2015-07-02 HearingTranscript - PD Initiated GP LUPAG MAP 14

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And, if I may direct your attention to the presentation on the screen--first of all, why amend the Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide Map for Kea‛au Town? It was predicated on a County Council Resolution No. 464-14 that was issued in July 18, 2014, where the Council requested the Director to initiate an interim amendment to the Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide Map in the vicinity of the Kea‛au Regional Town Center as defined by the Puna Community Development Plan based on findings that: (1)The County of Hawai‛i General Plan LUPAG Map designations for the Kea‛au Regional Town Center area are inconsistent with the objectives, actions, and land use recommendations of the Puna CDP. (2)There are inconsistencies between the existing zoning designations and the LUPAG Map designations in the vicinity of Ulupono and Milo Streets, and I’ll show you that later as we go through some additional slides. (3)In order to meet the objectives of the Puna CDP and to facilitate future land use entitlements and enhance the role of the Kea‛au Regional Town Center, including the Puna CDP’s statement that zoning for residential development and associated neighborhood oriented services may occur within the LUPAG alternate urban expansion areas, the General Plan should be more closely aligned to the Puna CDP. (4)Inconsistencies between the LUPAG map and the Puna CDP recommendations, growth within the Kea‛au Regional Town Center has been primarily confined to a core in which specific settlement patterns have not yet been fixed and which is currently designated Medium Density Urban on the LUPAG Map, with limited opportunities in the Low Density Urban area for higher density residential units and retail and office commercial uses to support the regional town center in Kea‛au. For these reasons, the County Council through this specific resolution expresses support of the amendment because it supports the Kea‛au Regional Town Center principles and designation adopted in the Puna CDP and determines the development of the Kea‛au Regional Town Center will serve the interest of the public by stimulating growth through sustainable principles that will provide for improved public infrastructural systems and facilities, direct and indirect employment, and a continued sense of place outlined herein, in the Puna CDP, and in the General Plan. Public informational meetings on the Council resolution and its directive to the Department were th held on February 11, 2015 in Kea‛au and the following day, February 12, in Kona. During the Kea‛au meeting, some concerns were expressed by the public, among others, focused on the overly broad nature of the proposed urban expansion designation as defined in the Council resolution, that could allow industrial uses within the village town center and in close proximity to existing residential uses and schools, creating an issue of compatibility between these uses. Based on those comments received during the workshops and public and agency review period, the Planning Director recommends that the proposed LUPAG Map amendment identify a medium density urban designation that would be more appropriate as it would expand upon the existing medium density urban designation that encompasses the existing commercial area in 2 EXHIBIT A