Aloha, I own a home in Plantation Estates, more specifically in Honolua Ridge. Honolua Ridge has been designated by the Maui Planning Department as Agricultural while the rest of Plantation Estates has been designated Rural Residential (see map on page 67 of Correspondence from Planning Dept. 01-19-2021). This is inconsistent with the Maui Planning Commission's recommendation that Plantation Estates be designated as Rural Residential and is also inconsistent with the Maui Island Plan. It remains a mystery to me how this came about but it is wrong and should be corrected.
I own and operate a commercial cacao farm and a chocolate factory in Lahaina and I understand what it takes to farm in West Maui. It requires decent soil, protection from damaging winds, adequate water, hard work, and hope that the demand for your product does not disappear as it did during the past year. None of the first three essentials are present in Plantation Estates (including Honolua Ridge). With the recent apportionment of water drawn from Honokohau ditch, agricultural water use in Kapalua is limited. The drilling of wells is regulated by the Commission on Water Resource Management (CWRM), the same agency that regulates and has limited the use of diverted stream water. It is inconceivable that CWRM would approve wells on small properties like we have in Plantation Estates. Most are under 5 acres and even the largest properties might have trouble convincing CWRM that they deserve a private well. Commercial farming is expensive enough in West Maui due to labor and material costs (including water). When you add the risk of inadequate water supply the economic viability becomes tenuous at best. I know that my cacao farm cannot be profitable under the best of circumstances and exists only as a result of valued added in the form of finished chocolate sold at retail.
It seems to me that many proponents of farming at all costs have never been involved in a commercial farming operation that must make a profit to exist. Their arguments seem very analogous to those advocating for affordable housing by requiring builders to have a high percentage (75% and above) of affordable housing units. The end result is the same, no farms and no affordable housing.
Aloha
My name is Michael Gronemeyer. I have been a full-time resident of West Maui since 2004. I currently live in Plantation Estates.
Plantation Estates was developed in phases beginning in 1990 before rural zoning was adopted in Maui County. As you know MLP and its affiliates developed Plantation Estates in phases and all lots from all phases are members of one legal entity – Plantation Estates Lot Owners Association. We desire all members be treated equally in the community plan.
We were originally developed to be a rural residential community as most of the larger lots are almost 50% unusable gulches.
We favor growing crops and living on the same land. That is one of the main characteristics of Rural Residential. The Rural Residential definition fits us accurately.
Mahalo for your consideration
I am speaking for myself but I was on the West Maui CPAC.
Ka'anapali 2020: (keep as PKOS and AG)
I respect that Ka'anapali 2020 worked with the community to come up with a plan that has not changed for 20 years. However, in those 20 years the West side has changed. So much development has occurred. The community wants to see Ka'anapali South as Park/ Open Space and Agriculture. Communty input and testimony is the reason this made it into the West Maui Community Plan.
It is important to remember that this is the West Maui Community Plan. It is not intended to be a developers plan, nor a off-island owners plan, nor a realtors plan. Changes made to the maps by the Maui Planning Commission do not reflect the broader communities desires.
Say NO to (heavy) Industrial.
Heavy industrial designation does not belong near the Wastewater Treatment Facility nor the area North of Lahainaluna road, please revert to CPAC Version. Both the Employment Center Designation and the Urban Designation allow light industrial. The Industrial Designation “is intended to permit intense industrial and manufacturing activities that could include noxious uses.” Light industrial allows the uses that would be appropriate for these areas. We do not need or want heavy industrial on the West Side of Maui. This does not affect current use.
Say Yes to Agriculture!
I support Maintaining Agriculture designations for “Gentleman Estates” including Launiupoko, Puanoa, Olowalu and Plantation Estates, These properties were divided, bought and sold with an agriculture designation. It benefits the community’s long term food security to maintain this designation. Much of the land has been degraded by bad farming techniques but can be revitalized through regenerative farming. All of these areas have potential to increase Mauiʻs food security if they are taken care of by farmers. Plantation Estates benefits from being in one of the wettest spots on West Maui, please include this in the agriculture designations as per West Maui CPAC recommendations.
The arguement against changing to Rural Residential has very little to do with density. The West Maui Community would like to see Agriculture land and water used for growing crops.
