HAMAKUA CDP MEMO v4 - redacted - Laserfiche WebLink

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3C2: CDP SAYS: THERE IS AN EXCESS OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN MAUKA AGRICULTURE *the CDP continues: These homestead areas contain previous lots of record that were created prior to statehood, and they accommodate an excess of rural development in the agricultural mauka areas along the homestead roads. See the rationale for policies: *COMMENT: *Agriculture is a conforming use for both Agricultural and Rural land: as long as appropriate agriculture is being practiced and agriculture benefits are realized. Is the CDP saying that the relatively small parcels on Kihalani Homestead Road cannot pursue a rural lifestyle and that they must be made to revert to 100% agriculture on the Homestead parcels? What does it mean that the homesteads have an "excess of rural development" in agriculture? The homesteads are being used in the way that was contemplated when the homesteads were created. *The homesteads were created under Territory (State) law almost 100 years ago to address a particular need: to attract small scale farmers and HOMEsteaders to settle in the remote parts of the island and to use the homestead for subsistence and for whatever other benefits, including residential and commercial uses, that might be possible(https://en.wikipedia.orglwikilHomesteading). It ignores history to say that Kihalani Homestead has an "excess" or rural development: the homesteads were designed to meld agriculture and rural features even though those terms were not used 100 years ago. Although the citizens of Hawaii 100 years ago understood small vs. large agriculture, a decision was made to right -size the homestead lots for the complementary purposes of: 1) providing land of a size that a family could manage; 2) where a home could be built; and 3) where the price of the land would be manageable for the homesteaders. The Hawaii homestead movement provided the desired beneficial effects which can still be seen in action in the homesteads today. While the homestead lots may seem "non -conforming" with regard to the modern zoning code, the homestead was authorized before there was a "county" or a "zoning code" or a "LUPAG": and therefore have precedence over the current regulations legally or at least on principle. Homesteads are not some awful mistake of land use planning. They are a separate land use that has served and still serves a needed purpose. Kihalani Homesteads should not be expected to fit into any uses or restrictions other than those that were contemplated when the homestead were established 100 years ago. To change the use of the homestead lands to some other use such as IAL is a misunderstanding of what the homesteads were intended to be and what they contribute to currently. Also, there are still thousands of acres of large agricultural land above the homesteads that are parcels of a size of more than 20 acres+ and which are truly IAL whose owners would probably welcome an IAL designation 16