Fourth meeting this year runs over four hours

12/13/17 #kihei
Shortly before 6 PM this evening, the 9 member LU committee voted 5-4 to not approve the Planning’ Director’s proposed bill to grant a change of zoning request from residential to business to develop the Kihei Wellness Center, a medical/office building at 1488 South Kihei Road. It is unclear what the land owner, Dr. Sujata Bhatia, will do with the land. The Planning Director said she could build a house with an ohana immediately on the land, as it is zoned R-3.

We counted (and pictured most here of the) seventeen public testifiers, and heard just two in favor of the requested change.

The four legislators who voted unsuccessfully to approve the change were Committee Chair Bob Carroll, Vice chair Riki Hokama, Council Chair Mike White and member Yuki Lei Sugimura.

Besides being a wetland – which plays an important role in the mauka to makai ecocycle and without which there would be more flooding – the area is rich in cultural artifacts and history.

You can find much of the past history at

https://gokihei.org/?s=Kihei+Wellness&submit=Search