PD Recommendation Report (PL-SPP-2022-000025)

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• Designate and allocate land areas in appropriate proportions and mix and in keeping with the social, cultural, and physical environments of the County. • Encourage other compatible economic uses that complement existing agricultural and pastoral activities. Economic Element • Economic development and improvements shall be in balance with the physical, social and cultural environments of the island of Hawaii. • Provide an economic environment which allows new, expanded, or improved economic opportunities that are compatible with the County's cultural, natural and social environment. • Strive for diversification of the economy by strengthening existing industries and attracting new endeavors. • Encourage the expansion of the research and development industry by working with and supporting the University of Hawaii at Hilo and West Hawaii, the Natural Energy Laboratory at Hawaii Authority and other agencies'programs that support sustainable economic development in the County of Hawaii. • Continue to encourage the research, development and implementation of advanced technologies and processes. • Support the development of high technology industries. The subject property is located within the boundaries of the Ka`u Community Development Plan (CDP), which encourages development within town/village centers to give residents better access to public and commercial services while preserving natural and cultural resources by limiting the spread of development. The subject property is not situated within an area designated for development in the Ka`u CDP and is designated "Extensive Agriculture" in the Regional Land Use Policy Map. The closest town, Pahala, is located approximately 3.5 miles away from the subj ect property. The Ka`u CDP steering committee established community objectives based on the community's values and vision, as summarized in Section 1.5.1, Community Objectives. Objective 2 addressed sustainable settlement patterns on agricultural lands: ■ Preserve prime and other viable agricultural lands and preserve and enhance -8-