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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0073.006 2012-2014 Page 1 of 1 Murashige, Laura COT TY ' ER t From: Charles Flaherty [oneheart @aloha.net] (, i1 Sent: Monday, August 19, 2013 3:36 PM 7013 AL�G 20 Pik 48 To: counciltestimony©co.hawaii.hi.us Cc: vpoindexter @co.hawaii.hi.us; jyoshimoto @co.hawaii.hi.us; donishi©co.hawaii.hi.us; gilagan©co.hawaii.hi.us; zkern @co.hawaii.hi.us; bford @co.hawaii.hi.us; dkanuha @co.hawaii.hi.us; Eoff, Karen; mwille @co.hawaii.hi.us Subject: Opposition to Bill 25 Attachments: Bill25D2AgTourism001.pdf Aloha mai Chairman Kern and members of the Hawai'i County Planning Committee, I am testifying in opposition to Bill 25, draft 2. It is disturbing that, after being vetted again by the Leeward Planning Commission, Bill 25, draft 2 does not conform with state law. Hawai'i Revised Statutes 205-4.5, Permissable uses within the [state] agricultural [land use] districts, section 13 states: "Agricultural tourism conducted on a working farm, or a farming operation as defined in Hawai'i Revised Statutes 165-2, for the enjoyment, education, or involvement of visitors; provided that the agricultural tourism activity is accessory and secondary to the principal agricultural use and does not interfere with surrounding farm operations; and provided further that this paragraph shall only to a county that has adopted ordinances regulatory agricultural tourism under section 205-5." I have attached a document generated by the County of Hawai'i Planning Department that reiterates this requirement. The document notes that "Each county may require an environmental assessment under chapter 343 as a condition to any agricultural tourism use and activity", yet Bill 25, draft 2 is silent on this issue. Environmental assessments would ensure that no agricultural tourism operation negatively impacts the human environment, including surrounding farm operations. In addition, the document list a number of requirements for county ordinances, which are not adequately addressed in Bill 25, draft 2. I urge you to either vote against Bill 25, draft 2 or to amend it to be in conformance with state law. Mahalo, Charles Flaherty Comm. No. 73.k) Ref. To: P/P�- Ref. Date AUG Z a 1013 8/20/2013