HomeMy WebLinkAboutJanuary26,2017KHPRCMinutesKAUA'I COUNTY HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEW COMMISSION
Lihu'e Civic Center, Mo'ikeha Building, Meeting Room 2A/213
MINUTES
A regular meeting of the Kauai County Historic Preservation Commission (KHPRC) was held on
January 26, 2017 in the Lihu'e Civic Center, Mo'ikeha Building, Meeting Room 2A/213.
The following
Commissioners were present: Anne
Schneider, Victoria Wichman,
Larry Chaffin
Jr. (entered in
at 3:17 pm), Pat
Griffin, Charlotte
Hoomanawanui, and Stephen
Long.
The following Commissioner was absent: Althea Arinaga and Deatri Nakea.
The following staff members were present: Planning Department- Myles Hironaka, Kaaina Hull,
Shanlee Jimenez; Office of the County Attorney - Deputy County Attorney Jodi Higuchi Sayegusa;
Office of Boards and Commissions - Administrator Jay Furfaro,
CALL TO ORDER
Commissioner Schneider called the meeting to order at 3:02 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Deputy Planning Director Kaaina Hull: Good afternoon Members of the Commission. The first
item of business is roll call. Commissioner Chaffin (not here); Commissioner Griffin (here);
Commissioner Hoomanawanui (here); Commissioner Long (present); Commissioner Schneider
(here); Commissioner Wichman (here). Madame Chair we have a quorum.
90 DAY EXTENSION —PAT GRIFFIN
Mr. Hu11: Next agenda item is the 90 day extension for Commissioner Pat Griffin.
Ms. Schneider: Do you need a motion?
Mr. Hull: A motion is needed.
Ms. Schneider: Do we have a motion to extend Pats?
Ms. Wichman: I move that we extend Pat Griffin's term another 90 days.
Mr. Long: Second.
Ms. Schneider: Any discussions?
Ms.
Griffin:
I have
a question. It seems
like if a new commissioner can be brought on before that
90 days that
would
be preferable.
January 26, 2017 KI RC Meeting Minutes
Page 2
Mr. Furfaro: I would think next at your next commission meeting I would suggest that you put on
your agenda, since this nomination selection is made by your group for this position, that you put
an agenda item on to open up discussion about a replacement commissioner. And so although I
am hearing from Commission Griffin that she would be most kindly to excuse herself from the
rest of the 90 days. The fact of the matter is the process won't even be posted for another 30 days.
Ms. Schneider: We do have somebody that we... that's we have on the next month's agenda.
Mr. Furfaro: It should be agenda accordingly. Thank you.
Mr. Lon¢: Madame Chair I have a quick question. Mr. Furfaro have you received any applications
or petitions for nomination to the KHPRC from the public?
Mr. Furfaro: Yes. We have received one but I understand this same candidate might be somebody
that you are nominating as a group next month. So I am waiting to see the outcome of that. Thank
you Madame Chair,
Ms. Schneider: Any other discussion? Can we vote? All in favor? (unanimous voice vote.) Any
opposition? (None)
Ms. Hi¢uchi Sayegusa: No opposition.
Ms. Schneider: Motion passes.
SELECTION OF CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON
Mr. Hull: Next item on our agenda is selection of the new Chairperson and Vice Chairperson. So
in order to move this forward essentially a motion is necessary for the 2017 Chairperson for the
Kauai Historic Preservation Review Commission,
Mr. Long: I would like to make a motion that we nominate Victoria Wichman as the next
Chairperson for the KHPRC.
Ms. Griffin: Second.
Ms. Higuchi Saye usa: I'm sorry just to clarify I suggest maybe if we open up nominations and so
we can receive nominations and then we can go through it one by one going through there. So first
I would think we need, so Chair you would just announce that the nominations are now in order
and there is no need to be seconds.
Ms. Schneider: We don't need a second for it. So we do have Victoria. Is there any other
nominations.
January 26, 2017 KI RC Meeting Minutes
Page 3
Ms, Higuchi Saegusa: Ok if none then I would suggest that you receive a motion to close the
nominations.
Ms. Schneider: Can we have a motion to close the nominations?
Ms. Griffin: So moved. I move that we close the nominations.
Ms. Hi ucg hi Sayegusa: You do need a second.
Ms. Schneider: Anybody want to second?
Mr. Lone: Second.
Ms.
Schneider:
Do we need discussion now? All in favor?
(Unanimous voice vote.)
Any
opposed?
Nobody is opposed. Victoria is our new Chairman.
Ms.
Hi
cug
hi
Sayegusa: I'm sorry now we can
move forward on any discussion on voting Victoria
as Chair.
So
it would here this portion.
Ms. Schneider: Are there any request for secret ballot vote? If not we will proceed on voting on
each nomination.
Mr. Hull: So the vote was to close nominations and now the official vote.
Ms. Schneider: All in favor. (Unanimous voice vote.)
Ms. Higuchi Sayegusa: Again, just to clarify we are voting on Victoria Wichman is the chair.
Ms. Schneider: No one was in opposition. So it passes. Victoria you are the new Chair.
Ms. Victoria Wichman, 21017 Chairperson: Ok good afternoon everyone. So now we need to
select our Vice Chair. Do I have a motion... nominations are in order for the selection of Vice
Chair.
Ms. Griffin: I nominate Deatri Nakea in absentia.
Ms. Wichman: Are there any further nominations? So if none can I have a motion to close
nominations?
Ms. Schneider: I make a motion that we close nominations.
Ms. Griffin: Second,
Ms.
Wickman:
Any
opposed? (None.)
Any opposed? (None.)
And the motion carries. And the
nominations are now
closed. So Deatri
Nakea is now our new
Vice Chair.
January 26, 2017 KHPRC Meeting Minutes
Page 4
Ms, Hieuchi Sayegusa: We have to vote on her.
Mr. Hull: That was the motion to close.
Ms. Wichman: So Deatri Nakea has been nominated as the Vice Chair and is there a request for
secret ballot vote? (None.) if not we will proceed with the vote for her nomination. All those in
favor? (Unanimous voice vote.) Opposed? (None.) Ok Deatri Nakea is now our Vice Chair. I hope
she agrees to it when she comes back.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Mr. Hull: Madame Chair the next item on the agenda is the approval of the agenda. The
Department has 2 recommendations to take two items out of order. One being New Business, K.2.
particularly to accommodate the consultant from off island as well as K.3. to accommodate a
request from the applicant to move both of the agenda items after item G and before item H.
Ms. Wichman: Ok so can may I have a motion to adjust the agenda?
Ms. Griffin: I move that we approve the adjusted agenda.
Ms. Schneider: I second the motion.
Ms. Wichman: Any discussion? (None.) All those in favor? (Unanimous voice vote.) All those
opposed? (None.) Motion carries.
APPROVAL OF THE NOVMEBER 17, 2016 MEETING MINUTES
Mr. Hull: And the next agenda item is the approval of the November 17, 2016 meeting Minutes.
Ms. Schneider: I make a motion that we approve the minutes as stated.
Ms. Wickman: Ok. Do we have a second?
Mr. Lona: Second.
Ms.
Wickman:
Any
discussion? (None.)
All
those in favor? (Unanimous voice vote.) Any
opposed? (None.) Ok
let the record reflect
that
Commissioner Chaffin has arrived at 3:17.
PUBLIC COMMENT
January 26, 2017 KHPRC Meeting Minutes
Page 5
Mr, Hull: And the next agenda item is the Public Comment. Sothis agenda item is for individuals
that would like to testify on any agenda item should they not be wishing to speak on the actual
agenda items.
Ms. Wichman: Ok would anybody from the public like to testify on any agenda item at this time?
