General Meeting on Maui Meadows Rezoning
reprinted courtesy Maui Weekly 7/5/07
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Thursday, July 05, 2007 |
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Residents to meet with administration about implications of zoning changes. Mayor Charmaine Tavares, Councilmember Michelle Anderson and Planning Director Jeff Hunt will attend a General Meeting for Maui Meadows residents on Thursday, July 12, at 7 p.m. at Kihei Charter High School Auditorium, regarding rezoning Maui Meadows from rural to urban standards. Maui Meadows, a custom large-lot subdivision in South Kihei, is rural in nature with houses and ‘ohanas spaced for privacy and ocean views. In April of this year, Maui Meadows Neighborhood Association Board (MMNA) of Directors became aware of setback and height limitation changes by the Maui County Planning Department, which have serious implications for the future of Maui Meadows properties. Madge Schaefer, president of MMNA, raised questions about this issue with planning officials and became very concerned about not only the change, but that it came about with no notice. When created in 1966, Maui Meadows was zoned “State Rural.” Lots are at least one-half acre; setback and height limitations were 25-foot front setback, 15-foot side/rear setback; maximum height was measured 30 feet from natural grade. Over a period of 30 years, 1,237 building permits were issued using those standards. In 1997, the council designated Maui Meadows as RU-0.5 zoning, and the same standards were maintained. From 1997 to June 2005, an additional 298 building permits were issued. According to the response letter signed by Hunt to MMNA, ”This was due to the Planning Department’s mistaken assumption in 1997 that Maui Meadows was zoned “interim” at the time Ord. No 2583 became effective. In 2005, the Planning Department discovered the error and stopped applying the RU 0.5 standards.” “With many older, smaller homes…, the likelihood of teardown and rebuild using the new standards is very likely,” said Schaefer. “It has already happened. These urban standards jeopardize the rural nature of our neighborhood.” MMNA members believe that while it may not be possible to roll back the clock on the 72 permits that have been issued and built since 2005 under the urban standards, every effort should be made to restore the rural standards before further building takes place. Kihei Charter School is located at 300 Ohukai Road, Unit 209 (Kihei Industrial Park). |
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reprinted courtesy Maui Weekly 7/5/07
brought to you by Wailea Makena Real Estate Inc.
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