COM 0680.002 2004-2006 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Page 1 of 2 Murashige, Laura T, i. ~ From: James Weathertord [gardengreen@hawaiiantel.net] Sent: Friday, August 18, 2006 9:37 AM Fi~~ 2~ F7(~ R 1 . To: counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us. Cc: cohmayor@co.hawaii.hi.us Subject: Bill 221 Planning Committee, 8/21 Bill 221 I agree with the unfavorable recommendation regarding Bill 221. As indicated by the Planning Commission and the Planning Director, the proposed zoning change is contrary to the land use goals and policies of the County General Plan. General Plan Goals, Policies, Courses of Action The General Plan outlines the following realistic goals regarding agricultural land use: (a) Identify, protect, and maintain important agriculture lands on the island of Hawaii. (b) Preserve the agricultural character of the island. (c) Preserve and enhance opportunities for the expansion of Hawaii's Agricultural Industry. The General Plan presents viable policies to support the goals island wide; and also outlines, on a district-by-district basis, courses of action to implement the stated policies. The General Plan articulates a positive and proactive approach toward agriculture. It is not immediately obvious that initiatives of substance have been undertaken to embark on the courses of action, implement the policies, and achieve the stated goals. The reality is benign neglect regarding the courses of action. Furthermore, there has been a consistent pattern of explicit breach of the policies. Agricultural Zoning Land zoned as agricultural has most often been casually changed to non-agricultural zoning. This zoning change has been done with no serious consideration for the agricultural productivity of the land in question; and no consideration has been given to the ability of a parcel to be a buffer, as provided for in the policies and courses of action in the General Plan. Productivity assessment of land need not be complex or onerous. For example, an application for rezoning of agricultural land could include available information such as land classification per the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as well as the current and past use of the land proposed for rezoning. Also useful in identifying the impact of rezoning would be information regarding the current and past use of parcels adjoining the land proposed for rezoning. History of agricultural production provides an indication of whether rezoning would have a negative impact toward achieving General Plan goals regarding agricultural land use. An impact assessment based on production history is not a sufficient test of the suitability of rezoning, but it can form a necessary part of that decision making process. Price of Agricultural Land The General Plan states that "agricultural land values have risen beyond their value for agricultural purposes" and the General Plan identifies increasing land values as a major impediment to the goal of expansion of agriculture. Significant in the determination of land price are expectations regarding potential future benefits such as monetary reward, aesthetic appreciation, or lifestyle satisfaction. The dramatic increase in the price of agricultural land in Hawaii County has been due to expectations of benefits unrelated to agricultural production on the land. Such expectations are given impetus by the observation that land zoned agricultural can easily be rezoned for other uses. Agricultural land prices have been inflated by the casual practice of rezoning. This represents a failure of the policies set out in the General Plan. Action to Achieve Goals An unfavorable recommendation regarding Bill 221 can be a first step the Committee on Planning toward implementing policies and achieving goals set forth in the General Plan. A full commitment to Comm. No. Ref. To:PNSSeM 8/19/2006 Ref. Date ~ ~s