Pahoa Feed to close soon

[eightfingers2.0]

Actually, it’s consistent with mainland land use and development practices regarding “bypass routes”.

[Rob Tucker]

There is already a roadway/driveway access at that location and has been for probably seventy years.

[kalakoa]

That's just a symptom. Address the real problem described in the transcript: there is no affordable land for a small local business. If Pahoa Feed found some land up the road from their old location, Planning would simply use a different set of reasons to deny the permit application. Does this serve the public interest? Probably not, but it's clearly what the public wants, or people would demand a different outcome.

Consider Hilo Coffee Mill and the SUP that was granted for a "meeting house" next door. Both are "driveways on the highway" connected by private road, applications approved by Planning. I'm sure someone can explain how the circumstances are completely different, making these businesses OK.

I think Puna Feed should have forced County to define "agricultural" in court.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

forced County to define "agricultural" in court.

No need for court.  They’d just refer you to the Hawaii County Rules & Regulations for the rest of us, as laid out in George Orwell’s Animal Farm. 
Chapter One, Hawaii County (Revised):  “Whacha last name? Who ya know?”

[Obie]

"I think Puna Feed should have forced County to define "agricultural" in court."

The lot they bought is zoned residential.

[kalakoa]

County revised the "Property Class" to charge the higher Residential rate on unimproved Ag lands.

The parcel itself is still zoned A-5a.

[Obie]

I give up ! I don't know how anyone can complain about the county doing the correct thing for a change.
It's a bypass road. It bypasses the congestion in Pahoa.
That was the main reason for denying the permit.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

I give up ! It's a bypass road.

Obie, 
The same people who complain about not allowing driveways on a bypass road, would complain if the county approved driveways and then lowered the speed limit from 45 mph to 35 mph.  Which is what happens when entry and exit roads are permitted.

[terracore]

It just moves the problem around. No feed store for Pahoa means more traffic to Hilo or the Shipman business park. No problem, just put a stop light on the highway.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

just put a stop light on the highway.

Yesterday, at a stoplight on Makaala with the Walmart delivery entrance on my left, Panda Express on the right, I noticed a left arrow into the Walmart delivery area for their trucks.  Not sure if it’s new but I never noticed it before.  It sure must be nice to be so big on Hawaii Island, with so much influence, that you can get your own stoplight, or an exclusive use arrow on a public roadway for your business endeavors.   It’s how the big get even bigger on Big Island.