PD Recommendation Report (PL-SPP-2023-000036)

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parking stalls and one garage parking space for guests of the bed and breakfast operation. The applicant intends to begin operating the bed and breakfast upon approval of the Special Permit and does not anticipate construction costs associated with the project. The criteria for approving a Special Permit are based on Rule 6-7 in the Planning Commission Rules. It states that the Planning Commission shall not approve a Special Permit unless it is found that the proposed use (a) is an unusual and reasonable use of land situated within the Agricultural or Rural District, whichever the case may be, and (b) the proposed use would promote the effectiveness and objectives of Chapter 205, Hawai`i Revised Statutes, as amended. The granting of this request would promote the effectiveness and objectives of Chapter 205, Hawaii Revised Statutes, as amended. The State Land Use Law and Regulations are intended to preserve, protect, and encourage the development of lands in the State for those uses to which they are best suited in the interest of the public health and welfare of the people of the State of Hawaii. In the case of the Agricultural District, the intent is to preserve or keep lands of high agricultural potential in agricultural use. Although the County designates the property as important agricultural land, the soils are classified as a combination of "C" or Fair and "E" or "Very Poor" by the Land Study Bureau's Overall Master Productivity Rating and designated as "Unclassified" by the Department of Agriculture's ALISH Map. Further, as the proposed use will occur within the footprint of the existing single- family dwelling, the agricultural potential of the subject property will not be diminished. Currently, fruit trees such as mango, papaya, avocado, lemon, lime, star fruit and orange comprise the agricultural uses on the subject property and those uses will continue. Therefore, the proposed use will not adversely affect the preservation and agricultural use of prime agricultural lands and is not contrary to the objectives sought to be accomplished by the State Land Use Law and Regulations. The proposed use is an unusual and reasonable use of land situated within the State Land Use Agricultural District. In recognizing that lands within agricultural districts might not be best suited for agricultural activities and yet classified as such, and in recognition that certain types of uses might not be strictly agricultural in nature, yet -2-