From a Maui News article by Chris Hamilton
The County Council approved resolutions Friday that allow the fast-tracked, 68-unit Kahoma affordable housing development to move ahead in West Maui.
The vote was 7-2 on the nearly 17-acre project that will be mauka of Honoapiilani Highway and makai of the planned route for the Lahaina bypass. The developers intend to market both ready-made lots for building as well as completed homes, all of which must fit within federal standards as affordably priced.
“This project will provide much-needed affordable housing in West Maui and do so in a timely manner,” said Council Member Robert Carroll.
Carroll recently oversaw the Land Use Committee’s deliberations over the project.
According to conditions in the agreement with the county, the developers, West Maui Land Co. Inc. and partner Habitat for Humanity, need to begin construction in the next three years and be done with the entire project in seven.
Council Members Elle Cochran and Riki Hokama voted no, just as they had opposed the project while it was in committee, saying the state’s fast-track housing process to promote the construction of affordable homes goes too fast and doesn’t allow enough time for discussion and serious contemplation by policy makers.
Council members had 45 days from formal introduction to make a decision, or add conditions. The deadline to vote was next Thursday, or the project would be approved as presented.
No council members said they were pleased with the tight deadline, and some said they could do a better job of reviewing such a project with more time.
The law provides for certain exemptions from county zoning, planning and construction standards for subdivisions, such as not needing to provide its own water source. The development can tap into the county’s domestic drinking water and wastewater systems. But under the conditions, the developer must pay for the improvements needed to accommodate the subdivision.
Read more at Maui News