2-acre
site by Maui Prince Hotel Maluaka Beach condominium project estimated at $5.75
million.
by Chris Hamilton, Staff Writer
reprinted courtesy Maui News 2/8/08
WAILUKU — A development group got a go-ahead
Wednesday from the council Land Use Committee for a planned four-unit
residential condominium project estimated at $5.75 million.
The two-story, 4,000-square-foot unattached condo units will be on a 1.55-acre
site near the Maui Prince Hotel and Maluaka Beach. The vacant land is now
covered with trees and brush.
After about three hours of discussion and testimony, committee members voted in
favor of three bills for action by the full council. The ordinances would
change the state land use classification from agricultural to urban, amend the
Kihei-Makena Community Plan from hotel to single-family, and change county
zoning from interim district to R-3 residential.
Under the current land designations, the developer, Pacific Rim Inc., could
have built an 80-unit hotel at the site. Eddie Chang, vice president of the
Makena Homeowners Association, wrote a letter in support of the project, which
he called “down zoning.”
Council Member Jo Anne Johnson voted against two of the bills, saying she was
unsatisfied with the reports done by Pacific Rim’s archaeologist. The reports
were approved by the State Historic Preservation Division, but she wanted more
study done, a suggestion also made by Maui environmental advocate Lucienne de
Naie.
They called for careful construction practices since the proposed condominium,
which will include four swimming pools and 16 parking stalls, is adjacent to a
heiau.
Archaeologist Michael Dega said the survey group twice dug down to the bedrock
and made no significant prehistoric or other findings. Dega said an
archaeologist also will be on site as the earth is graded and bulldozed, and if
significant artifacts are found, he will halt the project.
Former county environmental coordinator Robert Parsons said that the
development goes against the old rural character sought out in the Kihei-Makena
Community Plan. The development is mauka of the old Makena Road and the
Keawalai Church.
“If that’s a residential development, that’s a stretch,” Parsons said. “It’s
one of the last remaining places in that area without mansions.”
The committee added an amendment that would prohibit the condos from being
converted into time shares, transient vacation rentals or bed and breakfasts.
They also required the developer to provide on-street parking for public beach
access.
In another matter, the committee voted 8-0 to recommend a 10-year conditional
permit for the Old Wailuku Inn at Ulupono to operate as a transient vacation
rental. The vacation rental was initiated as a bed and breakfast more than 10
years ago by owners Janice and Thomas Fairbanks and has been expanded to 10
bedrooms on a half-acre property. The rentals are in a restored historic home
at 2199 Kahookele St.
• Chris Hamilton can be reached at chamilton@mauinews.com.
reprinted courtesy Maui News 2/8/08, original link www mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/500087.html
brought to you by Wailea Makena Real Estate Inc.
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Wailea Makena Real Estate, Inc.
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Toll free 800-482-5089
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