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filawsii Invs~iv¢ ~p~~i~ I~lens~~rn¢nt ~ <br /> ~da~ation corporation a $-iaWali r~o~-proril <br /> <br /> PO Box 338 -Volcano, Hawaii - 96785 ~ Phone/Fax: 808-985-8596 Email: kim(a~hismec.ora ~ www.hismec.org <br /> SATE: April 19, 2005 <br /> I'O: Mayor Harry Kim, Council Chair, Vice Chair <br /> and Hawaii County Council Members <br /> HEARING: Tuesday April 19, 2005 1:30pm <br /> SUBJECT: In SUPPORT of Bill No. 80 amendments <br /> Related to the prevention of Residential Subdivision on Agricultural Land <br /> Greetings, <br /> My name is Kim Tavares, president of Hawaii Invasive Species Management & <br /> Education Corporation. HISMEC is dedicated to preserving the natural and cultural <br /> resources of this County. <br /> HISMEC encourages the protection of in-tact native forests in agriculture zones <br /> whenever possible, and also recognizes the importance of diversified agriculture and <br /> growth of the agricultural industry for Hawaii. This island is the only place in the state <br /> with enough agricultural land lefr to sustain these essential needs. <br /> HISMEC strongly discourages the use of agriculture lands for urbanization or <br /> subdivision development. Housing developments are happening at a rapid pace, and <br /> will continue to happen until every possible land tract is developed unless we control it. <br /> In this case, being behind the times is a good thing. It gives us the opportunity to <br /> capitalize on the knowledge that comes with developing agricultural or forest lands for <br /> residences, as has happened on other islands, in other states and across the world. <br /> Urban sprawl over ag lands is of no benefit to residents and farmers. I urge you Mayor <br /> Kim and Council members, to see these amendments all the way through the process, to <br /> prevent the destruction of our precious agricultural economy by saying no to more <br /> speculative development. <br /> Thank you, <br /> Kim Tavares <br /> Resident of Fern Forest, Puna, 9 years <br /> Community Development Hui of Fem Forest (CDHFP), Member 8 years <br /> Fern Forest Community Association (FFCA), Business Manager <br /> Hawaii Invasive Species Management & Education Corporation (HISMEC), President <br /> Comm. No. Z~ <br /> Ref. To: re <br /> Ref. Uate APR 1 9 205 <br /> <br />