It was common knowledge that the Kaua’i County Planning Commission, while its chairman was Gary Baldwin, didn’t like the idea of approving permits necessary for certain land uses when those uses were already in existence. The so-called after-the-fact permits were
It was common knowledge that the Kaua’i County Planning Commission, while its chairman was Gary Baldwin, didn’t like the idea of approving permits necessary for certain land uses when those uses were already in existence.
The so-called after-the-fact permits were usually requested after someone brought to a business owner’s attention that their enterprise required county approval and permits issued through commission approval.
And while the commission unanimously approved yet another set of after-the-fact permits Thursday –this time for continuation of all-terrain vehicle tours in the Kipu Ranch area — new chairman Bob Kaden let it be known in no uncertain terms that such permits won’t always gain easy commission approval.
“After-the-fact permits are problematic for the Planning Commission,” Kaden said. “This is not the way the commission wants to do business, and future applicants should bear that in mind.”
Since denial of after-the-fact permits likely means putting a business out of business, the commission has reluctantly approved them in nearly every case.
Kaden’s comments may signal a change in that lenient policy.
On another matter, beginning next month, the commission will meet the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. The schedule was changed to eliminate conflicts with Kaua’i County Council meetings, which were moved from Wednesday to Thursday.
Staff Writer Paul C. Curtis can be reached at mailto:pcurtis@pulitzer.net or 245-3681 (ext. 224).
