(photos)North Kohala subdivision pitched (Update)(photos)

KAILUA-KONA — Kohala Shoreline LLC is taking another shot at developing a new subdivision on the North Kohala Coast.

Kohala Shoreline LLC is now proposing to develop a six-lot subdivision makai of Akoni Pule Highway on nearly 38 acres in North Kohala. It would be located 3 miles north of Kawaihae Harbor and access to the subdivision would be via two sites off the highway.

No impacts to biological, historic, archaeological or cultural resources are expected, according to the document. Any endangered vertebrates would be protected by construction timing and project design and the implementation of archaeological preservation, data recovery plans and burial treatment plans will mitigate any impacts to historic sites.

The current proposal replaces one from July 2015 that had 50 percent more density — nine dwellings — and included several buildings near the shoreline, makai of an old coastal-now-Jeep-trail called Ala Loa. The developer shelved the plans in 2018 after concerns were raised over the project’s impact on the area.

“As part of that review process, the project team received a number of comments on concerns including density, lot configuration, public access, historic sites, cultural practices, water use, drainage and marine water quality. The owner carefully considered the comments and decided not to implement the project as proposed, and instead decided to design a new concept with substantial changes that responded to these concerns,” the final EA reads.

Now, each of the homesites would range in size from 5 acres to 8 acres and all building sites would be located mauka of the trail, with a 50- to 250-foot wide shoreline area below dedicated as an easement for public use, according to the final EA. Homes, which would have a maximum height of 25 feet, would be situated at least 100 feet mauka of the trail and at least 150 feet makai of the highway.

Also planned is a four-stall public parking area that would be open from a half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset, which would access a new 800-foot long, 10-foot wide mauka-makai pedestrian trail to the shoreline, which includes Waiakailio Bay.

The proposal also calls for “downzoning” the acreage from family residential RS15, which allowed for lots of 15,000 square feet to residential agricultural RA-5a, which would permit no lot smaller than 5 acres. The project was zoned RS15 in 1997 allowing for a 50-lot subdivision. RS15 technically could allow for up to 110 dwellings on the acreage, however.

View the draft EA online at https://bit.ly/2JdFKdk. Comments need to be submitted to the approving agency, applicant and consultant, contact information for which can be found within the document.

By Chelsea Jensen West Hawaii Today cjensen@westhawaiitoday.com