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family residences, and commercial uses across the highway consistent with a rural <br /> community. The adaptive re-use of the former church facility for a preschool/community <br /> learning center use will not substantially alter or change the essential, rural community <br /> character of the area. <br /> (G) The request will not be contrary to the General Plan and official <br /> Community Development Plan and other documents such as Design Plans. The <br /> County of Hawai`i's General Plan is the policy document for the long-range, <br /> comprehensive development of the island of Hawaii. One of the purposes of the General <br /> Plan is to guide the pattern of future development in this County based on long-term goals. <br /> The General Plan Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide (LUPAG) Map designates the <br /> property and proposed Special Permit area as Important Agricultural Lands, which are <br /> designated as lands with better potential for sustained high agricultural yields because of <br /> soil type, climate, topography, or other factors. <br /> Despite this designation, as discussed above,the previously developed nature of the <br /> permit area and less than optimal soil characteristics make the use of the 1.25-acre permit <br /> area acceptable for consideration in this case. <br /> Additionally, the approval of the subject request would support the goals and <br /> policies of the Public Facilities, Land Use and Economic elements of General Plan. <br /> Public Facilities <br /> ■ Improve basic school facilities to meet current standards. <br /> ■ Encourage the provision ofpublic facilities that effectively service community and <br /> visitor needs and seek ways of improving public services through better and more <br /> functional facilities in keeping with the environmental and aesthetic concerns ofthe <br /> community. <br /> Economic <br /> ■ Support all levels of educational, employment and training opportunities and <br /> institutions. <br /> ■ Provide an economic environment that allows new, expanded, or improved <br /> economic opportunities that are compatible with the County's cultural, natural, <br /> and social environment. <br /> -8- <br />