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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0561.010 2002-2004 C.~,~n~,1 p~~zs~ copy ~~,z ` C~ c~$ t~,c3~ Re. Hester Farms LLC Mauka ofPahala Z~G1 Pahala, 10-19-04 ~~P ~c Aloha All Members of the County Council of Hawaii, Sony to say I can only be present in soul but not in body due to medical reasons, but I do want to share the information I gathered from persons knowledgeable in the related azeas regazding the feasibility of farming or truck-farming on approximately 5-acre parcels at about 1000 feet above Pahala. After having spoken to loan officers in varying on-island financial institutions, I compiled the following financial information. 1. Most banks will not finance raw land. 2. Those few that do, will only finance 70 which would mean that if the pazcel cost $100,000 then the applicant would have to have $30,000 of his own. 3. A cheap box house would probably run at least $150,000. Thus bringing the total before any investment into the fanning itself up to a quarter of a million dollars. 4. Then there are the fanning investment costs: fencing, fertilizer, farm equipment, water, plants/seeds, labor, etc. 5. I was told that I needed to make at least $4,000 per month just to break even. 6. This would be a huge and rather risky investment for anyone....most likely way over the capabilities of most of the local people/farmers, don't you think ? I also spoke to agents from the University of Hawaii, Agricultural Division and compiled the following fanning information. 1. The type of crops that would grow in this location would be very limited due to the elevation, expected rainfall/water source, heat and wind. 2. It was suggested that I put up greenhouses, which, I was told, would cost a further quarter of a million per acre....but then I could grow orchids....but they need a lot of water...plus the orchid mazket is having problems at the moment due to cheap orchids from other countries. So maybe orchids would not be a good idea. This according to the University advisor. 3. If I grew vegetables, then I could only grow half of the acreage at a time as the other half has to lie fallow for a season. 4. Then I should also take off one acre for living space. So this meant that I actually only had 4 acres to farm on...or only two acres if I was growing vegetables. 5. Then I was told I had to allow for crop failure and or poor markets. 6. To all this would also come the problems of soil erosion and the troubles that accompany heavy rainfall. 7. I was strongly advised to rent 5 acres as, according to the advice of professionals, there was no way I could eek out a living with this high of an investment. Then there was the USDA who recommended a whole list of improvements and suggested coffee and cacao as good crops for that hillside. However, the Ka'u coffee mazket isn't exactly flourishing and cacao is apparently very sensitive to wind. Another point that I don't believe has been addressed are the what-ifs. What if one farmer wanted to Cemm. No. ~ . ~Q ~ Ref. To: ~ ~ Ref. Dote L u ,...c,1--~ make his farm organic while the next door fazmer wanted to use pesticides ?What if another person , wanted to raise pigs, or goats, or other livestock ? To the best of my knowledge no plans regazding these matters have been mentioned. Then we have the water situation. Since there would be seventeen (17) pazcels, the private water company that Mr. Hester is currently proposing would come under the jurisdiction of the State Boazd of Water instead of that of the County. So this leads to the rather obvious conclusion, that Mr. Nester's plans for the subdivision of 171 