HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0124.003 2016-2018 PIFs
CUMr4. 124
opposition to Bill 227, Draft 2:Ag Tourism
for Hawai'i County Council Planning Committee, 9:45 AM Tuesday, March 7, 2017, Hilo chambers
from Cory Harden, Hilo
Please revise this bill so it encourages more agriculture and less tourism, protects neighbors, and
protects health and safety, realizing that we may be setting a precedent for ag tourism bills statewide.
Please add these provisions: COUNTY CLERK
Limit on number and size of ag tourism operations in each neighborhood COUNTY OF HAWAI'I
o ARECEIVED
® Buildings and activities compatible with character of neighborhood Time MAR ®Z 2°7 Noise from ag tourism not audible past property line Date
• Measures to prevent trespass and theft on neighbors' property
• Clear designation of areas off-limits to visitors
o Adequate sewage and solid waste disposal faciltiies
• Animals kept safely and humanely,with adequate confinement to protect visitors and neighbors
o Dust control on site and access roads
• No property tax hike for neighbors
® Measures to avoid rise in farmland prices as ag tourism operators buy up land
• General liability and product liability insurance
o Operator of tourism business required to be owner, operator, or occupant of farm
e Expenditures for inspectors given a separate line item in planning department's operations
budget
• Notification to neighbors by letters and lot signs of proposed ag tourism
• Procedures for neighbors to raise concerns about proposed and existing operations—e.g..
Planning Department complaint form, police for nights and weekends
o Method for employees contact other employees in other areas of the operation in case of
emergency.
e Workers directing traffic when large numbers of guests are expected.
• Guests informed not to consume unwashed produce.
Please make these revisions:
p. 1 " 'Agricultural products' means...game...propagation"
allow only bow hunting, and require that carcasses be removed(not left to attract scavengers, insects and
disease-causing organisms)
p. 2 (g)have ag tourism, not just structures, trigger requirement for plan approval
p. 2 (2) "on-street parking"
Allow street parking only if ag tourism operation owns entire road. Note contradiction:p. 4(B) says
on-site parking only.
Require designated loading/unloading zones
Require Americans with Disabiltiies Act parking
p. 2 (3) no private road access unless ag operation owns entire road or has easement for ag tourism
(difficult to prove wear/damage from ag tourism;safety issues with large vehicles, extra cars,
farm equipment, pedestrians, and animals mixing on substandard roads)
p. 3 (b) site inspection before approval
p. 3 (d) add 5-acre minimum lot size
add 1,000-square-foot limit on facilities used principally for ag tourism, including covered decks,
lanais, gazebos, tents, and canopies
&amm. No. ta'�t 9
Ref. To Ql'e7
Ref. Date MAR p 2017
A
p. 4 (2) commence at 8:00 AM, not sunrise
operate only 5 days a week
p. 4 (4) count as ag tourism revenue—revenue from sales of--
• items containing ag products grown or processed by the associated ag or ag processing facility
• non-ag promotional items
have operator verify revenues each year with a schedule F genera!excise tax declaration.
p. 6 (6) add to events not allowed:musical events, dances, mechanical amusement rides, dirt bikes,
all-terrain vehicles, and other off-road motorized vehicles, hunting with guns
p. 6 (7) "Annual events...are permitted..."
NO large annual events—they mean many new people in neighborhoods, traffic, road wear, and crime
risk
p. 6 (g) specify"completed"applications
p. 6–7 (e)-(h) automatic denial if county does not approve in 60 days
p. 7 (g) give 60 days, not 90, to cease operations
(h) give 60 days, not 90, for application
p. 7 (g) and p. 8 (k) one unannounced compliance check per year;more if there are neighbor complaints
p. 7 (i) and p. 8 (I) fees and fines sufficient to fund enforcement, placed in a separate revenue account
p. 8 (I) give 60 days, not 90, to correct violations
Mahalo!