Aloha DOC Supporters! Here's the latest news from your favorite local grassroots organization...
We've been busy, the elections have come and gone, change is in the air and we need your help now more than ever. Defend Oahu Coalition and its supporters have been to 5 meetings over the past year to try and get the state Land Use Commission (LUC) to order Kuilima Resort Company (Turtle Bay's developer) to show cause as to why a portion of the resort that the developer had reclassified as "resort/urban", should not be returned to its original "agriculture" classification. In 1986 the resort developer asked the LUC to reclassify the land in exchange for jobs, affordable housing, and parks to benefit the community . The project was to be started by 1986 and finished by 1996, yet the developers never acted and the agreement with the state seemingly expired. Over twenty years passed; different owners, different management, and different developers each promising additional hotels, parks, and affordable housing to a Ko'olauloa/North Shore community that saw undeveloped lands dwindle, traffic problems increase and an existing property struggling to survive. The housing, jobs, and parks never materialized and yet now the hotel's creditors seek to act on the decades-old agreement which threatens the community with massive development that is wrong for the Country and wrong for our time. This 236 acres of reclassified land is a mere fraction of the existing resort property (currently in foreclosure) and is comprised solely of marshland and a portion of golf course. Returning the land to its original "agriculture" classification would not ruin the existing property, but would send a strong message to speculators and overseas developers that they must keep promises that they make to the people of Hawai'i. The LUC should return the land to its original classification now. 23 years is more than enough time. Let's ask the LUC to do their job and hold them accountable. Here is a background and job description of the state Land Use Commission:
"In 1961, the Hawaii State Legislature determined that a lack of adequate controls had caused the development of Hawaii’s limited and valuable land for short-term gain for the few while resulting in long-term loss to the income and growth potential of our State’s economy. Development of scattered subdivisions, creating problems of expensive yet reduced public services, and the conversion of prime agricultural land to residential use, were key reasons for establishing the state-wide zoning system.
To administer this state-wide zoning law, the Legislature established the Land Use Commission. The Commission is responsible for preserving and protecting Hawaii’s lands and encouraging those uses to which lands are best suited."
In other news, the City and County of Honolulu's Department of Permitting and Planning gave the developer an unprecedented third extension on their request for subdivision permits. This runs contrary to the will of an overwhelming majority of their constituents island wide. The developers still talk of 5 additional hotels and 1,000 additional resort condominiums even in the face of foreclosure while the DPP and Mayor seem to feel that Kuilima Resort Company is "entitled" to subdivide and continue their project while still embroiled in an ongoing lawsuit. Mayor Mufi Hanneman has spoken out against the project and asked the developer to reconsider the scope and size of the plan (given the opposition within the community), but has proven incapable of successfully persuading them to do so. These same developers made promises to the City Council in 1986, securing a Unilateral Agreement with their neighbors that would provide jobs, affordable housing and parks for the community. After years of inaction the developer now threatens to subdivide and flip the property, possibly selling to different speculators and leaving concerned community members wondering which buyer would be obligated to hold up the developer's end of the agreement. They promised to break ground in 1986, now the creditors to Oaktree (Turtle Bay's former owner) want to subdivide and sell out, leaving all of Oahu to clean up the mess. It's time to let the City Council know that enough is enough.
We remain hopeful that the Governor's Advisory Working Group will hold another meeting to work on finding a solution to the situation at Turtle Bay Resort. The group has held 10 meetings since the Governor made her announcement to use state assistance in response to the community's desire to purchase the undeveloped land surrounding Turtle Bay in preservation for future generations. The Governor's group has not held a meeting since well before the elections and DOC respectfully asks that since the elections are over, the Advisory Group reconvene and work with a representative of the City and County of Honolulu to find a workable solution. In lieu of today's economic realities, let's see what we can do for the preservation of undeveloped land.
Here is how you can help...Save Turtle Bay with a Click! Sign our CALL TO ACTION and let the Land Use Commission, elected City and State Officials, and the Governor's Turtle Bay Advisory Working Group know that you demand they take action to Keep the country, COUNTRY!
