North Shore group fights gated community

By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser North Shore Bureau

A North Shore group is rallying residents to oppose a planned gated community next to popular Velzyland Beach, on land once set aside for a city park.

	Comment sought The public may comment on the project until June 22. Send comments to:
•	Kaunala Beach Estates, 43 Ahui St., Honolulu, HI 96813
•	City Department of Planning and Permitting, 650 S. King St., Honolulu, HI 96813
•	Wilson Okamoto & Associates, 1907 S. Beretania St., Suite 400, Honolulu, HI 96813

"We were under the impression that we were getting a park," said Cora Majek Sanchez, with the Friends. "Then we received our eviction notice, and the paper said it was going to be a gated community."

Kaunala Beach Estates LLC, formerly known as Commercial Investment Hawai'i LLC, proposes to consolidate and subdivide 19 acres of land at Kaunala, next to the University of Hawai'i Waiale'e Livestock Research Farm, the May 8 bulletin for the Office of Environmental Quality Control reported.

The developer first filed notice with the state Feb. 23, but the developer must revise its environmental impact statement, the most recent OEQC bulletin stated.

The land, about a half-mile from Sunset Beach, would be divided into 33 parcels and called Kaunala Beach Estate. Twenty-nine parcels ranging from 10,000 square feet to more than 30,000 square feet will be sold in fee for single-family residences.

Other parcels would be used for a private road, the subdivision's sewage treatment plant and a park.

A public shoreline access easement from Kamehameha Highway would be provided near the access road to the subdivision.

The City Council designated that property for park use last year, when it was listed for sale for $4 million, North Shore City Councilwoman Rene Mansho said. But the property owner later claimed the listed price was for just one parcel, not the entire 19 acres.

Mansho said residents will have to let the city know what they want. Right now the city's priority is to purchase Waimea Falls Park, which is for sale.

The Kaunala developer has agreed to build a park and beach access at Kaunala, a popular surfing beach.

The North Shore Neighborhood Board will discuss the issue at its next meeting at 7 p.m. May 22 at Hale'iwa Ali'i Beach Park, she said.

"Then we'll hear from the community whether we should pursue using taxpayer dollars to purchase the entire property, which is much more than $4 million," Mansho said.

The consultant for the developer said the land was listed for $11.28 million.

Earl Matsukawa, with Wilson Okamoto & Associates Inc., said the city has had time to purchase the land but didn't.

"No money was ever appropriated for that purpose," Matsukawa said, adding that the developer will continue with the planning process.

The consultant has submitted the paperwork for a special management area permit, necessary for the project. The project also needs a grading permit and a subdivision approval.

Sanchez said once a public hearing is set, she'll hold a community meeting to develop testimony for the hearing and organize a petition.

About 100 people will be evicted from the property, which Sanchez called the last of the affordable homes on the North Shore, by Aug. 31, she said.

Sanchez pays $750 for a three-bedroom, two-bath home with ocean access. Even if the park were built she would have to leave, she said, but she didn't mind as long as the 19-acre park was built.