Allan Parachini’s recent reporting about the overabundance of visitors and cars at Haena State Park has sparked a passionate discussion about too many visitors on Kauai. To the credit of the Kauai visitor industry, the county’s Tourism Strategic Plan acknowledges that we are at our limit: When daily visitor counts reach 25,000, which happens often these days, “the island’s roads, parks, beaches and other infrastructure, in their current conditions, are taxed and the visitor experience and resident quality of life diminish. …” Residents and visitor industry agree: “We are at our max.”
In my previous op-ed (TGI Oct. 27,) I explained how managing resort development was key to managing visitor growth and residential growth on Kauai. When resorts are built and someone has to fill them and staff them, the growth machine is hard to stop.
The existing Kauai General Plan (2000) is a growth machine that has the potential of 5,700 more visitor units on Kauai in the next 20 years — a 66 percent increase as follows:
w Currently we have 8,600 visitor units (resorts and vacation rentals) in operation
w There are properties zoned for “Resort” on which can be built 3,700 new visitor units at Coco Palms, Princeville, Coconut Plantation, Poipu and Waimea.
w Additionally there are 3 “Resort” designations on “Agriculture” zoned land in the existing plan that would support some 2,000 more visitor units. (I am adjusting the 3,000 figure in my previous op-ed based on new information.) These are at Princeville Phase II, Nukolii and Waimea Plantation Cottages.
To most of us on Kauai, that kind of growth is scary when Kauai is already having difficulty handling what we have today.
The update of the General Plan currently before the County Council gives us an opportunity to begin to correct the problem by regaining control of resort numbers so we don’t turn into an Oahu or Maui. Limiting resort growth will help us achieve two of the overarching goals of the General Plan Update: 1. Keeping Kauai a unique and beautiful place (unlike many visitor destinations overrun by visitors), and 2. Making Kauai a sustainable place (unlike places overrun by growth).
The first step to limiting resort growth on Kauai is to remove the “Resort” designations in the current General Plan that are on lands presently zoned “Agriculture.” These approximately 2,000 units at Princeville Phase II, Nukolii and Waimea Plantation Cottages don’t presently have full approval for resort use.
I am sympathetic to Waimea Plantation Cottages because their unique style and limited number (60 cottages) have proven compatible with the community. However, when the additional 250 units sought by Waimea Plantation Cottages are added to the 250 resort units already zoned for but not yet built on Gay and Robinson land, there could be an 833 percent increase in resort rooms in Waimea at full build-out.
The Westside would do well to avoid the unintended consequences of resort development that could come to Waimea: increasing property prices (and taxes), traffic congestion, negative impacts on agriculture and most of all diminishing the Westside lifestyle. A Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) program, which I would support, could allow Waimea Plantation Cottages to add more units without increasing the overall number of resort units in Waimea.
(Transfer of Development Rights is a voluntary, incentive- based program that allows landowners to sell development rights from their land to a developer or other interested party who then can use these rights to increase the density of development at another designated location. Credit: Wikipedia.)
As for the 3,700 resort rooms that already have “Resort” zoning, it would be difficult to remove such zoning. Instead we should put in place laws that clearly and fairly require every development to pay for the public costs caused by that development — such as increased traffic lanes, more park space and affordable housing. Adding 3,700 more resort rooms for thousands of additional visitors will put huge burdens on the environment, roads, county services and more.
If developers don’t pay these costs, the community will bear the burden through taxes and higher fees. There will also be increased pressure to raise and use the Transient Accommodation Tax (TAT) to offset the visitor-related costs imposed on the public. To avoid higher costs to the community and the visitor industry, the developer should be required to pay impact fees upfront to cover the costs the development causes.
When faced with the true overall costs of a new resort, developers may choose to hold off until they are sure the market can bear those costs. Or, they will pay to offset the public costs of their development. This should slow down development based on true market dynamics and will deflect the costs of development from the community.
Our ultimate goal should be a land regulation system that permits only development that pays its way, is located in the proper place, and benefits the community. It would be a system that would indicate to developers early on where and what kind of development was desired and what would be required in terms of offsets. Such a system would be streamlined so that the worthy developments that pay their share of public costs and meet all requirements whiz through the permitting system, making it a “win-win” for both the developer and the community. Creating such a system should be a goal clearly stated in the General Plan Update.
Kauai is special because its residents have worked to keep it special. Come to the Special Planning Committee meeting on Wednesday in the Historic County Building. Public testimony starts at 8:30 a.m. You can also email councilmembers at CouncilTestimony@kauai.gov. A democracy is like a potluck. It works best when everyone participates in an informed way!
