Kauai County Planning Commission Meeting Summary - June 10, 2025
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Kauai County Planning Commission Meeting Summary - June 10, 2025
The Kauai County Planning Commission met on June 10, 2025, to consider various land use and subdivision applications. The meeting included approvals of consent calendar items, public testimony on several agenda items, discussion and votes on permits for a DLNR base yard, a self-storage facility, an auto dealership modification, a shared-use path extension, and deferral of a special events permit.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Agenda: Unanimously approved with no recommended changes.
- Minutes: The minutes of January 14, 2025, were deferred to correct a typographical error ("January 14, 2024" instead of 2025). Minutes of March 11, 2025, and April 8, 2025, were unanimously approved.
- Subdivision Extension (S-2022-2): The commission approved an extension for a subdivision of lot 18 of the Parcel Each subdivision into five residential lots, one row lot, and one non-residential lot. The extension was granted until April 11, 2026, to allow time for agency review of construction plans. The department noted that the current one-year subdivision timeline is outdated, and staff is working to propose adjustments to the county council.
- Subdivision Map Revision (S-98-1): Approved a revision to remove a "no vehicular access" restriction on lot G of the D Ray Subdivision, allowing legal access from Old Ohana Road to CPR Unit 16. The department recommended approval, and the engineering division had no objections.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Class 4 Zoning Permit (C4-2025-12) – Agricultural Special Events: Terry McKee and David Carmichael, residents of Kapuna Road, testified in opposition, citing safety concerns due to the hilly, remote location and challenging ingress/egress for first responders. The commission received the director's report for this item.
- Keala Ranch Application: The director's report was transmitted; no hearing occurred. The commission noted a public hearing is scheduled for June 24, 2025.
- DLNR Field Operations Base Yard: Lisa Crampton, a Kalihiwai resident, expressed support, emphasizing public safety benefits for wildfire response. No other public testimony was offered.
- Island Self Storage LLC (C4-2025-11): Several members of the public testified in opposition:
- Ben Fit (tenant in Waipouli Town Center) stated he was not notified as a tenant and opposed the scale of the three-story and four-story self-storage buildings, arguing it does not fit the mixed-use, walkable character envisioned in the South Kapaa General Plan.
- Emily Olson (partner in Collab Cafe) expressed disappointment that the applicant's original vision for affordable housing and gardens was not reflected, and urged a more balanced development.
- Amy Jendra (Kapaa resident) opposed the expansion, citing potential negative impacts on small businesses and community character.
- Morgan Hennan (Kapaa resident) provided statistics: the site is 8% of all commercial general zoning in Kapaa; proposed density would be 1 business per 2-4 acres, far below the general plan's walkability target; and the gross floor area likely exceeds the 75,000 sq ft limit for a single commercial use.
- Shared-Use Path Extension (SMA Use Permit, etc.): No public testimony was given.
Discussion Items
- DLNR Field Operations Base Yard (C4-2025-7, U-2025-7, SP-2025-4): The department proposed a new base yard on 10 acres in Honopue for DLNR divisions. The project includes phased construction of access roads, fire response buildings, workshops, offices, and a nursery. No direct impacts to cultural practices or endangered species were identified, but potential indirect impacts to nearby salt pans (e.g., dust, fuel leakage) were discussed. Commissioners raised concerns about fuel storage and aquifer contamination. After discussion, the applicant agreed to conduct a hydrological study before building fuel tanks and to adopt signage recommendations from the Historic Preservation Review Commission. The commission approved the permit with amended conditions (1, 12, 13) requiring the study and returning to the commission if impacts are found.
- Island Self Storage LLC (C4-2025-11): The applicant proposed two buildings: a three-story adaptive reuse of the former Foodland building (116,508 sq ft) and a new four-story building (51,493 sq ft) with 180 parking stalls. The project is in a General Commercial zone; it meets most standards but has non-compliant setbacks and lacks EV charging plans. The commission expressed concerns about the scale and compatibility with the surrounding commercial and residential area. After public testimony and discussion, the commission deferred the item to June 24, 2025, to allow further consultation with legal counsel and conversation with the applicant about possible redesign (e.g., eliminating the front building).
