmed at Coco Palms and it gained national attention. People and celebrities flocked to Coco Palms which was considered the gem of Hawaii. It was the true Hawaiian experience; torch lighting ceremony, Blue Hawaii weddings featuring Larry Rivera, the largest coconut grove in all Hawaii, and thatched roof cottages with lava rock showers in the lagoon. He moved to Kauai in 1988 and his first job was at Coco Palms as a waiter. He was promoted to assistant restaurant manager and then moved to assistant front office manager. When Big John Kauo retired, he stepped into his shoes in which he was the night manager on duty. Mrs. Guslander had been retired. They became friends and he patterned his management style after her. When you spread aloha to guests and staff, it makes the guests want to return and employees want to stay. Mrs. G. has passed on and many wonder if she would have approved of the Hyatt running the new Coco Palms. He can whole heartedly say yes. In February 1991 he was a hotel assistant manager for the Hyatt Regency Kauai and he invited Grace to stay at there. He referenced a personal note she wrote thanking him and calling the Hyatt flawless and that nothing can compare. Grace's note to him puts to rest that she would definitely approve of the Hyatt running Coco Palms. Because he has managed both Coco Palms and the Hyatt Regency, he fully approves of Tyler Green's and the Coco Palms Hui's plan to bring Coco Palms to life once again. In 2009 he presented Mitzi Gaynor on stage a signed lithograph of Coco Palms. She was here for the 50111 anniversary of South Pacific. She asked if Coco Palms would ever reopen. He told her if the right people come along he thinks it will. That person is Tyler Green and the Coco Palms Hui. He has two requests to Mr. Green. He agrees with Councilmember Yukimura that there should be a walkway built over the highway from Coco Palms to the Sea Shell Restaurant as it was approved by the Planning Connnission and DOT back in 2005. If a walkway isn't built, having shuttle service to and from the resort to the Sea Shell Restaurant and the beach will definitely help. He thinks the museum should be reopened with Grace's artifacts that are on loan to the Kauai Historical Society. They should be returned to their rightful place. That's what Mrs. G. would have wanted. He asked the Commission to please approve the rebuilding of Coco Palms. They all want it back to its original glory as a gem of the Pacific. The Commission heard testimony from Dirk Soma of the Coco Palms Cultural Advisory Committee. He was part of the overall presentation on January 27. He wanted to follow up by submitting the Coco Palms Cultural Advisory Committee reports that were presented to the County Council. There are a series of three reports that outline all of the work that the CPCAC 2 V:\2015 Master Files\ Commissions \Planning\Mintttes1201 5 -2 -1.0 Planning Commission Minutes did over the past year, the community meetings, and the verbatim comments from each meeting. There was overwhelming positive support for the project and he wanted to let the Commission know what the comments were and the work that they have done. They support the project whole heartedly and they hope the Commission will approve the project at its next available opportunity. Mr. Crowell stated that the Planning Department will receive the written testimony along with the Hawaii Operating Engineers Industry Stabilization Fund testimony. As there is no quorum, the Commission will receive it at the next meeting. The Commission heard testimony from Sylvia Kuuleimomi Thacker who has been coming to Kauai for 30 years. Her son honeymooned at Coco Palms. It means a great deal to them. She volunteered for the Kauai Historical Society and helped pack the items from Grace Guslander's collection after Hurricane Iniki. She would really like to see something done. If nothing is done, she asked the Commission to please tear the buildings down. Driving by it is very sad. She can only imagine what is going on inside the building which affects the neighbors. She is not testifying for the developers because she does not know everything they have planned. She is not testifying against the development. It would be nice to have a bigger property tax base with more income corning in. It would also make a great cultural center. The Commission has heard from so many people all these years and have gone over everything so many times. She is hoping that something will be done. Either tear it down or have a nice development there. All public testimony pursuant to HRS 92 (Sunshine Law) There was no other public testimony. NEW BUSINESS Permit Z -1V- 2015 -8 of the former ilding. the Commercial swimming poop 1s, yueen-s Aumence Hall, the ranns Lanai, `lea Jne11 Restaurant, Lnapel m the Palms, 2 of Bridge Crossings; the construction of a new Utility & Maintenance Building and a new Queen Lagoon Building into a spa and gym facility on the site of the previously demolished Chair Anderson noted there was no quorum so the Commission was unable to receive the supplemental report. She questioned if the applicant was aware of the additional items from DOT and