Maui Affordable Housing, Transportation Legislation Passes Out of Committee

A bill relating to fast track housing passed out of the Housing, Human Services, and Transportation Committee’s Nov. 1 meeting and advances to the full council.

The bill proposes an expedited review process for county permits for qualifying 100% residential workforce housing projects.

“This is a big step to assuring affordable housing is a priority for our county,” said Committee Chair Stacy Crivello.

According to Crivello, the bill aligns closely with a recommendation from a recent housing policy analysis, which identified reducing uncertainty and processing time as key factors to increase the county’s affordable housing inventory and lower housing prices.

A second bill also passed out of committee, authorizing the county to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the Hawaiʻi Housing and Finance Development Corporation, and the State Department of Accounting and General Services, to move the current Maui Bus hub from the Queen Kaʻahumanu Shopping Center to a proposed site on Vevau Street in Kahului. The lease for the current Maui Bus hub expires on Jan. 30, 2020.

According to the HHFDC’s budget, the county will receive $2.5 million for planning, design, and construction of the facility. The county will be authorized to use a portion of State land near the Queen Kaʻahumanu Shopping Center to construct and operate the new Maui Bus hub, in exchange for DAGS’ use of the county-owned property identified as the “Old Wailuku Post Office” site in Wailuku.

“This is a major win for the county. We will be able to continue providing quality, centrally located bus services for our riders, support HHFDC’s affordable housing project, and move toward our goal of revitalizing Wailuku by allowing the State to develop much needed office space on the parcel,” said Crivello.