Maui County Council Disaster Recovery, International Affairs and Planning Committee Meeting – July 1, 2026

The committee met to consider Bill 94 (2026), which proposes changing the zoning of two parcels owned by Lahaina United Methodist Church from R‑2 Residential to P‑1 Public/Quasi‑Public. The church’s buildings were destroyed in the August 2023 wildfires, and the rezoning would allow reconstruction of the church and preschool. Discussions covered the bill’s conditions of zoning, legal and technical concerns, and community benefits. The committee ultimately voted to amend the bill by removing the conditions and a lengthy purpose section, updating the acreage, and including a meets‑and‑bounds description, then recommended passage on first reading.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public signed up to testify. The chair closed public testimony after a last call.

Discussion Items

• Chair Tamara Paulton opened the meeting with a roll call, land acknowledgment, and introductions of resource people (church consultant Kimberly Willenbrink and Pastor John Crew). She noted that Bill 94 had been referred after the Planning Commission failed to act within the required 120‑day period. She also mentioned that the church’s deed indicates the property is about 3.26 acres, requiring an amendment to the bill.
• Pastor John Crew expressed gratitude and stated the church’s goal to rebuild and benefit the community. The church is already holding services on the property.
• Planning Director Jackie Takakora supported the rezoning, finding it consistent with the general plan, community plan, and zoning district intent. She raised concerns about the conditions of zoning in Exhibit C, recommending they be removed because conditions are better suited for SMA permits, could be misinterpreted over time, and may unintentionally prohibit future accessory uses. She also noted that the existing residential dwellings on one parcel would become non‑conforming under P‑1 zoning but could continue with limited flexibility. She advised against listing prohibited uses and recommended using a meets‑and‑bounds description and including a land use map before first reading.
• Deputy Corporation Counsel Michael Hopper advised striking Section 1 of the bill (a lengthy purpose section) as extraneous to a zoning ordinance, and recommended adding the meets‑and‑bounds description. He noted that the unilateral agreement would only be needed if conditions of zoning were imposed; without conditions, no unilateral agreement is required. He also questioned the authority of the person signing any unilateral agreement.
• Captain Oliver Voss (Fire & Public Safety) stated that standard fire access and hydrant requirements would apply (20‑foot access road, no parking on roads less than 28 feet, hydrant spacing at 250 feet with 2,000 GPM). These conditions were not verified but if already met, no issue; otherwise improvements would be needed.
• Director Jordan Molina (Public Works) noted that the change to P‑1 may trigger infrastructure improvements beyond those for residential zoning, but those requirements would be addressed during building permit review. The Luakini Street extension project may offer some utility benefits.
• Office of Recovery representative Jordan Hart confirmed that infrastructure improvements would be triggered at the building permit stage and supported the project. He suggested that the ordinance could allow accessory uses on either parcel to address the non‑conforming dwelling issue, but this idea was later debated.
• Councilmembers engaged in discussion. Vice Chair Nohilani Uu‑Hajjins, Members Cook, Johnson, Sugimura, Batangan, Sinanci, and Rollins Fernandez all expressed support. Member Batangan raised questions about the legal mechanism for allowing accessory uses on a separate parcel; Corporation Counsel Hopper opined that such a change would be a code amendment, not appropriate for a single ordinance, and recommended lot consolidation or a joint‑use bill instead. Director Takakora reminded the committee that a joint‑use bill is pending before county council.
• Pastor Crew indicated that the church is interested in lot consolidation or the joint‑use bill to simplify the situation. The church relies on donations but believes it could raise the estimated $5,000–10,000 for a survey.
• Chair Paulton noted the church’s community contributions, including hosting the third anniversary remembrance of the wildfires and partnering with the Healing Journey Economic Recovery Commission.

Key Outcomes

• The committee adopted an amendment to Bill 94 (moved by Member Cook, seconded by Member Johnson) that: 1) changes all references from 3.255 acres to 3.26 acres; 2) replaces Exhibit A with the meets‑and‑bounds description from the church’s deed; 3) strikes Section 1 (the purpose section); 4) strikes Exhibit C (all conditions of zoning); and 5) directs staff to include a land use zoning map as an exhibit before first reading. (9‑0 vote)
• The committee then voted to recommend passage of Bill 94 as amended on first reading (9‑0 vote).
• The bill will move to the full council for first reading with the amendments incorporated. No unilateral agreement will be required because the conditions of zoning were removed.
• The committee chair directed staff to prepare the committee report and finalize the land use map.