City to hold Important Agricultural Lands (IAL) meetings

News Release from City and County of Honolulu, March 30, 2015

The Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) will hold a series of meetings in April to seek public input in identifying and mapping Oahu’s Important Agricultural Lands (IAL).

Each meeting will run from 5:30-8:30 p.m., and the public is encouraged to attend and offer comments and recommendations.  Here is the schedule:

• April 1, Kapolei Hale, Conference Rooms A-C, 1000 Uluohia Street.
• April 8, MililaniMiddle School Cafeteria, 95-1140 Lehiwa Drive.
• April 15, WindwardCommunity College, Hale Akoakoa Room 105, 45-720 Keaahala Road.

Each county is required to identify and map lands that have the potential for designation as IAL according to standards, criteria and procedures established under state law.  IAL is defined as lands that:

• Are capable of producing sustained high agricultural yields when treated and managed according to accepted farming methods and technology.
• Contribute to the state’s economic base, and produce agricultural commodities for export or local consumption.
• Are needed to promote the expansion of agricultural activities and income for the future, even if currently not in production.

The DPP and its consultant have prepared resource maps based on the state’s defined criteria and developed a methodology for ranking the criteria.  The meetings will bring together stakeholders and the public to identify what should be on Oahu’s IAL map.  The DPP anticipates completing the IAL plan by the end of 2015 and will send it to the City Council for consideration.  The state Land Use Commission will have the final review and approval of the IAL maps.

For more information, visit http://www.honoluludpp.org/Planning/IAL.aspx. The project website, www.mapoahuagland.com, will be available after April 1.

If you require special assistance, auxiliary aid and/or service to participate in this event (i.e., sign language interpreter, interpreter for language other than English, or wheelchair accessibility), please call 768-8000, or email your request to info@honoluludpp.org at least three business days prior to the event.

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