Seeing none. Thank you.
NEW BUSINESS
Re: Mr. Mary S. Rice Beach House
Mr. Hull: Ok the next agenda item is K.2. Mrs. Mary S. Rice Beach House, TMK: 3-1-001:003,
Kipu Road, Kipu Kai, Kauai. A proposed nomination to the Hawaii Register of Historic Places
and the National Register of Historic Places. I believe there is a consultant here for the applicant.
Mr. Don Hibbard: Aloha. My name is Don Hibbard and Cecile and Janelle are also here from First
Hawaiian Trust, who administer the property for the trust. Excuse me, First Hawaiian Bank not
trust.
Ms. Higuchi Sa�gusa: Sorry could you step forward and speak into the mic please.
Ms. Cecile Chin: Hi I am Cecile Ching with First Hawaiian Bank and First Hawaiian Bank is the
corporate co -trustee for the John T. Waterhouse Trust,
Mr. Chaffin: Who are the other trustees?
Ms. Cecile Chung: The individual co -trustees are Gary Wells, Sue Anna Wells, and Sandy
Waterhouse.
Mr. Hibbard: Ok so I was just going to go through the property with you quickly so you could see,
I believe you have in your packet the photographs of the property. So I will sort of go through.
The first one on top shows the property from looking down from the entry road. The area that is
going to be registered is nominated is all right over here. And it will go out as far as this building
right here and include this area all right there. Plus there are several buildings that you cannot see
cause they are on the side of the mountain. They are actually structures, mainly the water ones.
The second one shows the current buildings and everything on this map is being considered except
number 1, which is further out and we don't have a date on it so I am not sure it's even historic.
The ones over here are all utilitarian. It's the wells the water and electrical generators that support
the homestead. Over here you have the house itself and then a number of other out buildings that
were associated with the ranch. There is 3 more modern buildings that are non-contributing. They
are number 8, the manager's home which was built in the 1970's; and the photoelectric which is
all new and put in a few years ago; and the third building...
Mr. Chaffin: We have a number of photographs in our packet.
January 26, 2017 KHPRC Meeting Minutes
Page 6
Mr. Hibbard: I will go through those. And number 17 on top is also non-contributing its new water
tanks.
Mr. Chaffin: Are you referring to other photographs that are not in our package?
Mr. Hibbard: No this should be in your package.
Mr. Hull: For clarification is that part of the submittal that was originally submitted? Or the
subsequent submittal? Cause we have 2 submittals.
Mr. Hibbard: Both it should be in.
Mr. Hull: Sorry Don do you have the page on say the original submittal?
Ms. Griffin: It's the last colored photo before you get to the drawings.
Mr. Hull: Yes so it's the last colored before you get to the actual plot plans.
Mr. Chaffin: Ok.
Mr. Hibbard: Ok the following photo just shows the house as it looks in relationship to the ocean
and to the mountains. This is a closer image of the house. The house itself was built in 1886. This
whole front part is an addition to the lanai which is definitely before World War II and I suspect
it's either the 20's or the 30's it was added. The main house is the gable roof structure here and
then off to this side is going to be the kitchen wing and a guestroom wing. Here is the side view
which show that better where you can see the gable is original house. The lanai that was added is
off to the right. The house originally was board and batten/tongue and groove. They have
subsequently put T-1 I I over it to reinforce the walls which is not the most sensitive put it preserves
the house. The windows have also been changed unfortunately.
The next
picture in your group
shows one of the few pictures we have of the house as it was
in the
1890's.
They had an Ostridge
farm in 1896 so that's the one reason we can date the house, by the
Ostridge.
And you can see up
there on top of the hill the house and the kitchen wing both
being
there. As
I said, the integrity on the outside is not ideal, however, on the interior it is very
much
there.
Here is what was the original front of the house with the front porch. This one side here is where
that addition of the old lanai was made in, I suspect, the 20's or 30's but is very much all there.
The original house. The typical style in the 19 century you will see 3 doors going in. One goes into
a hallway, to either side is a bedroom. Here is just another view. You can see the chamfered posts,
which is very common building finish at the time. They are still there as well as the walls and the
floors are all original as well. So once you step in the house, you are definitely stepping back in
time.
January 26, 2017 KHPRC Meeting Minutes
Page 7
Here
is the
fireplace. This was added by John T.
Waterhouse once he acquired the property in the
early
50's.
He acquired it between '48 and '51.
The lanai was there already. This is now over 50
years
old as well and historic.
Mr. Chaffm: Did he then occupy the house?
Mr. Hibbard: Yes. Here is just another view showing the porch relationship to the lanai and again
you can see the doorways going in and the original windows are still in place as well. The middle
door goes into what they now call the library but originally, I believe, it was just a hallway area
which would have been typical at the time. As you can see it is pretty much intact still. Another
view looking the other way. You can see all the original wood is still there.
This is one of the rear bedrooms. The walls are all still intact. At some point, well beyond before
1967 probably either in the 50's or the 30's they applied Masonite to the ceiling finish. Here is a
view of just another one of the bedrooms. You can see it's a very modest single wall structure
which is very much intact. As of typical in 19`h century the kitchen was separate from the main
living area and that's this wing going out this way. And it to, the dining room has all the original
walls, the original floor, and you can still see the 5 panel doors that were used that area still intact.
At some point, which I imagine is in the 50's the rear of the dining room had the wood sliding
doors put in. Just from the style I am guessing that it is the 50's. The kitchen was remodeled at
that time also. It still has its original cabinetry from the 50's as well as the wood counter tops. And
then beyond the kitchen there was a series of 3 bedrooms which I believe was used for guests.
Board and batten outside. The interiors are all intact in these rooms. They have canec ceilings,
Masonite walls. These openings are just screens.
Also on the property there is a number of utilitarian structures. After Jack Waterhouse got the
property he started to improve it. He brought in water and electricity among other things. There is
a reservoir on the property with 2 cisterns which is not being used right now. It's on the hillside
when you first go up but it's still there and it still holds water.
Mr. Chaffin: What is the source of water?
Mr. Hibbard: They have a well and that's the next picture. This is the pump house for the well and
the I beam structure behind it was what held up the drill when they drilled the well. They just
didn't take it down afterwards. And until you go there, and I didn't stop to think about the difficulty
of getting materials there especially before the road. The road was built by Mr. Waterhouse in the
postwar period during the early 1950's. So before that it was only trail and the trail wasn't even
big enough to accommodate a carriage. So essentially you went in by horseback.
Also over on that side of the hill is a generator house. Another very simple corrugated iron
structure. The generator is still inside and they have just gone over to photoelectric a couple of
year and the generators are still there as backup. Right below the generator is a little house where
they store the diesel fuel that runs the generators.
January 26, 2017 KHPRC Meeting Minutes
Page 8
Also on the property there are 3 other houses. One house the caretaker lives in it. It's
from the
1970's so that is considered noncontributing cause
it's too new. This home was
built in
the early
50's and still stands on the property and it is very
much intact on the interior.
It has
all the red
wood tongue and groove walls. The kitchen is intact. It has mahogany cabinetry
and, I
am sorry I
don't have the picture but you can't really see but
it has picture windows on 2
sides
with wood
louvers underneath for ventilation. You can find in
a lot of subdivision houses as well.
The other house is also there. They are both all cowboy houses and I think they are used for people
living on the property. This one the tax office has 1896 as the date. I don't know if it is really that
old but the next picture shows the interior which is all board and batten walls and so I said it could
be '96. I am pretty sure it's at the latest 1929 or '30. And also the doors, they still have all the
original doors which are 5 panels and actually I have another picture I just took today, there is also
some 4 panel doors which I do associate more with the late 19' century early 20th century. So the
house, I believe, if it's not 1896 it's pretty close.
