HLU-30 Bill 71 (2024) BILL 71 (2024), AMENDING SECTION 19.30A.050, MAUI COUNTY CODE, RELATING TO THE SIZE OF FARM DWELLINGS IN THE AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT (HLU-30)
Before the Council’s Housing and Land Use Committee, re: Bill 71
May 15, 2024
Aloha and thank you for this opportunity to speak in favor of Bill 71, expanding the allowable square-footage of the second dwelling on agriculturally zoned land.
Someone recently noted that for Maui County to be able to come to grips with its housing disaster, this government is going to have evolve. To me that means changing its purpose from resisting new housing development to promoting and enabling it.
This bill is a hint that evolution may be finally beginning. While the bill does not actually allow for more units being built in the Ag district, it does promote more livable space for our local families to live. It promotes local families staying on the “farm” by giving young families space to grow and space for grandma and grandpa to enjoy their golden years in comfort.
While an extra 500 square feet used as a residence will have little to no impact on the agricultural function of the property, it will have a serious beneficial impact on the family residing in the home. And because of that, perhaps this action may also promote more families staying on their land.
At a disaster update meeting in Lahaina recently, one speaker suggested that the county “evolve” its philosophy on residential properties, giving less emphasis to single family occupation and more towards one that allows extended local families to occupy the same space, much as Pacific Islanders do. Because of their size, rural agricultural properties would be ideal candidates for such a use.
It always struck me as odd that the restrictions in our ag zoning seems to imply that the occupant must farm. We don’t condemn business families who remain on their business-zoned land after they retire. So why don’t we give the same type of accommodation to farmers? Does grandma really have to farm after she is 80?
Mahalo for taking this bold step towards an evolution that will promote the housing our community truly needs.
David DeLeon
335 Waiama Way, Haiku Hawaii
dpdeleon@hawaiiantel.net
Testimony in support of:
BILL 71 (2024), AMENDING SECTION 19.30A.050, MAUI COUNTY CODE, RELATING TO THE SIZE OF FARM DWELLINGS IN THE AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT (HLU-30) The Committee
We are Laura and Tracy Stice, owners of 470 Ulumalu Rd, Haiku, since 1978.
For over four decades, Laura and Tracy Stice have been the proud owners of 470 Ulumalu Rd. Haiku. Our children, Jeremy, Brianna, and Chloe, were born on this property. It has always been their home. This property, once an abandoned 5-acre pineapple field devoid of trees, has been our labor of love. We have tirelessly farmed it, transforming it into a thriving ti-leaf , and fruit tree farm known as Maliko Ti. It is not just a piece of land to us but a testament to our dedication and hard work.
Two years ago, in June 2022, we submitted an application (B-2022-0717) to construct a farm accessory dwelling on our property. This was a necessary step for us, given our health conditions. I, at 72, am battling severe arthritis in my knees, and Laura, at 69, is also dealing with arthritis. Our current home, a two-story house with a bedroom upstairs, is becoming increasingly challenging to navigate. We are hopeful that, in the near future, we will be granted the permit to begin construction on our much-needed dwelling.
We plan to build a one-story home with no stairs, accessible bathrooms, and wide doors for roll-in and roll-out access. Someday, we may not be able to walk and want to live our last years in this home rather than Hale Makua or Roselani. Once finished, our daughter Brianna(a Maui police officer) and her family can move into the house as they need the room with two children. Right now, they are renting, which will free up a rental house for others when they can move in.
We support this bill because it would allow us to construct another bedroom or two to give long-term caregivers a place to live and help care for us as we age. It could work as an incentive to actually get somebody to help us because it is very difficult for anybody to find a place to live right now at an affordable price. Right now, we plan to build our 1,000 sq. ft. home so that we have an accessible home and Brianna and her family have a permanent home.
If this bill passes, it will at least allow us to add 500 sq. Ft. of legal living area in the future.
Aging farmers need a place to live comfortably and safely and enjoy our grandchildren living next door.
