Resort work concerns
neighborsMaui condo owners fear construction
noise will chase off renters
Kaanapali Alii condominium owners are worried that construction noise and traffic generated by a nearly three-year expansion planned at an adjacent Maui resort will drive away vacation renters.
Marriott Vacation Club International is planning a $92 million project to build two new guest towers, parking structures and pools at its Maui Ocean Club Resort adjacent to Kaanapali Alii.
The Maui Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Marriott's project at 9 a.m. tomorrow in its conference room in Wailuku. Marriott is required to obtain a county permit to begin construction.
Seventeen nearby condominium owners wrote letters to developers and the Maui Planning Department a year ago with their concerns about the expansion project. The owners worried about the noise, traffic, dust and reduced scenic views.
"We are concerned about the noise, the dirt and our inability to rent our units during construction," wrote Kaanapali Alii condo owners Irene and Byron Smith.
Marriott plans to build two 12-story towers, a five-story parking structure and a 1 1/2 story parking structure on the northern end of Marriott's property, near Kaanapali Alii, according to Robb Cole of Chris Hart & Partners, which assisted Marriott officials with their permit request. Two new tennis courts, two swimming pools, spas and decks would also be added.
Demolition of existing parking lots, a fitness center, ballroom and tennis courts is slated to start in April 2006.
Construction on the southern tower is scheduled to take place from September 2006 to September 2007, while construction on the northern tower will take place from June 2007 to December 2008.
All that work worried neighbors. In another letter included as part of Marriott's environmental impact statement, Mark and Mary Happ wrote, "No one wants to come to a vacation resort, pay top dollar and share the noise of demolition and construction as well as pollution, dust and debris."
Cole said Marriott officials have responded to concerned residents and changed the original plans to move the project further from Kaanapali Alii and from the beach.
"What Marriott has been doing is increasing setbacks in order to preserve views for the neighbors," he said.
Marriott officials have regularly met with Kaanapali Alii officials and several other owners to address noise concerns, Cole added.
Marriott is looking into putting noise-dampening pads on pile drivers, as well as pre-drilling holes and using multiple pile drivers to speed construction, according to the environmental impact statement.
Barry Lewin, the general manager of the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa, on the southern side of the Maui Ocean Club, commended Marriott for working closely with adjacent properties to address concerns.
"We have no concerns whatsoever. ... They have been doing everything in first-class effort to mitigate any problems," said Lewin. "They have been very upfront and forthcoming."
