Hawaii County panel postpones vote on rezoning for proposed 24-unit Kinaole Street development

Hawaii County's Committee on Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions on Tuesday postponed consideration of Bill 67, a rezoning request for a 33,180-square-foot parcel at 1198 Kinaole Street in South Hilo that would change the property from single-family residential (RS-10) to general commercial (CG-10). The postponement carries the item to the committee's next meeting on Aug. 5.

The measure, introduced by Council Member Kimball by request and read into the record by the council clerk, would allow the applicant to demolish an existing single-family dwelling and garage and build two two-story buildings totaling 24 residential units. Planning Director Jeff Darrow described the proposal as "two separate two-story buildings, each containing 12 residential units for a total of 24 units," with a mix of one- and two-bedroom units, 40 parking stalls including two handicap-accessible stalls, and a 24-foot driveway with a turnaround area.

Why it matters: changing zoning from RS-10 to CG-10 would authorize a broad set of commercial and residential uses permitted in the county's general commercial district, not just the multifamily housing the developer described. Several council members said they supported the applicant's stated…