HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0979.010 2014-2016 PI PC
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Murashige, Laura cno►wfr+.g7q
From: Janice Palma-Glennie <palmtree7@earthlink.net>
Sent: Sunday, October 02, 2016 11:35 AM
To: Council Testimony '' (73.-C..
Cc: rep nicole lowen; Rep. Richard Creagan
Subject: Ag tourism - more work to dog,
Importance: High ..� =
Aloha council members,
I applaud council woman wille's continued efforts to hammer out a fair,workable ag tourism bill, and I appreciate her meeting
with some of us who've been following this issue for so long. I regret that I will be off-island for the important oct 4th hearing
on this issue.
I'm very dismayed to hear that the state may have recently passed legislation that could undermine the county's desire to
impose restrictions on ag tourism and the use--and abuse--of ag land in order to protect the people who live near and on it.
I'm looking into it before I go away and hope that I'll hear back from councilwoman Wille or State Rep Lowen for clarification.
Presently, I'm unclear about councilwoman Wille's and the Planning Department's interpretation of that legislation. I'd like the
council to give Ms Wille and the public more time to clarify. Otherwise,the protective restrictions that the public has fought
so long and hard for could be lost, including preventing the intrusion of noise and other negative impacts of so-called ag
tourism.The thought of potentially having hundreds of visitors a day being entertained on relatively small parcels of land is
something I don't want to see again. Not only would it be hard to swallow for those of us who have experienced those
negative impacts, it would mean the potential breakdown of the beauty and diminished value of lands we call "agricultural,
"rural", and "open space".That's not to mention impacts to nearby residential neighborhoods which are often most
vulnerable to the impacts of tourism and/or inappropriately termed ag activities. (i.e.,without daily restrictions, an operator
could decide it's easier to have one or two groups with a lot of visitors than 5 days with the numbers spread out.Wouldn't
you think that way if it was legal?)
I ask that you stand firm on daily visitor count restrictions of 30 per day/5 days a week maximum for minor ag tourism (a
category which there will hopefully be). I ask that you stand firm on noise restrictions that keep noise limited to the property
where these tours are happening. I ask that you stand firm on maintaining mandatory,random visits to those permitted
operations —at least one visit per year and that more if there are complaints re that operation and that it's made clear in
the bill who the public can call when those infractions take place,which they will.And not last but critical:events should not
start at"sunrise."That kind of language will create confusion,angst and animosity.And, especially when no one comes to
enforce noise(or any) infractions, it's not inconceivable that groups will show up to help"milk the cows" or whatever pre-
dawn,which can mean increased noise and traffic for nearby residents.8:00am is early enough.And 6:00pm is too late,as far
as my husband, neighbors(the ones who don't want to do ag tourism)and I are concerned.
And I ask most importantly that you stand in strong support of enforcement mechanisms and funding to protect the public
from what can be selfish,insensitive people --not all, but,as you've heard —too many.Otherwise, I'm sure I won't be the
first in line to sue the county for allowing problems that contravene state and federal constitutional protections of land,
property ownership, and the environment, as well as the diminished pursuit of happiness which will undoubtedly occur to
other unfortunate residents if the floodgates are opened to a new money-making scheme(like Air B&B and others)that
harms real farmers instead of helps them (not limited to but including creating untenable property values that no real farmer
could afford and where no real farmer would want to live).
Again, I ask that important questions regarding state policy be clarified before embarking on this shift for our county's ag
tourism bill.And I ask that you please stay in the fight for the rights of our people as each of you is mandated to do and for the
protections the public has fought long and hard to have included in any ag tourism bill.
R1611{//�� O
comm. No._
1 Ref.
Ref. Date OCT 04
Mahalo and sincerely,
Janice Palma-Glennie
Kailua-Kona
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