BIL 148 Draft 01 2004-2006 - Laserfiche WebLink

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BILL NO. 14s OIiI~INt~NCE NO. _ AN ORDINP.NCE AMENI3ING CI-IAPTER 25 (ZONING CODE) OF THE HAWAII COUNTY CGDE RELATED TO AGRICULTURAL TOURISM. BE IT ORDAINED EY THE COUNCIL, QF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII: SECTION 1. Purpose and Findings. The Council finds that the Zoning Cody does not specifically address the permissibility of agricultural tourism or its impacts in the various zoning districts. Following the demise of the sugar plantations and mills a more di-versifie€i agricultural base consisting of smaller agribusiness and family operated farms, ranches, and agricultural products processing facilities is evolving in the County of Hawaii. These o~eratior~ are offering a wide variety of specialized products, produce and exotic flowers via local vending opportunities as well as through regional, national, and international wholesale distrributors and the Internet. The visitor industry, or tourism, continues to grow as a major eleme;.nt in the economy of I-Iawaii County. With this growth in the visitor industry comes an increased markot for tours showcasing the uniqueness of farming, ranching and agricultural products ~rocessixag in Hawaii. A viable inventory of agricultural tourism operations in the County of Hawaii broadens the range of interests within the County attracting additional and returning visitors. A wide scale of agricultural tourism activities already exists on the :island of Hawaii, sometimes resulting in an adverse impact an surrounding properties and resources. The failure to define and regulate agricultural tourism in Hawaii County has already resullted in complaints from surrounding property owners and residents due to excessive noise and unsafe traffic conditions.