Land conservation plans given $3.1M
By Andrew Gomes
Advertiser Staff Writer
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Four O'ahu land conservation projects were approved to receive the first distribution from a city fund created by voters three years ago.
The projects, which include saving a North Shore ranch from a proposed gentleman's farm housing subdivision, were tentatively granted $3.1 million to help purchase land or conservation easements through the Clean Water and Natural Lands Fund.
The funding, approved by the City Council last month, represent a little less than half of $6.75 million sought by six land conservation proposals that an advisory commission had recommended.
However, a technical budgetary issue resulted in only $4 million being available for distribution this year instead of what the commission had previously anticipated would be $8 million.
The fund was established by voters in 2006 through a City Charter amendment that dedicates a half-percent of O'ahu property tax revenue to land preservation. A nine-person commission was formed last year to solicit and review proposals from nonprofits and government agencies.
City Council Chairman Todd Apo said much work from commission members went into the initial round of projects, and that the program's achievements are expected to grow as more proposals vie for future distributions of the regenerating fund.
"I think everyone feels that the process worked well," he said.
Mayor Mufi Hannemann, however, has expressed dissatisfaction with the City Council making the final selection of projects to fund, suggesting in a March letter to the council that the executive branch should have that role.
"This research and analysis is traditionally conducted by executive branch agencies before a request for acquisition of property is submitted to the City Council for budget appropriation," the mayor said in the letter.
The fund appropriations were made over Hannemann's objection, though the mayor retains authority on whether or not to release money from the fund.
Even with mayoral approval, however, it's not certain that all four projects will receive money given circumstances of each planned property acquisition.
Besides the North Shore ranch, the other projects that received funding are:
At least one of the approved projects faces a major challenge. The Wahiawa property was going to be bought by Crestview Farms LLC as part of a 1,700-acre purchase from the Galbraith Estate. Crestview had agreed to resell 512 acres to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs for $6 million, including $2 million from the fund through the Trust for Public Land. But the Crestview purchase fell through, and the Galbraith Estate declined to sell the 512 acres for $6 million. Trust for Public Land is holding out hope it can still make the acquisition.
The two projects rejected for funding were:
All the projects required a cooperating landowner and matching funds, which totaled $24.8 million between the six proposals.
The four projects funded by the City Council include three that received the best scores from the advisory commission based on two areas of criteria that included a project's importance, or value, and the ability to execute the plan.
The Kahuku project had the fourth-highest combined score, but was ranked last by the commission in terms of viability because matching funds had not been secured and the property owner hadn't pledged to participate.
Margaret Primacio of the project's nonprofit applicant Keep Kahuku Country Inc. said the group will continue working to obtain landowner support and matching funds in hopes of reapplying to the commission to help with the estimated $2.9 million purchase with a $1.6 million grant.
"Definitely we will go in again," she said. "We are concerned about the beachfront and preserving that."
The commission is accepting applications for the next funding cycle, which should have about $9 million available for distribution. Deadlines have not yet been set for applications.
Because the fund was created by voters approving a charter amendment, city officials can't raid the fund for other purposes even in a severe economic downturn.
Generally, the fund is directed at efforts protecting the environment, including protection of watershed lands, historical or culturally significant areas, agriculture lands, forests, beaches and coastal areas.
The fund also can be used to protect significant habitats or ecosystems, reduce erosion or flooding, and improve public access to public land.
For more information, visit http://honolulu.gov/council/cbc/cwnl.htm online.
FUNDED LAND CONSERVATION PROJECTS
NORTH SHORE RANCH
Maui Coastal Land Trust on behalf of the North Shore Community Land Trust was approved for $609,425 to help purchase an agricultural easement on the 27-acre Sunset Ranch on Püpükea Homestead Road next to Waimea Valley.
The ranch was the home of the late Fern Pietsch, and includes a horse stable and riding arena. The ranch is on prime agricultural land and has at times included chicken, pig and crop farming.
Property owner Greg Pietsch previously sought to subdivide the property into gated gentlemen’s farm estates with 12 lots as a way to pay off debt incurred to acquire the ranch from his grandmother’s estate and keep two or three acres.
The Maui nonprofit said Pietsch has instead agreed to sell a conservation easement that prevents development and keeps the property in agriculture forever. The group also said Pietsch has discussed opening the ranch to the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts for equestrian activities, and partnering with the manager of Waimea Valley to revive a native Hawaiian plant nursery.
Maui Coastal Land Trust anticipates paying an appraised price of $2.3 million for the easement on land valued at about $6 million, and has secured $1.7 million in matching funds from the state Legacy Lands fund and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
HONOULIULI PRESERVE
The Trust for Public Land was approved for $92,044 to help purchase 3,579 acres on the eastern slope of the Waiçanae Range from Makakilo to Kunia and deed the property to the state.
The area known as the Honouliuli Preserve is owned by the James Campbell Co. LLC and managed under a conservation lease by The Nature Conservancy, which seeks to transfer management of the area to the state Division of Forestry and Wildlife.
Campbell Co. is trying to sell the property, which, if sold to a nonconservation buyer, could endanger the preserve containing more than 90 rare and endangered species.
The landowner has agreed to sell the property to the nonprofit for $4.4 million. Trust for Public Land has secured $4.3 million from the Army, which manages part of the preserve, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and state Legacy Lands Fund.
FORMER CENTRAL OçAHU PINEAPPLE LAND
The Trust for Public Land was approved for $2 million to help purchase 512 acres in Wahiawä surrounding the sacred native Hawaiian birthing stones at Kükaniloko and formerly farmed in pineapple by Del Monte Fresh Produce.
However, the property owned by the Galbraith Estate was to have been first bought by another company, Crestview Farms LLC, as part of a 1,700-acre purchase from Galbraith. Crestview then was to sell the 512 acres for $6 million under the conservation program.
The Crestview deal fell through, and Galbraith has refused to sell the 512 acres for $6 million.
Under the plan, the Army pledged $1 million toward the purchase, and a $3 million contribution was anticipated from the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs, which would have assumed ownership with the intent to enhance access and educational opportunities for Kükaniloko while keeping the property in agriculture.
KUNIA AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH PROPERTY
The Hawaii Agriculture Research Center on behalf of a state agency was approved for $400,000 to purchase an agricultural easement on 108 acres of a larger parcel that it owns with seed crop company Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc.
The easement would ensure the land stays in agriculture and generate proceeds to pay for an accessory facility under construction, according to the nonprofit research organization.
HARC said a January appraisal values the protective easement at $3 million on the property, which is valued at $5 million and would become solely owned by HARC after a pending subdivision is completed from other land to be kept by Pioneer.
The organization said the state Agribusiness Development Corp. has secured $2.7 million in matching funds from the federal government and the state Legacy Lands Fund to buy the easement, and that the ADC would have applied for the balance from the county fund but couldn’t meet a deadline.
