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drops down to a one-lane road with grass and dirt shoulders about half way between the <br /> highway and subject property. The pavement width varies from 11 to 22 feet, but is about <br /> 12 feet wide fronting the subject property. There are two existing driveways from <br /> Kihalani Homestead Road to each of the farm dwellings. No new driveways are <br /> proposed. The Subdivision Code indicates agricultural roads should have a minimum <br /> pavement width of 20 feet. It is unreasonable to require the applicants to widen the <br /> pavement of the entire length of the roadway and it is unlikely the County will ever <br /> widen the roadway. Although Kihalani Homestead Road is substandard and narrow, it is <br /> typical in character to other agricultural homestead roads along the Hamakua coast. The <br /> large grass shoulders provide ample space for vehicles to pull over in order to allow other <br /> vehicles to pass by and the addition of one new lot (with an existing dwelling) should not <br /> adversely affect traffic on the roadway. The minimum lot size for Agricultural zoning is <br /> five acres. The Planning.Department would not encourage rezoning of nearby properties <br /> to a density below five acres because it would not establish a beneficial land use pattern <br /> due to the impact additional traffic from these new lots would have on the substandard <br /> roadway. However, in this case the surrounding properties are zoned A-20a and consist <br /> of non-conforming lots that were created prior to the Zoning Code, which range in size <br /> from 2 to 12 acres. <br /> County water is available to the property for the rezoning and subsequent <br /> subdivision. The applicants will be required to enter into an Elevation Agreement with <br /> the Department of Water Supply prior to final subdivision of the property due to one of <br /> the proposed lots being located at an elevation where/the DWS cannot provide adequate <br /> water pressure. The existing residences and agricultural storage structure is currently <br /> served by cesspools approved by the State Department of Health. Solid waste will be <br /> disposed of at the nearby transfer station or Hilo landfill and agricultural waste will be <br /> utilized onsite. There are no significant topographical constraints and the property is not <br /> located in a flood zone. However, the Planning Director agrees with the Department of <br /> Public Works recommendations that a drainage study should be completed and any <br /> necessary improvements constructed prior to construction of any new structure or <br /> -4- <br />