PD RECOMMENDATION REPORT (PL-SMA-2021-000004)

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Planning Commission Rules of Practice and Procedure. The purpose of Chapter 205A, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) and Special Management Area Rules and Regulations of the County of Hawaii, is to preserve, protect, and where possible, to restore the natural resources of the coastal zone areas. Therefore, special controls on development within an area along the shoreline are necessary to avoid permanent loss of valuable resources and the foreclosure of management options. The objectives and policies of Chapter 205A, HRS include, but are not limited to, the protection of recreational resources, historic resources, scenic and open space resources, coastal ecosystems, marine and coastal resources, beach protection, and controlling development in coastal hazard areas. Coastal Recreational Resources: While the land covered by "Areas B and C" of the proposed Kumu Hou project area and subject to this request are situated within the SMA, they are not considered shoreline areas as the makai most points of"Area B" and "Area C" are located approximately 3,000 feet and 9,700 feet from the nearest shoreline respectively. As such there are no significant coastal recreational resources located directly within these areas. Condition 6 of SMA 25 (under which these land areas are currently covered) requires the applicant provide public access to `Anaeho`omalu Bay and elsewhere along the shoreline, the King's Trail, anchialine pond preserve areas, and other public recreational and cultural facilities in perpetuity. In support of this, the Director approved a Public Access and Parking Plan dated January 20, 1998; to date the applicant has made access improvements as required by the plan to the previously mentioned areas and resources largely in the area makai section of the Kumu Hou project area. The proposed Kumu Hou project is designed to enhance and link access between the existing recreation areas, natural and cultural resources areas, open spaces, and public access facilities. These include: 1) a new, 8-foot-wide pedestrian pathway planned to connect the northern and southern ends of Waikoloa Beach Drive via Ala Ihi Way; 2)two (2) new gateway parks at the intersection of Ala Ihi Way/and the southern end of Waikoloa Beach Road; and 3) new pathways to the makai gateway park to provide multi- modal access to the Queens' Marketplace and from there link to sidewalk and other paths -5-