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<br /> Honorable James Y. Arakaki, Chairman <br /> <br /> and Members of the County Council <br /> <br /> Page 3 <br /> The proposed Agricultural Project District request would also complement the <br /> following goals and policies of the Economic Element: <br /> o Economic development and improvement shall be in balance with the physical <br /> and social environments of the island of Hawaii. <br /> o The County of Hawaii shall strive for diversity and stability in its economic <br /> system. <br /> o The County shall provide an economic environment which allows new, <br /> expanded or improved economic opportunities that are compatible with the <br /> County's natural and social environment. <br /> The Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide (LUPAG) Map component of the <br /> General Plan is a representation of the document's goals and policies to guide the <br /> coordinated growth and development of the County. It reflects a graphic depiction of <br /> the physical relationship among the various land uses. The LUPAG Map establishes <br /> the basic urban and non-urban form for areas within the County. The property is <br /> designated as Orchards. The Orchards designation refers to agricultural lands which <br /> though rocky in character and content, support productive macadamia nuts, papaya, <br /> citrus and other similar agricultural products. According to the applicant, the existing <br /> tropical fruit orchards, which produce lychee, rambutan and avocado, are to be <br /> maintained on the newly created lots. Therefore, it is determined that the request is <br /> consistent with the economic and agricultural form depicted on the LUPAG Map for <br /> this area of South Kona. <br /> Intensive and/or extensive agricultural uses exist on the property which is <br /> comprised of soils classified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation <br /> Service, as Kaimu (rKED) extremely stony peat. The Kaimu series consists of thin <br /> well-drained organic soils over a'a lava on Mauna Loa. In a representative profile, the <br /> surface layer is very dark brown, extremely stony peat about 3 inches thick. <br /> Permeability is rapid, runoff is slow and erosion hazard is slight. They are moderately <br /> to steep slopes. Elevation is approximately 1,200 feet above mean sea level. The soil <br /> is appropriate for pasture, macadamia nuts, papaya, and citrus fruits. Due to the <br /> shallow, rocky soils and grid climate, the soils are suitable for mainly pasture. Soils <br /> within the property are classified as "C" (Fair) for agricultural productivity by the <br /> Land Study Bureau's Detailed Land Classification System. The Agricultural Lands of <br /> Importance to the State of Hawaii (ALISH) system designates the property as "Other <br /> Important Agricultural Lands." The requested Agricultural Project District (APD) will <br /> continue to encourage agricultural activities or the utilization of the lands within the <br /> <br />