Land Use Commission

BACKGROUND

The Petitioners seek to amend the Land Use District Boundaries of certain lands consisting of approximately 0.51 acres, situated at Keaau, Puna, County and State of Hawaii, currently identified by TMK No. (3) 1-5-059:059 from the State Land Use (SLU) Conservation District to the SLC Agricultural District to allow for the development of a dwelling, related agricultural uses, and other accessory uses and improvements.

STATUS

Petitioner’s (Barry Trust) filed a petition on December 19, 2018.  After staff review the petition was deemed incomplete pending compliance with HRS Chapter 343 requirements and other deficiencies in the application.  Concurrent with the filing of this Petition, Petitioners also filed a Motion Requesting the Commission to be the Approving (Accepting) Agency for an Environmental Assessment (“EA Motion”). Through the EA Motion, Petitioners requested that the Commission be the Accepting Agency to determine the acceptability of an Environmental Assessment (“EA”) that Petitioners shall prepare to assess the environmental effects of the proposed District Boundary Amendment.   At a hearing held on January 23, 2019 in Hilo, Hawai`i, the LUC determined it would be the accepting agency for an EA.  The Petitioner were directed to begin preparations to assess the environmental effects of its proposed District Boundary Amendment.  At a meeting held on August 29, 2019, the LUC found that an anticipated Finding of No Significant Impact was warranted and directed Petitioners to file a notice along with a Draft Environmental Assessment with OEQC.  A draft EA was published in the October 23, 2019 OEQC Environmental Notice and then republished on November 8, 2019.  The LUC held a hearing on June 25, 2020 using video-conferencing technology and made the determination of a Finding of No Significant Impact (“FONSI”) for the  Petitioner’s Final Environmental Assessment (“FEA”).