Many of you have shared your concerns about the proposed removal of several mature monkeypod trees at the future site of Koloa Marketplace LLC, also known as The Shops at Koloa Town. Mature trees contribute to the character of any
Many of you have shared your concerns about the proposed removal of several mature monkeypod trees at the future site of Koloa Marketplace LLC, also known as The Shops at Koloa Town.
Mature trees contribute to the character of any place, and certainly that is the case with the stately monkeypods in Koloa. Having grown up on the island, I have watched these trees develop and reach majestic heights, so I share your feelings about the beauty and splendor of these trees.
However, the county can only compel landowners to retain existing trees on their properties within the framework allowed by law.
Legal protection of special trees on Kaua‘i is provided through the Exceptional Tree Ordinance and currently there are 20 such trees on the designated list, including four on the south shore: the banyan tree located at the intersection of Koloa and Maluhia roads; the monkeypod tree behind Crazy Shirts next to the river; the monkeypod tree on the Borthwick Mortuary property; and the Tunnel of Trees. The other trees on the exceptional tree list are located in different areas around the island.
In addition to the Exceptional Tree Ordinance, the county’s Special Management Area rules and regulations as well as the county’s community development plans also provide the legal framework for further restriction on the removal of trees on private property.
And as a matter of policy, the Planning Department and Planning Commission encourage all landowners with development proposals to preserve and maintain existing mature trees, especially native trees.
In the Koloa Marketplace LLC case, Judge Helen Gillmor stipulated that all existing trees removed by the developer that have trunks larger than 12-inches in diameter must be replaced with comparable trees that are at least 12-inches in diameter.
This court-ordered condition is reflected in the issuance of a grubbing permit by the Department of Public Works to The Shops at Koloa Town for a grubbing plan that specifies exactly which trees can be removed and which ones are to remain, and is consistent with the project’s landscape plan.
The net result of this is that the number of trees will remain the same at The Shops at Koloa Town.
While remaining in accordance with the law, I asked several county department heads to work with other landowners and developers who are committed to saving the 10 mature monkeypod trees that can be relocated to other south shore properties. It’s my understanding that all of these trees have been “adopted” and will be transported to their new homes in the near future.
Sincerely,
Bryan J. Baptiste
Mayor, County of Kaua‘i