Also on the property at the far end is the big maintenance building. This was built in the 1950's
and is all corrugated metal and they used that. The next picture shows the interior of that which is
all a steel frame and they use it for equipment and storage. Also on the property are 2 other CMU
buildings which date from the 1950's and for ranch use at the time. This building, I am sorry I
couldn't find the building of the one across. There is 2 right next to each other and the other one
was used originally as a milk barn and the has a tact house inside and they are now used for storage.
And so that's essentially all that's encompassing the nomination. It's around 30 acres of land. So
it's the house and the ancillary support structures that go with the house. I think it's an important
building although it has been compromised in some ways and in many ways it's very much intact.
When I was trying to get a count of building on Kauai from the 19' century. I could come up with
10 including this one and that's the next pictures. You have Waioli Mission and the mission houses
next to it. You have Stone Church in Waimea. The Gulick -Rowell House in Waimea. Grove Farm
here in Lihue. The Queen Emma's House in Lawai, which some people has questioned whether
that's the original or not but I will give it as part of the 10. And the Wilcox Residence over in
Hanalei, which is the beach cottage from the 1890's. The only other ones I don't have photos of
and I have somewhere but I couldn't find them, the Robinson Homestead just before Waimea and
I don't even know the Gay Residence which was out that side. I went looking for it the last time I
was on Kauai but couldn't find it. So I don't know if that's still standing or if anybody else knows
if that's standing any more. But that's the only 19'h century buildings. The Russian Fort if you
want to call it a building but that's the only ones I know of on Kauai. So I think just in itself it's
important as a reminder of the last century.
The house we are nominating for its associations with the history of recreation. The fact that it was
a beach house and its associations with being used as a retreat away from civilization and also for
its association with ranching. It was part of the William Hyde Rice Ranch and then essentially
when Waterhouse bought it, he broke it off and it became the Kipu Kai Ranch. And so for those
reasons we are nominating it. Oh and one last picture which I liked a lot. I found this in one of the,
they have little books for guests to sign but it showed the difficulty of getting in. It was called the
trip over and they were going up the mountain and back down the mountain by horseback. And
January 26, 2017 KHPRC Meeting Minutes
Page 9
that was essentially and it had it has a certain mystic about of its own, Kipu Kai, it is a very isolated
place. It's a place that is relatively difficult to get too and I think it's part of the story of Kauai's
history.
Ms.
Wichman:
Ok thank you Mr. Hubbard,
Hibbard song.
I
have a question
please for you. You
mentioned the
30 acres of land. Now is that
to be included
in
the nomination
as well?
Mr. Hibbard: That is.
Ms. Wichman: It is7
Mr. Hibbard: Yes the buildings stand on that land.
Ms. Wichman: I also understand eventually after the last Waterhouse passes, this would become
part of the State?
Mr. Hibbard: Yes that is correct. Do you want to talk about that subject?
Ms. Chine:
Yes there is a deed of open
space easement that has already been executed with the
State as the
grantee and
they will take over upon the termination of the trust.
Mr. Hibbard: Which will terminate when the last of the nieces and nephews die.
Ms. Chin¢: Right.
Ms. Wichman: Does anybody else have questions? Stephen.
Mr. Lone: I have a couple of questions and comments. Is the 30 acres that the property sits on, is
that the total extent of the lot of record?
Mr. Hibbard: Excuse me?
Mr. Lone: The 30 acre lot that the home sits on, is that the total area of the lot of record?
Mr. Hibbard: No. It's all one parcel at this time. So we are just taking a piece of that parcel.
Mr. Lone: Ok so that 30 acres is being taken out of the larger piece?
Mr. Hibbard: Yes. It's a little over eleven hundred acres.
Ms. Chine: It's actually, the total is 1,094 acres is the entire parcel.
Mr. Lone: I do have a comment about the drawings in the application and I see that they are hand
drawn and noted not to scale. So at a very minimum it would be nice to have a graphic scale on
the drawings.
January 26, 2017 K14PRC Meeting Minutes
Page 10
Mr, Hibbard: For nominations, the floor plans are not required. We put them in as a curtesy so that
people can get a sense of the layout of the property. I had this discussion with the Review Board a
number of times and to get them to scale, to get measured drawings is going to be way more
expensive than the cost of preparing the whole nomination.
Mr. Lone: Right, I understand and are floor plans and exterior elevations really just a curtesy?
They are not required as part of the application?
Mr. Hibbard: Correct.
Mr. Lone: I just have a personal feeling that on such an important structure that dimensioned floor
plans and exterior elevations would be informative as a documentary measure and an informative
measure.
Mr. Hibbard: Right. Nominations they are a form of documentation but if you want documentation
then they have another whole program. The Historic American Building Survey Program which
goes out and documents structures. They will do measured drawings. There is a number of
buildings on Kauai that it has happened to already. But then they usually send out a team of 4
people, usually students, under the direction of an architect and that's a totally different process.
But yes I agree it would be a good idea to have the house documented at some point. I think it's
onerous to have it attached to a nomination cause essentially the nomination is just do we recognize
this as historic or not.
Ms. Wichman: Any other questions? Pat.
Ms. Griffin: It is indeed one of the few properties that has amongst the structures pre 20a` century.
We have run across a few smaller houses in researching the inventory but they are scares indeed.
But I am troubled you know when we look at character defining features we start with the walls
the windows and the roof, sometimes the doors and you have mentioned it a couple of times. And
that's what most people in registered buildings, it's what most people would see is the exterior. So
can you talk a little bit more on why you mention the interior is a substantially intact.
Mr. Hibbard: Yes. I think it's the interior but for integrity there is seven. You have setting. You
have feelings and associations. I find all of these are exceptionally strong and quite often we
overlook setting. Here the setting is still pristine which many other places where the building itself
is pristine but the setting is now gone. So I think that, that's part of it. The materials are all still
there but you cannot see them from the outside. But same with the design. I think there is a lot to
be learned from the building that does recall the past and yes ideally I would not want the wall, the
T-111 that has been clad on the building or the standing seam roofs but when I look at the whole
building as a whole I can overlook that just on the grounds that it is here. It's been standing here
for a 140 years. Is that right? 120 years and just that alone that there is this sense of that time allows
me to overlook some of these detriments and I also look at it and say ok its keeping the building
the way that it is and these are elements that can be remedied. You can go back and put a corrugated
January 26, 2017 KI RC Meeting Minutes
Page 11
room on the building. You can go back and remove the T-111 cause the walls are all still there. So
I feel that it is something, yes it's not ideal but I think that it is something that can be worked with.
Ms. Griffin: Did the openings, the window configuration, do you know Don if that changed when
they were replaced?
Mr. Hibbard: No, not when they were replaced. It was prior to that and originally that front lanai
looks like it was, I have one old picture which I didn't take a picture of but I just did today had
rectangular openings so at some point they enclosed those and it was the same where you had big
on one side and small on the other. So the fenestration as far as the placement of the openings are
still all intact. At least from what I could see from the front elevation. The sides? Who knows. But
I don't see in the building anywhere like on the interior between the front bedrooms and 2 back
bedrooms there was originally doors connecting then and I can very easily see where they were
infilled. I don't see any places along the exterior of the wall that there is infilling of windows and
so at the most they could've made a new window but they didn't take out any old windows.
Ms. Griffin: Thank you.
Ms. Wichman: Any other questions? (None.) Any questions from the public? (None.) If there is
any testimony from the public you are allowed to come up and speak now. Seeing none may we
have a motion.
