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Home My WebLink About2015-4 Keaau GP AmendCommunication No. 2015 -4 COUNTY COUNCIL INITIATED GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT AMEND LAND USE PATTERN ALLOCATION GUIDE (LUPAG) MAP FOR KEA`AU TOWN The Planning Director is initiating an amendment to Map 14 of the Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide (LUPAG) Map of the County of Hawaii General Plan (adopted by Ordinance No. 05 -025, amended by Ordinance Nos. 06 -153 and 14 -087) by changing the land use designation for portions of Kea`au Village and immediately surrounding area as follows: • A -1: Low Density Urban to Urban Expansion Area encompassing a contiguous area of approximately 475 acres from the intersection of Kea`au -Pahoa Bypass Road and Highway 11 (Volcano Highway) extending south of Kukula Street and then in a westerly direction to the boundary of the Kea`au Ag Lots Subdivision to the Highway 11 -Old Volcano Highway intersection along the Old Volcano Highway leading to the Village core. • A -2: Important Agricultural Land to Urban Expansion Area encompassing the triangular area of approximately 112 acres from Kukula Street- Kea`au Bypass Road intersection south to the Kea`au Bypass Road- Kea`au Pahoa Road intersection, and then approximately to the northeastern corner of the Kea`au Ag Lots Subdivision. On July 18, 2014, the County Council adopts Resolution No. 464 -14, Draft 2 (attached), requesting that the Planning Director initiate an interim amendment to the General Plan LUPAG Map in the vicinity of the Kea`au Regional Town Center as defined by the Puna Community Development Plan (Puna CDP) based on findings that: • the County of Hawai'i General Plan ( "General Plan") Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide (LUPAG) map designations for the Kea`au Regional Town Center area are inconsistent with the Objectives, Actions and Land Use Recommendations of the Puna CDP; • there are inconsistencies between the existing zoning designations and the General Plan LUPAG map designations in the areas in the vicinity of Ulupono Street and Milo Street; • in order to meet the aforementioned objectives of the Puna CDP to facilitate future land use entitlements and enhance the role of the Kea`au Regional Town Center, including the Puna CDP' s statement that zoning for residential development and associated neighborhood- oriented services " may occur within the LUPAG "alternate urban expansion areas ", the General Plan should be more closely aligned to the Puna CDP; and • inconsistencies between the General Plan LUPAG map and the Puna CDP recommendations, growth within the Kea`au Regional Town Center has been primarily confined to a core in which specific settlement patterns have not yet been fixed and which is currently designated Medium Density Urban by the General Plan- LUPAG, with limited opportunity in the Low Density Urban area for higher density residential units and retail and office commercial uses to support the regional town center. For these reasons, the County Council, through this resolution, expressed its support of "...these amendments because it supports the Kea' au Regional Town Center principles and designation adopted in the Puna CDP and determines the development of the Kea'au Regional Town Center will serve the interest of the public by stimulating growth through sustainable principles that will provide for improved public infrastructure systems and facilities, direct and indirect employment, and a continued sense of place outlined herein, in the Puna CDP, and in the General Plan." GENERAL PLAN LUPAG MAP The General Plan is the policy document for the long -range comprehensive development of the island of Hawaii. The LUPAG Map is a component of the General Plan land use element. The land use element seeks to accommodate growth without congestion; to designate and preserve the lands needed for residential use, commercial and visitor services, industry, agriculture, and open space; and to coordinate these uses with the County's services and circulation systems. The land use pattern is a broad, flexible design intended to guide the direction and quality of future developments in a coordinated and rational manner. The LUPAG Map is a broad -brush graphic depiction of the general location of land uses in relation to each other and is not parcel specific. The methodology used to develop the land use pattern reflects estimates of future population based on economic facility needs, and transportation demands for the entire island. Topography and other physical features and economic and social characteristics of an area are also considered. The General Plan may be amended by changing its goals, policies, standards, zoning acreage allocations, LUPAG map, and other applicable sections thereof, when the conditions or premises upon which the General Plan is based have changed and when such an amendment would assure the coordinated development of the County of Hawaii and the general welfare and