Controversial Proposed Commercial Kihei Project Returns to Council’s Land Use Committee

Required site visit / LUC meeting set for next Tuesday afternoon at 2 for Kihei Wellness Development

November 8, 2017  #kihei  

When this item was deferred last March at the County Council’s Land Use Committee (LUC), KCA was among many calling for the committee to schedule a site visit at the vacant land on SKR makai (https://gokihei.org/environment/councils-luc-committee-says-go-to-the-land-for-wellness-proposed-project-on-wednesday-afternoon).

Eight months later, the look at the land is set for 2:00 PM Tuesday 11/14/17 at 1488 South Kihei Road, just south of the Kihei Vet building. SEE agenda at https://mauicounty.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=564186&GUID=C358F3E7-762B-4FDD-8D07-3818786305DA.

At the public hearing in chambers, public testimony was 2-1 against the project for a number of reasons, including:

• The zone change in an area completely residential with the single exception of the long standing Kihei Vet; additionally changing to business zone opens up to numerous very objectionable types of businesses, gas stations and car repair shops, used car lot or mortuary;
• Cultural concerns of the kanaka
• Flooding. It was reported in 2011, according to the Special Management Area application, “The property is within the wetlands as defined by the Wetlands Location Map by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers”. Sensitive “Jurisdictional Wetlands” like these are regulated by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers under the federal Clean Water Act. 
• Potential illegal grubbing and/or grading of land
• Disturbing endangered species in the water area
• Community plan violation
• Increased traffic
• A neighborhood petition of opposition with 100 signatures

Possibly because of this, the project was modified a few months later, reducing proposed parking from 65 to 40 stalls, and replacing the multi-story building with several smaller ones, which we saw as an improvement.

Yet we still object to this proposed zoning change from residential to business, as we need more housing, not more commercial. Additionally, flooding and other environmental issues remain.

So if you care and want to be aware, be there.