By TOM CALLIS
Tribune-Herald staff writer
Land use regulations for Pahoa could be about to change.
The Hawaii County Council today will consider amending general plan designations for the growing community to direct development down Pahoa Village Road and away from Highway 130.
The proposal would cause no change to zoning since that can only occur under a petition from a landowner.
It would nonetheless determine how land can be used.
The proposal focuses on land surrounding the existing commercial area in Pahoa.
Most of that land is designated as urban expansion areas, which allows for a medley of low-, mid- and high-density commercial and industrial development.
The county is seeking to better define those land uses and separate densities.
For instance, land on the makai side of Keaau-Pahoa Road and Highway 130, and the east side of Pahoa-Kalapana Road would change from urban expansion to extensive agriculture. That would limit development to farm-based uses.
County Planner Maija Cottle said current uses would still be allowed, though property owners would be losing some “land-use entitlements” since new development would be limited.
The mauka side of the highway, on the other hand, and the south side of town along Ka‘ohe Homestead Road would be changed from urban expansion to low density urban. That would allow for a residential density of up to six units per acre and neighborhood commercial uses, such as convenience stores.
Development would be directed down Pahoa Village Road by changing land use designations from low density urban to medium density urban from Pahoa Village to Kahakai Boulevard, which would also be designated medium density. The change would allow for “village and neighborhood commercial” uses and up to 35 residential units per acre, according to the bill.
Land southwest of the proposed new medium density ring would change from low density urban to urban expansion.
Councilman Fred Blas, who represents Pahoa, said he supports the proposed changes and noted that the area is the fastest growing in the state.
Blas said the county needs to be able to direct that growth “so we won’t crowd up the whole village out there, the whole town.”
“Right now we don’t know where we are at,” he said.
Blas said he hopes the proposed changes would lead to more medical and dental services as well as shopping opportunities.
Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