SHPD as well as the Department of Health. Michael Belles representing Coco Pahns Hui, stated that the Planning Department provided copies of the additional testimony yesterday. The intention was to bring all of the experts and consultants back as they pledged they would do at the last meeting to be available for 3 VA2015 Master Files\ Commissions \Planning\Minutcs \2015 -2 -10 Planning Commission Minutes questions and. answers. He understands that because of the quorum issue and State Law, they are prevented from proceeding with substantive presentations. Rather than getting into questions and answers that could potentially lead to substantive debate and discussion which should be heard by at least a quorum, he thinks out of abundance of caution it would be best to defer to the next meeting on February 24. Mr. Jung replied that they will work with the Director on scheduling. Ordinarily it would defer to the next meeting by default. The Commission can't motion to defer because they can't take action. They have the option to ask questions, but they have to avoid dialoging. Chair Anderson stated that they will not be going into dialog, but for clarifications and factual issues regarding the expert reports that were submitted, she would like to provide opportunity for the Commission to ask questions. Mr. Abrams stated that he would like to ask questions to understand the report and the factual information that may clarify things for Commissioners when they are at the next meeting. Mr. Crowell stated the Department received an hour ago a TiAR and questioned if it was revised or a final. Mike Packard, traffic engineer from SSFM stated the draft label was removed and no substantive changes were made within the report. Mr. Crowell noted that the Department received it, but the Commission is unable to receive it. Mr. Abrams noted he had plenty enough from the draft. Mr. Abrams stated that the process was to identify the intersections and look at what is going on in the morning and afternoon for 2014 utilizing some of the State DOT counts from 2011. He questioned if they are updated or if they go and do some now and compare. Mr. Packard replied that the process in identifying intersections is understanding the volume of traffic along Kuhio Highway and comparing it to the anticipated number of trips that the project will generate. Then they look within 3% of the total traffic being generated by the project as compared to the existing traffic. That defines the study area. After that he used the DOT collected traffic counts which is annual yet delayed. That's what he reported from 2011. The 2013 counts just came out about a week ago. To supplement the roadway counts, they took intersection turning movement counts during the morning and afternoon peak periods in 2014. . Those counts were then broken down further to be the a.m. peak hour and the p.m. peak hour that were analyzed at the intersections of note. Mr. Abrams clarified that those intersections would be the ones that are looked at for the future projections. Mr. Packard replied yes. When they identified the new access locations, that introduced theoretically a new intersection except for those where it would be a right in turn only which causes no significant impact on traffic. Mr. Abrams questioned if there is a factor for a right in turn only lane doubling as a straight lane. He assumed a straight lane with no right turns could handle more capacity than one III VA2015 Master Files\ Commissions \Plamiing\Minutes\2015 -2 -10 Planning Commission Minutes with right turns. Mr. Packard replied there is a calculation but it doesn't really result in a significant change in the delay for capacity. But they did discuss the intention of the right -ins to snake sure they are as free flowing as possible and not delay the traffic. In theory all cars can travel in without delaying the through traveling movements. Mr. Abrams questioned how trips are measured from a hotel. Mr. Packard replied there is a national standard called the Institute of Transportation Engineers trip generation manual. It is comprised of decades of counts and studies that have been done across the country on like sized land uses. Within the title of hotel, there are probably four or five different break down land uses. The one they used was resort. It has a lot of amenities that a resort would have that would allow them to stay more within the area utilizing restaurants and the beach, it attracts a different volume. Per the number of hotel units, they factor it against the national studies and come up with the number of anticipated trips. A trip is literally a person transporting themselves to the hotel. A trip can be reduced by taking a bus, walking, riding a bike, or however else differentiating from a passenger vehicle. To ensure they looked at the worst case scenario, they took the idea that all trips would be through vehicles. Mr. Abrams questioned if there was something in the report relative to the discussion on trips. Mr. Packard replied that table 9 on page 21 entitled "Project Related Volumes / Trip Generation" notes the land use as resort hotel, using a quantity of 350 units