Aloha kākou,

 On August 22, 2024, at 9 a.m., the Committee on Planning and the Economy, which is chaired by Councilmember Esther Kiaʻāina, will begin consideration of Agricultural Use amendments to Bill 64 (2023), FD1 (formerly Bill 10 (2022)), which updates the Article 5 use regulations of the City’s Land Use Ordinance. At the meeting, the Committee will focus on proposed amendments relating to the following three Agricultural Use Subcategories:

• Crop Production: aquaculture, crop raising, forestry, plant nursery, urban agriculture, and vertical farming

• Livestock Keeping: general and confined animal raising

• Agricultural Support: minor and major agricultural collection and storage, agricultural equipment service, minor and major agricultural processing, feed store, livestock veterinary service, and sawmill

Later this fall, after we have completed our work on these three Agricultural Use Subcategories, the Committee will turn its focus to:

•  Accessory Agricultural: agricultural energy facility, agricultural farmers market, agritourism, beekeeping, biofuel processing facility, farm dwelling, farm stand, and farm worker housing

The current committee draft of Bill 64 can be found here. Please note that Councilmember amendments, including Chair Kiaʻāina’s amendments to the Agricultural Use portions of the bill, are still being developed and are not yet included in this current committee draft.  The current draft provisions were proposed by the Cityʻs Department of Permitting and Planning.

The Committee will be considering amendments to the following sections and provisions relating to the Crop Production, Livestock Keeping, and Agricultural Support Use Subcategories:

• Bill SECTION 3 – Table 21-5.1 (Use Table), Agricultural Uses listed on pages 3 to 4 in green;

• Bill SECTION 3 – ROH Section 21-5.40 et seq. (pages 11 to 13), Agricultural Use standards and requirements relating to the Crop Production, Livestock Keeping, and Agricultural Support Use Subcategories;

• Bill SECTIONS 70, 71, and 72 (pages 191 to 230) – ROH Section 21-10.1, Agricultural Use definitions; and

• Bill SECTIONS 4 through 69 (pages 87 to 191), and 73 through 93 (pages 230 to 263) – Agricultural Use conforming amendments.

Committee Chair Kiaʻāina welcomes you to submit verbal or written testimony on the proposed Agricultural Use amendments by signing up using this link. The meeting will be broadcast via (1) Internet live streaming through https://www.honolulucitycouncil.org/meetings and (2) live broadcast on ʻŌlelo TV Channel 54.

Mahalo nui for your testimony and engagement on this important issue. We look forward to your continued collaboration to improve the City’s land use regulations for the betterment of our communities.

For more information on Bill 64, please visit www.honolulucitycouncil.org/bill64.  Please help spread the word about this important hearing to interested stakeholders.