Public testimony will be taken on a bill that would change the way homes are taxed on agricultural property during meetings throughout Maui County this month. The Maui County Council Budget and Finance Committee meetings begin at 6 p.m. with the following dates and locations: * Wednesday, Lahaina Civic Center. * Friday, Lanai Community Center. […]
Council Defers Vacation Rental Bill
Maui County has 1,100 to 1,500 unpermitted vacation rentals, according to estimates by the Maui Vacation Rental Association. Councilmember Couch has proposed capping the number of legal vacation rentals at 400. Planning Director Spence said his department issued only 28 warnings about vacation rentals and conducted 78 site inspections in 2011. The draft bill proposes […]
Planning Commission Approves Variance for Hotel “School”
A mainland entrepreuner got permission to operate a school/spa/hotel in Makawao’s Fred Baldwin Memorial Home. It will become the Lumeria Maui educational retreat. Critics called it “a luxury boutique hotel” and it can accomodate 48 guests.
LUC Approval: Kula Ridge Goes Forward
The state Land Use Commission voted Friday to approve district boundary amendments allowing the Kula Ridge subdivision to move ahead with its $35 million development of 116 homes on 51 acres mauka of Kula Highway. LUC allowed 34.5 acres to go from agricultural to urban district and 16.5 acres from agricultural to rural. According to […]
Are Developments Blocking Ocean View?
A concerned citizen sent in these photos of a development at 4605 Hana Highway that impacts the scenic coastal view plane at top of Manawai Rd. The owner has planted bamboo and plans on building a “barn” that will obstruct ocean views in noncompliance with the terms of his SMA permit, according to the informant. […]
‘Show Me the Water’ Weakening Fails
Maui News Reports “In the proposed version, a landowner without meters or meter reservations could have proffered an approved engineering study to show where and how the water would be made available. The director of water supply would be allowed (or possibly required) to comment on the interagency review that would be led by the […]