2017-3-15 Land Use Policy Guide FINAL COMPLETE 06.07.2018

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3 1 Dreferrec 1Pttlement Patterns The preferred settlement patterns in the Hamakua CDP planning area are based on an analysis of Hamakua's historic settlement patterns, capacity relative to population projections, related General Plan policies, and alternative future growth patterns. The preferred pattern is to: • Reduce rural sprawl and infrastructure costs, it focuses future residential development in existing villages and towns and seeks to preserve large productive agricultural lands for agriculture by accommodating rural -residential development close to urban centers, • Direct new residential development away from coastal areas and encourages the clustering of developments to leave natural buffer areas, • Plan urban areas with appropriately -scaled densities that complement the rural character of the area. This preferred pattern is closely aligned with the settlement pattern in section 14.1 of the General Plan: The future improvement and development objectives are directed toward making urban and rural centers more efficient, livable, and safe. Growth should be encouraged in terms of renewing older areas or extending existing areas. The creation of new urban and rural centers should be initiated only when it is in the public interest and must be accompanied by commitments from both government and the private sector for the development of basic community and public facilities and services. Infrastructure costs less when new residential areas are located near existing highways, water and sewer lines, and employment cen ters. 3.2 Supporting Community Objectives Of the Community Objectives adopted by the Steering Committee (see Section 1.8.1 of the CDP), the following three are most related to the preferred settlement pattern: ■ Objective 2: Protect and restore viable agricultural lands and resources. Protect and enhance viewscapes and open spaces that exemplify Hamakua's rural character. ■ Objective 4: Protect and nurture Hamakua's social and cultural diversity and heritage assets, including sacred places, historic sites and buildings, and distinctive plantation towns. ■ Objective 5: Direct future settlement patterns that are sustainable and connected. Honor Hamakua's historic and cultural assets by concentrating new development in existing, walkable, mixed-use town centers while limiting rural sprawl. 3.3 Hamakua CDP Land Use Guide Map These objectives and the community's preferred settlement pattern are realized through many of the land use policies in the Hamakua CDP. They are represented in a comprehensive way in the official Land Use Guide Map for the Hamakua CDP planning area, which is adopted with Policy 1. These maps are located in Section7. Policy 1: With the adoption of the Hdmdkua CDP, Figures 2-13 are adopted as the Land Use Guide Map for the Hdmdkua CDP Planning Area. Future land use decisions in the Hdmdkua CDP planning area shall be consistent with the Hamakua CDP Land Use Planner's Guide