Spencer wants waiver for 1,100 homes

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WAIKAPU - Developer Jesse Spencer is seeking waivers of Maui County land use requirements and an expedited review by the state Land Use Commission to build 1,100 homes, most of them affordable, mauka of Maalaea.

Spencer's plans are detailed in an environmental impact statement preparation notice submitted last month to the state Office of Environmental Quality Control.

Spencer, who late last year completed the 411 home Waikapu Gardens subdivision, purchased 257 acres zoned for agriculture and used for cattle grazing from Maalaea Properties in October. The former landowner had planned to develop a project called Maalaea Mauka on land designated as Project District 12 in the Kihei Makena Community Plan.

But now Spencer is proposing to build the Ohana Kai Village as an affordable housing project with 60 percent of the homes affordable to families earning below moderate to above moderate income at prices set by the county Department of Housing and Human Concerns. The remaining 40 percent of the homes, or 440 units, would be sold at market prices.

Normally, such a project would need to get a community plan amendment, a change in zoning and other county approvals as well as an LUC district boundary amendment. But under state law, an affordable housing project can be exempted from "all statutes, ordinances, charter provisions and rules of any government agency relating to planning, zoning, construction standards, development and improvement of land, and the construction of units thereon."

Spencer's environmental impact statement preparation notice says the developer plans to seek exemptions "to support the timely implementation of the project."

The notice says the project would begin when all regulatory permits and approvals are received. Previously, Spencer has said he could start building within four months and keep 150 people working for seven to 10 years on the project.

The notice has a different estimate, saying the project would begin within six months of government approvals. It estimates a full buildout in six years, with a total estimated project cost of $400 million, including both site work and other construction costs.

Aside from single-family housing, project plans also call for a neighborhood-oriented village town center, parks, open space and lands for public/quasi-public use. On-site infrastructure improvements include waterlines, drainage and wastewater systems, including a new wastewater treatment facility.

A private drinking water system also will be developed on an adjacent parcel of land. It will consist of wells, a storage tank and other infrastructure. The property is between Honoapiilani Highway and state conservation lands in the West Maui Mountains. Maalaea Harbor is south of the project's property, and agricultural lands in Waikapu lie to the north.

The northernmost edge of the property is between Honoapiilani Highway's intersections with North Kihei Road and Kuihelani Highway.

To see the project's environmental impact preparation notice, go online to: oeqc.doh.hawaii.gov/Shared%20DocumenTS/Environmental_Notice/current_issue.pdf

* Brian Perry can be reached at citydesk@mauinews.com.