LUC decides not to decide, at least not yet

“If you chose not to decide, you still have made a choice,” Getty Lee of Rush in Free Will.

2/21/19 #kihei #luc #megamall
Yesterday at 1:00 pm at the Alexa Higashi Meeting Room at the MACC, the State Land Use Commission (LUC) commenced their umpteenth meeting on the matter since the LUC allowed then owner Kaonoulu Ranch the use change from agriculture to a plan to establish a light industrial center on the lands. Of course that never occurred, and the large expanse of land was sold a few times and various uses were proposed. In essence, decades later, that land remains the same. The original proposal for a light industrial center is long past any need, as we see numerous long term vacancies right next door in that industrial park, as well as other South Maui retail and commercial locations. The massive shopping mall concept collapsed for numerous reasons, so the major land holder Sarofim Reality of Dallas TX may be wondering how they ended up here.

As the Commission pondered on what could be a final decision, the owners’ representatives and the intervenors’ legal team presented their proposals. The three intervenors united to call for a final decision on the contested case after nearly seven years, while the developers want that matter dismissed.

KCA was among those who offered public testimony on the matter, where we supported the request of the intervenors. There were just three others who spoke to the Commission.

THURSDAY AM

Before presentations by the parties could conclude, the meeting was recessed, so the commission could relocate to Kihei for another matter that evening. (Look for another post on safe passage to school under the highway) This topic was resumed at the MACC at 9:00 AM today. After a few hours the commission voted unanimously to only decide to have another meeting possibly in April while encouraging the disputing parties to attempt to reach some agreement.