COM 1445.000 2006-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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moderate (11,273), and rapid (12,289). However, these projections are largely based on past trends, which maybe somewhat skewed, since the growth rate for the County of Hawaii was higher than average between 1990 and 2000 (23%). In addition, it is possible for the County to direct population growth, to some extent, to more urban areas. Economy -The district's economy has been struggling since the Kohala Sugar Company closed in 1975. Almost one-third of the workforce now commutes to South Kohala to work in the hotels and resorts located there. The search for viable businesses must continue to enable this community to remain vibrant. Many would like to see diversified agriculture encouraged in the region. The other major issue related to economics in North Kohala is property values. The median residential sales price for 2006 for Kohala was $721,000, the highest in the County (compared to $417,000 for the island overall). With housing prices being so high and economic opportunities so few, there is a significant need for affordable housing in the district. (More detailed data is included in section 4.3 on affordable housing.) Key planning Implications Related to Kohala's Demographics and Economics • Population -Kohala is a rural area and should be maintained as such. Thus, development should be directed to more urban areas. • Economic opportunities -Agriculture should be supported and promoted, and other economic opportunities should be explored. • Housing - A concerted effort must be made through public-private partnerships to provide affordable housing for Kohala residents and their children. LAND USE The overwhelming majority of Kohala lands are zoned for agriculture, 84.6% according to County zoning (67,977 acres), and 80.5% in the State Agricultural district (64,713 acres). The sentiment of Kohala residents is generally that they would like to see this land utilized for agriculture. One of their biggest concerns is the mi:>use of this land for luxury subdivisions and/or "gentlemen estates." LUPAG - In addition, the County General Plan includes a Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide (LUPAG) map, which is a broad, flexible design intended to guide the direction and quality of future developments in a coordinated and rational manner. The LUPAG designates the majority of Kohala's lands for agriculture: 41,314 acres (51.4%) for "Important Agricultural Land" and 21,885 acres (27.2%) for "Extensive Agriculture". One concern with these designations is that there are few regulations governing their use. However, the Genera] Plan does support the use of these lands for agriculture first and foremost, and states that "Important Agricultural Lands shall not be rezoned to parcels too small to support economically viable farming units." The LUPAG map also designates 176 acres for Medium Density Urban near the town centers, and 2,668 acres in Low Density Urban surrounding those town centers. The General Plan directs future development to be concentrated within these areas as much as possible. There are also 258 acres of Urban Expansion land, which allows for residential, industrial, and/or commercial development, around the Resort designated area of Pdahukona.