LIHU’E — An unbiased listener at the Kaua’i County Council meeting Thursday afternoon would have thought he was hearing two different islands described. Supporters and opponents of Councilman Bryan Baptiste’s proposed moratorium on agricultural subdivisions brought out a crowd of
LIHU’E — An unbiased listener at the Kaua’i County Council meeting Thursday afternoon would have thought he was hearing two different islands described.
Supporters and opponents of Councilman Bryan Baptiste’s proposed moratorium on agricultural subdivisions brought out a crowd of non-farmers.
Jim O’Connor, a Kilauea developer, said Baptiste’s proposal would begin a necessary dialogue.
“Moratoriums usually don’t work. I’m for private property rights,” O’Connor said, adding a moratorium is “artificial government interference.”
Kane Pa, a Hawaiian sovereignty leader, said, “Hawai’i is being run by a lot of wealthy landowners. I hear about legal venues. Is the state of Hawai’i lawful to begin with?”
Mike Dyer, who identified himself as “one of those real estate developers,” said he wanted to thank Baptiste for proposing a moratorium on agricultural subdivisions of 100 acres or more.
“It’s been very good for my business,” Dyer said.
But the majority of the speakers supported Baptiste’s proposal, even if they didn’t think there should be a 100-acre cutoff.
“This moratorium is needed. There is nothing about agriculture in these ag subdivisions. They are blatantly illegal,” Marge Freeman said.
“I highly commend Bryan Baptiste for having initiated this. Stop the subterfuge of getting around the land-use laws of the state,” Ray Chuan said.
Councilman Ron Kouchi noted that the 100-acre cutoff wasn’t what really mattered to most of the speakers.
“People are defining by use, not the parcel size,” he said.
No decisions were made, but more heated discussions are expected. In fact, council members agreed with O’Connor, who said if they go toward adoption of the measure, they will need a bigger venue for future hearings.
And, O’Connor said, it wouldn’t be Realtors complaining.
“It will be your neighbors,” he predicted.
Staff writer Dennis Wilken can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) and mailto:dwilken@pulitzer.net
