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Draft Hamakua CDP Comments Submitted Online or by Email During the March 15 — June 15 2o16 Review of the Draft Hamakua CDP Dear Hawaii County Planners: The agricultural section of the CDP needs a lot of work. Frankly, I am very disappointed that it doesn't seem like any stakeholders have been involved in the formulation of these ideas, despite holding hearings. ° Any parcel less than 20 acres should not be rezoned to "Important Agricultural Land." They should be rezoned to "Rural" or left as they currently are as "LDU". I own a 15 acre farm which has not been able to be economically sustainable over the 13 years we have owned it, despite being certified organic and selling high value products such as papaya, lychee, citrus, bananas, avocados and other fruits and growing Iamb meat. Expecting any parcel less than 20 acres to be an economically viable unit is extremely dubious. ° CDP section 4.5.6 Community Action has extremely dubious language about "windbreak alternatives." I doubt any of you have tried to grow tree crops along the Hamakua Coast but I can guarantee that it will not be accomplished without the extensive use of windbreak trees. I would like to see all language suggesting the use of "windbreak alternatives" as a viable option be struck from this document. ° Needing a 1000 foot buffer zone for beekeepers is also very dubious. Where did this number come from and what is it based on? Do you actually have any data that supports this distance? We would like to add our input to the Hamakua Community Development Plan and the proposed Land Use Planning changes that have been suggested for the Ookala Village Community area. We have spoken with several people of O'okala Village Area in regard to what they felt would be most valuable for their community to create a comfortable, safe, economically positive, family oriented environment to live and thrive in. The following are several needs and requests that were brought up for consideration to add to the quality of their way of life and provide a means for the next generations to continue to appreciate and respect the family and land of Hawaii. •One of the items that have been voiced many times is the need for affordable homes. Many have and are leaving the community of their village in the hunt for affordable living. Their desire is to remain in the villages they grew up in and be close to family as they raise their own children, but the opportunity to purchase homes is miniscule. Affordable housing could be a huge benefit to the community and potentially add needed support to the local school system. •Along with the affordable housing situation is the need for senior citizen or retirement housing, including a type of facility for providing health care. This could be either in the form of intergenerational homes or organized living centers for seniors. It is the desire for the family to remain intact and involved with each other on a daily basis. Many of the seniors are having to go elsewhere during their senior years because necessary services are not available in the village or close by. If these services were available in the village the family unit would have more stability and continue to profit from the knowledge, wisdom and love the senior generation has to offer. Draft Hamakua CDP hamakua@hawaiicounty.gov www.hamakuacdp.info 16