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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> HAYASHI: Thank you, Mr. Chair. This particular matter is before you as a <br /> result of the County Council adopting a resolution requesting that the Planning Director <br /> initiate an amendment to the Zoning Code which would allow wind energy facilities <br /> within the County's Open zoned district. Currently the Zoning Code, within the <br /> County's Open zoned district wind energy facilities are not a permitted use. However, <br /> within the State Land Use Agricultural District and if the properties are within the County <br /> Agricultural district, wind energy facilities are permitted. The County Council adopted <br /> this resolution as a result of, basically to comply with some of the requirements of the <br /> General Plan to provide for energy self-sufficiency by the County, as well as to <br /> encourage wind energy facilities as they are clean renewable energy sources which <br /> produce no emission or chemical waste. This resolution that the Council adopted also <br /> was a result of the Waikoloa Village Association exploring opportunities for wind energy <br /> facilities within their lands. They have approximately 250 acres of land which are <br /> currently zoned Open around the Village and they would like to possibly establish a wind <br /> energy facility within their Open zoned district, lands that are zoned Open. <br /> <br /> The Planning Director as a result of this resolution did draft a proposed ordinance that is <br /> before you today. That's listed as Exhibit 2. And basically this would allow wind energy <br /> facilities to be permitted within the County's Open zoned district provided that the land is <br /> within the State Land Use Agricultural district; and also that in order to, for the wind <br /> energy facility to be established within the Open zoned district, they would have to obtain <br /> a Use Permit from the Planning Commission. So that's basically what is being proposed <br /> in this particular ordinance as a result of the resolution that was adopted by the Council. <br /> As the Chair indicated, this matter is also being scheduled for a hearing, a continued <br /> hearing, at the October 5`h Planning Commission meeting in Hilo. Are there any <br /> questions? <br /> <br /> GRAHAM: Any questions, Commissioners? Norman, like in the Ag district <br /> wind power facilities are already permitted, is that correct? <br /> HAYASHI: Yes. <br /> <br /> GRAHAM: And there's no <br /> <br /> HAYASHI: Except that <br /> <br /> GRAHAM: Use permit required or <br /> <br /> HAYASHI: No. If the property is within the State Land Use Agricultural <br /> District and zoned Agriculture, the use is an outright permitted use. The only reason why <br /> this ordinance is here before you today, draft ordinance is here before you today, is <br /> because although the property may be within the State Land Use Agricultural district, the <br /> County's Open district does not allow wind energy facilities as a permitted use. <br /> Therefore, in order to have a wind energy facility allowed within an area zoned Open by <br /> the County, this ordinance would require that an individual or an association obtain a Use <br /> Permit from the Planning Commission. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> 2 EXHIBIT C <br />