3 measures for Ewa Beach project advance

A City Council committee gave key approval Thursday to three measures proposed for the last phase of Haseko’s 1,100-acre Ewa Beach development. The measures now go to the full Council for a final vote.

Under Bill 62, Haseko sought rezoning of about 62 acres of land between White Plains Beach and Oneula Beach Park for a mix of resort, apartment, industrial, business and preservation uses around a recreational lagoon.

The rezoning request would have no bearing on the number of units Haseko is allowed to build — 4,850 residential and 950 visitor units.

At Thursday’s special Zoning and Planning Committee meeting, Chairman Trevor Ozawa recommended moving Bill 62 forward with an amendment to keep about 7.5 acres mauka of Keoneula Boulevard as resort instead of changing it to medium-density apartment zoning.

That amendment was first introduced by Councilwoman Kymberly Pine, a Haseko homeowner, at a meeting held earlier this month. The move reduces the tally of acres that would be rezoned under Bill 62 to about 55.

“Our role and responsibility on this Council is to set policy for the City and County of Honolulu, not to interfere in agreements between private individuals or get involved in private litigation,” Ozawa said at the meeting. “As a result of my research and discussions, I feel that at this point we’ve addressed the concerns.”

Much of Thursday’s discussion focused on 11 acres of proposed resort zoning located within a federal easement that bars overnight accommodations.

Lt. Scott Carr, spokesman for the Coast Guard, said officials sent a letter to Haseko on Thursday maintaining their position that they do not want to modify the easement due to safety concerns for flight crews operating out of nearby Kalaeloa Airport.

“It’s important from a safety standpoint to maintain that navigation easement as our flight crews are operating pretty much around the clock,” Carr said Thursday.

Because the easement would be maintained, the company said it is proceeding with plans for retail, dining and entertainment uses in that area. Sharene Saito Tam, Haseko’s vice president, said in an email Thursday that the company still considers the 11 acres of proposed resort zoning to be “a long-term opportunity for the future.”

She added: “Haseko will continue to pursue a resolution to one day open the door to allowing the addition of visitor accommodation units there.”

Ozawa said keeping the 7.5 acres mauka of Keoneula Boulevard as resort zoning would give Haseko more land to build hotel units.

David Tanoue of R.M. Towill Corp., Haseko’s consultant, said all 950 visitor units could be built on a parcel that is already zoned resort.

Pine, who represents the Leeward Coast, had also pushed to keep 5 acres of preservation zoning near the Hoakalei Country Club instead of changing it to medium-density apartment. That amendment did not make it into the bill approved Thursday.

Ozawa did insert language into the developer’s unilateral agreement that would require Haseko to take steps to mitigate access and safety issues related to the lagoon, such as working with the city Department of Planning and Permitting to build boardwalks and shared walkways along the perimeter.

Pine’s proposed amendments regulating homeowner fees and requiring Haseko to build a gradual slope for the 19-foot-deep lagoon were not included. She said residents are worried that their fees could skyrocket, and that she plans to introduce other amendments once the measures are up for a final vote by the full Council.

“The resounding thing that I kept hearing from people was, ‘We just want the developer to do what they say they’re going to do,’” Pine said at Thursday’s meeting. “My job is to make everything pono so that once the developer leaves, everybody is friends and ohana again.”

Tanoue said the master association fees would be capped at about $50 per month for seven years.

Also approved Thursday were Bill 63, which amends the boundary of the special management area to reflect a lagoon with no ocean outlet; and Resolution 16-180, which would grant a special management area use permit and shoreline setback variance to allow for covered pavilions and boardwalks within the 60-foot shoreline setback area.

Homeowners sued Haseko in 2013 over its decision to forgo building a marina as part of the Ewa Beach development. Although a circuit judge set aside a jury award granted to homeowners last year, lawyers are still seeking a resolution to damages in the class-action suit. At Thursday’s meeting, Pine hinted at another potential lawsuit to be filed by new homeowners against Haseko.

Some residents and union representatives, however, have expressed strong support for Haseko’s development, citing the benefits a lagoon and resort community would bring to the area.