HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0518.000 2022-2024Mitchell D. Roth
Mayor
C�ounN of "4.afxal`i
Lee E. Lord
Managing Director
Robert H. Command
Deputy Managing Director
Offirr of for nVor
25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 • (808) 961-8211 • Fax (808) 961-6553
KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg C • Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i 96740
(808) 323-4444 9 Fax (808) 323-4440
September 20, 2023
Heather Kimball, Council Chair
and Members of the County Council
County of Hawaii
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, HI 96720
Dear Chair Kimball and Members:
SUBJECT: Change of Zone Application (PL-REZ-2023-000046)
Request: Agricultural -3 Acres (FA -3a) to Family -Agricultural -1 Acre
(FA -1a)
Applicant: Sandra Kaneshiro
Tax Map Key: (3) 2-2-048:092; Pana`ewa Farm Lots, South Hilo, Hawaii
As required by Chapter 7, Sec. 6-7.5 (a)(3), ,Hawai`i County Charter, transmitted herewith for the
County Council's consideration and action are the Windward Planning Commission's letter and
enclosures regarding the above -referenced request.
Sincerely,
MITCHELL D. ROTH
Mayor
TCouncilKaneshiroPL-PFZ-2023-000046wpc .
Enclosures r p
cc: Planning Department Comm. No.
Ref. To
County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. R@F•.:Date ��"iU. q p `� �o��
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SUBJECT: Change of Zone Application (PL-REZ-2023-000046)
Request: Agricultural -3 Acres (FA -3a) to Family -Agricultural -1 Acre
(FA -1a)
Applicant: Sandra Kaneshiro
Tax Map Key: (3) 2-2-048:092; Pana`ewa Farm Lots, South Hilo, Hawaii
As required by Chapter 7, Sec. 6-7.5 (a)(3), ,Hawai`i County Charter, transmitted herewith for the
County Council's consideration and action are the Windward Planning Commission's letter and
enclosures regarding the above -referenced request.
Sincerely,
MITCHELL D. ROTH
Mayor
TCouncilKaneshiroPL-PFZ-2023-000046wpc .
Enclosures r p
cc: Planning Department Comm. No.
Ref. To
County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. R@F•.:Date ��"iU. q p `� �o��
Mitchell D. RothoJNv`os
"''�
•..�,
Dennis Lin, Chair
Mayor
:•; - \,Ii :
Louis Daniele III, Vice Chair
•'
Lauren Balog
Lee E. Lord
John Cross
Managing Director
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Wayne De Luz
_OF
Chantel Perrin
County of Hawaii
WINDWARD PLANNING COMMISSION
Aupuni Center • 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Phone (808) 961-8288 • Fax(808)961-8742
September 15; 2023
Heather Kimball, Council Chair
and Members of the County Council
County of Hawaii
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, HI 96720
Dear Chair Kimball and Council Members:
SUBJECT: Change of Zone Application (PL-REZ-2023-000046)
Request: Agricultural -3 Acres (A -3a) to Family -Agricultural -1 Acre
(FA -1a)
Applicant: Sandra Kaneshiro
Tax Map Key: (3) 2-2-048:092; Pana`ewa Farm Lots, South Hilo, Hawaii
The Windward Planning Commission, at its duly held public hearing on September 1, 2023
considered the above -referenced application for a Change of Zone from Agricultural -3 acres (A -
3a) to Family -Agricultural -1 acre (FA -la). The subject property is located at 605 Makalika
Street, approximately 540 feet southwest (mauka) of its intersection with Railroad Avenue,
Pana`ewa Farm Lots, South Hilo, Hawaii.
The Commission voted to forward a favorable recommendation to the County Council based on
the Planning Director's recommendation.
The Commission concurred with the Planning Director's following reasons for a favorable
consideration of the request. Criteria for granting the favorable recommendation are shown
below in bold print:
The applicant is requesting a Change of Zone from an Agricultural -3 acres (A -3a)
to a Family Agricultural -1 acre (FA -la) for 3.16 acres of land. The primary purpose for
the request is to subdivide the property into 2 lots at a minimum of 1.4 acres each. Each
Hcnvai'i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer
Heather Kimball, Council Chair
and Members of the County Council
September 15, 2023
Page 2
lot will accommodate one of the 2 existing single-family dwellings, to establish fee-
simple ownership of the property. The applicant anticipates the subdivision to be
approved within 3 years of the requested rezone approval. The cost associated with the
subdivision will be minimal, around $20,000, as it only involves subdividing the land so
that each existing single-family dwelling is on its own parcel.
In order to consider an area for any type of zoning designation, the applicable
goals, policies, and standards of the General Plan must be adequately addressed. It is only
through such a comprehensive policy analysis approach that evaluations and decisions
can be made to better time and stage developments to achieve growth determined by the
General Plan and related planning documents. The implications of these evaluations and
decisions must also be considered as they may have an impact on similar areas in the
County.
The Change of Zone request from an Agricultural -3 acres (A -3a) zoning
district to a Family Agricultural -1 acre (FA -la) zoning district conforms to
applicable goals, policies, and standards of the General Plan. The subject 3.16 -acre
property is improved with two permitted single-family dwellings built in 1987 and
several related accessory structures. The remainder of the property consists of an
extensive landscape and an expansive lawn at the rear of the property. Surrounding
properties consists of single-family dwellings, vacant lands, and agricultural uses.
According to the Zoning Code, the Family Agricultural zoning 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
is intended to be in areas designated as being within the State land use agricultural
district. The proposed 2 -lot subdivision with lot sizes of a minimum of 1.4 acres is
consistent with low density, agriculturally based residential use, thus the request is
consistent with the surrounding land use pattern and the intent of zoning designation.
The General Plan is intended to be used as a policy guide for the coordinated
growth and development of all sectors of the County. It sets forth goals, policies,
standards, and courses of action to accommodate growth without congestion, to designate
and preserve the lands needed for residential use, commercial and visitor services,
industry, agriculture, and open space, and to coordinate these uses with the County's
service and circulation systems. The overall goals, policies and standards are set forth to
physically plan the lands in the County in the best interest of the island's residents. Land
Use is one of the principal focal points of public concern and policy. The Land Use
Element provides the primary basis for direct control and guidance of publicly and
privately owned resources.
Heather Kimball, Council Chair
and Members of the County Council
September 15, 2023
Page 3
The Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide (LUPAG) Map component of the General
Plan is a representation of the document's goals and policies to guide the coordinated
growth and development of the County. It reflects a graphic depiction of the physical
relationship among the various land uses. The LUPAG Map establishes the basic urban
and non -urban form for areas within the County. The proposed FA -la zoning conforms to
the LUPAG Map that designates the subject property as Low Density Urban (ldu). Ldu
designated properties are residential, with ancillary community and public' uses, and
neighborhood and convenience -type commercial uses; overall residential density may be
up to six units per acre. The subject property is located within the Hilo Community
Development Plan (RCDP) area. The Hilo CDP was adopted by resolution No. 1 by the
Hawaii County Planning Commission on May 21, 1975, and identifies the property as
situated within the South Hilo Agriculture Area.
All essential utilities and services are available to the site. Access to the subject
property is off Makalika Street, which is a County -owned and maintained road with an
18 -foot -wide pavement and unimproved shoulders within a 50-foot-wideright-of-way.
The Department of Public Works (DPW) notes that all driveway connections and
construction shall conform to Hawaii County Code and access shall meet DPW
approval. Conditions of approval will be included to address the preceding.
The Department of Water Supply. (DWS) is currently servicing the 2 existing
single-family dwellings on the subject property with one existing water meter fronting the
parcel. DWS notes that should this rezoning request be approved, the applicant will be
subject to submit construction plans and design calculations prepared by a professional
engineer for review and approval. The applicant will also be required to construct all
necessary water system improvements required by DWS prior to the issuance of Final
Subdivision Approval. Conditions of approval will be included to address the preceding.
There is no municipal sewer system servicing the subject area. The two existing
single-family dwellings on the subject property are currently being serviced by their own
individual wastewater septic systems that were previously approved by DOH. The subject
property is located approximately 4.5 miles from the nearest police station on Kapiolani
Street and approximately 2.8. miles from the nearest fire station on Haihai Street. A
condition of approval will be included to require the applicants to meet all applicable
County, State and Federal laws, rules, regulations, and requirements.
There are no severe geological or topographical problems for the property
that cannot be properly rectified, or which would render the land unusable. The
subject property is in an area designated as Zone "X, an area determined to be outside the
500 -year flood plain, on the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) by the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). A condition of approval will be added to
Heather Kimball, Council Chair
and Members of the County Council
September 15, 2023
Page 4 .
require that all development generated runoff will be disposed of on site and not directed
toward any adjacent properties and all earthwork activity, including grading, grubbing,
and stockpiling, and the project will conform to Chapter 10, Erosion and Sedimentation
Control, of the Hawaii County Code. Thus, the proposed change of zone meets this
criterion.
