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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09_21_2022 Public hearing minutes on BILL 2880P PUBLIC HEARING SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 A public hearing of the Council of the County of Kaua`i was called to order by Mason K. Chock, Chair, Planning Committee, on Wednesday, September 21, 2022, at 8:30 a.m., at the Council Chambers, 4396 Rice Street, Suite 201, Historic County Building, Lihu`e, and the presence of the following was noted: Honorable Bernard P. Carvalho, Jr. Honorable Mason K. Chock Honorable Felicia Cowden Honorable Bill DeCosta Honorable Luke A. Evslin Honorable KipuKai Kuali`i Honorable Arryl Kaneshiro The Clerk read the notice of the public hearing on the following: Bill No. 2880 — A BILL FOR AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE STATE LAND USE DISTRICT BOUNDARY CONCERNING A PARCEL IN KAPA'A HOMESTEADS, KAUAI (Manuel DeSilva, Jr., Trustee, Applicant) A-2022-1)," which was passed on first reading and ordered to print by the Council of the County of Kaua`i on August 17, 2022, and published in The Garden Island newspaper on August 25, 2022. The hearing proceeded as follows: Committee Chair Chock: Is there anyone in the audience or on Zoom wishing to testify on Bill No. 2880? Please state your name for the record. You will get the green light when your time starts. The yellow light will come on when you have a few seconds left. JONATHAN CHUN: Good morning. I am here on behalf of the applicant, Manuel DeSilva. Thank you for considering these bills. We are also here for Bill No. 2881. With me is Mr. DeSilva. We have gone through the documents and reports from the Planning Commission. We do not have anything to add. We also have here Mr. Bill Eddy who is the engineer on this project. We are open to answering any questions the Council may have regarding the reasons why this application is before you and the history of the property. I will turn it over to Mr. DeSilva. MANUEL DESILVA, JR.: Like Jonathan mentioned, if there are any questions that I may answer, I will do so. PUBLIC HEARING 2 SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 BILL NO. 2880 Committee Chair Chock: Mr. DeSilva, this is a public hearing. If you want to just give us a brief overview of what you are trying to get done, that might be helpful. If we have clarifying questions, then I will open up the floor. Mr. Ma. DeSilva:The intent is that we are rezoning from Agriculture to R-1. If successful, it is for my grandchildren and to provide future homesites for them. That is the bottom line. That is the intent. Committee Chair Chock: Clarifying questions,Councilmember DeCosta. Councilmember DeCosta: How many acres do you have and how many future homes are you trying to provide for your family? Mr. Ma. DeSilva:My understanding is that 4.669 acres. The intent is that we are trying to get four (4) one-acre lots. Right now, I have four (4) existing water meters on the property. That is the goal. Councilmember DeCosta: Can I make a comment or is this only for questions? Committee Chair Chock: Just clarifying questions, Councilmember DeCosta. Councilmember DeCosta: Do you feel like there are many families like yourself who have land that cannot be left behind to their children of the zoning impact that only allows them to use it for agriculture and not for homes? Do you believe there are other people out there with this problem? Mr. Ma. DeSilva:Yes, I definitely do. Councilmember DeCosta: I believe that too. Thank you. Committee Chair Chock: Thank you. Councilmember Cowden. Councilmember Cowden: You are saying that you are leaving this to your kids and your family. Are the kids still living on the island? Mr. Ma. DeSilva:Yes, they are. In fact, I have my son in the back and my grandson Makana with me. Councilmember Cowden: Okay, thank you. Committee Chair Chock: Are there any further clarifying questions? If not, Mr. Eddy, did you want some time as well? Councilmember Cowden: I wanted to hear from him. Committee Chair Chock: It is up for him to testify if he would like. PUBLIC HEARING 3 SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 BILL NO. 2880 Councilmember Cowden: Yes. Committee Chair Chock: He said he did not want to. Councilmember Cowden: Okay, never mind. Committee Chair Chock: This is going to Committee, so we will have a lot of time to unfold this Bill and if you have further questions, let us reserve questions for then. Councilmember Cowden: We can do that. There is another time for you to be here. Thank you. I am glad you are all here. Committee Chair Chock: Thank you so much. Is there anyone else in the audience wishing to testify on this item? MIKE DESILVA:Like my dad just said, we are all humans in here. I am not going to get hyperbolical with you. The land that my dad purchased from Uncle Freddy Silva a long time ago, the intent is for myself, my kids, and my brother's kids, my nephews and nieces, for all of us to live here on the island of Kauai. This is one chance that I am hoping you give us so that we can actually do this and keep our kids home. Of course, we hope they go off to get an education, but we hope they can always come home and have an anchor here on the island. I thank you for your time and I hope that everything goes through. Thank you very much. That is all I have to say. Committee Chair Chock: Would anyone else like to testify? Is there anyone on Zoom? Seeing none, this public hearing is now adjourned. There being no further testimony on this matter, the public hearing adjourned at 8:37 a.m. Respectfully submitted, JAD TAI N-TANI GAWA County Clerk ks