Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Stacy Higa, Chairman <br /> and Members of the County Council <br /> Page 3 <br /> <br /> • Rural-style residential-agricultural developments, such as new small-scale <br /> rural communities or extensions of existing rural communities, shall be <br /> encouraged in appropriate locations. <br /> <br /> • Review and amend land use ordinances and codes to include considerations <br /> for rural-style residential subdivisions in appropriate locations. Standards and <br /> criteria for the establishment of these areas shall be developed. <br /> <br /> The request conforms to the Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide (LUPAG) Map <br /> which designates the area as Low Density Urban. The LUPAG map component of the <br /> General Plan is a representation of the document's goals, policies, standards and courses <br /> of action. It is also a graphic depiction of the physical relationship between the various <br /> land uses. The LUPAG Map establishes the basic urban and non-urban form for areas <br /> within the County. The Low Density Urban designation includes uses single-family <br /> residential in character, ancillary community and public uses and convenience type <br /> commercial uses. This boundary request would allow a rural development for residential- <br /> agricultural uses that will complement the existing and future residential-agricultural land <br /> use patterns of the immediate vicinity. Based on the above findings, the granting of the <br /> Rural boundary amendment would complement and implement the General Plan. <br /> <br /> All utilities and services are available to the property, which are essential to <br /> accommodate rural development. Access to the site is from Kulana Kea Road, a private <br /> roadway with an approximately 20-foot wide pavement in good condition within a 60- <br /> foot wide right-of-way. Kulana Kea Road has a 20-foot wide paved section that extends <br /> from Wainaku Road to Kauhiula Road. The unpaved shoulders are approximately 3 to 5 <br /> feet wide on both sides. In this area, Wainaku Road has a right-of-way of 30 feet with a <br /> minimum 20-foot pavement. County water is available to the site; however, substantial <br /> line improvements must be made. Wastewater will be serviced with a private sewer <br /> system meeting with the approval and requirements of the State Department of Health. <br /> All essential utilities are available to the property. The closest fire station and main <br /> police station are located in downtown Hilo, less than three miles from the project site. <br /> <br /> The property has no severe geological or topographical problems which cannot be <br /> properly rectified or which would render the land unusable. The Federal Emergency <br /> Management Agency Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) designates the property as Zone <br /> "X", outside of the 500-year flood plain. The property slopes slightly in a westerly <br /> direction at a gradual 8% slope. The property is designated Prime Agricultural Land by <br /> the Agricultural Lands of Importance to the State of Hawaii (ALISH) System, but is not <br /> <br /> currently being used for active agricultural purposes. Soils within the property are <br /> classified as "C" or "Fair" for agricultural productivity by the Land Study Bureau. Given <br /> the soil characteristics of the property, the potential for more intensive agricultural uses <br />