Jencks told council Land Use Committee members that the "apartment project type" housing will be built on 13 acres in a light-industrial site mauka of the Piilani Highway. The housing would also be part of the Honua'ula project's plan to comply with the county's Residential Workforce Housing Policy.

Jencks' commitment on the affordable rentals was part of a continuing discussion by the committee reviewing more than 30 conditions proposed on the Honua'ula zoning requests. The 670-acre project district mauka of the Wailea Resort would include 1,400 housing units, a golf course and a commercial center.

After five hours Wednesday, the committee review that began on July 25 was recessed. Committee Chairman Mike Molina said the meeting will reconvene at 1:30 p.m. Friday.

Jencks discussed the affordable housing component questioned by Council Vice Chairman Danny Mateo, who said he had a letter from Jencks saying Honua'ula would begin building affordable housing prior to starting on its 670-acre development.

At a February committee meeting, Jencks suggested that Honua'ula could use 5 acres in north Kihei to provide 100 units or more of "special-needs housing." At that time, Jencks said, the housing was "not yet" tied to Honua'ula's housing requirements.

The Residential Workforce Housing Policy, approved by the council last year, requires 40 percent to 50 percent of new residential projects to be affordably priced — depending on the prices of the market-priced homes in the project. Developers can also satisfy the requirement by paying a fee to the county or by providing land.

Depending on the prices for its market units, Honua'ula would need to provide up to 700 affordable units.

Mateo said the affordable units do not have to be built in the proposed project area but must be in the same community plan district.

Council Member Michelle Anderson said she would "much prefer all affordable housing on site" and said that some affordable housing proponents also agree.

She also said she would like to see a traffic impact assessment on the north Kihei site because the affordable units will be near streets, such as Ohukai Road, that are already heavily used by residents.

Honua'ula will work out its requirements of the Residential Workforce Housing Policy with the Department of Housing and Human Concerns.

The committee took no action on the affordable housing condition, but did reach consensus on four conditions – although the committee members were told that they could submit their recommendations on wording the conditions. The conditions are: