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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSUB Jan 12 2010 minutesKAUAI PLANNING COMMISSION SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE MEETING January 12, 2010 The regular meeting of the Planning Commission Subdivision Committee was called to order by Chair, Mr. Caven Raco at 8:06 a.m., at the Lihue Civic Center, Mo'ikeha Building, in Meeting Room 2A -213. The following Committee members were present: Mr. Herman Texeria Ms. Camilla Matsumoto Mr. Caven Raco Discussion of the meeting, in effect, ensued: APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA On motion made by Camilla Matsumoto and seconded by Caven Raco, to approve the agenda, motion carried unanimously by voice vote. GENERAL BUSINESS MATTERS Transmittal of Agriculture Master Plan, pursuant to Condition No. 1.e. of the Tentative Approval Letter dated August 27. 2008, relating to a 20 -lot subdivision within the Agriculture (A) & Open (0) zoning districts. Subdivision Application No. S- 2008 -21, Tax May Kev: (4) 5 -3- 006:001 & 014. Princeville = Princeville Prince Golf Course, LLC. Staff Planner Dale Cua: Thank you Commissioner. What you have before you is the Agriculture Master Plan for the Princeville Prince Golf Course, Ag. Subdivision, it is being transmitted to the Subdivision Committee pursuant to condition I.e. of the tentative approval letter so it is before you for review and comment. Ms. Matsumoto: I had one comment here in your report, the background, you make mention of ... well its in quotes, it says here "shall file periodic reports ". How periodic is that because I thought... it seems to be working annually. Staff: It has been an annual basis. Ms. Matsumoto: They are going to keep the cattle... Staff: Essentially the Ag. Master Plan entails sales of the lots and the Agricultural Master Plan involves cattle on the existing property as well as ranching operations on the mauka side of the Highway. Ms. Matsumoto: So they are dividing the land and keeping the cattle. Staff: Yes. Historically the property has been in cattle and they will continue to use the property in cattle. Ms. Matsumoto: Just a question about taro fields because he talked about taro farms. Staff: I guess the purpose of the Ag. Master Plan is to introduce agricultural activities that would be suitable on this property so should any of the owners decide to go into taro they have the opportunity to do it either on the makai or mauka side of these lands. Ms. Matsumoto: And then they talked about the ranch ownership, do they already have potential farmers or buyers? Staff: Not at this time, no. Ms. Matsumoto: And then they talked about selling the beef to stores, companies such as Whole Foods, do you know if they are committed to Whole Foods? Staff: They are currently selling their beef to Whole Foods and will continue (inaudible). Ms. Matsumoto: My question about taro is do you know if taro can be grown elsewhere? I know it needs water can it be grown in higher land if water is provided? Staff: If there is taro farming it would be on the mauka side of the Highway. Mr. Texeira: So in terms of the taro lands in the Hanalei Valley, how are they working with the U.S. Wildlife Service because the U.S. Wildlife Service controls a lot of the water, I would assume. Staff: They do and they have their share of water but the ranching operations or the agricultural activities are limited to project site as well as the lands mauka of the airport area, between the airport and all the way up to the base of the mountain, before conservation. Mr. Texeira: So we are not talking about Hanalei Valley. Staff: Not at all. Mr. Texeira: So why they even talk about taro? Staff: There could be some taro operations on the mauka side. Mr. Texeira: (Inaudible). Staff: Right because there are some existing streams that flow in that area on the mauka side. Subdivision Committee Minutes 2 January 12, 2010 Mr. Texeira: They are proposing right now, initially on the makai side, 78... Staff: 75 homes. Mr. Texeira: And then later on 13 more, mauka. Staff: Should they decide to pursue that, yes. Mr. Texeira: The makai lands, do they have any mitigative measures to prevent all that erosion that could occur? Staff: As far as the drainage concerns, that needs to be addressed as part of the infrastructure survey of the development. Mr. Texeira: And that will come at a later time. Staff: That is addressed through the construction plans, whether they need to construct on -site detention and retention basins. Mr. Texeira: They mentioned, I think its 3/a acre per unit, right, for the house. Staff: For the buildable area and the remaining area is all agriculture. Mr. Texeira: It seems like what they want to do; this is almost like a condominium project, right? Staff: After the subdivision they are looking to condominiumize each subdivided resulting parcel, yes. Mr. Texeira: And then they all have a ownership share in the ranch operations. Staff: Yes. Mr. Texeira: My question is they seem rather vague and ambiguous when they talk about the landowner has the opportunity to use x amount of acres for his own personal farming. So if that is the case then what are talking about the ranching because it seems like the owner has a lot of leeway in terms of how much farming they want to do on their parcels. Staff: I think the way its set up is initially the priority is to continue to utilize the property as ranching however if the owner decides to farm other types crops then they have that opportunity to do so. Then as far as ranching most of the ranching like I said occurs on the makai side however they have the opportunity to pursue ranching also on the mauka side. That is the way this Ag. Master Plan is set up, when an owner buys an Ag. lot on the makai side they are also reserving agricultural operations on the mauka side of the property. So you have two Subdivision Committee Minutes January 12, 2010 areas, not only makai but you also have mauka so it's kind of unique from other agricultural subdivisions. Mr. Texeira: They talk about only subdividing, to keeping the agricultural integrity because you have large acreage that won't be ... but it seems as though if the landowner decides to use, lets say 20 