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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, November 13, 2002

Council departees push key projects

By Treena Shapiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Some of the City Council members whose terms end Jan. 2 will be trying to tie up loose ends at their second to last meeting today, including advancing Outrigger Enterprise's Waikiki Beach Walk project.

Other measures include banning roosters from residential areas, condemning three condominium complexes for leasehold conversion and requiring that drivers use hands-free technology for their cellular phones when they are behind the wheel.

The Council is expected to approve the plan and grant a special management area use permit for Outrigger's $300 million project, which will revitalize nearly eight acres of Waikiki, with plans to raze six buildings and replace them with a new hotel, entertainment complex, retail shops and promenade.

"We've been working very hard to try to move the project forward," said Zoning Committee chairman Duke Bainum, adding it will create jobs and encourage economic revitalization. "We want to make sure the community gets benefits."

Before he leaves office, Bainum said he also wants to ensure that the public has access to the Ko Olina shore line. "That's a very complex issue that's been going on for years unresolved," he said.

The resort allows the public to access the beach during daylight hours and gives fisherman access at all times.

However, the resort has not kept its promise to the city to turn over easements for the access, according to a discussion last month involving Zoning Committee members and Ko Olina consultant Keith Kurahashi.

Bainum said he was optimistic that the two sides would find a compromise, but noted last week that, "It sounds like the developer is hardening their position."

His committee has held back a bill granting a zoning change for the resort to build a strip mall in hopes of forcing a resolution. However, the council will still consider today approval for a school and fire station on the resort property.

Councilman Jon Yoshimura's unsuccessful Senate bid means he can continue shepherding through a handful of bills, such as one that will essentially ban roosters from residential property because of crowing complaints.

Noting that a similar bill was set aside in 1995 after it drew strong opposition from chicken owners, he said, "In a way it's good that you have six people leaving. They can make decisions on what's right and not what's politically acceptable."

Yoshimura's Parks and Public Safety committee has advanced a bill for public hearing today that will make landowners responsible for removing nuisance boulders on their property, following the death of Dara Onishi, who was killed in August when a boulder crashed into her bedroom.

Councilman John Henry Felix, who has championed the city's mandatory leasehold conversion ordinance, including a controversial bill that was tabled last month, said he wants to complete work on three resolutions that will allow condominium owners to purchase the property under the Camelot and Kahala Beach condominium projects and the Admiral Thomas Apartments.

The First United Methodist Church, which owns the Admiral Thomas property, is expected to wage a final protest against the condemnation because of fears that it will lose autonomy in operating the church, which occupies half the property.

"It will not affect the church," said Felix, who is optimistic that other council members will back the resolutions. "I fail to see how they will be negatively impacted."

The 28 Admiral Thomas condominium owners who have petitioned to acquire the fee meet the minimum requirement for mandatory leasehold conversion. If any other owners in the building later wish to purchase the fee, they will have to either negotiate directly with the church or file another condemnation petition, requiring at least 25 more owners from the 148-unit complex to apply.

Felix said he also hopes to see the passage of a version of a bill requiring drivers to use a hands-free device for their cellular phones. The bill is up for public comment this afternoon.

In addition to Bainum, Yoshimura and Felix, John DeSoto, Steve Holmes and Darrlyn Bunda will be leaving the nine-member Council. Romy Cachola, Ann Kobayashi and Gary Okino were reelected in the Sept. 21 primary election.

Reach Treena Shapiro at 525-8070 or tshapiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.