PD BACKGROUND REPORT (PL-SPP-2024-000064)

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Mr. Zendo Kern, Director March 30, 2024 Page 3 RELATIONSHIP TO SPECIAL PERMIT CRITERIA: The contents below have been excerpted from the attached updated report. "In determining whether the requested use is an `unusual and reasonable use' and thus should be permitted within the Agricultural District, certain guidelines are used. These guidelines and their relationship to the requested use follow. A. Relationship to Land Use Law and Obiectives The subject request will not be contrary to the Land Use Commission Rules (HAR, Title 15, Chapter 15),Planning Commission Rules(Rule 6), or Chapter 205, Hawaii Revised Statutes,which purposes are to 1) preserve,protect, and encourage the development of lands in the State for their best uses in the interest of the public welfare, and 2)protect, conserve, and rationally develop the State's urban, agricultural, and conservation lands using a coordinated and balanced approach. In this situation,the subject site's soil resource is Class C or `Fair'. The soil resource based on that classification is thus deemed important. It should be noted that the project will result in no land currently used for agriculture to be removed. More importantly,however,the project will result in more intensive agricultural use. The project should result in more intensive agricultural use of the subject site, as the income generating from the B&B could help sustain and expand the Applicants' on-going and planned agricultural activities. At the same time, guests will be exposed to the Applicants' farm and practices,which could generate interest in farming. B. Relationship to General Plan and Other Plannine Requirements The project's relationship to the County General Plan and Hamakua Community Development Plan is discussed in Chapter V-B and C. Regarding the County General Plan, it should be noted that while the General Plan was amended in 2005 (subsequent to approval of the SPP), there were no significant changes to the policies and LUPAG map affecting the subject area. Thus,the reasons justifying the original B&B request as outlined in the Commission's approval of the SPP (Exhibit A), still apply. In sum, Chapter V-B notes the project's consistency with the goals and policies of the Agricultural, Land Use, and Economic elements. The project will enhance the agricultural activities of the site,while potentially fostering other areas to engage in agricultural pursuits as well. There will be added direct and indirect employment opportunities. Further,the