I have lived in Maalaea for 20 years. I have endured the 3 am groups at Haycraft Park. But the last few week’s mud flows have been something else. When I drive by Spencer’s project and see all of the grading he has done before the project has been approved – I wonder if his new ponds are he cause of our mud. It has never been this bad.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Ohana Kai Update – PLEASE READ
NEWSFLASH! MCA has partnered with Maui Tomorrow to initiate legal action and file a
complaint challenging the adequacy of the FEIS (Final Environmental Impact Statement) for
the 1100 unit Ohana Kai affordable housing project. This huge project would be located on
257 acres at the foot of the West Maui mountains across the highway from Ma’alaea. The
complaint details a long list of issues associated with the project that are inadequately
addressed in the FEIS, e.g. excessive traffic resulting in more gridlock, lack of long term
sustainable water supply for the project, drainage impacts, loss of prime agricultural farm
lands, etc. (Please see MCA’s website (www.mcamaui.org) for a full discussion of the
issues and MCA’s position.)
The attorney representing MCA and Maui Tomorrow is Isaac D. Hall. Legal expenses will
be shared equally between both organizations. MCA Planning Committee members Pam
Daoust, Rob Riebling and Tom Royer have spent hours reviewing the draft and final EIS,
and submitted ample documentation showing that both are inadequate to meet
requirements of the Kihei-Makena Community Plan and Hawaii environmental laws.
Background: Much of MCA Board of Directors’ time in 2010 was spent staying current on
this project. Complaints were filed regarding activity on the site: quarrying & stockpiling of
construction materials (rather than permissible “grubbing”). A County inspector determined
the action was in violation and a cease & desist order was issued; Mr. Spencer received
minor fines. Most recently, construction has begun on retention basins intended to serve the
new project. Some believe that the resulting mounds of loose soil are responsible for
damages that occurred before Christmas when heavy rain runoff and mud flooded Hauoli
St. condominium parking lots and first floor units at Island Sands.
This past fall, the MCA Board authorized up to a $1000 marketing fund for development of
tools to support opposition to the Ohana Kai Project. This was matched by a generous
donor who has since made yet a second generous donation.
Ohana Kai developer Jesse Spencer has conducted a strong community relations campaign
promoting the project’s affordable housing aspects along with “jobs, jobs, jobs,” and ignoring
or glossing over issues of concern not only to MCA, but to many in the Maui community.
This misinformation reinforces the need to continue to write letters to set the record straight.
Getting the facts out is very important as Spencer’s “spin” ignores many important issues.
The Maui Island Plan has completed three of the four steps necessary for adoption, passing
the General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC), Planning Commission and Planning
Department. It is currently before the new Maui County Council, having failed to meet the
deadline for adoption prior to December, 2010. A critical piece of the Maui Island Plan (MIP)
is the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB), which will dictate Maui’s island-wide development for
the next 20 years.The Ohana Kai project is not included in the MIP proposed Urban Growth Boundary (UGB),
which means that all three review processes voted to keep the 267 acres in agriculture for
perpetuity.
It is not known whether the Spencer project will reach the Council before the Maui Island
Plan is adopted. There is concern regarding the state fast-track process allowing the
development to slip through prior to the completion of the Maui Island Plan. The Maui
County Council still has the potential to change the urban growth boundaries designated in
the master plan so as to include the project.
The final EIS was released and accepted by The Environmental Land Use office and the
Department of Housing & Human Concerns on October 23
rd
This triggered a 60 day period .
for any judicial challenge to the adequacy of the final EIS, which ended on December 21
st
MCA and Maui Tomorrow's complaint was filed prior to this date.
The project is expected to go to Council shortly in this new year. Once Council receives it,
they will have 45 days to review and approve or disapprove the project.
YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT IS CRITICAL!
The lawsuit in partnership with Maui Tomorrow Foundation will be costly. Funds are needed
to cover MCA’s share of expenses, which could include additional actions/costs besides
those already incurred. CHECKS SHOULD BE MADE OUT TO MA’ALAEA COMMUNITY
ASSOCIATION AND EARMARKED “OHANA KAI LEGAL FUND.”