Please pass this bill and create more housing opportunities for Maui families on agricultural lands.
Before the Council’s Housing and Land Use Committee, re: Bill 71
May 15, 2024
Aloha and thank you for this opportunity to speak in favor of Bill 71, expanding the allowable square-footage of the second dwelling on agriculturally zoned land.
Someone recently noted that for Maui County to be able to come to grips with its housing disaster, this government is going to have evolve. To me that means changing its purpose from resisting new housing development to promoting and enabling it.
This bill is a hint that evolution may be finally beginning. While the bill does not actually allow for more units being built in the Ag district, it does promote more livable space for our local families to live. It promotes local families staying on the “farm” by giving young families space to grow and space for grandma and grandpa to enjoy their golden years in comfort.
While an extra 500 square feet used as a residence will have little to no impact on the agricultural function of the property, it will have a serious beneficial impact on the family residing in the home. And because of that, perhaps this action may also promote more families staying on their land.
At a disaster update meeting in Lahaina recently, one speaker suggested that the county “evolve” its philosophy on residential properties, giving less emphasis to single family occupation and more towards one that allows extended local families to occupy the same space, much as Pacific Islanders do. Because of their size, rural agricultural properties would be ideal candidates for such a use.
It always struck me as odd that the restrictions in our ag zoning seems to imply that the occupant must farm. We don’t condemn business families who remain on their business-zoned land after they retire. So why don’t we give the same type of accommodation to farmers? Does grandma really have to farm after she is 80?
Mahalo for taking this bold step towards an evolution that will promote the housing our community truly needs.
David DeLeon
335 Waiama Way, Haiku Hawaii
dpdeleon@hawaiiantel.net
Testimony in support of:
BILL 71 (2024), AMENDING SECTION 19.30A.050, MAUI COUNTY CODE, RELATING TO THE SIZE OF FARM DWELLINGS IN THE AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT (HLU-30) The Committee
We are Laura and Tracy Stice, owners of 470 Ulumalu Rd, Haiku, since 1978.
For over four decades, Laura and Tracy Stice have been the proud owners of 470 Ulumalu Rd. Haiku. Our children, Jeremy, Brianna, and Chloe, were born on this property. It has always been their home. This property, once an abandoned 5-acre pineapple field devoid of trees, has been our labor of love. We have tirelessly farmed it, transforming it into a thriving ti-leaf , and fruit tree farm known as Maliko Ti. It is not just a piece of land to us but a testament to our dedication and hard work.
Two years ago, in June 2022, we submitted an application (B-2022-0717) to construct a farm accessory dwelling on our property. This was a necessary step for us, given our health conditions. I, at 72, am battling severe arthritis in my knees, and Laura, at 69, is also dealing with arthritis. Our current home, a two-story house with a bedroom upstairs, is becoming increasingly challenging to navigate. We are hopeful that, in the near future, we will be granted the permit to begin construction on our much-needed dwelling.
We plan to build a one-story home with no stairs, accessible bathrooms, and wide doors for roll-in and roll-out access. Someday, we may not be able to walk and want to live our last years in this home rather than Hale Makua or Roselani. Once finished, our daughter Brianna(a Maui police officer) and her family can move into the house as they need the room with two children. Right now, they are renting, which will free up a rental house for others when they can move in.
We support this bill because it would allow us to construct another bedroom or two to give long-term caregivers a place to live and help care for us as we age. It could work as an incentive to actually get somebody to help us because it is very difficult for anybody to find a place to live right now at an affordable price. Right now, we plan to build our 1,000 sq. ft. home so that we have an accessible home and Brianna and her family have a permanent home.
If this bill passes, it will at least allow us to add 500 sq. Ft. of legal living area in the future.
Aging farmers need a place to live comfortably and safely and enjoy our grandchildren living next door.
Please pass this bill and create more housing opportunities for Maui families on agricultural lands.
Mahalo!
Tracy, Laura, Jeremy, Brianna, and Chloe Stice
Please see the attached comments from the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.