The request is not contrary to Chapter 205A, Hawaii Revised Statutes,
relating to Coastal Zone Management Area. The subject property is located
approximately 4 miles from the nearest shoreline, is not situated within the Special
Management Area, and will not be impacted by coastal hazards and beach erosion. There
are no identified recreational resources or public access to the shoreline or mountain
areas, scenic and open space preserves, coastal ecosystems, marine resources, or historic
resources in the area. Thus, the proposed request and use of the property will not
adversely impact those resources.
The request will not have a significant adverse impact to traditional and
customary Hawaiian Rights. In view of the Hawaii State Supreme Court's "PASH"
and "Ka Pa `akai O Ka Aina " decisions, the issue relative to Native Hawaiian gathering
and fishing rights must be addressed in terms of the cultural, historical, and natural
resources and the associated traditional and customary practices of the site.
Investigation of valued resources: No professional archaeological and cultural
study was conducted of the property as the subject property has been previously
impacted by ground -disturbing activities associated with residential development
and no further ground disturbance is proposed. The Planning Department has no
record of any cultural or historic resources on the property.
The valued cultural, historical, and natural resources found in the rezoning area:
According to the applicant, there are no known valued cultural, historical, and
natural resources to be found in the rezoning area. The Department of Land and
Natural Resources — State Historic Preservation Division (DLNR-SHPD)
provided no objections to the requested change of zone application and stated that
no historic properties will be affected for the proposed rezone.
Possible adverse effect or impairment of valued resources: There is no evidence
of any possible adverse effects or impairments that will occur to any valued
resources.
Feasible actions to protect native Hawaiian rights: As stated by the applicants, no
known gathering is taking place on the site. Thus, to the extent to which
traditional and customary native Hawaiian rights are exercised, the proposed
Heather Kimball, Council Chair
and Members of the County Council
September 15, 2023
Page 5
action will not affect traditional Hawaiian rights; therefore, no action is necessary
to protect these rights. However, a condition of approval will be added for the
protection of inadvertent finds should any remains of historic sites, such as rock
walls, terraces, platforms, marine shell concentrations or human burials be
encountered.
Lastly, this recommendation is made with the understanding that the applicants
remain responsible for complying with all other applicable governmental requirements in
connection with the proposed use, prior to its commencement or establishment upon the
subject property. Additional governmental requirements may include the issuance of
building permit, compliance with the Fire Code, installation of improvements required by
the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), among many others. Compliance with all
applicable governmental requirements is a condition of this approval; failure to comply
with such requirements will be considered a violation that may result in enforcement
action by the Planning Department and/or the affected agencies.
Based on the preceding findings,.the request to rezone the property from an
Agricultural -3 acres (A -3a) zoning district to a, Family Agricultural -1 acre (FA -la)
zoning district would result in an appropriate land use pattern that would further
benefit the general public.
The accompanying draft bill to amend Section 25-8-33 (Hilo District Zone Map),
Article 8, Chapter 25 (Zoning Code) of the Hawaii County Code, is provided for your
favorable consideration. Please note the proposed conditions of approval attached to the
draft bill. -
This recommendation does not, however, sanction the specific plans submitted with the
application as they may be subject to change given specific code and regulatory requirements of
the affected agencies.
The Planning Department's background . report, recommendation report, PowerPoint
presentation, and public testimony are available for review at the following Laserfiche WebLink
address: https:Hrecords.hawaiicounty.gov/WebLink/l/fol/125159/Rowl.gWx
The transcript of the hearing is available for review at the following Laserfiche WebLink
address: https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/WebLink/l/fol/125534/Rowl.gWx
Heather Kimball, Council Chair
and Members of the County Council
September 15, 2023
Page 6
Should there be any questions, please feel free to contact Planning Program Manager, Maija
Jackson at (808) 961-8159.
Sincerely,
September 15, 2023 09:09 AM
Dennis Lin, Chairman
Windward Planning Commission
P\wp60\PC\PCC2023-3\LKaneshiroPL-REZ-2022-000046wpe
Enclosure: Draft Bill
cc via email w/draft bill: Daryn Arai, Land Use Planning Consultant
Department of Public Works
Department of Water Supply
Jean Campbell, Esq., Deputy Corporation Counsel
Suzanna Tiapula, Esq., Deputy Corporation Counsel