COM 1013.000 1996-1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Honorable James Y. Arakaki, Chairman and Members of the County Council Page 5 Basic services such as schools, parks, wastewater systems, solid waste disposal, drainage, water transportation systems, public utilities and police and fire protection are available. The subject property is located in Kurtistown where existing residential and commercial activity exist. The Kurtistown Park is also located about one-half mile south (Volcano) of South Road. The property is located approximately two miles from Keaau Town where police, fire, schools and shopping areas are located. The Hawaii Belt Road provides a major transportation link between the Volcano, Keaau, Pahoa and Hilo areas. With the improvement of South Road, adequate access can be provided to the subject homes. Since the property is located in a Critical Wastewater Disposal Area, cesspools are not allowed. Therefore, wastewater systems would be required to meet with the approval of the Department of Health. According to the Department of Water Supply, water can be made available upon the installation of required water system improvements. Any drainage system requirements shall meet with the approval of the Department of Public Works. Other utilities, such as electricity and telephone can be made available to the subject development. Based on the foregoing, the request conforms with the Land Use Commission Rules which encourages urban developments in close proximity to existing developments and to existing services and facilities. The project area include lands with no severe geological or topographical problems which cannot be properly rectified or which would render the land unusable:. The subject property is relatively level with a slight grade. According to the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), the project area is within Zone X, an area determined to be outside the 500-year flood plain. The project area is also located outside of any tsunami inundation area. Any new construction or improvements to the project area must comply with Chapter 27 of the County Code relating to Flood Hazard Control. The subject property was formally cultivated in sugar cane and therefore, no endangered or threatened species of floral or fauna nor any archaeological sites are anticipated to be found on the subject property. The State of Hawaii ALISH Map classifies the property as Prime Agricultural Lands and the Land Use Study Bureau's Overall Master Productivity Rating for the soils in the area is "C" or Fair. The subject property was previously used for sugar cane and has remained fallow since Puna Sugar Mill closed their operations about 20 years ago. The property is not currently being used for active agricultural activities. Thus, the subject property would not remove active agricultural lands from use and can appropriately be used for urban development. This request for a State Land Use Boundary Amendment from Agricultural to Urban is being processed concurrently with a Change of Zone request from an Agricultural (A-la) to Single Family Residential (RS-10) zoned district in order to allow for the proposed residential development. As such, the boundary amendment would allow for the rezoning of the property to allow for activities and uses that are permitted within an Urban district. Based on the above findings, the approval of the State Land Use Boundary Amendment from Agricultural to Urban District complements the State Land Use District Regulations and is supportive of the State of Hawaii Plan and the County General Plan. Change of Zone