The objectives, policies, and guidelines of this chapter are those contained in HRS §§ 205A-2 and 205A-26(1). The objectives, policies, and guidelines summarized below are the basis for analysis of uses, activities, or operations within the special management area.
(a) Recreational resources. Development within the SMA should provide coastal recreational opportunities to the public. Adequate access, by dedication or other means, to beaches, coastal dunes, recreation areas, and natural reserves must be provided to the extent consistent with sound conservation principles. Adequate and properly located public recreation areas and wildlife preserves must be preserved.
(b) Historic and cultural resources. Development within the SMA should protect, preserve, and restore natural or human-made historical and cultural resources.
(c) Scenic and open space resources. Development within the SMA should protect, preserve, and whenever desirable, restore or improve the quality of coastal scenic and open space resources. Alterations to existing land forms and vegetation, other than for the cultivation of coastal dependent crops, must be limited so they result in minimum adverse impacts on water resources, beaches, coastal dunes, and scenic or recreational amenities. Development that is not dependent on the coast is encouraged to locate mauka of the SMA.
(d) Coastal ecosystems. Development within the SMA should protect valuable coastal ecosystems, including reefs, beaches, and coastal dunes from disruption, and minimize adverse impacts on all coastal ecosystems. Solid and liquid waste treatment and disposition must be managed to minimize adverse impacts on SMA resources.
(e) Economic uses. Development within the SMA should consist of facilities and improvements important to the State’s economy, and ensure that coastal-dependent development and coastal-related development are located, designed, and constructed to minimize exposure to coastal hazards and adverse social, visual, and environmental impacts within the SMA.
(f) Coastal hazards. Development within the SMA should reduce impacts of coastal hazards on life and property, and must be designed to minimize impacts from landslides, erosion, sea level rise, siltation, or failure in the event of earthquake.
(g) Managing development and public participation. The development review process should stimulate public awareness, education, and participation in coastal management.
(h) Beach and coastal dune protection. Development within the SMA should facilitate beach management and protection by safeguarding beaches and coastal dunes for public use and recreation, the benefit of ecosystems, and use as natural buffers against coastal hazards. New structures should be located mauka of the shoreline setback line to conserve open space, minimize interference with natural shoreline processes, and minimize the loss of improvements due to erosion.
(i) Marine and coastal resources. Development within the SMA should promote the protection, use, and development of marine and coastal resources to ensure that these resources are ecologically and environmentally sound and economically beneficial. Impacts on water resources, beaches, coastal dunes, and scenic or recreational amenities resulting from the construction of structures must be minimized. Development within wetland areas should be limited to activities that are dependent on or enhance wetlands, or are otherwise approved by appropriate State and federal agencies. Examples include traditional Hawaiian agricultural uses such as wetland taro production, aquaculture, and fishpond management, as well as activities that clean and restore traditional wetland areas or create new wetlands in appropriate areas.
(j) Cumulative impact or significant effect and compelling public interest. Development within the SMA should not have any cumulative impact or significant effect, unless minimized to the extent practicable and clearly outweighed by public health, safety, or other compelling public interest.
(k) Consistency with plans and regulations. Development within the SMA must be consistent with the general plan, development plans, sustainable communities plans, and zoning ordinances; provided that a finding of inconsistency does not preclude concurrent processing of amendments to applicable plans or a zone change.
(Sec. 33-3.1, R.O. 1978 (1987 Supp. to 1983 Ed.)) (1990 Code, Ch. 25, Art. 3, § 25-3.1) (Am. Ord. 23-4)