Hoopili Has Been Given Approval By Honolulu Planning Commission

The Honolulu Planning Commission has voted 6-0 in the recommendation to the Honolulu City Council to rezone the Hoopili development from agriculture to residential, business and mixed use.  Developer D.R. Horton plans to build a total of 11,750 homes on the 1,554 acre site. Supporters of the project argue that Hoopili will provide much needed homes to the area as well as jobs.  Opponents state that it will make traffic worse and eliminate prime agricultural land. The proposal will now go to the City Council who will probably decide on the rezoning request in January 2014.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 12-4-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
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Update on the Hoopili Development

The Honolulu Planning Commission will be meeting this week to discuss the Hoopili development project that is being proposed by D.R. Horton-Schuler Homes Hawaii.  Under the proposal, as many as 11,750 new homes could be developed in the 1,269 acre area. The developer and their supporters state that the project will help to alleviate Oahu's housing shortage as well as provide construction jobs. However, Hoopili is located on existing agricultural land, and groups opposing the redevelopment argue that the agricultural land is needed.

The state Land Use Commission has already reclassified the lad for urban use in June 2012.  Cameron Nekota, the vice president of Horton, stated that the developer has submitted all of the necessary documents that are required for the project to begin. However, opponents of the project argue that the Honolulu Planning Commission also has to give their approval.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 11-30-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
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Update on Hoopili Project in West Oahu

Honolulu's Department of Planning and Permitting will be meeting later this must to review the rezoning request for the Hoopili project in West Oahu  The 1,289 acres of land in question is currently zoned as agriculture, but developer D.R. Horton would like to build a total of 11,750 homes along with 3 million sq ft of commercial space, five schools, and 159 acres of commercial farms. Supporters of the development argue that it will provide jobs and additional homes that will help with Oahu's housing shortage. Opponents of Hoopili argue that it would reduce prime agricultural lands and increase traffic in the area.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 8-19-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
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Honolulu City Council Approves Updated Ewa Development Plan

The Honolulu City Council has voted in a 9-0 decision to give their approval to proceed with an updated Ewa Development Plan.  The plan will help to provide development guidelines for the Ewa neighborhood, including the proposal to build the Ho'opili development which would create another 12,000 homes in the area.  Supporters of the Ho'opili project note that the island of Oahu is in dire need of additional homes and jobs and are very happy with the City Council's approval.  However, opponents of the Ho'opili project argue that the development would take away critical agricultural land and add additional traffic problems for West Oahu commuters.

It should be noted that the Ewa Development Plan is only a guideline, and does not mean that the agricultural land that the Ho'opili project sits on would actually be rezoned for urban redevelopment. However, this is a major victory in the process for D.R. Horton, the developer of the Ho'opili project.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 7-11-2013, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Broker-in-Charge, REALTOR®
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New Development – Ho’opili Community Update

Judge Rhonda Nishimura, a Hawaii Circuit Court judge, has upheld the state’s Land Use Commission’s decision to allow urban use of farmland in the Ewa plains. This decision will allow developer D.R. Horton to build the Ho’opili community, which will be an 11,750 home project.

The dispute centered around the fact that the land that the Ho’opili community is scheduled to be built on is zoned as agricultural land. The Land Use Commission gave D.R. Horton a variance and changed the zoning to urban use, allowing the building of residential homes. However, the Sierra Club of Hawaii and state Senator Clayton Hee filed a lawsuit opposing the Land Use Commission’s decision. D.R. Horton hired expert witnesses who stated that some farming on the land would be able to continue and displaced farmers would be able to relocate to other suitable and available farmlands on Oahu. They also noted that the state’s overall agricultural production would not be significantly impacted by the building of the Ho’opili Community. Senator Hee and the Sierra Club brought in their own expert testimony to dispute the developer’s claims.

According to Judge Nishimura, the Sierra Club and Senator Hee failed to show that the D.R. Horton’s expert witnesses were not credible or that their evidence significantly outweighed the evidence provided by Horton’s experts. Nishimura further stated that the Land Use Commission did not violate the Constitution and they were allowed to change the zoning from agricultural to urban. The Sierra Club and Senator Hee have stated that they will further appeal the case.

Developer D.R. Horton will now have to go to the city’s Department of Planning and Permitting to file an official zoning change application. The Honolulu City Council would then give the final approval for the Ho’opili project.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 5-9-2013, www.staradvertiser.com
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Schuler Offers Landscaping Plant Options for Final Phases of Makakilo Subdivision

In addition to offering the more traditional choices of different carpet colors, appliances, and countertop finishings, the Schuler division of developer D.R. Horton is offering the option to install landscaping plants and urban gardens for the final phases of Kahiwelo at Makakilo.  According to their press release, Schuler officials believe that this is the first time a single-family home developer in Hawaii has offered such a range of pre-built garden system options to a potential buyer.  Schuler stated that they could install landscaping options that could include fish ponds, hydroponic vegetable systems, and planter beds, complete with herbs, fruit trees and vegetables.  

Schuler officials did add that they are hoping to provide similar options if they were to get state approval for their new Ho’opili Development in Ewa on the island of Oahu.  If approved, the Ho’opili Development would have approximately 11,750 homes.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 5-16-2012, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Broker-in-Charge, Realtor®
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Latest on Ho’opili Hearings and Testimonials

Over the last few weeks, the state of Hawaii’s Land Use Commision has been hearing testimonials from both the developer D.R. Horton and those who oppose the building of the Ho’opili project.  D.R. Horton would like to build a total of 11,750 new homes in the Ewa area on the island of Oahu over 1,554 acres which is currently zoned agricultural.  The construction union in particular has been a strong supporter of the Ho’opili project and stated that the development will create much needed jobs and homes on the island.  The opposition is concerned that the project will ruin valuable agricultural and farmland in the area, and will also create huge traffic problems.

In the latest set of hearings, expert witnesses for the opposition have been speaking before the Land Use Commission.  Panos Prevedourous, a traffic engineering specialist with the University of Hawaii, has testified against the developer and stated that the building of the Ho’opili project could increase drive times through the area by 20 to 30 minutes.  Prevedourous stated, “You will have a tremendous traffic impact.”

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 3-3-2012, www.staradvertiser.com

Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Broker-in-Charge, Realtor

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Latest on Ho’opili Project Hearings

Speaking before the state of Hawaii’s Land Use Commission, land developer D.R. Horton has stated that they hope to build a new project to be named Ho’opili on the Ewa Plains. The project would contain a total of 11,750 homes, schools, shopping centers, medical facilities and two hotels.  D.R. Horton has already received support from Honolulu’s Department of Planning and Permitting as well as the state Department of Agriculture and the Department of Transportation and Office of Planning. 

The Land Use Commission will now be hearing from those who oppose the project.  Leading the opposition is the Sierra Club’s Hawaii Chapter, the Friends of Makakilo and state Senator Clayton Hee.  Their primary objection is that the project sits on 1,554 acres of the most fertile and productive farm land on the island of Oahu.

In order to change the land zoning from agricultural to urban, D.R. Horton needs to have a total of six of the nine commission members vote in their favor.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 2-19-2012, www.staradvertiser.com

Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Broker-in-Charge, Realtor

Global Executive Realty, LLC

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