I oppose this project on the grounds that it is not a sustainable use at this location due to the fact that it is in an existing area of flood crisis.
This site is typical of many other previously developed areas in Kihei that have exacerbated severe flooding and storm runoff that ultimately floods neighborhoods and damages our beaches and reefs. Low lying areas such as this project site are essential to remain open space to help mitigate flooding has they can hold storm water and allow it to percolate naturally, which gives them great value. For this purpose, these types of low-lying open space sites should be protected by the County of Maui.
Building homes that are truly affordable is good, however not if in the wrong place. Sometimes the best planning is what is not done.
Aloha,
I am a resident of Kihei and live on Uluniu Road. Although I fervently agree it is imperative we need additional affordable housing, this is simply not the location. The lot in question along with the lot between S. Kihei and Uluniu are wetlands/flood zone. The water from upcountry floods into these areas and causes a large amount of standing water. The properties basically turn into a catch basin for the rain waters. IF either of these lots were paved and built upon, this would allow all of the water from upcountry to poor through the neighborhood, flooding the neighborhood and polluting our coastal waters and damaging the sensitive coastal habitat (dunes) the neighborhood has been working so hard to restore. In addition, if you are ever to drive down Waipuilani in the evening, you will note that there is a huge parking problem in this area already. Adding hundreds of new residents in this small area would make both the parking and the already almost impossible traffic (crossing S. Kihei Road on Waipuilani) pretty much impossible. You would 100% have to put a light in at this intersection and no one wants that.... Please reconsider the location of this MUCH NEEDED housing project and consider the impact to the surrounding area. I feel that, if the county moves forward at this particular location knowing it is what is keeping the neighborhood from flooding each time it rains, the county would be financially liable for any homes flooding when it inevitably occurs.
Due to the flooding in this area, building out this project with no improvements of new or existing storm drains will make the flooding for the surrounding homes substantially worse. This project would be like putting gasoline in an already suffering flood area. Mahalo
This proposed project is in a flood zone area and is part of a vital wetlands for South Maui. During regular heavy rains, not even 50 or 100 year rains, the entire surrounding area becomes a lake necessitating road closures and remediation measure to clean up the mud and water damage to public and private property. For years, Kihei residents have been seeking assistance from the county to find measures to control the flooding. Professionals hired by the county have recommended, among other things, the need to maintain and restore area wetlands to help with retention. Due to excessive building, Kihei has very few acres of wetlands left. You have the ability with this project to stop this irresponsible practice and protect what remains and prevent further damage to existing property and to protect the ocean quality and reefs that suffer due to mud floods flowing directly to the sea. A project of this scale will add extra burden to the already insufficient drainage system in the area. Why is it ok to sell the concept of "affordable housing" to low-income families who can ill-afford the unexpected cost of maintenance and repair for damage caused by recurring flooding and water intrusion. Affordable or not, this is the wrong project in the wrong area.
Thank you for your concern and attention.
Patricia Stillwell
Hale Waipulani is work force housing - units cost between $299,000 for a 450 sq-ft unit to $571,000 for 900 sq ft unit; and $667,000 for 1360sq.ft. townhouse. (page 6 and 7 of their proposal)
This is a fairly high cost for small units (14 of the 28 units are 3 bedroom -900sq.ft designed for families with very little shared space-kitchen/living room costing upwards of $440.000 to $667,000); 8 of the 28 are 2 bedroom 731sq.ft. ranking from$404,000 -$571.000. 2 of the 28 are 450sq.ft. and 4 of the 28 are townhouses ranging from $618,000 - $667,000. (see pages 6 and 7 of the developers proposal.
Besides being quite expensive for affordable housing there are major other problems see below:
1. no side walks surrounding the project
2. the property is in a flood zone and the area consistently floods even with the smallest of rain events
3. the property is part of the wetlands network and should not be developed
4. currently this empty land serves as a catch basin to prevent flooding to the surrounding homes when there is a small rain event, developing this land will remove that ability to retain flood water and mud in the area. Thus these homes and the surrounding homes as well, will see more mud and flooding.
5. during the recent Dec Kona Low, South Kihei Road was inundated with mud and flood waters specifically in this area of South Kihei Road. The road was impassable for a few days in this area.
6. The project design does not conform to the current zoning and to the surrounding 1 family homes; and the density of units leave little outdoor space.
My question to the council, why would you put such expensive homes in this area?
