RES 120 Draft 01 2024-2026 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The Public Access Open Space and Natural Resources (PONC) Commission has not yet purchased [and designated as an agricultural easement during the first fifteen years of acquisitions, and purchase of this property could be the first, as specifically allowed in the Hawaii County Charter. By designating property to be utilized for agriculture in perpetuity, the surrounding viewptane, adjoining stream habitat, and coastal resources could also benefit from protection. Identified as prime agricultural land by the State of Hawaii, the Land has been in near constant production for multiple generations. The owners intend to continue utilizing and improving the productivity of the (and to support the nutritional needs of Local families, protect groundwater resources and provide protective watershed during an anticipated period of climate change. An agricultural easement is a Legally binding agreement between a willing landowner and a land trust and stays in place in perpetuity. The property owner retains the title of the property and responsibility to pay property taxes and other expenses. The easement can protect wildlife habitat, scenic vistas, productive farmland, and important wetlands, watersheds, or forests. The easement specifies what activities are allowed on the land, which may include farming, ranching, forestry, limited construction, and maintenance of existing property and structures. An easement also defines what activities are restricted permanently, such as non-agriculturat, development and subdividing, excessive grading, and other activities that would damage or eliminate the conservation values of the property. The permanent protections of the conservation/agricultural easement "run with the land" and remain in place in perpetuity, even if the owner sells or conveys title to the [and, Strengths: The purchase of an agricultural easement for this property has Letters of support from local farm organizations and Legislators in state and county positions. The owners have already acquired funding approval from the Legacy Lands Conservation Program (LLCP) program and have obtained a commitment from the Natural Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS) to share in the cost of easement purchase. According to the prospectus offered by the landowners, the purchase price of $1.6 M would be shared among the LLCP (31 %), NRCS (49%), MKLC (0.3%), landowner (5%) and the County of Hawaii PONC (15%), under the proposal. The purchase of an agricultural easement through PONC funds could provide an incentive for other agricultural producers to seek deed restrictions and easements to continue HawaiTs farmland in agricultural use. The import of 95% of our food from the continent is not sustainable over time, and the protection and funding of farming enterprises must be addressed at all Levels of government. The most recent USDA Census of Agriculture, in March 2024, found that Big Island was hit the hardest with the toss of 582 farms totally 63,260 acres in the Last five years, which was 77% of the state's Losses of farms and farmland. u