The Honolulu City Council’s Zoning and Planning Committee deferred action this week on two bills pertaining to the last undeveloped phase of Haseko’s Ewa Beach development after several community members raised concerns about building near the shoreline.
Haseko wants to rezone about 62.3 acres of land between White Plains Beach and Oneula Beach Park for its Hoakalei Master Plan, which now features a recreational lagoon instead of a marina as the area’s focal point.
The rezoning seeks, among other things, to add business uses and about 8 acres of resort zoning along the edges of the lagoon.
The proposed changes under Bill 62 would increase zoning for general preservation by about 1.3 acres; medium-density apartment space by 13 acres; resort use by 7.5 acres; industrial-commercial mixed use by 12 acres; and neighborhood businesses by 4.7 acres. It would decrease zoning for community-business mixed use by 12 acres and waterfront industrial use by 26 acres.
Haseko is allowed to build 4,850 residential units and 950 visitor units in the area. The rezoning request would not affect those numbers.
Bill 63 would amend the boundary of a special management area to reflect the development of a lagoon with no direct access to the ocean.
Both bills passed first reading in September. Haseko would also need approval of resolution 15-206, which was given an extension and will be heard at a later date. The resolution would grant a Special Management Area use permit and shoreline setback variance to develop, among other things, covered pavilions and a pedestrian walkway within the 60-foot shoreline setback.
At the meeting Monday at Kapolei Hale, some residents called Haseko a good partner in the community while others expressed concerns.
“I’ve lived here all of my life. Haseko has a vision,” said Rodolfo Ramos. “I want this project to move on. I don’t want to see that thing just idling. I’m getting old.”
Mitchell Tynanes, a lifelong Ewa Beach resident and chairman of the Ewa Neighborhood Board, said, “I support the zoning, but not the resort (near the shoreline). To me, it’s just too close to the ocean.”
The rezoning request includes three parcels for resort uses. Raymond Kanna, Haseko’s executive vice president, said there are no plans at this time to develop a resort near the shoreline. He added that Haseko will work with the city to find a solution to the concern.
Other residents asked for more dialogue, maintaining that Haseko’s 1,100-acre development at Ocean Pointe and Hoakalei would alter the character of the area.
“It’s not meant for the whole island to turn into Waikiki,” said Ewa Beach resident Michelle Tomas. “If this doesn’t go through, what about an amazing park out there instead? Bring it back to where it’s supposed to be.”
In September, a jury awarded $27 million in punitive and special damages to homeowners who had sued Haseko for scrapping plans for a marina.
But last month, Circuit Court Judge Gary W.B. Chang set aside the jury award, contending that the law does not permit a jury to award punitive damages for an unfair and deceptive act or practice claim, which the jury agreed Haseko had engaged in, according to a transcript of the proceedings.
Chang also said that there was not enough evidence showing that homeowners sustained damage from Haseko’s decision to forgo building a marina, according to the transcript. The homeowners’ attorney has said they plan to appeal the ruling.
Kanna said the decision to build a lagoon was made after grappling with issues ranging from complications connecting with breaching the shoreline to finishing the project in a timely manner. He added that there was a lack of interest in building a hotel next to a marina, and that the lagoon would be more usable to residents.
Committee Chairman Ikaika Anderson recommended deferring the bills after listening to about an hour of public testimony from nearly 30 residents at Monday’s meeting.
“I do believe that it is clear that the applicant certainly has some additional work to do in making this committee comfortable with your project and also with making the stakeholders in the community at large comfortable with the project in order to proceed,” Anderson said.
