City officials are seeking to make improvements at Oneula Beach Park in Ewa Beach amid concerns from residents who fear some changes could hurt the area.

The city’s plans include filling potholes and fixing up the parking lot by the shoreline of the beach park, popularly known as Hau Bush. City Councilwoman Kymberly Pine, who represents the area, said officials need a shoreline setback variance to fix the parking lot, which drew concern from some residents at this month’s Ewa Neighborhood Board meeting who questioned if the move tied into Haseko’s application to develop its Ewa Beach property.

“This is specifically to fill in the potholes at Oneula Beach Park. It has nothing to do with Haseko,” Pine said. “This is to meet the requests of hundreds of community members who have come to say that the parking situation there is unacceptable.”

Pine added that city officials have allocated funds to fix the bathroom, add a second restroom facility and grow more grass, as well as hire a full-time parks staff member dedicated to the upkeep and maintenance of Oneula Beach Park.

In 2001, City Council members approved a resolution to grant the city a special management area use permit for the development of the beach park’s master plan, but denied a shoreline setback variance for the “retention and maintenance” of the existing, unpaved parking area. The Department of Planning and Permitting had recommended denying the variance because, among other things, there were alternatives to parking included in the master plan, according to the department’s report.

Planning and Permitting officials said they are “open to a review and reconsideration of the proposal,” according to Deputy Director Arthur Challacombe.

The beach park has been the topic of many discussions among some residents who continue to speak out against Haseko’s plans to develop a recreational lagoon instead of a marina between the beach park and White Plains Beach.

Haseko also plans to develop pavilions, gazebos or covered shelters within a 60-foot shoreline setback. The company needs to win final approval of a rezoning request from the City Council, along with a separate special management area use permit and shoreline setback variance.

Residents remain concerned that Haseko’s development will limit public access to the beach, which is used for fishing and camping. Haseko officials have maintained that they have no jurisdiction over the beach park because it is owned and operated by the city.

At this month’s board meeting, Pine, along with chairman Mitchell Tynanes, explained to residents that the city’s request to improve parking is separate from Haseko’s application. Pine added that she does not want to move forward with the request without community support.

“This has nothing to do with Haseko. Get that away,” Tynanes told residents at the meeting. “Before the city can do anything, they have to go through the process. And this is what the process is.”

But neighborhood board members voted down the motion to support the city’s efforts to fix the parking, many seeking more information. They decided to defer discussion to one of their committees at a later date.

Some residents also sought further information, adding that they do not want any work to deter from the natural beauty of the beach park.

“I think the community that I know was pushing to keep it a natural-looking park,” said longtime resident Douglas Correa at the meeting. “I would love to see our country be left the way it is. You can make improvements by showers, restrooms and stuff. But keep it open. Because we (are) the last one like that.”

State Sen. Will Espero (D, Ewa Beach-Iroquois Point) pointed out that the beach park needs “some major face-lifting and improvements,” including better sidewalks and more grass and restrooms. He mentioned that Oneula Beach Park could be the “next Magic Island” as a community gathering place.

But resident Shay Arneho disagreed.

“Progress does not always mean that it needs to be pretty for somebody else,” Arneho said. “So beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. And I think that beauty should be coming from the community, not from elected officials who are saying that progress needs to happen because money is the only way to go.”

A community meeting is scheduled for Sept. 26 at the beach park to gather residents’ feedback on improvements they want to see at the popular gathering place. Pine said residents would be able to walk the beach and note their suggestions and concerns.

“I’m just focusing on the basics right now. We’re not looking for glamour,” Pine said. “We just want to have a park that has green grass where the kids can safely play, a parking lot that has no potholes and a bathroom that works.”