2004-03-05 thester - Laserfiche WebLink

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FUJIKAWA:What is your discussion, are you asking for one? GRAHAM:I think thatÓs normal; after a motion, you have -. FUJIKAWA:I know. What you want is to discuss it? GRAHAM:Yes. FUJIKAWA:Then raise your hand -, go ahead. GRAHAM:In discussion of this application, I have a couple things I wanted to say. One is just a specific commentary from prior correspondence regarding the use of agricultural project district, and so I just wanted to read a little bit of that. Then not withstanding what I read there, I also wanted to just put forth my own general concerns and reasons that I would be also in favor of this project. So while historically itÓs an agricultural project district, I think, IÓm addressing this to the Planning Director as well as the Commission. In 1996 the new Zoning Code was put together which added for the first time whatÓs called a project district which we encountered in a recent application in Hilo, and also added the agricultural project district. And, basically, speaking to the agricultural project district now, basically I believe from what IÓve read from the minutes of the County Council Planning Committee that the agricultural project district is not intended for these sorts of situations. Not withstanding that, I have other comments IÓd like to make. But let me read from a small segment of the minutes of that Planning Committee/Council meeting October 30, 1996 regarding the agricultural project district when the Consultant Sandra Schutte was asked to give explanation for why this new district was being put in the Zoning Code. She gave a relatively long discussion of how the other agricultural project districts worked and what their requirements are and why this project district was being added for a different situation. And rather than read the long lengthy thing let me just touch for a little for now for this project district. So IÓll just quote one paragraph. She says, ÐThatÓs basically the concept here. The agricultural project district,Ñ sheÓs referring to, she says, Ðit would not apply. It would, again, in its intent also not apply to those areas that are classified, for the most part, as A or B soils, or good soils, and/or would not have been identified as, you know, good agricultural lands. This kind of district could not apply to those, except if the land happens to fall within the General Plan urban area growth area, so that there is that allowance again for things that are already planned to be, you know, within an urban and your greater density areas that would give you that kind of flexibility.Ñ So what sheÓs saying, I believe, is that there are a lot of restrictions on what can go on in agricultural areas and thereÓs a lot of agricultural areas that are not particularly good for agriculture. And from reading the prior information leading up to that quote, the gist of it in my reading is that for areas that really are not going to be used productively for agriculture, this agricultural project district allows for more flexibility in how one could use those areas somewhat for residential purposes and other things. And so I think the intent of the law as it was first formulated at the County Council when it was adopted in 1996 17