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Heather Kimball, Council Chair and Members of the County Council County of Hawaii March 17, 2023 Page 2 currently consists of 2 existing single-family dwellings. If the requested rezone is approved, the applicant proposes to subdivide the property into 2 lots, each of which will accommodate one of the 2 existing single-family dwellings. No additional improvements to the subject property are currently being proposed by the applicants. In order to consider an area for any type of zoning designation, the applicable goals,policies and standards of the General Plan must be adequately addressed. It is only through such a comprehensive policy analysis approach that evaluations and decisions can be made to better time and stage developments to achieve growth consistent with the General Plan and related planning documents. The implications of these evaluations and decisions must also be considered as they may have an impact on similar areas in the County. The Change of Zone request from Agricultural (A-20a) to the Agricultural (A-10a) zoned district will conform to the goals, policies and standards of the General Plan. The Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide (LUPAG) Map component of the General Plan is a representation of the document's goals and policies to guide the coordinated growth and development of the County. It reflects a graphic depiction of the physical relationship among the various land uses. The LUPAG Map establishes the basic urban and non-urban form for areas within the County. The property is designated Important Agricultural Land, which are lands with better potential for sustained high agricultural yields because of the soil type, climate, topography, or other factors. However, the subject property is primarily native forest and therefore it is preferable to maintain the forest than to convert the property to agricultural uses. The proposed Change of Zone will conform to, among others, the following goals and policies of the Natural Resources Element of the General Plan: • Protect rare or endangered species and habitats native to Hawai`i. • Within the Kona high rainfall/fog-drip belt, ground disturbing activities such as excessive soil compaction and excessive removal of vegetative cover should be minimized and mitigated consistent with management strategies that encourage the retention of existing forested and pasture areas, reforestation, minimal coverage by impervious surfaces and other strategies that encourage effective infiltration to groundwater. • Implement Council Resolution Nos. 330-96 and 58-97 in land use approvals. • Create incentives for landowners to retain and re-establish forest cover in upland watershed areas with emphasis on native forest species.