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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0042.089 2004-2006 KONA COUNTY FARM BUREAU P.O. Box 2341 ~ ~ 'i ~ Kealakekua, Hawaii 96750 UUUi; , , ;1,11 Phone: 324-6011 Fax: 322-9633 Email: bifb@verizon.net January 15, 2005 Chairman Gary Safarik Hawaii County Council 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, HI 96720 )3E: Hawaii County General Plan, Bill 163 Dear Chairman Safarik and Members of the Hawaii County Council: The Kona County Farm Bureau Board of Directors appreciates this opportunity to submit testimony to the Hawaii County Council in favor of Bill 163, Draft 4, our new General Plan for the County of Hawaii. The Kona County Farm Bureau operates under the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation Policies for the State of Hawaii. Section 1 of those Policies states that: "Land is one of the greatest resources possessed by the people of Hawaii.... Agricultural lands should be protected and kept in agriculture.... Government policies should strongly restrict agriculturally zoned land to that purpose only." Within Bill 163, the additional Goals and Policies included as part of the chapter on Agriculture provide the framework that can serve to fulfill policies supported by the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation and enhance the agricultural industry around the Island of Hawaii. Within the General Plan's proposed Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide Maps (LUPAG), the addition of the Important Agricultural Lands denotation is long overdue and should greatly assist the County in planning for the expanding diversified agricultural industry. The Kona County Farm Bureau would like to suggest that any future amendments to the boundaries denoting Important Agricultural Lands as represented in Biil 163, Draft 4 be Comm: No. ~'Z•~9 Ref. To: Ref. Date~~'N undertaken through a comprehensive, regional planning process, and that parcel by pazcel re- denotations be discouraged. The Kona County Farm Bureau looks forwazd to working with the Hawaii County Council in the implementation of agriculturally oriented Goals and Policies included within the Hawaii County General Plan. Sincerely yours, Nancy Pisicchio, President Kona County Farm Bureau