PD Background Report (PL-REZ-2023-041 & PL-SMA-2023-029)

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production of food, feed, forage and fiber crops. The land has soil quality, growing season and moisture supply needed to produce sustained high yields of crops economically when treated and managed, including water management, according to modern farming methods. 16. Flood Zone: According to the Department of Public Works (DPW) Engineering Division, the subject parcel is currently designed as Zone X on the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). Zone "X" is an area determined by FEMA to be an area outside the 500-year floodplain. 17. Flora/Faunal Resources: There were no professional surveys conducted of the floral or faunal resources for the subject property, however the applicant does not believe that any rare or endangered floral or faunal resources are likely to be found within the subject property due to the long developed residential use and the suburban nature of the surrounding area and the long-developed use of the subject property for sugarcane. According to the State Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW)there are several state-listed species that could occur at or in the vicinity of the subject property including the Hawaiian Hawk(`Io), Hawaiian Goose (Nene), Hawaiian Hoary Bat (`Ope`ape`a) and other seabirds. DOFAW provided recommendations to mitigate impacts on these species. 18. Archaeological/Historical Resources: No professional archaeological and cultural study was conducted of the subject property. According to the applicant, the site has already been disturbed due to its past cultivation in sugarcane and its continuing use for agricultural purposes and no archaeological or historical features are known to exist on the subject property. The State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources-Historic Preservation Division concurred that no historic properties would be affected by the proposed rezone in a letter dated May 31, 2023. 19. Cultural or Native Gathering Rights: There is no evidence of any traditional and customary Native Hawaiian rights being practiced on the site, nor existence of any known valued cultural, historical or native resources in the area. 20. Traffic: Given the small scale and scope of the project, a TIAR was not performed. According to the applicant, the proposed 4-lot subdivision is expected to generate about 4 peak hour vehicle trips which is well below the 50 peak hour trip benchmark. 21. Public Access: There is no record of a designated public access to the shoreline or mountain areas that traverses the property. According to the DOFAW Na Ala Hele Trails and Access -4-