PD BACKGROUND REPORT (PL-SMA-2024-000051)

Home

I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION A. EIS The proposed project was evaluated with respect to Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 343-5 and no triggers were identified. Therefore, further environmental review should not be required beyond what is detailed in this report. B. Project Description, Objectives, and Reasons Scott Grainger ("applicant") is requesting a Special Management Area Use Permit to demolish an existing single-family dwelling and construct a new single-family residence on a 14,000 square foot parcel located within the Special Management Area(SMA). The subject property is located at 69-1918 Puak6 Beach Drive and is identified as TMK(3) 6- 9-006: 016. The site is located on the makai side of Puak6 Beach Drive, approximately 2.7 miles southwest along Puak6 Beach Drive from its intersection with Queen Ka`ahumanu Highway and 2 miles southwest from the Puak6 Boat Ramp (Figure 1). The property contains a single-family dwelling originally constructed in 1955. The existing dwelling is approximately 855 square feet and contains two (2)bedrooms, one (1) bathroom, and a 312 square foot carport. The applicant proposes to demolish the existing dwelling and replace it with a new single-family residence that complies with current building codes and better meets the applicant's needs. To the maximum extent possible, the applicant intends to recycle materials from the original home and transport to an appropriate recycling center to minimize debris contributed to the local landfill. The project also involves installing a new advanced aerobic wastewater treatment unit (ATU) to handle wastewater. Puak6 has been designated a Critical Wastewater Disposal Area (CWDA) since 1990, indicating areas where wastewater disposal has or may pose risks to human health or the environment due to hydrogeological conditions. Water quality concerns in Puak6 stem from older homes with cesspools in close proximity to the water table. While a sewer system is the ideal solution, installing an ATU on existing properties offers an interim solution to significantly enhance wastewater treatment in the area. The subject property has a legal non-conforming seawall and CRM steps, which is the certified shoreline, and an existing non-exclusive seawall easement(Easement 5-6049, C.S.F. 25267 Doc No. A-52610693 (Figures 2-4). This area of Puak6 is primarily developed with single-family residences. The proposed new dwelling and associated improvements will be in keeping with the style and square footage of many of the surrounding homes. As the requested improvements are located entirely within the Special Management Area and the project valuation will exceed $500,000, the applicant is submitting a Special Management Area Major Use Permit application for review and approval by the Hawaii County Planning Department and Leeward Planning Commission. 4