HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0044.001 2012-2014 comments on Comm. 745.32, proposing amendments to Bill 266, Draft 5, re. agricultural tourism
for Hawai'i County Planning Committee 1:00 PM Tuesday, January 8, 2013, Hilo
by Cory Harden, Sierra Club, Moku Loa Group, PO Box 1137, Hilo, Hawai'i 96721
808-968-8965 mh @interpac.net
We thank Brenda Ford for addressing many citizen concerns in her amendments. Some specific concerns
were not addressed--please see below.
We also have two fundamental concerns.
First--will this bill mean more crops grown on our island for food and other basic needs? Or will it just
mean more side businesses?Will hundreds of visitors overwhelm rural neighborhoods?Will land prices
go up, raising property taxes for neighbors, and raising land prices beyond the reach of local farmers?
Will off-island interests take control of local land?
Second—how good will enforcement be? Sometimes the Planning Department doesn't check for
compliance with regulations till it gets a complaint. Sometimes neighbors don't complain because
Planning requires they reveal their names and risk retaliation from the offender. Even if someone
complains, sometimes nothing is done unless they sue—if they can afford it.
SPECIFIC CONCERNS
Comm. 745.32
p. 2 (1) and p. 3 (3) Once a year, 700 visitors in one day okay for major ag tourism-350 for minor
Support—limit of one event per year
OPPOSE—TOO MANY VISITORS FOR RURAL AREAS
p. 3 (4) No off-street requirement for parking, loading, and tum-arounds for farm market roadside stands.
OPPOSE—RURAL HIGHWAYS ARE DANGEROUS ENOUGH ALREADY, AND RURAL SIDE
ROADS ARE TOO SMALL
p. 4 (7) Banned events
Support
p. 4 (11) Access for fire, ambulance, and police
Support
p. 5 (12) Noise restrictions
Support
p. 5 (13) Ag tourism operator pays road maintenance fees and does plan for road repair
Support
p. 5 (14) Ag tourism vehicles can't block road
Support
p. 5 (15) Ag tourism operator prevents trespassing on neighbors' land and designates off-limits areas
Support
p. 5 (16) Adequate sewage disposal
Support
p. 5 (17) Neighbors notified of planned ag tourism
Support
p. 5 (18) Signs directing visitors to ag tourism sites, so lost visitors don't disturb neighbors
Support ��, '
Comm. No.
Ref. To: ti/('L
Ref. Date CAN 0 8 loj3
p. 5 (19)Ag tourism only five days a week
Support
p. 5 (20) Dust control plans
Support
p. 5 (21) Animals kept safely, humanely, and adequately confined
Support
p. 5 (22) Design compatible with neighborhood
Support
p. 5 (23) Separate Planning accounts for fees, fines, and inspector expenditures
Support
p. 5 (1) Planning can request tax declaration
Support
Bill 266, Draft 6(?)
p. 2 Visitors counted per week and per year(maximum 700/week--30,000/year for major, 350/week--
15.000/year for minor)
OPPOSE—700 COULD COME ON ONE DAY--TOO MANY FOR RURAL AREAS
p. 3 (e) No plan approval needed for minor ag products processing facility---only for major
OPPOSE—INCLUDE MINOR
p. 4 (e) 30 days for Planning to decide on applications
OPPOSE—SPECIFY WHAT WILL HAPPEN (BUT NOT AUTOMATIC APPROVAL) IF
DECISION TAKES LONGER
p. 5 (1)Ag products sales, not just ag sales, are counted towards qualification for ag tourism
OPPOSE—COUNT ONLY AG SALES, TO SUPPORT BASIC AG
p. 8 (10) No ag tourism if access is 4-wheel-drive
SUPPORT—BUT ADD MORE PROTECTIONS FOR SPECIAL PLACES
p. 11 (i)Ag tourism activity whose visitors exceed limit shall do application in 6 months
OPPOSE—REQUIRE COMPLETED APPLICATION, TO LESSEN TIME WHERE
UNAPPROVED ACTIVITIES COULD CONTINUE
Other suggested requirements
REQUIREMENT THAT AG TOURISM OPERATOR BE OWNER,OPERATOR, OR OCCUPANT OF
THE FARM—AVOID BIG-MONEY, OFF-ISLAND INTERESTS
MINIMUM PROPERTY SIZE
ADEQUATE SMOKE DETECTORS AND EXITS IN BUILDINGS VISITORS USE
GENERAL LIABILITY AND PRODUCT LIABILITY INSURANCE