COM 0656.000 2020-2022 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Under the digitized format, the subject site has two (2) designations on the LUPAG map. The upper portion is designated Important Agricultural Lands, while the makai portion, Low Density Urban. (Figure 4) Important Agricultural Land is attributed to those lands with "better potential for sustained high agricultural yields because of soil type, climate, topography, or other factors. The Low Density Urban designation allows uses that are single-family residential in character, ancillary community and public uses and convenience type of commercial uses. Notwithstanding the digitized identification of the upper portion of1:he subject site being designed Important Agricultural Lands, it is maintained that the Low-Density Urbpn interpretation is a reasonable and justifiable one for a number of reasons. For one, the LUPAG map was intended to serve as a land use guide and equally so, not intended to be specifically measurable. As noted in the introductory section of the General Plan (Ordinance No. 05 25), the County GP "is the policy document for the long range comprehensive development of the island of Hawaii." (Underscore added). There are thirteen (13) elements ranging from Economy to Land Use where policies, standards, and courses of action are outlined. These are then broken down by the various political districts of the County. Relative to the Land Use element, in addition to the policies, standards, and courses of action, there is also reference to a LUPAG map. The GP notes that this map "indicates the general location of various land use in relation to each other." it goes on to note that "The land use pattern is a broad. flexible design intended to guide the direction and quality-of future-developments in a coordinated and rational manner." (Underscores added) Furthermore, in the Standards portion of the Land Use element, there is a description of how this LUPAG map is to be used as well as how zoning req-uests should be-evaluated.- Specifically, pertinent-portions of the Standards state: "The designated land uses will be delineated on the General Plan Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide Map. The broad-brush boundaries indicated are graphic expressions of the General Plan policies, particularly those relating to land uses. They are long- range guides to general location... ."(Underscore added). 4