'AINA HAINA — Residents last night voiced their opposition again to a cluster residential development proposed in the midst of this community of single-family homes.

More than 100 people attended the meeting at the 'Aina Haina Elementary School cafeteria to hear the latest from the city Department of Planning and Permitting, which will make a decision by Nov. 9 on developer Kent Untermann's proposal to build 15 homes in a cluster: two 34-foot-tall buildings with six units each and a two-story building with three units.

The cluster project would be on a 3.3-acre parcel between 'Aina Haina and Wai'alae Iki on Kiai Place. The elementary school is below the project site.

The city was supposed to have made its decision by Oct. 9 but at the request of the developer a 30-day extension was granted to provide time to work with the community on its concerns. Untermann was not at the meeting and he did not return phone calls from The Advertiser last night.

"No changes have been submitted to us by the developer," said David Tanoue, city Department of Planning and Permitting deputy director. "Mr. Untermann has the right to apply (for building permits). We hear your concerns and recognize your concerns."

In this valley that has a history of homes sliding off their foundations, people are concerned about soil slippage, rock falls and traffic on narrow residential streets. Soil studies done by the developer show the property has both stable and unstable soil.

The law allows up to four single-family homes on the parcel, but city policy also allows for higher-density, cluster-type developments on residential land. Last night's meeting was the third since the project came before the Kuli'ou'ou/Kalani Iki Neighborhood Board in September.

"As a community, we feel very strongly about each other and this project threatens our safety," said Chen-Wen Tseng, a resident and organizer of the 'Aina Haina Hui, made up of citizens concerned about development.

Reach Suzanne Roig at sroig@honoluluadvertiser.com.