acres each or whatever, it kind of changes the intent of saying well we have this large agricultural parcel. So how do we address that? As do we as a Planning Commission react to that? Staff: The only thing that we can do as a reviewing body to ensure that the agricultural operations are continued although we would like to specify or would like to restrict certain types of uses then you start to infringe on development rights as far as what each individual owner wants to pursue. From Princeville's standpoint, in discussions with them, like I mentioned before they would like to continue the ranching operations with the beef, however should an owner decide to pursue like a nursery or something of that type of operation they have that leeway to do so. Ms. Matsumoto: On page 11 they talk about taro farms. It is an interesting statistic that there are 7 taro farmers and the acreage is 21 % of the full acreage of taro farming in Hawai'i. This is more personal but taro is an important food item in Hawai'i and the more taro we have the better, I think, it is nutritious and all that. I hope that they engage in more taro farming. Staff: Sure, I hope they can attract more. Ms. Matsumoto: It is a small number of land with a significant amount, in my estimation, of taro production. Staff: And I think by having this subdivision it will give opportunity for people to acquire more agriculturally zoned property where as right now it's all Princeville. They can have an opportunity to own lands. Ms. Matsumoto: Can these landowners lease their land to taro farmers? Staff: From what I understand they have that option to do so as well. It's very similar to what is going on, on the Kona side of the Big Island, where you have agriculture lands owned by individual property owners, zoned Ag., and they have been subleasing it to coffee farmers. Mr. Texeira: So it is conceivable the County Economic Development Department could work with the landowners to develop (inaudible). Staff: Absolutely, to promote Ag. Mr. Texeira: But I mean not only to promote, to help. Ms. Matsumoto: To actualize it. Subdivision Committee Minutes 4 January 12, 2010 Staff: They just have to stir the interest. Mr. Texeira: But there has been no discussion with you at all. Staff: No. Mr. Texeira: From the County standpoint? Staff: Not at all. Ms. Matsumoto: If you have an opportunity to talk to them about... Staff: Sure. Chair: Are there any more questions? I will ask if there is anyone in the public that would like to testify on this agenda item, seeing none, I will entertain a motion. Mr. Texeira: This is a motion to accept first? Chair: Motion to receive. Mr. Texeira: Motion to receive. Ms. Matsumoto: Second. Chair: All those in favor say aye, motion carries. On motion made by Herman Texeira and seconded by Camilla Matsumoto, to receive Agriculture Master Plan, motion carried unanimously by voice vote. COMMUNICAITONS There were no communications. UNFINISHED BUSINESS There was no unfinished business. NEW BUSINESS Tentative Subdivision Action, S- 2009 -19 = Alexander & Baldwin Inc. 'MCBYyde Sugar Company, Ltd, 6 -lot subdivision, TMK: 2 -6- 03:01, 21, 25, 28 -35, 54: 2 -6- 04:16, 38 -40, Kukui`ula, Kaua'i. Staff: Thank Mr. Chair. What you have before you is a proposed 6 -lot subdivision, as noted in the subdivision report the primary purpose of this application is to accommodate the Subdivision Committee Minutes January 12, 2010 existing Department of Water facilities in the vicinity of the Western Bypass Road in Kukui`ula. As proposed the subdivision creates three utility lots, one bulk parcel and one roadway lot and of course you have a remnant parcel. The subdivision map has been routed to the various reviewing agencies. All of these requirements have been incorporated into the subdivision report. As a result the department is recommending tentative subdivision approval of this application. Chair: Are there any questions for the planner? Seeing none I will ask if the applicant wants to add anything. Is there anybody in the public who would like to testify on this agenda item, seeing none, if there is no discussion I will entertain a motion. Mr. Texeira: Motion to approve. Ms. Matsumoto: Second. Chair: All those in favor say aye, motion carries. On motion made by Herman Texeira and seconded by Camilla Matsumoto, to approve tentative subdivision for 5- 2009 -19, motion carried unanimously by voice vote. Final Subdivision Action, S- 2009 -30 = MCBryde Sugar Company, Ltd, 3 -lot subdivision, TMK: 2 -1- 001:027 (Portion), Eleele. Kaua'i. Staff: Thank you Mr. Chair. In this application the proposal establishes two lots in the Agricultural District and one remnant parcel. The parcel is situated in Eleele. As noted in the subdivision report the proposal is to create a 75 acre parcel which will eventually be developed by the County as affordable housing. The final subdivision map has been routed to the various reviewing agencies. The department has received all of the approval letters regarding this application. As a result the department is recommending final subdivision approval of this application. Chair: Are there any questions? Ms. Matsumoto: Do we know when the road widening will take place? Staff: Upon actual development of the parcel. Right now it is just to create a large lot and when this large lot will be further subdivided, that is when we can start accepting and dedicating road reserves or even right -of -ways. Ms. Matsumoto: But discussions have already started? Staff: Yes. The applicant has developed a master plan for this area. Chair: Is there anybody in the public that would like to testify on this agenda item, seeing none I will entertain a motion. Subdivision Committee Minutes 6 January 12, 2010 Mr. Texeira: Mr. Chair, motion to approve final subdivision approval for S- 2009 -30, a 3- lot subdivision, TMK: 2 -1- 001:027, Eleele, Kauai. Ms. Matsumoto: Second. Chair: All those in favor say aye, motion carries. On motion made by Herman Texeira and seconded by Camilla Matsumoto, to approve Tmal subdivision for 5- 2009 -30, motion carried unanimously by voice vote. ADJOURNMENT This portion ended at 8:21 a.m. Respectfully Submitted. Lani Agoot Commission Support Clerk Subdivision Committee Minutes 7 January 12, 2010