2007-05-24 TPDWAIMEAREZ - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

area, and Pu‘u Ki which is located in this particular area on this 420-acre property. The Waimea Community Association was requesting that the Council be able to protect and preserve this property basically to keep it as a scenic and historical resource of open space, green pasture, pu‘u and forest for many important uses such as grazing, watershed, water development, public access and viewshed. The Planning Director, based on the resolution that was passed by the Hawaii County Council, Resolution 456-06, which was passed on October 31, 2006, requested the Planning Director to initiate down-zoning of this property from Agricultural 1-acre and Agricultural 40-acre to Agricultural 400-acre, that would prevent further development on this property. At this time with the current zoning, the potential is that you could have 6 forty-acre lots as well as 176 one-acre lots. Down-zoning the property to Agricultural 400-acre would preserve this particular property. And again this resolution was passed in order to preserve the Waimea pu‘u as cultural and open space resources and to preserve their agricultural and recreational uses. The pastures and Pu‘u that are immediately above Waimea Town are identified as a vista of exceptional natural beauty. Lastly this particular property is rich in historical and cultural significance as it was the location of the Battle of Hoku‘ula, and within the Recommendation there is a portion that gives a little background on that actual battle. The Planning Director is recommending that the Planning Commission send a favorable recommendation to the Hawaii County Council on this application. Are there any questions? GRAHAM: Thank you, Jeff. I guess on this matter since the Planning Director is not here, you are both our staff and our applicant, so -. DARROW: I guess so. GRAHAM: Any questions from the Commissioners? Commissioner Watanabe? WATANABE: I noted that the Department of Land and Natural Resources indicated that the subject parcel is subject to a cattle lease. So that implies that the State owns this land right now, all of it? DARROW: Correct. WATANABE: Okay, thanks. GRAHAM: Any further questions before I take public testimony? All right. Thank you. I have two people signed up: Bob Hunter and Margaret Wille. You are in front of a somewhat tired Planning Commission, I think, but we’d appreciate some words from you anyway. Could you both raise your right hands? Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth on this matter before the Planning Commission this afternoon? TESTIFIERS: Yes, I do. GRAHAM: Thank you. Mr. Hunter, you can begin, and give your name and address as you begin your testimony, please. HUNTER: Thank you. My name is Bob Hunter. I live at 65-1116 Hoku‘ula Road in Waimea. I’m the Chair of the Waimea CDP Committee of the Waimea Community Association, EXHIBIT D 2