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vegetable gardens, which will be maintained with the proposed development. Thus, the <br /> proposed use will support many of the agricultural land use policies of the General Plan <br /> and North Kohala CDP including the following policies: <br /> General Plan-Land Use-Agricultural Policy <br /> - Ensure that development of important agricultural land be primarily for <br /> agricultural use. <br /> North Kohala CDP Strategy 1.4 <br /> - Promote and support a community of diversified agriculture. <br /> Additionally, the proposed use complements the following land use goals and policies of <br /> the General Plan: <br /> Land Use <br /> - Designate and allocate land uses in appropriate proportions and in keeping <br /> with the social, cultural, and physical environments of the County. <br /> - Encourage the development and maintenance of communities meeting the <br /> needs of its residents in balance with the physical and social environment. <br /> Finally, the North Kohala CDP addressed special permits allowing overnight <br /> accommodations, such as "retreats," and raised concerns about negative impacts that such <br /> developments may have on the area's limited infrastructure and small-town feel. While <br /> the CDP reflected community sentiment in 2008 in recommending that special permits <br /> allowing large-scale overnight accommodations not be approved, the Planning <br /> Department has received testimony from the Acting Chair of the Growth Management <br /> Group of the North Kohala CDP Advisory Group (now the Kohala Community Access <br /> Group or KCAG) stating current support of the amendment request. The reasons cited <br /> include unobtrusive siting of the additional guest rooms, community benefits in the form <br /> of job opportunities and shoreline public access, continued agricultural uses, and the <br /> ability to provide a distinct experience for visitors that reflects the character of the Kohala <br /> District. The letter further stated that KCAG would like to review the recorded Public <br /> Access Plan and suggest any changes that may be needed, which subsequently occurred <br /> in March and April of 2024. The applicant drafted amendments to the public access plan, <br /> -7- <br />