Correction: An earlier version of this story included photos that pictured the incorrect property.
It is the policy of West Hawaii Today to correct any incorrect or misleading information when it is brought to the attention of the newspaper.
HILO — A promise by developer Stanford Carr to walk a former council member through the planned Alii Palms subdivision was sufficient Thursday to convince the County Council Planning Committee to grant concessions for the 58-unit development.
The Planning Committee voted unanimously to send the matter, Bill 216, to the council with a positive recommendation.
Alii Palms is slated for an approximately 10-acre parcel on the mauka side of Alii Drive, between the Alii Lani Condominium and the Alii Garden Marketplace and across from the Kona By the Sea and Kona Riviera Villas condominium complexes. The developers plan single-family homes for the subdivision.
The project was taken over by Carr’s company after the development sat idle following a 2004 rezoning.
“Our plan is to get this back on track and commence construction,” Carr said.
Former North Kona Councilman Curtis Tyler, who was on the council when the initial rezoning was approved, told the committee he was concerned about archaeological features on the site. He said heavy equipment has been parked in front of the lot for years, and he had concerns some features could have been harmed.
Tyler told the council he was one of the descendants of the Native Hawaiians originally on the property.
“Please get confirmation regarding the burials being intact and the features there,” Tyler said.
Carr defended his company’s 26-year reputation building more than 4,500 housing units on three islands. He said the state-required archaeological study has been completed on the property, and the development will abide by the requirements.
Carr assured the council he’ll meet with Tyler and take him through the site.
The committee agreed with the Leeward Planning Commission to allow time extensions and a new drainage plan. It also is required to update its March traffic survey and, if level-of-service at key intersections drops below “D,” delay occupancy.
The developer’s request to pay fair share contributions as the units are sold, rather than in a lump sum, is being denied.
A fair share assessment is levied against new development to help pay for infrastructure to support the additional population that development brings.
The development will be on the hook for as much as $793,000 – $13,672 per lot – in fair share contributions; money that will go toward roads, parks, police, fire protection and solid waste.