HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0045.035 2002-2004
1 Big Islar;td Farm Bureau
mailing address: P.O. Box 2341 •Kealakekua, Hawaii 96750
79-1016 East Honalo Road • Kealakekua, Hawaii 96750
Phone (808) 324-601 t • Fax (808) 322-9633 • E-Mail: bifb®verizon.net
June 25, 2004
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Councilman Leningrad Elazionoff, Chairman c,~
Committee on Planning
Hawaii County Council r~~ `
25 Aupuni Street, Ste. 209
Hilo, HI 96720 ~
RE: Bill 163, Draft 2
Dear Councilman Elazionoff and Committee Members:
During a meeting held on June 15, 2004, Big Island Farm Bureau Boazd of Directors
voted to respectively request that the Hawaii County Council Committee on Planning
reject Bill 163, Draft 2 that proposes to delete the references and policy statements
related to the identification and protection of Important Agricultural Land in the County
of Hawaii, as well as the "Important Agricultural Lands" LUPAG designations currently
contained in Draft 1. During the development of General Plan, there was intense
participation by the Big Island Farm Bureau and other agricultural organizations. The
language within the "Agricultural" chapter of Draft 1 is a product of this participation.
This language should be retained.
Here on the Island of Hawaii, the issues that hinder protection of agricultural lands have
been understood for quite some time. Twelve yeazs ago, in 1992, the County of Hawaii,
through the Department of Research and Development, published a report titled:
Agricultural Development Plan. In the section titled, "Problems Hindering
Agriculture", the report states:
1. Current zoning does not protect agricultural lands from non-agricultural uses.
Land zoned Agricultural are continually being rezoned to other uses.
2. The cost of agricultural land has no relationship to the potential agricultural
productivity ofthe land. Land prices are based on residential use, given the
appazent ease of changing Ag lands into residential uses, either through re-
zonings or building homes on lands with AG-1 or AG-3 designations. Thus,
fazmers have to...compete with people who are buying land and selling it at
exorbitant prices.
3. The State and County permitted uses of agricultural lands are very broad.
Comm. No. 4 •~S
Ref. To:
Ref. Uate
Hilo • Hamakua • Kohala • Kona
Page Two
June 25, 2004
Those statements aze truer today than ever before. The agricultural lands policy proposed
by Bill 163, Draft 2 will serve to actually encourage and perpetuate the loss of important
agricultural lands to other uses.
During the same meeting, the Big Island Farm Bureau Boazd of Directors also voted to
oppose the proposed deletion of the requirement that the County Council shall adopt
Community Development Plans (Regional Plans) by ordinance.
It is time far the County of Hawaii to adopt and implement our own process to identify
and protect important agricultural lands around the Island of Hawaii and stop waiting on
the State government. Once again, the curtain has closed on the 2004 legislative session
that failed to approve any State legislation to accomplish that goal. The long term
viability of our agricultural industry on the Island of Hawaii depends on identifying and
protecting our important fazmland.
On behalf of the Big Island Farm Bureau members and Directors, thank you for your
attention to these critical issues.
Sincerely,
Delan Perry, P ident
Big Island F Bweau
cc: All Committee Members
Mayor Harry Kim
Mr. Chris Yuen, Planning Director
Ms. Connie Kiriu, Legislative Auditor
Big Island Farm Bureau Counties