Why the Open District exists and what it protects

The Open District is established and regulated to create and maintain an adequate and functional amount of predominantly open land to provide for the recreational and aesthetic needs of the community or to provide for the effective functioning of land, air, water, plant and animal systems or communities.To preserve, maintain or improve the essential characteristics of land and water areas that are:Of significant value to the public as scenic or recreational resources;Important to the overall structure and organization of urban areas and which provide accessible and usable open areas for recreational and aesthetic purposes;Necessary to insulate or buffer the public and places of residence from undesirable environmental factors caused by, or related to, particular uses such as noise, dust, and visually offensive elements.To preserve, maintain or improve the essential functions of physical and ecological systems, forms or forces which significantly affect the general health, safety and welfare.To define and regulate use and development within areas which may be potentially hazardous.To include areas indicated on the County General Plan as open or as parks.To include areas clearly indicated on the County General Plan or on Zoning maps as "Special Treatment-Open Space" if an applicant represents to government authorities that any properties or areas within a development proposal or subdivision application will remain in either permanent open space or private park areas, or if the Council in the exercise of its zoning power requires as a condition of rezoning that an area be designated for permanent open space or private park. This does not preclude the Council from exercising its zoning authority as provided in Sec. 46-4, Hawai'i Revised Statutes. Within areas so designated, no uses, structures, or development inconsistent with such designation shall be generally permitted or permitted by Use Permit without express provision to the contrary. The Council is hereby authorized to make such factual determinations as necessary incident to this Section.To provide for other areas which because of more detailed analysis, or because of changing settlement characteristics, are determined to be of significant value to the public.