The massive Hoopili development project in West Oahu secured the second of three required approvals by the Honolulu City Council on Wednesday.

Bill 3, which advanced with an 8-0 vote, will now return to the Council Zoning and Planning Committee for further deliberation. If approved there, it will return to the Council for a final vote. Councilwoman Kymberly Pine, one of two West Oahu Council members, is on maternity leave and was excused from the meeting.

D.R. Horton Schuler Division is seeking the rezoning of 1,554 acres to residential and commercial from agricultural to develop a community of up to 11,750 housing units and accompanying businesses, schools and various amenities.

The proposal is the largest rezoning request to come before the Council in at least two decades.

In contrast to earlier meetings on the plan, during which scores of opponents and supporters weighed in on the matter, about 35 people spoke Wednesday and most comments backed the bill.

Supporters continued to cite a need for new housing stock during a tight real estate market and touted jobs the project would bring. Opponents reiterated concerns about the loss of prime agricultural lands and the impact Hoopili could add to what’s already a congested commute.

Phillip Deng, a Kapolei resident for 25 years, said he bought a home in the area "because of the affordability of the houses there." 

Deng said he likes the way that West Oahu has developed and that he no longer needs to go to town for shopping, day care, schools or other services. Deng said his parents live nearby and that one day he’d like his children to live in that area as well, and Hoopili could provide that opportunity.

"The growth of Kapolei is driven by continued development of affordable and attainable housing," Deng said. "Commercial and retail establishments, professional offices, social services will follow closely once the increased population can support them."

But Kioni Dudley, head of Friends of Makakilo, said Honolulu-bound traffic on the H-1 freeway during morning rush hour already backs up more than 4 miles behind the H-1/H-2 interchange. With 53,000 additional housing units already allowed before counting Hoopili, the one additional freeway lane that Hoopili is supposed to fund won’t be enough to keep up, he said.

"It’s an insane situation," Dudley said. "That’s 65,000 (additional) houses feeding into that one lane of freeway."

Councilman Ron Menor, who represents Ewa and Waipahu, said that while he supports the proposal, he wants colleagues to consider additional traffic mitigation and affordable housing measures.