COM 0278.000 2012-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The Honorable J Yoshimoto, Chairman and Members of the County Council Page 3 County water, as well as police and fire services, are located within close proximity to the project site. All essential utilities are available to the property. The project is also consistent with the Hawai`i State Plan, a guide for the long- range development of the State. The Plan identifies goals, objectives, policies and priorities for the State and provides a basis for the determination of policies and allocation of limited resources. Section 226-19 (Objectives and policies for socio-cultural advancement- housing), subsection(b)(1) of the Hawaii State Plan Chapter 226, HRS, (1996) states "it shall be the policy of this State to effectively accommodate the housing needs of Hawai`i's people". Section (b)(3) which states, "Increase home ownership and rental opportunities and choices in terms of quality, location, cost, densities, style and size of housing." Thus, the proposed project is consistent with the policies outlined in the Hawai`i State Plan. Urban Districts shall include lands characterized by "city-like" concentrations of people, structures, streets, urban level of services and other related land uses. The project site is located within the City of Hilo with urban level facilities including an elementary school, hospital, church, gas station, the Kaumana Fire Station, and single- family residential uses. Properties along Ainako Avenue are primarily single-family residential uses. 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) and 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-la) zoned district, it is not currently being used for active agricultural purposes. The property is Unclassified under the State of Hawai`i's Agricultural Lands of Importance to the State of Hawai`i (ALISH)Map and is not in agricultural use. The Land Use Study Bureau's Overall Master Productivity Rating for the soils in the area is "E" or "Very Poor."