PD Recommendation Report Graphic Images Hawaii (PL-REZ-2024-057)

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FA district provides for a blend of small-scale agricultural operations associated with residential activities and which may be characterized by farm estates, small acreage farms, or subsistence lots and not at an intensive, commercial production scale, thus the FA zoning would be appropriate within the EA LUPAG designation. The rectangularly shaped rezone area consists of two parcels totaling 26.762 acres of land that gently slopes mauka between the 300- and 400-foot elevation. There is an existing 2,000± square-foot warehouse structure (that was utilized by the previous landowner to store nursery operation supplies and as a small office) situated towards the makai portion of the subject property, as well as a small shed towards the rear. Should the requested change of zone be approved, the applicant will remove these structures to make way for the proposed subdivision. The rezone area is situated adjacent to the south of Ola Hou Estates subdivision, which was rezoned in 2012 and subdivided in two phases between 2018 and 2021, consisting of 35 one-acre sized lots zoned A-la. Properties immediately to the east, south and west of the rezone area are similarly zoned A-20a. Located about a quarter of a mile to the west is the Kea`au Agricultural Lots Subdivision, which was rezoned in 1984 and subdivided in 1985, consisting of 322 one-acre agricultural lots. Further to the north on both sides of the Old Kea`au-Pahoa Road are the Kea`au Elementary and High School complexes and to the south is Punana Leo o Hilo complex on lands zoned A-20a and developed under a Special Permit issued in 1979. Land uses within proximity to the rezone area consist of rural lots and public and private educational complexes. The proposed FA zoning and family-agricultural subdivision will be similar in character and use to the adjoining Ola Hou Estates and nearby Kea`au Agricultural Lots subdivisions and will establish small family agricultural lots near the Kea`au Town Center urban core and larger, more expansive agricultural lands to the west. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (U.S.D.A.) soil survey identifies soils on the property as Panaewa very cobbly hydrous loam (2 to 10 percent slope). These soils consist of well-drained, cobbly hydrous loam that formed in volcanic ash over pahoehoe (Panaewa) or A`a (Ola`a) bedrock. These soils are not considered as prime farmlands and were generally used for sugarcane, although the Panaewa series were also used for -3-