LIHU‘E — The county Planning Commission on Tuesday approved permits to allow the state Department of Education to build a softball stadium on the east end of the Kapa‘a High School campus. The project is estimated to cost $1.9 million,
LIHU‘E — The county Planning Commission on Tuesday approved permits to allow the state Department of Education to build a softball stadium on the east end of the Kapa‘a High School campus.
The project is estimated to cost $1.9 million, according to planning documents. If the project moves as planned, it should be finished by the third quarter this year.
The DOE applied for a use permit, a class IV zoning permit and a variance permit. The latter applies for the proposed field lighting poles, which were designed to be 70-feet high, raising concerns about seabirds becoming disoriented on their maiden flight during fledgling season. The permitted height in residential districts is 40 feet.
Representatives from the DOE said softball is a spring sport, played from March until May.
“No tournaments will be scheduled during seabird fallout season,” said a DOE representative, adding that such season goes from September through mid-December.
The stadium is designed to have 212 seats, dugouts for home and visiting teams, restrooms, concession stands, electronic scoreboards, automated irrigation system, compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and many other features.
Other business
• The commission, following a recommendation from Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr., reinstated full pay for the planning director. Attorney Michael Dahilig recently replaced Ian Costa in the position. Costa’s salary had been adjusted to reflect the furlough imposed by the administration in the second half of 2010.
• The commission deferred action on a proposed 165-foot pole which Sprint/Nextel intended to install near Halfway Bridge, covering a gap on the cell phone carrier’s coverage. The Planning Department had recommended against the project, and the commission decided to give the company more time to figure out alternatives to provide coverage in the area.
• The commission also deferred action on a permit requested by Inter-Island Helicopters to land near Hali‘i Waterfalls, by Kilohana Crater. The commission’s deferral was based on public testimony that brought concern over the company’s activities. Commissioners said the company should work with the department to address the concerns brought by residents.
County planner Ka‘aina Hull said it’s at the department’s discretion to set up a date for Inter-Island’s permit to be reviewed, after gathering all necessary information. No date had been set by press time.
Carl Young, representing Sprint/Nextel, said he was “fully aware” that the request for a permit could be deferred, but the request gave the cell phone carrier a chance to present the challenges to provide coverage for that area of the highway, which is mandated by the Federal Communications Commission. That hearing has not been re-scheduled yet.
• Léo Azambuja, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or lazambuja@kauaipubco.com.
