Matrix 3.1.3.a - Land Use Pattern

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PUNA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN MANAGING GROWTH: 3.1 Land Use Pattern Action 3.1.3.a (page 3-5) Provide County support for land use entitlements and land assembly for village center formation and voluntary land pooling projects by: 1) Initiating a special use permit request or petition for a land use district boundary amendment for uses that would require such designations under State law; 2) Seeking an amendment to the State Land Use Law (Chapter 205, Hawai'i Revised Statutes) that would enable the adoption of special “rural town/village” standards for locations meeting certain criteria in the State Agriculture District or State Rural District, subject to a review and approval process that is simpler than the present method of boundary amendment; 3) Seeking State enabling legislation to allow County retention of lots that are in foreclosure for delinquent real property tax payments rather than having them auctioned for sale to the highest bidder, so that they can be used for relocation purposes when other properties are acquired for future rights-of-way, public facilities, land assembly related to village/town center development, or other objectives of the community development plan; 4) Extending technical assistance and advice to a community-based land pooling association concerning legal and financial aspects of land pooling as they relate to County or State legal requirements and tax policies. (3.1.1) Goals: Puna retains a rural character while it protects its native natural and cultural resources. The quality of life improves and economic opportunity expands for Puna’s residents. Services and community facilities are more accessible in village/town centers that are distributed throughout the region, including the underserved subdivisions that have been experiencing higher levels of development growth. Exposure to high risk from natural hazards situations is reduced. Inappropriate and disproportionate County zoning can be adjusted in order to maintain and increase the quality of life and to preserve valued natural and cultural resources in the district. Native vegetation, coastal and historic resources are provided new forms of protection. Reduced overall number of buildable lots in Puna. h) Incentives, disincentives, regulations and other methods are used to diminish land speculation in Puna. (3.1.2) Objectives: Implement tools for re-shaping the pattern of future development to prevent further sprawl, such as land pooling. Develop a typology for existing and proposed village/town centers, including criteria for their location, scale, uses and design. Enhance the role of existing and new village/town centers by allowing expanded commercial uses, facilitating the development of farmers markets and community gathering places, opportunities for special needs housing, and infrastructure to support more compact development form and multi-modal travel. Create new village/town centers as necessary, in or near presently underserved subdivisions, beginning with those experiencing higher rates of population growth so residents of those areas will have community activities and more convenient access to services. Target investments in public services and infrastructure to promote the development of village/town centers and, secondarily, to serve the peripheral subdivision areas. Limit the size of dwellings and accessory uses that are allowed in non-conforming, agriculturally-zoned subdivisions to discourage excessive lot clearance and speculative building practices. Identify a supporting role for the County in land assembly for the formation of village/town centers. Explore additional methods to protect native species habitat and historic features from development by use of economic incentives, development restrictions, and district-wide rezoning. Provide tax relief for properties whose development rights have been reduced through conservation easements and similar measures. Explore innovative methods to reduce property speculation such as elevated tax rates associated with rapid resale, and/or district-wide rezoning. Where possible, reduce density and build-out within the district by various means including selective rezoning.