Ms. Schneider: I make a motion that we support the proposed nomination to the Hawaii Register
of the Mary S. Rice Beach House.
Ms. Wichman: Ok. Second?
Ms. Griffin: I second.
Ms. Wichman: Any discussion? No discussion. Those in favor? (Unanimous voice vote.)
Opposed? (None.) Ok motion carries. Thank you.
Re: Old Kealia School (Alakai O Kauai Public Charter School)
Mr.
Hull:
Ok the neat agenda
item is also one of the agenda
items that was moved is K.3. Old
Kealia School, TMK:
4-7-003-006,
Kealia, Kauai, a proposed
reconstruction of the former Island
School building. And
I believe
there is a representative on behalf
of this application.
Ms. Wichman: Ok would the representative for the Old Kealia School please step up. Thank you.
Ms. Kristen Hoshino: Hi I am Krisen Hoshino. I am president of Hookala non-profit for Alakai O
Kauai Public Charter School. It's a kindergarten through 8th grade school but we are going to start
up smaller and build up our enrollment. We need a temporary site and after a lot of research we
found the old Island School has an entitlement and it would enable to get our school started in time
January 26, 2017 KHPRC Meeting Minutes
Page 12
for the next school year which we really need to start then. If we don't start next year we lose a lot
of our base of support. If we don't follow the following year then we lose our Charter and we don't
ever open the school. So it is very important that we get the school open on time. There is 165
families that have pledged that they want to enroll their children there. It's a tuition free school. It
is funded by the State and we also, through the non-profit, are pursuing grants which are also from
the State.
So ultimately the school is going to be paid for by the State and through our lease payments and
things like that we would like to keep our cost down. We found this building and the owner's
representative has been working with us. They have a contractor and an architect and so there is
already a design for this building and we just came along at the right time and they said well we
actually don't need to use the building for the next 3 to 5 years which is the amount of time that
you need the building but we could go ahead and renovate it now then you can use and we can
have it restored and not a crumbling building on the side of the road anymore and increase the
property values and give the place for the kids to have their school. After an extensive search we
have found nothing else. So we are really hoping for this. It looks like it was built in 1919 and was
part of the sugar plantation. It sat empty since 1991 and it's falling apart completely.
So I have pictures from the site. These are pictures taken in the past month. Pictures outside you
can see there is holes in walls, holes in the roof. It look like the sub floor was pretty decent. The
inside of the school was a lot of dry rot and just not really salvageable to anybody's opinion that
has seen it. So we would really like to do whatever we can most efficiently and that is keeping
with the historical standards for a building of this type. The need is there for the children to have
a school as quickly as possible. We would just like to find out the best route to that.
The building design by John Underwood is like Kapaa Town. The fagade, the elevations are similar
to that. It wasn't design to replicate the old Island School but we are open to going back to that
design if it's felt that it is needed. Some of the changes were made because of the cost. The roof,
the shed roof would be cheaper for the Charter School to be able to afford and the deck was added
for extra space. We will have a lot of kids and having some extra room to run around would be
great but I am not sure if that's going to be permitted with the Planning Department. We have to
stay in the same footprint. That is kind of outside of that. So that might be in addition later on if
we have to go through the permitting process. So we are not trying to build a modern building but
we are trying to build something quickly for these families in Kapaa who need this school.
Ms. Wichman: Are there any questions from the commissioners?
Ms.
Schneider:
So the building that you are
showing that is
in the rendering
is not actually the
building that you axe going to build?
Ms. Hoshino: Well we have some flexibility at this point. This is just conceptual and then our
architect, John Underwood, is here listening in to the recommendations. It's what we have right
now but we could go back to the old design. It might take a little longer to build with that type of
roof and it might cost more. But you know there is lots of different design elements that we could
keep or not keep and we are here to kind of find out what we need to do.
January 26, 2017 KHPRC Meeting Minutes
Page 13
Ms, Wichman: Stephen,
Mr. Lone: So what's the purpose of you coming before our commission?
Mr. Hull: Soto give a little background. So kind of in a nutshell what this charter school is looking
for is they have a fairly narrow window to get open school to facilitate children under the
application that was approved by the Charter Commission. So they started knocking on the
Planning Department doors to see what the process is to entitle a schools site for which any new
school site requires, in any zoning district, a review by the Planning Commission — a Use Permit
so to speak. Which is from application acceptance is a 5 to 12 month process which basically did
not meet their window of opening a school to children. So The next option they essentially began
entertaining was looking at places that already had the entitlement, ie the permit to operate a school
on the grounds that school operations are no longer occurring but had the land use entitlement.
So they had been looking at a few sites and this is one of the sites that popped up essentially as
having the entitlement for the school, ie Use Permit for a school operation and they could utilize
that existing use permit to run their charter school. They would have to operate within the
parameters that, that use permit was given but they could utilize it essentially. Now this is a
historical structure. It's not on the registry but it's an historical structure. So because of that they
are here essentially before the KHPRC for the review of the application.
Ms. Schneider: But they have to stick to that footprint? The existing building's footprint?
Mr. Hull: For the land use entitlement, correct.
Ms. Griffin: So has there been a demolition application?
Mr. Hull: At this point there hasn't been a demolifion application. I think what the applicant is
essentially saying is that when they knocked on this landowner's door they had design already in
place for a future tenant to one day build there. This essentially is the design and as I understand
it, correct me if I am wrong, is that the kind of agreement is they have monies to build and they
could potentially build the structure and utilize it for 3 to 5 years for the charter school and they
have plans to later on relocate to a much more larger ground to accommodate larger capacity. But
that's an original plan from a tenant that in the future is looking at building. So they are proposing
saying can we construct this building on this site essentially in our discussions with the applicant
and their contractor/architect the structure costs more to essentially salvage and renovate it then it
is to demolish it and put up a new structure. So essentially that is what they are here for your review
of Correct me if I made any...
Ms. Hoshino: No that was is. That was great. Thank you.
Ms. Griffin: Yea and I have to say I was a little confused when I was reading this because our job
is with the historic structure and like any group words mean things a little differently in
preservation circles than they do elsewhere. So when it was talking about reconstructing, I brought
the Secretary of Interior Standards and reconstruction it talks about depicting by means of new
January 26, 2017 KHPRC Meeting Minutes
Page 14
construction. The form, features, and detailing of a non -surviving site, landscape, building for the
purpose of replicating its appearance at a specific period of time and its historic location. So this
proposed looks really attractive and I can imagine hearing the little feet running across that lanai.
But it doesn't really fulfill that term of reconstruction with would then simply take us to
demolition. But I understand now the pinch you are in, in needing to have the same footprint and
that seems to is a little beyond our scope.
Mr. Hull: Well essentially you are correct, Commissioner Griffin, that the building that they are
proposing to construct at least on these preliminary doesn't replicate and doesn't reconstruct under
the Department of Interior Standards of a historic structure. Whether you want to comment,
whether this body wants to comment on the proposed new structure or not comment is essentially,
it's at your will if you will.
Ms. Griffm: Personally, I think if we were to comment about the new structure we would be guided
by personal taste rather than historic standards. So I don't feel comfortable. I don't know how the
rest of the commissioners feel about that but it doesn't seem to be within our kuleana to discuss a
new design and a new structure.
Mr. Long: Except that's what I would like to do. I understand from looking at the photos and the
description that the existing buildings is beyond use and demolition is appropriate. Attractiveness
is a personal thing and I don't feel, like Pat feels that we can't really comment on personal
attractiveness. I will make this comment, it's that the proposed new building as presented to us has
virtually nothing to do with this scale, the design, or the architectural detailing of the existing
historic structure. So just as a personal comment you know it's sort of nice to pick up on those
local, historical, architectural aspects of what was there before.
