William and Martha Mowry got the go ahead from the County of Kaua’i Tuesday to develop a residential subdivision along Hanalei Plantation Road – a project 12 years in the making. The Kaua’i Planning Commission’s Subdivision Committee granted final subdivision
William and Martha Mowry got the go ahead from the County of Kaua’i Tuesday to develop a residential subdivision along Hanalei Plantation Road – a project 12 years in the making.
The Kaua’i Planning Commission’s Subdivision Committee granted final subdivision approval for the Hanalei couple to subdivide their 23-acre property at Princeville into 17 lots.
The approval would allow up to 23 homes to be built on 13 lots. Three other lots would be for roads and a fourth lot would be open space, according to the county Planning Department.
The approval, which would help support the development of more housing on the North Shore, is the final step the Mowrys had to make to develop their project.
The couple initially wanted to develop 46 homes on 23 acres and, if that plan had been approved, they could have built another 46 additional dwelling units for a total of 92 homes, the department said.
The additional units were allowed because of the property’s size and because of zoning that allowed for them, the department said.
But Mowry agreed to whittle the size of the project down to 23 houses following public protests. North Shore residents complained about “visual sensitivity” connected with the larger project and the loss of a potential park.
The county Planning Commission approved the smaller project in 1996.
Prior to yesterday’s approval by the county’s subdivision committee, the Mowrys had received approval for their project from the state Department of Transportation Highway’s Division, the state Department of Health, the county Public Works Department and the Kaua’i Historic Preservation Review Commission.
In other matters, the commissioners heard a proposal from Dawn and Charles Williams to connect two single-family, three-storied homes they own at the Pali Kai Cottage, multi-million dollar homes located on a bluff overlooking Kalapaki Bay.
If the work is approved, the project would enhance the value of 17 homes on the bluff, mostly duplexes, said Andy Nickels, who built the two homes and is helping the couple move forward on their plans.
The work, projected to cost more than $400,000, would connect the two buildings – they are about 17 feet apart – with an entry way and two small rooms, according to Dawn Williams.
Nickels, who built five other homes on the bluff, said the work would involve the construction of a 960-square foot structure.
The county Planning Department said the work will actually involve another 1,000 square feet, covering landscaping and other garden amenities, raising concerns about the project exceeding county setback requirements, hence prompting the Marshals to obtain setback variances.
Opposition came from Cheryl Lovell-Obatake, chairwoman of the Nawiliwili Water Shed Council, who said the Williams should be made aware of drainage finding its way into Kalapaki Bay from a golf course above the Pali Kai Cottage, potentially polluting the water.
The County Public Works Department is conducting a water quality study for the bay following episodes of pollution in the recent past, Lovell-Obatake said.
She also said she wanted to make sure the project would not affect parking for fishermen around the Pali Kai Cottage or on hotel grounds.
Dawn Marshal said she and her husband were sensitive to Obatake’s concerns and would want to have them resolved.
