Don’t allow more gentlemen farms

Rebuffed a year ago on its dubious proposal to subdivide historic Dillingham Ranch for housing and ostensible farm uses, a California developer has returned with a new plan for its Mokuleia acreage: fewer houses, but also, significantly fewer agricultural operations. It’s an unacceptable revision for the agriculture-zoned site that, rather than allaying previous concerns, goes the other way in ratcheting objections.

Beverly Hills-based Kennedy Wilson Inc., which owns the 2,700-acre ranch, now hopes to develop 70 homes lots ranging from 2 to 77 acres, down from the earlier 106 houses. Under the new and previous versions, existing equestrian activities and horse pasturing would expand, a palm tree farm would continue, as would use of the former ranch house for lodge activities such as weddings and retreats.

In a feeble attempt to sell its latest proposal, the developer noted that several acres near the lodge would be reserved for farm-to- table food production.

Otherwise, agricultural enterprises are diminished: new orchard farming has been eliminated, and cattle grazing now on the ranch would cease.

Kennedy Wilson’s $30 million “agriculture subdivision” already was unsatisfactory in August 2015 when it was staunchly opposed by the Mokuleia community, including the North Shore Neighborhood Board, which voted 12-0 to urge the city Department of Planning and Permitting to disallow the project. The developer’s application expired without approval — due largely and fortunately, to the state Agriculture Department’s concerns about lack of actual, substantial farming or ranching.

That deficiency is even more egregious today, coming on the heels of the World Conservation Congress recently hosted in Hawaii, in which sustainability was a major aspect and Gov. David Ige announced Hawaii’s goal of doubling local food production by 2030. The state is working to quantify what that entails in order to set realistic goals and drive policy — but already, it’s clear that wise use of existing farm lands must prevail.

Dillingham Ranch once was part of a 2,000-cattle and 100-horse operation, and such uses of its agriculturally zoned acreage should be perpetuated.

Instead, “We’re perpetuating gentlemen’s estates that produce no agriculture on agricultural land,” state Agriculture Director Scott Enright said last year of Kennedy Wilson’s project. And he told Star- Advertiser reporter Andrew Gomes on Friday: “Regarding land use, the Hawaii Department of Agriculture will take issue with an agricultural subdivision that does not demonstrate viable agricultural production; and this is the case with this particular subdivision.”

Reassuring words, indeed. The developer’s latest proposal to monetize its idyllic North Shore acreage would benefit few besides itself and the wealthy buyers of its 70 luxe “gentleman farms.” Such “farms” generally reduce land available for commercial farming, can inflate an area’s property value, and benefit the homeowner via property tax exemptions and lower water rates.

Conversely, Dillingham Ranch’s proposed subdivision would bring little benefit to a community that cherishes its farming and country lifestyle, and certainly reduces potential toward the state’s food security goals.

This is a weaker version of the proposal that failed a year ago. The state Agriculture Department was right then to question the project and worry about the precedent it would set for other large ag-zoned parcels — and it is right now in reinforcing its objection.

Any new proposal for ag-zoned land has a high bar to clear, and it should lean toward expanding, not constricting, farm or ranch uses. State and county rules do allow farm dwellings on such land, but as an adjunct to primary agricultural operations. Their correct intent is to sustain viable farming enterprises — more important today than ever before — not be a pretense to create luxury homes in the country.