The Maui County Department of Planning will present an update on its Special Management Area boundary assessment project for Maui island during the Maui Planning Commission meeting at 9 a.m. July 14.

The meeting will be held online via Microsoft Teams and in person at the Kalana Pukui conference room, 250 S. High St. in Wailuku.

The SMA sets special development controls near the shoreline to preserve, protect and, when possible, restore cultural and natural resources in coastal areas. Maui’s SMA boundary map was first adopted in 1975 and last updated in 1979, according to the county.

The current project will assess whether the existing boundary continues to meet state coastal zone management objectives while considering coastal erosion, sea-level rise projections, land use, cultural resources, legal requirements and other factors.

“This is an important opportunity for the community to learn about the project at its early stages and help shape the discussion,” County Planning Director Jacky Takakura said. “At this meeting, we will introduce the project, explain the work ahead and encourage public participation throughout the process.”

The Planning Department will review the existing SMA boundary, introduce the consultant team from SSFM International and discuss the proposed research and methodology for the assessment. No action will be taken at the meeting.

Future phases will include development of potential criteria for a new boundary, geospatial analysis, a draft technical report and additional opportunities for public review before any recommendations are considered by the Planning Commission.

The meeting agenda is available at tinyurl.com/3deca9jr. For more information, visit mauicounty.gov/planning.