Grove Farm Company is the second largest private landowner on the island of Kauai. The company recently petitioned the state of Hawaii’s Land Use Commission and requested that the state designate approximately 11,000 acres of their land as “important agricultural land”. Under Act 183 passed in 2005, there are several major incentives for landowners who receive such a designation for their land. These include tax credits for investments in agriculture facilities, loan guarantees, placement of employee housing on prime farmland and expedited permitting for processing facilities.
However, it is being contended that approximately 4,000 acres of the land is not suitable for agriculture due to ravines and gulches. In addition, 6,000 acres of land were rated by the University of Hawaii as having “very poor” soil. As a result, the state Office of Planning believes that on 4,717 acres qualify for the designation. Grove Farm argues that they will eventually grow biofuel crops on this land underused land, but the Office of Planning notes that there is currently no commitment to such use. The Land Use Commission will be reviewing arguments as well as open up the discussion to the public before making their ruling.
Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 2-4-2013, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Broker-in-Charge, Realtor®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
www.myhawaiihomesearch.com
www.myhawaiicondo.com
www.myhawaiidreamhome.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Broker-in-Charge, Realtor®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
www.myhawaiihomesearch.com
www.myhawaiicondo.com
www.myhawaiidreamhome.com
