Committee will take up issue at special meeting
set for Tuesday
By ILIMA LOOMIS, Staff Writer
reprinted courtesy Maui News 8/2/09
Brush and pineapple fields covered the intended site of Maui Land & Pineapple’s proposed Pulelehua development in 2005. County planners proposed to include the project in the county’s Maui Island Plan, while the General Plan Advisory Committee recommended a smaller development.
WAILUKU - Proposals for the county's general plan would add thousands of new housing units to West Maui, making it one of the top areas for growth on the island over the next 20 years.
County planners recommend designating 1,535 acres in West Maui for growth, resulting in around 5,030 new homes. But a recommendation released earlier this year by the General Plan Advisory Committee proposes even more growth for the area, designating 1,642 acres for development to create about 5,937 new units.
The two proposals are being presented to the Maui Planning Commission, which will hold a special West Maui meeting Tuesday to discuss the plan.
Both proposals would mean that more acres are developed in West Maui than any other region of the island in the coming decades. Under the GPAC's proposal, West Maui also would see more new homes than any other region. However, the Planning Department's recommendation would give West Maui the second-highest number of new homes after Central Maui.
"It's almost one continuous growth belt," said Kula resident Dick Mayer, who served on the General Plan Advisory Committee. "It would mean we'd have a very long coastal urbanization taking place in West Maui. The flip side is, we do need more affordable housing in the area."
The Maui Island Plan, which has been in the works for several years and is being reviewed by the planning commission, outlines growth on the island through the year 2030. In addition to written recommendations for how growth and infrastructure projects should proceed, it includes maps drawn with "urban-growth areas" outlining where dense development can occur. The boundaries are meant to make it easier for developers to build in those designated areas and sharply restrict their ability to develop outside those lines.
County Long Range Planning Division planner Dave Michaelson acknowledged that the idea of more than 1,000 acres of new growth in West Maui may seem shocking at first, but he notes the plan is designed for development to happen gradually, keeping in time with expected population growth on the island.
"2030 is 21 years from now," Michaelson said. "The window is way out there and Maui is going to grow, no question."
County housing forecasts project a demand for 15,000 homes in Lahaina by 2030, a 65 percent increase over current levels.
The general plan was intended to set aside enough land for housing to meet projected demand in each region.
Current proposals for the Maui Island Plan in West Maui would set aside space for 1,800 housing units at Kaanapali, located mauka of the existing resort area. It would also designate lands for 800 units north of Lahaina town, 248 units for Lahaina infill, 88 units in the Kahoma area and 805 units south of Lahaina town.
Other areas proposed for growth in West Maui have been the subject of vigorous debate.
The Planning Department recommended designating 279 acres for development in Mahinahina, adding 1,149 units to the area - corresponding to Maui Land & Pineapple Co.'s proposed Pulelehua worker-housing project area.
But the General Plan Advisory Committee called for the project to be smaller and moved back from Kapalua Airport, proposing 116 acres and 696 housing units.
"We felt there shouldn't be a residential community cheek-to-jowl with the airport," Mayer said.
Planning Director Jeff Hunt noted the project had already received some land-use approvals and overall was a good placement for some of the region's growth.
"Even though there's some concerns, we believe it's in a better location because of its proximity to jobs and its location north of Lahaina," he said.
A major project at Olowalu remains one of the most contentious proposals in the Maui Island Plan.
Private developers had proposed building a new town at Olowalu. County planners opposed the idea but the General Plan Advisory Committee supported it, recommending 290 acres be designated for 1,500 new housing units at Olowalu.
GPAC member and Lahaina resident Frank Sylva said he likes the Olowalu plan because it would be located midway between Lahaina and Central Maui, providing good access for workers commuting to the island's major job centers.
"In my opinion, that's one real good area for affordable homes," he said.
In their current proposal, county planners softened their stance on Olowalu, allowing for a "rural service center" with businesses to serve the nearby Launiupoko community, as well as about 100 new homes.
Michaelson said the county remains concerned about Olowalu's position far outside Lahaina's existing infrastructure and jobs. Olowalu is also on a highway already clogged with traffic problems, which makes it a bad location for thousands of new homes, he said.
"We felt it was appropriate to provide some rural services out there, but not the residential density type proposal," Michaelson said.
Hunt said he wanted to see West Maui residents turn out Tuesday to make their views known, noting plans for the district have been some of the most hotly debated in the general plan review.
"I hope we hear from the citizens," he said. "We don't seem to be getting input from West Maui like we've had from the other regions."
* Ilima Loomis can be reached at iloomis@mauinews.com.
Fact Box
SPECIAL MEETING
* What: The Maui Planning Commission will meet to hear public comments and continue discussions of the Maui Island Plan.
* When: 1:30 p.m. Tuesday
* Where: Lahaina Civic Center
reprinted courtesy Maui News 8/2/09, original link www mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/521744.html
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