Communication No. 2018-08- KCDP Amendments Subcommittee Report

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Communication No. 2018-08 2. Property tax credits for landowners. A new ecosystem services assessment class would result in minimum tax; 3. Grants. Grants administered by the Kona Mauka Watershed Partnership would be available to help fund various ecosystem management activities such as constructing detention basins, controlling invasive species, mitigating wildfire threats, restoring native forests, and other activities consistent with the Kona Mauka Watershed Management Program; 4. Government approval assistance. The Design Center staff shall be available to resolve any difficulties with obtaining approvals for ecosystem management activities, such as issues relating to the Conservation District, or in applying for various programs such as U.S. Forest Services’ Forest Legacy Program. Policy ENV–1.5: Sensitive Resources. In the context of Kona’s ecology and history, the following natural and cultural resources shall be considered sensitive and therefore shallshould be inventoried, as part of any permit application to the County Planning Department (see Figures 4-8a to 4-8d):  Critical habitat areas as identified by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife or County General Plan;  Predominantly native ecosystems, which may not be considered endangered but are valued because of their nearly pristine condition;  Anchialine ponds subject to a management Program addressed in Policy ENV-1.10: Non-Degradation of Anchialine Ponds;  High-level groundwater recharge area which shall initially be defined as all lands mauka of the 1,500 foot elevation and which may be refined by the Kona Mauka Watershed Management Program;  Historic trails;  Archaeological and historic sites subject to protection under HRS Chapter 6E; and,  Enhanced Shoreline Setback (see Policy LU-1.5). Any permit application that encompasses any of the above resources shall strive toshould incorporate these resources as assets. If a proposed project will have significant, unavoidable, adverse impacts to any of the above resources, the presumption shall be denial of the application and the applicant will have the burden of explaining any overriding considerations. The presence of any of these resources shall qualify for density transfers through a planned unit development based on potential gross density allowed by the prevailing zoning. The protection or restoration of any of