BILL 25 Zendo's last hurrah!

[dakine]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sativa

Wipio..

---

Waipio?

[oink]

"Waipio?" Yeah, by the candidate's official spokesperson, kinda inexcusable when repeated.

Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.

[kalakoa]

I am trying to maintain the rural character of my subdivision.

How nice for you and your subdivision. Perhaps my subdivision feels differently about these issues; why should we be limited to what you think is appropriate?

Seriousy, "one size fits all" doesn't; these bills should allow the individual subdivisions to opt-in (or not).

the so called sustainable living research bill SB 2274, that would allow for a bio fuel plant or commercial windmill operation to operate right next to your home in the name of research with one report a year to the planning commission.

Your continued misrepresentation of SB2274 makes all of your other statements highly questionable. Did you read the bill? It doesn't "allow" anything; as I've said before, it merely directs County to create a process, at which point the "community input" could shape the process in an appropriate manner.

No one on a 1/4 acre "farm" can produce enough food to have more than about 1 visitor per day

A true "farm" operation needs about 5 acres to succeed. Again: rezoning the "legal nonconforming" subdivisions to R would eliminate many of these "Ag zoned" problems, as well as provide a "buffer zone" that limits Ag uses on adjoining properties. (Requiring a minimum lot size for "Ag tourism" would also work here.)

Watch for all these issues to be raised again if/when Hawaii ever gets around to marijuana legalization... which is about the only crop that makes a quarter-acre "farm" profitable...

[kalakoa]

What do you have against creating entrepreneurship opportunities in this difficult economy?

I've read the same thing between the lines. Perhaps those who are so concerned with "preserving the rural character" of their subdivisions could pay a higher tax rate to subsidize the lack of opportunity created by that preservation?

it reads to me that it allows farmers to sell farm related products

A "farm stand" is already explicitly allowed under Ag zoning, regardless of lot size, no additional permits required.

putting up with 24/7 corn and soybean harvest using large, loud machinery and pigs being pastured upwind of our house

All of which are "permitted agricultural uses" under current zoning...

[Guest]

Leilani quote:

"Farmers can qualify for agriculture tourism permits as long as 50% of their gross revenues come from farm activities i.e. the food they grow and sell.

If there is an enforcement provision for the above, what is the problem?
No one on a 1/4 acre "farm" can produce enough food to have more than about 1 visitor per day buying other merchandise, could they?"

Leilani, the idea of the code as it stands now is that the tourism operation is complimentary and supplementary to the farm operation not primary and we should keep it that way IMO. There is enforcement in terms of site inspection and use of taxes as proof for major agricultural tourism operations yet there is no requirement for a minor agricultural tourism operation in terms of revenues from the farm vs.store. And no site inspections or plan approvals for minor. So there can be an organization or an individual who could represent themselves as a farmer or an agricultural endeavor but they are really trying to use the code to open up a store in the neighborhood and grow very little or just what they need to get over. This is not fair to the genuine farmer or the established agricultural tourism businesses already in place.

[Guest]

Don't worry Oink Waipio it is spelled right in the amendment to the bill. But more importantly to ask why the amendment is in there? Why WHYPIO? Because they did not want to be under this Bill?

[Guest]

kalakoa quote:
"Seriously, "one size fits all" doesn't; these bills should allow the individual subdivisions to opt-in (or not)."

Is that how law works kalakoa? Maybe in your world. Yesterday Rj and I talked to members of the boards from Leilani estates, Seaview estates, Orchidland Estates, Fern Forest Estaes, Fern Acres,Ainaloa and a few more. So far every person we forwarded the bill to was unhappy about the language in the bill especially the part about using the private roads. Their roads can't take that much potential traffic.

[kalakoa]

So far every person we forwarded the bill to was unhappy about the language in the bill

"Every person so far" is not the same as "all of Hawaii County" nor even "all of Puna".

Their roads can't take that much potential traffic.

Two separate issues: (1) "potential traffic" is conjecture; (2) the "private roads" is its own problem which exists whether or not Ag-tourism is expanded.

A legitimate "farming" operation could easily generate far more traffic (and with heavier vehicles) than Ag tourism; the problem is the roads, not their potential use.

[Rob Tucker]

It sounds like another C.A.V.E. issue. Citizens Against Virtually Everything.

[Guest]

kalakoa quote:
"Every person so far" is not the same as "all of Hawaii County" nor even "all of Puna".


I am glad you said "all of Hawai'i County" for there were many people from the other side of the island who expressed their concern during council testimony on Bill 25. Where you there kalakoa? Waipio is not in Puna and they do not want to be included in this bill either. And don't worry we will be canvassing the other Districts. The problem is that most people are not even aware of this bill. That is why I started this thread.