REP PC 054 2022/03/22 (2020-2022)

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REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PLANNING DATE: March 22, 2022 Re: Comm. No. 676/Bill No. 137 PLACE: Council Chambers Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i TIME: 9:39 a.m. Council Chair and Members Hawai`i County Council Hilo, Hawai`i 96720 Your Committee on Planning, to which was referred Bill No. 137, reports as follows: Bill No. 137, transmitted by Mayor Mitchell D. Roth via Communication 676, dated March 1, 2022, amends the State Land Use Boundaries Maps for the County of Hawai`i by changing the District Classification from the Agricultural to the Urban District at 'O'oma 1st.,North Kona, Hawai`i, covered by Tax Map Key 7-3-017:024. The applicant is Aaron Nuola Kahananui and the project area is approximately .992 acres. Bill No. 137 was introduced by Committee Chair Ashley Kierkiewicz by request. The Leeward Planning Commission forwards its favorable recommendation for this amendment to the State Land Use Boundaries Map and change of zone, which would allow the applicant to seek subdivision of the property into two residential lots for estate planning purposes. The property is located at 73-4413 Hawai`i Belt Road, approximately 100 feet southeast of its intersection with Kalaoa Street in North Kona. John Pipan, Planning Consultant appeared in the Kona Council Chambers to represent the applicant Aaron Nuola Kahananui. Mr. Pipan explained the circumstances of the application and noted that the Kahananui's have been stewarding this property for decades and generations. The proposed bill would continue to help them steward the land. This bill brings the zoning and state land use designation into line with the current and longstanding use of the properties. First home built by the Kahananui's in the early `60's, the second `Ohana unit in the early `90's. There are fruit trees on the property, but they are not very significant; agricultural lands is less than an acre but it's not prime; the soils not particularly high quality, so it's impact to the agriculture in the area is miniscule and it's been used residentially for many decades. Potential impacts are nil and there are no proposed developments in the area. There was robust discussion in the Planning Commission regarding proposed conditions relating to environmental protection for endangered species. We requested to dial those back to make them more a representative of what the parcel was and the intent. The Planning Commission decided to do away with those conditions and replace them with a general boiler plate should there be endangered species found on the property, there will be compliance with the DLNR PC Report No.: 54