PD BACKGROUND AND RECOMMENDATION REPORT

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Right to Farm Act,which allows for farming within a reasonable manner while following best management practices and successfully balances the needs of the hobbyist beekeepers and the safety concerns of neighboring residents and land uses. PLANNING DIRECTOR'S RECOMMENDATION The Planning Director is supportive of the intent of Bill 144 and appreciates the time and effort of the County Council has taken to draft legislation to regulate apiaries in Hawaii County. The Planning Director recommends that the Planning Commissions send a favorable recommendation of Bill No. 144 to the County Council. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION The Windward and Leeward Planning Commissions are required to take action on Bill 144 as described in Section 25-2-43(b) of the zoning code (Planning Department Exhibit 2). This bill was transmitted by the County Council to the Department on April 3, 2024, which means the commissions are required to transmit their recommendations to the council by August 1, 2024. The commissions may recommend approval of all, some, or none of the Director's suggested recommendations. The commissions may also recommend their own revisions to the bill. The Windward and Leeward Planning Commission's recommendations will be forwarded separately, but at the same time, to the County Council for their consideration and decision. In the event the commission fails to act on the proposed bill by this date, such inaction shall be considered as an unfavorable recommendation by the commissions. Once Bill 144 is heard before the Windward and Leeward Planning Commission, the recommendations will be sent back to the County Council's Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use and Development, where the bills will then be forwarded with a recommendation to Council. At Council, the bills will need to go through the 1st and 2nd (Final) Reading in order to be passed as an ordinance. -5-