PLEASE SEND ASAP TO MCA, 50 HAUOLI STREET, WAILUKU, HI 96793.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT NEEDED!
If, despite legal action already initiated, the project makes it to County Council we will need
individuals willing to a) write letters and b) testify on the separate concerns, as 3 minutes
doesn’t allow presenting the big picture; each person would take 1 of the 20+ concerns.
Council must be made aware of our many objections so that they don’t just approve the
project based solely upon the need for jobs and affordable housing. We are not against
affordable housing. There are already 40,000 units included in the Maui Island Plan’s 20-
year horizon, more than sufficient to meet Maui’s future housing needs for both affordable
and market priced housing.
Please contact President Gary Smith or any of the committee members for further
information. Mahalo!
Join us at our upcoming Annual Meeting at the Maui Tropical Plantation at 6 PM on
Tuesday, January 25 to hear the latest news about our legal action.
Join Us! Become a 2011 Member
No longer just a debating society, but a force to be reckoned with for the betterment
of Ma‘alaea
complaint challenging the adequacy of the FEIS (Final Environmental Impact Statement) for
the 1100 unit Ohana Kai affordable housing project. This huge project would be located on
257 acres at the foot of the West Maui mountains across the highway from Ma’alaea. The
complaint details a long list of issues associated with the project that are inadequately
addressed in the FEIS, e.g. excessive traffic resulting in more gridlock, lack of long term
sustainable water supply for the project, drainage impacts, loss of prime agricultural farm
lands, etc. (Please see MCA’s website (www.mcamaui.org) for a full discussion of the
issues and MCA’s position.)
The attorney representing MCA and Maui Tomorrow is Isaac D. Hall. Legal expenses will
be shared equally between both organizations. MCA Planning Committee members Pam
Daoust, Rob Riebling and Tom Royer have spent hours reviewing the draft and final EIS,
and submitted ample documentation showing that both are inadequate to meet
requirements of the Kihei-Makena Community Plan and Hawaii environmental laws.
Background: Much of MCA Board of Directors’ time in 2010 was spent staying current on
this project. Complaints were filed regarding activity on the site: quarrying & stockpiling of
construction materials (rather than permissible “grubbing”). A County inspector determined
the action was in violation and a cease & desist order was issued; Mr. Spencer received
minor fines. Most recently, construction has begun on retention basins intended to serve the
new project. Some believe that the resulting mounds of loose soil are responsible for
damages that occurred before Christmas when heavy rain runoff and mud flooded Hauoli
St. condominium parking lots and first floor units at Island Sands.
This past fall, the MCA Board authorized up to a $1000 marketing fund for development of
tools to support opposition to the Ohana Kai Project. This was matched by a generous
donor who has since made yet a second generous donation.
Ohana Kai developer Jesse Spencer has conducted a strong community relations campaign
promoting the project’s affordable housing aspects along with “jobs, jobs, jobs,” and ignoring
or glossing over issues of concern not only to MCA, but to many in the Maui community.
This misinformation reinforces the need to continue to write letters to set the record straight.
Getting the facts out is very important as Spencer’s “spin” ignores many important issues.
The Maui Island Plan has completed three of the four steps necessary for adoption, passing
the General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC), Planning Commission and Planning
Department. It is currently before the new Maui County Council, having failed to meet the
deadline for adoption prior to December, 2010. A critical piece of the Maui Island Plan (MIP)
is the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB), which will dictate Maui’s island-wide development for
the next 20 years.The Ohana Kai project is not included in the MIP proposed Urban Growth Boundary (UGB),
which means that all three review processes voted to keep the 267 acres in agriculture for
perpetuity.
It is not known whether the Spencer project will reach the Council before the Maui Island
Plan is adopted. There is concern regarding the state fast-track process allowing the
development to slip through prior to the completion of the Maui Island Plan. The Maui
County Council still has the potential to change the urban growth boundaries designated in
the master plan so as to include the project.
The final EIS was released and accepted by The Environmental Land Use office and the
Department of Housing & Human Concerns on October 23
rd
This triggered a 60 day period .
for any judicial challenge to the adequacy of the final EIS, which ended on December 21
st
MCA and Maui Tomorrow's complaint was filed prior to this date.
