Sally- This Post shows your professionialism......and in your words truly shows Kuleana.   

Sally- You are the best! I can feel your passion for your paradise! Katerina

Great post Sally.   

I am of the belief that most land preservation and good management begins with the master plan and local zoning laws. 

I get calls regularly from developers who want vast pieces of pristine land to subdivide and build homes.  They're willing to buy now and hold for years.  They are very smart.  The only thing that keeps them from devouring about every acre of undeveloped land within 100 miles of D.C. is the little guys behind the desks in the zoning office.  The planning offices do a good job too.  Development has to exist of course, but it needs to be orderly.  Most municipalities do a decent job.  Now that we have political contribution disclosure, it's harder and harder for lobbyists and developers to turn our remaining farms and preservation areas into sub-divisions. 

NOPE.  That area is zoned 25 acres or more.  Can't build a lot of homes there.

NOPE.  That area is zoned Preservation.  Can't build there. 

I love the zoning laws.  If anything helps control and manage growth, it's the guys behind the desks at the zoning office. 

Hi Sally,
I agree with Lenn that our local government sets the tone with their plan.  In our area many small towns have poor local zoning and it has a great impact on the area causing an undesirable mix of construction and development.  It pays to do your homework prior to buying, always.  

Sally - The town I live in is growing very rapidly (I don't live in Ft. Worth, but in a little town about 10mi. south) and I have found it invaluable to go to the Planning & Zoning meetings they have at City Hall twice a month. The people that serve on our board work very hard to limit where things go and the impact it will have on the area. It helps to be able to answer potential buyers questions about "What are they going to do with that empty lot at the end of this street".

Sally Cheeseman is a true Professional Realtor.  This post just proves it.

This would be the perfect example for your outside blog. But I'm just dumb:)

Sally - Very informative. Your great photos...did you take them? One day I ho to make it over there to see your beautiful state.

Hey Sally,   it sounds like you guys are doing a lot of good things over there.  It's great that professionals like you are staying informed so you can tell your clients about it.  Land preservation and conservation sounds imperative in Hawaii.

Sally~

Once again you demonstrate why I am subscribed to your BLOG. So many real estate professionals and our clients can learn pertinent information they need as they read this post.  Thank you for the energy you devote to writing posts that educate and inspire.

As I read throughthe comments, I noticed that Lenn appreciates zoning... she wrote, "Now that we have political contribution disclosure, it's harder and harder for lobbyists and developers to turn our remaining farms and preservation areas into sub-divisions.  NOPE.  That area is zoned 25 acres or more.  Can't build a lot of homes there.NOPE.  That area is zoned Preservation.  Can't build there.  I love the zoning laws.  If anything helps control and manage growth, it's the guys behind the desks at the zoning office.  "

...this picking up on your theme of thoughtful development practices...and our responsibility as real estate professionals to do our homework. I am wondering if you will be writing more about zoning?

Sally - Kuleana. I like that word! You demonstrate the many reasons it is important to know the zoning laws on your beautiful islands.

Cynthia says, "many small towns have poor local zoning and it has a great impact on the area causing an undesirable mix of construction and development." I have seen this in Michigan also. It is important for zoning administrators to recognize instances in which improper zoning may have occured and take action to correct those laws.

Your knowledge of your area always comes through in your posts. You are a true professional and I would not hesitate to refer someone to you and know they would be cared for properly!

Sally,

Nice post! Now that our reproduction birthrate is just above 'replacement', we need to focus more on reclamation than development of new and pristine areas...this would serve a twofold purpose...we would be developing new infrastructure while at the same time ridding our areas of blight and eyesores!  Empowerment zones are working in populated metro areas! Thanks,   Fran

We all bear responsibility for this planet on which we live. I want my grandchildren's grandchildren to enjoy a wonder life.  I live today in a way that prepares the way for them.

Kathy: Thanks for the support!  (racing for first place again?)  :)

Katerina: Thanks for coming by!

Lenn: My cousin has been an inspector with the building department for over 20 years. She helps me a lot when I have questions on zoning/permits and such. If she doesn't have the answer she asks all her friends. It starts with the people behind those desks ...that's for sure!

