The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0561.013 2002-2004 SidneyFuke, Planning Consultant 100 Pauahi Street, Suite 212 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 • Planning • Variance • Zoning Telephone: (808) 969-1522 • Fax: (808) 969-7996 • Subdivision • Lantl Use Permits • Environmental Repotls October 21, 2004 ~7 O-, c; Honorable James Y. Arakaki, Chairman N and members of the County Council r-• COUNTY OF HAWAII 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, HI 96720 Dear Chairman Arakaki and Members: - 1~ Subject: Bill No. 249 -Hester Farmin¢ Co.. LLC As requested by the Council at its meeting of October 20, please find enclosed a copy of my letter to the State Land Agent regarding the discussion on the water system as well as a copy of the proposed layout of the subdivision. It is my understanding that these will be made part of the proceedings of your meeting. Thank you very much for your tlme and attention on this matter. Should you have questions on this matter, please feel free to eentact me. incerely SIDNEY M. FUICE Planning Consultant Enclosures Copy - Mr. Ellis Hester w/ encluotues Comm. No. Sb(.13 Ref. To; Ref. Uate SIdIl2yFUk2, Planning Consultant 100 Pauahi Street, Suite 212 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 • Planning • Variance •ZOning Telephone: (808) 969-1522 • Fax: (808) 969-7996 • Subdivision • Lantl Use Permits • En~ronmental Reports October 12, 2004 Mr. Harry Yada, Chief Land Division -Hawaii District State Department of Land and Natural Resources P.O. Box 936 Hilo, HI 96721-0436 Deaz Mr. Yada: Subject: Use ofAlili Water Svstem - Pahala. Hawau this-is to-confirrr~out-discussion-regazding-the-subject matter.- As discussed, Hester Farming Company (HFC), the owner of properties identified by TMK: 9-6-5: 18 and 4-6-6: 4 is presently capturing and utilizing-the overflow from the County Department of Water Supply's Alili water system for irrigation purposes. This is outlined in my attached letter, dated February 10, 2004, to Mr. Milton Pavao. Please be informed that HFC is aware of and understands that when the County temvnates use of this source, any person or entity -including HFC and/or its successors in interests of the subject properties -desiring use of this source may need to secure the approval of the State Department of Land and Natural Resources (not the State Water Commission) through a public auction process. As such, HFC acknowledges that it does not assume that the current source is or will be made available in perpetuity or even a fixed time to service the subject properties. This understanding is somewhat captured in the second sentence of the fourth paragraph of my letter to Mr. Pavao. Please also note that HFC intends to also take measures to inform any successors in interest of the subject properties of this understanding. I appreciate your guidance and input on this matter. If any of the above requires clarification, please feel free to do so. Thank you very much. Sincerely NE~ M. FUKE Planning Consultant Enclosure Copy - Mr. Milton Pavao, Department of Water Supply w/ enclosure Mr. Ellis Hester, Hester Farming Company w/ enclosure SidneyFuke, Planning Consultant 100 Pauahi Street, Suite 212 • Hilq Hawaii 9fi720 • Planning • Variance •ZOning Telephone: (808) 969-1522 • Fax: (806) 969-7996 • Subdivision • Land Use Pertnns • Environmental Reports February 10, 2004 Mr. Milton Pavao, Manager Department of Water Supply 345 Kekuanaoa_Street Hilo, HI 96720 Deaz Mr. Pavao: Subject: Agricultural Project District Request (REZ 03-021) Hester Farming Comaany, LLC, TMK: 9-6-5: 18 & 9-6-6:4 Our meeting with you and your deputy, Mr. Quirino Antonio, was quite informative. Thank you very much for the courtesies and insights extended to Mr. Hester and me. The County presently has a tank site (identified by TMK: 9-6-05: 047) on the lower portion of the applicant's property that is serviced by an easement. There is also another tank and related facility on the mauka portion of the applicant's property (identified by TMK: 9-6-06: 021). This water system is referred to as yourAlili water system and supplements your potable service for the town of Pahala. However, this water source is considered by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the State Department of Health (DOH) to be under the influence of surface water. As such, its continued use would require the construction of a treatment plant to comply with EPA/DOH requirements. ~~~~a Instead of constructing a treatment plant, your office hastto construct a deep well located