Sunday, January 28, 2007

WAILUKU – Maui Land & Pineapple’s proposal for a 40-home development at Honolua Bay won’t be the only project seeking to be included in the county’s updated General Plan, but it is the first to make a direct appeal to the General Plan Advisory Committee.

The company sent a letter to the Planning Department on Thursday, asking that its proposal and request for consideration be forwarded to the committee, which launched its official review of the General Plan Wed-nesday.

The project calls for an 18-hole golf course and 40 homesites on lands now in pineapple cultivation, as well as a cultural and surf park at Honolua Bay.

County Long Range Planning Division Chief John Summers said the project was included in maps of proposed developments already presented to the GPAC. But while many developers have provided the Planning Department with information about their proposed projects, the Honolua project is the first to go directly to the GPAC for consideration, he said.

Summers said the GPAC would probably get a chance to hear presentations from ML&P and other would-be developers when it begins its review of the Maui island map plan in early summer.

Planning Director Jeff Hunt said he had talked with ML&P “conceptually,” but his staff had not yet analyzed the project.

While Hunt has previously said only projects showing a “substantial public benefit” would get his department’s recommendation for a community plan amendment prior to the approval of the General Plan, he did not have an opinion on whether Honolua would meet the criteria.

Under current county land-use processes, a proposed development must be designated in the regional community plan, be classified by the Land Use Commission and have appropriate county zoning.

The new General Plan will establish “urban boundaries” for all regions that will strictly restrict urban-type developments to areas within the boundaries.

The proposals for homesites and a golf course would require the Honolua project to be included within urban boundaries of the West Maui plan.

Copyright © 2005 The Maui News.