County Council delays Launiupoko housing vote

Lawmakers must decide on 2 projects

A vote on two fast-track housing projects in Launiupoko was delayed another week after the Maui County Council recessed its meeting following several hours of public testimony on Friday.

The council, which had the items on its agenda, was already short three members Friday and was set to lose the quorum in the afternoon. An absent council member had also requested an opportunity to vote on the projects.

Council Chairwoman Kelly King recessed the meeting until 9 a.m. July 26 in Council Chambers. On its agenda, the council has recommendations from its Affordable Housing Committee to disapprove the Polanui Gardens Workforce Housing Project and the Makila Rural-East Workforce Housing Project. Combined, the projects would produce 96 workforce and 61 market-rate homes in West Maui.

Earlier this month, the committee voted 4-3 against recommending the two projects for approval.

At a public hearing Friday prior to the council discussing its business, about 50 people testified about the projects, with a slight majority supporting them and wanting council members to reconsider the housing committee’s recommendation.

During previous committee meetings, many testifiers opposed the projects, voicing concerns about water, traffic and fire along with questions of landowners having proper titles.

Those in support of the project said affordable housing is critical on the west side and traffic could be lessened if workers don’t have to commute as far. They also disputed the issues with water and fire.

Committee members earlier this month had concerns about the location’s fire risks and access challenges along with the constraints of fast-track proposals, which allows the council 45 days from the time the project is submitted to make a decision, otherwise the project is automatically approved. The 45-day mark ends July 27 for these projects; thus the council must take a vote on July 26.

Both projects are proposed by two different entities associated with developer Peter Martin.

Kipa Centennial, of which Martin is managing partner, proposed Polanui Gardens, which would provide 50 affordable single-family lots with a minimum 10,000 square feet, for residents earning from 80 percent ($67,040) to 140 percent ($117,320) of the area median income.

It also calls for a community park, community garden and 16 market-priced agricultural lots.

Hope Builders, which Martin owns, proposes Makila Rural-East, which offers 46 affordable single-family lots, with the same income criteria as Polanui Gardens.

It includes four live/work units and a neighborhood store, community park and 45 market-priced agricultural lots.

Both projects have requested district boundary amendments from agricultural to urban for the workforce housing lots. The Affordable Housing Committee previously voted to recommend filing the amendment requests, which would be moot if the council disapproves both projects.

Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com.