NAWILIWILI — A bill that would allow bonafide farmers to build additional dwellings for their workers will be heard again at the Kaua‘i County Council meeting Wednesday in Nawiliwili. Three years in the making, the legislation was recently on the
NAWILIWILI — A bill that would allow bonafide farmers to build additional dwellings for their workers will be heard again at the Kaua‘i County Council meeting Wednesday in Nawiliwili.
Three years in the making, the legislation was recently on the verge of approval but was sent back to the Planning Committee last week to tighten up a section intended to combat potential abuse. The committee passed Bill 2318 Draft 2, which would allow farmers to build up to three farm-worker houses up to 1,800 square feet combined total.
To qualify for the permit, farmers would have to show the county Planning Commission a business plan, annual gross receipts of at least $35,000 and have their land enrolled in the Agriculture Dedication program at the Real Property Tax office.
In addition, if the land is part of a Condominium Property Regime, the Agriculture Dedication criteria has to be in effect before the bill becomes law.
There were concerns that in the way the bill was written, it may still allow farmers to divide the land and sell it with the farm-worker dwellings on it, Committee Chair Jay Furfaro said in an earlier meeting.
Furfaro co-introduced the bill years ago with then-Councilwoman JoAnn Yukimura at the request of farmers who wanted long-term and affordable labor.
Councilman Tim Bynum introduced last week’s amendments, by request, tightening the bill a little further.
The Agriculture Dedication will have to have been completed by last April.
The farm-worker housing use permit shall be subject to revocation if the farm-worker housing and the commercial farm are designated as limited common elements of separate condominium units.
If any interest in the property is transferred, conveyed or sold, the successor in interest shall immediately notify the planning director of such change in ownership.
Visit www.kauai.gov for more information.
• Léo Azambuja, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or lazambuja@kauaipubco.com.
