PD RECOMMENDATION REPORT (PL-SLU-2021-001)

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The subject property is located within the State Land Use Agricultural and Urban regions and County's Agricultural (A-5a) zoned district. It has been cleared for farming purposes in the past and is vacant of any current agricultural uses, other than grazing. The subject parcel is not classified as Important Agricultural Land. The State of Hawaii Agricultural Lands of Importance to the State of Hawaii (ALISH)Map classifies approximately half of the subject property as "Unclassified" and the remaining approximately half as "Prime Agricultural Land". The Land Study Bureau(LSB) designates approximately half of the subject property as "unclassified" and consists of the lands designated as State Land Use Urban. The remainder of the subject parcel is classified with LSB "B" (good soils) and corresponds with lands that are designated as SLU Agricultural on the property. The U.S.D.A. Soil Survey classifies the soils within the subject property as Kikoni medial silt loam with 0 to 3 percent slopes. The soil consists of volcanic ash over a`a lava flows. The soil is considered well drained with a very low runoff class. The Hawai`i Right to Farm Act, HRS Chapter 165,was enacted to protect farming operations on land in the State Land Use Agricultural District when adjacent land is reclassified out of the Agricultural District.A condition of approval will require the applicants to notify prospective purchasers, tenants, or lessees of the Hawaii Right to Farm Act. Due to the close proximity of the property to Waimea Town Center, the reclassification of this 2.653 -acre area of land from the Agricultural to the Urban State Land Use designation will not be detrimental to the reduction of this area from the agricultural land inventory in the County of Hawaii. Furthermore, an Urban classification would complement the existing and future land use pattern of the surrounding area in view of the urban uses already in existence in close proximity to the subject properties. Based on the preceding,the approval of the State Land Use Boundary Amendment from the Agricultural to the Urban District complements the State Land Use District Regulations and County General Plan and is supportive of the Hawaii State Plan. -5-