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<br /> Honorable James Y. Arakaki, Chairman <br /> <br /> and Members of the County Council <br /> <br /> Page 4 <br /> proposed subdivision in a manner consistent with the "Orchards" designation by the <br /> General Plan LUPAG Map. <br /> The Change of Zone request from Agricultural-5 acres (A-Sa) to Agricultural <br /> Project District (APD) will not result in a substantial adverse impact upon the <br /> surrounding area, community or region. The proposed Agricultural Project District <br /> and subsequent subdivision into seven lots would be compatible with the rural character <br /> of the surrounding lands within South Kona and would provide opportunities for <br /> agricultural activities on lands that are well suited for agricultural pursuits. This <br /> planned agricultural community will maintain the existing orchards, provide for the <br /> establishment of farm dwellings accessory to the orchards, and establish certain <br /> protective covenants for the maintenance of the needed infrastructural facilities and <br /> systems to support the agricultural operations. These 3+ acre lots would be <br /> compatible with the surrounding area. Lands situated mauka of the property are zoned <br /> Agricultural (A-2a). The lands makai and north of the property are zoned Agricultural <br /> (A-Sa). To the South and Ka'u side of the property are lands zoned Residential and <br /> Agricultural (RA-2a). The surrounding area is a mix of agricultural and residential <br /> uses. The major agricultural uses in the area include the cultivation and production of <br /> coffee and macadamia nuts, with some vegetables, flowers and tropical fruit <br /> production. Therefore, a favorable recommendation of this change of zone request will <br /> be consistent with the surrounding land use pattern already established within this area. <br /> The proposed planned agricultural project district would allow the diversification of <br /> ownership and stewardship of the land which will preserve the important agricultural <br /> lands on the island of Hawaii. The agricultural project district will result in <br /> maintaining the existing uses and the integrity of [he rural South Kona area while <br /> providing opportunities for residential uses. This agricultural community becomes an <br /> extension of the existing surrounding communities and shall be encouraged in <br /> appropriate locations. <br /> Access to the Agricultural Project District site will be via a private 50-foot wide <br /> access easement which will extend approximately 1,000 feet from Napo'opo'o Road. <br /> Napo'opo'o Road is a County road which has a 50 foot right-of-way with <br /> approximately 18 feet of pavement. According to the applicant, the access easement <br /> was a part of the conveyance from Christopher Norrie to the applicant. The existing <br /> access is a 16-foot pavement within a 20-foot wide graded right-of-way, and a 15-foot <br /> wide ungraded road reserve on each side of the roadway. The 50-foot wide easement <br /> and the same roadway standard as the existing roadway, a 16-foot pavement within a <br /> 20-foot wide graded right-of-way, is proposed to extend further makai within the <br /> property in order to provide access to the proposed lots and to maintain the agricultural <br /> character of the area. The roadway is proposed to follow the natural contours of the <br /> <br />