PD BACKGROUND REPORT (PL-REZ-2021-012)

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L INTRODUCTION Siting Chen ("applicant")is requesting the rezoning of a 14.968-acre parcel of land in Kai lua-Kona, Hawaii from Agriculture (A-5a) to I cnn7 lyAgricullure (FA-1 a). The property is located on the southwest side of Hualalai Road, immediately southwest of its intersection with Hienaloli Road (Figure 1). If approved, the applicant intends to subdivide the 14.968-acre parcel into eleven (11) lots, consisting of a minimum of one(1) acre each (Figure 2). The applicant intends to retain the largest lot, consisting of roughly 3.5 acres, for the purpose of constructing his own single-family dwelling and planting an orchard(lychee, longan, mango, avocado, ulu, papaya, banana and dragonfruit) and vegetable plots. The remaining ten (10)lots would be sold and will help address the need for greater diversity of housing choices in the Kona area by creating additional fee simple lots to serve as housing while providing opportunities for diverse small-scale farming. II. PROJECT LOCATION The project site is located on the southwest side of Hualalai Road, immediately southwest of its intersection with Hienaloli Road (Figure 1). Vehicular access to the property is from Hualalai Road. M. PROJECT DESCRIPTION A. Project Concept and Components The subject site consists of 14.968 acres and is currently vacant of any structures. The applicant wishes to obtain a change of zone from A-5a to FA-la in order to subdivide the subject property into eleven (11) lots. If approved, the proposed lots woul d range from approxi mate]y I-acre i n si ze to approxi m ately 3.5-acres i n si ze (Figure 2). The lots would be accessed via two proposed cul-de-sacs. In 2013, the previous owner of the subject parcel submitted applications for a State Land Use Boundary Amendment from Agricultural to Urban (SLU 13- 000038)and a Change of Zone from A-5a to RS-15 (REZ 13-060164)with the intent of subdividing the parcel into 43 lots. These applications were forwarded on to the County Council with a favorable recommendation from the Leeward Planning Commission and the Hawaii County Planning Department, but were subsequently withdrawn by the applicant. During the application process it came to light that the Department of Public Works found the condition of Hualalai Road to be substandard and the favorable recommendations contained conditions that included various improvements to Hualalai Road. Those improvements were cost prohibitive, and the previous project was withdrawn. The current application differs from the one submitted by the previous landowner significantly in that the current request for T'A-la zoning would be in a]ignment with the property's current State Land Use designation of Agricultural (Figure 3) and that it proposes a much lower density than had been sought by the previous landowner(I 1 lots rather than 43 lots). The applicant expects that dedication of some land fronting Hualalai Road will be required as a condition of the proposed 3