ADEPT-14 Bill 42 (2024) BILL 42, CD1 (2024), RELATING TO AMENDING THE DEFINITIONS OF "FARM" AND "FARM LABOR DWELLING" IN THE COMPREHENSIVE ZONING ORDINANCE (ADEPT-14)
Fully support this . allowing housing on this land is not only safe but efficient this allows workers to stay on their land, affordable housing and a way to keep families together hundred percent in support of this bill.
I am 100% in support of Bill 42. Many ag parcels have terrain that is not useable for farming, such as gulches, streambeds which flood, and steep rocky slopes. These areas cannot be counted when determining whether more than half of the parcel is being farmed or ranched. Farm Labor Housing is a way to allow workers to reside with their families, and this language simply clarifies what was always the intent of the law.
-Bobbie Patnode
The intention to increase farm labor dwellings and allow families of farm laborers to live on the property is awesome.
OPPOSE the change to the definition of “Farm” Section 19.04.040. What is “usable, accessible, and feasible for farming, ranching, or conservation"? This definition is unclear and ripe for abuse. A motivated farmer can reinvigorate degraded land; inappropriate crops for wetter climates can grow well in dry areas, and vice versa. Who decides what portion of the land is feasible for farming?
Instead keep the language simple and clear: "Farm" means a lot on which at least 51 percent of the area of the land is used for, and the predominant activity is, agriculture or agricultural land conservation.”
SUPPORT the change to the definition of “farm labor dwelling”. Including “part-time employees” can help people who enjoy farming but have to pay the bills with a second job, while including “family members of the agricultural worker” offers stability to families of farm workers and will allow more kids to enjoy the farm life.
Mahalo for bringing this forward,
Karen J. Comcowich
Lahaina, HI
Chair Gabe Johnson
and Members of the ADEPT Committee
200 South High Street, Council Chamber
Wailuku, Hawaii 96793
Aloha Chair Johnson and ADEPT Committee Members:
My comments today are on behalf of the Realtors Association of Maui (RAM), regarding Bill 42,(2024), (Bill 42), the purpose is to amend the definitions of “farm” and “farm labor dwelling” under Section 19.04.040, Maui County Code. On behalf of RAM I would offer support of Bill 42 which helps to clarify “farm” and expand the use of the “farm labor dwelling.”
Subsection 1 clarifies the definition of “Farm” to require “51%” of area to be used for farming as “land that is usable.” This is important because portions of ranch or agricultural land may have gulches or ground that may be unsuitable for farming or ranching. One suggestion we may offer is to provide a detailed definition of “usable land” to help maintain a consistency in this determination. One’s interpretation of “usable land” might be different from another.
Additionally, expanding the use of the farm labor dwelling to include apprentices, interns and family members, will not only provide needed housing but it will provide local farming students with shelter while studying agriculture and provide housing for families to encourage children to maintain family farms for future generations.
Accordingly, RAM would respectfully request your consideration for moving this measure forward and providing a definition of “usable land.” Mahalo for the opportunity to testify on this measure.
Sincerely,
Gary Saldana
Government Affairs
Realtors Association of Maui
I support BIll 42. Useable Ag land needs clarification as it pertains to a requirement for living on AgZonedLand. At this time, with housing nearly impossible to find, farm workers and their families need a place to live which needs to be clearly stated in Bill 42. Any language that says anyone living in an ag labor dwelling must be farming ignores the reality that while one member of a family is farming, another could have a different career...bottom line, Agriculture Housing is a critical need. Please support. Bill Greenleaf
I am in opposition to this bill as i believe eliminating 'labor dwellings' from the options can hurt the intention of this bill to support farm laborers. There are many scenario's where a farm laborer may not have need for a kitchen in the dwelling... Many farms have onsite commercial kitchens for workers to use where large family style meals are prepared for workers. Alternatively they may have use of an existing kitchen in one of the farm dwellings or the farm may be providing meals from off site. Building kitchens is very costly not only for the kitchen itself but to satisfy health dept. requirements can often require a second septic system which would put farm worker labor dwellings out of reach for many farmers. Farming in Hawaii is extremely expensive and hard as it is many try to undertake this - lets support our farmers by helping them to have their needs met with workers onsite. Farm labor wages cannot support the local rental rates so farm labor dwellings are becoming more and more imperative to farms that actually have high production and need workers. Please don't eliminate this option and make it harder for farmers to create worker housing by requiring kitchens in every farm labor dwelling.
