WAILUKU - The county Department of Housing and Human Concerns is abandoning a controversial plan to fund a nonprofit that would buy 15 units in the Harbor Lights housing complex in Kahului to provide low-cost rentals.
What was supposed to be the first of several partnerships for the county Affordable Housing Fund Program was met with opposition by Harbor Lights residents.
The Family Life Center was to receive a $1 million grant with which to buy the units that would be used to house families until they can purchase their own homes.
But Harbor Lights residents said they would rather see those units sold to families rather than used as a form of transitional housing, long term or not. The residents wanted to continue to improve Harbor Lights, they said.
"The department is very disappointed that needy and deserving individuals and families in our community will not be able to benefit from Family Life Center's proposed affordable housing project," wrote Lori Tsuhako, director of the Department of Housing and Human Concerns.
The council had approved a bill for the grant on first reading at its meeting on Oct. 17, but required the Family Life Center and Harbor Lights to attempt to settle their differences.
In a letter presented to the council Friday, center Executive Director Maude Cumming withdrew its application saying the center is not willing to put the county "into a contentious fight that might negatively affect the good intentions of the Affordable Housing Fund."
In other action during a council meeting Friday, the council unanimously approved on first reading a bill to spend $6.5 million from the Open Space, Natural Resources, Cultural Resources and Scenic Views Preservation Fund to purchase a total of 287.72 acres on Molokai and Maui:
7.42 acres at Murphy's or Kumimi beach on Molokai.
196 acres for Kawaikapu Ranch on Molokai.
78 acres for the Nuu lands and wetlands.
6.3 acres for the Keanae taro loi.
The council also:
Unanimously approved a resolution that rejects the Kula Ridge Residential Workforce Housing Subdivision. The council's Policy Committee recommended denial of the 59-home project, which opponents said was too dense and would be outside proposed urban development boundaries.
Unanimously approved on first reading a bill that will move forward the 10-lot Makaena Place Subdivision in Kula. The bill changes the land classification from agricultural to rural. Each of the subdivision's lots are about 2 or 3 acres.
Chris Hamilton can be reached at chamilton@mauinews.com.
