PD RECOMMENDATION REPORT (PL-PDI-2022-000004)

Home

easements which severely limit the development potential of those lands. As such,they are requesting that the Planning Director initiate a repeal of the ordinances, pursuant to Condition W, which compels the Director to initiate a reversion of land to its original or more appropriate zoning designation. While the zoning was never technically effectuated, the subject ordinances still govern activities that can occur within the project area, limiting the landowners' ability to utilize their lands as permitted under the original A-20a zoning in the remaining lands unencumbered by conservation easements. The landowners wish to be free of the subject ordinances to allow them the ability to pursue permissible uses under the original A-20a zoning on those remaining lands that are unencumbered by the conservation easements and be afforded the same rights and privileges of landowners with existing agricultural zoning without rezoning conditions. The requested ordinance repeal would allow the use of lands in conformance with their original A-20a zoning, which would be consistent with the General Plan's Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide (LUPAG) map Important Agricultural Lands (ial) and Extensive Agricultural (EA) designations. In addition, the General Plan has several policies related to protection and conservation of ecosystems and key watersheds in the Kona mauka area and the encumbrance of over 75% of the project area in perpetual conservation easements satisfies these policies. Furthermore, since the subject parcel was rezoned the Kona Community Development Plan (KCDP)was adopted. This long-range planning document similarly articulates several goals, policies and actions related to conservation/preservation/ management of sensitive ecological resources and watershed areas in Kona mauka. Moreover, the KCDP also includes several policies related to retention of prime agricultural lands outside of the Kona Urban Area for farming and ranching. Based on the preceding, the reversion to A-20a zoning will conform to the overall agricultural character of the surrounding area and will conform to the General Plan and Kona CDP. An archaeological inventory survey of approximately 850 acres of land between the 2,200- and 3,200-foot elevation was conducted as part of the environmental assessment for the original project. The AIS found 19 sites, 12 of which were considered 3