Fully support this . allowing housing on this land is not only safe but efficient this allows workers to stay on their land, affordable housing and a way to keep families together hundred percent in support of this bill.
I am 100% in support of Bill 42. Many ag parcels have terrain that is not useable for farming, such as gulches, streambeds which flood, and steep rocky slopes. These areas cannot be counted when determining whether more than half of the parcel is being farmed or ranched. Farm Labor Housing is a way to allow workers to reside with their families, and this language simply clarifies what was always the intent of the law.
-Bobbie Patnode
Aloha ADEPT Committee,
The intention to increase farm labor dwellings and allow families of farm laborers to live on the property is awesome.
OPPOSE the change to the definition of “Farm” Section 19.04.040. What is “usable, accessible, and feasible for farming, ranching, or conservation"? This definition is unclear and ripe for abuse. A motivated farmer can reinvigorate degraded land; inappropriate crops for wetter climates can grow well in dry areas, and vice versa. Who decides what portion of the land is feasible for farming?
Instead keep the language simple and clear: "Farm" means a lot on which at least 51 percent of the area of the land is used for, and the predominant activity is, agriculture or agricultural land conservation.”
SUPPORT the change to the definition of “farm labor dwelling”. Including “part-time employees” can help people who enjoy farming but have to pay the bills with a second job, while including “family members of the agricultural worker” offers stability to families of farm workers and will allow more kids to enjoy the farm life.
Mahalo for bringing this forward,
Karen J. Comcowich
Lahaina, HI
March 7, 2024
Chair Gabe Johnson
and Members of the ADEPT Committee
200 South High Street, Council Chamber
Wailuku, Hawaii 96793
Aloha Chair Johnson and ADEPT Committee Members:
My comments today are on behalf of the Realtors Association of Maui (RAM), regarding Bill 42,(2024), (Bill 42), the purpose is to amend the definitions of “farm” and “farm labor dwelling” under Section 19.04.040, Maui County Code. On behalf of RAM I would offer support of Bill 42 which helps to clarify “farm” and expand the use of the “farm labor dwelling.”
Subsection 1 clarifies the definition of “Farm” to require “51%” of area to be used for farming as “land that is usable.” This is important because portions of ranch or agricultural land may have gulches or ground that may be unsuitable for farming or ranching. One suggestion we may offer is to provide a detailed definition of “usable land” to help maintain a consistency in this determination. One’s interpretation of “usable land” might be different from another.
Additionally, expanding the use of the farm labor dwelling to include apprentices, interns and family members, will not only provide needed housing but it will provide local farming students with shelter while studying agriculture and provide housing for families to encourage children to maintain family farms for future generations.
Accordingly, RAM would respectfully request your consideration for moving this measure forward and providing a definition of “usable land.” Mahalo for the opportunity to testify on this measure.
Sincerely,
Gary Saldana
Government Affairs
Realtors Association of Maui
I support BIll 42. Useable Ag land needs clarification as it pertains to a requirement for living on AgZonedLand. At this time, with housing nearly impossible to find, farm workers and their families need a place to live which needs to be clearly stated in Bill 42. Any language that says anyone living in an ag labor dwelling must be farming ignores the reality that while one member of a family is farming, another could have a different career...bottom line, Agriculture Housing is a critical need. Please support. Bill Greenleaf
I am in opposition to this bill as i believe eliminating 'labor dwellings' from the options can hurt the intention of this bill to support farm laborers. There are many scenario's where a farm laborer may not have need for a kitchen in the dwelling... Many farms have onsite commercial kitchens for workers to use where large family style meals are prepared for workers. Alternatively they may have use of an existing kitchen in one of the farm dwellings or the farm may be providing meals from off site. Building kitchens is very costly not only for the kitchen itself but to satisfy health dept. requirements can often require a second septic system which would put farm worker labor dwellings out of reach for many farmers. Farming in Hawaii is extremely expensive and hard as it is many try to undertake this - lets support our farmers by helping them to have their needs met with workers onsite. Farm labor wages cannot support the local rental rates so farm labor dwellings are becoming more and more imperative to farms that actually have high production and need workers. Please don't eliminate this option and make it harder for farmers to create worker housing by requiring kitchens in every farm labor dwelling.