Possible New Ag Restrictions For Roosters

[My 2 cents]

They don't produce roosters; they acquire them.

This is a strategic farming practice. Immaculately conceived roosters fetch a higher price.

[kalakoa]

Seems like it'd be a lot more difficult to change the zoning, hence shutting down agricultural endeavors of all kinds, then it would be to require 75 feet away from the property lines for the freakin' roosters!

The 75-foot limit is a zoning change. It affects almost all "private agricultural" subdivisions, because most lots are less than 150-feet wide. If government insists on this kind of disruptive change, then it should benefit the public by upzoning to RA.

[Eric1600]

If government insists on this kind of disruptive change, then it should benefit the public by upzoning to RA.

Technically the zoning change was driven by grassroots organizers who went to the mayor and O'hara's for a meeting. O'Hara said Kim left so drafting the bill was left to her. It wasn't really a government driven change. In fact I would assume that keeping it Ag Land benefits the county more because they get the property tax (70% of revenue) without the responsibility and costs that RA zoning or residential zoning would incur. I seem to remember O'Hara said the current zoning for property less than 3 acres is no longer allowed as AG since the mid-70's and the status of HA, HPP, etc. as Ag land is outdated.

Unfortunately the rooster farmers keep taking it to a new level on social media after shouting down the bill. Many are spouting hateful things and being real jerks about it.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Unfortunately the rooster farmers keep taking it to a new level on social media after shouting down the bill

The rooster "farmers" defeated the proposal.
They won.
What kind of things would they have to say?

I said, ‘Wrong, Justin (Trudeau), you do.’ I didn’t even know. ... I had no idea. I just said, ‘You’re wrong.’ - President Donald J. Trump, 3/14/18

[kalakoa]

keeping it Ag Land benefits the county more because they get the property tax (70% of revenue) without the responsibility and costs that RA zoning or residential zoning would incur

RA is basically just A with restrictions, and would have the side effect of increased property valuation, such that higher taxes would then pay for all the "responsibility" that people seem to be demanding (roads, emergency response, freedom from roosters).

Of course, this assumes (probably incorrectly) that anyone wants to actually solve the problems created by "faux ag" zoning -- better that people argue about roosters than work to solve real problems, like that whole "one lane in or out" issue.

[kalakoa]

http://www.westhawaiitoday.com/2018/04/1...-vs-beaks/

Police say the population has grown to at least 50 chickens and has been an increasing problem for the past two years. However, officers and staff at the Kealakehe station have been working on a plan to reclaim their property and remove the birds as their presence has become annoying.

Fortunately for HPD, the Kona station is leased from State, and zoned "Conservation", so would have been unaffected by the "Rooster Ban".

http://qpublic9.qpublic.net/hi_hawaii_display.php?county=hi_hawaii&KEY=740200210000

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

That article, kalakoa, is a treasure trove of Hawaii County dysfunction:

(the police) reached out to the Hawaii Island Humane Society, which is across the street from the station to inquire about traps... he was informed he could use it for a fee.

However:
A deposit for a trap is $75... Once the trap is brought back, the money is refunded. Whitaker said the deposit is never cashed.

One county agency doesn't understand the rules of another county agency, so catching the roosters is temporarily put on hold. Then the article ends with:

Swan said there are other solutions to things and suggests that the humane society and police department work together to find a way to reduce the chicken population on Hale Makai Place.

Kumbaya

“Fiction reveals truth that reality obscures.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

[MarkD]

Shameful. Inhumane. Leave the birds be.

[kalakoa]

One county agency doesn't understand the rules of another county agency

One would like to believe that HIHS could trust the cops (from across the street, no less) to return the trap when finished.

Then again, one might also want to believe that HPD could afford a trap of their own.