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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSUB July 27 2010KAUAI PLANNING COMMISSION SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE MEETING July 27, 2010 The regular meeting of the Planning Commission Subdivision Committee was called to order by Chair, James Nishida at 8:44 a.m., at the Lihue Civic Center, Mo'ikeha Building, in Meeting Room 2A -213. The following Committee members were present: Mr. Jan Kimura Mr. James Nishida Ms. Camilla Matsumoto Discussion of the meeting, in effect, ensued: APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA On motion made by Camilla Matsumoto and seconded by Jan Kimura, to approve the agenda, motion carried unanimously by voice vote. GENERAL BUSINESS MATTERS There were no general business matters. COMMUNICATION There were no communications. UNFINISHED BUSINESS There was no unfinished business. NEW BUSINESS Final Subdivision Action, S- 2010 -10, John W. Ka`ana`ana, 2 -lot Subdivision, TMK: 4- 1- 008:026, Wailua, Kauai. Staff Planner Dale Cua: Thank you Mr. Chair. The proposal involves a 2 -lot subdivision for a property within the Wailua Houselots. The final subdivision map has been routed to the various reviewing agencies. We have received all the approval letters from all of the reviewing agencies and the applicant has satisfied all the requirements of the department. As a result we are recommending final subdivision approval of this application. Chair: Questions for Dale? Alan, do you have anything to add? What does the Committee want to do? Mr. Kimura: Move to approve final subdivision action on S- 2010 -10, John Ka`ana`ana, Tax Map Key: 4 -1- 008:026, Wailua, Kauai. Ms. Matsumoto: Second. Chair: Moved and seconded, all those in favor say aye, opposed, motion carried. On motion made by Jan Kimura and seconded by Jan Kimura, to approve Tmal subdivision action for S- 2010 -10, motion carried unanimously by voice vote. Tentative Subdivision Extension Request, S- 2006 -44, George Hoffberm, 11 -lot Subdivision, TMK: 4 -3- 003:004, Waipouli, Kauai. Staff: Thank you Mr. Chair. The application you have before you is the applicant's third extension request of the subdivision application. The proposal involves an 11 -lot subdivision within the Agricultural District, the property is situated in Kapa`a Homesteads off Hauiki Road. I think as represented by the applicant, the applicant is trying to resolve the legal issues involving the development, and more particularly dealing with issues involving the County Department of Public Works and the State DLNR. And of course I think as noted on the staff report also dealing with legal issues involving the neighboring property owned by the Midler Trust. The request has been routed to the reviewing agencies for their consideration and they have no objection to the extension request. Asa result the department is recommending an extension until June 26, 2011 with the understanding that the applicant needs to submit an updated status report for further extension requests. Chair: Dale, do you have the big subdivision map? Staff: Yes. Chair: Point out the area of the reservoir. Staff: It is the shaded area. So this is Hauiki Road, this is Waipouli Road, they eventually merge along Olohena, here so the reservoir is the shaded are here. Chair: Any other questions for Dale? Mr. Kimura: Is that by Thrones? Staff: Yes. Chair: The other part of the Twin Reservoirs on Trones property? Subdivision Committee Minutes July 27, 2010 Staff: Yes, this is one of the Twin Reservoirs. Chair: Mr. Hoffberg do you want to add anything? Mr. George Hoffberg: I am George Hoffberg, the owner, and we certainly are trying hard and making some progress on the many aspects of this subdivision. Unfortunately there are a number of entities which have different ideas of what they would like to see, including the County. So we are working with all of these people and we are making progress, we have stabilized the dam situation where we have opened up the dam so the pipe that goes underneath so that we keep it drained so the liability to the County and myself have been diminished substantially, and have been cutting down the trees over the tunnels and doing maintenance work to make it more safe. It is somewhat complex. I think we are in our fifth year but we are working hard on it and we are making progress. Mr. Kimura: Will the public have access to going fishing in that reservoir? Mr. Hoffberg: Well there is a question of whether or not there is going to be a reservoir and the County, some of the County departments don't want the reservoir there. Civil Defense wants it there because they want the water there for fire protection. So these different entities have different positions and we are working with all of them to try to get some consensus. Ms. Matsumoto: Do we know how deep the reservoirs are? Staff: It is relatively substantial. As the applicant noted there are mixed opinions as far as whether to have it there or not and the delay has been kind of attributed to trying to resolve those concerns. Ms. Matsumoto: What is the deepest? Do we know? Mr. Hoffberg: 28 to 30 feet, more or less. Mr. Kimura: If you decide to keep the reservoir will the public be allowed to fish in that reservoir? Mr. Hoffberg: Well currently the reservoir is completely contained within the property and it is now totally fenced so that we can have cattle in there to keep the maintenance down and keep the trees from growing and disturbing the safety of the (inaudible). So right now it is not anticipated that public will have access because of the various liability issues of having people there who you don't know who they are and what they are doing, insurance problems as well. Chair: Any more questions? What does the Commission want to do? Subdivision Committee Minutes July 27, 2010 Mr. Kimura: Make a motion to approve tentative subdivision extension request, S -2006- 44, George Hoffberg, TMK: 4 -3- 003: -4, Waipouli, Kauai. Ms. Matsumoto: Second. Chair: Moved and seconded, all those in favor say aye, opposed, motion carried. On motion made by Jan Kimura and seconded by Camilla Matsumoto, to approve subdivision extension request for S- 2006 -44, motion carried unanimously by voice vote. Tentative Subdivision Extension Request, S- 2009 -17, Aukahi Farm LLC., 7 -lot Subdivision, TMK: 2 -8- 012:001. 