REP PC 070 05/01/2006 2004-2006 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Communication 723 Bill 237 Page 2 Condition H of Bill No. 237 requires the applicant to widen the pavement width of Vierra Road to a minimum of 20 feet along the property's Vierra Road frontage. According to Communication No. 723, the approval of this Change of Zone request from the Agricultural - 20 acres (A-20a) to the Family Agricultural 3-acres (FA-3a) zoned district would result in an appropriate land use pattern that will further benefit the public based on the following: The proposed change of zone is located in an area designated in the General Plan as Extensive Agriculture Lands, a classification which is generally applied to lands which are not Important Agricultural Lands and not capable of producing "sustained, high agricultural yields without the intensive application of modern farming methods and technologies due to certain physical constraints such as soil composition, slope, machine tillability, and climate." Currently, approximately 3 acres of the subject property are cultivated with fruit trees, avocado trees, coffee, grape vines, and organic vegetables. The applicant states that he wishes to divide the property among his family members so that they may each build one home on their threaacre parcel, and cultivate fruit and vegetables on their land. The applicant contends that this rezoning will maintain the rural character of the land by allowing the members of his family and other individuals wishing to engage in small-scale farming to build farm dwellings on their land. The applicant will be required to comply with Chapter 11, Article 1, of the Hawaii County Code relating to the County's Affordable Housing Policy. The applicant will be required to meet affordable housing requirements by: a) building the required number of affordable houses on the site; or b) selling four lots to qualified purchasers at prices affordable to families earning no more than 100% of the median income; or c) paying the appropriate in-lieu fee; or d) developing affordable housing within a 15-mile radius of the site. The applicant will not be permitted to meet the affordable housing requirements through the transfer or sale of property to a family member. All essential services and utilities are available to the project site. The Federal Emergency Management Agency Flood Insurance Map (FIRM) identifies the site as "X" or outside the flood plain. Requisite of the Planning Director's Favorable recommendation for the Change of Zone request are twenty conditions contained in Bill No. 237 that outline specific requirements for the proposed project. Condition D requires the applicant to obtain Final Subdivision Approval within five (5) years from the effective date of the ordinance, and Condition E prohibits the construction of a second dwelling unit as well as condominium property regimes on each lot. At the May 1, 2006 meeting of the Planning Committee, the applicant provided background information regarding his application for change of zone. Mr. Raymond explained he represented his family and it was their joint desire to keep this property that his family owned for over a 100 years for their children. Mr. Raymond stated he has lived on big island since 1983 PC REPORT NO. 70