08-02-2010, 10:07 AM
You don't have to go crazy over this. You just have to follow the official Puna Community Development Rules and not the County Code.
First you incorporate not as a café but as a community educational idea co-op. You offer the place for community gathering for people to exchange ideas on culture, art, environment, farming, basket weaving, dance, or whatever comes to their minds. You make sure that you have some bulletin board for community people to post community whatever. You offer space for art display, maybe a sing-a-long, and even have children’s hours where they can come and exchange information on the cultural diversity of cloth diapers, or the environmental impact of texting.
The cafe is nothing but an extension of the nonprofit nature to raise funds to keep the place open. Building, fire and health regulations don’t apply in the Puna District if you claim “community” anything.
Once you have the people in your hands, go ahead and do whatever you want. If neighbors object, start a smear campaign of them being anti community. If the county objects, go after them as being the cause and need for what you’re doing. You're talking Puna District; you are not required to obey the laws. So long as what you are doing has the word "community" in it, it could be a septic waste burning pit and if you call it a community fire dance arena, people will support you.
Good luck and don't get side tracked by official regulations, just follow the Puna Community Development Rules and you'll be just fine.
First you incorporate not as a café but as a community educational idea co-op. You offer the place for community gathering for people to exchange ideas on culture, art, environment, farming, basket weaving, dance, or whatever comes to their minds. You make sure that you have some bulletin board for community people to post community whatever. You offer space for art display, maybe a sing-a-long, and even have children’s hours where they can come and exchange information on the cultural diversity of cloth diapers, or the environmental impact of texting.
The cafe is nothing but an extension of the nonprofit nature to raise funds to keep the place open. Building, fire and health regulations don’t apply in the Puna District if you claim “community” anything.
Once you have the people in your hands, go ahead and do whatever you want. If neighbors object, start a smear campaign of them being anti community. If the county objects, go after them as being the cause and need for what you’re doing. You're talking Puna District; you are not required to obey the laws. So long as what you are doing has the word "community" in it, it could be a septic waste burning pit and if you call it a community fire dance arena, people will support you.
Good luck and don't get side tracked by official regulations, just follow the Puna Community Development Rules and you'll be just fine.