LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i residents will be faced with two meetings today regarding two developments that may significantly alter the island’s natural beauty, while bringing many jobs to the community. One meeting concerns a proposed development on Hanalei Bay and Hanalei
LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i residents will be faced with two meetings today regarding two developments that may significantly alter the island’s natural beauty, while bringing many jobs to the community. One meeting concerns a proposed development on Hanalei Bay and Hanalei River ridge, and the other concerns a large subdivision across Kealia Beach, on the north end of Kapa‘a.
In the morning, at a meeting in Lihu‘e, the Kaua‘i Planning Commission’s Subdivision Committee will decide on the fate of a request for an unprecedented eight-year extension to subdivision permits to 2,029 acres of prime agricultural land across Kealia Beach, on Kaua‘i’s Eastside.
The permits were initially granted on Sept. 11, 2007, and allow the lands to be divided into 76 lots, which can be further divided into 188 Condominium Property Regime lots. The permits were not acted upon and were supposed to have expired Sept. 11, 2012, but the committee has yet to decide on the developers’ request.
If an extension is denied, the developers would have to reapply and comply with current laws. This would mean a reduced density of 115 CPR lots, and would also force the developers to build 56 additional affordable units — all at a potential cost of tens of millions of dollars to the developers.
On the flipside, the developers have promised up to $1.35 million in area improvements, such as up to $500,000 to the rodeo arena, up to $500,000 for a poi mill cooperative and up to $350,000 to the aging Kealia Post Office building and its adjacent store.
The Subdivision Committee will meet at 8 a.m. today at the Meeting Room 2A/2B at the Mo‘ikeha Building in Lihu‘e, next to the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Hanalei Bay development
On the North Shore, at the request of the Hanalei to Ha‘ena Community Association, a team from Ohana Real Estate Investors will make a public presentation at 6 p.m. today at the Hanalei School Cafeteria.
The presentation will cover the company’s plans to develop roughly 63.6 acres of lands, zoned hotel and resort with some of it in conservation, adjacent to and north of the Hanalei River and northeast of Hanalei Bay.
The Hanalei Plantation Resort project includes 34 single-family residential lots and a low-density hotel development comprised of 86 cottage units; and amenities such as a restaurant, a meeting facility, a spa and a pool area; and the restoration of an ancient Hawaiian fishpond currently covered by a marsh full of invasive species.
Hayley Ham Young-Giorgio said those who wish to speak at the meeting can sign up on a sheet which will be available. She said she will read a personal statement she read to Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. during a private meeting at the Mayor’s Office on Nov. 5, also attended by Nick Beck and Carvalho’s secretary.
• Léo Azambuja, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or lazambuja@ thegardenisland.com.
