Mililani Mauka’s
final phase approved

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Star-Bulletin staff

The 800-home, final phase of Mililani Mauka has won approval from the City Council.

The Council voted 8-1 yesterday to rezone the 104-acre "third increment" to be developed by Castle & Cooke Homes Hawaii from agricultural to residential use. Councilman Steve Holmes was the sole dissenting vote.

The approval came despite residents' objections that the project will draw more traffic to the area and overload neighborhood public schools.

The site, next to the H-2 freeway, was initially envisioned as the site of the University of Hawaii's Central Oahu campus, which UH officials abandoned about 10 years ago in favor of property between Kunia and Makakilo.

Council members said they favored the project because it is an "infill" plan surrounded by similar, compatible types of development.

But Holmes said the plan runs against the city's presumed policy of steering development toward Kapolei.

Castle & Cooke also has plans, now before the state Land Use Commission, for up to 7,500 homes on three parcels totaling 1,250 acres at Waiawa and Waipio.