Agriculture (Focused Discussion) Supplementary Handout

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transparency into the land use designation process, and more accurately reflects the County's and the Community's land use goals and intentions. 4.1 Expand the Local System of Preserves This section of the CDP guides the expansion of lands held in public trust, supports landowners establishing conservation and agricultural easements and using agricultural and forestry land preservation programs, and encourages Natural Area Reserves to pursue acquisition priorities. County Action Policy 16: Identify and secure in public trust (fee simple or by easement) priority lands that achieve one or more of Hamakua's Objectives. ■ Seek to use conservation easement or acquisition opportunities through funding sources such as PONC, etc., once critical habitat areas are identified as priorities to protect. ■ Seek to protect with easements or acquire suitable important coastal lands that would protect viewsheds, provide the public with access to scenic viewing areas, or otherwise promote appropriate coastal recreation and subsistence. ■ Support the efforts of landowners in establishing conservation and agricultural easements to preserve important resources in perpetuity. See also Policy 49 for a policy related to prioritizing community accesses in the Hamakua Planning Area. 4.3 Protect Agricultural Lands & Open Space This section of the CDP protects agricultural land and open space from non-agricultural development with the CDP Land Use Policy Map, stronger farm dwelling regulations, minimum lot sizes, tax incentive programs, development of transfer of development rights (TDR), land bank programs, and State Important Agricultural Land designations. Land Use Polices Policy 24: To preserve the agricultural character of Hamakua and to reinforce existing protections, the official Hamakua CDP Land Use Policy Map designates agricultural lands in the Hamakua Planning Area to be preserved for agriculture and open space. Development and construction in "Important Agricultural Land" and "Extensive Agriculture" areas shall be limited to agriculture, related economic infrastructure and cottage industries, renewable energy, open area recreational uses, and community facilities unless otherwise permitted by law. For more information on permitted uses in State Agricultural District and County Agricultural Zone see HRS sections 205-2 and 205-4.5, and HCC section 25-2-60 for information on use permits in the Agricultural Zone. Policy 25: When considering applications to consolidate and resubdivide pre-existing lots of record, the Director of Planning shall endeavor to keep the lot sizes consistent with the minimum lot size, and only permit lots less than one acre in the State Land Use Agriculture District and the County of Hawai'i Agricultural District if the applicant clearly demonstrates that an unreasonable economic hardship cannot otherwise be prevented or land utilization is improved relative to the objectives and policies of the CDP. (HRS 205-5(b); (GP 14.2.3(s)). Policy 26: The Planning Commission shall include in any Special Permit approval (or recommendation for approval to the State Land Use Commission) appropriate performance conditions to achieve CDP objectives and implement CDP policies. (HRS 205-6(c) and Planning Commission Rules 6-3(a)(5)(G), 6-7, & 6-8). Draft Hamakua CDP hamakua@hawaiicounty.gov www.hamakuacdp.info