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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Honorable James Y. Arakaki, Chairman <br /> and Members of the County Council <br /> Page 5 <br /> <br /> <br /> * Provide commercial developments that complement the overall pattern of <br /> transportation and land usage within the island's regions, communities, and <br /> neighborhoods. <br /> <br /> * Commercial facilities shall be developed in areas adequately served by <br /> necessary services, such as water, utilities, sewers, and transportation systems. <br /> <br /> * Distribution of commercial areas shall be such as to best meet the demands of <br /> the neighborhood, commercial, and regional needs. <br /> <br /> The surrounding properties consist of a mixture of industrial (power plant), <br /> agricultural-commercial type of activities (tropical fruit processing and packing plant, <br /> floral packing and distribution operation, future hardware store), vacant agricultural <br /> land, some offices, and a residential community (8 1/2 Mile Camp). Also planned is a <br /> church and school complex (Hawaii Christian Camping Association). <br /> <br /> It is clear, then, this area - although proximate to the Keaau core - has mixed <br /> land uses ranging from residential to some measure of agriculture to commercial uses <br /> to heavy industrial. <br /> <br /> As Keaau and its surrounding area continue to grow, there will be a need for <br /> more industrial and commercially-zoned lands. This is evident by on-going and <br /> planned commercial developments within Keaau. This request would help address the <br /> demand for light industrial and commercial land needs of immediate neighborhood, <br /> community and region. <br /> <br /> The only existing industrial zoned lands in the Puna District are located off <br /> Highway 11 at the Shipman Industrial Park, approximately 7 miles from the subject <br /> property. For the East Hawaii area, industrial zoned lands and activities are primarily <br /> located in the City of Hilo at the Hilo Harbor, airport and Kanoelehua Industrial areas, <br /> about 10 miles away. <br /> <br /> Further, to help address the commercial and light industrial land needs of a <br /> community, alternative sites that a) fall within the broader land use pattern outlined on <br /> the General Plan LUPAG Map, and b) have the required infrastructure should be <br /> considered. In so doing, there would be enhanced opportunities to satisfy the growing <br /> and changing needs of the community. In this situation, the type of commercial uses <br /> allowed would help satisfy the needs of the immediate residential <br /> neighborhood, who - because of the by-pass - is physically disenfranchised from Keaau <br /> Village. <br />