from Angelika Hofmann
Wailea 670 “conditions” for Change in Zoning (CIZ)
9 a.m. (sign up earlier if possible) County Council Chambers
200 High St (county Bldg) 8th floor. Public testimony at beginning of meeting.
Issue: Council Land Use Committee members spent 26 meetings discussing Wailea 670’s proposal for 1400 units just S. of Maui Meadows . Only 3 of these involved public testimony. Because W-670 refused to submit a complete CIZ Application as required by County Code, the Committee spent many hours trying to get information and drafting “conditions” to try to ” patch together the gaps” in this project that was recycled from a 1980’s plan.
These conditions are a lot like putting lipstick on a pig. A cosmetic touch to distract the public, with no real solutions for the project’s shortcomings. Now the whole council will review the project with the 28 proposed “conditions” two more times. Some Council members may try to amend the conditions. Public testimony as to the inadequacy of the conditions will support council members who want to see this project answer the hard questions. A review of conditions will be posted on savemakena .org by Feb 2.
Those who can’t attend the hearing can send letters to newspapers or the county council with their concerns.
Concerns:
Affordable housing. This is not really about building a neighborhood with a genuine mix of affordable housing. Now law requires 50% affordable housing, but W-670 will build first 250 units offsite as rental apartments in Kihei industrial area. No one know what “affordable” housing will end up on site, what it will cost, and when it will be built.
There is no water, sewage, or road capacity for this project. Everything will be based upon promises that have little public disclosure of plans or impacts. Palauea – keauhou (the ahupua’a in the south part of the 670 acres proposed for W-670) are a very archaeologically/ culturally significant area- but very sketchy review has been done. Most known sites that developers are offering to preserve will be features in golf courses or landscapes.
No proof of clear land titles. Important remnant of Native dryland forest spans around 110 acres. Developer has constantly minimized need to protect habitat for native plants, insects and animals. Small preserve areas surrounded by condos and golf courses are proposed. No adequate parklike buffer with adjoining Maui Meadows that has no park of its own.
Drainage and wastewater impacts last discussed in 1988. Times have changed, yet injection wells are still proposed for the project. A proposed desal plant is also an unknown chemistry experiment with our groundwater.
Developer emphasizes economic benefits.. no guarantee that these will really happen. Economic benefits promised before when this project was under other ownerships, never materialized. Current investors include large international Corporations like Cargill Corp and Lehman Bros with shamefull records of exploiting the environment and workers. Charlie Jencks is a front man.
