Maui County’s 10th Recovery Coordination Directive, effective Oct. 7, lets qualifying Lāhainā rebuild projects skip public hearings and receive administrative review for Special Management Area permits. The streamlined process applies to certain properties seaward of Front Street that meet specific size and setback requirements.
- Qualifying rebuild projects near Lāhainā’s shoreline can now receive SMA Major Use Permit approval from the Planning Director instead of going through a full public hearing before the Maui Planning Commission.
- To qualify, reconstructed single-family homes must be under 3,500 sq ft, outside required shoreline setbacks, and other structures must remain similar in size, footprint, and use.
- All existing environmental, shoreline setback, historic preservation, and coastal resource protections remain fully in effect under the new process.
- The Planning Director retains authority to add conditions, require studies, or refer applications back to the full commission if site conditions or public concerns warrant it.
- The directive has no set expiration date and remains in effect until the county withdraws or replaces it; all administrative decisions can be appealed to the Planning Commission.
Source: KHON2
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