Citing a need to study the matter further, the Kaua‘i Planning Commission put off action Wednesday on Mayor Bryan Baptiste’s request for amended permits to keep roofs on four rest areas for a 4.3-mile recreational path from Kapa‘a to Kealia.
Citing a need to study the matter further, the Kaua‘i Planning Commission put off action Wednesday on Mayor Bryan Baptiste’s request for amended permits to keep roofs on four rest areas for a 4.3-mile recreational path from Kapa‘a to Kealia.
Meeting at the Lihu‘e Civic Center Wednesday afternoon, the commission closed the hearing after receiving testimony from only three residents — all in support of the mayor’s requests.
The residents were Thomas Noyes, general coordinator for the Friends of Kamalani and Lydgate Park, architect Ron Agor and resident Ken Taylor.
It was not known when the commission would take up the requests.
The request for permits for the roofs sparked protests from Kaua‘i County Council members Mel Rapozo and Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho.
They chastised the administration for having the roofs attached to the beach structures without permits and for placing them on the shoreline based on a 2002 shoreline certification instead of a more recent one.
The lawmakers said the county violated a state law by not using a more recent shoreline certification.
County officials said Jas Glover, a county contractor, had decided against planting landscaping around the rest areas because of the lack of irrigation water.
The administration wants amended permits to keep roofs on four of six rest areas, but declined to be specific on why it was not pursuing the same permits for the other two.
One rest area is located on the makai side of the Kapa‘a Neighborhood Center while the other rest area is located at South Point at Kealia.
County officials said they also announced plans to build the rest pavilions at public meetings, before construction got underway.
The planning commission approved in January 2004, a request for a Special Management Area Use permit for nine picnic pavilions, three comfort stations at Kealia, Lihi Park and Kealia Kai Park.
As part of the approval, the locations and numbers of rest areas were to be determined during the design process, county officials said.
Some officials said the 2002 certification was adequate and that the yearly certification was not realistic.
The commission also considered administration proposals to realign a small part of a 1.8-mile equestrian trail and to eliminate an existing exit to the Kapa‘a Lookout for safety reasons.
The commission also wanted to move two of nine public shelters due to American with Disabilities Act access concerns and view plane concerns.
Because of erosion of the shoreline, the administration also sought commission approval to move a pedestrian and bicycle path immediately mauka of a coastline parking lot by the Kapa‘a Beach Park.
Many of the improvements have been implemented, but work on the path north of Kealia Beach has been halted due to the permitting process for the rest areas.
The 4.3-mile leg is part of a 16-plus mile bicycle and pedestrian pathway from Nawiliwili to Anahola. A 2.3-mile segment at Lydgate Park is up and running.
• Lester Chang, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) or lchang@kauaipubco.com.
