Posted on: Friday, January 3, 2003

Developer submits 'Ewa plan

By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer

Gentry Homes Ltd. is launching plans for the final phase of its 'Ewa Makai development, submitting a rezoning request that will lead to 1,865 more homes in the region.

In a proposal submitted to the Office of Environmental Quality Control, Gentry requested the rezoning of 283 acres of undeveloped land for its Gentry 'Ewa Makai residential and commercial development.

The public has until Jan. 22 to comment on an overview of Gentry's plans, which will be used to draft an environmental impact statement that will look at the development's impact on traffic, noise, environment and infrastructure.

"This is the final piece in our project," said Debra Luning, Gentry's director of government relations and community affairs.

The proposal outlines plans for the construction of 550 single-family units, 675 cluster housing units and 640 multifamily units. About 50 acres will be used for commercial and industrial development.

In the proposal, Gentry has also set aside two acres for a community center, 11.5 acres for a park, four acres for a church, 14 acres for open space and 14.5 acres for roadways.

'Ewa residents have voiced concern over the continued development of their community, saying that developers should be accountable to provide adequate infrastructure to match the area's growth. They have complained about crowded schools and traffic.

Some have supported Gentry's request for rezoning as it may speed up the building of a second access road out of 'Ewa. Right now there is only one road — Fort Weaver Road — in and out of the area.

Completion of the Gentry 'Ewa Makai development, just south of the 'Ewa by Gentry subdivision and next to the Hawai'i Prince Golf Course, would bring the total number of Gentry homes in the 'Ewa region to more than 9,000.

'Ewa by Gentry is a 1,000-acre planned community with about 7,200 homes, and only two-thirds of its master plan has been completed.

The report will be available for public viewing at the state Office of Environmental Quality Control and local libraries. After a 30-day period to gather public input, the comments will be included in a draft environmental impact statement to be published later this year.

Reach Catherine E. Toth at 535-8103 or ctoth@honoluluadvertiser.com.