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LAND PLANNING LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES Wm. FRANK BRANDT, FASLA CHAIRMAN THOMAS S. WITTEN, ASLA PRESIDENT R. STAN DUNCAN, ASLA EXECUTIVE VICE- PRESIDENT RUSSELL Y.J. CHUNG, ASIA EXECUT/VE VICE-PRESIDENT VINCENT SHIGEKUNI PRINCIPAL JAMES LEONARD, AICP PRINCIPAL HILO OFFICE GRANT MURAKAMI, AICP SENIOR ASSOCIATE TOM SCHNELL, AICP ASSOCIATE RAYMOND T. HIDA. ASLA ASSOCIATE KEVIN NISHIKAWA, ASLA ASSOCIATE HONOLULU OFFICE 1001 BISHOPSTREET ASB TowER, SUITE 650 HONOLULU, HAWAI'196813-3484 MEL: (808) 521-5631 FAX: (808) 523-1402 E-MAIL: sysadmin@pbrhawaii.com HILO OFFICE 101 AUPUNI STREET HILo LAGOON CENTER, SUITE 310 HILL, HAWAII 96720-4262 TEL: (808) 961-3333 FAX: (808) 961-4989 E-MAIL: pbrhilo@lava.nel WAILUKU 01 RUE 2123 KAOHU STREET WAILUKU, HAWAII 96793-2204 TEL: (808)242-2878 FAX: (808) 242-2902 EMAIL: pbrmaui@lava.ne[ June 9, 2003 Honorable Bobby Jean Leithead-Todd Planning Committee Chairperson Hawaii County Council 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720 SUBJECT: HAWAII COUNTY GENERAL PLAN UPDATE DAVID AND DORIS GREER PROPERTY PUUEO, SOUTH HILO, HAWAII TMK'S: (3) 2-6-08:26-29; 36-39 AND 2-6-29:14 AND 15 Dear Councilperson Leithead-Todd and Members of the Planning Committee: In follow-up to our prior discussion, we are submitting this request on behalf of the Greer Family, owners of the subject property, that the County Council not adopt the Planning Director's proposed revision to the County General Plan LUPAG Map affecting the subject property. The Director's proposed revision, delineated as Item B-13 of South Hilo Map -2, would change the current General Plan Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide (LUPAG) map designation over portions of the property from the existing "Low Density Urban" designation to a newly proposed "Important Agriculture" designation. A copy of the Director's proposed changes to the County General Plan, LUPAG Map is enclosed for your reference as Exhibit 1. While the Greer Family has planted portions of the property in the area south of Amauulu Road in fruit orchards and are committed to continuing their efforts in that regard, they recognize that some level of urban development on the property may be appropriate and desirable given the property's proximity to existing urban areas of Hilo and the relative availability of infrastructure in the area. The reasons presented by the Planning Director for changing the current Low Density Urban designation are that the lands in this area are considered to be "Important Agricultural Land," and that there are ample lands in the immediate vicinity for future residential uses. We would challenge these assumptions in that, 1) the suitability of an area for agricultural use needs to be balanced with the area's appropriateness for urban development given its relation to surrounding uses and available infrastructure, and 2) with the current rise in home prices, there is considered to be a shortage of residential lots in the Hilo area and a corresponding need to designate appropriate locations for the logical expansion of the Hilo urban area. Although the planning for the Greer property is in the preliminary stage, one option being considered, as shown in the attached Conceptual Land Use Plan (Exhibit 2), is the development of an elderly housing or multi -family residential complex in the lower portion of the property, mauka of Clem Akina Park; and single family residential use in the area extending mauka of the planned the elderly housing (multi -family) development,