WAILUKU -- A motion to reject the Kula Ridge fast-track housing application failed Thursday at a Maui County Council Public Services Committee meeting.
Committee members ran out of time to take further action, which could include outright approval or approval with conditions. Council members would need to act on the proposed 116-lot development by Oct. 22, a Friday, although a 45-day deadline expires the next day.
The committee, led by Chairman Wayne Nishiki, recessed until 9 a.m. Monday.
On Thursday, Nishiki recommended denial of architect Clayton Nishikawa's project featuring 70 affordable homes. But his recommendation received support only from Council Member Sol Kaho'ohalahala.
Council Member Mike Victorino, who made the motion to deny Kula Ridge, recused himself from voting in committee after learning he should not have spoken against against his own motion to reject the proposal.
Council members voting against denial of Kula Ridge's fast-track application were Danny Mateo, Jo Anne Johnson, Bill Medeiros and Joe Pontanilla.
Council Members Mike Molina and Gladys Baisa, who have been present for public testimony and deliberations on Kula Ridge, did not cast votes because they are not members of the Public Services Committee.
The project property is on 48 acres above Holy Ghost Church and the Kula Community Center. The adjacent Kula Ridge Mauka project has 20 agricultural lots on 272 acres.
The current application, filed and currently reviewed under Hawaii Revised Statutes 201H-38, calls for building a 116-lot development. The fast-track state housing law allows a developer to bypass most state and county land-use requirements by promising to build affordable homes.
Kula Ridge's affordable homes would include 34 senior duplexes and 25 three-bedroom, single-family homes, all priced between $237,600 and $489,000, according to the project application. Fifty-nine of the 70 affordable homes would be in the Kula Ridge subdivision, and the other 11 would be located on agricultural lots. Market-priced homes would be on lots as large as 20,000 square feet.
