A City Council committee advanced permit requests for the $760 million expansion of the Hilton Hawaiian Village but asked property owners to try to work out differences before the measure comes up for a final vote next month.
The Zoning and Planning Committee on Thursday approved special management and planned development-resort permits for the project, which would add 550 time-share units, swimming pools, parking and expanded retail space to the Hilton’s 22-acre resort, which consists of seven hotel and time-share towers.
A final vote by the full Council is set for Dec. 7.
Objections to the permits were raised by a family that leases a portion of the land under the Diamond Head Tower to Hilton.
The Mun family says its property was included as part of the project without its approval, attorney Cal Chipchase IV said. He sought a deferral of the permits to give the parties more time to settle issues related to the Muns’ access to their property, which they contend would be affected by the development.
Jerry Gibson, area vice president of Hilton Hawaii, said the company hopes to renew its lease with the Mun family and has proposed a settlement.
"Hilton is prepared to give the Mun family the necessary easements to provide access," Gibson said.
Chipchase said the family has been reviewing the proposals but asked for more time to work out an agreement to satisfy everyone.
Councilman Ikaika Anderson, Zoning Committee chairman, recommended that the measure be advanced, and if no agreement is reached by the Council’s Dec. 7 meeting, the permits could be reconsidered at that time.
The Department of Planning and Permitting held a public hearing on the permits in August and has recommended approval.
The project represents the biggest update to Hilton Hawaiian Village since it opened in 1955, and would nearly double the number of time-share units on the property to 1,200 in the next 10 years.