I said it before and I repeat it again, our Maui Workforce community - teachers, rescue workers, medical staff, and tourist industry workers deserve better - a better quality of life. This project does not provide it.
I am against the Hale Waipuilani Project for a number of reasons. Most importantly it is located in one of the last remaining wetland areas in Kihei. Long after the developers are gone the residents will have to maintain and upgrade land drainage, grounds, driveways, and other infrastructure on the lot. A flood earlier this year near that land closed South Kihei Road for at least six days due to mud and debris which flooded the entire area. Development of this lot could exacerbate flooding like this in the future. This is a poorly planned development which has no right to be placed in a highly sensitive eco-system.
We need to stop building in wetlands and flood zones. Justifying the practice by saying it is for low-income people is immoral - just because someone has low income does not mean we should put them in a situation where their health and safety are in jeopardy.
Aloha, I oppose this development Hale Waipuilani Project (AH-17)and believe that all the wetlands should be bought by the county to protect them and allow regeneration of the wetlands and restoration of their function. Wetlands are basically flood zones they also are environmentally important places where the floodwaters or intermittent storms bring water that is then held and allowed to percolate into the ground and drop the sediment before the water enters the ocean. Currently the water is entering the ocean with too much sediment because the wetlands have been significantly degraded as most of Kihei used to be a wetland. This development should not placed in a flood zone or in a wetland because the wetland function is important and because affordable housing should be put in a place that anyone would want to live in and where anyone would be safe to live and that is not this location. All of the wetlands in South Kihei that we still have should be preserved and I believe bought by the county and if that means use of eminent domain I think that that should be done sooner rather than later so that we stop this development and relieve the developers of the financial burden of trying to develop where development should not and cannot safely happen. Genesis Young MD
This project is poor planning and is not sustainable land use. There is a flooding crisis that exists in this area already. This project is the exact opposite of what is needed to help mitigate our existing flood problem. The ocean will suffer. Residents will suffer. Please oppose this project. Work with the developer to find an alternate location that will provide quality life and sustainability to affordable housing in South Maui.
I oppose this project for multiple reasons, and I think the developer and the county would be better served with a land swap. Why build a high density development in an area unsuited to it? In a wetland? At a pricetag most people on the affordable housing wait-list don't qualify for? In an area with no infrastructure, storm water drainage , curbs, etc.? The builder is calling this affordable, but that is just a marketing term. These are not affordable, they are not going to go to the people the developer pretends to be serving ... They will almost certainly be sold to mainlanders who don't know better than to buy in a dry riverbed. And when they see the flood zone insurance bill ... And the first big flood ... They will be angry and possibly, vengeful. They will go after the county for issuing these permits to begin with, despite public opposition from folks who live in the area warning about the consequences of going ahead. Please, do not allow this to go ahead. Have the builder build these units in a safe place, out of a wetland, for all our sales. If you want to see the kind of damage these units will sustain, just go behind ABC store just down skr and look at the wetland piled up against their fence in back. 4 feet of mud in your living room is no joke, and I urge you to visit the area before making your decision and really think about this from a common sense perspective. Molly Jacobson, Kihei.
I live in this neighborhood and I oppose this project, the high density issue is mainly the one I will address first. This project is proposing to put a multi-family condo project onto a wetland, our infrastructure utilities will not be able to accommodate 100 plus people on 1.50 acres of land, the parking and traffic alone would be a HUGE problem, also mentioning the water and sewage issues. Zoning is not for multi-family only for single family dwellings. This developer has no interest in our community except for the $$$$$ that they will glean from this poorly planned development. Workforce housing is NOT affordable housing, the cost of one small 400 square foot unit is over a quarter of a Million dollars and then they will also be tagged for flood zone insurance and a high priced homeowners maintenance fee. I would not be happy if I was duped into this deal. This is just wrong and mean, I want Happy neighbors not neighbors that have been tricked and downtrodden. Keep the project within the zoning and only allow the (mainland) developers to build single family "affordable" homes. Thank-you if you are taking the time to read this. Cordially, Wendy Tuomela Kihei Waipuilani Resident.
I oppose this project on the grounds that it is not a sustainable use at this location due to the fact that it is in an existing area of flood crisis.
