2017-01-19 Leeward Exh A (Bill 227 Draft 2 re Agricultural Tourism)

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in this, in their recommendation. So hopefully, you are able to stay and watch the conversation involved. So, thank you. PALMA-GLENNIE: Thanks. I’ll stay as long as I can. I have some commit— UNGER: Great, thank you. Are there any other members of the public who would like to testify at this time? I need a motion, Commissioners, to close public testimony. KAHOLO: So move. NOBRIGA: Second. UNGER: We have a motion by Commissioner Kaholo, second by Commissioner Nobriga. All in favor? COMMISSIONER: Aye. UNGER: Opposed? \[None.\] Motion passed. Public \[testimony\] hearing is closed. Jeff, do you want to begin your presentation then? DARROW: Sure. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’d like to begin by wishing you all a happy New Year. I think this is our first time this year together. And unfortunately, I have to apologize because our first presentation is going to be quite wordy and lengthy. So if you can bear with me on this. And I’ll try along the way to address some of the issues that Ms. Palma-Glennie had brought up. And I would also suggest that it might, and this is just a request, if there is a question maybe during the presentation, it might be good, if you feel appropriate, to ask a question at that time. UNGER: Good. I agree. Let’s go ahead and do that. Commissioners, let’s work on that. DARROW: Great. Thank you. So with that, we’ll begin our presentation. Our application is a bill that has been brought down from the County Council. They have initiated Bill 227 relating to agricultural tourism. What I wanted to do first of all was to give the Commission a brief chronological background regarding agricultural tourism, that the ordinances that have come forward as well as certain laws that affect agricultural tourism on the island. In 2008 the Hawai‘i County Council adopted Ordinance No. 08-155. This ordinance was created to define and regulate agricultural tourism in Hawai‘i County in response to HRS Sections 205-2(11) and 205-4.5(13), which both state the following: “Agricultural tourism conducted on a working farm, or a farming operation as defined in section 165-2, for the enjoyment, education, or involvement of visitors; provided that the agricultural tourism activity is accessory and secondary to the principal agricultural use and does not interfere with surrounding farm operations; and provided further that this paragraph shall apply only to a county that has adopted ordinances regulating agricultural tourism under section 205-5.” 7 EXHIBIT A