From The Maui News

By Chris Hamilton

Department of Planning Director Will Spence said the most immediate and largest challenges ahead of him are finishing Maui’s master plan and streamlining the Planning Department.

The Maui Island Plan is expected to be completed by the end of the year, county officials have said. And much of Spence’s job in helping the Maui County Council to complete it as part of the General Plan 2030 update involves making a host of recommendations, such as urban-growth boundaries, reviews of various developments and decisions on where businesses will build for the next 20 years.

In addition, he’s attempting to fix a slow permitting system that earlier administrations have been unable to reform. But Spence again said he’s hopeful that compromises will be reached and significant successes accomplished.

Mayor Alan Arakawa set a goal for his administration to streamline the permitting process across departments. The bureaucracy involved in even the simplest of projects, such as expanding a home’s lanai, is a frequent complaint among residents.

“My philosophy is looking out for the little guy in our permitting process,” Spence said as he spoke about how the two major issues converge. “When the zoning codes were adopted in the ’60s and ’70s, we put into place processes that only the large landowners could afford. It hasn’t changed much, and the little guy gets lost in the shuffle. Only the big guys can afford all the consultants it takes now, so as we look at the Maui Island Plan, we can make it easier for the average landowner to get through the process.”

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