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General Meeting Minutes
23 August, 2001
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by President Elliott Krash at 7:00 p.m. in the Kula Community Center.
Attendees
200 people were present.
Treasurer's report
John Wilson read the Treasurer's Report. As there were no additions or corrections, the report was approved pending audit. The current balance is $2,121.73.
Announcements
All announcements listed on the agenda were made.
Committee Reports
Beautification: Arbor Day: Dave Jenkins reported that a tree planting project is planned. Rice Park has been suggested. Dave said that he would be looking to the community for support of this fun beautification project.
Lighting: -Outdoor Lighting Ordinance: Steve Sutrov and Mike Mayberry set up a lighting display at the side of the room. Steve said that a draft lighting ordinance would be circulating to the community groups for review and comments. The draft is also on-line and constantly changing at this point. Mike gave an overview of the light pollution problems in today's world.
Safety-Address Readdressing: Marjorie Hill and Jimmy Aarona updated the group on the readdressing project and reminded folks to call 411 and report their new address when they receive it.
Program: What's Happening To Upcountry Maui?
Introduction: Dick Mayer explained that the purpose of this discussion is to take a longer perspective on Upcountry planning and to have a vision for Upcountry.
Sumner Erdman, President, Ulupalakua Ranch discussed ranching in the 21st century:
It is important for Maui people to purchase Maui agriculture products and it is the job of the ranchers and farmers to make that feasible. Most markets for the Maui agricultural products are not in Hawaii. Ranchers need to diversify. Ulupalakua Ranch has tried many types of diversification over the years. They are currently looking at defensive development as an option. This involves selling portions of the ranch to buyers who want a remote site and
ranch environment and are willing to allow Ulupalakua Ranch to continue to operate as a ranch and avoid further development. Erdman stressed they are not developers and many of the recent rumors are not true, such as the rumor that Ulupalakua Ranch plans to develop a golf course and resort on the ranch. Maui is in the 4th year of a drought and it takes a rancher 5 years to return to normal after a drought. Wailea 670 approached Ulupalakua Ranch and offered to develop water on specific area of the ranch and allocate 20% of the water developed to Ulupalakua Ranch at no cost to the ranch. Ulupalakua Ranch entered into this arrangement last October and if water is found on this area of the ranch,
the ranch will get 20% of the water and Wailea 670 would get the balance of the water. They would not sell water to others. This water agreement has the potential of reducing the Ulupalakua water usage from the County system,
which could release water for use by others in the area. Sumner stated that he and his family are dedicated to agriculture and ranching, the preservation of open space and the preservation of the Upcountry lifestyle.
Darrell Yagodich, Planner for DHHL updated the group on the Hawaiian Home Lands Projects in Kula:
Waihuli - There are 318 lots ranging in area from � to 1 acre and located below Poli Poli Rd. There are 6,000 acres in total. The offsite water modifications are now being inspected and once approved will be turned over to the County. They hope to get their tax map key numbers in October and then people can start to occupy the land. Native Hawaiian Self Determination Act (NAHSDA) to help those with 80% or below medium family income will be used to help families in Waihuli.
Keokea - There are 71 agriculture subdivision lots ranging from 2-3 acres each. Plans are to start construction in mid 2002. This will include a dual water system with the potable water extension from improvements to the County system and irrigation water from the Upper Kula line. Further agriculture developments are planned. There are another 25
lots to be developed with in 7 years below the 71 lots. An exploratory well is being drilled on the Keokea property at the 1400-ft. elevation to look at the aquifer. This work will be completed in 2 months.
General Plan Project - Plans are being formulated for each island to cover all the DHHL properties. They expect to start the Maui planning process in mid 2002 to prioritize where development will occur. They are currently
working on the Big Island. Water is a big issue in Kahikinui.
Norman Hong, Vice Chairman, Group 70 International, Inc for the Proposed Maui Land & Pineapple Company Upcountry Town Center Project:
After meeting with the Pukalani Community Association four times, and with the Makawao Main Street Association and the Kula Board, the revised site plan includes open space, senior housing, a Village Green for group festivities, cottage industry lots, business/civic uses, a commercial site and the Maui Fresh Store, currently located in Haliimaile. The commercial site would have two anchor tenants. One is Pukalani Superette and the other unknown at this time. At this time, ML&P plans to submit the Draft EIS in September or October once all the required reports are completed. The rural country town site design will include buildings that look like they have been built over time, setback sidewalks to keep the rural feel and a wide open space buffer along the Bypass Hwy. to retain the rural view from the highway. ML&P would like to retain the old utility poles along Makawao Ave as they feel it lends to the country feel of the area. The audience was not supportive of having above-ground
utilities.
Everett Dowling, President, Dowling Co. updated the group on the Kulamalu Project.
The Kulamalu project is 300 acres total. Of the 300 acres, 180 acres have been sold to Kamehameha School, 19 � acres is commercial and 57 lots of approximately 10,000
sq.ft. each will be developed for single family housing in the area below the campus along the Pukalani golf course. These lots should go to market in November or December. The Keiki Petting Zoo will be located on the 5 acre public quasi-public parcel. The 5 acres zoned multi-family and planned for elderly housing will most likely be an elderly housing rental project. No work has started on the large residential project. The mass grading is almost complete on the commercial site. And sewer and waterlines should be completed by the end of this year. Landscaping to be completed in January and building to begin in February. The offsite wells are completed and in the process of being turned over to the County. Underground utilities, acorn style lights and 9' wide sidewalks are planned. This is not an industrial park or a strip center. All design must meet the CC&R's. Signage will be kept to strict guidelines.