011, Koloa, Kauai. Staff: Thank you Mr. Chair. What you have before you is a subdivision application that establishes a total of 4 lots within a Residential District. This is the applicant's first extension requests of the subdivision application. The applicant at this point and as represented is trying to resolve the requirements of the various reviewing agencies, more particularly with the Department of Public Works and Water and this all deals with the infrastructure serving this proposed subdivision. The request has been routed to the reviewing agencies for their comments and they have no objections to the extension request. As a result the department is recommending an extension to March 10, 2011. Just for you reference the property is situated just outside of the Koloa Town Core. One of the exhibits of the department's report shows a zoning map and the project site in reference to the Koloa Town Core. The property is situated along Hapa Road, actually north of the St. Raphael Church facility. If you look at Hapa Road, St. Raphael is on the southern point of Hapa Road before it becomes unimproved. This is kind of midway between the intersection along Weliweli, I believe. Ms. Matsumoto: So it's on the right side of Hapa Road. Staff: If you are going down towards St. Raphael it is on the right side. So if you are coming from Koloa Town and you turn right down Hapa Road this would be on your right side. Chair: Any other questions for Dale? What does the Commission want to do? Mr. Hartwell Blake: My name is Hartwell Blake, citizen of Koloa. I noted that as the map indicates that these lots are located or butt up against Hapa Road. And so my question was with the Koloa/Po`ipu circulation plan set to be proposed for incorporation into the updated General Plan and the fact that this will require the construction of a multi -modal bicycle /pedestrian pathway from Po`ipu Road all the way up to Hapa Road or all the way up into Koloa, are there any provisions being made for that in this subdivision? Subdivision Committee Minutes July 27, 2010 Staff: If you reference the subdivision report I noted that Hapa Road is a sub - standard roadway when it comes to the right -of -way. So in addressing that concern, condition Ld, the applicant will be required to provide a 7 foot wide road widening lot along Hapa Road for dedication to the County of Kauai. So if and when at such time this portion of Hapa Road is improved to accommodate these improvements this road widening lot will be able to accommodate those improvements. Mr. Kimura: That path alongside the road is that a bike path or is that part of the Hapa road trail? Staff: That is part of the Hapa Road trail. Ms. Matsumoto: Are there provisions for walking? Staff: Right now it is just the asphalt paving. As far as improvements to Hapa Road the circulation plan identifies the specific improvements and I believe it would entail provisions for at least pedestrian movement. I am not sure about bike. Mr. Blake: How wide is Hapa Road right now? How wide is the pavement? Staff: 20 feet wide. Mr. Blake: 20 feet wide. Because I know that when there is two -way traffic on that road one car has to drive off the road otherwise you don't have enough room to pass. So how wide is the present shoulder on the Aukahi side? Staff: Because the existing right -of -way width is 30 feet and in considering that the pavement is around 20 feet you probably have about 5 foot shoulder. Mr. Blake: And so what is the ... how much will be dedicated? Staff: 7. Mr. Blake: 7 feet. Staff: So eventually you will have a 12 foot wide shoulder. Mr. Blake: So when that happens is there going to be enough room for a pedestrian and bikeway? Staff: At this point I cannot really tell without referencing the circulation plan. I know the circulation plan identified certain standards but without referencing it I cannot tell you want the answer is right now. Subdivision Committee Minutes July 27, 2010 Mr. Blake: How wide is, generally speaking how wide is the standard pedestrian/bike way like the one that Grove Farm is going to incorporate into their subdivision by the airport? Staff: I think the County standards from what I recall sidewalks are generally about 3 feet wide. Ms. Matsumoto: And bike? Staff: Whenever you propose bike lanes within the travel way, the travel way needs to be widened. So you will have your travel way for cars and I think you need to add an additional width to accommodate bike traffic. Mr. Blake: My concern is that the road is narrow already so unless there is a barricade that separates the motor vehicle pathway from the walk and bikeway the people who are going to be most impacted are the bicyclists because the cars will go into that space in order not to have to drive off the road on the opposite side, on the eastern side. And so my concern as a resident of Koloa is that there is sufficient land dedicated to accommodate the bikeway, pedestrian -way and vehicular traffic. We have the church down there and so as the population grows, that church is going to enjoy a larger attendance because you have the church as a social hall which is now used for