Recent News

 

North Shore Ag Lands For Sale
The North Shore has over 60,000 acres of agricultural lands that have the potential to play a meaningful role in helping the State of Hawaiʻi achieve food security.  Although it is not widely discussed, approximately one third of these lands are currently for sale.  In order to ensure that the North Shore’s agricultural potential is realized, the continued and increased agricultural use of these lands is critical.

Supporting our local farmers is a great way to help ensure that these lands become more food productive.  Locally grown produce is available at most super markets, produce specialty stores, the Waialua Farmers’ Co-op Market, the Haleʻiwa Farmers’ Market, and the North Shore Country Market.  Attending the North Shore Neighborhood Board Agricultural Committee’s monthly meetings is another great way to learn more about agricultural issues and the needs of existing farmers, and to participate in the discussion about how we can help additional would-be-farmers get on the land growing food.

NSCLT hopes that by working together with a variety of stakeholders to support our local agriculture industry, we can help ensure that many of the valuable agricultural lands currently for sale are sold to farmers who can grow food for all of us to enjoy.

North Shore Greenprint Update (August, 2011)
Thank you to the over 300 individuals that have contributed thus far to creating a “Greenprint” for the North Shore.  A “Greenprint” is a strategic conservation plan based on local and regional priorities designed to meet community open space, park, recreation, cultural, agricultural, and conservation goals.  Thanks to the extensive community input received, we have identified the following conservation values to help guide our conservation work:

(1) Agricultural Lands
(2) Natural Habitats
(3) Water Quality and Quantity
(4) Cultural and Historic Places
(5) Scenic View-Planes
(6) Recreational Opportunities and Access
(7) The Coastal Region.

The next steps for the Greenprint include:  mapping out the areas and resources needed to enhance these values; developing action plan strategies to promote these values; and engaging the community in implementing voluntary land conservation and/or community based planning and stewardship activities.

If you would like to get involved with or learn more about the North Shore Greenprint, please contact NSCLT Executive Director Doug Cole at dougcole@hawaii.rr.com.


North Shore Greenprint Update (April, 2011)
Residents and visitors on the North Shore are playing an essential role in helping NSCLT develop a “Greenprint” to guide its future conservation work throughout the area’s thirty miles of coastline and sixty thousand acres of agricultural landscapes.  To date, hundreds of people have contributed their input towards helping NSCLT identify and prioritize the community’s shared conservation values.  This effort will help the community shift from a reactive approach to land conservation to a more proactive approach. 

According to NSCLT Executive Director, Doug Cole, “the first stage of the greenprint process involves reaching out to the community to find out where people would like to see NSCLT focus its conservation work. This information will enable us to seek out land conservation opportunities in the most critical and vulnerable areas rather than sitting back and waiting to react to threats to such areas.”  Cole says, “it’s very important that the decisions that we make, in terms of which conservation opportunities we pursue, are based on community input because it’s the community’s love for the North Shore that motivates us to continue working hard to conserve the areas that make this such a special place to live and visit.”

To learn more about the North Shore Greenprint, contact Doug Cole at (808) 497-0036 or via email at dougcole@hawaii.rr.com.


Sunset Ranch Update
Landowners seeking to develop a property garner a great deal of community attention. In late November, a special landowner on the North Shore celebrated the fact that his family -- or anyone who ever owns his land in the future -- will never be able to develop a unique property at the top of Pupukea.

Greg Pietsch's family owns and operates Sunset Ranch  on over 27 acres of land at the end of Pupukea Road. "Originally it was acquired by my grandfather in 1960" Greg recalls.  As recently as 2007 Greg’s family was looking at a scenario that could have transformed the property into a 14-lot subdivision. However, Greg came to realize that he couldn't imagine 14 houses on the property. In late 2007 he was approached by the Trust for Public Land and the North Shore Community Land Trust.  Our organizations told him he could protect the property with a private conservation easement which would permanently prohibit development. In 2010 Sunset Ranch became one of Hawaii's first such easements, and the first on Oahu to utilize several innovative conservation programs.

Sunset Ranch and the North Shore community celebrated the new permanent conservation status of the land with an open house on November 22, 2010.  NSCLT is now responsible for thoroughly inspecting the property annually to ensure that no development ever takes place and is working with the Pietsch family and other partners on the implementation of the Sunset Ranch Conservation Plan.

Greg is happy with the agreement because his family gets to hold on to the property and part of their legacy is that it remains undeveloped forever. He said that over the coming years the ranch will have increased ranching and agricultural activity, a native Hawaiian plant nursery to support the work of Hiipaka in Waimea Valley, more equestrian programs for Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, other community educational programs, and more facilities on site will be made available to host conservation-related community gatherings. He also pledges to actively share information with other landowners about voluntary land conservation programs and he is already doing so!

Mahalo to the Pietsch family for their vision and commitment.


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