HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PC 037 07/09/2007 2006-2008 REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON PLANNING
DATE: July 9, 2007 Re: Comm. No. 482Bill No. 114
PLACE: Council Chambers
333 Kilauea Avenue, 2"a Floor
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
TIlVIE: 2:30 p.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Your Committee on Planning, to which was referred Bill No. 114, reports as follows:
Bill No. 114, transmitted via Communication No. 482 from Mayor Harry Kim, dated June 6,
2007, presents an Ordinance Amending Section 25-8-7 (North and South Kohala District Zone
Map) and Section 25-8-11 (Lalamilo-Puukapu Zone Map}, Article 8, Chapter 25 (Zoning Code),
of the Hawaii County Code 1983 (2005 Edition), by changing the District Classification from
Agricultural - 40 Acre (A-40a) and Agricultural - 1 Acre (A-la) to Agricultural - 400 Acre (A-
400-a) at Waimea, South Kohala, Hawaii, covered by Tax Map Key 6-5-001:020.
The subject property is located north of Konokohau Road and is the site of Hoku`ula,
Pu`u`owa`owaka and Pu`u Ki, Wiamea, South Kohala, Hawaii, containing approximately
420.17 acres of land.
Communication No. 482 reports that the Hawaii County Planning Commission, as required by
Chapter 4, Sec. 6-4.3(C), Hawaii County Charter, considered the above request on June 6, 2007.
The Commission concurs with the Planning Director's reasons for recommending favorable
consideration of the Change of Zone request.
The proposed request is initiated as the result of Resolution No. 456-Ob duly adopted by the
Hawaii County Council on October 31, 2006. Resolution No. 456-06 requested that the
Planning Director initiate the Zoning Code Amendment in order to preserve the Waimea Pu`u as
cultural and open space resources and to preserve their agricultural and recreational uses.
The Planning Director recommends favorably on this request and notes the following:
• The Change of Zone request differs slightly from Resolution No. 456-06 in that the
Change of Zone correctly states the current zoning to reflect Agricultural 1-acre (A-la}
and Agricultura140-acre (A-40a}, instead of "Unplanned" as noted in the Resolution. In
addition, the Director requests that the property be rezoned to Agricultura1400-acre (A-
400a}, instead ofthe requested Agricultural 500-acre (A-SOOa), to prevent creation of a
non-conforming lot, being that the property is less than 500 acres in size.
PC Report No. 37
Communication 482
Bill 114
Page 2 of 2
The February 16, 2007 letter from Peter Young, Director of the State Department of
Land and Natural Resources states that DLNR has no intention to develop the subject
site, that it is expecting to issue a new pasture lease and that the DLNR has no objection
to the County changing the zoning to Agricultura1400-acre (A-400a).
That the Hawaii State Legislature, through HB No. 1737, directs the Office of Planning
to petition the State Land Use Commission to reclassify the subject parcel from the
Agricultural District to the Conservation District. HB No. 1737 also directs the County
ofHawai`i not to issue any permits allowing development ofthe subject parcel of land.
At the July 9, 2007 Planning Committee meeting, public testimony was presented by Bob Hunter
at the Waimea Council office.
In his background summary, Director Chris Yuen noted that the current pasture lease prohibits
use of the property for residential purposes and that the change of zone being proposed does not
affect current ranching activities. In response to Committee Chair Pilago's inquiry whether the
change of zone would be adequate to preserve the area in perpetuity, Director Yuen explained
that the request changes the zoning from Agricultural 1-acre to Agricultural 400-acres, but in
order for it to continue in perpetuity, the property would need to be placed in an Open zoning.
Your Committee on Planning is in accord with the purpose and intent of Bill No. 114 and
recommends it pass first reading.
and
Hues xoes w&e ~ Respectfully submitted,
FORD X
HIGA X COMIoIITTEE O/N)PLANNING
HOFFMANN X ~ ' / /
II~DA X (//Y/i
JACOBSON X
NAEOLE X K. ANGEL PILAGO, CHAIR
P1LAG0 X
YAGONG X PC REPORT lii0.-._ 37
YoslmxoTO x ADOPTED: JUL-