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JoAnn Yukimura is a member of the Kauai County Council.
there are enough places for a reasonable amount of visitors to stay when they visit……No More New Structures ……THE GLASS IS OVERFLOWING
To her credit this time the council woman does not mention buses and bicycle paths as being an essential part of the strategic plan to move people around the island. However, we know where her heart is on that matter from several other op eds she has penned.
The council just passed a new tax earmarked for transportation improvement. Most of us believe that means roads and auto access. Unfortunately, elected officials often do not agree and funnel those funds for “politically correct” uses that fail to reduce to traffic issues.
this statement: “Kauai is already having difficulty handling what we have today.”
and the reason, is that the folks running the local government are always “a day late and a dollar short” when running the island;
too many unfunded pensions for one….always trying to tax their way out of problems;
run the island like a business (at least elect a few business leaders), stay within your $$$ means and maybe things will get better;
if you want to limit visitors, simply reduce the number of flights allowed to Kauai !! that’s what they are doing in Greece;
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3483833/Shore-leave-cancelled-Santorini-limit-number-cruise-passengers-visiting-day-island-just-crowded.html
We sure need to do something NOW about the coming influx of visitors if we want to continue any semblance of the wonderful lifestyle Kauai offers. Nobody wants to sit in traffic, This new Hotel slated to begin construction next to Courtyard Marriott in Kapaa is a prime example. My understanding it is 600 rooms! How many cars will that add in Kapaa east side? Enough already!
I visit Kauai annually and agree with all of Ms. Yakimura’s points. It would be a very good idea to limit future growth of the tourism industry on Kauai. I would also suggest no rebuilding of the Coco Palms – that is an area where adding a new hotel is a very poor idea.
ALL excess current hotel rooms should be section 8 awarded to homeless families or others that are dismissed due to such EXCESSIVE rents and too many people not from here need to leave and take all their play toys with them. This includes military war toys and political skanks that are lining their pockets while the rest of us suffering for our children due to autism, heart defects 4 of 5 kekaha keiki born over the last two decades suffer, while you go on your Meri way. Shame on all those complicit with the rambo that exists long before JY was mayor.
#1 You are not a Democracy.
#2 You are a county run by the Democrat party.
#3 You have growth issues because you are run by a single party
with no dissension outside your party.
#4 Your entire problem is the Democrat party.
Exactly right Joe!
Hello fellow Kauai people. No one has anything to say about this? Wall to wall hotels & resorts in our future.
Debra doesn’t ever seem to consider the fact that if the US military were to leave Kauai we would all be dead or imprisoned within a few short days. They are the ONLY thing stopping the other military strongholds from taking over. Can’t even say U.N. would offer protection, they can’t even convince North Korea to stand down.
Hello ,
The current administration is Republican , The last was republican as was the one before that . Lets see,
the last four mayors have been republican . They’ve never met a builder they didn’t love . Remember mayor Kusaka ?
Our current mayor wants us to be as much like Maui as possible . Already plans are being made and implemented .
Over pruning of foliage , cutting trees all over , like in Waimea & Kekaha of all places . The idea is to make the whole island look like a rich man’s estate . New rules and fines . $500 for dog n county park ,
$150 for sleeping in vehicle and planning to lock down county parks from 10 pm to 6 am , with a $1000 fine if in park without permit .
Jo Ann’s solution is spot on . Stop all this development until we can handle . We are not Maui are we ?
Kaua’i is an island with very fragile eco-systyems that is home to our community- NOT A RESORT DESTINATION. Limit flights and raise prices for visitors, THEY WILL PAY IT. Start being a better steward of the island, QUIT ACTING LIKE #gangsters Kaua’i County!!
To deny development on an already-zoned property would cost the taxpayers tens of millions of dollars. To change ag lands to residential use is a huge issue and as long as people keep moving here we will never have so-called affordable housing. Supply and demand determine housing prices.
Real estate exploitation is the driving force behind the out of control and illegal government while tourism is just a byproduct at this point in time.
I wish to see Joanne retire immediately and steer clear of the demise of The Kauai we once knew….
We are all enslaved to the Billionaire investor at this point. Forward until we do the right thing and return to the independent nation…..
HAWAIIANKINGDOM.ORG
May I make the following suggestion for a partial solution:
Create a Kauai Transit Authority, capitalized with county and private money, just like a utility, which mission will be:
To define a global usage plan, then:
1rst phase: make all new resorts and large real estate dev. comply in providing public transportation, regular lines or on demand.
2sd phase make all existing resorts hotels and real estate dev. comply to the same.
Coordinate all these transportation actors with the county public system. ( includes independents who are interested) for reliable connections. Systems for smooth dispatch are already available off the shelf.
Third phase: where the highway can support 4 lanes, create dedicated corridors. Tax car rentals enough so the public alternative is a better option for most tourists