The project is expected to go to Council shortly in this new year. Once Council receives it,
they will have 45 days to review and approve or disapprove the project.
YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT IS CRITICAL!
The lawsuit in partnership with Maui Tomorrow Foundation will be costly. Funds are needed
to cover MCA’s share of expenses, which could include additional actions/costs besides
those already incurred. CHECKS SHOULD BE MADE OUT TO MA’ALAEA COMMUNITY
ASSOCIATION AND EARMARKED “OHANA KAI LEGAL FUND.”
PLEASE SEND ASAP TO MCA, 50 HAUOLI STREET, WAILUKU, HI 96793.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT NEEDED!
If, despite legal action already initiated, the project makes it to County Council we will need
individuals willing to a) write letters and b) testify on the separate concerns, as 3 minutes
doesn’t allow presenting the big picture; each person would take 1 of the 20+ concerns.
Council must be made aware of our many objections so that they don’t just approve the
project based solely upon the need for jobs and affordable housing. We are not against
affordable housing. There are already 40,000 units included in the Maui Island Plan’s 20-
year horizon, more than sufficient to meet Maui’s future housing needs for both affordable
and market priced housing.
Please contact President Gary Smith or any of the committee members for further
information. Mahalo!
Join us at our upcoming Annual Meeting at the Maui Tropical Plantation at 6 PM on
Tuesday, January 25 to hear the latest news about our legal action.
Join Us! Become a 2011 Member
No longer just a debating society, but a force to be reckoned with for the betterment
of Ma‘alaea
Thursday, May 13, 2010
DLNR PUBLIC INFO MEETING - MA‘ALAEA SMALL BOAT HARBOR PLANS
DLNR TO HOLD PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING ON PLANS FOR IMPROVEMENTS AT MA‘ALAEA SMALL BOAT HARBOR KAHULUI - The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Engineering Division will hold a public information meeting on Wednesday, May 19,2010, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. to discuss a planned improvement project at Ma‘alaea Small Boat harbor.
The meeting will take place at the ground floor of the "Sea Flight" building, Ma‘alaea Small Boat Harbor, 101 Ma‘alaea Boat Harbor Road. DLNR Engineering and Boating and Ocean Recreation divisions staff and the project consultant will brief meeting attendees on the planned project and
answer questions. The project will include the construction of a new ferry terminal building at the end of the South Mole, a new comfort station, new waste water treatment system, sewer pump-outs, concrete paved parking areas and access roads, concrete piers, electrical, water and sewer utilities. "Our small boat harbors offer a vital connection to recreational and commercial ocean activities. It is important that they be kept in good working condition. By repairing the heavily used Ma‘alaea Small Boat Harbor, the boaters, community and visitors will have a safer, cleaner and more hospitable facility, and enjoy greater access to the ocean that surrounds our islands," said Laura H. Thielen, DLNR chairperson.This project, which will be funded through federal grants administered by the Federal Transit Administration and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, and state funds, will re-build a major portion of the small boat harbor, replace badly deteriorated facilities, and correct public health and safety concerns. It will also provide the boaters with easily accessible sewer pump-out systems to dispose of their sewage instead of disposal by other means. DLNR's Engineering Division will advertise this project for bids this month and open the bids in June 2010. For more information call DOBOR at 587-0122.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Annual Meeting for the Maalaea Community Association
The Annual Meeting for 2009 will be on January 4, 2010 at the Maui Tropical Plantation -- It will start at 6 PM Check out http://mcamaui.org/
The guest speaker will be Jeff Hunt, Planning Director for Maui County. All are invited.
If you wish to join the association membership cards and applications for 2010 will be at the meeting.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Welcome to our blog
This is a page where you can share your ideas and concerns about our community. It is a great place to live and work - but like many other communities it does have it's issues. You can either post a new topic or comment on a topic already posted.
It is a moderated page. That means I have to check each item before it is posted. I promise not to edit or censure any items that are in good taste. I only do this to keep out "spam" that appears on other open blogs. Give it a try. You can even post pictures and video's. This one I found on http://youtube.com Click on the center arrow to start it:
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