Dear Neighbor,The rural nature of Maui Meadows is being threatened. If the current ruling by the Maui County Planning Department is allowed to stand, Maui Meadows will have rural zoning with urban setbacks and no height limitations. No view is safe.
Two years ago, the Planning Department, without notice to anyone, changed their interpretation of the setbacks and height restrictions. Instead of being rural standards of 15 foot side/rear setbacks and height being measured from the natural or finished grade, whichever is lower, the Department allowed urban standards of 6 foot minimum side/rear setbacks and height measured from the finished grade. This means that a property may be filled to any height and then a 30 foot high structure put on top of that fill. It is important to note that when Maui Meadows was in early stages of development, setbacks were 6-10 feet and fill was allowed. However, because homes were smaller, most setbacks were much larger by design.
On Thursday, July 12, over 100 Maui Meadows neighbors gathered to hear about this situation. (We are very grateful for all of you who took time out from your busy lives to attend our meeting and learn more about this issue.) Mayor Charmaine Tavares, Councilmember Michelle Anderson, and Planning Director Jeff Hunt were speakers. We appreciate their coming to our meeting.
Councilmember Anderson, who has worked closely with us on this issue, announced that she has written a Bill that would preserve Maui Meadows rural standards of 15 feet side/rear setbacks and would determine height based on the finished or natural grade, whichever is lower. That Ordinance would protect those who utilized the old standards legally. A copy of the legislation is attached. When the audience was polled, this Bill received overwhelming support.
Mayor Charmaine Tavares indicated she supports our efforts keeping Maui Meadows rural setbacks and height restrictions and she committed to supporting legislation as well as pursuing administrative remedies in order to achieve this.
If you want to preserve Maui Meadows and its rural character you must act NOW. The Maui Meadows bill will be introduced at the Thursday, July 26 Council meeting at 9:00 am. If you can attend and testify, please do so.
If you are unable to speak in support in person, please send a letter to
G. Riki Hokama, Chair,
Members of the Council
County of Maui
200 South High St.
Wailuku, HI 96793.
Please send copies of your letter to the Mayor’s Office and the Planning Department Director, Jeff Hunt at the above address.
OR
Please email Chair Hokama at riki.hokama@co.maui.hi.us and send copies to Mayorsoffice@mauicounty.gov and Planning@mauicounty.gov. Your letter should indicate that you are supporting Councilmember Anderson’s bill proposal that would keep Maui Meadows rural and place it in RU0.5 zoning. Please take the time and trouble to protect your neighborhood and home values. It would be much appreciated if you would send MMNA an email telling us you’ve communicated with the county. Also feel free to forward this email to neighbors and friends in Maui Meadows.
If you have questions, please contact Maui Meadows Neighborhood Association via email at mmna@hawaiiantel.net. Please don’t delay—your voice needs to be heard! Keep Maui Meadows rural!
Mahalo-
Board of Directors, Maui Meadows Neighborhood Association
PDF of the Resolution
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