Ms. Schneider: Is the reason for using this design because they had it and it was available?
Ms. Hoshino: Pretty much. We've already opened enrollment application period and we can't
change our timeline and also you know we are not going to be there forever. So I don't know if
we are the ones to decide what's going to sit on that land forever. We are open to building the way
it was but if there is not a need to do that, you know something that would be a little more
functional. I don't know cheaper rent for us too but mainly the speed in which it can be constructed
is my concern with the roof and drawings.
Ms. Wichman: Is there any more discussion from the commissioners?
Ms. Sandra McCloskev: My name is Sandra McCloskey. I represent the contractor and I also
represent the future tenant of the property. That is how JM Pacific Construction got involved with
this project is that we are cacao farmers also and this is part of the whole Kealia project. Having a
place to grow our cacao as a leasehold and then going in to this building as a future tenant we
thought we had 3 years down the road and the owner really wasn't familiar if it was going to have
to go through all of the different protocols that it has to go through with it being historical or not.
January 26, 2017 KHPRC Meeting Minutes
Page 15
So what we did as part of our business plan we submitted this drawing that we had in front of you
with all the decks and you know we were making it really nice and enticing for the owner when
we got approached about the charter school, the charter school superseded what we really wanted
for ourselves and the future we realize that Kauai, we got to put more time and energy into our
keiki and we are willing to build a school in the very short amount of time.
So time is of the essence and we are willing to take away, our architect is here today to support
this project, basically all we would have to do is take away those decks and exchange that roofline
back into the gable roof that it is. You know that it is right now with just the way the structure is
right now. We are will to do that. The architect is going to push up trying to help us so that we can
get the school built anyway possible. It needs a stamp of approval somewhere down the line
because it's supposedly an historical building.
We met with Anna today at the site and even though you can see how badly dilapidated the building
is. It's terrible, you know we will save whatever we just need instructions. Save the foundations.
Save whatever it takes and then build the structure but time is of the essence and we need just need
to know what do you want us to do there because we are willing to do it and sacrifice the design
that we had done already by our architect. So get away from what you are seeing in the picture.
That it was a hope and desire to take over a building 5 years down the road but it is not necessarily
what has to be right now. We need to know what you want from us and that is the only thing that
we are trying to do is accomplish right at this moment is to try to get a charter school there. And
so anything that you can do to help us to that would be awesome.
Ms. Wichman: Any comments from the commissioners?
Mr. Chaffin: It seems to me that you are asking us to approve something and if the building
inspector during construction says no you come back and say this is what the commission
approved. You are caught in a difficult place.
Ms. McCloskey: Well we have to conform. I am sure that there are certain things like ADA access.
It's not on the old school It has to be on the new one. It's single wall construction. It's not on the
old school but it has to be on the new one. We are willing to make the building conform granted
we have a great source to do this but we don't know how long that option is going to be out there
for us. We will conform. There is no doubt about it. It's just getting past this process so we can do
what we always do in construction is to build a nice building that Kauai will be proud of. Our
children will have a school. And you know Mayor is wanting to cut the ribbon on it so we would
really like to have, at least the opportunity and not just shut it down right here. If there is something
that needs to be approved I can't stress to you enough this is just a small window of opportunity
that we are able to do this.
Ms. Higuchi Savegusa: So one of the duties of this commission is to provide assistance and advice
to the respective government agencies that may have to oversee any other part of this project and
the applicant does seem to be coming here under own accord to get your input and your advice on
any of your experience and expertise in the area of historic preservation and so I think if there is
any input that you guys could afford them then that might be what's relevant.
January 26, 2017 KHPRC Meeting Minutes
Page 16
Ms.
Schneider:
Is it easier for
us to recommend
something if it
was
reflective
of the old building.
It's
not. We are
asked to look
at a new building
that really isn't
old
and really
isn't our purview.
Mr. Hull: I think what Jodi is getting at is essentially that along the lines of what Commission
Long was saying if there are certain historical elements you want to comment that should be
incorporated into the building. Or if there is an outright opposition against the building or if there
is outright support against the building and also to Commissioner Griffin's point if it there is no
comment there is also to that effect there would be just a motion to receive essentially. We have
received this report and essentially have no comment. You folks have an array of different
opportunities. It is ultimately what the will of the commission as a body is.
Ms. Griffm: It sounds. I mean we are advisory and certainly the regulations within the Planning
Department trump any advice of ours and it sounds to me that the school, to keep that entitlement,
there is a fairly rigid requirement that is beyond us in terms of the footprint and the reconstruction
rather than a redesign. I think the issue for us isn't the school. It sounds like you all are great
partnership together and all. I am grappling with what the Planning Department regulations are
and what kind of input that is left for us.
Mr. Hull: So ultimately the Planning Department would sign off on amendment to their Class IV
Zoning Permit and Use Permit. If in so far as they presented it and it keeps within the original
proposal. There wasn't, in reviewing their original Class IV and Use Permit, there wasn't any
design standards imposed by the Planning Commission so there is latitude for them to have a
different design for that. However, in administering the zoning permit the Department would look
at input that this body gives as to whether or not it would be a requirement to sign off on their
building permit. And so like all zoning permits that you folks are advisory to the Planning
Department, the Department takes your input and determines if it is going to incorporate it as a
whole, all of the recommendations, in part, or not at all into our conditions of approval as we sign
off on their permit. So whatever comes out of this body, if anything does, the Department intakes
that and determines what extent it we'll enforce it, essentially. And for clarity that goes for the
over the counter zoning permits when is a new Class IV Zoning/Use Permit your recommendations
go to the Planning Commission and they go through the same calculus of do we incorporate the
KI RC recommendations as a whole, in part, or not at all essentially.
Ms. Wichman: Anne?
Ms. Schneider: I make a motion that we just receive for informational purposes only.
Ms. Wichman: Ok a motion has been made. Is there a second?
Ms. Griffin: Second,
Ms.
Wichman:
Any discussion? Ok, hearing no
discussion we
shall vote. How many are in
favor?
(Unanimous voice vote.) Any opposed? None.
Sothis passes.
Thank you. Thank you very
much.
January 26, 2017 KI RC Meeting Minutes
Page 17
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND GENERAL BUSINESS MATTERS
Mr. Hull: The next agenda item is announcements and general business. The Commission is in
receipt of, excuse me where did it go? So for clarification items K.2. and K.3. were adjusted to be
handled before announcements in the adjustments to the agenda. So now we continue on the
agenda as established. So the next one is agenda item H, which is announcements and general
business matters.
The Department submitted an addendum memorandum that you folks should in front of you which
has an email from Communications Officer Mary Daubert for the County of Kauai that gives notice
of the US Postal Service to end service at the Lihue Post Office which is a structure on the State
and National Registry. The proposal appears as not to demolish the structure but just to end service
there and they are taking public comment until February 8a'. So this announcement here is
essentially for the dissemination to the commissioners because the comment or the publication was
only made aware to us within the past 2 days we couldn't put it on the agenda for an actual agenda
item for this body to take action on but we felt it prudent indeed to have it here as an announcement.
If there is some sort of discussion, I am sure Jodi is going to (laughter in the background).
Ms. Wichman: Is there any discussion?
Mr. Hull: Jodi may allow, I think to a certain extent, informative statements to be made.
Ms. Higuchi Sayegusa: Any other announcements?
Mr. Hull: Or announcements.
Ms. Griffin: I think this doesn't, it's worth in this commission noting that the building is on the
State and National Registers of Historic Places and you can read more in a on called "Lihue
pages 100 to 105.
