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Committee forwards two Waimea land-use bills to County Council for review
Summary
The Committee on Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions voted 8–0 (one excused) to forward Bill 122 (state land-use boundary amendment) and Bill 123 (change of zone) for a 6.063-acre parcel in Waimea, South Kohala. The planning director and Leeward Planning Commission recommended favorable action; the applicant said he will subdivide the lot into two parcels if approved.
The Committee on Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions voted to forward two linked land-use proposals — Bill 122 and Bill 123 — to the full Hawaii County Council with favorable recommendations after a presentation from the planning department and brief discussion. The committee recorded eight votes in favor and one excused member.
The bills concern a 6.063-acre parcel in the Kanehoa Subdivision, Waimea, South Kohala (tax map key 6-2-009-018). Bill 122 would amend the State Land Use District Boundary map from agricultural to rural; Bill 123 would change the county zoning from Agricultural (5-acre minimum) to Residential Agricultural (RA-2.5), allowing a proposed two-lot subdivision. Planning Director Jeff Darrow told the committee that the Leeward Planning Commission recommended forwarding both items favorably and that the county’s land-use allocation guide identifies the area for rural uses.
“If the requested land use entitlement changes are approved, the applicant proposes to subdivide the property into two lots,” Darrow said, describing the proposed lot sizes as roughly 3.563 acres and 2.5 acres and saying the planning department supports forwarding both items to the council. Darrow noted the change would align the property with the general-plan land-use pattern and remove certain state agricultural farm-dwelling requirements that apply on AG lands.
The applicant’s representative, John Pippen, said the Kanehoa subdivision has transitioned over decades toward smaller lot sizes where water availability allows, and that the applicant has two county water meters “sufficient to serve the proposed two lots.” The property owner, Joseph Gaglione, addressed the committee, described family ownership history and grazing use, and said he lost an agricultural exemption and needs options to keep the property in the family or generate rental income to pay taxes.
Council Member Kagiwara asked why a rural designation was needed rather than subdividing under agricultural rules. Darrow replied that while subdivision in AG could be an option, the land-use allocation guide and existing patterns favor rural zoning in this area and rural designation avoids applying state agricultural farm-dwelling requirements that would complicate the proposed use.
Chair Kimball explained a procedural complication: because the two bills are functionally linked, the committee withdrew an earlier separate motion on Bill 123 and proceeded so the items could be handled together. After discussion, the committee voted to forward Bill 122 with a favorable recommendation (voice vote recorded as eight in favor, Council Member Kanieli Kleinfelder excused) and then forwarded Bill 123 by the same margin. The motions were made by Council Member Houston and seconded by Council Member Galimba.
The items will go next to the full County Council for final consideration and any subsequent permitting or subdivision review. The planning department and the Leeward Planning Commission had recommended favorable action; no public testifiers attended the committee meeting to speak on these items.
