STAND. COM. REP. NO.  343

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 715

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 715 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO URBAN AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

     (1)  Require the counties to incorporate urban agriculture principles and policies in land use planning; and

     (2)  Allow urban agriculture as a residential use in a county residentially designated zone.

Hawaii Farm Bureau and three individuals testified in support of this measure.  The City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting testified in opposition.

     Should the Committee on Water & Land deliberate on this measure further, your Committee respectfully requests that it consider addressing the City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting's concerns.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 715 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Water & Land.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture,

____________________________

RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair