The proposal for a land swap that would result in a new state-of-the art Kailua High School is on the verge of moving forward again, with the developer waiting for guidance from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Christopher Dey, who came to the Department of Education in September with a proposal to swap 97 acres of land he owns at the foot of Mount Olomana plus $70 million for the present 75-acre Kailua High School site, said he's awaiting a letter from the Department of Land and Natural Resources that will help him determine how to proceed with the next step in his proposal.

"It's kind of just feeling our way as we go through it," Dey said. "What we wanted to do was just gather more information on the lands themselves and make sure we make a prudent proposal to the Board of Education."

Paul Vierling, who heads a BOE committee appointed to investigate the proposal, said he is ready in the next few weeks to have the developer come to the committee to explain the plan.

Dey said he and his wife, Kimberly, recently met with DLNR representatives to get a better understanding of what is possible on their Olomana land, which is zoned conservation.

"We've met with DLNR to learn from them more about the interpretation of the conservation classification," Dey said. Regulations do not specifically address whether a school can be built on land zoned conservation, he said, and he expects the letter from the department to shed light on the topic.

Schools Superintendent Pat Hamamoto has called the land swap an idea worth exploring and former board chairman Breene Harimoto also said the board should look into the proposal.

But the proposal has been stalled as Dey asked for more time to research the matter.

Vierling said if the board's new leadership under chairman Randall Yee approves, he will schedule an informational meeting.

"The next thing would be a briefing from the company making this proposal, and possibly other state agencies that will be involved in considering this proposal," Vierling said.

Although Dey hasn't announced definitively what he would hope to do with the residential land where the high school now sits, he could build as many as 200 homes under current zoning.

The proposal has already drawn both positive and negative comments from Kailua residents, some of whom would welcome the development and others who worry about increasing traffic, density and other problems associated with more homes. Other concerns include building on the low slopes of a relatively undeveloped mountain.

"Anytime you propose something of this magnitude, you can expect some people in favor and some opposed," Dey said. "There will be ample opportunity for the public to provide thoughts."

Vierling said that after an informational briefing, he would schedule two or three community meetings "to collect public input."

After that, the committee would make a report to the board with its recommendation.

Reach Beverly Creamer at bcreamer@honoluluadvertiser.com.