PD RECOMMENDATION REPORT - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

The applicants' goal is to provide alternative and rustic overnight accommodations, allowing visitors an opportunity to enjoy and learn about Hamakua and to support businesses and farms in the area. Additionally, the applicants note that while the subject property has fruit tree propagation and livestock pasturing, the parcel is narrow, with a steep elevation incline, making intensive agricultural productivity unviable. The bed and breakfast establishment will be operated by a live-in manager and quiet hours will be from 9:00 PM to 8:00 AM. The grounds for approving a Special Permit are based on Rule 6-7 in the Planning Commission Rules. It states that the Planning Commission shall not approve a Special Permit unless it is found that the proposed use (a) is an unusual and reasonable use of land situated within the Agricultural or Rural District, whichever the case may be and (b) the proposed use would promote the effectiveness and objectives of Chapter 205, Hawaii Revised Statutes, as amended. The granting of this request would promote the effectiveness and objectives of Chapter 205, Hawaii Revised Statutes, as amended. The State Land Use Law and Regulations are intended to preserve, protect, and encourage the development of lands in the State for those uses to which they are best suited in the interest of the public health and welfare of the people of the State of Hawaii. In the case of the Agricultural District, the intent is to preserve or keep lands of high agricultural potential in agricultural use. In this case, the County designates the property as important agricultural lands, the soils are classified as C and E by the Land Study Bureau's Overall Master Productivity Rating and designated as Prime by the Department of Agriculture's ALISH Map. As the proposed use will occur within the footprint of an existing dwelling,existing cabanas will be used as campsites and the only new construction proposed is to build a 120-square-foot bathhouse, the agricultural potential of the subject property will not be diminished. Although there are existing fruit trees and pasture areas, the applicants note that the narrow width and steep incline of the parcel is not conducive to intensive agricultural uses.Therefore,the proposed use will not adversely affect the preservation and agricultural use of prime agricultural lands and is not contrary to the objectives sought to be accomplished by the State Land Use Law and Regulations. 2