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really important, because if people are allowed to do ag tourism activities but there is no structure
<br />that controls the certain things -. The small farmer that has a small organic farm that is inviting the
<br />school kids from the Waimea Elementary School, I mean they don’t need to have a whole plan
<br />approval where they have to hire consultants and all that to do that. And that’s what I like about the
<br />amendments is because, you know, the small mom-and-pop or multi-generational farms will be
<br />allowed to do this under this, and it will allow, this plan will actually allow others within the state as
<br />other counties follow it. So it’s really good that when an operation starts to get larger or more
<br />significant with regard to volume of people that come to their farms, they need to jump through the
<br />plan approval hoops. And that’s why I think that’s good, cause I don’t think that is restrictive at all;
<br />I think that is right for the larger farms to do that, because it makes sure that there is public safety
<br />and public consideration in doing that. But the small farmers, they don’t have the wherewithal with
<br />all resource to do any of that. And so it’s important that this particular plan really recognizes the
<br />difference with regards to the size, the volume or what farms will be handling on their properties.
<br />
<br />GIFFIN: Any other comments of the testifier? Lani.
<br />
<br />BOWMAN: Sorry. Cause, you know, I live in Kohala and we don’t even, the bus can’t even turn
<br />around at the statue, so I guess I’m coming from a small rural, you know, perspective. But then I
<br />think, and I know this bill isn’t for O‘ahu but, wow -. Anyway, I guess that was my comment that I
<br />hear you when we can afford this to the smaller, I guess, farmers and prevent those big buses.
<br />
<br />WEIGERT: And really the initial idea of having an ordinance like this was really for the beginner
<br />farmer; it really, really was, so that the farmer could come out and try to supplement their income
<br />and survive. So what happens is that all of the larger farms and ranches start to jump in on this.
<br />No, no, no, you need to go the regular route and do what you need to do to make it legal for you. It
<br />wasn’t meant for those sizes. So when I say – I’m trying to think of a larger agricultural system
<br />here that has the buses coming in all the time – they have to go through, you know, like some of the
<br />Kona coffee farms, you know, where they have the buses now, they were supposed to go through
<br />plan approval to make that happen. They should in fact do drainage plans. But the smaller farmers
<br />that have, you know, maybe one to three acres, they just don’t have the wherewithal to do that. And
<br />I agree in Kohala there is a certain sense of place there, too, so maybe big buses don’t belong there.
<br />You see, so that’s why there is certain things that the Director built into this that really protects the
<br />sense of place as well.
<br />
<br />BOWMAN: Thank you.
<br />
<br />GIFFIN: Any other comments for the testifier? Thank you very much. Appreciate your being here
<br />and all of your input. Commissioners, do you have any questions of staff or of the Director?
<br />Hearing none, if you will turn to Page 3 of the yellow paper that was handed out, you will see at the
<br />bottom of Page 3 the recommendation. Do I hear a motion? Commissioner Bowman.
<br />
<br />BOWMAN: So I move that – shall I read this whole thing?
<br />
<br />GIFFIN: You may do whatever you want.
<br />
<br />BOWMAN: Okay, thank you, oh, boy, I don’t know. Okay, for the reason cited above that we
<br />recommend the Planning, that we approve the Planning Director’s recommendations that the
<br />Planning Commission send a favorable recommendation to the County Council for the amendment
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<br />EXHIBIT B
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