Make Kihei Mauka a Fire Trap?

11/9/2024 #kihei #planningcommission #mpc #kiheimauka #fire

As part of the South Maui Community Plan process, 13 South Maui residents worked for a year, from October 2022 to November 2023, to produce a vision and plan for our area that will benefit both residents and visitors for 20 years while preserving our natural environment and cultural heritage. Over 80% of the Community Plan Advisory Committee (CPAC) decisions were unanimous. There was also extensive participation by community members; 35 of the suggestions made by residents at the CPAC meetings were incorporated into the final plan.

However, the Maui Planning Commission (MPC) is now removing many of the protections in the plan to allow for greater freedom for the large developers to do what they want in South Maui. If that disturbs you, you can testify over Webex (a remote video application) at the MPC meeting on Tuesday, November 12 at 3pm:

https://mauicounty.webex.com/mauicounty/j.php?MTID=m3cd19b740ca34a7da2fa10a1329217a1

The agenda can be found here:

https://www.mauicounty.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/32274

Kihei Mauka

One of the areas of contention is the proposed Kihei Mauka development north of the Maui Research and Technology Park (MRTP, now called Līpoa). It consists of about 600 acres, the last large undeveloped area in Kīhei. Ultimately it may include 1,500 homes.

Landowners’ conceptual plan

Kihei Community Association (KCA) studied the plans and met several times with the land owners (Haleakala Ranch and Kaonoulu Ranch) and with experts on affordable housing and environmental protection to see if guidelines and constraints could be agreed on that would make a large majority of the units affordable, provide a badly needed additional roadway mauka of Piilani Highway with direct access to Veterans’ Highway and allow residents of the development to walk, bike, shop and go to school without needing a car or to cross the highway. Compromises were made on both sides, but the final wording was agreed on, submitted to the CPAC and adopted by it as part of the South Maui Community Plan.

Fire threat, green beltway, new north-south road

The Planning Department (PD) is urging the MPC to strike and revise key elements of the agreement, making it unlikely the development will be beneficial to the residents of South Maui. The bolded text is part of the plan adopted by the CPAC.

• A 200’ wide land area within the Mauka growth boundary for a continuous greenbelt that shall act as a multi-use greenway and open space connection between neighborhoods that coordinates with the mauka to makai open spaces. This also allows for a firebreak and fire fighting access road as well as a possible continuous future parkway.
  The PD wants the MPC to remove that condition. As can be seen in the map above, the greenbelt is essential as a firebreak, while also greatly enhancing the livability of the area and reducing storm runoff and erosion.
• a comprehensive Watershed Management System for the North Kīhei Mauka area… is to be approved by the South Maui Advisory Committee.
  The PD does not want the South Maui Advisory Committee (a permanent County committee with local residents appointed by the Mayor and approved by the County Council) to review the watershed management plan.
• a complete updated Archeological Inventory Survey (AIS)… as deemed appropriate by SHPD. The AIS shall be approved by the South Maui Advisory Committee (SMAC).
  The PD wants to remove the review by SHPD and the SMAC
• Prior to occupancy of any private development, there shall be a two-lane collector road (NKM Collector Road (NKMCR)) that connects directly from East Lipoa Street to the Veterans Highway with a minimum 100’ right-of-way
  The PD wants to change “Prior to occupancy” to “Prior to or concurrent with development of North Kīhei Mauka” and to remove the minimum right-of-way.
  That means that there will be residents moving in with no way to escape a fire other than to head makai and contend with all other traffic fleeing Kīhei, Wailea and Mākena; it would set up the residents of the new neighborhood for the same devastation as in Lahaina in August 2023.
• The primary goal for housing in North Kīhei Mauka is to be affordable as defined by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development: no individual or family should pay more than 30% of their total income for housing costs. Homes are to be built for Maui kamaʻāina residents and families.
  The PD wants to replace those clear guidelines on affordability with “a range of housing types and price points to serve the needs of all of South Maui’s workforce”. The initial presentation from the landowners to KCA envisioned that about 80% of the units would affordable; the proposed language removes all constraints.

See above for instructions on testifying to the MPC on November12.