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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0745.030 2012-2014 Page 1 of 2 Murashige, Laura From: Cory (Martha) Harden [mh @interpac.net] Sent: Monday, November 05, 2012 12:16 PM To: Cory (Martha) Harden Subject: ag tourism/ Bill 266 draft 4/Council Fri 11-9-12 opposing Bill 266, draft 4, re.agricultural tourism for Hawai'i County Council 9 AM Friday, November 9, 2012, Hilo County Building by Cory Harden, PO Box 10265, Hilo, Occupied Hawai'i 96721 808-968-8965 mh a interpac.net Thank you to Brenda Ford and Pete Hoffmann for some excellent revisions. But more are needed—especially since all the other counties may follow what we do. Please note an apparent contradiction (caps added) "the agricultural activity or agricultural products processing facility must have a minimum of$10,000...gross sales, EXCLUSIVE OF any income from agricultural tourism activities..." p. 6 (1) "Gross revenues from agricultural tourism shall...INCLUDE the sale of all items derived from the agricultural products grown or processed by the associated agricultural activity or agricultural processing facility." p. 7 (B) Please revise as follows • Allow only ONE annual event (avoid an annual Halloween event, plus an annual Christmas event, etc...) p. 8 (8) • Require plan approval before development of ANY, not just major, ag products processing facility p. 3 (e) (This might have stopped an eyesore on Ainaola Drive, a fern operation that is probably driving down property values and is a traffic hazard) • For MINOR , not just major, ag tourism, require $10,000 sales from ag NOT INCLUDING ag processing p. 6 (1) • Require a COMPLETED application p. 9 (g) and (i) Please look at issues not yet addressed--in bold text in this list from my earlier testimony Permit applications should include proof of: • Legal road access • Adequate road and site access for fire, ambulance, and police • Ability and plans to repair wear and tear on roads, or proof the County or State are responsible • Plans for signs clearly designating the site • Designated loading/unloading areas in parking lot • Plans to control dust • Measures to prevent trespass and theft on neighbors' property • Adequate smoke detectors and exits in buildings guests will use • Adequate confinement for any animals Comm, o. 5 30 Ref.To: IF K c� Ref.Date NI 9 I 11/5/2012 Page 2 of 2 • Clear designation of areas off-limits to visitors • Adequate restrooms and sewer services • General liability and product liability insurance • Compatibility with character of neighborhood Regulations should include: • Requiring approval for all agritourism operations, major and minor • Requiring a site visit from County Planning before plan approval • Requiring the operator of the tourism business to be the owner, operator, or occupant of the farm • Requiring notice of proposed agritourism to neighbors by letters and signs • Avenues for neighbors to raise concerns and contest proposed agritourism • Minimum property size • Minimum gross sales for agritourism • Counting as agritourism revenue: revenue from selling items that include agricultural products grown or processed by the associated agricultural activity or agricultural processing facility Building size limits appropriate for the site and neighborhood • Limits on number of operations in each neighborhood • Limits on number of visitors and number of vehicles per day, not per week or year • Simple noise limits (e.g. if you can hear it from a certain distance, it's too loud) • Required annual evidence that agriculture income is greater than agritourism income (e.g. Schedule F, general excise tax declaration) • Provisions (but not automatic approval!) for what to do if a proposal isn't reviewed in 30 days p. 5 (e) • Fees to fund enforcement Mahelo! 11/5/2012