Recovery Coordination Directives (RCDs) are temporary administrative actions used by the County of Maui to help address specific barriers encountered by County departments during wildfire recovery.

Each RCD is narrowly focused on a particular recovery issue and establishes an administrative pathway to help address that issue so rebuilding and return can continue to move forward. RCDs do not broadly waive County requirements; rather, they provide targeted solutions to specific circumstances that may otherwise impede recovery progress.

Recovery Coordination Directive No. 10 establishes temporary administrative procedures for certain wildfire reconstruction projects within the Special Management Area (SMA) makai, or seaward, of Front Street in Lahaina.

RCD No. 10 is intended to facilitate timely wildfire recovery and reconstruction while maintaining applicable shoreline, environmental, historic and cultural resource protections and public safety requirements.

The August 2023 wildfires destroyed numerous structures in Lahaina's commercial core, residential neighborhoods and shoreline areas. Existing SMA Major Use Permit procedures for shoreline properties were not designed to address the scale and unique circumstances of post-disaster reconstruction.

RCD No. 10 establishes an administrative pathway for qualifying reconstruction projects while continuing to protect shoreline resources, public access, historic and cultural resources, environmental quality and public safety.

Under RCD No. 10, qualifying SMA Major Use Permit applications may be processed administratively by the Planning Director rather than proceeding through the standard public hearing process before the Maui Planning Commission.

Administrative approvals must include a written assessment and findings demonstrating consistency with applicable SMA objectives, policies and criteria. Approvals will also be reported to the Maui Planning Commission through the Director's Report process, and administrative decisions may be appealed to the Maui Planning Commission.

No. RCD No. 10 does not eliminate SMA permitting requirements or applicable shoreline, environmental, historic preservation or coastal resource protection requirements.

Qualifying projects remain subject to applicable SMA requirements, shoreline setbacks, environmental regulations, historic preservation requirements and coastal resource protection standards. RCD No. 10 changes the review and approval pathway for qualifying SMA Major Use Permit applications.

The Planning Director may require additional studies, conditions or agency review when site-specific conditions warrant further evaluation, including considerations related to coastal hazards, cultural resources, drainage, infrastructure capacity, environmental conditions or other site-specific conditions.

The Planning Director may also refer an application to the Maui Planning Commission when site-specific conditions, public concerns or potential impacts warrant additional consideration.

Each RCD is narrowly focused on a particular recovery issue and establishes an administrative pathway to help address that issue so rebuilding and return can continue to move forward. RCDs do not broadly waive County requirements; rather, they provide targeted solutions to specific circumstances that may otherwise impede recovery progress.

RCD No. 10 applies to reconstruction associated with structures damaged or destroyed by the August 2023 Lahaina wildfires.

To qualify, reconstruction must occur on a parcel that does not abut the shoreline, or the reconstructed structure must be located entirely outside the applicable shoreline setback. Being located makai of Front Street does not automatically qualify a property for administrative processing under RCD No. 10. Projects must also meet eligibility criteria related to the type and scale of reconstruction proposed.

For single-family dwellings, reconstructed floor area must be less than 3,500 square feet. For other structures and uses, reconstruction must be substantially like-for-like in footprint, scale, intensity and use.

The director shall interpret "like-for-like" as being substantively equal in scale of structure, density and intensity of use, as well as being consistent with the Coastal Zone Management Objectives of the State of Hawai'i and the West Maui Community Plan.

Relocations or reconfigurations of structures and/or the resumption of uses that lawfully existed prior to the disaster may be approved by the director within the same lot.

Potentially. Under RCD No. 10, reconstruction may qualify if the reconstructed structure is located entirely outside the applicable shoreline setback.

Eligibility ultimately depends on the property and proposed reconstruction meeting all applicable criteria.

There is no change to the existing process for determining the shoreline setback for a parcel. Applicants will use the County of Maui Shoreline Setback Viewer to determine the applicable shoreline setback area.

If a mapped Erosion Hazard Line is present on the parcel, that line establishes the shoreline setback, provided the setback is not less than 40 feet from the shoreline.

If no mapped Erosion Hazard Line is present, a 200-foot shoreline setback generally applies unless a lot-depth setback is determined to be applicable under the Special Management Area Rules for the Maui Planning Commission. Applicants should consult with the Planning Department when a lot-depth setback may apply.

Yes. Under RCD No. 10, reconstruction within the Lahaina National Historic Landmark District must be consistent with applicable National Historic Landmark District design guidelines and historic preservation requirements.

Applicable historic preservation requirements continue to apply under RCD No. 10.

Reconstruction within the wildfire affected areas are subject to historic preservation review in accordance with Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) 6E. The Planning Director may also require additional studies, conditions or agency review based on cultural resources or other site-specific conditions.

Qualifying projects under RCD No. 10 remain subject to the Shoreline Rules for the Maui Planning Commission.

Applicants must adhere to project-specific best management practices designed to avoid, minimize and mitigate environmental impacts, including erosion, runoff, dust, debris migration and impacts to coastal resources.

Property owners must also execute and record with the State of Hawaii Bureau of Conveyances a unilateral agreement with the County of Maui to remove structures damaged by future coastal hazards.

Public shoreline access must be maintained or reasonably accommodated where applicable, consistent with recommendations from the County of Maui Office of Recovery's shoreline access planning efforts.

Yes. In addition to applicable eligibility and permitting requirements, RCD No. 10 establishes conditions and best management practices for qualifying projects.

These include requirements related to historic preservation, public shoreline access, drought-tolerant and fire-resistant landscaping, structure size, and measures to avoid, minimize and mitigate environmental impacts. Proposed reconstruction may not include new swimming pools or similar water features.

No. RCD No. 10 does not establish an administrative pathway for shoreline hardening or the construction or reconstruction of seawalls or other shoreline protection structures. The directive applies to qualifying reconstruction of structures damaged or destroyed by the August 2023 Lahaina wildfires.

No. RCD No. 10 establishes an alternative administrative process for projects that meet its eligibility criteria. It does not guarantee permit approval.

The Planning Director may require additional information, studies, conditions or agency review based on the circumstances of an individual project and may refer an application to the Maui Planning Commission when additional consideration is warranted.

Yes. Administrative approvals issued under RCD No. 10 constitute final administrative actions of the Planning Director unless appealed to the Maui Planning Commission.

RCD No. 10 applies solely to reconstruction associated with structures damaged or destroyed by the August 2023 Lahaina wildfires and will remain in effect until it is rescinded, superseded or otherwise modified by the County of Maui.

Property owners should review RCD No. 10, applicable mapping and other information provided by the County and consult with the County of Maui Planning Department regarding property-specific eligibility and permitting requirements.

To apply, submit an SMA Major Use Permit application via Maui Automated Planning and Permitting System (MAPPS). The Department will review your application and determine if the project qualifies for administrative review under RCD 10.