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<br /> <br /> <br /> Mtv or <br /> IJ <br /> COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII <br /> <br /> <br /> BILL NO. 148 <br /> (DRAFT 3) <br /> <br /> ORDINANCE NO. 48 155 <br /> <br /> AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 25 (ZONING CODE) OF THE HAWAII <br /> COUNTY CODE, RELATED TO AGRICULTURAL TOURISM. <br /> <br /> BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII: <br /> <br /> SECTION 1. Purpose and Findings. The Council finds that the zoning code does not <br /> <br /> specifically address the permissibility of agricultural tourism or its impacts in the various zoning <br /> <br /> districts. Following the demise of the sugar plantations and mills, a more diversified agricultural <br /> <br /> base, consisting of smaller agribusiness and family operated farms, ranches, and agricultural <br /> <br /> products processing facilities, is evolving in the County of Hawaii. These operations are <br /> <br /> offering a wide variety of specialized products, produce and exotic flowers via local vending <br /> <br /> opportunities as well as through regional, national, and international wholesale distributors and' <br /> <br /> the Internet. <br /> <br /> The visitor industry, or tourism, continues to grow as a major element in the economy of <br /> <br /> Hawaii County. With this growth in the visitor industry comes an increased market for tours <br /> showcasing the uniqueness of farming, ranching and agricultural products processing in Hawai`,i. <br /> <br /> A viable inventory of agricultural tourism operations in the County of Hawaii broadens the <br /> <br /> range of interests within the County attracting additional and returning visitors. <br /> <br /> A wide scale of agricultural tourism activities already exists on the island of Hawaii, <br /> <br /> sometimes resulting in an adverse impact on surrounding properties and resources. The failure <br /> <br /> to define and regulate agricultural tourism in Hawaii County has already resulted in complaints! <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> G <br />