WAILUKU — After voting in favor of the controversial Makena Resort luxury development, county council member Joe Pontanilla was in his office the next day struggling to find the right words to express why he voted yes.

Pontanilla said he didn't think the $7 billion, 800-unit project in South Maui was poorly conceived or that its general partner, Everett Dowling, couldn't be trusted to fulfill his promises to build the accompanying affordable housing or that Dowling wouldn't preserve natural and cultural resources on the 1,800-acre property.

"It was especially tough for me because we heard a lot of testimony from Maui Prince (Hotel) employees who were worried about their jobs, and people in the construction industry hoping for some economic stimulus," Pontanilla said.

On Wednesday night, the Maui County Council granted first-reading approval to a bill providing zoning for the Makena Resort to proceed with development under its revised master plan.

The 5-3 vote followed a day-long hearing.

Retired GTE Hawaiian Tel island manager Pontanilla said the prospect of more layoffs because Dowling's request to rezone 603 acres to build the Makena Resort would fail under his watch was a personal one.

When Pontanilla worked for the telephone company, he had to lay people off.

He said he always took to heart the plight of the people who lost their healthcare and homes because he could no longer provide them with jobs.

It's something he wants to avoid again if at all possible, he said.

Council members didn't vote until after 11 p.m. Wednesday on the Makena Resort issue, which has been on the books for 30 years.

After the vote, they all said they would reserve public comment until after the second and final reading, scheduled for Friday — the final regular council meeting of the term.

The package of bills also approves modifications of an agreement setting 43 conditions on the zoning for Dowling and his primary partner, Morgan Stanley.

"I accept the conditions," a slightly disheveled Dowling said just before the vote Wednesday night.

On Thursday, he said he was anxious to move forward, expecting final approval in a week. He said he could accept the conditions that reduce the number of housing units to be built and sharply restrict the resort to a single hotel now in operation as the Maui Prince Hotel.

Council chairman Riki Hokama said the agreement has to be signed and submitted to the county before the council will act on a second and final reading.

"I will have no problem signing the agreement as it was approved last night," Dowling said yesterday. "There was a lot of give and take. We didn't get everything we wanted, but we're grateful for the legislation being approved finally."

Pontanilla, along with council members Mike Molina, Mike Victorin, Bill Medeiros and Hokama, voted in favor of the project. Council member Gladys Baisa was absent.

The opposition was led by Michelle Anderson, who holds the South Maui seat.

Council members Jo Anne Johnson and Danny Mateo also voted no.

Makena Resort homes are expected to fetch up to $14 million apiece.

Like Pontanilla, Medeiros also said he was motivated by those who testified they were on the verge of losing all they have. Dowling also has a good reputation in the community, he said.