This site is typical of many other previously developed areas in Kihei that have exacerbated severe flooding and storm runoff that ultimately floods neighborhoods and damages our beaches and reefs. Low lying areas such as this project site are essential to remain open space to help mitigate flooding has they can hold storm water and allow it to percolate naturally, which gives them great value. For this purpose, these types of low-lying open space sites should be protected by the County of Maui.
Building homes that are truly affordable is good, however not if in the wrong place. Sometimes the best planning is what is not done.
Oppose
Aloha,
I am a resident of Kihei and live on Uluniu Road. Although I fervently agree it is imperative we need additional affordable housing, this is simply not the location. The lot in question along with the lot between S. Kihei and Uluniu are wetlands/flood zone. The water from upcountry floods into these areas and causes a large amount of standing water. The properties basically turn into a catch basin for the rain waters. IF either of these lots were paved and built upon, this would allow all of the water from upcountry to poor through the neighborhood, flooding the neighborhood and polluting our coastal waters and damaging the sensitive coastal habitat (dunes) the neighborhood has been working so hard to restore. In addition, if you are ever to drive down Waipuilani in the evening, you will note that there is a huge parking problem in this area already. Adding hundreds of new residents in this small area would make both the parking and the already almost impossible traffic (crossing S. Kihei Road on Waipuilani) pretty much impossible. You would 100% have to put a light in at this intersection and no one wants that.... Please reconsider the location of this MUCH NEEDED housing project and consider the impact to the surrounding area. I feel that, if the county moves forward at this particular location knowing it is what is keeping the neighborhood from flooding each time it rains, the county would be financially liable for any homes flooding when it inevitably occurs.
Respectfully,
Jamie-Sue West
Guest user
Main reason for my opposition, Affordable Homes should NOT BE BUILT IN A FLOOD ZONE! What is so hard to understand about this?
Due to the flooding in this area, building out this project with no improvements of new or existing storm drains will make the flooding for the surrounding homes substantially worse. This project would be like putting gasoline in an already suffering flood area. Mahalo
This proposed project is in a flood zone area and is part of a vital wetlands for South Maui. During regular heavy rains, not even 50 or 100 year rains, the entire surrounding area becomes a lake necessitating road closures and remediation measure to clean up the mud and water damage to public and private property. For years, Kihei residents have been seeking assistance from the county to find measures to control the flooding. Professionals hired by the county have recommended, among other things, the need to maintain and restore area wetlands to help with retention. Due to excessive building, Kihei has very few acres of wetlands left. You have the ability with this project to stop this irresponsible practice and protect what remains and prevent further damage to existing property and to protect the ocean quality and reefs that suffer due to mud floods flowing directly to the sea. A project of this scale will add extra burden to the already insufficient drainage system in the area. Why is it ok to sell the concept of "affordable housing" to low-income families who can ill-afford the unexpected cost of maintenance and repair for damage caused by recurring flooding and water intrusion. Affordable or not, this is the wrong project in the wrong area.
Thank you for your concern and attention.
Patricia Stillwell
We need to keep water retention areas for seasonal flooding and storm runoff.
County should offer land swap or buy back at original cost plus appreciation.
It is in a flood zone. It is in a flood zone. It is in a flood zone. And for the icing on that mud cake, it is not “affordable” either.
Hale Waipulani is work force housing - units cost between $299,000 for a 450 sq-ft unit to $571,000 for 900 sq ft unit; and $667,000 for 1360sq.ft. townhouse. (page 6 and 7 of their proposal)
This is a fairly high cost for small units (14 of the 28 units are 3 bedroom -900sq.ft designed for families with very little shared space-kitchen/living room costing upwards of $440.000 to $667,000); 8 of the 28 are 2 bedroom 731sq.ft. ranking from$404,000 -$571.000. 2 of the 28 are 450sq.ft. and 4 of the 28 are townhouses ranging from $618,000 - $667,000. (see pages 6 and 7 of the developers proposal.
Besides being quite expensive for affordable housing there are major other problems see below:
1. no side walks surrounding the project
2. the property is in a flood zone and the area consistently floods even with the smallest of rain events
3. the property is part of the wetlands network and should not be developed
4. currently this empty land serves as a catch basin to prevent flooding to the surrounding homes when there is a small rain event, developing this land will remove that ability to retain flood water and mud in the area. Thus these homes and the surrounding homes as well, will see more mud and flooding.
5. during the recent Dec Kona Low, South Kihei Road was inundated with mud and flood waters specifically in this area of South Kihei Road. The road was impassable for a few days in this area.