Mr. Hull: But yes it is there for comment. Like I said because we couldn't agenda this no official
comments can come from this body but for informative purposes any member of the public,
including yourselves as public members, can comment on it of course. The next agenda item. Oh
I am sorry.
Mr. Long: I have an observation comment. That is I understand the Postal Service and
Governmental Agencies needmg to reshuffle their workforce and their facilities. As someone that
professionally has experience in historical post office renovations and adaptive reuse projects and
feel that US Post Offices are particularly well suited to that type of adaptive reuse development
and we saw that in Washington DC with President Trump's renovation of the post office there. So
it would be nice to see the Federal Government pursue a sale and acquisition program as opposed
to a demolition program.
January 26, 2017 KHPRC Meeting Minutes
Page 18
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Re: Proposed draft Rules of Practice and Procedure of the County of Kauai Iistoric
Preservation Review Commission
Mr. Hull: The next agenda item is Unfinished Business items J.1. Proposed draft rules of practice
and procedure for the County of Kauai Historic Preservation Review Commission. So at the last
meeting in November the Department submitted to you folks a draft of potential administrative
rules for you folks to operate under. Currently this body does not have any rules in which it
operates in a de facto manner under Roberts Rules. So to just take care of that we have submitted
a draft to you folks and essentially you guys were taking it home to see if you had any comments
or recommended edits or changes to be made. So that's what it's back here for. Ultimately, if there
are no edits or if the edits are made and adjusted the Department with the County Attorney's Office
is required to submit it to the Small Business Regulatory Review Board over on Oahu for a public
hearing there prior to holding a public hearing official for the rules with the body.
Ms. Wichman: Pat.
Ms. Griffin: I made some comments last month and I see that they had not been. So chapter 2, 121
organization still shows that a the regular September meeting of each year the Commission shall
elect a chairperson and vice chairperson and I am not sure of the rest but it's in the minutes.
Mr.
Hull:
My apologies.
You did make
those recommended
changes and we had intended to make
those adjustments
and I
didn't. Sorry, I
apologize but we no
intend to put
those in.
Ms. Wichman: Ok thank you. Any other comments, discussions?
Ms. Higuchi Sayeeusa: Perhaps a motion, suggestion for a motion is to I guess I don't know if
ordain is the right word but to approve Kaaina and I to go ahead and make a submittal to the Small
Business Regulatory Review Board so that they can cause under State Statute, HRS Chapter 201m,
any effects on small business has to be reviewed by the board. So they are reviewing again for the
small business effects on the rules create. I jumbled that up but in any case we have to go to Oahu,
go before the board and they have to review it and make comments if there is any. So, again, it
would be a motion to allow I guess Kaaina and myself to go and take it before the Small Business
Regulatory Review Commission.
Ms. Wichman: Ok do I have a motion?
Ms. Schneider: I make a motion for Kaaina and Jodi to go the SBA to have the rules approved
with Commissioner Griffin's amendments as stated.
Ms. Wichman: Ok do we have a second?
Mr. Chaffin: Second.
January 26, 2017 KHPRC Meeting Minutes
Page 19
Ms. Wichman: Ok any discussion? (None.) Ok will there be any public testimony to this?
Ms. Griffin: We have a motion on the floor.
Ms. Higuchi Sayegusa: We do. There is a motion. No second yet. There is a motion. No second
yet.
Ms. Griffin: Larry second it.
Ms.
. You can withdraw that and then open it
to public testimony if there
is any.
So sorry
withdraw the
second and then withdraw your motion.
Mr. Chaffin: I withdraw my second.
Ms. Schneider: I withdraw my motion.
Ms. Wichman: Ok is there any testimony from the public? Ok not at this time. So may I have a
motion?
Ms. Schneider: I'll restate the motion that Jodi and Kaaina should go to the SBA to have the rules
approved with Pat's amendments.
Ms. Wichman: And a second? From Larry thank you. Any discussion with the Commissioners?
(None.) Ok can I have a vote, those in favor? (Unanimous voice vote.) Any opposed? (None.) Ok
therefore it passes.
Re: Discussion on the status of the Certified Local Government
Mr.
Hull:
Ok
the next is agenda item J.2,
Discussion
on the
Status of the Certified Local
Government. I
believe there is a representative
from State
Historic
Preservation Division.
Ms. Anna Broverman: Hello Madame Chair and Commission. I am Anna Borverman. I am the
Architectural Historian with the State Historic Preservation Division. First, I wanted to update the
Commission on the status of the 2016 CLG Grant funds. Our grants administrator just put forth
the project notification for the Hanapepe Bridge Nomination Project to NPS. So it's currently for
review there and I will let you all know through Myles and Kaaina whenever we hear back from
NPS on that approval.
Secondly, the fiscal year for 2017 has started and I have discussed with the planners from all 3
Certified Local Governments about splitting up the grant funds evenly between the 3 CLGs to help
everybody plan better to know how many funds they can expect every year and so it's roughly
about $19,000.00 for each CLG every fiscal year. I would like to know if the Commission has any
comments on that?
January 26, 2017 KHPRC Meeting Minutes
Page 20
Ms. Wichman: Commissioners? Ok no comments.
Ms. roverman: Ok secondly, I am currently writing the policies and procedures for the CLG
program and as part of that I am laying out the process for the Commission to review National
Register nominations, all the things the Commission is legally required to do per Federal laws and
it's almost like a guidance document for the Commission. It will also help explain the grant process
better and as part of that I am removing the requirement where the CLG has to match the Federal
grants by 40%. So I am hoping by taking away that 40% grant requirement it will allow more
projects to be done. So does the Commission have any comments on that?
Ms. Wichman: Commissioners?
Ms. Schneider: Sounds good to me.
Ms. Wichman: Ok no comments.
Ms. Broverman: Ok and lastly, I have received the fmal draft from Mason Architects for the
Statewide Architectural Survey of Hawaii for our first year. So I am currently reviewing that and
I will make sure to give a copy to the Commission whenever it is complete.
Ms. Wichman: Thank you Anna. Stephen.
Mr. Long: I have a question. Was that for the historic districts?
Ms.
Broverman:
Yes, that was the study that was created
with the legislative funds that we
received
in 2015. So that
survey took
part last year and now we are starting the second round this
year.
Mr. Long: I have an additional neighborhood that I would like to nominate to have taken a look at
on the second round.
Ms. Broverman: Ok.
Mr. Lone: I believe it's Kaohe Road off of Kalihiwai Road looking into Kalihiwai Bay with a
number of Hickey Homes that were built immediately after the 'S7 tsunami that wiped out the
general store and the gas station down in Kalihiwai Bay. Those homes were built by Amfac and
Hickey overlooking Kalihiwai Bay and a number of prominent Kuleana families like the Akana
family still have homes up there and they are still really intact. It really a lovely neighborhood so
I think we want to take a look at it.
Ms. Braverman: Great. Thank you very much. Does the Commission have any more questions for
me?
Ms. Wichman: Commissioners? Pat,
Ms. Griffin: When do you think you will have the rules together?
January 26, 2017 KHPRC Meeting Minutes
Page 21
Ms. Broverman: So the policies I just finished writing I think it was yesterday and I have sent it to
National Parks Service for a preliminary review. They said they were looking at it this weekend
so I am hoping I will have a copy by March at the latest. I would like to get it to the Commission
for the February meeting if possible. I am trying to do it quickly so that the ' 17 grant projects won't
need that match.
Ms. Griffin: Great. Thanks.
Ms. Wichman: Any other discussion, questions? Ok thank you very much Anna.
Ms. Broverman: Thank you.
Mr. Hull: So there would need to be a motion to receive Anna's tesfimony for the record.
