COM 0971.000 1998-2000 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Honorable James Y. Arakaki, Chairman and Members of the County Council Page 8 vegetation is dominated by introduced or alien plant species such as koa haole, guinea grass, air plant, kiawe and lantana. Of the sixty-nine species of plants inventoried on the site, sixty-one are introduced species, one is a Polynesian species and seven are native species. Of the seven native species, six are indigenous. One of the species is endemic. The six indigenous species include the koali, 'ilima, 'ala'ala wai nui, 'ilihe'e, alahe'e, and 'uhaloa. The endemic species is the kauna'oa. According to the applicant's Environmental Report, there is no evidence found that any endemic or endangered animal species utilize the area. The majority of bird and mammal life impacted were found to be exotic species. Mitigation measures for the present site are not expected nor are they proposed as endangered mammal species or endemic species of land or sea birds are not expected in the area. Feral mammals found on the project site included mongoose, mice and rats. The applicant's Environmental Report states in summary that the entire property is situated within the Kona Field System. Twenty-six sites were identified for evaluation within the survey performed by Paul H. Rosendahl, Inc. (PHRI) in November 1998. Recommended mitigative actions include data recovery for five sites, no further work for eighteen sites, and none for the remaining three sites. Of the twenty-six sites, five were historically used for livestock control, eighteen for temporary habitation, one to]- permanent orpermanent habitation, one as a trail for transportation and one is an ahupua'a boundary wall. The only permanent habitation in the area dates to the historic period. No burial sites, or potential burial features were found in the project area. The Department of Land and Natural Resources -State Historic Preservation Division (DLNR-SHPD) has determined that the proposed project will have no adverse effect on significant historic sites, provided that the applicant perform archaeological data recovery work for the five significant historic sites on the project site. As such, an archaeological data recovery plan meeting with the approval of DLNR-SHPD has been required as a condition of approval with this recommendation. Impacts associated with this multiple -family residential and commercial mixed use development such as historical, visual, traffic, drainage and design concerns have been assessed and will be mitigated through conditions of approval. Therefore, the request would not unreasonably burden the public agencies to provide roads and streets, water, drainage, school improvements, police and fire protection. The proposed multiple -family residential and commercial mixed use development and related improvements will fit into the locale with minimal intrusion while providing the desired housing and commercial development, as well as incorporating appropriate infrastructure and design concerns of the development.