Exemptions Proposed to Help Those on Upcountry Water Meter List

Water meter. File photo by Wendy Osher.

By Maui Now Staff

Exemptions are being proposed to applicants on the Upcountry water meter priority waiting list to help those wanting to build an ʻohana unit or a second dwelling for a family member.

Under the proposal, applicants seeking to subdivide their properties into two lots would be exempt from costly infrastructure requirement prior to getting a meter installed.

This includes exemptions from street and fire protection improvements for structures that are 1,000 square feet or smaller.

Baisa noted that while the exemption from fire protection improvements would apply only to applicants on the Upcountry water meter list, the exemption from street improvements would apply both to those on the list and other qualified water meter applicants throughout the county with the same restriction on structure size.

The bill was introduced by Water Resources Committee Chair Gladys Baisa and will be considered during a meeting on Wednesday.

The Upcountry water meter list was created 16 years ago and includes more than 1,800 applicants.