which gave a rate or nlunber of trips that would be attracted to the hotel during the a.m. and leaving during the a.m. hour. Those totals were added to the existing and projected future increase to see how it would affect the a.m. and similarly the p.m. The restaurant was done the same way. They added the resort shuttle because those attending the restaurant must park at Coco Palms and are therefore an additional trip. The restaurant are trips and the shuttle is a trip. Mr. Abrams questioned whether in 2017 the additional trips were factored against if nothing were there. Mr. Packard replied that first in the future analysis is as if there was no project taking into consideration the State's widening along Kuhio Highway in addition to any surrounding area development with background growth. They took a.5% per year increase. It's a rather small increase, but historical counts show there has been really no increase over the past five or seven years. Mr. Abrams questioned the section of the State's road widening. Mr. Packard replied it would be from the bypass to Kuamoo, but it will not affect the northbound direction on Kuamoo. They will be adding an additional lane and by doing that they will no longer need to do the contraflow. At the northbound approach of Kuhio Highway at Haleilio, there will no longer be a dedicated left turn lane. Instead it will be a shared, through left movement. Mr. Abrams questioned the State's fiscal ability to meet the deadline. Mr. Packard replied they met multiple times before the project and it was identified as being credible for being built by this time. His understanding is that it is on the step and programmed for construction. He can't speak to whether it will be done or not. 5 VA2015 Master Files \Commissions \Planning \Minutes\2015 -2 -10 Planning Commission Minutes Mr. Abrams questioned whether the step program has a budget process and time frame and whether or not there is a need to alert their Legislators. Mr. Packard replied that he cannot speak to that. Mr. Abrams questioned the County's multi modal plan. His understanding is they need to hind other ways to accommodate moving people around other than just cars. He questioned if it applies to some roads and not to other roads and whether the State has something similar. Mr. Packard replied it is a County specific initiative. It is an island -wide initiative which proposed maintaining vehicles - per -day volumes to 2010 levels. Mr. Abrams questioned what would help decrease the a.m. Kuamoo Road traffic backup at the right hand turn lane. Mr. Packard replied there is nothing in the project that is anticipated to hurt or help that movement. Mr. Crowell questioned the difference between the draft and the final TZAR. Mr. Packard replied he provided the copy as requested from the clients because he was notified that the Department preferred to see one that was not a draft. He cleaned it up to make sure it read how he wanted it to read, but there were no substantive changes, no calculated changes or changes in conclusions. He just wanted to make sure the copy he provided was clean. Mr. Crowell stated that comments from the DOT and Public Works don't really reference the TZAR. He questioned if they looked at it. Mr. Packard replied that he can't speak to that. Chair Anderson questioned if they have done a future analysis without the State widening project. Mr. Packard replied he did not. Chair Anderson questioned any discussions he may have had regarding a pedestrian walkway. Mr. Packard replied his understanding is that a pedestrian walkway had been discussed with the State prior to his getting on the project. It was decided that it was not feasible to continue as a possible alternative for crossing the road and that his analysis should consider that all would be crossing at grade, in the crosswalk, across Kuhio Highway. Chair Anderson asked for clarification that be has not done analysis of the cost of a pedestrian walkway or any additional information regarding the effects of a reduction on traffic if they had a pedestrian walkway. Mr. Packard replied that it is not something that would fall under his scope. Mr. Abrams questioned whether or not with the road right -of -way, they would be able to accommodate a pedestrian overpass. Mr. Packard replied that it would be better to ask the developer these questions, but noted that Kuhio Highway is a 25 mile per hour road therefore crossing in a crosswalk would not be considered something that needs to be grade separated. .ANNOUNCEMENTS lI Va2015 Master Files\ Commissions \Planning\Minutes\2015 -2 -10 Planning Commission Minutes Chair Anderson stated that given there is no quorum they will need to, by default, defer the matters to the next Commission meeting on February 24. She announced that this meeting was canceled given the lack of quorum. PINIII Chair Anderson adjourned the meeting at 10:02 a.m. Respectfully submitted by: ( ) Approved as circulated (add date of meeting approval) ( ) Approved as amended. See minutes of 7 Duke Nakamatsu, Commission Support Clerk meeting. VA2015 Master Fil es\ Commissions\Plmming \Minutes\2015 -2 -10 Planning Counnission Minutes