Pahoa Farm store on 130 - SUP

[ironyak]

kalakoa raised this elsewhere, but figured it could use its own thread.

There was a SUP hearing back in Nov 2018 to allow a new Farm & Garden supply store (owned by an employee of the current Pahoa Feed store) to have an entrance onto 130 about halfway between Post Office Road and the Pahoa High intersection, mauka side of the 130 "bypass".
http://records.hawaiicounty.gov/Weblink/...Page1.aspx
https://youtu.be/j1RcY126fw0

This goes against both the DOT recommendations (highway entrance on a blind corner) and the PCDP (commercial development outside of Pahoa town center) (which the new shopping center is as well apparently?).

Olson and Siracusa, who both worked on the PCDP, spoke in favor of allowing this SUP as the PCDP should have been amended by now to address various changes in the area.

Anyone know where this SUP stands now? (looks like it was on the agenda for 3/7 but no approved minutes from that meeting yet?)

[SBH]

It’s probably delayed over a urinal.

[kalakoa]

Anyone know where this SUP stands now?

I believe it's being delayed until everyone gives up on the issue.

on the agenda for 3/7 but no approved minutes from that meeting yet?

It takes 6-8 weeks for minutes/transcripts to be published. Obviously a staffing issue, I'm sure Kim's new hires will fix that problem...

Anyway.

PCDP says businesses should be located in "commercial centers". (The lines around Pahoa are gerrymandered into a "dog bone" shape that allows commercial downtown and at the strip malls, but not between.) The reality is that these commercial centers are priced for corporations. See page 9:

QUINN: ... the issue with that is the strip malls charge right now Puna Kai $3/sf. ... Puna Kai Shopping Center also requests maintenance fee per thousand sf of $69 a month. They also would like to look at your books and take money, ten percent, of your gross profits. So the viability of us to move to one of these locations that the State or County feels is more acceptable is not there. It would cost us over $10,000 a month in fees and rent.

Page 12:

QUINN: What would happen is after 19 years of serving the community ... if it was denied, I would wait about four months or so, I'd put a for sale sign on that lot, and Pahoa Feed & Fertilizer would close down, and that would be it. There would be no feed and fertilizer store like there has been the past 19 years, and people would have to start driving to Hilo to purchase those products. ... Probably close up by I would say December-January, early next year and they we would close up.

The DOT issues would be more relevant with a higher speed limit, worse sight lines, and no traffic light nearby.

PCDP clearly states "no driveways on the highway". Ironically, permission for driveways on State highways comes from State, not County.

People want to develop Ag-zoned lands because they're inexpensive, which makes it possible for small business to actually turn a profit. County wants businesses to be located in "apporpriate zones" which either don't exist or aren't affordable, and new lands cannot be upzoned without triggering massive infrastructure requirements (which then make them unaffordable).

Amusing related issue: if Pahoa Feed & Fertilizer sold purely "ag" products, they would be considered "ag" for zoning purposes.

If any of the above doesn't make sense, look no further than the tenant lists for Puna Kai shopping center.

https://www.punakaishoppingcenter.com/

[EightFingers]

It’s my understanding he wasn’t able to get the “right” access to that property.

[kalakoa]

wasn't able to get the "right" access

Merely the easiest excuse, with the added benefit that it deflects blame away from County.

If the access wasn't a problem, then County would quote chapter and verse from the PCDP.

Issue remains: we can apparently have development so long as it's expensive and corporate. Local businessess need not apply.

[Rob Tucker]

Allowing Highway 130 access to a business could be the kiss of death for Pahoa Village. It would set a legal precedent opening up commercial development of the length of highway 130. It's called the Route 66 effect. Commercial development migrates to the high traffic highways and the town commercial district dies.

Long's successfully staked out the best commercial location by being proximate to the highway without driveway access from the highway.

[kalakoa]

Allowing Highway 130 access to a business could be the kiss of death for Pahoa Village.

What is the value of a "commercial village" if merchants cannot afford to set up shop therein?

What is the value of a "commercial village" if there's nowhere for customers to park?

[Rob Tucker]

That is a separate set of problems that are being solved gradually.

The highway access comes down to whether or not you want to see Highway 130 turn into a Puna version of Kanoelehua.

[randomq]

"Precedent" "Slippery slope" "Opening the floodgates"...

Seems like a weak argument, if they are just permitting a mostly ag-related business on ag land.

[Rob Tucker]

It is actually a strong argument and has worked for the past ten years despite the CoH's incompetence and neglect.