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Record of Proceedings

Kauai County Planning Commission and Subdivision Committee Meeting - June 9, 2026

County Council & Committees — Tuesday, June 9, 2026
BodyKauai County, Hawaii
SessionCounty Council & Committees
DateTuesday, June 9, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:37:41

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
1:25

The subcommit uh subdivision committee meeting will be called to order at 8 30.

1:32

Morning, Madam Chair First Order Business is roll call.

1:35

Commissioner Cox?

1:36

Here.

1:37

Commissioner Giovanni.

1:38

I am here.

1:39

Chair Stryford.

1:41

I here.

1:42

You have a quorum, Madam Chair.

1:44

Uh next would be the approval agenda.

1:47

The department doesn't have any recommended changes to the agenda.

1:50

Can I have a motion to accept the uh to approve the agenda?

1:54

I move, we accept the agenda.

1:57

It's been moved and seconded.

1:58

Is there any discussion?

2:00

How do you all vote?

2:02

Aye or do accept voice vote.

2:06

Sorry.

2:07

Yes.

2:07

Aye.

2:08

Okay.

2:10

Approved.

2:12

Uh next we have the meeting minutes for April 14th, 2026.

2:18

Do you have any discussion on this before we I move I do we have a motion on this to accept the minutes?

2:26

We accept the minutes.

2:28

Approved, please.

2:29

Oh, I move that we approve the minutes, so thank you.

2:36

It's been moved and seconded.

2:37

Any discussion?

2:39

If not, let's do a voice vote on this.

2:42

All those in favor of accepting the minutes?

2:46

Aye.

2:49

Approving.

2:50

Approved.

2:51

It's been approved.

2:52

Next, we have no additional receipt of items from record, no unfinished business.

2:55

On to new business preliminary subdivision lap approval of subdivision application number S twenty twenty-six dash eleven Q15 drive LLC County of Way as the applicants of proposed two lot subdivision uh PMK two-eight zero one four zero zero five located colour e.

3:12

If you don't have any members of the public science, any member of the public want to testify on this agenda item is so you may have purchased the microphone.

3:27

Uh summarize the report for the record.

3:29

The proposal involves uh a subdivision of an existing private roadway into two lots.

3:34

The primary intent of the proposal is to carve out a portion of roadway so that it can be dedicated to the county of Kawaii to facilitate the development of a future roundabout.

3:43

Um the subject property is situated in in the Poipu area at the intersection of Poipu Road and Kyahuna Plantation Drive.

3:51

Um received comments from the Department of Public Works Engineering Division, the County Fire Department, uh the State Department of Health.

4:00

Comments are still pending from the County Department of Water and the State Historic Preservation Division.

4:05

Uh the planning department is recommending preliminary subdivision of approval.

4:11

Are there any questions?

4:14

No, no questions.

4:15

I do have one question.

4:17

How large does a a roundabout have to be in order to make it useful for large trucks?

4:24

Like delivery trucks.

4:26

Um I think that would be um if the reason for asking this is if you go to the Poipu uh bypass.

4:37

Yeah, there are two roundabouts.

4:40

One of them is at uh at Poipu at the large circle, and the other one is at the hot at the top of the bypass road.

4:48

And the one at the bypass road seems a little narrow, and I was told that some of the larger trucks have a problem with that because it's too narrow.

4:56

So the question is what exactly how much land do you actually need to make it useful?

5:02

And is this going to be large enough?

5:06

It so yeah, Michael Mole isn't here, he was supposed to be here on behalf of the county.

5:10

I'm not sure where he is.

5:11

Um, but I can say just having gotten into it with the roundabout uh proposals across the island.

5:20

Um truck drivers do need to be a bit more educated on how to navigate the roundabout in that there is a lip that we as regular cars stay outside of that lip, but it's intended and is designed in a manner for large trucks to drive over that lip.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural███████████████████19%
Engineering And Infrastructure████████████████16%
Emergency Management█████████████13%
Wildfire Management██████████10%
Pending Litigation████████8%
Historic Preservation██████6%
Affordable Housing█████5%
Environmental Protection█████5%
Public Engagement████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Kauai County Planning Commission and Subdivision Committee Meeting - June 9, 2026

The meeting began at 8:30 AM with the Subdivision Committee, followed by the Planning Commission at 9:00 AM on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. The Planning Commission addressed a petition to intervene, an appeal referral, and a public hearing on a proposed wildfire and wildland-urban interface (WUI) ordinance. All votes were unanimous unless noted.

Subdivision Committee

  • Consent Calendar: Approved the agenda and minutes of April 14, 2026.
  • S-2026-11 (Kiahuna Plantation Drive LLC): Preliminary subdivision approval for a two-lot subdivision to dedicate roadway for a future roundabout at Poipu Road and Kiahuna Plantation Drive. Discussion included roundabout design for large trucks. Motion to approve carried (3-0).
  • S-2026-12 (Lawrence A and Gloria U Rodolfo Trust): Preliminary subdivision approval for a three-lot subdivision (2.798 acres) in Kekaha, per court-ordered partition. Subject to requirements for curbs, gutters, and sidewalks. Motion to approve carried (3-0).

