2007-09-21 TCOUNCIL-wind - Laserfiche WebLink

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