PD RECOMMENDATION REPORT (PL-USE-2022-004)

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where possible. It should be noted that there are no General Plan designated natural beauty sites or vistas located in the vicinity of the subject property. The applicant included a viewshed analysis and photo simulations from several vantage points (including from Saddle Road, mauka and makai views from Kaumana Drive, and from within the Kaumana City subdivision) showing the proposed tower in relation to the existing trees and vegetation on the subject property. Given the close proximity to dwellings within the subdivision (as close as 270 feet), that visual impact would be the most stark and constant,while views from the other vantage points are not as impactful as they are farther away and temporary in nature. To mitigate these visual impacts, the applicant proposes to paint the tower to blend with the surrounding area and believes that the surrounding tree cover and vegetation will help blend the tower within the existing landscape. In addition, the applicant is proposing a monopole, rather than a stealth pole (`monopalm'/`monopine') given that its smaller silhouette is less visible than a tree pole. The applicant further states that stealth tree poles do not weather well in Hawai`i making them an eyesore within a short period of time. Despite the preceding, to better mitigate visual impacts to the surrounding community, the Director is recommending that the tower be developed as a stealth `monopine' tower which will be disguised as a pine tree to blend with other trees and vegetation on the property. Furthermore,more than half of the telecommunication tower applications received by the Planning Department and approved by the Commissions over the past five years have been proposed to be of stealth pole design, despite them being more expensive to build. Finally, there are examples of stealth poles that have successfully held up well in the elements of Hawaii island. The General Plan discusses the importance of protecting native/endangered species in order to maintain an ecological balance for the well-being of the island. According to the applicant, the undeveloped area of the property (including the permit area), is largely primarily vegetated with `uluhe fern, `6hi`a lehua trees, and various wild orchids. The application did not,however reference any animal species likely to be found in the area. Because of this omission, staff looked at Use Permit No. 16-38,which was -5-