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Draft Hamakua CDP Comments Submitted Online or by Email During the March 15 — June 15 2016 Review of the Draft Hamakua CDP *Acreage: small parcels can produce specialized products (example coffee, niche crops and even forestry, if the right timber is grown), especially when a plot is too steep or rocky for other crops. CTAHR supports this kind of micro -farming. USDA recognizes farms as including operations as small as 1 acre. Bill 317 would disqualify farmers who have timber operations on less than 10 acres even for lucrative exotic woods; and would disqualify pastures that are less than 10 acres that can also make a contribution to island agriculture. *Income: Department of Agriculture defines farming as $1000.00/year gross or less; Section 19-57 , as written, includes subsistence farming or charitable donations of produce: which would be very justified on Hawaii Island given the high cost of food and the lack of sustainable food production. Any farmer providing food for Hawaii is providing a public benefit. Also, USDA reports "more than one-quarter of farms have no sales in a typical year " and are still regarded as "farms". Yet Bill 317 sets a strict threshold of $2000 net per year under penalty of disqualification. Small scale farmers are sometimes forced to work at other jobs to support the farm and do not "make a living" with farming: this does not mean they are not making a contribution to agriculture that benefits the community. If Bill 317 is further considered by the Council, we think that land that is already enrolled in the Section 19-57 program should be grandfathered and left in that regime with the same requirements and the same tax incentives as long as the land is used "on a continuous and regular basis" for an agricultural use. This is only fair to the thousands of families who have purchased agricultural parcels (especially small ones) with the intent to farm; who have invested their money to improve their property; who have accepted the restricted uses allowed on agricultural lands; and who have made the land productive, all in reliance on the Section 19-57 program Both Section 19-57 and Section 19-60 are programs that work well and are justified. They should be left alone. Subject: (1) Parcel ID 3-5-004-003-0000\ 35-2120 Hawaii Belt Rd. (2) Draft of Hamakua Development Plan (CDP) Thank you for the information provided to Carol. Having been unable to attend the Community Meetings, it helped us to better understand the current CDP Process. The subject property was purchased by my wife and me in June, 1994 and we have resided on it since that date. We plan to continue to do so for the future. The property/parcel is bordered; on the South, by the year round Kihalani Stream (with thick trees and vegetation;) on the East and North, by 250'-350' inaccessible, vertical cliffs; and, on the West, by the Hawaii Belt Road. It is not contiguous to any other properties. The property consists of approximately 11.71 acres; with 6.2 acres maintained with 25 yr. old macadamia nut trees, with modest annual income; one acre planted in mixed/mature tropical fruit trees; two and one-half acres in home and lawn use; and, two acres in mixed wooded growth, stream - gulch area. Draft Hamakua CDP hamakua@hawaiicounty.gov www.hamakuacdp.info 14