prosperity of its people. -2- During the comprehensive review and with the adoption of the revised General Plan in 2005, changes to the Kea`au Village area were few, although continuing to recognize Kea`au as one of several urban and rural centers within the Puna District, along with Pahoa, Kurtistown, Mt. View, Hawaiian Paradise Park, Orchidland Estates and Volcano. With Hilo as the major commercial center on the east side of the island, Keaau is identified as a secondary commercial center that is encouraged to expand to meet the growing commercial needs for the Puna District. In 2008, adoption of the Puna CDP provided guidance in growth management, transportation, and the preservation of and respect for natural, historic, and cultural features. The subject amendment would further the goals and objectives of the Puna CDP and the General Plan by assuring the coordinated development of the County and the general welfare and prosperity of its people. The General Plan LUPAG Map has not been updated since the adoption of the Puna CDP. Accordingly, the Planning Director is seeking an amendment to LUPAG Map 14 for Kea`au Village from Low Density Urban and Important Agricultural Lands to Urban Expansion Area. Low Density Urban uses are defined as residential, with ancillary community and public uses, and neighborhood and convenience -type commercial uses with an overall residential density up to six units per acre. Important Agricultural Lands are those with better potential for sustained high agricultural yields because of soil type, climate, topography, or other factors. For purposes of this General Plan amendment, a description of the LUPAG Map designation Urban Expansion Area follows together with the corresponding zoning districts that are typically found within Urban Expansion Area: The Urban Expansion Area designation allows for a mix of high density, medium density, low density, industrial, industrial- commercial and/or open designations in areas where new settlements may be desirable, but where the specific settlement pattern and mix of uses have not yet been determined. [RS, RD, RM, RCX, CN, CV, MCX, MG, PD, O] Within the proposed General Plan amendment area A -1, current land uses include offices, homes, a church, agriculture, portions of the Kea`au Middle School, senior housing, and vacant land. Within General Plan amendment A -2, current land uses include Kea`au Elementary and High Schools, a few homes, some agriculture, and vacant land. 3- PLANNING DEPARTMENT COUNTY Of HAWAII COUNTY OF HAWAII •' - STATE 0704MOAPI 3; 03 RESOLUTION NO. 464 14 A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE PLANNING 9IDRE"MR TO INITIATE AN INTERIM AMENDMENT TO THE COUNTY OF HAWAII GENERAL PLAN TO REVISE THE LAND USE PATTERN ALLOCATION GUIDE MAP DESIGNATIONS FOR THE KEA`AU REGIONAL TOWN CENTER, KEA`AU, PUNA, HAWAII. WHEREAS, on September 10, 2008, the County of Hawaii ( "County ") adopted the Puna Community Development Plan ( "CDP ") by Ordinance No. 08 -116 with the themes of preserving and respecting natural, historical and cultural features, addressing growth management and focusing on sustainable approaches to transportation; and WHEREAS, to manage growth by encouraging a more efficient and environmentally - sustainable land use pattern, the Puna CDP designated specific parts of Kea`au as a Regional Town Center (Exhibit A) to provide a wide range of commercial, residential and public /quasi- public uses for the Puna district in addition to Regional Town Centers in Pahoa and Hawaiian Paradise Park; and WHEREAS, the Puna CDP, as amended by Ordinance No. 10 -104, sets forth the following objectives and actions relating to regional town centers: Land Use Pattern Objective 3.1.2.c "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" Land Use Pattern Objective 3.1.2.e "Target investments in public services and infrastructure to promote the development of village/town centers and, secondarily, to serve the peripheral subdivision areas." Land Use Pattern Action 3.2.3.c "Recommend reviewing the Urban Expansion Area designations in the County of Hawaii General Plan LUPAG, except where they correspond to the recommended Regional Town Center and industrial boundaries. "; and WHEREAS, the County of Hawaii General Plan ( "General Plan ") Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide (LUPAG) map designations for the Kea'au Regional Town Center area are inconsistent with the Objectives, Actions and Land Use Recommendations of the Puna CDP; and 093750 WHEREAS, there are inconsistencies between the existing zoning designations and the General Plan LUPAG map designations in the areas in the vicinity of Ulupono Street and Milo Street; and WHEREAS, the Kea`au Regional Town Center includes a range of public and quasi - public facilities such as Kea'au Elementary, Middle and High Schools, the Department of Education administrative complex office, 'bla`a Community Center, police and fire stations, the County's Shipman Gym, and the County's Herbert C. Shipman Park (mauka of Highway 11), charter schools, senior citizen housing and self help housing facilities, churches and related facilities; and WHEREAS, the Kea`au Regional Town Center presents an opportunity to apply the following smart growth principles, which are discussed in the Puna CDP: • Creating walkable neighborhoods • Creating a range of housing opportunities and choices • Fostering a distinctive community with a sense of place; mixing land uses • Preserving open space, agricultural land, and critical habitats by directing growth to an existing village • Taking advantage of compact building design and • Providing a range of transportation choices; and WHEREAS, future development of the Kea`au Regional Town Center would provide a basis for efficient road, bikeway and pedestrian networks, improved wastewater treatment, the ability for government to develop a new civic/community center and transit hub to serve upper and lower Puna, expanded or new parks and open space, greater water capacity, increased employment, affordable housing, and other necessary public and quasi -public infrastructure; and WHEREAS, in order to meet the aforementioned objectives of the Puna CDP to facilitate future land use entitlements and enhance the role of the Kea`au Regional Town Center, including the Puna CDP's statement that zoning for residential development and associated neighborhood - oriented services "may occur within the LUPAG `alternate urban expansion areas'," the General Plan should be more closely aligned to the Puna CDP similar to action taken in 2012 for the Pahoa Regional Town Center by Ordinance No. 12 -89; and WHEREAS, because of the inconsistencies between the General Plan LUPAG map and the Puna CDP recommendations, growth within the Kea`au Regional Town Center has been primarily confined to a core in which specific settlement patterns have not yet been fixed and which is currently designated Medium Density Urban by the General Plan -LUPAG (Exhibit B), with limited opportunity in the Low Density Urban area for higher density residential units and retail and office commercial uses to support the regional town center; and WHEREAS, on February 9, 2005, the County adopted comprehensive amendments to the General Plan by Ordinance No. 05 -25 to guide the pattern of future development in Hawaii County based on long -term goals; and WHEREAS, the comprehensive review of the General Plan, as required per Section 16.1 of the General Plan, has not commenced; and WHEREAS, Section 16.2, of the General Plan provides that the Planning Director may initiate interim amendments to the General Plan in accordance with the terms and provisions of Section 16.2(2); and WHEREAS, amending Map 14 of the General Plan LUPAG from Low Density Urban and Important Agricultural Land to Urban Expansion Area will assist in implementing the Kea`au Regional Town Center principles and designation of the Puna CDP; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that it requests the Planning Director to initiate the following interim amendments to the General Plan in accordance with Section 16.2(2) of the General Plan: 1. Amend Map 14 by changing the General Plan LUPAG map designation for the areas within the Kea`au Regional Town Center locations designated on the Puna CDP as Low Density Urban and Important Agricultural Land to Urban Expansion Area 2. Amend Map 14 by changing the General Plan LUPAG map designation for the areas located in the vicinity of Ulupono Street and Milo Street from Low Density Urban to Urban Expansion Area. LJ BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council is desirous of these amendments because it supports the Kea'au Regional Town Center principles and designation adopted in the Puna CDP and determines the development of the Kea'au Regional Town Center will serve the interest of the public by stimulating growth through sustainable principles that will provide for improved public infrastructure systems and facilities, direct and indirect employment, and a continued sense of place outlined herein, in the Puna CDP, and in the General Plan. BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall transmit a copy of this resolution to the Honorable Mayor William P. Kenoi, Planning Director Duane Kanuha, and the Windward and Leeward Planning Commissions. Dated at Kona , Hawai'i, this 18th day of July , 2014. INTRODUCED BY: C UNCIL MEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAI'I COUNTY COUNCIL County of Hawaii Hilo, Hawaii I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the County of Hawaii on _1111M 18. 2011 ATTEST: JU 0�� COUNTY CLERK CHAIRPERSON & PRESIDING OFFICER ROLL CALL VOTE Reference: C- 934.1/PC -69 RESOLUTION NO. 464 14 (DRAFT 2) AYES NOES ABS EX EOFF g FORD x 1LAGAN X KANUHA x KERN X ONISHI R POINDEXTER X W ILLE x YOSHIMOTO x 9 0 0 0 Reference: C- 934.1/PC -69 RESOLUTION NO. 464 14 (DRAFT 2) 011 EXHIBIT A Figure S-1: Kea`an Regional Town Center f i� • • � • 6r1:�rer •: �•• ....! 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