REP PC 134 07/14/1998 1996-1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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1 _~.r REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PLANNING DATE: July l4, 1998 Re: C-910/Bil1No.270 PLACE: Councilroom TIME: 1:38 p.m. Chair and Members Hawaii County Council Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Your Committee on Planning, to which was referred Bill No. 270, transmitted by Mayor Stephen K. Yamashiro per Communication No. 9 L0, dated June 29, 1998, regarding the change of zone request by Star Markets, Ltd., at Kaloko, North Kona, Hawau, TMK: 7-3-25: l2, reports as follows: Bill No. 270 amends Section 2~-8-2 (North and South Kona District Zone Map), Article 8, Chapter 25 (7~>ning Code) of the Hawaii County Code, by changing the district classification for approximately 21353 acres of land from an Agricultural (A-20a) to an Agricultural (A-Sa) zoned district. The irregular shaped property, owned in fee by the applicant, is located in the Kaloko Mauka Subdivision on the north side of Kaloko Drive at approximately the 2,520 foot elevation. fhe applicants originally wanted to subdivide the property into six lots of approximately 3-acres each to increase the potential of the property, to preserve the character of the land, and protect and maintain the naturally forested areas. However, based upon testimony presented at the public hearing and representations made by the applicant's representative, the Planning Commission recommended that a property designation of Agricultural (A-Sa) would be more appropriate for the subject parcel. This zoning decision was based on t he County's Resolution No. 330-96, which established a policy relating to the amendment of zone district boundaries within Kaloko Mauka and other Kona Watershed and Mauka Forest Areas. The proposed subdivision of 5-acre lots would be compatible with the agricultural character of lands located within the lower elevations of Kaloko Mauka Subdivision which are zoned A-Sa and A-3a. The 5-acre lot sizes will provide opportunities for residents who wish to pursue limited agricultural activities, but are not able to commit to Ote financial or labor demands placed on them by the larger 20-acre parcels. The applicant has agreed to impose restrictive covenants requiring the filing of conservation plan with the Soil and Water Conservation District as well as restricting the construction of second dwelling units on each subdivided lots. Access to the subject property is off Kaloko Drive, the subdivision's primary roadway which has an 80- foot right-of=way with a 22-foot wide pavement and 8-foot wide l,*~~ass shoulders. The subject property is located within Zone "X". which is outside'the 500-year food plain. fhe Soil Survey Report classifies soils within the project site as Kiloa Extremely Stony Muck, 6 to 20 percent slopes. This soil consists ofwell-drained, thin, extremely stony organic soils over fragmental A'a lava. The surface layer is very dark brown, extremely stony muck about 10 inches thick. Permeability is rapid, runoff is very slow and the erosion hazard is slight This soil is used for woodland and pasture. The Land Study Hureau classifies the soils within the subject property as "E" (Very Poor) for agricultural productivity. 'fhe Agricultural Lands of Importance to the State of Hawaii (ALISH) System classifies the soils as "Unique Agricultural Land", lands that have the special combination of soil