COM 0692.000 2004-2006 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Stacy Higa, Chairman and Members of the County Council Page 4 who wish to pursue limited agricultural activities, but are not able to commit to the financial or labor demands placed on them by the larger 20-acre parcels. According to the applicant, the site is presently heavily forested with native trees and shrubs such as ohia, tree fem, other native trees and shrubs, and non native vegetation. Wildlife at the property consists of turkeys, hawks, Chinese pheasants, and other forest birds. Vegetative cover is a mixture of native and non-native species. The proposed development has the potential to alter the mixture of plant life, however, the low density of the proposed development and conditions applied to previous rezonings will assure the continuation of habitat for existing wildlife. As part of the Office of State Planning's five-year State Land Use District Boundary Review, the Water Resources Research Center recommends that the high rainfall and fog-drip azea mauka of the 2,000-foot elevation be redesignated into the Conservation District for protection as a watershed recharge azea. The Kona Watershed, which provides for the recharge of aquifers which supplies most of Kona's drinking water, includes those lands located within the Kaloko Mauka Subdivision and situated above the 1,900 foot e]evation, which includes the subject property. The property, located at approximately the 2,700-foot elevation, does not seriously compromise the recommendations of these studies beyond existing conditions. Although the property is located within the water recharge area, the condition will be included to retain 80% of the forest cover on the site to preserve the watershed qualities and watershed area. Approval of the requested change of zone will not alter the existing land use conditions within Kaloko Mauka Subdivision. Uses permitted within the Agricultural District will allow for a vaziety of agricultural activities to be conducted on the property. There have been several archaeological studies conducted in the area. An archaeological investigation of the Kaloko ahupua'a was conducted in 1970 and 1971 by Huehue Ranch, the developer of the Kaloko Mauka Subdivision. In addition, the National Pazk Service published a report in 1991 titled, "An Ahupuaa Study: The 1971 Archaeological Work at Kaloko Ahupuaa, North Kona." This study identified remains of an agricultural field system up to the 3,500-foot elevation at certain locations. According to the applicant, there is no record of historic sites on the property in either the National or State Registers. By letter dated October 23, 2005, the applicant has requested a letter of no effect from the State Historic Preservation Division. In addressing potential adverse visual impacts that the clearing of the property for individual home sites and agricultural uses may have on the existing upland forest character within the subject area, the applicant has proposed the following: