Committee forwards Waimea land-use bills to council with unfavorable recommendations after split votes

The committee discussed two related measures that would change state and county land-use designations for a 5.349-acre parcel at 64‑983 Mamaloha Highway in Waimea, South Kohala (tax map key 6‑4‑024‑027). The applicant, Kaupulehu Land LLC, proposes a state land-use district boundary amendment for the rear portion of the site and a county zone change for the front portion that would allow a mix of residential-agriculture and neighborhood commercial uses and an 8‑lot subdivision concept (three retail/commercial lots fronting Mamaloha Highway and five 0.5‑acre residential‑agriculture lots in back).

Council members and multiple outside speakers described a community engagement meeting held May 13 to solicit options and comments; the community organizers reported about 80 participants and that participants were overwhelmingly opposed to the project concept as presented. The committee heard from community organizers, the applicant’s attorney Catherine Garson, planning consultant Darren Arai, and property owner representatives John and Joni Metzler. Garson said the requested land‑use designations would allow a wide range of uses already valued by the community, including small-scale agriculture, educational uses and neighborhood‑scale commercial activity.

The planning director’s background report and the record show the Leeward Planning Commission forwarded a favorable recommendation for the state land-use boundary amendment and an unfavorable recommendation for the requested change of zone. The planning director’s background report includes a traffic impact analysis (exhibit 6) and multiple TIA updates; the record also shows discussion with the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) that led to reducing the number of proposed access points from the highway and limiting commercial access to a single approach.

Committee members pressed applicants on specific constraints: water commitments available to the parcel (the applicant said there are 20 water commitments available), wastewater (the parcel will rely on individual onsite wastewater systems), limits on accessory dwelling units under the proposed configuration, and the county’s Chapter 11 affordable housing requirements. The committee was told that compliance with Chapter 11 can be satisfied by earning housing credits and that, for the scale of the project, the requirement equates to one affordable housing credit (roughly 20% credit under chapter rules) though the applicant said the mechanics would be worked out with the Office of Housing and Community Development.

Council members expressed differing views. Council member Sherry Inaba said she could not support the application and would vote no. Council member Galimba said the project aligns with the county’s plan and supported moving it forward. Council member Eustace and others cited concerns about traffic on state highways, infrastructure limits and the tight turnaround for reviewers. Several members asked the planning department and applicants to supply missing documents or clearer site plans; planning staff confirmed the TIA and supporting exhibits are available in the planning director’s background report and online.

On separate roll-call votes, the committee forwarded both bills to the full council but recorded unfavorable recommendations in the committee record. For Bill 198 (state land-use boundary amendment), the roll call recorded four ayes and three no votes, with two members excused; the clerk stated the motion moves forward to council with an unfavorable recommendation. For Bill 199 (county zone change), the roll call recorded three ayes and four no votes, with two members excused; the clerk again recorded that the motion moves forward to council with an unfavorable recommendation.

Because the measures change land‑use designations and would only authorize zoning and state land‑use changes (not final subdivision approval or specific development), the committee’s action sends the bills to council for further consideration.