between neaz the town of Pahala. You expect to terminate the use of the Alili water system within the next 2 yeazs upon completion of the construction of the deep well. When the Alili system is terminated, the control of the water will revert to the State Water Commission. At that time, should the applicant wish to utilize this water for irrigation or potable purposes, it must secure the approval of the State Water Commission. Use of this water for potable purposes, however, would require compliance with the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act. Although the applicant's well looks quite promising, both in terms of quality and quantity, you noted that it would not be fiscally prudent to utilize it. This is due in part to its location. The site of your existing well -where you intend to drill another well - is located mokai of the applicant's well and closer to the town of Pahala. As such, use of the applicant's well would still require the installation of transmission, storage tanks and related appurtenances to properly service the town of Pahala. Mr. Milton Pavao, Manager Februazy 10, 2004 Page 2 However, you would entertain the thought of using the applicant's well as a possible "back up" or in times of emergency. The details of this concept, however, still need to be worked out. Given the above information, please be informed that the applicant's proposed water system would consist of the following: 1. Use of the Alili system for irrigation purposes. Presently, the applicant captures excess (overflow) water from this system into two (2) 45,000 gallon galvatized storage *.a.*iks. F~.u?her excesses are then captured in an open reservoir that has a holding capacity of about 1.5 million gallons. Collectively, then, this system could provide over 2 million gallons of irrigation water for the project. When the County terminates use of this system, the applicant intends to request a water allocation from this system from the State Water Commission for irrigation purposes. Irrigation lines from this system aze currently under construction to service the proposed lots. 2. The on-site deep well will be used for potable purposes. If appropriate, there will be compliance with the Federal Safe and Clean Water Act relative to testing and monitoring of this system. The well will be cased with an 8-inch line capable of providing over 200 gallons per minute. The applicant also intends to construct two (2) 100,00-gallon steel tanks at the appropriate pressure zone. PVC or compazable transmission lines to each of the proposed lots would be provided. As such, this private potable system -while deem sufficient for the applicant's project -would not comply with your requirements in several regards. For one, there will be no back up well. However, with the storage tanks and alternative means -such as bottled water or even the interim use of the water from the Alili system, a system which has serviced the potable needs of this azea for many, many yeazs, are still interim options. Then, too, the storage tanks will be constructed out of galvanized steel instead of the required concrete. Finally, the transmission lines will be PVC or its equivalent in lieu of the required galvanized pipes. It is Mr. Milton Pavao, Manager February 10, 2004 Page 3 anticipated, however, that other technical and/or engineering requirements - such as pressure -will be met. We realize that the proposed system does not meet your normal standazds. However, the applicant continues to believe that it will be providing the needed irrigation and potable water needs for this agricultural project. As such, the applicant is requesting an Agricultural Project District (APD) zoning, which would enable the County Council to consider relief from standazd requirements through conditions of approval. Again, thank you very much for your time and guidance on this matter. Sin~erel~~ SIDNEY M. FiIKE Planning Consultant Copy -Planning Director Mr. Ellis Hester D ypmo X ~o~s _z r ~mNa ~ ~jt4 , I~ m 19 ~J~ ~ V ~A ~ V ~ ~l U~ V OAS a a yly 11 °m < ~ \U~ ~ ~F u ~ ~ 61 ~r p N ~ U ~ O r N -I zz~ o0 ~ D N z ~ ~ W Q 0 o ~ ~ ~ J J ~ J ~ ~-Prn yr ~r s. ~ ~ ~ p ~ ° ~ ~ u of vi u y y p d Q O u N a. It A p D ~ ~ c- ~ z ~ p a~a „N~, s~ C ~R~~ ~ _ c~® N v m-i D Z n u U ~ ~ ~ Z N VII y (4 ~ z p ~ LI ~ u U ~ Z ~~N Va uip n, t~ V u 1 u ~ i Q Cll ~ ~ U• U -1 ~n g ~ r~ zip ~N D= `s -Ti ~ Z N ll, ~ z -I ~ lUZ t~ awe D ~ 0 O y _ ~ r u 1 01 U fii D ~ ~ ~ i -1 n~ D A ~ !n ~ o, i~ ~ u y ~ u D 6~~ ~ ° ~ a~'d'~G~ o0 7 ~o~Y -`t 1`'0~ m ~ vI ~ lJ X 0 6 Ili ~ J1 lFt~ VI 3 O ~ 0 Ta Z. ~ iv_D +n z