HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0979.001 2014-2016 pIPc
Murashige, Laura
From: Cory Harden <333cory@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, August 15, 2016 11:07 AM
To: Wille, Margaret;Ilagan, Greggor; Paleka, Daniel; Kanuha, Dru; Council Testimony;Chung,
Aaron; David, Maile; Poindexter, Valerie;Onishi, Dennis; Eoff, Karen
Subject: Bill 227 ag tourism PC 8-16-16
Attachments: ISSUE agricultural tourism 2016 8-16 PC.docx
(attachment is the same)
comments on Bill 227 agricultural tourism
for Hawai'i County Council Planning Committee, 1 PM Tuesday, August 16, 2016, Kona'
from Cory Harden, Hilo
Thank you to Ms. Wille for introducing this bill. I hope the final bill will support growing more food on this
island, and protect neighbors from ag tourism impacts.
Please revise these items:
p. 2 (g)
Require approval even if no new structures, for both major AND minor ag tourism, and for ag products
processing facilities.
Don't require approval for roadside stands, but parking, loading, and turn-arounds should be safe.
Correct typo—there is no "section 25-4-15 (a) (2)" on p. 3
p. 3 (3)
If access is by private road not owned by ag tourism operator, have operator pay road owner for extra wear and
tear.
p. 3 (4)
Limit facilities to 1,000 square feet (include tents and canopies; exclude parking and vehicular accesses)
p. 4 (2)
Limit ag tourism to 5 days a week to reduce impacts to neighbors
p. 6(9) Limitation
Prohibit dances, mechanical amusement rides, dirt bikes, all-terrain vehicles, and other off-road motorized
vehicles.
p. 7 (e) (1) (2)
Have road access requirements apply to minor ag tourism. R 1 a
Comm. No. sr
p 9 (7) Ref. To: QG
Require site inspection before granting permit.
Ref. Dote AUG 1 6 aoi -
Other
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Require that if a permit isn't approved in 30 days, it is automatically denied.
Have operator clearly designate hazardous and private areas that are off-limits to visitors
Have operator document compliance with State Department of Health standards (restrooms, sewage disposal,
etc.)
Have operator make good faith effort to keep visitors from trespassing on neighbors' land
Have animals kept safely and humanely, with adequate confinement
Have operator do County-approved dust control plans for ag site and roads used
Require parking lots to have clearly marked loading/unloading zones
Have operator put up road signs to direct visitors, so they don't drive around lost and disturb neighbors
Limit property size, and limit number of operations per neighborhood
Have operation be compatible with character of neighborhood(no oversize, elaborate buildings in rustic areas)
Have operator inform neighbors of proposed ag tourism via letter and a lot sign
Use weekly limit of 200 visitors for major operations
Have user-friendly ways for neighbors to raise concerns about ongoing operations
Have operator provide tax records (Schedule F, General Excise Tax declaration) on request
Set permit fees and fines sufficient to fund enforcement, and put in a separate revenue account
Put expenditures for inspectors as a separate line item in the finance director's operations budget
Base property values for ag tourism properties on facilities used for ag tourism
Do not raise property taxes for neighbors
Cory Harden
Hilo, Hawai'i 96720
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