Humane society $4M shelter gets planners' nod
August 18, 2011 - 11:12pm
CLEARS WAY FOR FUNDRAISING
BY BRENDAN SHRIANE | WEST HAWAII TODAY
Hawaii Island pets are closer to having a new home of their own.
The Leeward Planning Commission voted 4-0 Thursday to approve the Hawaii Island Humane Society's plan to convert a former quarry and bonsai nursery along Mamalahoa Highway in Keauhou into an animal community center.
"We can move forward now," Humane Society Executive Director Donna Whitaker said of the vote to approve a special permit to allow the center on land zoned for agriculture. "But there's lots to do with fundraising."
The $4 million, 12-acre facility when complete will have a veterinary clinic; kennels for 60 dogs; a cattery; an education center; a dog park; a horse park and a stable; a small animal park and a walking trail and other amenities. The humane society plans to build in three phases.
"It's going to be beautiful," Debbie Fulton, the manager of the humane society's current 1-acre location near the Kealakehe Police Station, said about the Keauhou site. "It's going to be amazing.
"It's going to be like going from a two-star to a five-star."
County Planning Director Bobbie Jean Leithead Todd, whose office offered a favorable recommendation for the plan, said after the meeting she looked forward to seeing the facility completed.
"This will be a huge asset for the Kona community," she said.
She cited the 60-plus letters that were written to the Planning Department in support of the project as proof of community support.
Another sign of that support was the more than 40 animal lovers -- and even a few dogs -- who crammed into a meeting room at the West Hawaii Civic Center. The crowd erupted in applause after the vote to approve the permit.
"It means a lot because we don't have any dog parks," said Ernie Knapp of Kailua-Kona, who was there with his golden retriever, Mordy. "It's a place for us to bring our dogs that's nice and clean."
The commission approved the plan with a few conditions. The nonprofit will need to provide a buffer to the north and south; install landscaping to offset odors, visual impacts and noise; develop a plan to take care of its animal waste and it may need to change its driveway design.
Commissioners Thomas Hickcox, Richard Nelson III, Thomas Whittemore and acting chairman Wayne Iokepa all voted to approve the special permit.
Chairwoman Geraldine Giffin, Vice Chairwoman Lani Bowman and Commissioner Brandi Beaudet were not at the meeting.
The commission also revoked, by a 4-0 vote, a 1985 special permit to operate the former Fuku Bonsai nursery previously at the location.
The board also voted 4-0 to approve A Hui Hou Crematory and Funeral Home's application to add cremation services to its new facility just off Queen Kaahumanu Highway and by the same vote to revoke a permit to do the same at its former location.
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