Council approves 3 measures for Haseko development

The Honolulu City Council gave final approval Wednesday to two bills and one resolution paving the way for Haseko’s last phase of its 1,100-acre Ewa Beach project after hearing more than an hour of testimony from residents and officials in support and opposition.

At Wednesday’s meeting, several area residents along with community members and officials packed the Council’s meeting room at Kapolei Hale.

Liz Gocong, a Haseko homeowner, questioned the developer’s vision, which she contended has changed several times. Gocong also raised concerns over homeowner fees.

“Their vision is my mortgage,” she said. “I paid for them to do work, live and play. All I do is live.”

But Carol Johnson, also a Haseko homeowner, said the company has been accommodating to residents’ concerns and that development projects change over time for different reasons.

“We knew it was a risk any time you buy in a new community,” Johnson said. “We will take care of figuring out the maintenance fees and working on that. It should be up to us, not up to you.”

Haseko sought approval of Bills 62 and 63 and Resolution 16-180 more than a year ago for the Ocean Pointe and Hoakalei development.

>> Bill 62 would rezone about 50 acres within Haseko’s lagoon development area that would allow for resort, apartment, industrial, business and preservation uses. The zone change accommodates an update to the Hoakalei Master Plan that features a recreational lagoon instead of a marina located near the shoreline of Oneula Beach Park, also known as Hau Bush.

>> Bill 63 amends the boundary of the special management area for a lagoon with no direct access to the ocean.

>> Resolution 16-180 grants a special management area use permit and shoreline setback variance for boardwalks and covered pavilions, among other things, within the 60-foot shoreline setback area.

Bill 62 and the developer’s unilateral agreement have undergone several changes during the past year. Some major concerns included development and resort zoning near the shoreline, lagoon safety and homeowner fees. Homeowners also brought a class-action lawsuit in 2013 against Haseko for switching to a lagoon from the marina.

Sharene Saito Tam, Haseko’s vice president, said after the vote that the company is amicable to the final version of Bill 62. She said the developer has been in ongoing discussions with prospective retail and resort operators, but that “the constraint is always, what is the final going to be?” Haseko’s goal is to have all retail and resort contracts finalized in seven to 10 years, she said.

“We can’t close the deal until we know what’s going to happen with the land,” Saito Tam said. “I’m extremely relieved that we can finally move forward. I’m glad that we finally reached and crossed the finish line.”

Councilwoman Kymberly Pine, who owns a home in Haseko’s development, expressed frustration that several amendments she had proposed at previous meetings were not included in the final draft of Bill 62, such as requiring Haseko to build a gradual slope for the 19-foot-deep lagoon, regulating homeowner fees and keeping preservation land near Hoakalei Country Club.

“I still hope that Haseko keeps its word. I hope they take care of our people,” Pine said during the meeting. “I hope in the end that we can all be friends again.”