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<br /> Honorable James Y. Arakaki, Chairman <br /> <br /> and Members of the County Council <br /> <br /> Page 6 <br /> would promote and encourage additional utilization of the area. Also in 1989, it was <br /> observed that traffic patterns already indicated tremendous movement across the <br /> Puna-South Hilo District boundary. Keaau is in close proximity to the City of Hilo and <br /> has an excellent transportation link via the Volcano Highway-Kanoelehua Avenue. In <br /> addition, Keaau provides a natural focal point provided by the highway system that <br /> could result in the concentration of additional goods and services at Keaau. To <br /> facilitate this growth, during the 1989 review, the lands on the eastern side of the <br /> existing Keaau urban area were redesignated from Orchards and Urban Expansion to <br /> Low Density Urban. Likewise, the lands to the west and southwest side of Keaau <br /> Town were redesignated from Orchards to Urban Expansion. As evident by the <br /> County's action during the 1989 General Plan Comprehensive Review, there definitely <br /> is a need for additional lands to accommodate present and future industrial activities for <br /> the Puna District. This proposed action is to allow an urban development, a planned <br /> industrial development. The area under consideration is consistent with the urban form <br /> established for this section of the Puna District as depicted on the LUPAG Map. <br /> The project site is concurrently being reclassified from an Agricultural (A-20a) <br /> to Limited Industrial (ML-20) zoned district in order to allow for the proposed <br /> industrial development. As such, the boundary amendment would allow for rezoning <br /> of the properties to allow for activities and uses that are permitted within an Urban <br /> district. <br /> Based on the above findings, [he approval of the State Land Use Boundary <br /> Amendment from Agricultural to Urban District complements the State Land Use <br /> District Regulations and is supportive of the State of Hawaii Plan and the County <br /> General Plan. <br /> Change of Zone <br /> In order to consider an area for any type of zoning designation, the applicable <br /> goals, policies and standards of the General Plan must be adequately addressed. It is <br /> only through such a comprehensive policy analysis approach that evaluations and <br /> decisions can be made to better time and stage developments [o achieve growth <br /> determined by the General Plan and related planning documents. The implications of <br /> these evaluations and decisions must be also considered as they may have an impact on <br /> similar areas in the County, but ultimately, on the future development of the whole <br /> island. <br /> The proposed change of zone request would further the County's goals of <br /> providing an economic environment which allows new or existing businesses to expand <br /> and diversify the County's economic base and, thereby, also increase the choice of <br /> occupations. The proposed request would be consistent with the following goals and <br /> policies of the Economic Element. <br /> * Provide residents with opportunities to improve their quality of life. <br /> * Economic development and improvement shall be in balance with the physical <br /> and social environments of the island of Hawaii. <br /> <br />