×

600-unit project wins final OK

WAILUKU – Alexander & Baldwin’s 600-unit housing project in north Kihei got final approval from the Maui County Council on Friday for community plan amendments and zoning changes, pushing ahead the $220 million project with housing aimed at working families.

On second and final reading the council unanimously passed the two land-use bills. The measures allow a community plan amendment from agriculture to multifamily, single-family and commercial designations and a zoning change from agriculture to apartment, residential and community business districts.

The approvals came with a list of conditions, including a requirement that A&B provide vehicle access points between the development and any future collector road or potential mauka bypass. Traffic in and out of the project through its lone thoroughfare, Kaiwahine Street, was a heavily debated topic throughout the council approval process.

The development plans call for a range of housing from single-family homes to multifamily flats and townhouses. The project will cover about 94.3 acres mauka of Piilani Highway between Kaiwahine Street and Mokulele Highway.

A&B officials have said that the company aims to have housing units range from $300,000 to $600,000 and targeted for sale to working families.

Conceptual plans presented earlier this year included a 1.4-acre commercial center, which representatives said may include a convenience store or small shops, and a 7-acre park with a neighborhood recreation center.

Also on second and final reading, the council passed three bills to amend the fiscal 2015 budget that began July 1 relating to the Affordable Housing Fund by adding provisos that:

* $9.5 million be used for the county’s Kulamalu housing project. It will provide 56 affordable rental units for families and individuals earning between 50 and 120 percent of the area median income.

* $1.4 million be used for the Building Houses, Building Hope project of Habitat for Humanity Maui Inc., which includes the 16-unit Kahawai condominium development in Wailuku for families and individuals with incomes at or below 80 percent of the area median income.

* $780,000 be used for the Na Hale O Maui Kahoma project of Na Hale O Maui to purchase 12 lots in the Kahoma residential development in Lahaina. The lots will be available to families with incomes between 80 and 120 percent of the area median income.

The council on second and final reading also enacted procedures motorists must follow for the new yellow flashing arrow traffic control signal at the intersection of Kane Street and West Kamehameha Avenue in Kahului.

Under the new law, vehicles facing the signal may enter the intersection and make a turn as indicated by the flashing yellow arrow after yielding to oncoming vehicles and to pedestrians within the intersection or adjacent crosswalk.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper?
     
Support Local Journalism on Maui

Only $99/year

Subscribe Today