REPORT FROM KAUAI COUNTY – LĪHU‘E – The Kaua‘i Planning Commission today affirmed the March 28, 2013 order of Hearings Officer Richard Nakamura to revoke permits held by Coco Palms Ventures LLC’s to rebuild the property which was damaged in 1992 during Hurricane Iniki. The permits include: Special Management Area Use Permit SMA (U)-2005-1; Project Development Use Permit (PD)-U-2005-4; Use Permits U-2005-6; Variance Permit V-2005-1 and Class IV Zoning Permit Z-IV-2005-5.
Enforcement of the order was stayed for 30 days to allow Prudential, Coco Palms Ventures LLC’s lender, to further explore the issues involved. As part of his order, Nakamura noted that only the Planning Department would be allowed to ask for an extension of this 30-day stay. The department made no such request and the Commission unanimously adopted the order to revoke.
In response to the Commission’s action, Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho, Jr. stated: “I am very pleased to hear of the Planning Commission’s action today to accept the Hearings Officer’s recommendation to revoke the permits currently held by Coco Palms LLC. The property has languished for much too long, and with no alternate plan being proposed by the owners, it’s time to move on to new opportunities.”
The Mayor added: “I plan to arrange for a community discussion very soon so that we can all envision what the future could hold for this site of such historic and cultural significance. Let’s put our hopes and dreams on the table, and work toward a collective vision of Coco Palms that will do justice to this special place and will result in a community resource of which we can all be proud.”