2005-03-04 Planning Commission Minutes

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The,according to the applicant, the initial cost of the infrastructure will be approximately $800,000 to $1,000,000. Thats based on their current estimate for the development of this particular project. The General Plan that was recently, Im sorry, the General Plan that was recently adopted designates these areas into two agricultural categories, important agricultural land and extensive agricultural land. As far as the subject property, portions of the property are, is currently used for agricultural purposes. And Ill refer to this particular map. Again, as a matter of orientation, this would be the Old Hawaii Belt Road, this is Pahala Village. And access to the property would be from the old, main, the Main Cane Haul Road, as its referred to; and itll go in this particular direction. The property is in this general configuration. If you look at this map, there are some areas that are cleared, these areas are basically in active agricultural use. This general area is in coffee. We also have some areas to the, to the, that would be northeast, and these particular areas are also usedforactiveagriculturalpurposes.Someofthoselandsarealsoincoffee. Therearecurrentlylicensesthatweregrantedtoindividualsfarmingtheselandsbythecurrent landowner. These licenses, there are approximately 51, there are 51 licenses for agricultural purposes, totaling approximately 620 plus or minus acres. These licenses include 45 licenses for coffee growing, which approximate 270 acres. Theres also four licenses for pasturage, totaling 321 acres, and also two licenses for papaya growing approximately 15 acres. The remaining area is basically vacant. These lands were formerly used for sugar cane production back when the plantation was in operation. Surrounding land, surrounding lands include eucalyptus, some macadamia nuts, and, also vacant lands. We have received several communications from the members of the public. Those that we have received include a letter from Councilman Bob Jacobson who, I guess, is the Councilman for this area who opposes the request. We also have a letter from Willie Rice, Forest Solutions, Inc., their concern is with regard to the impact on their eucalyptus farm in the surrounding, in the general vicinity. We also received correspondence from Senator Lorraine Inouye who supports this project; from John Cross, Vice President of C. Brewer Property, who basically explained the tenant relationship to this particular property. Another letter, and I wont read these letters. Some of them will be coming up to testify on their own behalf. The next letter is from Franco Longakit who supports of this project. We also have a letter from Alan Takemoto, who is the executive director of the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, who supports the project. We also have a letter from Mr. Howard Yamasaki, President of the Big Island Farm Bureau, who also supports this particular project. We also received a letter from John Repol -. PUBLIC:Repolgle. HAYASHI:Repolge -. REPOLGLE:Repolgle. HAYASHI;Repolgle expressing some of the concerns with regard to the particular project; and I believe hell be coming up to testify. 3