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

Home

plants will also be planted and nurtured to support the hands-on activities. The applicant recognizes the need for a Change of Use Building Permit for both the existing ranch house and barn. Accordingly, the applicant will work with the Department of Public Works to ensure all code requirements are met and necessary upgrades are completed, with the goal of commencing operations in January 2022. The granting of this request would promote the effectiveness and objectives of Chapter 205, Hawaii Revised Statutes, as amended. The State Land Use Law and Regulations are intended to preserve,protect and encourage the development of lands in the State for those uses to which they are best suited in the interest of the public health and welfare of the people of the State of Hawaii. In the case of the Agricultural District, the intent is to preserve or keep lands of high agricultural potential in agricultural use. The proposed use will include outdoor, nature-based activities on the subject property, to connect youth to animals and the land, in addition to indoor activities and programs within the footprint of the existing ranch house and barn. The subject property is situated within an area where soils are classified as "C" or Fair by the Land Study Bureau's Overall Master Productivity Rating and designated as "Prime"by the Department of Agriculture's ALISH Map. The proposed use will not displace existing agricultural activity or diminish the agricultural potential of the subject property. Therefore, the proposed use will not adversely affect the preservation and agricultural use of the County's prime agricultural lands and is not contrary to the objectives sought to be accomplished by the State Land Use Law and Regulations. The proposed use is an unusual and reasonable use of land situated within the State Land Use Agricultural District. In recognizing that lands within agricultural districts might not be best suited for agricultural activities and yet classified as such, and in recognition that certain types of uses might not be strictly agricultural in nature, yet reasonable in such districts, the legislature has provided for the Special Permit process to allow certain unusual and reasonable uses within the Agricultural district. The subject property is approximately 5.362 acres in size and situated within the County's Agricultural (A-5a) zoned district. The proposed cultural academy and retreat facility will occur throughout the subject property, including within an existing 3,476-square foot, 4 -2-