Representatives of the Kiahuna Mauka Partners LLC and Eric A. Knudsen Trust want to develop single-family and multi-family homes on 458 acres in Po‘ipu. But because neither developer can meet deadlines imposed by state officials to begin some of the
Representatives of the Kiahuna Mauka Partners LLC and Eric A. Knudsen Trust want to develop single-family and multi-family homes on 458 acres in Po‘ipu.
But because neither developer can meet deadlines imposed by state officials to begin some of the work by 2004, the developers are asking the state Land Use Commission for an extension of the start-work deadline.
Representatives for Kiahuna and the Knudsen Trust are asking the LUC to extend the deadline for the construction of about 300 homes to 2009, and the deadline for the construction of about 50 homes to 2006.
“Both said they couldn’t meet the deadline,” said Keith Nitta, a senior planner with the Kaua‘i County Planning Department.
The development of these homes by Kiahuna and the Knudsen Trust could increase the housing inventory for South Kaua‘i and enhance property values for neighboring homes. But the new homes could add to traffic congestion in the area.
The developers have told county Planning Department officials they wanted to build homes for the local market, although market demand may drive the cost of the homes beyond the reach of local buyers, Nitta said.
Efforts to develop the 458-acre project began in the 1977, when Moana Corp. owned the property, Nitta said.
At the time, the LUC reclassified the property from agricultural to urban use. Moana Corp. proposed to build a “golf village” with an 18-hole golf course, and about 1,500 single-family and multi-family homes, Nitta said.
Within the 457 acres, homes were constructed on 90 lots, the golf course was built, and “two-thirds to three quarters” of the commercial space at the Kiahuna Shopping Village (now Poipu Shopping Village) was developed, Nitta said.
The remaining commercial space at the shopping center, another phase, is anticipated to be developed at another time, Nitta said.
“What remains is the development of 1,400 (residential) units or so,” Nitta said. County officials are working with both property owners to nail down the density of the project.
The 457 acres are located behind the county’s fire station in Po‘ipu.
Among conditions for the rezoning of the property, the LUC required Moana to comply with a “performance deadline” on the development of its project, Nitta said.
Moana wasn’t able to comply with it due in part to a weak economy and a change of ownership, Nitta said.
Moana Corp. later sold a little more than 300 acres to Sports Shinko and the remaining 150 acres or so to Poipu Lani Development, Nitta said. The building performance condition was passed onto the new buyers, Nitta added.
Sports Shinko sold its property to Kiahuna Mauka earlier this year, while Poipu Lani Development defaulted on its property, and the land was obtained by the Knudsen Trust, Nitta said.
The properties are zoned for residential use by the county.
Staff Writer Lester Chang may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) or mailto:lchang@pulitzer.net.
