Kaʻū News Briefs Aug. 14, 2024

 

Site plan for Pahala Town Square and Hawaiian Springs Facility with retail and parking for tour buses and the vehicles of visitors
and workers, along with a giant roundabout, spring water fountain, and bottling plant. The plan will be studied by Kaʻū Community Development Plan Action Committee. See more below.

PUNALU'U PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT was the main topic of discussion at Wednesday's Kaʻū Community Development Plan Action Committee meeting. In a 4-3 vote, the committee approved sending a letter to the Windward Planning Commission. However, the 4-3 vote failed since five votes are required for approval of the nine member Committee. 
      The Committee is discussing whether plans by Black Sand Beach, LLC and its SMA permit request are in alignment with the Kaʻū Community Development Plan. Chair Jason Masters and member Leinaala Enos emphasized that much of the plan is in alignment and that the Committee has not taken a pro or con stance on the overall development plan. However, committee members pointed out that there was overwhelming opposition to the plan at a series of public hearings before the Planning Commission . The Committee studied the CDP and drafted the letter.
      The letter points to possible alignment issues with the Kaʻū CDP that include providing affordable housing, establishment of new shoreline setback and assessments on scenic resources, view planes, water quality, marine life and cultural resources, as well as impacts of tsunamis and sea level rise.
     Black Sand Beach, LLC is asking for approval of a Special Management Area Permit, which is required before any additional development approvals can be considered by the county. The proposal includes resort accommodations and commercial establishments, some of it close to Punalu'u Black Sand Beach.
     Developer planning consultant Daryn Arai gave his own testimony defending the SMA request. The committee suggested that he could send his testimony to the Planning Commission and also voted to have further discussion with the developer toward consensus on issues regarding the plan.

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A COMMITTEE TO STUDY THE PLAN APPROVAL FOR A WATER BOTTLING PLANT in Pāhala was approved unanimously by the Kaʻū Community Development Plan Action Committee on Wednesday.

    The committee planned to reach out to the developer as well as the County Planning Department, state

More than 125,000 sq. feet of warehouse and processing buildings shown
on the Pāhala Town and Hawaiian Springs Facility.

Department of Land & Natural Resources and Water Commission to determine what permitting would be needed to build a water bottling plant and take water from the aquifer. It was also determined to research what permits if any, are already in place. 

    Former Planning Director Duane Kahuna gave the Plan Approval for the project in 2016. The plan was adjusted and received Plan Approval again in 2017 by Planning Director Michael Yee. Other approvals would be needed to draw water from the aquifer and to build the water plant and associate warehousing, retail and offices.

     The property is the old sugar mill site on Maile Street in Pāhala. The project is called Pahala Town Square and Hawaiian Springs Facility. It consists of 10,000 square feet of retail space and the water bottling  plant with parking lots totaling 205 stalls for workers, tour buses and other visiting vehicles. It includes more than 125,000 square feet of warehouse and processing plant buildings with a 50 ft. maximum height. 

     The zoning of the entire property, which is over 60 acres, is mixed with Limited Industrial, General Industrial, Agricultural and Family Residential.

     See more on Action Committee discussion topics including South Point, Kalae and Hawaiian Homelands, as well as wildfire mitigation at Green Sands neighborhood in upcoming Kaʻū News Briefs.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. Support this news service with advertising at kaunews.com. 7,500 copies in the mail and on stands.

KAʻŪ TROJANS GIRLS VOLLEYBALL hosts the first game of the season at home Thursday, Aug. 15 at  5 p.m. at the Herkes Kaʻū District Gym.

The Reunion features the screening of a PBS film Ka'u Sugar,
A Town Remembers on the history of the sugar plantation
 and the closing of the mill in 1996. It will also feature a film 
on history of the local coffee industry.