COM 0745.000 2010-2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Attached to this letter is a proposed bill amending Ordinance No. 08-155,relating to agricultural tourism. The major changes are: • Improved definition of activities that can be defined as"agricultural tourism"; • Define"major"verses "minor" agricultural tourism operations; • Definitions regarding various standards that define components of agricultural tourism, such as a definition for"agricultural product", "related uses", "farm market", and other uses. • Require Plan Approval only for"major" agricultural tourism operations, rather than for all agricultural tourism operations as currently required by the Zoning Code. • For"major" agricultural tourism operations, eliminate 1,000 square foot limit and rely on maximum annual visitor count of 30,000; • Eliminate 60-day review for plan approval of"major" agricultural tourism operations so that it follows the same 30-day processing timeframe afforded to any other use; • Revise maximum number of visitors from a yearly maximum of 30,000 to 15,000 and to also establish a weekly maximum of 350 visitors. • Eliminate maximum limit of gross revenue generated by agricultural tourism operation; • Eliminate one year"grace period" for existing agricultural tourism facilities to secure final plan approval. Instead, agricultural tourism operations shall conform immediately to the revised standards and guidelines, should this bill be adopted by the Council; RECOMMENDATION For the reasons cited above,the Planning Director recommends that the Planning Commission send a favorable recommendation to the County Council for the amendment to Chapter 25 (Zoning Code)of the Hawai`i County Code 1983 (2005 Edition, as amended) relating to Agricultural Tourism. The accompanying draft bill is provided for your favorable consideration. -3-