LIHU‘E — Residents aired their concerns at Tuesday’s Planning Commission meeting over a proposed zoning amendment that they fear could potentially double the intended growth rate of tourism units on Kaua‘i. “If we put our heads in the sand and
LIHU‘E — Residents aired their concerns at Tuesday’s Planning Commission meeting over a proposed zoning amendment that they fear could potentially double the intended growth rate of tourism units on Kaua‘i.
“If we put our heads in the sand and ignore the growth problem, Kaua‘i will not be a desirable place to live for our grandchildren,” said Carl Imparato, chair of the Coalition for Responsible Growth.
Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce President Randy Francisco was also among those attending the packed meeting at the Mo‘ikeha Building.
“I do not support the 1.5 percent growth cap,” he said. “It will have far-reaching negative impacts to our already fragile economy.”
The draft bill is being reviewed by the commission for its recommendations before sending it back to the Kaua‘i County Council for approval.
A question put on the 2008 ballot — approved by almost 70 percent of voters — transferred the decision-making authority on tourism accommodation units to the council from the commission.
The same amendment allowed the council to give the power back to the commission, as long as certain provisions were preserved. A major clause in the legislation sets the tourism-unit annual growth rate at 1.5 percent, in line with Kaua‘i’s General Plan.
The measure, which was put on the ballot via citizens’ petition, was intended to slow down the growth of tourism units on the island, according to Imparato.
Draft Bill 2386 would return to the commission the authority to process and issue zoning permits, use permits, subdivision approvals and variance permits for transient accommodation units.
Imparato said although the draft bill sets the growth rate at 1.5 percent, it includes undeveloped lots in the equation, which could potentially double the growth rate.
The coalition filed a petition for intervenor status, trying to block the draft bill, but was denied by the commission, under the Planning Department’s recommendation.
Approximately 40 people showed up Tuesday for the bill’s first scheduled public hearing by the commission. Most of the public were developers and lawyers.
Francisco said Kaua‘i already has a reputation of being unfriendly to businesses, and the amendment further promotes the island’s anti-development stigma.
Representatives from the Kukui‘ula development project on the South Shore, Grove Farm Company and other developers spoke in support of the bill. The legislation exempts projects that have already been approved.
Despite the heavy criticism of the bill, Imparato said its intent was to control development, not end it. The problem, he said, lies in the wording that could be interpreted to double the development.
In roughly a century, a 1.5 percent growth would quadruple the number of transient accommodation units on island, according to Imparato. If the bill lets the growth percentage be based in a way which would include undeveloped tourism-unit lots, the growth would be eight-fold in 100 years.
The commission scheduled a workshop for Feb. 22, when community members and business representatives will have a chance to question the legislation in greater detail.
• Léo Azambuja, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or lazambuja@kauaipubco.com.
