PD Recommendation Report Kamehameha Schools (PL-SPP-2023-037)

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The proposed placement of an elementary school campus on an approximately 2.331-acre parcel is unusual in that it is not an agricultural use of that property. The use is reasonable in the Agricultural District because, having been previously cleared and developed for church and residential uses, the permit area does not have a high potential for agriculture and could better serve the community through its use as an educational center. It is therefore determined that the proposed use is an unusual and reasonable use within the Agricultural District and will not be contrary to the objectives of 205A, HRS, as amended. In addition to the above listed criteria,the Planning Commission shall also consider the criteria listed under Section 6-3(b)(5) (A) through (G). In considering the criteria, the Planning Director recommends the following: (A)Such use would not be contrary to the objectives sought to be accomplished by the Land Use Law and Regulations. The State Land Use Law and Regulations are intended to preserve, protect, and encourage the development of lands for those uses to which they are best suited in the interest of the public welfare of the people and 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 uses. Lands within the permit area has been previously cleared and used for church and residential purposes for several decades. Except for a small strip of vacant land on parcel 040, the proposed uses will take place within existing buildings or within the footprint of buildings to be demolished. Furthermore, lands within the permit area are not considered to have high agricultural potential from a resource perspective due to the soil type and its low productivity rating, which is typically used for grazing pasture lands and not intensive agriculture. The property is not considered important agricultural land as the property's soils are designated "E" or "Very Poor" for agricultural productivity by the Land Study Bureau Soil Classification System and are considered "other important agricultural land" by the Department of Agriculture's ALISH Map. As evaluated above,the applicants' request is considered an unusual and reasonable use of agricultural land that will not adversely affect the preservation of lands with high -3-