.PD BACKGROUND REPORT (PL-SMA-2023-000043)

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"Honoka`a Landing" (a rocky beach that is more easily reached by foot than the pali that characterizes much of the Hamakua and North Hilo coastline). From the HWWTP loop road, a "jeep road" is used by the public to access the shoreline (as demonstrated by "Modern 1-3"fronting TMK 4-5-002:016). As displayed on Exhibit 14, the HWWTP is located on TMK 4-5-002:060 and there is only one property between the HWWTP and the Site with shoreline (Pali) frontage. That property is identified as TMK 4-5-002:081. As is the case with the HWWTP and the Site (and properties to the east), development of TMK 4-5-002:081 is constrained by the 40-foot Shoreline Setback and the State Conservation District (area within 300 feet from the shoreline/pali), so there are no current obstructions to lateral shoreline access (within the Shoreline Setback area)between the HWWTP loop road and to the shoreline (pali)fronting the Site. VI. Description of Anticipated Impacts A. Description of the Area Involved As described in Exhibit 11, the Site consists of rolling slopes perched above a steep,rocky pali roughly 80 to 165 feet above sea level. After more than a century of continuous sugar cane cultivation and grazing,the vegetation within and near the Shoreline Setback area is almost entirely alien, and the Site consists of wooded pasture with a variety of alien grasses, ironwood trees (Casuarina equisetifolia), Christmas berry (Schinus terebinthifolius) and turkeyberry (Solanum torvum) shrubs (Exhibit 15). As shown on Exhibit 9, there are no streams or wetlands present on the Site. B. Description of Surrounding Area and Uses The surrounding area is characterized by a mixture of developed and undeveloped lots of the Haina Pali Kai Estates Subdivision, including Nanaina Malie Farms. Other uses in the surrounding area include Haina Camp, Hamakua Power Plant,the State of Hawaii Creative Energy Lab, and the County's Honoka`a Wastewater Treatment Plant. Properties immediately surrounding the Site are zoned A-40a by the County and consist of open space, agricultural and very low-density, agriculturally- based residential use. 5