acres above Pahala is most definitely NOT for farmers of any kind except for what is commonly known as Gentlemen Fazmers. Maybe these aze the REAL FARMERS Mr. Hester referred to at the first Reading of Bi11249. The question that now comes to mind is, that by allowing a large piece of land to be subdivided into unprofitable 5+ acres instead of 20-acre lots, aze you not then setting the stage for preventing profitable farming methods that demand large affordable acreage from being available. Sincerely, 1~~~,:~ «F;~ Denise Kocek Pahala, 8/25-04 We, the undersigned residents of Ka'u, humbly urge you, the Councilmen of Hawaii, to exercise and execute the traditions of democracy by abiding by our many voices raised in opposition to your decision to grant the individual, Ellis Hester, of Hester Fazming LLC multiple vaziances/exemptions so that he may subdivide pazt of his property, namely 171 acres, into a substandazd, this according to current County regulations, subdivision of seventeen (17) lots of less than twenty (20) acres in size. Name Address ac-~t, l ~ yr s ~ 4 ~ ~ h-~-/-.a, l}'I ~1~~77 ir.~~rc 1~~ta/ia.v~,~_ a. ~~'xSl ~r.hu~~ f~/ `>'(v7~ 1~~---_ - ~L~~i~ ~~CiQwQ_ ~p ~ fly _~'fJr(-~~~us^rZ~~~~I~IYJL. 1~(> ~J. ~%yr Nlh,~lr~ Pnu.'~;,~~~45 ~ ~ct~v,~C+t~ Q ~l0'L , 'F'alruc 1r~ J1~~ 5 i -1<-~~ yy ~ y ~ n ~ ~ 1 ~ Ba.~ to s~ ~l I N l Y'6 ~ 77 i~~~~JL' /"7G/I7/~:f ~G ~OK 2 / /~r ~ ~ ~ G ~T~ ~l-~ ~ -f la c ~r ~ ~ ~0. 4. ~ 0.F-,a,~ b~ C.~ r r Y s. _ ~ J ~ l C~~ryccyt-~- /f~,~U4;uir-uze ~ I' a7S 5~ ~ f t-~u~Q-.~-- g 67 7i r.tl~i't/~ The Hester Farming Co, proposes to change zoning of the farmland above Pahala. The pmposal would allow the subdivision of 171 acresndo Hots, some as small as 5 acres. Cutreroly zoning allows ao smaller than 20,acre farms. 2 5 We as$.r8alyuuat~ar~against this proposal. In signing below I am stating that I am AGAINST Hester's ptgws. bil number 249.249. Public meeting will be held June 7'~ at 6 pm at the Pahala Community Center. Name Address P. . 3~x 392 a«<~e~" ~ 9~.-~7~- ~ ~o o>C Ct~j l Cco 77~ ~ ~ ~ ~ lJ~ASE~iI P ~~1Z. ~,,,~P.w l~l ~(~71,~ . G ~ ~I~l~ ~ ~~G ~ Z71=!/~`~'/e%d~c~r~ r/-~ ~B~ f Z z l~~.l>~/~r _ E<- ` ~l~ X77 ~ti~ r ~ ~ b~ ~CCQ~Z~? The Hester Farming Co. proposes to change zoning of the farmland above Pahala. The proposal would allow the subdivision of 171 Acres in 171ots, some as small as 5 acres. Currently the zoning allows no smaller than 20 acre lots. We as a community are against this proposal. In signing below I am stating that I am AGAINST Hester's proposal, bill # 249. NAME ADDRESS c~ ~ en kc11~ ~ The Hester Fanning Co. proposes to change zoning of the facmlatid above Pahala. The proposal would allow the subdivision of 171 acres into 171ots, some as mall as 5 acres. Currently caning allows no smaller than 20-acre farms. We as a cammuniry are against this proposal. in signing below I am stating that I am AGAINST Nester's proposal, bill number 249. A Public meeting will be held June 7's at 6 pm at the Pahala Community Center. Name pd~s ~ l-i /'Vt- c-C /~t-7"En_ /o n , /f o k 7 cj V,[,rr„1) Po Brax X72 /JA,4~~N-U~, (fr ~ 6'7 ~ 2 n ~7 G-~ ) ~ ' ~ ~d ~~5 ifs/~~ ~ ~h ~~7 /~ts~t C~~ k `'lSS ~ c ~~777 i7 ASS- ~a. ~ ~ ~ 7~ l ti~ z ~~-.C~ ~ ~ . ~ v 13 r ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ f~ 50 6 L ~o ~ C~.~rm ~ L~a~ 0.~ou ~ s ~ ~.0.Q,G ~~a 46~~~ fit^~L.t~ t h ~1~ . f~`"1" 3~J' 4.F-~J.a ~ ~ The Hester Fanning Co. proposes to change zoning of the farmland above Pahala. The proposal would allow the subdivision of 171 acres into-N lots, some as small as 5 acres. Currently zoning allows no smeller than 20-acre farms. We as a comet gamst this proposal. In signing be ow I am stating that 1 am AGAINST Nester's proposal, bill n ber 249. Public meeting will be held June 7"' at 6 pm at the Pahala Community Center. Name Address G~,d' I~tueuwl, P.O.Ouc, .