KILAUEA, Kaua'i — As Kaua'i County gets closer to developing a 75-acre agricultural park here, it's asking farmers interested in leasing land there for their opinions.

Should the land be put in all-organic farms, all "conventional" farms that may use chemical pesticides and fertilizers, or some of both?

Should it be divided into nine lots of 8 acres to 12 acres each or up to 20 lots of smaller sizes?

Should it be accessed by Kilau-ea Lighthouse Road, the Quarry Road or both?

Should there be a solar farm on part of the land to supply electricity for the farmers?

Other options include a permanent location for the Kilauea farmers market, a community garden plot for public use, small "incubator" plots for new farmers and even an orchard section, consultant Glenn Kimura said at a recent informational meeting.

Kimura's firm, Kimura International, has drawn up three possible scenarios for people to comment on until Oct. 24. They are available at www.kauai.gov/OED.

All the options would have limited dirt-road access to the farm lots and show the county providing water via a well and a surface storage pond, Kimura said.

Their cost to the county would range from $2.4 million to $3.6 million.

About 40 people at the Sept. 17 meeting had a variety of reactions. Many favored an all-organic rule for the parcels, but others cautioned that could be too restrictive and cut out successful, responsible farmers who are interested in leasing.

Longtime farmer Rodney Yadao, who uses some petroleum-based fertilizers and hand-applied chemicals to grow his Moloa'a Gold Pineapples nearby, said he understands people's concerns about spraying herbicide. He doesn't use them and has learned a lot from his organic farming neighbors, he said.

Ray Maki, who grows landscaping plants on 5 acres next to Yadao, agreed that organic and nonorganic can co-exist with careful planning and mutual respect.

Several nearby residents cautioned that they don't want herbicide spraying on the ag lots, as it could drift into their homes. They also asked for trees lining the edge of the ag park, to screen dust.

Others spoke in favor of composting, but noted that raises organic versus nonorganic questions as well.

As director of Kaua'i County's Office of Economic Development, Beth Tokioka is in charge of the planning process for the ag park. She stressed that none of the proposals is final and that whatever people who actually would lease the land want is of greatest importance.

The county's goal is to provide access to water and basic dirt roads, then allow long-term-lease farmers to clear the land themselves and shape it for their use, Tokioka said. That's what Maui County did with its Kula agricultural area, and it worked well, she said.

The county isn't out to make money on leasing the land to farmers, Tokioka said. But given the economic climate, it wants to spend as little money as possible developing it.

After public comments are received by the county, it will use them to finalize a preferred alternative and to conduct an environmental assessment, a process that will involve additional public meetings.

Then the Kaua'i County Council will have to approve money to develop the land.

Applicant farmers will have to present proof of their financial and farming abilities and have a farm plan to be awarded a lease, Tokioka said.

The project has been a long time coming. Donation of the land was a condition of the Sea Cliff Plantations at Kilauea subdivision development more than 25 years ago. The acreage was transferred to the county in 2006.

Since then, the county's Office of Economic Development has been meeting with interested farmers to shape a plan for the land, which is overgrown with nonnative trees and plants.