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HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PC 142 07/29/1986 1984-1988 �•� 111 REPORT OF THE 111 COMMITTEE ON PLANNING DATE: July 29, 1986 Re: Comm. 684 PLACE: Councilroom TIME: 2: 00 p.m. Chairman and Members Hawaii County Council Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Your Committee on Planning, to which was referred Bill No. 223, the rezoning request of Stephen Zuckerman, Kaloko, North Kona, Hawaii , TMK: 7-3-08:67, reports as follows: Bill 223 amends Section 25-87 , Article 3, Chapter 25 of the Hawaii County Code, by changing the district classification of approximately 10.49 acres of land from Agricultural (A-3a ) to Agricultural (A-la ) . While the Planning Commission is recommending approval of the change of zone request, the Planning Director has recommended denial because: "a recent County Council decision on another change of zone application has changed the County 's policy regarding the appropriate land use planning processes within the agricultural district. " According to the Planning Department: "The applicant is proposing to subdivide the subject property into nine 1+ acre lots to create 'rural house lots ' . " The director further stated that the County Council has indicated that the applicant 's proposal is not appropriate for the agricultural district and that "the more appropriate designation to accommodate these uses would be the State Land Use Rural district and the County's Residential and Agricultural (RA) zone . As such, the proper procedure for accommodating the proposed development would be to change the State Land Use designation from Agriculture to Rural and subsequently the County zoning designation from Agricultural 3-acre (A-3a ) to Residential and Agricultural 1-acre (RA-1a ). " In its comments on the application, the Department of Agriculture made reference to Section 205-2 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes which states that residential dwellings constructed on the lots must be accessory or secondary to agricultural activities . In reference to the quality of soil on the property, the applicant stated that according to the Soil Survey of Island of Hawaii , USDA, 1973, the soil found on the property is usually used for pasturage type of activities and are not found in areas of prime agricultural land. PC REPORT No . 142 ADOPTED : AUG 6 t986 a 411 • pc-142 Page 2 July 29, 1986 Your committee heard testimony from Sidney Fuke, a former Planning Director of Hawaii County and currently a consultant , representing the applicant. In response to a question from Councilman Russell Kokubun, Mr . Fuke stated that the Residential and Agricultural zoning designation was added to the zoning code to complement the Rural classification which was earlier added by the State as a land use designation. Mr . Fuke stated that the Rural designation is the least used land use designation. Councilman Kokubun stated that the developer has indicated that he intends to develop rural house lots and not agricultural lots . He added that this application is similar to the application by Ahualoa Development, Inc . to rezone lands in Kapaanui, North Kohala. Councilman Kokubun stated that he is not opposed to having the land developed; however, in view of the fact that avenues are available to secure proper State land use designation and County zoning designation, developers should be required to follow proper procedures . Councilwoman Merle Lai stated that purchasers of lots within the proposed subdivision will not be able to meet the requirement of Section 205-2 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes. Planning Director Albert Lono Lyman was asked how this fact would affect the application. Mr . Lyman stated that this requirement of the law is not enforced because monitoring compliance is an impossibility. Councilwoman Lai also stated that since property taxes are based on State land use designation, property tax valuation will be greater if the land use designation of the property is changed to Rural and the County zoning is changed to Residential and Agricultural . When Mr . Fuke was questioned about this, he stated that several years ago, the Council acted to change the zoning of a large subdivision in Kona from Agricultural and Residential because property taxes would decrease if the lots were rezoned to Residential . Council Chairman Stephen Yamashiro had also made reference to this incidence earlier , to members of the committee . Committee Chairman Takashi Domingo stated that he was in favor of the application because the property is located within the Agricultural district and is designated Orchard/Alternate Urban Expansion by the General Plan. Also, the Kona Regional Plan suggests 1-3 acre sized lots for this property. vv , 411 410 a , PC- 142 Page 3 July 29, 1986 Your Committee on Planning agrees with the intent and purpose of Bill No. 223 and recommends that it pass first reading. vize-42-4-01-1 i — . TAKASHI DOMINGO, •M AIRMAN // / ,------ _P' A.-" ilk.....LL,4, 166.--. SPENCER K. SCHUTTE, VICE CHR. FRANK DE LUZ III , MEMBER (ABSENT & EXCUSED ) (ABSENT & EXCUSED ) ROBERT N. HERKES, MEMBER LORRAINE R. JITCHAKU-INO YE, MEMBER /..) r fi(' , _TPA/C. ./ . c04, i i ja,,afa j. 2,6„1 lac, r V . USSELL S. KOKUBUN, MEMBER 771K. LAI , MEMBE De, 6-� Ce0C-LAIL LA/TN