Laserfiche WebLink
PUNA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN - <br /> PROPOSED AMENDMENTS * <br /> Notify development p- -- • ... • .. .. - . . - - • - - • - <br /> and protecting cultural and historic artifacts and f atures. Prior to and during <br /> development projccts, applicants should seek advice from thc Departments of <br /> Planning and Public Works about permit approval requirements; <br /> and <br /> .. _ . - . _ . . ... - - • • . • • • - _ and other educational programs <br /> promoting or developing Puna lands.] <br /> [bd a. Initiate Special Design [District] Districts with detailed planning, design standards and <br /> review procedures for the following areas: <br /> — Volcano Village historic core and the separate Biosphere Reserve Buffer Zone (see <br /> Section 2.3.3 a); <br /> — Pahoa Town; <br /> — Kea` au Town; and <br /> — Kurtistown- to- Mountain View corridor. <br /> Refer to Chapter 5 for implementation guidelines related to this action. <br /> [] b. Amend the County building code to add standards for structures utilizing traditional <br /> Hawaiian building design and construction methods. There may be certain limitations <br /> placed on the occupancy or use of these structures, such as for cultural purposes, <br /> accessory uses and /or occasional gatherings only. <br /> [d. Amend the County grading ordinance to require consultation with the Historic <br /> Preservation Division and thc aforementioned County Historic Preservation Commission <br /> prior to the issuance of a grading permit.] <br /> 2.2 NATIVE FORESTS AND GEOLOGICAL FEATURES <br /> As mentioned in the introduction to this chapter, much of Puna's native forests and <br /> unusual geological features are protected by a network of Federal and State management and <br /> regulatory controls. However, there are several important areas and features that are exposed to <br /> significant impact from activities outside of these protected areas and require County initiatives <br /> to protect these resources: <br /> • Lava tubes and caves, some of which host endemic wildlife, extend throughout the <br /> district. Collapsed tubes and caves can also protect portions of forest from fires, <br /> enabling native vegetation to reach a climax condition. The destruction of such <br /> features could therefore disrupt the ecological system. <br /> • The upper Puna forests and segments of the lower Puna forest are among the finest <br /> and most well preserved of their types in the state. Some of these areas, however, are <br /> zoned for agriculture and urban uses and are therefore presently unprotected by <br /> regulation. <br /> 2 -5 <br />