Baisa Confident in Enacting Maui Island Plan this year

By Wendy Osher

Gladys Baisa. File Photo by Wendy Osher.

The decision making process on the Maui Island Plan got underway yesterday. The initial meeting focused on the introductory section and chapter 1 of the plan relating to population.

The Maui Island Plan is intended to establish Maui’s first growth boundaries, as well as policies and values to guide the county in its decision making for the next two decades.

General Plan Committee Chair, Gladys Baisa called the task daunting, but expressed confidence in being able to enact the Maui Island Plan later this year.

The broader, Countywide Policy Plan was adopted in March, replacing the Maui County General Plan, approved 20 years ago. Review of the Maui Island Plan precedes review of Lanai and Molokai plans, which will likely come up for review in the 2011-2013 Council term.

The Council committee last term conducted an initial review of the first 7 chapters in the 10-chapter Maui Island Plan. Final action must still be taken on those chapters before moving on to Chapters 8-10, which include regulatory maps.