Community Perspectives
Verna Nahulu, resident of Hawaiian Home Lands/Keokea, said the few residents on the Keokea homelands are managing on one water meter and no power. She said a festering sore Upcountry is people on a waiting list for water meters. She does not blame the developers in the room who are not taking water from Hawaiian Home Lands, but feels more aloha is needed from the elected and appointed officials. Verna challenged all to fix the problem of the waiting list.
Aric Nakashima, President Pukalani Community Association, spoke on the Pukalani perspective. He said the Pukalani Community Association is becoming more involved in the community. He said the Planning, Zoning
and Traffic Committee and the Pukalani Association accepted the Upcountry Town Center concept for a shopping center with many checks and balances from the association and the committee.
Charmaine Tavares, County Council Member & Chair, Planning Committee, stated there are many planning tools used now to preserve open space and agriculture. She hoped Maui Land & Pineapple would place the utility lines for their project underground as desired by the community and challenged all developers to look into solar energy and energy conservation, water conservation through use of drought resistant plants, recycling during construction and after and avoid the big box look. She asked developers to plan transportation corridors for mass transport that will be coming to Maui in the future. A Planning Committee workshop on transportation is scheduled for September 6, 2001 from 9 am to 4 pm in the Council Chambers. Also a Smart Growth Conference will be held at the Grand Waikapu October 5th and 6th.
Dick Mayer, Vice-Chair, Upcountry Citizens Advisory Committee, circulated a handout listing the vision of the Kula Community Association and Upcountry problems listed in the Makawao-Pukalani-Kula Community Plan. Dick said
that Upcountry Maui is worth protecting and the Kihei Upcountry highway should not be built. Dick feels that two developments in the area is too much and that the Dowling Kulamalu development should go forward and the Maui Land & Pine development should wait until the first one is assimilated into the community.
Audience Questions and Discussion
1. Jimmy Rust asked what the sewer plans were for the two developments.
Ans.: Maui Land & Pine plans an onsite treatment facility for the Upcountry Town Center and Kulamalu will be hooked up to the Sport Shinko sewage treatment plant.
2. Nikhilananda questioned if the Upcountry Town Center was planned on the land referred to as prime land when the King Kekauliki School site was determined.
Ans. Norman Hong was not involved at that time with the project. Paul Meyer of Maui Land & Pine later clarified that Nikhilananda was thinking of another parcel. The Upcountry Town Center parcel was never considered as a school site.
3. Nikhilananda asked what the timing was for the two projects.
Ans. Upcountry Town Center is on a two year plan to get the needed entitlements before they can begin construction. Kulamalu construction is in progress and Dowling believes it will take another 8 years for buildout of the commercial.
4. Rob Lafferty asked Sumner Erdman to discuss the ranch's monthly rainfall data.
Ans. Erdman said the ranch has records dating back to 1925 and today has the capability to have daily rainfall records. According to his records there has never been a period of low rainfall during any time period as there is now.
5. Steve Goldstein asked how the timing would work if one project were to go forward and the other followed at a later date.
Ans. No response.
6. Charlie Maxwell updated the group on the 5 acre parcel donated by Dowling to the Hawaiian community. Maxwell said it would be the only example in the state with indigenous architecture for teaching and learning. It may be
possible to partner with Kamehameha Schools.
7. Cliff Ostrover asked how traffic for the Upcountry Town Center would be handled. He is concerned as traffic around the school is very busy at certain times of the day.
Ans. Maui Land & Pine has a traffic study underway to assess the situation and make recommendations. Also planned is a safer pedestrian walkway along Old Haleakala Hwy. Dick Mayer suggested that the Department of Education be lobbied for better busing allowing students living with-in one mile of the school to be picked up by bus instead of having to walk along side the road.
8. Aric Nakashima responded to the earlier question asking why two business places were needed in Pukalani. He feels that Kulamalu is not a shopping center but rather a business zoned area. That is why the Pukalani Community Association voted for the concept for the Upcountry Town Center. They thought it would be nice to have a nearby store that stocked blue jeans or shoes.
9. Rob Parsons reviewed the changes in the Kulamalu project during and after the zoning process. The Public Quasi-Public area in Kulamalu was originally scheduled to be a church or day care facility and it is now the Keiki Zoo. The Park area was to be soccer fields and a multi use trail. It looks very different today. Also the average height of the buildings were to be 40 ft. below the Kula Hwy. and today the land is built up above the highway. Everett Dowling responded that he has not changed any of his commitments and that the set back is the same as promised and that the buildings will be 40 feet below the highway, as promised.
10. Christina Hemming asked Maui Land & Pineapple Company to discuss their plans for water for the Upcountry Town Center.
Ans.: Maui Land & Pineapple Company would develop another water source.
Announcement
Elliott Krash asked the group to review the announcements on the back of the agenda. She announced at the September 6, 2001 meeting Rev. Finberg will discuss the sign proposal for Upcountry Christian Fellowship Church.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 9:20 p.m.
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