~o~- ~al~. 0 ~ ~1. p o. ~ 3DV l-~~ o• 3cX r r3 'c~l.o;~' P~177 t~ r- ti Sic ~ ~ G - 6 ~,.,lr~ E~)~~ ~lG~i y L~ , ~ 6.~ ~ ~ ~ q ~ 4 ~ c' C; l tiV Q r ~ ~6 77 7 j, G ~ - y~rr ~ 3nx ~r~h~l~ ~ ~ R~~~~ The Hester Fanning Co. proposes to change, zoning of the farmland above Pahala. The proposal would allow the subdivision of 171 acres into i'1~ots, some as small as 5 acres. Currentty caning allows no smaller than 20acre farms. We as a community are against this proposal. In signing below I am stating that I am AGAINST Hester's proposal, bill number 249. A Public meeting will be held June 7"' at 6 pm at the Pahala Community Center. Name Address ~'~il,~ ~~~~~i~. (n ~ ck ~ ~ as ~ ~Laa~ti, Cv,~cPafc~ a~-~- ~~2.r~~ca-~~..,~.J ~ ~ r4 f /l~? ~F-G~. ~tn ~ ~.t / l7 ? 'J'?I .2.a../ j vv , ni X17 til t° ,t} ~ A ~ A L~ ~ ~L~ ~L~~/t.s~~ ~ t ~v Pahala, 8/25-04 We, the undersigned residents of ICa'u, humbly urge you, the Councilmen of Hawaii, to exercise and execute the traditions of democracy by abiding by our many voices raised in opposition to your decision to grant the individual, Ellis Hester, of Hester Farming LLC multiple variances/exemptions so that he may subdivide part of his property, namely 171 acres, into a substandard, this according to current County regulations, subdivision of seventeen (17) lots of less than twenty (20) acres in size. Name Address ~Gn~tn ~~~45~~1 .1~~ 7,0~ ~e2~ta~u ~ ~,~~?7.7 N4 ~t-,~ !Z~ b l?~dd palk,. P~ ~ ~ ~ 7 ~ ~a? ~4 . ~ 0777 _ ~ (9~'Z.-ICJ ~ ~7 ~ ~ ~ a ~ \-ez~ ~.~,-cS1 raha~a, s,2s-Oa We, the undersigned residents of ICa'u, humbly urge you, the Councilmen of Hawaii, to exercise and execute the traditions of democracy by abiding by our many voices raised in opposition to your decision to grant the individual, Ellis Hester, of Hes[er Farming LLC multiple vaziances/exemptions so that he may subdivide part of his property, namely 171 acres, into a substandazd, this according to current County regulations, subdivision of seventeen (17) lots of less than twenty (20) acres in size. Name Address ~'f Ma~e{nv P.0.8ax Pahulg v ~ ~kU~ P ~Q Daub L`(1-CJf~v~ p. ~ 301 9/ E ~~rt~ ll ~ ~ 7 l to ('G~;~CG7oi.2 ~?v t3ok ql~.. 1~1t-V.z~t~ ~I ~tc~~~ 7 A,ulini l~/If1~ ~X' S~( ~~V H'1 ~ L7iI~ ~ ~ Z~- l~} L7~~ l~~c. ~ a 9fE3 a~,~~ ~r'~r' Name Address x'36 c ~ " L~ l`1 ~Ca`7 ~ " 4~ ~5~ ~"~`"e` ~ ~ `4777 _ _ p ~ N .2)~~C1 ~ - I~ e.~; 0.13 1 S" ~ . ~ a. ~ ~ 9~7T v 2.~~ Pa~~ t n u 4 q~ 7?T /~O ~30~ 777 6a61~C~ (-I~s~.77~~ e,Eo ~-~^-CC r', p , yak oZ~ i, fJZ/W I~ ~ 6 ~'E' •l ~i ~ ~ ~~~ZS ~ Pahala, 8/25-04 We, the undersigned residents of Ka'u, humbly urge you, the Councilmen of Hawaii, to exercise and execute the traditions of democracy by abiding by our mauy voices raised in opposition to your decision to grant the individual, Ellis Hester, of Hester Farming LLC multiple variances/exemptions so that he may subdivide part of his property, namely 171 acres, into a substandard, this according to current County regulations, subdivision of seventeen (17) lots of less than twenty (20) acres in size. Name I' Addreess ~~xc~el I;, Wa~,~~K~ ~ ~~~o NL 9~~20 ~.l c N ~c>~- ~ E I~ cuu a~,l ~`~fi. N i to I-1 I ulnn~ ~e~f~rti~ (n~ (~z~0 (~tl~.~i ~IaCP l~ ~ l Rb72o O o ' I rl V / S~~f~r d So', ~~k ~0(~`~ d~~h View N~ ~6 ~ ~ 7 ~~uug ~,~kt'L' ~o l~c.~~~ nce~~ ~`ew ~lo?z'~ ~~F~ !~o oZ~ ~14.ia/- J ~ Z ~ ~x 332 ~ N ~~tr - L/ 1. ~JShn ~ 787 'r7~ ~ ~ ~'~O L~ l'~ ~ ~-~a.~,, i v '~Y~ ' ' jT, ' ~ ~ ~ ~L q ` f ~~~~c`c~~, ~.;~`S~~c,l~ "Cock ~c5b~ ~\,~~c- l L_