Council refers 85-acre South Maui industrial proposal to planning commission to consider urban growth boundary amendment

The Maui County Council voted 9-0 March 7 to refer a proposed Maui Island Plan amendment seeking an 85.57-acre expansion of the urban growth boundary in North Kihei for potential industrial designation.

Rory Frampton, planning consultant for Haleakala Ranch Company, testified in favor of the referral and explained the proposed designation would enable industrial and "back-of-house" uses such as construction base yards, recycling, and contractor headquarters near existing infrastructure. Frampton said about 10 acres are already used for a construction-and-recycling operation under a special-use permit; the remainder could accommodate a mix of light industrial activities, subject to state district boundary amendment and future change-in-zoning proceedings.

Councilmember Tom Cook introduced the resolution and said the amendment would expand South Maui's economic self-sufficiency by locating industrial services closer to Kihei, reducing the need for trips to Central Maui for construction materials and services. The council record notes the parcel abuts existing infrastructure including potable water, wastewater collection and reuse lines and is adjacent to the Kihei wastewater reclamation facility.

During questioning, Frampton said the developer envisions conditional industrial zoning that would exclude environmentally toxic uses, and noted the project team would incorporate stormwater management, retention basins and native-plant restoration in parts of the site. He estimated state district and county zoning approvals and subsequent subdivision and buildout could take several years — roughly seven to eight years before full use — and suggested initial lot sizes in concept layouts could range from about half an acre to multiple acres depending on end use.

The council emphasized that any final approvals require subsequent reviews: the decennial South Maui community plan update, the Maui Island Plan amendment (this referral), then state district boundary amendment and county change-in-zoning — each with public hearings and environmental review. The successful referral will allow concurrent processing of the community plan update and the urban growth boundary amendment so the planning commission can examine the proposal during the community-plan review process.

Clarifying details: the proposed amendment covers roughly 85.57 acres; about 10 acres are currently used for a construction and recycling operation. Frampton said the recycling footprint would remain limited and that the remainder would be conditioned against toxic uses. The planning commission’s vote to include the acreage in the South Maui Community Plan triggered the need for the urban growth boundary amendment.

Next steps: the resolution sends the proposal to the Maui Planning Commission for review; any planning commission recommendation and community plan update will return to the council, followed by state and county discretionary approvals if the project proceeds.

Ending note: Council members said the proposal could reduce travel and material-hauling needs for South Maui construction and recycling activity, but warned that stormwater, traffic, and community concerns will be addressed in future detailed reviews.