COM 0149.000 2008-2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The Honorable J Yoshimoto, Chairman and Members of the County Council Page 8 Investigation of valued resources: An archaeological inventory survey prepared by Hann & Associates in July 2008 identified seven abandoned warehouses associated with the former Puna Sugar Company mill on the properties. No floral or faunal studies were completed for the properties as they have historically been in industrial use and have recently been graded and grubbed. The valuable cultural historical and natural resources found in the rezoning area: The properties are improved with eight abandoned warehouses. Seven of the eight structures were likely constructed in the mid -1900's and used by the Puna Sugar Company as storage; repair and maintenance areas for the trucks and equipment used for sugar operations. These structures have been determined by the DLNR-SHPD to be historically significant as evidence of the sugar industry in Puna. Therefore, by letter dated September 25, 2008 the DLNR-SHPD recommended that photo -documentation of the structures be completed prior to alteration or demolition. In the 1990's an additional warehouse was built and all eight structures were used for a fruit processing and packing plant. The applicants state that there is no habitat that would appear valuable for native terrestrial or aquatic species. The applicant is not aware of any valuable cultural or natural resources on the properties. Possible adverse effect or impairment of valued resources: The property does not abut the shoreline; therefore Hawaiian fishing rights is not an issue. No ground alteration is proposed and the properties have been recently graded and grubbed; therefore it is very unlikely that any native plants used for cultural gathering purposes would be affected. Feasible actions to protect native Hawaiian rights: Conditions of approval will be included to require the applicants to notify the DLNR-SHPD should any unidentified sites or remains be encountered, and proceed only upon an archaeological clearance from the DLNR-SHPD, and to submit photo -documentation of the seven historically significant warehouses to DLNR-SHPD prior to alteration or demolition. There is no evidence of any traditional and customary Native Hawaiians rights being practiced on the site, nor existence of any known valued cultural or native resources in the area. Thus, it is believed that the project would have no adverse impact relative to the cultural and historical resources of the area. Based on the above findings, approval of this change of zone request from an Agricultural 20 -acre (A -20a) to a Limited Industrial -1 acre (ML -la) zoned district would result in an appropriate land use pattern that is consistent with the General Plan, and will further benefit the general public.