Ms. Wichman: Ok. Do we have a motion to receive Anna's testimony?
Mr. Chaffin: I make a motion to receive Anna's testimony as given.
Ms. Griffin: Second.
Ms. Wichman: Any discussion? Ok all those in favor? (Unanimous voice vote.) Any opposed?
(None.) Motions passes. Thank you.
NEW BUSINESS
Mr. Hull: The next agenda item is agenda item K.1. Garden Island Service Station, TMK: 3-6-
006:089, 3-3178 Kuhio Highway, Lihue, Kauai. Proposed demolition of gas station built in 1930.
I believe we have a representative for the applicant.
Mr. Jon Lucas: Hi I am Jon Lucas from Palms Hawaii Architecture. I am here just to hear your
comments and field them for the owner as I am just representing the Owner's agent from Palms
Hawaii Architecture.
Ms. Wichman: Any questions from the Commission?
Mr. Hull: Just some background for the Commission if you are not familiar. The structure, the
Shell Gas Station in Lihue has been before this body before for a demolition permit. There was
considerable discussion had when that application was brought last year some time, or the year
before. Ultimately after the discussion at some point a month or 2 after the applicant decided to
withdraw the demolition application. Since that time they have decided to reup the demolition
application so that is why it is back to you folks again. If you feel like this is de ja vu. It is because
it has come here before.
January 26, 2017 KHPRC Meeting Minutes
Page 22
Ms. Wichmarr: Commissioner any comments, questions?
Mr. Chaffin: Where is Lite right of way inrelafron to that structure?
Mr. Hull: The State highway you mean?
Mr. Chaffin: Right.
Mr.
Hull:
It is directly adj acent
to
it.
So you can see in the photos, so you
drive down
the highway
here and
you will run right into
it
on
your right hand
side driving toward
Hanalei.
Mr. Chaffm: Run right into it, then it's in the...
Mr. Hull: It's directly on your right has you drive down the highway. Right next to the No. 1 cafe.
Ms. Wichman: Any other questions, comments, concerns?
Ms.
Griffin:
I have
some questions. I notice that
the application, the demolition,
is dated 2015.
Was
it not updated?
Oh and the response from the
State Historic Preservation was
2015 as well.
Mr. Hull: Sorry, for the Commission's edifications we included the old application as well as the
comments that SHPD made to that original demolition application. But to be clear, SHPD hasn't
commented on the renewed demolition application.
Ms. Griffm: But it's the same?
Mr. Hull: It's the same plan essentially to demolish. Correct.
Ms. Griffin: I noticed in the zoning permit application that Shell is saying that they have at least a
75% property interest but then further on it says that it's joint owner with the Weinberg Foundation
and I wondered about that relationship.
Mr. Lucas: I am not aware of the exact allocation of the percentage of ownership but I can take
that request and find that information and get back to you. I am not aware of that information at
current time.
Ms. Griffin: You know I do find, this is such an important building in town and it's a little
frustrating not to have somebody who can talk and respond because the building shouldn't come
down. It is an integral part of that block and it's in our Lihue District Community Plan that was
finished last year or so. It is listed on page 33 as one of the historic places that exist Kuhio Highway
Commercial Strip. In our town, well so I would like to have more of a discussion about finding
ways to retain the building and I don't know how we can do that. Is there a time limit that we can
come back next month?
January 26, 2017 KHPRC Meeting Minutes
Page 23
Mr. Hull: Yes there is no, the zoning permit hasn't been intaken and as such there is no time limit
as this point. As a condition of acceptance of the zoning permit we require that comments from
this body to be made first and received by the applicant prior to intaking their zoning permit. Once
we intake their zoning permit there is a clock, there is a 21 day clock that we have to either deny
or appove and essentially there is not much we can do with the zoning permit to actually deny it
though.
Ms.
Schneider:
Is it possible to
have
the applicant's
representative rather than the architect but
somebody from
Shell come and
speak
to us why they
want to demolish it.
Mr. Hull: I think you can ask Jon that very thing.
Mr. Lucas: I could ask the applicant to come forth and...
Ms. Schneider: So that we can make some kind of presentation about why we would like to retain
the building if possible.
Mr. Lucas: Sure. I totally understand. That makes sense to me
Ms. Griffin: Cause even the demolition assumes another building there and the plans that we were
given show a building that doesn't conform to the Ordinance that follows the Lihue Town Core or
Urban Design Plan and it certainly doesn't, specifically in the keeping with the context of the
historic structures around it. And I don't want to shoot the messenger, Mr. Lucas, but I feel like it
would be unfair to try to put you in a position to answer these and have a reasonable discussion
about such an important building.
Mr. Hull: Yes so ultimately if that request is being made for the applicant to have somebody
specifically from Oahu come over here and have the discussion, I think that request can be made
and essentially you would defer until the next meeting to have that request either be met or not
essentially.
Ms. Wichman: Anymore discussion Commissioners?
Ms. Schneider: I make a motion that we defer further discussion on this application till we get a
chance to speak to somebody from Shell if possible.
Ms. Wichman: Do we have a second?
Ms. Griffin: Second.
Ms. Wichman: All those in favor? (Unanimous voice vote.) Any opposed? (None.) This motion
passes.
January 26, 2017 KHPRC Meeting Minutes
Page 24
KAUAI HISTORIC RESOURCE INVENTORY UPDATE COMMITTEE
Mr. Hull: The next agenda item is the Kauai Historic Resource Inventory Update Committee. An
update on the permitted interaction group for updating the Kauai Historic Resource Inventory. Did
the group meet since the last meeting?
Ms. Wickman: No.
Mr.
Hull:
Then my apologies
in setting
up the
agenda.
If the group hadn't met then we shouldn't
have actually had that agenda
item. So I
guess
there is
no report to give at this time.
Ms. Griffin: Is it possible to set another date now since it is an agenda item?
Mr. Hull: Yes.
Ms. Griffin: I look at you because if it is possible to set another date.
Ms. Wickman: The date would be up to Myles.
Ms. Griffin: For the inventory?
Mr. Hironaka: Yes.
Ms.
Wickman:
So Myles
would you send an email to us so we can discuss which date we might?
Ok
thank you.
Mr. Long: I have a comment. We would like to put this back on the fast track schedule. We had
the holidays and people sick but I think as a P I G and also with Commissioner Griffm we would
really like to move forward in an expeditious manner.
Ms. Wickman: Any other discussion on the P I G? On the inventory? No.
ffiSTORIC PRESERVATION PUBLICITY COMMITTEE
Ms.
Wickman:
Ok we move on to Historic
Preservation Publicity Committee. The
update
on the
permitted interaction
group for publicizing
historic preservation efforts and has that
group
met?
Mr. Hull: I don't believe that, that group has met but the reason we placed it on the agenda was in
discussions with Commissioner Long the desire to at least provide the Commission or begin the
discussion on incentive packages that property owners have for preservation efforts particularly
for the State Registry and National Registry. So in your packet at the very end you have an array
of different exhibits that list the County ordinances as well as the Federal tax incentives for
placement on the historical registry list and essentially, in a nutshell, the County Real Property
January 26, 2017 KHPRC Meeting Minutes
Page 25
Ordinance will waive, if it's non-profit organization that owns the structure it will waive I00% of
its assessment of that structure that is on the list from taxation or tax assessments. If it's just a
regular individual, not non-profit but a typical homeowner the County of Kauai Real Property
waives 75% of the assessment. So it's a substantial amount that is waived in your real property
taxes for placing on the State or National Registry. There is only a residential structure exemption
under the County of Kauai Tax Code. In our research there is no commercial or other type of
structure tax incentive. That is the tax incentive for the County of Kauai Real Property. Do you
have any questions on that particular issue?