TO: pslu.committee@mauicounty.us
West Maui Affordable Housing Survey Results- Joseph D Pluta
The West Maui Taxpayer’s Association conducted a survey to be used as a tool for consideration by the Maui County Council who is currently reviewing the West Maui Community Plan Draft, (WMCPD).
There seems to be major conflicting elements in the current Draft with the Maui Island Plan as to areas where housing could be located and as such deserved to be more fully explored and carefully reviewed. Inconsistencies with the Maui Island Plan and the Kaanapali 2020 Community Planning effort are potentially subject to unnecessary and unwanted litigation at the expense of Maui Taxpayers. For example, the WMCPD currently proposes changes in land use designations for approximately 100 acres of the Kaanapali South area for Parks/Open Space and 100 acres for agriculture where the Kaanapali 2020 community plan and Island Plan envisions residential and mixed use development.
As an initial founding member of the Kaanapali 2020 community planning group, I participated in monthly meetings for over 20 years with the K2020 team. This was an award-winning plan and key stakeholders in the West Maui community who participated with me were Ed Lindsey, Mae Fujiwara, “Buck” Buchannan, Star Medeiros, Eve Clute, and A. James Wriston III. They are now deceased and left this world thinking the K2020 plan as incorporated into the Maui Island Plan was going to be respected. This WMCPD disrespects the legacies of these community members who were devoted to serving the West Maui Community. That is simply not acceptable.
Interestingly, 48 percent of the respondents to the survey indicated that they had never heard of the West Maui Community Plan. The WMCPD eliminates hundreds of acres of housing in areas at Launiupoko and Olowalu while approximately half of the survey participants indicated they would like to live. That’s also not acceptable.
The survey was developed by West Maui stakeholders, the WMTA board, and facilitated in synergy with the Maui Chamber of Commerce survey platforms and easily accessible via the internet. It can be viewed with it’s results on our WMTA website at www.westmaui.org
Respectfully Submitted,
Joseph D Pluta, President
Gunars Valkirs
Aloha, I own a home in Plantation Estates, more specifically in Honolua Ridge. Honolua Ridge has been designated by the Maui Planning Department as Agricultural while the rest of Plantation Estates has been designated Rural Residential (see map on page 67 of Correspondence from Planning Dept. 01-19-2021). This is inconsistent with the Maui Planning Commission's recommendation that Plantation Estates be designated as Rural Residential and is also inconsistent with the Maui Island Plan. It remains a mystery to me how this came about but it is wrong and should be corrected.
I own and operate a commercial cacao farm and a chocolate factory in Lahaina and I understand what it takes to farm in West Maui. It requires decent soil, protection from damaging winds, adequate water, hard work, and hope that the demand for your product does not disappear as it did during the past year. None of the first three essentials are present in Plantation Estates (including Honolua Ridge). With the recent apportionment of water drawn from Honokohau ditch, agricultural water use in Kapalua is limited. The drilling of wells is regulated by the Commission on Water Resource Management (CWRM), the same agency that regulates and has limited the use of diverted stream water. It is inconceivable that CWRM would approve wells on small properties like we have in Plantation Estates. Most are under 5 acres and even the largest properties might have trouble convincing CWRM that they deserve a private well. Commercial farming is expensive enough in West Maui due to labor and material costs (including water). When you add the risk of inadequate water supply the economic viability becomes tenuous at best. I know that my cacao farm cannot be profitable under the best of circumstances and exists only as a result of valued added in the form of finished chocolate sold at retail.
It seems to me that many proponents of farming at all costs have never been involved in a commercial farming operation that must make a profit to exist. Their arguments seem very analogous to those advocating for affordable housing by requiring builders to have a high percentage (75% and above) of affordable housing units. The end result is the same, no farms and no affordable housing.
Planning and Sustainable Land Use Committee Members -
Please see the attachment for my written testimony via e-comments on this topic.
Aloha
My name is Michael Gronemeyer. I have been a full-time resident of West Maui since 2004. I currently live in Plantation Estates.
Plantation Estates was developed in phases beginning in 1990 before rural zoning was adopted in Maui County. As you know MLP and its affiliates developed Plantation Estates in phases and all lots from all phases are members of one legal entity – Plantation Estates Lot Owners Association. We desire all members be treated equally in the community plan.
We were originally developed to be a rural residential community as most of the larger lots are almost 50% unusable gulches.
We favor growing crops and living on the same land. That is one of the main characteristics of Rural Residential. The Rural Residential definition fits us accurately.
