Opinion ID: 3164956
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: D.R. Horton-Schuler’s Petition for Land Use

Text: District Boundary Amendment On January 24, 2007, D.R. Horton-Schuler filed a Petition for Land Use District Boundary Amendment (“Petition”) before the LUC. D.R. Horton-Schuler described the Hoopili project as follows: Petitioner is currently proposing the development of a mixed-use, transit-ready community, including residential, business, and commercial areas, transit stops, schools, parks and open space. Petitioner is proposing to develop approximately ll,750 residential units (including affordable units) ranging from an estimated $200,000 to $700,000 based upon 2006 market prices, a minimum of five (5) school sites (subject to continued negotiations with the Department of Education), approximately two hundred ten (210) acres for parks and open space, and approximately one hundred forty-five (145) acres for business and commercial spaces that would sell for approximately $35 to $45 per sq. ft. in today’s market. Both the residential and commercial space selling prices are estimates and are subject to change according to fluctuating market conditions, as well as unanticipated costs incurred during construction. The Proposed Project is being designed as a mixed-use community ready to provide high-capacity transit stops to further encourage walking/bicycling and the use of public transportation to supplement that which already underpins Hoopili’s traditional neighborhood design. Infrastructure facilities to be expanded or improved include access and circulation roadways, drainage systems, water distribution and wastewater collection lines, and electrical/communication systems. The Hoopili project is scheduled to be developed in two ten-year phases, the first phase from 2013-2020, and the second phase from 2020-2030.2 2 Under HAR § 15-15-78 (effective 2000-2013), the LUC can reclassify lands incrementally if “full development of the subject property cannot (continued. . .) 5  FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST’S HAWAII REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER  The Petition stated that the land was “currently leased for agricultural purposes,” including “diversified agriculture; pasturage; grazing for livestock; cultivation of seed corn and other agricultural crops; and agricultural research.” The Final Environmental Impact Statement (“FEIS”) prepared in conjunction with the Petition represented that D.R. Horton-Schuler would be relocating the agricultural tenants onto replacement lands. The FEIS also noted that the proposed project conformed to the Hawaii State Plan. The FEIS pointed out that the Petition lands were “located within (and makai of) the Urban Growth Boundary of the Ewa Development Plan Urban Land Use Map.” The FEIS represented that the project “is consistent with the State’s goal to insure [sic] economic stability, diversity, and growth for present and future generations,” because the project “will provide various housing and employment opportunities for the rapidly growing Ewa region, which will in turn, relieve development pressures from other areas of Oahu, particularly the Primary Urban Center, and rural areas such as Waianae, North Shore, Koolau Loa and Koolau Poko.” The FEIS noted, “The agricultural policies [of the Hawaii State Plan] are predominantly not applicable to the Hoopili project.” (. . .continued) substantially be completed within ten years after the date of” the LUC’s approval. 6  FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST’S HAWAII REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER