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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0230.009 1996-1998 VV OF N OJ~ IN' IOHN RAY - VWi~•; Hilo Phone: (808) 9613265 Councilman Fax: (608)969-3291 a, o. Waimea Phone: (806) B85-5675 rare os"N~~~ Fax: (808) 885-7184 COUNTY COUNCIL County of Hawaii Hawaii County Building 25 Aupuni Street ~ F ~ Hilo, Hawaii 96720 gl, Dote-___ r ~ ? 8 County Councl!-- ~ _ D~ ~ ~ ~ August 18, 1998 TO: Dominic Yagong, Chair And Members of the Public Works and Parks Committee FROM: John Ray n Q Council Member J RE: Bill No. 68, Draft 2 Traffic Regulation on Private Streets: Agricultural and Ranching Roads Exemption The State Legislature enabled the counties to impose and enforce traffic regulations and place appropriate traffic control devices on specific categories of private roads. However, in section 46-16, HRS, the Legislature exempted roads used primarily for agriculture and ranching purposes from the County's authority. Many of the roads in private subdivisions, which proponents of this state law hoped to regulate, are in areas that have been zoned for agricultural use by the County Zoning Code. To clarify that these streets are not automatically exempt from traffic regulation, I would propose the addition of the following: (Proposed changes to Bill 68, draft 2 are shown in bold type and ramseyered.) SECTION 1. Chapter 24, article 1, section 24-2, Hawaii County Code 1983 (1995 edition), is amended to read as follows: "Section 24-2. Scope and applicability of chapter and of Statewide Traffic Code. (a) The provisions set forth in this chapter are to provide for the regulation of traffic [upon the public streets of the county, such private streets, highways and thoroughfares which have been continuously used by the Ne. Z3o.0 IAIe No. Aef. Tot PrP~,:r•e~ Pw Pro. I)a!n Public Works and Parks Committee Page Two general public for more than six (6) months, and designated by the council, and such private properties which have been designated and identified as a special parking stall for disabled persons pursuant to Section 24-243.] in the County of Hawaii, upon the following: The public streets of the county; (2~ Such private streets, highways, and thoroughfares, [except private streets used primarily for actual agricultural and ranching purposes: Which have been continuously used by the general public for more than six (6) months, or Which are intended for dedication to the public use as provided in section 264-1, HRS, and are open for public travel but have not yet been accepted by the county; and Such private properties which have been designated and identified as a special parking stall for disabled persons pursuant to section 24-243, Hawaii County Code. Private streets, highways, and thoroughfares used primarily for actual agricultural and ranching purposes shall be exempt from this chapter. An agricultural zoning designation pursuant to the County Zoning Code, in and of itself, shall not constitute a sufficient indication that a street, highway, or thoroughfare is primarily used for actual agricultural and ranching purposes. (c) Pursuant to the authority delegated to the county by Act 173 of 1995, all streets that have been used by the general public for a period of more than six (6) months are hereby designated by the council to be subject to the provisions of Chapter 291 C of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, known as the "Statewide Traffic Code," and this chapter. (d) The county shall not be responsible for the maintenance and repair of any private street, highway, or thoroughfare when it imposes or enforces traffic regulations and highway safety laws or places or permits to be placed appropriate traffic control devices on that private street, highway, or thoroughfare. Public Works and Parks Committee Page Three (e) No adverse or prescriptive rights shall accrue to the general public when the county imposes or enforces traffic regulations and highway safety laws or places appropriate traffic control devices on any private street, highway, or thoroughfare." Your favorable consideration of this proposed addition to Bi1168, Draft 2 would be appreciated. cc: Chief Engineer Chief of Police Planning Director