COM 1401.000 2006-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Pete Hoffmann, Chairman and Members of the County Council Page 3 The property has no severe geological or topographical problems which cannot be properly rectified or which would render the land unusable. The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency designates the property as Zone "X", areas outside of the 500 -year flood plain. Any improvements to the property must comply with Chapter 27 of the County Code relating to Flood Hazard Control. Thus; the reclassification meets the standard which states that the lands included within the urban district "... shall be those with satisfactory topography and drainage and reasonably free from the danger of floods, tsunami and unstable soil conditions and other adverse environmental effects." While the project site is situated within the State Land Use Agricultural and County's Agricultural (A -5a) zoned district, it is not currently being used for active agricultural purposes. The properly is identified as Prime Agricultural Land under the State of Hawaii's Agricultural Lands of Importance to the State of Hawaii (ALISH) Map but is not in agricultural use. Currently overgrown with trees, grass and weedy vegetation, the property was previously used for growing sugar cane. The Land Use Study Bureau's Overall Master Productivity Rating for the soils in the area is "B" or "Very Good". Surrounding lands to the north and east of the property are designated Urban, while lands to the south and west are designated Agricultural. A study titled "Archaeological Assessment, Cultural Impact Assessment and Botanical Survey for a 3.8 -acre Parcel at Honomakau, Pueuehu Ahupuaa, North Kohala, Hawaii Island (TMK: 5-4-8: 2) was conducted by Cultural Surveys Hawaii, Inc. in September 2006 (Appendix B, Final Environmental Assessment, October 2007). No archaeological, historical, or cultural sites were identified on the site. The study concluded that "the development of this Honomakau project area will have no adverse impact on archaeological, historical or botanical resources or on any on-going cultural practices." In a letter dated May 7, 2008, the DLNR-HPD has stated that no historic properties will be affected because intensive cultivation and previous grubbing/grading has altered the land, and the Historic Preservation Division has reviewed this project during the HPDES assessment phase and a determination was made at that time that no historic properties would be affected by the proposal. The reclassification of 3.475 acres from the Agricultural to the Urban designation will not be detrimental to the reduction of this area from the agricultural land inventory in the County of Hawaii. Based on the above, the approval of the State Land Use Boundary Amendment from the Agricultural to the Urban District complements the State Land Use District Regulations and is supportive of the State of Hawaii Plan.