HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-03-01 Windward Transcript Ag Tourism
PLANNING COMMISSION
COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I
HEARING TRANSCRIPT
MARCH 1, 2012
A regularly advertised hearing on the PLANNING DIRECTOR INITIATED AMENDMENT CHAPTER 25
(ZONING CODE) OF THE HAWAI‘I COUNTY CODE 1983 (2005 EDITION, AS AMENDED) RELATING
TO AGRICULTURAL TOURISM, was called to order at 9:48 a.m. in the County of Hawai‘i, Aupuni Center
Conference Room, 101 Pauahi Street, Hilo, Hawai‘i, with Chairman Zendo Kern presiding.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Zendo Kern, Dean Au, Takashi Domingo, Wallace Ishibashi, Stephen Ono
and Raylene Moses
STAFF PRESENT: Ivan Torigoe (Deputy Corporation Counsel), B. J. Leithead Todd (Planning Director),
Daryn Arai (Planning Program Manager), Phyllis Fujimoto (Staff Planner), Maija Cottle (Staff Planner), Jeff
Darrow (Staff Planner), and Sharon Nomura (Secretary)
And nine people from the public in attendance.
APPLICANT: PLANNING DIRECTOR INITIATED
Amendment to Chapter 25 (Zoning Code) of the Hawai‘i County Code 1983 (2005 Edition, as amended)
relating to Agricultural Tourism. The proposed amendment will specifically amend Sections 25-1-5(b), 25-2-
71, 25-2-75, and 25-4-15 relating to definitions, plan approval requirements, and use regulations, respectively,
as they are related to agricultural tourism.
KERN: Application No. 3, Planning Director initiated Amendment to Chapter 25 (Zoning Code) of the Hawai‘i
County Code 1983 (2005 Edition, as amended) relating to Agricultural Tourism. We have a request to defer
that. So if I could get a motion to defer with a second that would be great.
AU: Mr. Chair. I move to defer Applicant No. 3, Planning Director initiated. So moved.
KERN: To, do I have a second to that?
DOMINGO: I’ll second that.
KERN: Okay. And point of clarification, defer to when? When would be the best time?
th
ARAI: We have it scheduled for Leeward Planning Commission on March 15. Coming back to the Windward
is probably going to be at the call of the Planning Director.
KERN: Okay. Madam Director?
LEITHEAD TODD Yeah, I’m hoping to have it next month. And this gives me in the interim an opportunity to
talk over the proposed amendments with an Ag Tourism organization and kind of get a little bit of their input
into it, cause they’re asking for a little bit of tweaking on the proposed draft that I have. And so, and I have also
some comments from R&D, from DI, DI. And so we’re looking at doing a few tweaks before we actually go
forward with a couple of amendments that they’re asking me to do.
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KERN: Just a quick point of housekeeping on my side, there’s nobody from the public signed up to testify on
this. Commissioner Domingo?
DOMINGO: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m glad that the Director would be looking at this measure. Although
it had seemed, you know, not, not as serious as it is, but there are other underlying concerns with regards to
these kinds of changes and its applications on agricultural lands. And I think I won’t be here for the, when this
comes up but, you know, there have been many concerns with regards to access/egress to and from the
properties. And I think there were several, several issues brought up before where they wanted to establish like
a bed and breakfast like thing for them to complement ag tourism on agricultural properties. These are measures
we should all look very closely at so that it cannot get out of hand. It can be, it can blossom into a problem that
might be, might present some serious issues in the future.
KERN: Thank you, Commissioner Domingo. So just for point of clarification, it will be deferred until you guys
feel it appropriate to come out on to the agenda? Correct?
LEITHEAD TODD: Yes.
KERN: And that’s okay with our motion maker and the person who seconded it? Commissioner Au?
AU: Yes.
KERN: Commissioner Domingo, yes?
DOMINGO: Yes.
KERN: Any discussion on this? Let’s do a voice vote. So all those in favor aye?
COMMISSIONERS: Aye.
KERN: Those opposed? Hearing none, deferred. Thank you.
The discussion ended at 9:50 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sharon M. Nomura, Secretary
Windward Planning Commission
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