Maui Council passes bill allowing certain Lahaina structures to build back as it was
LAHAINA, Hawaii (KHON2) — Many Lahaina residents will be able to rebuild quicker thanks to a new bill passed on March 21 at the Maui County Council.
Historic churches will also benefit, allowing many properties to be built back as they were before the fires and bypassing 'new' zoning laws.
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The Maui County Council unanimously voted to allow property owners to rebuild to its original condition, even if it doesn't meet certain modern codes like zoning or land-use, which could take months to approve.
West Maui Councilmember Tamara Paltin said many Lahaina residents have been waiting for this bill to pass because they had minor setback discrepancies and the Planning Department was holding their permits.
'Some folks didn't even want to start consulting with their design professional until we passed this bill,' Paltin said. 'So they would know exactly what was allowed because every time you have to change your plans that costs additional money.'
She said permits will still need to comply with building and fire codes, but it will help get some residents back home quicker.To date, there have been 338 building permits issued, 332 residential and six non-residential, and eight residential permits completed.
The County Recovery Permit Center has categories for residential and non-residential properties. The non-residential category includes properties with four or more dwelling units, commercial properties and all of the Puamana community in Lahaina.
'The passage of Bill 105 represents a crucial step in helping our community rebuild stronger and with hope. This bill, which was initiated by the Planning Department and strongly supported by Councilmember Paltin, removed barriers for homeowners whose properties were impacted by the August 2023 wildfires,' said Maui Mayor Richard Bissen. 'For many, it will allow them to restore their homes as they were, building back the character that made Lahaina special.'
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The bill's passage is also a win for several historic churches in Lahaina that were burned in the fire.
'A great example of why this bill is important is Waiola Church. The church is on a piece of land that's zoned for residential use and the residential zoning districts in Maui don't allow a religious meeting place in residential zones unless the church or the temple goes to the planning commission and applies for a special use permit,' explained Jonathan Helton, Grassroots Institute of Hawaii policy analyst. 'And that can take months.'
The bill does not allow non-conforming transient vacation rentals to rebuild as it was and have to conform to new zoning standards.
'The need right now is not for TVR's, it is for housing for our residents. We have hundreds of people who don't have places to live,' Paltin said.
Property owners would have four years to rebuild, but certain historic district properties and shoreline areas could be given a two year extension.
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