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Hello all,
Please comment for any of you with some helpful information. My finance and I are planning to move to the Big Island. We love the PUNA area. We are looking to start a small business, specifically a Cafe. We are aware of an exponential growth in the area but we have noticed that the infrastructure, commercial nor community development have not kept up with the growth to support the community. We need information on how to open a Cafe in a highly residential subdivisions that lack a place where neighbors can gather and spend time and meet casually. How to get permit, what lands are available etc... Thanks in advance to those with helpful information that posts.
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I would suggest that you first read the Puna Community Development Plan (PCDP). It is available here:
http://www.hcrc.info/community-planning/puna-cdp
There is a section identifying proposed village centers for various subdivisions.
Assume the best and ask questions.
Punaweb moderator
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If you realy want to do it use one of the people/services that help you file for permits and zoning planing stuff. the PDCP is not reflected in the zoneing law yet. and haveing someone that knows the process and people is half the battle
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Seeb is offering good advice. Under the current zoning laws, a Special Use Permit would be required to open a cafe in any of the subdivisions currently zoned AG. (And practically all the subdivisions in Puna without existing commercial areas are zoned AG.) This can be a contentious process, depending on a number of factors, including the attitudes of the neighbors and the County Planning officials. There was a recent thread here on Punaweb about how difficult and possibly even stacked against the little guy this process can be. I'm not saying what you want to do is completely impossible, but you will need help to negotiate the minefield that is commercial development and zoning in Puna.
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Thank you to all those that replied to my post. I did review PCDP and it looks like the plan is in place to develop community and neighborhood village centers and land set aside for these purposes, if I am not mistaken. So do the state government own these land areas? When will this take place? PCDP was written in 2008 but has there been any progress? Has there been a developer interested in the project? We are not millionaires and we don't have the money to develop 20-40 acre land area. We just want to buy a small piece of land for a quaint place that we and the neighbors can enjoy. Anyone know of any people/services available in the PUNA area that can help me get this started? Thanks again for all your help!
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Hello again,
I had a lot of my own questions answered by reading further. Whew! There is a lot of information! Thank you Mr. Tucker for posting PCDP link for my reference.
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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.
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That's pretty cynical Bob.
I think the time might well be ripe for a good cafe, well placed, in one of the subdivisions. It will be easier if you place it where the village centers are intended. You will need electricity. You can use a catchment system. Other commercial operations in the county use catchment or if the water quality needs to be perfect you can put in a tank and buy water - have it trucked in.
Like all real estate location, location, location.
Assume the best and ask questions.
Punaweb moderator
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Yeah, it is, But you have to admit, it's not to far from the truth [
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Our mission sincerely is to serve the community. We like that PUNA still seem to have that old Hawaii charm that we love so much. Hence we are not looking to open a franchise but a local place. If anyone has any suggestions or good ideas, we would be happy to hear from you! Bob, if our cafe open its' doors, you can come in for a free cup of coffee--on the house!
