HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0118.035 2002-2004 10/19/2004 9:13 AM FROM: Fax WOODWAAD-RICE ASSOCIATES T0: 961-8912 PAGE: 001 OF 001
CL UDIA WOODWARD-RICE
P.O. B x 186, Honomu, HI 96728
(3~8) 63-6123 phone/ 963-6889 fax '
email ricesofhiC:Dhllob~ com
Octob r 18, 2004
HAYIiI II COUNTY COUNCIL _
Fina a Committee
Attn: Da Fred Holschuh Please coov and distributes
~ '
~ C_ -
Re: omm. 118 (Bill 49) ~
Dear ouncil members:
Like any other Hawaii County residents, I have been trying to inform myself
about land use and real property tax issues this year. Our communities are under
press re from developers, speculation and traffic congestion. It appears that any
expec ations of "business as usual" are no more.
There has been confusion for many caused by Rule 7 which added a house site
value ion to real property taxes on Agricultural property. Many of the Property Tax I
bills p oposed early in 2003 were never really addressed by the Council until
recen ly and the administration's efforts for comprehensive tax revision did not i
hoop n. I
It has become apparent to me that a fundamental issue is still not being addressed.
More hen one million acres of Hawaii Island is zoned Agriculture. This zoning is a
catch all category and does a disservice to real agriculture. Until poor and
unpro uctive lands are removed from Ag zoning, efforts to address fair valuation
and a iminate'non-permitted uses of Ag land will be impossible. The Rural zoning
categ ry should be well defined and a process begun to re-zone many acres now
inapp opriately zoned Agriculture.
The H use Site valuation change for Ag land also places an unfair burden on
com ercial agriculture. I have come to the opinion that this additional taxation
shout be waived under certain circumstances: if the property owner files IRS Form
F, an if all farm dwellings are occupied by the property owner or employees.
Unpe mitted uses of Ag lands are rampant in Hawaii County. Residential sprawl
three ens our important Ag lands. The Planning Department should enforce
existi g laws that limit the permitted uses of Agricultural land.
Since ely,
IP
Claud aWoodward-Rice
i
Comm.: Na
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