PD BACKGROUND REPORT (PL-SPP-2022-014)

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PROPOSED USE,STATE OF OBJECTIVES AND REASONS FOR REQUEST FOR SPECIAL PERMIT Subject Property: TMK 3-7-5-13-050 75-1100 Kamalani Street, Holualoa, HI 96725 Applicant: Gretchen I.Watson-Kabei,Sole Proprietor 3. Background information on the subject request ("Request"): A. Subject property is a working coffee farm, also known as Watson-Kabei Coffee Estate, LLC ("WKCE") owned by Gretchen I. Watson-Kabei ("Applicant") and Dale S. Kabei (Applicant's husband). Presently, WKCE maintains an office to assist with the sale and marketing of the coffee farm operation. Applicant's 'involuntary' retirement as a full-time real estate broker in July 2021 (due to downsizing of corporate office as a direct result of the COVID-19 Pandemic). As a result thereof,Applicant applied for a Home Occupation Declaration and Zoning Clearance("Clearance")dated 9/21/2021,for the sole purpose of maintaining her real estate broker license to assist family and friends interested in buying real estate and thereby remain active in the real estate business. Said Clearance was subsequently returned on 2/9/2022 as 'not allowed'with the comment:Home Occupation maybe permitted provided that a special permit is obtained. Per chapter 25-zoning code section 25-5-72(c)8. See Attachment 1 hereto. Applicant has been an active real estate licensee for the past 30+ years. This Request would allow Applicant to work from an existing home office (farm business), with zero impact on surrounding neighbors. Applicant is a sole proprietor real estate broker with no employees. All communication and business transactions are handled electronically; meetings to view real property are held at the real property of interest; escrow, including document preparation and execution, are all handled electronically. More importantly, Applicant does not actively solicit or advertise for real estate business — Applicant is a 'Buyer's Agent', assisting as needed, friends and family interested in purchasing real property. Applicant anticipates at the very most, 1-2 transactions per year. Hours of operation vary. . . at most, 1-2 hours/week B. Applicant proposes to work from an existing office, presently used for the operation of WKCE's coffee business. Existing office is located within Applicant's farm dwelling at 75-1100 Kamalani Street, in Holualoa, Hawaii ("Property"). Subject Property is approximately 5.16 acres with an existing farm dwelling located in the center of the property. There is sufficient parking to accommodate four vehicles, excluding a two-car covered garage; however,for the purpose of this Request,Applicant will not need to use parking for real estate business activity. In addition to the farm dwelling, there is a covered 'Hoshidana' for drying coffee, and an open covered work shed. The remainder of property is for agricultural use to grow coffee, fruit trees, and plants indigenous to Hawaii. Use of the existing home office to also transact real estate business from time to time, would allow the continuity of Applicant's ability to conduct real estate transactions and operate farm business on the coffee farm without leaving the Property--thereby benefitting all aspects of the business and use of the Subject Property. C. Subject Property is zoned A-5A, ca. 5.16 acres total and is not in a Special Management Area. Maintaining an office from home diminishes the need to add to existing Kona traffic congestion. This Request would not alter or adversely impact the importance of the Subject Property's 'rural' designation,environment,and/or impact the protection of important agricultural land,as further outlined in the Kona Community Development Plan, Volume 1, September 2008, Final (as amended). 1