COM 0218.000 1996-1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Honorable James Y. Arakaki, Chairman and Members of the County Council Page 2 residential neighborhood along and to the south of Milo Street and along the Old Volcano Road (west of the subject property), which are primarily in residential uses. In July 1994, the State Land Use Commission approved a petition filed by the Office of State Planning for boundary amendment from Agricultural to Urban District for approximately 660 acres of lands surrounding Keaau Village, which are owned by W. H. Shipman, Ltd. The objective of the redesignation was to establish an urban core in Puna District to service the growing population. One of the urban subarea is located immediately southwest of the subject property. The urban classification also conforms to the standard that the development is within reasonable proximity to centers of trading and employment and to basic services such as schools, police and fire protection, transportation systems and water. The project site is located approximately one mile from the urban retail/employment of Keaau Town Center. The Keaau Elementary School is located within 5 minutes of the subject property. The Police, Fire and emergency medical services are also located in Keaau town, one mile from the subject property. Keaau is centrally located at the junction of two major highway systems in the Puna District, the Volcano Highway-Kanoelehua Avenue and Keaau-Pahoa Highway. The principal access to the proposed development would be provided from the proposed Keaau By-Pass Road. However, should the proposed project be developed prior to the completion of the Keaau By-Pass Road, an interim access would be taken via the Milo Street extension onto the Old Volcano Road and to Highway 11. According to the Department of Water Supply, water would be available upon the installation of water improvements which, in part, includes extending the existing 12-inch waterline along Milo Street approximately 500 lineal feet to the subject property. There is no municipal wastewater treatment facility within the area; and therefore, [he wastewater system would be required to meet the approval of the Department of Health. According to the Department of Health, a portion of the subject property is located within 1,000 feet of a drinking water well. As such, no cesspool or septic system, except for air aerobic package treatment system, would be allowed to be installed within the 1,000-foot radius of the water well. Based on the foregoing, the request conforms with the Land Use Commission Rules which encourages urban developments in close proximity to existing developments and to existing services and facilities. The project area includes lands with no severe geological or topographical problems which cannot be properly rectified or which would render the land unusable. The subject property is relatively level with a slight grade. According to the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), the project area is within Zone X, area determined to be outside the 500-year flood plain. The project area is also located outside of any tsunami inundation area. Any new construction or improvements to the project area must comply with Chapter 27 of the County Code relating to Flood Hazard Control. The subject property was formally cultivated in sugar cane and therefore, no endangered or threatened species of floral or fauna nor any archaeological sites are anticipated to be found on the subject property. The State of Hawaii ALISH Map classifies portions of the area near the southern and norther boundaries as Prime Agricultural Lands and the middle portion of the property is not classified. The Land Use Study Bureau's Overall Master Productivity Rating for the soils in the area is "C" or Fair. Thus, the reclassification does meet with the standard which states that the lands included within the urban district shall be those with satisfactory topography