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Heather Kimball, Council Chair and Members of the County Council County of Hawai`i March 17, 2023 Page 3 Among the most significant of the island's natural resources are upland forests that provide the essential groundwater recharge areas. All groundwater sources in North and South Kona ultimately depend on recharge that primarily occurs in a band between the 1,500- and 5,500-foot elevations. In the lower part of this band, rainfall dominates from approximately the 1,500- to 3,000-foot elevation. In the upper part of this band, above the 3,000-foot elevation, fog that collects on trees and drips to the ground is a major contributor to the aquifer. In recognition of the importance of the mauka Kona area for watershed and other environmental values, the County Council established a policy in Resolution No. 330-96 (1996) that no lands in North or South Kona above 2,500 feet in elevation (except in the existing Kaloko Mauka Subdivision) should be rezoned to lot sizes less than 20 acres, without a corresponding reduction in density on contiguous lands. In Kaloko Mauka, the Council found that the concerns could be mitigated by specific rezoning conditions which would require that at least 80% of the property be kept in forest cover, in the area above 3,000 feet in elevation (Resolution No. 58-97). One of the conditions included in Resolution No. 58-97 was to restrict the number of dwellings to one per lot. The Deputy Planning Director recommends a restriction against a second dwelling on each lot to minimize the density of development in the native forest, similar to a condition included with other past rezones in the subdivision. Conditions of approval will be included to meet the forest cover and density requirements of the resolutions mentioned above. The subject property consists of native forests with a few alien plant species that are continually managed to reduce the negative impact on the native trees in conjunction with the Forest Management Plan. The property also inhabits a variety of native/alien birds and mammals. However, based on the request and conditions of approval consistent with Resolution No. 58-97, it will assure the continuation of habitat for the existing forest and wildlife. The Kona Community Development Plan (CDP) includes similar goals as the General Plan regarding preservation of natural resources and native species, as well as watershed protection. With implementation of these conditions, the request will conform to the goals and policies of the General Plan and Kona CDP. All utilities and services are available to the site. The proposed access to the property is from Haleamau Street which is a County owned and maintained roadway with a 22-foot-wide pavement with grass shoulders within an 80-foot right-of-way. The Department of Public Works (DPW) Engineering Division advise that all construction within the County right-of-way shall comply with HCC, Chapter 22, County Streets.