Group lobbies to prevent Turtle Bay development

Members of Defend Oahu Coalition gathered at City Hall on Thursday to urge state and city government leaders to stop the planned expansion of Turtle Bay Resort.

Specifically, the group is asking the city Department of Planning and Permitting to reject a supplemental environmental impact statement submitted by the owner of the North Shore resort on 880 acres of mostly undeveloped land.

Tim Vandeveer, a founding board member of the coalition known for its slogan Keep the Country Country, criticized the environmental report’s traffic study as “seriously flawed.” He also said he is hopeful Hawaii’s Legislature and governor take action to prevent the planned development that would add two hotels with 625 units and 750 residences largely fronting undeveloped beachfront property between Kahuku Point and Kawela Bay.

The public has until Jan. 18 to comment on the environmental report, which is available online at turtlebayseis.com.

After the public comment period, the resort owner will respond to comments and include them in a final supplemental EIS to the city. If the city determines that the final document is complete, development likely could proceed because the landowner already has zoning and other discretionary approvals.