other than church activities. And so I am just concerned that we have enough set aside or that the applicant is informed that there is going to be a requirement or there very well may be a requirement so that 7 feet would be the standard width as far as road widening dedication but that there may be an additional requirement that would require a reserve on top of the dedication. And of course if it doesn't happen the reserve doesn't impact the applicant at all, if it does happen then it doesn't impact the County as badly. Chair: Dale, these requirements are Public Works standard requirements, right? Staff: Yes. Chair: Hartwell's concerns, you can send them a letter so that they can explain to us how they determined the... Staff: Yes. They can resolve it prior to final because at this point they are just coming in just for an extension. Chair: I think they have standards which they are applying to whatever and if there is a problem with the standard then we can... Mr. Blake: My concern is that with Public Works, their standard is like carved in stone, they don't seem to have much give when you have problems that don't lend themselves to the formula And that is why I would like to have the landowner know that it may go outside the formula so that they don't come and ... they deserve that notice and that is my concern. Subdivision Committee Minutes July 27, 2010 Ms. Matsumoto: I agree with that because again this is an opportunity to create a very nice community, nice neighborhood, one that is safe for the residents and also the people who go to church. That road is very narrow and when I drive it there are two or three cars but before or after service it is a highway almost and it is very much used. And then also because of the location of that area and it is Hapa Road, perhaps the developer could consider doing something to honor that, being close to Hapa Road. Chair: Anyone in the public want to speak on this agenda item? Ms. Jerrie DePietro: Good morning Commission. My name is Jerrie DePietro, thank you for the discussion, you guys have addressed a lot of the points I had on my mind. But just a reminder that we do have the Koloa/Po`ipu circulation plan and Hapa Trail's position in that plan definitely needs the connection from where the unpaved portion of the trail ends up into town. So this paved section of Hapa probably will require some additional space on both sides of the shoulders to bring it up to the standard. Dale probably knows more about like if it becomes more of a feeder road but we do need probably to address this while it is at the tentative stage. We would like to get a copy of the proposed subdivision map and the tentative conditions too, thank you. Chair: Just to clarify, Dale said ... I think there is a question whether the reserve adequately addressed the ... there is a reserve requirement so I think what Hartwell was asking was whether that reserve requirement was enough. Ms. DePietro: It probably depends whether the main part of the road, if 30 is enough and then you add on the bicycle and pedestrian or if it becomes more heavily driven on then I think you maybe do need 40 feet and then the bike path and shoulders. I am not sure but it is a big part of our circulation plan. We are going to meeting and starting to get together for that Koloa Development Plan too so we really want this to come out well and have the space we need for our circulation, thank you. Ms. Matsumoto: And if you can also convey that we are striving for healthy communities and any opportunities to walk instead of get in your car and drive, especially in a small town I think would be conducive to that. Staff: Cando. Mr. Branch Harmonv: Aloha, good morning. I am not familiar with all the updates and ramifications of where the plan has gone recently with Hapa Road but I speak as a member of the... Chair: Branch, this is a subdivision request so you have to direct your testimony to the area that is in front of the subdivision as it relates to Hapa Trail. The general thing of the traffic circulation plan, we are not covering that today. We are only covering it as it relates to that subdivision. Subdivision Committee Minutes July 27, 2010 Mr. Harmony: I am only speaking on behalf of the subject of Hapa Trail in that its use should and has been predominantly set for public use and as a walking access. And I believe that any infringement upon that walking access should be looked at very carefully and everything that can be done to mitigate the interruption or the hazards to walking traffic through there should be considered very carefully as I believe the intent from the beginning to preserve that area, that trail was for the public access predominantly as a walking trail. While people know me as Branch Harmony my name is (Hawaiian name). I am seventh generation of the Koloa Maha`ulepu area, Brant families, (inaudible) families. I could name 60 or more families here on Kauai that one way or another are calabash cousins, thank you very much. Chair: Anyone else want speak on this agenda item? What does the Commission want to do? Mr. Kimura: Move to approve tentative subdivision extension request, S- 2009 -17, Aukahi Farms LLC, TMK: 2 -8- 012:001, 011, Koloa, Kauai. Ms. Matsumoto: Second. Chair: Moved and seconded, all those in favor say aye, opposed, motion carried. On motion made by Jan Kimura and seconded by Camilla Matsumoto, to approve tentative subdivision extension request for 5- 2009 -17, motion carried unanimously by voice vote. Chair: So Dale, for Hartwell's thing, you can send something to...? Staff: I will send a memo over to Public Works. ADJOURNMENT This portion ended at 9:12 a.m. Respectfully Submitted. Lam Agoot Commission Support Clerk Subdivision Committee Minutes July 27, 2010