Rendering of the proposed Hotel Wailuku courtesy Supreme Bright LLC. The MRA currently holds the power to approve such variances to the building code with a majority vote and approval of the mayor, but community groups are now disputing the agency's legality. Community groups Maui Tomorrow and the Wailuku Good Government Coalition filed a lawsuit Monday against the Maui … [Read more...] about Community Groups Challenge Maui Redevelopment Agency’s Authority
Lance Collins
Is Regulation to Blame? Perspectives on the prevalence of out-of-state homebuyers and lack of attainable housing in Maui County
Table courtesy Hawaii Housing Planning Study 2019 “The [Hawai‘i state] legislature pronounced that the problem of the critical shortage [of housing for low- and middle-income earners] was the high cost of housing. The causes of this high cost were said to be the ‘cost and availability of land, the cost of development, the cost and availability of financing, the cost added by … [Read more...] about Is Regulation to Blame? Perspectives on the prevalence of out-of-state homebuyers and lack of attainable housing in Maui County
Is the MRA Legal? Councilmember Keani Rawlins-Fernandez challenges the Maui Redevelopment Agency’s authority
Councilmember Rawlins-Fernandez expressed concern that the MRA's actions could lead to "liability or legal issue" A meeting of the Maui Redevelopment Agency regarding possible zoning changes to Wailuku Town drew passionate community testimony on Friday, Nov. 15, sparked largely by news of a six-story, 156-room hotel planned for the area at the corner of Market and Main … [Read more...] about Is the MRA Legal? Councilmember Keani Rawlins-Fernandez challenges the Maui Redevelopment Agency’s authority
Charter Crisis: After council vote to settle Lahaina Injection Wells lawsuit, administration questions power
[Update: On Oct. 9, Council Chair Kelly King published a letter sent to US Supreme Court clerk Scott Harris to address the "crisis of the charter." "A resolution to appoint special counsel to represent the Maui County Council will be considered next week," she wrote. "I respectfully request the U.S. Supreme Court dismiss Case No. 18-260, or, at the very least, postpone the … [Read more...] about Charter Crisis: After council vote to settle Lahaina Injection Wells lawsuit, administration questions power
Op-Ed: Leave Policy Measures to the Next Council and Mayor – The lame-duck council should protect democratic norms and refrain from rushing through policy changes
On Maui, we have an extraordinary situation where six new council members and the mayor will be taking office in less than a month. Even the current mayor, term-limited, was resoundingly defeated for his bid to return to the council. For this reason, the outgoing council should commit to refraining from voting on any substantive policy measures for the remaining three … [Read more...] about Op-Ed: Leave Policy Measures to the Next Council and Mayor – The lame-duck council should protect democratic norms and refrain from rushing through policy changes