HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0964.151 2004-2006
Testimony of Wilma J. Paris on behalf of William J. Paris, JNGS NOU 15 PM 1 21
November 15, 2006
Chairman Stacy Higa and members of the Hawaii County Council, I am testifying in
behalf of my father, William J. Paris, Jr., who would like to be here today but is unable to
do so as he is recovering from surgery and nineteen days of hospitalization at the Kuakini
Medical Center in Honolulu.
He has been present at all Council Meetings and Planning Commission meetings
concerning Bill 309 and the General Plan update since January 2005; I have accompanied
him to many of the meetings. We, along with several other property owners hired Belt
Collins and Associates to provide us with factual information which led the Planning
Director, Chris Yuen, to change important agricultural lands designation from the
750' foot elevation to the 1,000' foot elevation designated by E6 and E7 on the list of
amendments to the General Plan. We also provided a list of farmers who tried to farm on
the lands below the 1,000' foot elevation- all suffered crop failure during time of drought
and gave up farming on these lands.
We have checked with the Department of Water Supply and they indicated that our
present County water system could not supply enough water to irrigate the lands in E6
and E7 below the 1,000' foot contour in times of drought so water other than County
water would have to be provided by us should we decide to change our land use from
grazing to agriculture-farming.
We have a U.S.G.S. exploratory well on our property, TMK: 7-9-8-3 at the 1,650' foot
elevation with a head of 265' feet. To bring this well on line, install the distribution line
down to our lands below the 1,000' foot contour, build a road to County standards and
specifications and divide the lands into 5 acre lots as this land is zoned Ag. 5 acres would
cost a minimum of $89,000 dollars per acre, add a yearly mortgage cost of $5,340 per
acre and the total cost per acre will come to $94,340 per acre. If we wanted to make a six
percent profit on our investment, we would have to lease the land for $5,660.40 per acre.
We do not think that many farmers would be willing to lease 5 acres of land for $28,302
per annum.
Comm. No. •Kj
Ref. TO: re:eaid
Ref, Date NR 15 2006
Testimony of Wilma J. Paris on behalf of William J. Paris, Jr.
November 15, 2006
Page 2
This council vowed to update the General Plan during this session. Numerous hearings
have been held at the Council and Planning Commission levels. The public has had
adequate opportunity to give testimony at these hearings either by being present or by
videoconference. More people from Kona gave testimony at the last Council public
hearing than those coming from elsewhere including Honolulu. We feel enough
information and testimony has been given to enable this Council and its members to
make a final vote at this time. Not to do so seems down right irresponsible to us and
nothing more than a stall.
The new Council has more than enough to do in addressing infrastructure, grid-lock in
Waimea and Kona, affordable housing, the Mayor's proposed $70,000,000 bond float
most of which is to be used in Kona, and addressing the concurrency proposals that are
before the Council this time.
In closing, we wish to thank the outgoing Council members for their dedicated service to
the County of Hawaii.
Me kealoha pumehana is oukou,
William J. Faris, Jr.
Wilma J. Paris