Waipi'o Lookout Draft Environmental Assessment

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12.5.4.2 Courses of Action (b)Encourage the recreational development of Waipi`o and Waimanu Valleys as natural and wilderness areas. Encourage the State to provide small recreation sites on the edge of Waipio Valley. Discussion: The Rice Property may be developed as a park centered around a significant natural resource. Development of the property may help maintain the natural beauty of the area. Therefore,the proposed action satisfies relevant goals,policies,and courses of action of the Hawaii County General Plan related to recreational facilities in Hawaii County and Hamakua. The Hawai`i County General Plan Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide (L UPAG). The LUPAG map component of the General Plan is a graphic representation of the Plan's goals,policies,and standards as well as of the physical relationship between land uses. It also establishes the basic urban and non-urban form for areas within the planned public and cultural facilities,public utilities and safety features, and transportation corridors. The Rice Property is classified as Important Agricultural Land in the LUPAG. While the General Plan's policy for this classification is intended to preserve important agricultural lands,the Rice Property has not been cultivated for some time, if ever, and the proposed acquisition would not result in loss of cultivated land. Hawai`i County Zoning. The Rice Property and all adjacent parcels are zoned A-40a, agricultural. The action, involving only acquisition of the Rice Property,would by nature be consistent with this zoning. A discussion of zoning conformance with planned use of the site, which would be determined as part of a plan for the property, would be the subject of an additional Environmental Assessment. Community use structures may be permitted within this zoning designation with a Special Permit and Plan Approval by the Planning Department. approval. The property is not situated within the County's Special Management Area(SMA). 3.6.3 Hawaii State Land Use Law All land in the State of Hawaii is classified into one of four land use categories — Urban,Rural, Agricultural, or Conservation —by the State Land Use Commission,pursuant to Chapter 205, HRS. The property is in the State Land Use Agricultural District. The purchase of the property for eventual use as a park and education center is consistent with intended uses for this Land Use District. PART 4: DETERMINATION Based on the information to this point,the Hawaii County Department of Finance is expected to determine that the proposed project will not significantly alter the environment. It is therefore anticipated that an Environmental impact Statement is not warranted and that the Department of Finance will issue a Finding of No Significant Impact(FONSI). A final determination will be made by the Department of Finance after consideration of comments on the Draft EA. 19 Environmental Assessment, Hawai`i County Purchase of Rice Property at Waipi`o Lookout