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10/19/2004 9:13 AM FROM: Fax WOODWAAD-RICE ASSOCIATES T0: 961-8912 PAGE: 001 OF 001 <br /> CL UDIA WOODWARD-RICE <br /> P.O. B x 186, Honomu, HI 96728 <br /> (3~8) 63-6123 phone/ 963-6889 fax ' <br /> email ricesofhiC:Dhllob~ com <br /> Octob r 18, 2004 <br /> HAYIiI II COUNTY COUNCIL _ <br /> Fina a Committee <br /> Attn: Da Fred Holschuh Please coov and distributes <br /> ~ ' <br /> ~ C_ - <br /> Re: omm. 118 (Bill 49) ~ <br /> Dear ouncil members: <br /> Like any other Hawaii County residents, I have been trying to inform myself <br /> about land use and real property tax issues this year. Our communities are under <br /> press re from developers, speculation and traffic congestion. It appears that any <br /> expec ations of "business as usual" are no more. <br /> There has been confusion for many caused by Rule 7 which added a house site <br /> value ion to real property taxes on Agricultural property. Many of the Property Tax I <br /> bills p oposed early in 2003 were never really addressed by the Council until <br /> recen ly and the administration's efforts for comprehensive tax revision did not i <br /> hoop n. I <br /> It has become apparent to me that a fundamental issue is still not being addressed. <br /> More hen one million acres of Hawaii Island is zoned Agriculture. This zoning is a <br /> catch all category and does a disservice to real agriculture. Until poor and <br /> unpro uctive lands are removed from Ag zoning, efforts to address fair valuation <br /> and a iminate'non-permitted uses of Ag land will be impossible. The Rural zoning <br /> categ ry should be well defined and a process begun to re-zone many acres now <br /> inapp opriately zoned Agriculture. <br /> The H use Site valuation change for Ag land also places an unfair burden on <br /> com ercial agriculture. I have come to the opinion that this additional taxation <br /> shout be waived under certain circumstances: if the property owner files IRS Form <br /> F, an if all farm dwellings are occupied by the property owner or employees. <br /> Unpe mitted uses of Ag lands are rampant in Hawaii County. Residential sprawl <br /> three ens our important Ag lands. The Planning Department should enforce <br /> existi g laws that limit the permitted uses of Agricultural land. <br /> Since ely, <br /> IP <br /> <br /> Claud aWoodward-Rice <br /> i <br /> Comm.: Na <br /> Ref. To: Praea <br /> Ref. D,afe .T ~ A <br /> <br />