- Auto Dealership Site Plan Modification (C4-2006-20): The applicant requested modification to allow additional auto repair and storage buildings and to revise condition No. 5 regarding lot consolidation. The commission approved the modification, consolidating six of the eight original lots into one parcel.
- Shared-Use Path Extension (S-2022-2): The county requested a seven-year extension (to 2032) for a public shared-use path from Wailua Park to other points, citing challenges such as illegal encampments (removal of over 250 derelict vehicles and 200+ cubic yards of debris) and federal funding timelines. The commission approved the extension.
- Olaf Pool Gardens (Class 4 Permit C4-2025-6, etc.): The applicant requested a deferral to obtain archaeological reviews required by SHPD. The commission deferred to August 12, 2025.
Key Outcomes
- DLNR Base Yard: Approved (C4-2025-7, U-2025-7, SP-2025-4) with amended conditions requiring a hydrological study before fuel tank installation. The study must demonstrate no impacts to the aquifer; if impacts are found, the matter returns to the commission.
- Island Self Storage: Deferred to June 24, 2025, for further discussion and potential redesign.
- Auto Dealership Modification: Approved (modification of C4-2006-20).
- Shared-Use Path Extension: Approved to 2032 (amendment of condition No. 8 of SMA use permit U-2023-10, etc.).
- Olaf Pool Gardens: Deferred to August 12, 2025.
- Subdivision Deferral: The January 14, 2025 minutes were deferred for correction.
- Next Meeting: The next regular meeting is scheduled for June 24, 2025, with a robust agenda including the Keala Ranch hearing, deferred self-storage item, and other items.
Meeting Transcript
Recording in progress. Just like to say that I saw something today that I haven't seen in years of the signing sheet mode is carbon paper. We cut the 19th century 24 seconds. I'm so proud of that if we have a role called thing. Roll call uh question allowed here. Commissioner Spread is excuse character here. Next would be the approval agenda. We don't have any recommended changes to the agenda. Move to approve the agenda. I second further comments or those in favor of approval of agenda. Minutes. Next for approval, 2025. We have the minutes. Move to approve the minutes. I think the whole 11 lock consolidation of the one lot TMT is two-b tested zero two zero, zero two nine, as well as zero three four and zero three five or two all eight. We don't have a number of the public side of the testify what would any audience formulate to testify on subject item. Um the department received a correspondence from the software survey and map being completed May 29th, 2025, requesting a four-month deferral of preliminary subdivision up approval. This request is a discussions with the Department of Public Works Engineering Division regarding future roadway improvements at the intersection of Color Road and Monthly Road from the Soyo Castor. The department is recommending a deferral of preliminary preliminary subdivision map approval to the planning commission meeting scheduled for October 14th, 2025 for the next available meeting here after. Do you have any problems of the public which is specified item? So raise their report to the directory. That's the case requesting an extension of time to file the final subdivision map with the planning department pursuing to section 9.8 C1 of the subdivision. This application is granted revised preliminary subdivision map approval by the planning commission on February 11, 2023. An applicant's extension request is a second extension of tentative approval. The proposed amendment is something like lot 18 of the parcel each subdivision into five residential lots, one row re lot, and one non-residential lot that is intended for jury issues. Currently, the construction plans for the subdivision improvements have been created prepared. However, the plans are reading agency review and approvals, which has consumed much of the time. Since it is uncertain as to when all agency comments will be met, the applicant is requesting additional time to complete the subdivision. Based on the foregoing circumstances, the applicant's reasons are justifiable and no reasons are foreseen in granting the extension requests. Is it it is recommended that an extension until April 11th, 2026 be granted to a final subdivision approval? Any questions for Kenny? I have no questions, but questions we have representative applicant. Good morning, Commissioners. We are requesting this extension to allow the construction plans to be reviewed from all agencies and utilities. Currently, we have received review review comments from public works. We are awaiting review comments from K you see how I telecom and spectrum. Okay. Question for application. Thank you very much for coming. Okay. I move to approve an extension subdivision application number S 2022-2 until April 11th, 2026. Rules of Rocko. Probably chair. Commissioner Analysis. Aye. Aye. I'll see I meant to bring them on that item. BSC extension requests a lot now as because of the fact that we're holding course with the fact that subdivisions have a one-year timeline. That time that was set 40 years ago when subdivisions. I don't say about a dozen, but we're much more quickly processed, if you will.
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