Front St. Planter Installation to Result in Temporary Traffic Impacts

Proposed Front Street Park property looking south. Photo Courtesy: State of Hawaii, OEQC

By Wendy Osher

The installation of new concrete planters on Front Street in West Maui will result in a temporary one lane closure between 8 and 9 a.m. on Tuesday, March 12, 2013.

The installation will take place near 1377 Front Street in Lahaina, just north of Mala Ocean Tavern.

The Department of Parks and Recreation is improving the 0.494 acre parcel for passive shoreline recreation.

The property was acquired by the County of Maui by Resolution in April 2007 in a settlement of a state lawsuit and appeal.

The previous owner had planned to build a single family home on the property, however, due to internal issues, the previously approved permits were retracted, which resulted in the lawsuit.

In 2010, the county announced plans to license the Youth Center at the Lahaina Recreation facility to the West Maui Boys & Girls Club.  Since that property was being converted to a use other than outdoor recreation, the law required that a parcel of at least equal fair market value and equivalent recreation utility be offered to replace the loss of public space.

The county proposed the shoreline parcel as a replacement and suggested the addition of picnic tables, fencing and landscaping.  The property is located a few blocks north of historic Lahaina Town and just north of Kapunakea Street.