Maui County is telling property owners, business operators and residents it is their turn at the mic as Lahaina’s commercial core heads into a crucial design phase. Draft commercial design guidelines for the devastated district are now on the table, and the county has lined up a one-hour online webinar next Wednesday to walk everyone through the details, with formal public board hearings set for early January. Planners say the goal is to protect Front Street’s historic vibe while giving owners clearer rules for rebuilding.
According to a press release from the County of Maui, the Department of Planning will host the Microsoft Teams webinar from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., joined by consultants Opticos Design to explain the draft’s purpose, scope and key provisions. The county notice includes a Microsoft Teams registration link for anyone who wants to log on and follow along in real time.
Local boards will provide the more formal setting. The Urban Design Review Board is slated to take up the draft at its Jan. 6 meeting, and the Maui County Cultural Resources Commission will weigh in on Jan. 8. Both meetings are scheduled for the Planning Conference Room in the Kalana Pakui Building in Wailuku, with options to participate online as well, according to Maui Now.
“These new commercial design guidelines are intended to honor Lahaina's rich history while giving property owners clear guidance on key aspects of rebuilding,” County Planning Director Kate Blystone said in the county notice. Her comments underline the tightrope act officials are attempting: protecting a nationally known historic town while helping businesses find a practical path forward after the 2023 wildfires.
How to join and give input
Members of the public can sign up for the webinar through the registration link provided in the county’s notice, and written testimony is being accepted ahead of the January hearings. Meeting agendas for both boards will be posted at least six days before each session, as noted by Maui Now, giving residents time to study what is on deck.
Context: where this fits in Lahaina's rebuild
The draft guidelines are the latest step in a process that has already involved months of community outreach. County planners held street-design workshops in June and an open house in September that helped shape options for Front Street, according to Maui News. Those earlier sessions dug into street connectivity, mobility and how to juggle access for pedestrians, vehicles and deliveries as Lahaina comes back online.
County officials say the commercial design guidelines are one piece of a broader push to revive Lahaina’s business district while baking safety and resilience into whatever gets rebuilt. Anyone who skips the webinar will still have the chance to show up at the January hearings or track agendas and planning documents through the county’s online planning pages.
