Posted on: Wednesday, August 4, 2004

Animal shelter gets new site

By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer

WAIMANALO — A no-kill animal shelter has agreed to accept a state offer for a new location behind Weinberg Village Waimanalo, but moving could take months while the state works out the lease agreement and the property is prepared.

The state Board of Land and Natural Resources last week approved a 15-year lease for 12 acres of vacant land to the Sylvester Foundation, which has more than 300 animals under its care.

But the property must be cleared, a caretaker's cottage built and facilities installed at a cost of several hundred thousand dollars before any animals can be moved, said Candy Lake, who operates the shelter.

"We haven't signed anything or done anything," Lake said. "We're in a holding pattern."

Dan Davidson, deputy director for the Department of Land and Natural Resources, recommended the lease to the board after working with Lake for several months to identify a potential property. Davidson said the site is a good solution for the foundation's predicament.

"It allows them to stay close to where they are in Waimanalo so the move can be easier," Davidson said.

The foundation is the only organization that provides this type of facility on O'ahu, and will lose its state lease at the end of August in favor of a new lessee. Davidson said the department tried to move quickly to provide a suitable alternative.

The land off Saddle City Road abuts Weinberg Village and Bellows Air Force Station. Once used by a dairy, it is now overgrown with grass and has become a dumping ground for old cars, tires and other discards, according to Lake, who said the state has agreed to clean the property before the foundation moves in.

The foundation has a right of entry to the property in order to begin work, but the city won't issue any permits until the lease is finalized and the organization has the legal right to build there, she said. Besides a building permit, the foundation will need a clearing and grading permit, Lake said.

Any additions to the property — including animal facilities, caretaker's cottage and electrical and water hookups — must be paid for by the foundation, which will seek donations and volunteers to help rebuild at the new site, she said.

In the meantime Lake said she'll stay put with her animals and hope the state can work something out with the next tenant for the foundation's present property.

"I have no idea what they'll do," she said. "I'm leaving that up to them, but they know we can't move."

Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com or 234-5266.