Palolo residents protest expansion of senior home
By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer
At a public hearing yesterday, area residents spoke out strongly against allowing commercial uses at the Palolo Chinese Home, and the decision was put off for a month.
At the city Department of Planning and Permitting public hearing, the residents objected to legitimizing activities that they say are not compatible with a quiet residential community.
Before the meeting, Leigh-Wai Doo, chief executive officer for Palolo Chinese Home, said the variance request would simply allow services to continue that had been going on for about 10 years.
After listening to the residents, hearings officer Robert Bannister said a variance to allow a catering establishment, a medical clinic and offices will be decided after a conditional use permit application hearing is held Aug. 19.
• A meeting to discuss residents concerns about the proposed redevelopment of the elderly care facility will be held at the Palolo Chinese Home, 2459 10th Ave., at 10 a.m. Aug. 9. The project also will be discussed at the Aug. 13 Palolo Neighborhood Board meeting.
About 20 people attended the variance hearing, and eight submitted or read testimony against the request.
Meetings
Doo said the kitchen is used to prepare meals for residents of the home and about 60 lunches on weekdays for the Hawai'i Meals on Wheels program. The medical clinic is really a health room where residents and daycare patients can have their blood pressure checked, Doo said, and the offices already are used to coordinate outreach services.
Retired beauty parlor owner and Palolo resident Beverly Nishino said, "How have they been allowed to do business for 10 years without a permit? They should not be permitted to go around the law for whatever they want."
At the conditional use permit hearing next month, the city will hear redevelopment plans for the 15-acre property, including plans to increase the resident population from 60 to about 130 and increase the adult daycare program from 15 to 30 people.
The $22 million project is planned for completion in December 2006, and the home would then have 88 assisted-living units: 68 one-bedroom and 20 studio apartments. There would also be a 40-bed intermediate/skilled nursing care residence.
