COM 0765.000 2004-2006 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Stacy Higa, Chairman and Members of the County Council Page 8 • Encourage the development of affordable retirement communities. Therefore, based on the above, the proposed request is consistent with the goals, policies and standards of the Land Use (General and Single Family Residential) and the Housing Elements of the General Plan, and conforms to the General Plan Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide (LUPAG) Map for this area. The requested change of zone is also generally consistent with the community planning document for this portion of North Kohala. Adopted on November 3, 1986 by Hawaii County Council Resolution No. 291 86, the North Kohala Community Development Plan designates the area for small scale agricultural uses and existing residential uses. The proposed request for the new urban development project will be centered around Hawi Town and will be creating housing choices and short-term construction employment choices for North Kohala residents. Although the plan is outdated, the request conforms to the following community land use objectives of the plan: • New urban development in North Kohala should be focused around Hawi and Kapaau in order to retain the existing rural character of Halaula, Halawa, Makapala and Niulii. • Promote and encourage development which provides both short-term and long term improvements to the District's economic base through employment choices, housing choices and provision of goods and services. The requested change of zone will not create a significant adverse impact upon the natural resources of the area. The State of Hawaii's Agricultural Lands of Importance to the State of Hawaii (ALISH) Map classifies a majority of the project site as "Prime Agricultural Lands" with the remainder of the site being unclassified. The Land Use Study Bureau's Overall Master Productivity Rating for the soil is "B" or Good. Soils within the project site consist of Kohala silty clay, 3 to 12 percent slopes (KhC). While the project site is situated within the County's Agricultural-20a (A-20a) zoned district and is identified as prime agricultural land with good soil, it is not currently being used for active or intensive agricultural purposes other than pasture activities. Thousands of acres of the former Kohala Sugar Company lands were previously utilized for sugar cane cultivation between 1862 and 1973 and were designated as prime agricultural land. The lands have not been intensively utilized for agricultural activities since the close of the sugar company in 1973.