Planning Commission – Agenda and Minutes

  • Agenda: Amended to move appeal item earlier, approved.
  • Minutes: May 12, 2026, approved.
  • Subdivision Committee Report: Accepted.

Contested Case and Appeal

  • Item G1 – Petition to Intervene (Rosan Cummings): Ms. Cummings sought to intervene in a contested case regarding amendments to SMA permit and zoning permits for a multi-family development in Princeville. She argued the county lacks jurisdiction over crown lands and that the development threatens her native Hawaiian customary and traditional practices. The applicant (Ian Jung) opposed, citing lack of timely filing, no filing fee, and no certificate of service. The commission rejected the petition due to failure to meet form and content requirements under rules 1-4-2 and 1-4-3 (lack of filing fee and service). Vote: 4-0. Ms. Cummings stated she would appeal.
  • Appeal CC-2026-10 (HPM Building Supply): Appeal of the planning director's notice of violation for operating a truss manufacturing facility without proper zoning permits. The commission referred the matter to the Board and Commission for a contested case hearing. Vote: 4-0.

Public Hearing – Wildfire/WUI Ordinance (ZA-2026-6)

  • Presentation: The planning department, Fire Chief Mike Gibson, and Elizabeth Pickett (Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization) presented proposed amendments to Chapters 8, 12, and 15 of the Kauai County Code to establish wildfire and WUI standards. Key elements included home hardening (e.g., Class A roofs, non-combustible vents, 20-minute fire-rated windows), a 5-foot non-combustible zone around structures, increased setbacks (15-foot rear/side, 30-foot building-to-building for new subdivisions), defensible space maintenance, and education requirements. The package aims to reduce ember ignition (responsible for 90% of structural ignitions) and improve evacuation safety. Cost analysis showed a 1.6% increase for slab-on-grade construction. The proposal also addresses secondary access for developments of 20+ lots/units.
  • Public Testimony:
    • Doug Haig (personal capacity, former building division chief): Commended effort but raised concerns about island-wide WUI designation being counterintuitive, reliance on HOAs for enforcement, and placement of building provisions in Chapter 15 instead of Chapter 12.
    • Yelena Oakman (personal testimony): Supported the intent but called for balance with housing affordability and evacuation routes.
  • Discussion: Commissioners asked about sprinklers (not required due to cost trade-offs), evacuation planning for existing communities (many have only one access), and insurance retention benefits. The commission acknowledged the thorough analysis and forward-thinking approach.
  • Amendments: Two floor amendments were added: (1) clarifying that WUI setbacks and defensible space standards supersede special planning area regulations, and (2) replacing a diagram for clarity.
  • Motion: To approve the ordinance and transmit to County Council. Carried unanimously (5-0).

Key Outcomes

  • Subdivision applications S-2026-11 and S-2026-12 approved.
  • Petition to intervene by Rosan Cummings denied.
  • Appeal CC-2026-10 referred to contested case.
  • Wildfire/WUI ordinance (ZA-2026-6) approved for council consideration.
  • Next meeting scheduled for July 14, 2026.

Meeting Transcript

The subcommit uh subdivision committee meeting will be called to order at 8 30. Morning, Madam Chair First Order Business is roll call. Commissioner Cox? Here. Commissioner Giovanni. I am here. Chair Stryford. I here. You have a quorum, Madam Chair. Uh next would be the approval agenda. The department doesn't have any recommended changes to the agenda. Can I have a motion to accept the uh to approve the agenda? I move, we accept the agenda. It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? How do you all vote? Aye or do accept voice vote. Sorry. Yes. Aye. Okay. Approved. Uh next we have the meeting minutes for April 14th, 2026. Do you have any discussion on this before we I move I do we have a motion on this to accept the minutes? We accept the minutes. Approved, please. Oh, I move that we approve the minutes, so thank you. It's been moved and seconded. Any discussion? If not, let's do a voice vote on this. All those in favor of accepting the minutes? Aye. Approving. Approved. It's been approved. Next, we have no additional receipt of items from record, no unfinished business. On to new business preliminary subdivision lap approval of subdivision application number S twenty twenty-six dash eleven Q15 drive LLC County of Way as the applicants of proposed two lot subdivision uh PMK two-eight zero one four zero zero five located colour e. If you don't have any members of the public science, any member of the public want to testify on this agenda item is so you may have purchased the microphone. Uh summarize the report for the record. The proposal involves uh a subdivision of an existing private roadway into two lots. The primary intent of the proposal is to carve out a portion of roadway so that it can be dedicated to the county of Kawaii to facilitate the development of a future roundabout. Um the subject property is situated in in the Poipu area at the intersection of Poipu Road and Kyahuna Plantation Drive. Um received comments from the Department of Public Works Engineering Division, the County Fire Department, uh the State Department of Health. Comments are still pending from the County Department of Water and the State Historic Preservation Division. Uh the planning department is recommending preliminary subdivision of approval. Are there any questions? No, no questions. I do have one question. How large does a a roundabout have to be in order to make it useful for large trucks? Like delivery trucks.

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