A long-dormant $170 million Kona project has returned to the Leeward Planning Commission, who on Thursday heard more than 20 residents express their concerns before punting the project to the county Cultural Resources Commission after a four-plus-hour meeting.
At issue is a requested 10-year extension to complete the proposed 450-unit Royal Vistas multiple family housing project planned mauka of Queen Kaahumanu Highway, between Kona Vistas and Kualani Estates subdivisions.
Developers KV3 LLC and Kona Three LLC purchased the 69-acre parcel from the previous owner, who’d successfully built the 103-acre, 215 lot Kona Vistas subdivision.
Michael Matsukawa, representing the new developers at the planning commission meeting, said the developer and the county had always envisioned the single-family home and the multi-family component to go hand in hand. The projects, he said, were like twins, where one had to be born first.
“So the question before you today is whether Kona Three LLC should be allowed to complete the Kona Vistas project to fulfill what the County Council envisioned back in 1983,” Matsukawa said.
The proposed development includes 174 two- and three- bedroom rental units with a manager’s unit in two-story units and an additional 274 two- and three-bedroom for-sale units in cluster of two- and three- story buildings, also with a manager’s unit. In addition there would be two community centers with a park, swimming pool and facilities for use by residents — one for the owner unit residents and one for the rental unit residents.
But those who would be neighbors to the project came out in force, detailing myriad problems they see, including the fact that the project is in a floodplain, the contention there are irreplaceable historical sites and burials on the property and reported sightings of io and pueo, the indigenous Hawaiian hawk and owl.
Residents have previously tried to get the county to purchase the property through the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission land-buying program, but were informed the property is not for sale.
Planning Director Zendo Kern, who recused himself from Thursday’s planning commission meeting, was previously the land-use consultant for project developers.
Kern told West Hawaii Today in 2019 he sees the property as a “perfect parcel” to support growth and development, citing its position within the urban expansion area according to the county’s Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide.
Deputy Planning Director Jeff Darrow had recommended the planning commission approve the project.
But Commission Chairman Mike Vitousek recognized the project isn’t quite ready for prime time, after commissioners asked that it be sent to the Cultural Resources Commission first, for further vetting. The planning commission voted unanimously to defer the project until it came back from the cultural commission.
“There will be plenty of opportunity for more public testimony throughout the process,” Vitousek said.