Mahalo for your consideration
Submitting this testimony on behalf of Puanani Lindsey. Mahalo.
Please see attached testimony on behalf of Kaanapali 2020 Community Members and Kaanapali Land Management Corp.
Please see the attached testimony on behalf of HC&D, LLC. Thank you.
Aloha Planning and Sustainable Land Use Committee Members,
Please see the attachment for my written testimony on behalf of the Plantation Estates Lot Owners Association. Mahalo for your consideration.
Aloha Planning and Sustainable Use Committee,
I am speaking for myself but I was on the West Maui CPAC.
Ka'anapali 2020: (keep as PKOS and AG)
I respect that Ka'anapali 2020 worked with the community to come up with a plan that has not changed for 20 years. However, in those 20 years the West side has changed. So much development has occurred. The community wants to see Ka'anapali South as Park/ Open Space and Agriculture. Communty input and testimony is the reason this made it into the West Maui Community Plan.
It is important to remember that this is the West Maui Community Plan. It is not intended to be a developers plan, nor a off-island owners plan, nor a realtors plan. Changes made to the maps by the Maui Planning Commission do not reflect the broader communities desires.
Say NO to (heavy) Industrial.
Heavy industrial designation does not belong near the Wastewater Treatment Facility nor the area North of Lahainaluna road, please revert to CPAC Version. Both the Employment Center Designation and the Urban Designation allow light industrial. The Industrial Designation “is intended to permit intense industrial and manufacturing activities that could include noxious uses.” Light industrial allows the uses that would be appropriate for these areas. We do not need or want heavy industrial on the West Side of Maui. This does not affect current use.
Say Yes to Agriculture!
I support Maintaining Agriculture designations for “Gentleman Estates” including Launiupoko, Puanoa, Olowalu and Plantation Estates, These properties were divided, bought and sold with an agriculture designation. It benefits the community’s long term food security to maintain this designation. Much of the land has been degraded by bad farming techniques but can be revitalized through regenerative farming. All of these areas have potential to increase Mauiʻs food security if they are taken care of by farmers. Plantation Estates benefits from being in one of the wettest spots on West Maui, please include this in the agriculture designations as per West Maui CPAC recommendations.
The arguement against changing to Rural Residential has very little to do with density. The West Maui Community would like to see Agriculture land and water used for growing crops.
Thank you for your time
TO: pslu.committee@mauicounty.us
West Maui Affordable Housing Survey Results- Joseph D Pluta
The West Maui Taxpayer’s Association conducted a survey to be used as a tool for consideration by the Maui County Council who is currently reviewing the West Maui Community Plan Draft, (WMCPD).
There seems to be major conflicting elements in the current Draft with the Maui Island Plan as to areas where housing could be located and as such deserved to be more fully explored and carefully reviewed. Inconsistencies with the Maui Island Plan and the Kaanapali 2020 Community Planning effort are potentially subject to unnecessary and unwanted litigation at the expense of Maui Taxpayers. For example, the WMCPD currently proposes changes in land use designations for approximately 100 acres of the Kaanapali South area for Parks/Open Space and 100 acres for agriculture where the Kaanapali 2020 community plan and Island Plan envisions residential and mixed use development.
As an initial founding member of the Kaanapali 2020 community planning group, I participated in monthly meetings for over 20 years with the K2020 team. This was an award-winning plan and key stakeholders in the West Maui community who participated with me were Ed Lindsey, Mae Fujiwara, “Buck” Buchannan, Star Medeiros, Eve Clute, and A. James Wriston III. They are now deceased and left this world thinking the K2020 plan as incorporated into the Maui Island Plan was going to be respected. This WMCPD disrespects the legacies of these community members who were devoted to serving the West Maui Community. That is simply not acceptable.
Interestingly, 48 percent of the respondents to the survey indicated that they had never heard of the West Maui Community Plan. The WMCPD eliminates hundreds of acres of housing in areas at Launiupoko and Olowalu while approximately half of the survey participants indicated they would like to live. That’s also not acceptable.
The survey was developed by West Maui stakeholders, the WMTA board, and facilitated in synergy with the Maui Chamber of Commerce survey platforms and easily accessible via the internet. It can be viewed with it’s results on our WMTA website at www.westmaui.org
Respectfully Submitted,
Joseph D Pluta, President