6. The project design does not conform to the current zoning and to the surrounding 1 family homes; and the density of units leave little outdoor space.
My question to the council, why would you put such expensive homes in this area?
I said it before and I repeat it again, our Maui Workforce community - teachers, rescue workers, medical staff, and tourist industry workers deserve better - a better quality of life. This project does not provide it.
I am against the Hale Waipuilani Project for a number of reasons. Most importantly it is located in one of the last remaining wetland areas in Kihei. Long after the developers are gone the residents will have to maintain and upgrade land drainage, grounds, driveways, and other infrastructure on the lot. A flood earlier this year near that land closed South Kihei Road for at least six days due to mud and debris which flooded the entire area. Development of this lot could exacerbate flooding like this in the future. This is a poorly planned development which has no right to be placed in a highly sensitive eco-system.
We need to stop building in wetlands and flood zones. Justifying the practice by saying it is for low-income people is immoral - just because someone has low income does not mean we should put them in a situation where their health and safety are in jeopardy.
Aloha, I oppose this development Hale Waipuilani Project (AH-17)and believe that all the wetlands should be bought by the county to protect them and allow regeneration of the wetlands and restoration of their function. Wetlands are basically flood zones they also are environmentally important places where the floodwaters or intermittent storms bring water that is then held and allowed to percolate into the ground and drop the sediment before the water enters the ocean. Currently the water is entering the ocean with too much sediment because the wetlands have been significantly degraded as most of Kihei used to be a wetland. This development should not placed in a flood zone or in a wetland because the wetland function is important and because affordable housing should be put in a place that anyone would want to live in and where anyone would be safe to live and that is not this location. All of the wetlands in South Kihei that we still have should be preserved and I believe bought by the county and if that means use of eminent domain I think that that should be done sooner rather than later so that we stop this development and relieve the developers of the financial burden of trying to develop where development should not and cannot safely happen. Genesis Young MD
This project is poor planning and is not sustainable land use. There is a flooding crisis that exists in this area already. This project is the exact opposite of what is needed to help mitigate our existing flood problem. The ocean will suffer. Residents will suffer. Please oppose this project. Work with the developer to find an alternate location that will provide quality life and sustainability to affordable housing in South Maui.
I oppose this project for multiple reasons, and I think the developer and the county would be better served with a land swap. Why build a high density development in an area unsuited to it? In a wetland? At a pricetag most people on the affordable housing wait-list don't qualify for? In an area with no infrastructure, storm water drainage , curbs, etc.? The builder is calling this affordable, but that is just a marketing term. These are not affordable, they are not going to go to the people the developer pretends to be serving ... They will almost certainly be sold to mainlanders who don't know better than to buy in a dry riverbed. And when they see the flood zone insurance bill ... And the first big flood ... They will be angry and possibly, vengeful. They will go after the county for issuing these permits to begin with, despite public opposition from folks who live in the area warning about the consequences of going ahead. Please, do not allow this to go ahead. Have the builder build these units in a safe place, out of a wetland, for all our sales. If you want to see the kind of damage these units will sustain, just go behind ABC store just down skr and look at the wetland piled up against their fence in back. 4 feet of mud in your living room is no joke, and I urge you to visit the area before making your decision and really think about this from a common sense perspective. Molly Jacobson, Kihei.
No housing should be built in a wetland/flood zone and - this project is not TRULY affordable for local residents.
I live in this neighborhood and I oppose this project, the high density issue is mainly the one I will address first. This project is proposing to put a multi-family condo project onto a wetland, our infrastructure utilities will not be able to accommodate 100 plus people on 1.50 acres of land, the parking and traffic alone would be a HUGE problem, also mentioning the water and sewage issues. Zoning is not for multi-family only for single family dwellings. This developer has no interest in our community except for the $$$$$ that they will glean from this poorly planned development. Workforce housing is NOT affordable housing, the cost of one small 400 square foot unit is over a quarter of a Million dollars and then they will also be tagged for flood zone insurance and a high priced homeowners maintenance fee. I would not be happy if I was duped into this deal. This is just wrong and mean, I want Happy neighbors not neighbors that have been tricked and downtrodden. Keep the project within the zoning and only allow the (mainland) developers to build single family "affordable" homes. Thank-you if you are taking the time to read this. Cordially, Wendy Tuomela Kihei Waipuilani Resident.