Mr. Lone: Yes I do have a question. I have read this ordinance and my recollection is that for State
Register of Historic Places that are residences occupied by the homeowner is what would be
considered is what would be considered a home...
Mr. Hull: They have a homeowners exemption as well.
Mr. Lone: Would qualify for a homeowners exemption. Not have the homeowner's exemption. If
those real estate taxes could be kept at $150 a year and if it was not their primary residence then
it's discounted.
Mr. Hull: For homeowner occupied there is, I don't know the specific rate it is done at but there is
a specific reduction and cap for the assessment on those properties where the primary occupancy
of the dwelling.
Mr. Lone: Right. So these are number, so it's this type of question and clarification that I believe
the public is really looking for. So I have a number of those questions from the public that would
like to get that information and would like to have a format in which to ask the questions and
obtain real specific answers.
Mr. Hull: Well, I mean for the homeowner's exemption this would not be the appropriate forum.
If you want to discuss the historic registry tax assessment, indeed this would be the forum for
But things like various incentives for the waiver or caps on tax assessments, ultimately that has to
be coordinated with the Real Property Division. You have a whole array of different types of
waivers and caps on assessments. Everything 'from affordable housing, to a homeowner
occupancy, primary homeowner occupancy, to the age bracket categories of the homeowner that's
occupying the dwelling unit. There is an array but as far as this being the forum for that discussion,
quite frankly, I got to say Commissioner this isn't the appropriate forum. For a specific discussion
on like I said the historic exemptions are given which are fairly substantial at least for residential
further discussion can be had. But that's the only, under the real property code, that's the only
historical exemption that they have right now. We can talk off line about the other things. (Laughter
in the background.)
Mr. Lone: Thank you for the clarification. And I can tell you that there are members of the public
that have gone to the assessor's office and asked them certain questions and they have been referred
to the Planning Department. So there is a miscommunication and a lack of coordination and the
information that is being provided to the public on these programs. So just asking for a forum for
January 26, 2017 KHPRC Meeting Minutes
Page 26
clarification and if this is not that specific forum then so be it. But we are in, our P I G, has
responsibility of informing the public about various incentives for their State Historic Preservation
tax exemptions, and the prorated allocations for nonconforming properties, and whether the TVR
Ordinance is overlapped, and has impact from that tax exemption are all real questions that are all
driven by the historic preservation registration. So I don't what the forum is.
Mr. Hull: No, no that is what I was getting at Commissioner. That if it is singled out specifically
under the historic preservation platform and the various incentives available, indeed this is the
appropriate forum and that is why I essentially provided the documents that you are in receipt of.
So you have the County of Kauai Real Property tax waivers as well as I have also attached the
Transient Vacation Rental Ordinance which basically states that transient vacation rentals outside
the visitor destination are strictly prohibited with exception of those properties listed on the State
Historic Registry or the National Historic Registry. That doesn't mean those on the State Historic
Registry can automatically operate a TVR. It just means that they can apply for a use permit to
operate a transient vacation rental and it's the only way now you can essentially look at pursuing
a land use entitlement for a TVR here on Kauai on those properties outside of the VDA. In the
VDA they can run amuck but outside the only way is through a site that has been recognized for
historical preservation on either the State or National Registry,
Mr. Long: This may not be the format for this particular question and if so please just defer it. But
a question that has been asked is if you place your structure on the State Register of Historic Places
and you obtain the historic tax incentive through the County of Kauai and then you go and through
a use permit successfully obtain a TVR permit for that historic structure then there is a catch 22
such that you have got a residential structure that is now...
Mr. Hull: Not being used for a residential purposes.
Mr. Long: It is being used as a resort. Does that then negate your historic real estate tax exemption?
Mr. Hull: Correct so you would, Commissioners, what Commissioner Long is pointing out is that
under the tax code you get that waivered of 75% to 100% of your assessment if it's on the registry
and among other things. There is another set of criteria including maintaining the site on an annual
basis and recognizing that with the Real Property Division but in particular it also states that the
residence will be used for residential purposes and homeowner occupancy. So you get the waiver
of assessment with registry. On the other hand you can operate a transient vacation rental in an
historically registered site but the second you operate that transient vacation rental you lose out on
the tax assessment waiver. So the residential use is gone. So indeed you cannot have both scenarios
of a TVR and a tax waiver. You would essentially, for a historically registered site, you have to
pick one or the other.
Mr. Long: Thank you. That's excellent clarification. I have another question.
Ms.
Higuchi
Sayegusa:
Are these
a
lot of hypotheticals7
I just want to make sure we were just sort
of tied
into this,
an
update on the
P
I G.
January 26, 2017 KHPRC Meeting Minutes
Page 27
Mr. Lone: No I think this is a pertinent observation and statement I am about to make.
Mr. Hull: Jodi I think what the Commissioner is getting at is, that is why those documents were
attached to the agenda, was if there is a desire for the... initially the P I G for publicity purposes
and then the commission to utilize these documents in some publicity fashion. I am not sure what
it might be. In a public notice. In a pamphlet. In a piece of social media. I am not sure. So the
documents were attached for this discussion.
Mr. Lona: Thank you.
Ms. Wichman: Any other discussion?
Ms. Griffin: I have a quick question. Do you know what the thinking was about adding historic
properties to the possibility of utilizing it in TVRs?
Mr. Hull: I actually don't Commissioner. I was surprised to find out that, that entitlement is there.
I am not sure. I would be curious to look back in the minutes of the Council's discussion at that
time. I know there is some hesitancies and we have had applications or applicants come forward
interested in applying for it but nobody has ever actually gone to the Planning Commission. Cause
at the end of the day the entitlement to have a TVR in a registered site is not a ministerial
entitlement. It's not permitted over the counter. It's a discretionary entitlement. It goes before the
Planning Commission. The Planning Commission in their discretion will decide whether or not to
award that entitlement to the applicant.
Given that, I' d say much of the issues of nuisance and complaints that have been generated from
transient vacation rentals on this island any application would have to ultimately thread fairly
carefully as they go through because at the end of the day when they are applying for a use permit
what they are applying for is to meet a compatibility standard. Is this higher up zoned use? This
transient vacation rental, which is not an outright permitted use in the residential district, is it going
to be compatible with its surrounding residences. So that would be litmus test that they would have
to meet should they apply for a use permit.
Mr. Long: I have a question. All of the major counties have this historic preservation tax exemption
for residential use. Oahu also includes commercial buildings and what would it take for Kauai to
adopt a similar ordinance.
Mr. Hull: Ultimately an action by the County Council. Now this body can initiate that type of
proposal quite frankly and if that is the desire to begin looking at proposing a commercial tax
credit, or tax exemption, or tax waiver for historically registered sites that is in the purview but
ultimately it would have to be moved up to the County Council for review and take action.
Mr. Long: Thank you.
Ms. Wichman: Any other comments? (None.) Do we have to move to accept this?
Mr. Hull: You would just, just a motion to receive essentially.
January 26, 2017 KHPRC Meeting Minutes
Page 28
Ms, Wlchman: UKmay I have a motion to receive?
Mr. Chaffin: I make a motion to receive.
Mr. Lone: Second.
Ms. Wichman: Ok so we have made a motion to receive and second. All those in favor?
(Unanimous voice vote.) Any nays? (None.) Ok so passed.
DATE AND AGENDA TOPICS
Mr. Hull: The next agenda item is the date and agenda topics for the next meeting. So the date set
for the next KHPRC meeting is February 23, 2017 and it will be here in this room next month.
That's all we have for the agenda.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 4:45 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
ee U. Jimenez _
Secretary