Cynthia:  Due diligence for buying all types of property is key here. Many older neighborhoods were not even surveyed correctly. In one subdivision we didn't even know who's wall was on what property or who built the walls....until the survey was done. Once all our laws were put into place the Associations started building. A planned or organized community usually has an association...although it sure makes it pleasant to the eye!

Linda: I have learned so much from researching as well as my cousin who is a building inspector. It does pay off to know our stuff when buyers need to know.....  I keep going back to ancient burial site laws and such because it really is a big thing to want to preserve the ancient history of our islands.

Matt:  Okay....cheerleading by Matt...cool.

Neal:  I'll get to it today!  (office the last two days so got a lot to catch up on...gotta do some stuff with my website as well)

Gary: The photos are all mine...I just soften the edges with Microsoft Digital Photo Plus software.

Steph:  Not everyone gets into research .... I just chose to so I can be well informed.  We have many Hawaiian groups and other groups who stay on top of it....not to mention the individuals who care.

janeAnne: You are always so supportive janeAnne!  Click on the zoning link in the post..... I wrote a little about it before and thought I'd just link.... as well as coastal property etc.

Mary:  I get so much support from the Eco group when I write these posts...thank you all!  We may all have had bad zoning laws before...now that ours are in place you can bet your bottom that they enforce.....heavily!

Fran:  Okay...you're getting all deep here. We only have so much land here so there aren't too many new home building going on like over there. They have done much in the way of tearing down and rebuilding...which make a neighborhood more eye appealing as they keep doing so.

Dan:  Good for you!

Sally.... that is so true, gaining knowledge of your area is your responsibility in helping your clients. And I love your pics...

Jeff: Yup...sure is...Thanks...I love taking them...plenty of breathtaking scenery.

Sally - What a terrific localism post. You expertise for the mililani area shows. People looking in your area have a real pro they can turn to!

Sally, Are the words you use in your posts strictly used in Hawaii? What is the actual language they're from? Is it a mix of languages?

Bill: Thanks! It helps when one not only loves what they do but also where they live!

Lisa: You seem to be very inquisitive for our culture and languages. :) As you know, Hawaiians are a mixture of early settlers of Polynesian decent. 

Sally, I am facinated by this information and the fact that in Hawaii everyone is so respectful that they have even created laws.  I am not sure what would happen here if they happened onto some site that should be protected and studied but I somehow think they'd find a way around it to get the building up.  It's  a very sad thought in comparison to the care they take in your lovely state.  Thank you for sharing this information, I loved reading it.

Carole: Maybe it's because our islands are small...we have different counties/departments/ etc. for each county and plenty of department workers to make sure everything is up to code. There are also some VERY hefty fines.

Sally, I can't believe they considering moving ancient buriel sites. 20 yrs ago that was unimaginable. It was hard for me to get past that part...

Sally,

Trying to protect those beautiful islands of yours must be a major task for the local authorities there. Legislation and enforcement takes a lot of resources. And you as a professional agent have to be on top of the laws, too. Wonder if half of the buyers understand what they are supposed to know.

Lysa: They have moved burial sites all along Lysa. They first try to determine what is best...to leave it on site or move. Same with cemetaries. They moved one in Wahiawa and that was back in the olden days. My broker sold a house where it used to be that cemetary and had to disclose there "used to be" a cemetary there.

Esko: Believe me....plenty of people are on top of it...like I mentioned above....my cousin is a building inspector and she's been running around from site to site for over 20 years. That's why it is imperative that we know what we're doing and make sure to inform our buyers...there is always going to be something going on....especially with vacant land or rebuilding. Everywhere they dig is going to be something....this island is too small to not have some kind of burial or leftover warriors and such.

Yep, Sally...I did return and read and you HAVE come a long way! LOL I guess I should have looked to begin with!

Linda: Funny lol!  I believe I have too! :)

Sally - You got that right. You sure do live in a great place! Can't imagine living all year round with the kind of weather you have. I'm not looking forward to the cold New England weather - YUCK!

Bill: My dad was born in Wakefield (he passed away in 2004) but he still had that New England accent. Pak the ca. hehe.  Right now we're storming.