Maui developer
agrees not to build on
beach lots to spur project

SPRECKELSVILLE, Maui >> In an effort to get permission to build 16 house lots along Maui's Hana Highway, Henry Spencer is willing to forgo development of the most valuable portion of his 70-acre property.

Spencer is prepared to give up any right to develop two lots of about 1.5 acres each along the western half of Spreckelsville Beach.

In return, Spencer is looking to turn 15 acres adjacent to the highway into 16 house lots, ranging from half an acre to more than an acre in size.

Spencer says it is just good business to voluntarily give up developing the beach lots, even though they are potentially worth millions of dollars.

"To pursue oceanfront development on the North Shore today, in the practical sense of time and money, would be met with resistance for environmental reasons, for open space reasons and for shoreline preservation reasons," he said.

"It's not smart business and it's not responsible development," Spencer said.

Not far away, other beachfront developments have been embroiled in expensive legal battles for years.

In addition, by staying clear of the shore by at least 400 feet, Spencer needn't be concerned with disturbing wetlands or any Hawaiian burials that may be in the dunes.

The 15-acre parcel has state and county urban zoning, but is designated open space in the community plan. Spencer wants the area rezoned from 10,000-square-foot lots to half-acre minimum lots.

Spencer's proposal also calls for donating an acre of land between the parcel and the Kaunoa Senior Center to the center, which he says is overcrowded and needs space to expand.

In addition, 18 acres of dunes and kiawe jungle would also be downzoned to open space and preserved by easement, and 27 acres would continue to be leased to Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. for farming.

"If people cannot like this as a development, they are just anti-development, no matter what," he said.

Spencer said he has a list of more than 40 interested prospects for the highway house lots, and "all but just a couple have been here, are current, full-time residents of Maui."