Honolulu Waldorf School, which has seen its $4.5 million plan to expand its Niu Valley campus blocked by community opposition for about two years, is eyeing a nearby college that will soon close as an alternative site for more students in East Oahu.

Waldorf Administrative Director Connie Starzynski said yesterday officials “;are looking into”; TransPacific Hawaii College as an option while they work with residents and the city toward erecting a two-story building at its Ulua Street campus to accommodate as many as 100 high school students who have been taking classes in leased buildings in Kahala since 1996.

“;It's a possibility. It's a lovely facility,”; attorney Kenneth Marcus, who has been working with the private school, said about the college. “;If that works, then everybody I suppose will be happy.”;

TransPacific, on Kalanianaole Highway in Aina Haina, announced in July it would shut down by year's end because of financial instability. Its 40,000-foot oceanfront lot is owned by Simpson Manor Inc., a company with a mailing address in Oregon that makes its money off land leases.

The agent for the company, local attorney William Byrns, said despite Waldorf's interest in the 19-classroom college, it's too early to tell what will happen to it once it closes.

Meanwhile, Starzynski stressed the school's priority is to break ground on the project to increase room at the Ulua Street site, which serves students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. The school says it needs extra classrooms because its lease in Kahala with Kamehameha Schools will expire in 2011 or earlier.

But the development has stalled because of residents' protests since at least December 2006 and delays by the city Zoning Board of Appeals to rule on challenges. The school even sued 20 Niu Valley residents who appealed a city permit issued in January 2007 that placed several restrictions on the project to address traffic, noise and other issues.

It required the school to reduce the size of the envisioned new building, limit enrollment to 380 students, add 40 parking stalls and air-condition or soundproof classrooms.

But Marty Plotnick says he and other Niu Valley residents appealed the permit's approval, claiming its language is vague and could allow the school to skirt the guidelines.

“;It says 'could be,' 'may be,'”; he said yesterday. “;We wanted very clear language: 'You shall do' or 'you shall not do.'”;

The Zoning Board will hear the latest challenge on Dec. 16 when it meets at 12:30 p.m. at the City Council committee meeting room 205 at Honolulu Hale.